*pops out of the abyss* I RETURN
Where did I go? Nobody knows
Review replies:
Kitkat: Eh, I can understand that.
Nicktastic: Those two. Tch tch.
Ebony: Well people are currently giving them free supplies since they're trying to save the world.
Entity: Anytime you happen to think one up xd And yes. I actually wrote a fic once where I'm actively in my characters' world with ultimate power, and they're aware that I ruin their lives on a regular basis. They're not impressed. And I don't plan to post it. xd
NinjagoMLP: It's cool xd
FormerEMObilcipher: Well that sucks. And I mean, Bill is at least limited in affecting dreams, right? Wasn't there some horror villain who could control dreams? Freddy Kruger or something.
"We have teams setting up defenses on the south and west walls, and the east wall is already finished." Lloyd tapped the line that represented a wall on his map. "And the Coles and Kais are arming civilians with water supplied by the Nyas, we should be ready to defend against a full-scale attack by tomorrow evening."
"Good." Morro 1 nodded, one hand on his chin as he stared at the map. "I'm not sure exactly how long it will take for the Preeminent to ready her forces again, but it will be a couple days at least. We have time."
"Great. Do you think your double would be able to tell us exactly how long it will take for them to get back?"
"Maybe. Nicole, would you go find him and have him come here?" The dream mistress nodded and ran off. "What do we do after we're finished preparing? Just wait for them to attack?"
"No, I was thinking…" Lloyd pushed the top map aside, revealing a map of Ninjago island underneath. "The ghosts had three strongholds: here, Stiix, and Jamonikai village. We've captured two of those, so they'll likely regroup at Jamonikai, which will be difficult for us to attack due to its high altitude. They have the high ground. However, it is also fairly small, so they might not be able to keep their whole army there, and be forced to camp them in the plains below instead. If so, we could attack the cillage from behind, then free it since it's cut off from most of the army. That will force the ghosts to regroup somewhere at the mercy of the elements. Any questions?"
"While that seems like a good plan…" Morro started. "How are we going to get rid of them for good?"
"I'm not sure. Maybe we can use the Realm Crystal to make a portal and send The Preeminent back to her own Realm?"
"Not easily. Making a portal strong enough to transport her take the better part of an hour, and it would be difficult to force something of her size inside."
"Then scratch that. Maybe we could kill her?"
"It took Nya's true potential last time, and I don't know if we could trigger that at the right moment, much less get the Preeminent out to sea."
"But maybe both Nyas together could create the same effect? If we could lure her out there?"
"It's possible." Lloyd opened his mouth to continue, but he was interrupted by Nicole returning. Alone.
"I didn't find Morro." Her voice was cold and hard. "But I did find this." She held out a folded slip of paper towards Lloyd, who took it, apprehensive. He unfolded it, skimming the contents, and his eyes widened.
"It's a ransom note. For Morro 2." He looked up at his Morro. "It's from Gray and Claire. They want $5,000 for him by three days from now, or… they'll kill him." On the other side of the room, Indigo gasped.
"Oh no. But we can't pay that much! We're broke!"
"Basically, yeah." Lloyd read the note over again. "They want us to deliver the money to an alley about a mile from here. He must be imprisoned somewhere around there. Indigo, Morro, can you scout out that area, invisible? See if you can locate him?" The two nodded, but Jay 1 frowned.
"I mean, why can't we just leave him? If they kill him, he'll just turn back into a ghost."
"Yes, Jay, but that means the Preeminent will be able to get in his head again." Lloyd glared a bit. "And not only will she be able to hurt him, but she'll also learn all our plans that he knows." Jay lowered his head.
"Oh."
"If we can find him, what should we do?" Indigo asked.
"If you can find an easy way to get him out undetected, do it . If not, just come back and report. We'll go out there as a group and bust him out."
"Right." Morro nodded, and the two left the room. Lloyd sighed, skimming the note one more time. Those two were reckless. How did they manage to kidnap Morro right out from under their noses? Whatever the case, those two were smart, but not smart enough. They would get Morro back. For both his sake and theirs, they had to.
TheDarknessReturn
Stupid vines.
Morro sat slumped against the hideout wall, chin resting on the thick vine around his shoulders. The only movement he could make was lifting his head, and there was no point in doing so, so he stayed still and silent. How long had it been since he had been kidnapped? A day? Did Lloyd know yet? Did he know what to do?
He was going to die here, wasn't he? The ninja couldn't come up with all that money if they tried, and they didn't know where he was. Even if they did somehow find him, Gray would probably strangle him before they could get to him. There was no way out of this.
He was scared. Scared of dying again, but mostly scared of the Preeminent. She would do horrible things to him once he was a ghost again. When they did kill him, they'd probably dump a bucket of water on him as well, so he'd be sent back. Then the Preeminent could do whatever she pleased with him. Which would undoubtedly be painful.
He bit his lip, fighting the urge to struggle. The vines that trapped him weren't uncomfortable tight, but if he struggled they would react, coiling tighter. If he was still for a while, they would loosen, but it wasn't worth it, especially the feeling of the one on his neck within an inch of taking his life. Having it on his neck, even loosely, unnerved him. A constant reminder of what they planned to do to him.
"Psst." Morro jumped at the voice, head jerking up in surprise. Who…? "It's Indigo. I'm invisible."
"Indigo?" He whispered. "How did you…?" The vines tightened a bit and he gasped.
"It's a long story. But don't worry, we're gonna come and get you out. Just as soon as we get Lloyd."
"W… we?" He whispered hoarsely.
"I'm here too." Another voice said – his own. His double. "Just stay quiet, okay? We're gonna go get the rest of the team."
"O-okay." He heard faint footsteps retreating, then nothing. He struggled to calm his breathing, to keep the vines from tightening further, but his chest swelled with hope. They knew where he was! They were coming! As long as Gray didn't kill him before they got here, he was going to be alright.
TheDarknessReturn
Reena knelt on one knee, staring at the ground with respect for her mistress. In front of her, the giant creature pulsed slowly, saying nothing for a long while.
"Bansha has failed me." The Preeminent said at last. Reena nodded.
"I know."
"She has been imprisoned for her disgrace. This leaves my armies without a leader."
"Yes." Reena refused to jump to conclusions as to what she was getting at.
"You will be her replacement." The illusionist's eyes widened, though she didn't look up from the ground.
"I…"
"You are loyal to the Cursed Realm, more so than even some of my own. You are intelligent and crafty, and you handled yourself well under Morro and Bansha. There is only one way in that you do not fit the criteria to be Ninjago's next queen."
"And… that is?"
"You are not a ghost." The Preeminent replied simply. Of course. "However, that can be easily remedied." Reena nodded.
"It can." She heard footsteps, and she looked up to see a ghost approaching her with a dagger. He held it out towards her, and she accepted it.
"You know what must be done, then. Are you prepared to give up your mortal life to further my cause, Reena Johnson?" The illusionist nodded, standing up straight. Then she took the dagger and stabbed herself through the heart.
The Preeminent goes through rulers impressively fast.
Anyway, uhhh... if you haven't already, check out my new fic, Oh the Things we Could Do, a self-insert fic with a brief explanation of why I've been in the abyss.
~FFF