Chapter 29: In Search of Harumi's Journal
"Wanna be a ninja, but don't know how? Then head on over to Dareth's Dojo and pick up a copy of his new book, 'Secrets of the Ninja'. It's got all the tricks of the trade, and all the martial arts you need to become as legendary as the Masters of Spinjitzu. You can learn with this book all the major arts, such as Jay's video gaming techniques, Zane's meditation tips, and Cole's bodybuilding exercises. Plus, you can even read never-before-released materials, like Cliff Gordon's "Ways to Woo Women" and…"
"Ugh," Cole sighed, changing the channel with his remote. "Can't they put anything good on at this time of day?"
He, Zane, and Ronin lounged on a couch, flipping through TV channels while they waited for Uloe to return from her grocery run.
"Beats me," Ronin shrugged. "Producers will be producers. I don't buy into that commercial junk anyway, especially that book Dareth supposedly wrote."
"What a joke," Cole laughed. "Sure, Dareth's been our friend for years, but what's he know about being one of us? All he knows is that lousy zoojitzu nonsense."
"Actually, Dareth may know more than we think," Zane remarked.
"Don't tell me you bought a copy of his book," Cole moaned.
"Was I wrong in doing so," Zane asked. "I was curious myself about what he wrote, especially after our identities were exposed to the enemy. Have you wondered recently how they figured it out?"
"Was it because Cole's terrible at voice impressions," Ronin joked.
"Cut it out," Cole retorted. "My voice was perfectly fine, thank you very much. You know as well as I do that I'm terrible at disguises."
"That's obvious," Ronin chuckled.
"Watch it, Ronin," Cole quipped. "I might have to pound you into the ground if you stray too far."
"Not because of Cole," Zane interrupted. "This book is to blame. It is called 'Secrets of the Ninja', after all."
"Why, that double-crossing hippie," Cole shouted. "Wait till I tell him the way of the ninja."
"Whoa, stop right there," Ronin interrupted. "Listen to this."
"It's just that stupid book commercial again," Cole scowled.
"Just listen further," Ronin insisted.
"Plus, you can read never-before-released material like Cliff Gordon's 'Ways to Woo Women', or snippets of Harumi's private diary…"
"Bleah," Cole spat in disgust. "I hate it when they mention that cold-hearted backstabber. Why even bring her up to begin with?"
"But did you hear what they said," Zane remarked. "They mentioned something about her private diary."
"Private diary, eh," Ronin chuckled.
"All girls have one," Cole winked, "even Nya."
"How do you know," Ronin asked.
"Because…" Cole blushed. "Because…I, well, found her dairy and, um, read some of it."
"Did she catch you?"
"Yes," Cole sighed. "And, well, I didn't need a bath after she was done with me."
"You suppose that Harumi had one too," Ronin asked.
"It is probable, considering that she spent most of her years living as an only child in the palace," Zane answered. "She likely journaled to pass the time, or to finalize her plans for vengeance upon us."
"But is her journal still in the palace," Cole asked. "I mean, she destroyed her own palace with explosive fumes and demolished almost everything. Her journal could very well be destroyed by now."
"Only one way to find out," Uloe answered. She stepped in through the doorway, putting the sack of groceries on the table.
"You want to go to the palace," Cole exclaimed.
"Sure," Uloe smiled. "How else are we going to prove what happened to that journal? Besides, you've been loafing around for a week. You need exercise, excitement, and definitely time to walk off those extra calories."
"I'm not fat," Cole grumbled. "It's just that I can't help but eat cake from time to time."
"I see," Uloe smirked.
"It won't be easy getting to the palace," Ronin remarked. "Lloyd has the whole palace under guard day and night. No one gets in without permission. And those thugs are still roaming about the city."
"Then we'll enter at night," Uloe winked. "I doubt Lloyd will throw a fit if we showed him that journal."
"What a dump," Ronin whistled. "No wonder the place needs refurbishing."
"Don't blame me," Cole retorted as he unlocked the palace gate. "Blame the person who blew up her own castle."
"Enough," Uloe sighed. "Just unlock the gate so we can get inside."
Cole removed the padlock, then pushed open the gate. Most of the palace, as well as the courtyard, was under renovation, except for a circle of rubble around the Temple of Resurrection. He let Uloe step inside first, then followed behind her with Zane and Ronin.
"Looks like an intact palace to me," Uloe noted.
"Oh, we're not done yet," Cole shrugged. "There's still loads of refurbishing and repairs to do inside. It just looks nice because we had to rebuild the damaged walls and clear the rubble first."
"I see," Uloe nodded.
"If the journal is here, it'll be inside the royal quarters," Zane stated. "That's where the royal family spent most of their time."
Zane flicked on a flashlight, then led the others through the palace. They passed through several hallways, each one littered with construction tools or artifacts recovered by the ninja or workers. Near the throne, they stopped, halting on Zane's sudden command.
"Stop here," Zane ordered.
"What's wrong," Cole asked.
"My sensors indicate that someone else is here," Zane replied.
"Who," Uloe asked.
"I don't know," Zane sighed. "Approach the doorway slowly."
They tiptoed to the entrance, then Zane peeked into the throne room. Two figures appeared near the emperor's throne, glancing around the crest and at its crown gems. Zane zoomed in his focus for a closer look. As he suspected, the figures were thugs, the very thugs he fought in the Vermillion base.
"Any idea who's here," Cole asked Zane.
"If my eyes are functioning properly, Kuriam and the nindroid are here by the emperor's throne," Zane answered.
"Those two rascals," Cole gasped. "Don't they ever give up? I thought Uloe zapped them out of existence."
"Something tells me they're not here for sightseeing," Ronin noted.
"Are they after the journal too," Uloe wondered.
"Only one way to find out," Cole winked.
Before Uloe could stop him, Cole jumped into the room, slamming his feet into the ground. Kuriam and Mr. X's backs jumped at the sound, then stiffened when they turned around and spotted Cole behind them.
"Got a date with trouble," Cole asked.
"It's that rascal Cole," Kuriam fretted.
"I can see that," Mr. X retorted. "Brave of you to snoop around her alone, aren't you?"
"Oh, you want the whole passe," Cole winked. "Well, too bad. It's just you and me tonight, droid."
"What's Cole doing," Uloe whispered to Zane.
"He's distracting them," Zane noted.
"You and Uloe go find that book," Ronin nodded. "I'll stay here and back Cole up."
Zane and Uloe agreed, detouring back and around the throne through a different hallway. Ronin, meanwhile, hid behind the wall, listening as Cole executed his split-second plan.
"Don't call me that," Mr. X grumbled.
"Don't call you what," Cole jested. "Droid?"
"Stop," Mr. X shouted.
"Droid," Cole sang out.
"Enough," Mr. X yelled.
Mr. X lifted his armed, immediately firing off two wrist rockets toward Cole. Cole jumped, letting the rockets slip under him into the wall. They both exploded, causing rubble to fall from the roof.
"Are you mad," Kuriam scolded. "You'll bring the whole palace down on our heads."
"Fine then. I'll proceed to plan B," Mr. X winked.
Mr. X reached behind his back, then pulled out a glowing red shuriken.
"You…you also have elemental shurikens," Cole gasped.
"Of course," Mr. X shrugged. "It's only natural that I, as a leader, carry one with me. But this isn't mine to use. Take it."
"You're serious, right," Cole asked. "Promise you won't sabotage me the second I grab it from your hands."
"I cross my core," Mr. X signaled, forming an 'X' across his chest.
Cole nodded, then walked forward. He grabbed ahold of the red shuriken, removing it from Mr. X's hands. The shuriken immediately started dimming, as red-colored energy flowed into Cole's arms.
"What's happening to me," Cole fretted.
"Only a natural transfer of power," Mr. X shrugged. "When one touches a shuriken, one receives its power. A shuriken without power, of course, gives off no power, but these are true shurikens, the weapons of our ancestors."
"For a droid, you know a lot about elemental powers," Ronin interrupted, entering the room.
"That's because I'm not a droid," Mr. X winked.
Kuriam suddenly vanished into thin air, leaving Cole and Ronin alone with Mr. X.
"Wait, where did your muscle go," Cole asked.
"Can't you tell the difference between a human and a holographic image," Mr. X laughed.
To Cole's astonishment, all the plating around Mr. X, from head to toe, dissolved, leaving not a body of wires but breathing flesh and bone, concealed behind a suit of thin armor. Then the figure smiled, declaring to the horror of Cole and Ronin:
"I am the Master, leader of amber, and I come in peace. Do not be alarmed."