No time for review replies but

for all my USA readers: happy 4th of july

Chapter 35

"I don't get it." Cole 1 mused, staring at a monitor. "Everything should be falling apart. Why is security only getting stronger?"

"I do not know." Zane's voice crackled through the video feed. "Perhaps Morro left someone in charge in his absence, and they are increasing defenses since he has not returned."

"Maybe." The two Zanes had gone off on a spying mission to see how Morro's kingdom was faring without him – they didn't think it could be very dangerous with Morro as their prisoner.

"Hold on," Zane spoke again. "There's a team of men in front of the city, tearing down Morro's banners."

"That's odd." Kai 1 frowned. "Why in Ninjago would they do that? They can't know he's our prisoner."

"They're replacing them." Zane continued. "The new ones have some sort of symbol on them… hang on, I'll zoom in." The camera focused on the swirly symbol in the middle of the blue fabric, and Bansha gasped.

"That's my emblem!" Lloyd frowned.

"Your what?"

"Emblem. High ranking officers would sign messages with them." The sorceress explained. "If her symbol is on the banners, then the other me must be in charge."

"But how could she know that Morro's down for the count? She wouldn't replace the banners otherwise."

"The Preeminent coulda told her." A high pitched voice chimed in, and all eyes turned to Madilyn, who was sitting up next to Lloyd on the couch. She had recovered from Morro's possession that morning, and didn't seem too bothered about having to stay with the ninja until they could find her parents.

"But… the Preeminent doesn't talk." Jay 2 frowned. "She's just a big blob."

"She talks with her mind. And she can read people's thoughts. She talked in Morro's head while he was in my body." The girl explained matter-of-factly. The ninja exchanged glances.

"Well… that's good to know." Kai 1 said after a minute. "So she put Bansha in charge?"

"The Preeminent makes all the decisions. She must have."

"Hello, ninja." A cold voice made them all whirl around to face the screen, and they were shocked to see Bansha's masked face staring calmly back at them. "I hope you don't mind that I borrowed your robots' signal, but I need to deliver a message."

"What do you want?" Cole 2 asked, his eyes narrowed into slits.

"First of all, you must have noticed that I am now in charge."

"Yeah, yeah, get on with it."

"Very well." Bansha 2 folded her hands in front of her. "As we speak, my men are rounding up large numbers of innocents from Ninjago city. If you do not surrender before 48 hours pass, I will put them all to death. Do you understand me?" The ninja exchanged looks of horror. Was she serious?

"…what if we just gave you your Morro back?" Kai 1 suggested. Bansha scoffed.

"I have no need for him. The Preeminent is done with him." Lloyd blinked in surprise. He had been telling the truth?

"I…" Cole 1 glanced at the others. "…we'll think about it."

"Think quickly, ninja." With that, the image of her vanished, replaced by a desert and Zane's alarmed voice.

"…ole? Cole! Are you there?!"

"I am now." Cole 1 replied quietly. "Get back here, and hurry. We have to discuss something."

"Affirmative." Zane nodded, then the signal cut out. Lloyd slowly dragged a hand down his face. What were they going to do? They couldn't surrender, they were Ninjago's last hope, but they couldn't let these people die either…

"Madilyn, let's find your parents." Kai 2 stood up. "We need to get you somewhere safe, and your parents must be worried."

"Okay." The little girl nodded, standing up and taking his hand before letting him lead her out of the room. There was silence in the room for a few moments.

"So…" Jay 1 broke it. "Any idea how we get out of this mess?"

"Well… the freedom of all the Realms is more important than the lives of a few people…" Nya 1 said slowly. "But we can't just let her kill them…"

"Maybe she's bluffing?" Jay suggested hopefully.

"I doubt it…" Bansha shook her head. "She does not care about the lives of 'inferior' beings."

"Then… we have no choice." Kai 1 bowed his head. "We have to surrender."

TheDarknessReturn

"Morro?" Morro opened his eyes a slit, debating whether to acknowledge his presence or not. "Morro, wake up." He would just keep bothering him if he didn't, so… the former king rolled over, giving the green ninja a one-eyed glare.

"What do you want?" he muttered.

"Do you want revenge?" Morro frowned, lifting his head.

"That's what I've been doing for the last 25 years of my life. Why even ask?"

"Not on me. On the Preeminent. For ditching you." What?

"I thought you didn't believe me."

"Bansha confirmed it." Bansha?

"Is she in charge, then?"

"Yes."

"Maybe I do want revenge. How do I get it?"

"Help us defeat Bansha." The ghost snorted.

"So you're just trying to get me to help you. It won't work. The others will never trust me enough to fight alongside me."

"I don't want you fighting alongside us. I want you to help us figure out how to beat her." The ghost frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"She claims to have captured lots of innocent people, and she says she'll kill them if we don't surrender."

"Easy. Leave them to die."

"No, we're the good guys. We don't do that."

"Well, then…" Morro trailed off. "Look, there's no point in me telling you anything. The Preeminent can read my mind. If I know your plan, so will she." Lloyd frowned.

"Oh. I hadn't thought about that." He sighed. "Well, thanks anyway."

"Thanks? For what?"

"Pointing that out to me. It proves that, if nothing else, you hate the Preeminent more than you hate me."

"Oh." True. "I guess I do."

"That's nice to know." Lloyd smiled at him – a genuine smile – and left the room. Was Lloyd… happy with him? That was a weird feeling. But it wasn't a bad feeling. He kinda liked it.

Even when he had ruled the world, he had never really been happy. He had tried gaining more power, more armies, more land, but it was never enough. Torturing his enemies had brought him more satisfaction, but it was only temporary. TO have someone actually be pleased with him, even his worst enemy… he felt… a bit happy.

But no. He couldn't think like that. He couldn't let himself get "reformed" like that weakling double of his. He had to stay strong. Not let anyone determine his destiny.

He had to look out for himself, and no one else.

I'll try to get out another update tomorrow, but I can't be sure. I leave early Thursday morning, so tomorrow's my last chance.

~FFF