As per usual, Calli was awake before anyone else, quickly getting dressed and making sure the animals had their breakfast before she went to munch on an apple and start working on chores to get her mind off of the whole situation with Inizio. She'd stopped coming over to the jungle, but kept training by herself, though this would only last for a few moments before anger would start to take her over. Inizio on the other hand kept trying to reach out to her, only for her to shut him down and someone else having to calm her down.
The whole situation was starting to drive her crazy especially since she felt she had no moment for herself, feeling that each moment she could hear that snake in her head.
Shaking her head to get rid of the thoughts, she grabbed the laundry basket and decided to start on the mess that was the bounty. The others were still asleep, the boys still tucked out from training and Nya was still knocked out from the all-nighter she'd pulled the day before to finish some kind of upgrade to her mech, so she'd figured she let them sleep. After around 30 minutes that existed of her mainly doing the dishes and laundry, she could hear movement from the Captains quarters and guessed this was Wu waking up, she just shrugged at it and grabbed the laundry-basket and made her way to Nya's room to put the girl's clothes away. To her surprise, the room was empty. She hadn't heard the younger girl get up and focussed herself. Finally hearing the Samurai's faint voice coming from the direction of the bridge. Figuring she'd be fine, Calli quickly put away Nya's stuff and then went to the boys to put theirs away.
She quietly opened the door, letting Rosie slip thought her legs and nearly tripping over her, and walked in herself. Rosie tripped over to the closest bunk and jumped to lay down on Cole's stomach as she'd done for the past week. Tangle was sound asleep in her hammock.
As she finished putting away the last things, the alarm clock next to her ears started ringing loudly, making her flinch and put her hands over her ears to attempt dampen it somewhat. A few seconds later she quickly had to jump into the shadows to avoid a powerful blast of energy.
She came back out on the other side of the room. Eyes wide and breathing heavily looking at Lloyd who looked absolutely horrified, before he could even say something.
'Look before yeh use your powers!' The redhead all but shouted loudly as she tried to calm herself down, Rosie was by her side within seconds as was Cole.
Lloyd jumped out of his bed within seconds and started apologising to the girl whilst Kai and Jay tried to get Zane to get out of bed. During the whole commotion, No-one heard Sensei Wu walk in and look at the scene in confusion and waited patiently for the situation to calm down.
'Honestly,' Calli told Lloyd for the tenth time, now having calmed down. 'I'm fine, just look before yeh decide to obliterate an innocent alarm.'
The boy nodded and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly before handing her the laundry-basket that she had dropped in the confusion.
She accepted it with a small thanks. 'Now yeh guys get dressed.' the redhead commanded them, sans Zane who had somehow managed to do so without her noticing. 'I think Wu needs yer attention for the next lesson.' The answer to that was a collective groan and a thank you from the Elder man. She managed to give the man a salute and walked.
After everything was all said and done, she decided to join Nya on the bridge and found the girl staring at the screen with a look of immense confusion.
'What're yeh looking at?'
Nya waved her over and let her read the message they had just received from the museum. Calli frowned and looked at her friend who just shrugged.
'I'm going to get them, are you going along?'
'Yes, yeh know we can't let them alone for a minute.' The redhead joked with a wink.
The Samurai just giggled and let her friend to gear up whilst she went to fetch the boys.
Calliope adjusted her sleeves as she walked next to Lloyd as the museum Curator led them to the scene. Surprisingly Wu had tagged along this time.
'Ninjago City appreciates your help with the defeat of the Great Devourer some time ago,' The curator gave the warrior of the group a nervous look as she was the only one without her hood removed and all but her eyes covered. 'but it appears its toxic venom has seeped into the city's sewer system and had a bit of a unusual side-effect.'
'Like wha?' The girl asked, being upfront from her place next to the green ninja.
The curator swallowed nervously, like he had no idea to explain the situation. Well, The toxicity in the venom somehow brought our merchandise to life.' He paused to adres the confused Ninja, all of them looking at the man with somewhat blank stares. No one spoke so he just opted to open the door to the souvenir-shop. Low and behold, small, stone warrior statues had been running around, overal making a large mess of the room they where in.
'They're so unruly. I just didn't know who else to call.' At the same time Zane got hit with one of the souvenirs that the statue threw at him.
'We've got this covered.' Jay boasted enthusiastically. 'I thing we can handle a few toys.'
The man nodded thankfully. 'And please, could you contain the fighting to the gift shop? The doors to the new exhibit will be opening soon...'
Lloyd gave him a thumbs up and the curator closed the door behind them.
The plan was quickly formed. The boys would corral them together using their Spinjitzu and Calli had grabbed a large sturdy box and just started to passive-aggressively throwing a few into the thing and then closing the heavy lid. Throwing a few heavy objects on top of it for good measure. As she did one that was still running around chomped her hand, Hard. She yelped and shook him off.
'Get off, Ye stupid little-ankle biter!' The little statue finally let go and thanks to her shaking her hand it knocked into the door - missing her boyfriend by only an inch- with a loud thud, knocking the door open and the little thing slipped out, laughing at the group. Wu dashed after it before anyone could react. The others quickly went to work with the few that where left - With a lot of cursing from a certain redhead - and went after their mentor.
When they finally found him he was standing across an older looking woman, wearing a typical archeological outfit.
Calli noticed the shift in tone before it was even visible. Wu and the woman seemed friendly enough though the awkwardness rolled off the two slightly whist she could feel Lloyds mood shifting pretty badly, going from confusion to anger to disbelief and never really settling on one. The rest was just confused beyond belief.
Eventually Jay cleared his throat. 'So, you gonna introduce us?' He tried breaking the ice.
Wu seemed to finally snap back into reality from wherever he was. 'Ah, yes. This is Misako, Lloyds mother.' There was an audible gasp.
Only now did the Woman's eyes land on Lloyd. Her eyes widened. 'Lloyd?' She sounded very surprised. 'My little boy. You're so much bigger than I remember.'
The blond stared back, no emotion in his face, maybe a little shocked but other than that, all emotion was underneath the surface. 'Well, It's been a long time.'
Misako flinched somewhat. 'I didn't want us to meet like this. I have a reason as to why i've been way.'
By now, anger was rolling off him in waved and she hadn't even finished the sentence before he retaliated. 'I don't want to hear it!' With that he stalked off.
As the woman called after him. Calli dashed after him, if only because the situation was making her uncomfortable.
Lloyd was growling to himself when she found him in one of the rooms with a large sinkhole that was taped off.
'Ye okay?' she asked the younger boy.
'i'm fine.'
Calli raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. the look she gave him was enough.
He just scowled and sat down next to the sink hole. 'Then why ask?'
'Human decency?' She guessed and sat down next to him.
He raised an eyebrow at the double meaning but didn't comment. 'What do you think I should do.'
'Ye're asking me?' She thought for a second. 'Well, why not hear her out.' The girl opted. Clearly, he didn't really like answer so she clarified.
'Hear her out and then decide on if ye want to believe her or not. She seemed genuine 'nough' It was obvious the boy wasn't going to listen so she had told him.
By now, she could hear the others calling out for him and stood up. As she did, Misako walked into the room and Calli moved back just a bit, still very uncomfortable with new people and figuring this was something between the two of them.
Misako walked up to him. 'I's watch your step. That sinkhole doesn't have a bottom, Son. It's where I found the ancient stone warrior.'
Lloyd whirled around, face red. '"Son?" You've been gone my whole life! There's nothing you can say-'
'Well, I'm going to talk anyway!' She interrupted with a sharp, parental authority that made the redhead currently sulking in the shadows glad she grew up without parents. 'You want to know what i've been doing all this time? Long before Sensei Wu knew who would be the green ninja, I knew it would be you, and I knew you would eventually have to fight your father. I dropped you off at the boarding school, so i could go and learn everything i could about the prophecy, in hope of one day preventing the final battle. Of good and evil. All this time, son, I've been trying to save you and your father.' She explained. 'Long before time had a name, Ninjago was created-'
To be honest calli was annoyed at Lloyd interruption, as she was interested in the story. 'Yeah, yeah. we've heard this story a hundred times.' He huffed.
Misako didn't skip a beat. 'But you've only heard half of it. In Ninjago, there has always been a balance between good and evil. So you know how the First Spinjitzu master created Ninjago, but what if I where to tell you in order for there to be light, there must be shadow, and within shadow, there is darkness. The blackest of darkness that existed from the very beginning. An evil spirit called; "The Overlord"
By now the others had found Lloyd and the two women and everyone was listening with intent.
Calli raised an eyebrow, somehow the name of "The Overlord." felt somewhat familiar to her, but couldn't place it.
Zane on the other hand turned towards their mentor. 'Did you know about this, Sensei?'
'I had hoped if I'd kept the secret , that name would never be spoken again.' He explained with a sigh.
Misako nodded and continued her story. 'The balance was at stake, and their battle could have gone on for eternity. Each side powerful, neither could conquer the other until the Overlord created his indestructible warriors: The stone army. The Spinjitzu master did what he could but he knew he soon would be defeated. So instead of losing the war, he divided Ninjago in two. And lucky for us, since then there has been no trace of the overlord or his stone army, until my recent discovery.'
'So that's why the battle has yet to be decided. It was never finished.' Kai deduced.
Cole raised a sceptical eyebrow, eying the murals behind Misako.'But where is the dark Island? I've never heard of it.'
'Somewhere west, I s'pose.' Calli opted, before realising what she'd just said, her face just as confused as the others. 'Bloody hell, how do I know that?'
Misako gave her a look she couldn't decipher and the redhead back up slightly, halfly hiding behind Cole, ignoring said ninja's amusement. 'Even so, the island disappeared long ago, at least i presume. But the legend states that as long as the balance between good and evil remains even, the Overlord shall remain trapped from this world.' She sighed and turned back to her son. 'I have always feared your father's ambition will ultimately lead to a shift in the balance.'
'We have each felt the power of the first Spinjitzu master, passed onto us in the form of the elemental weapons.' Master Wu continued. 'But now, that power had been inherited by the Green Ninja, which is why Only Lloyd can defeat the ultimate evil, or else all of Ninjago will fall pray to its darkness.'
Once again Misako nodded and walked a little closer to Lloyd. 'Leaving you was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. But faced with saving you and the world, I had no other Choice.' Lloyds resolve to stay angry at his mother was slowly wavering. The blond sighed. 'Have you discovered a way to prevent me from facing my father?'
Suddenly Calli picked up faint screams and rumbling in the distance and tugged at the sleeve of Cole's Gi as Misako apologised to her son once more.
'Something's Co-' She hadn't been able to finish her sentence when a giant version of the little statues burst into the room.
'Excuse me! Will someone tell me what the heck that thing is?!' Jay cried out as he jumped back.
Cole turned to Calli. 'Could you warn us earlier next time.' Obviously thinking she'd heard him coming from 200 miles way.
'Like it's my fault that thing is bloody stealthy for a statue!' She shot back, daggers at the ready.
He just mumbled something back she didn't really care to hear and then just shouted for Kai to take it out.
Despite the giant, hostile thing among them, Kai just stared at Cole blankly for a few seconds. Obviously trying to figuring out why him instead of the guy that could throw a minivan with minimal effort. He snapped back into action when the Stone Warrior took another step forward. Sword in hand, the Red ninja dashed towards his enemy and struck down on the leg of the Warrior with all his strength.
The outcome was a broken sword.
'I saw this playing out very differently in my head.' He deadpanned before dodging out of the way from a huge sword.
Misako stopped Calli from going in herself. 'The Overlord creates his stone Army from an indestructible material, found only on the dark Island.'
'Great.' Kai shot her a dirty look as he accepted one of Calli's daggers, Not that they would do much but then he would have about 3% more chance of getting out of a fight with the thing. 'You could've mentioned it earlier.
During the time, Wu instructed Lloyd to use his powers on the statue. He did and it knocked the statue back on the ground.
'Nice shot, kid.' Calli grinned at the boy.
The Warrior, however, wasn't damaged and stood back up in no-time.
'Wait a minute.' Cole huffed. 'How are we supposed to destroy this thing!'
Misako swallowed. 'You can't.'
At this point the Stone Warrior had gotten up and was cornering Jay. 'Easy, big guy...' He stammered, chuckling nervously. The warrior pushed him back, almost into the large sinkhole. Wu reacted, quickly extending his Nin-jo so the Blue ninja could hold on. 'Close call.' Jay breathed. With all the attention on the blue ninja, it was only seconds before the Large warrior knocked every single one of them out to the hallway.
Cole let out a wheeze as he got knocked into a pillar and all the air left his lungs. 'This is gonna be much harder than a bunch of bobble-heads.'
'Well, then it's a good thing we're in a museum.' Jay was the only one that had managed to get up.
Misako gave him a confused look as she got back to her feet. 'Why is that?' She asked as the others also managed to get to their feet.
'Because we're all about to become history!' He screeched as he backed up from the room. 'RUN!'
No-one needed to be told twice and they all dashed off trough the hallways, trying to get as much distance between them and the overgrown statue. Calli looked over her shoulder to see the thing once again lifting the sword to attack again. Lloyd seemed to notice as well. 'The guy's got a pair of sneakers on him. Pick up the pace!'
The redhead fell back a bit on purpose, as she was about the only person who could deflect any incoming attack. Which she did, pulling up a large shield on the last second. The sword crashed into it with a loud thud even cracking it a bit. Calli hadn't noticed the others had dashed into another room until she felt an arm around her waist and pull her along. She found herself against Cole's chest as Zane and Kai closed the door. It worked at keeping the warrior out, for the moment at least.
'That thing is Unstoppable.' Cole huffed as he let go of his girlfriend.
'Indestructible to be precise.' Zane went to correct only to be met with annoyed looks.
Kai pushed something else against the creaking door, in a vain attempt to hold the statue out longer. 'That door ain't going to hold him forever.' he stated the obvious.
The blue ninja nodded. 'Then let's settle this like men.' He started. 'With Rock, Paper, Clamp. Loser has to face him, so the rest can escape.'
Calli groaned, feeling this wasn't a time for games, and went back to the door. 'Bloody hell. I'll go-' Her sentence was cut off as someone had grabbed her hood and yanked her back. She glared at Kai.
'You've already done the Grundle-'
'Yeah so?, I'm the fastest out of all of us,' She ignored Jay's indignant protest. 'and have the actual means to keep 'im away and protect myself.' The redhead pointed out the obvious.
'That may be true, but you we need a way to actually defeat it.' Lloyd argued back.
Cole put a hand on her shoulder. 'Let us handle this one, next time you can kick their butts all you want.' He said the last part with a smirk.
The others, despite the situation, let out a little chuckle as she went from warrior ready to go to war to a little pouty kid. 'Fine...'
There was a small silence as the boys, sans Lloyd, put their hands together. but before anyone could even start the countdown, the Green Ninja exclaimed a loud; 'I got it!'
'Got what?' Sensei asked his nephew with a raised eyebrow.
'If you keep him busy, I think I know how to stop him.'
Cole shrugged. 'I say we give the kid a shot.'
'You're just saying that 'cause you're too afraid to face him.' Came Jay's semi-sarcastic remark making Cole narrow his eyes at him.
'Do you wanna face it?'
The blue ninja did a 180 on that one. 'I say we give the kid a shot.'
Calli chuckled smugly as Lloyd managed to climb into an Air vent. 'It's amazing in how many ways you can tell him to shut up without actually telling him to shut up.'
Jay glared daggers at the girl whilst Cole just chuckled at the truth of the girl's words. 'Let's keep the guy busy.'
Calli jumped up, grabbing a railing of the floor above them and planting her feet against a support column to avoid getting hit with a giant sword.
'Oi! Big guy!' She called out to get the statues attention as Kai pulled her back up. 'Thanks.'
The warrior looked at them with a dark look in its eye as it watched the two regroup with the others.
Cole's eyes fell on the giant skeleton that was suspended on the ceiling. Jay noticed and followed his friends gaze and went along. Shouting at the statue to keep its attention on him whilst the Black Ninja went the other way around and made his way towards the skeleton.
The last three fighters joined Jay in keeping the attention of the warrior on them. Kai and Zane stood on the edges whilst Jay and Calli stuck to right in front of them, as the two were the fastest and could get away more easily.
The redhead pulled up another shield, protecting both her and the master of lightning. The purple shield cracked again under the force and weight of the sword and she quickly started struggling to keep it up.
'Jay! move closer!' The boy raised an eyebrow but did't question her request as he obeyed. As soon as he stood close enough, She grabbed his wrist with her free hand. 'I'm sorry.'
Before Jay could even ask she dropped the shield and pulled him along with her in to the shadows.
Jay actually hunched over as soon as they entered, which she'd expected, It was a bit of a different atmosphere as the regular world and thus she quickly dragged him away from harms way and quickly jumped back out.
The blue ninja staggered a bit but seemed fine otherwise. 'Sorry.' The girl apologised again. 'Yeh okay?'
'Yeah, yeah, just peachy.' He breathed and regained his stance. 'What the heck was up with your eyes!'
Calli blinked at him. 'wha-?'
'They turned bright green!' He bellowed, with enough volume to make the confused warrior turn to them.
'They did?' the redhead was just as confused as he was and the both of them plainly forgot about the giant statue, which by now had his sword raised to attack them.
Zane called out from the other side of the room. 'This is not really the time to discuss this.' The two finally looked up, both going pale as they got ready to dodge.
Before anyone had any chance to do anything a large skeletal model crashed on top of the warrior. The group looked up to see Cole hanging from one of the now cut ropes.
'Just in time.' The dark-haired boy called down before swinging himself down and giving the duo a knowing look they both reciprocated with sheepish looks. The black ninja just shook his head and looked over the damage.
'Did we get him?'
His question was answered by a large rumble as debris started to shift and the Warrior clambered out from under it.
'He's still here!' Kai exclaimed as he readied the dagger. Zane tugged his friend back by the collar.
'Do you think Lloyd's ready with his plan?' The Nindroid asked as the statue turned towards them.
'Let's hope he is. I don't think I can pull up many more shields.' The redhead huffed before they all scattered and ran towards the hallway on the opposite side of the room and off towards the room Lloyd had told them he'd be in.
Close to the hallway Misako tripped up. Both jay and Calli went to help her up but she was back on her feet before the two could even help her. though this gave the stone warrior an opportunity to block their escape. Misako huffed. 'I may not be a ninja, but i can look after myself.' at that she leaned over the edge of the bannister and grabbed one of the banners to slide down.
Calli snickered and clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. ' 'm starting to like her.' and jumped down after her whilst jay didn't know whether to look confused or amused.
'Well, I can see who Lloyd get's it from.' Before looking at the others in the hallway. 'We'll see you downstairs'
CAlli had to admit the older woman was pretty fast. Seeing as she had to follow the woman by going off of her shouts for her son over the loud thumping of the statues feet and jay's shouting. Eventually she dashed into a room towards the green ninja and he hushed his mother and mentioned for her and the others to get out of the way.
By now the statue had emerged in the doorway staring down at the green ninja. Lloyd waved him over to make sure the thing would try and attack him, not that the thing needed any incentive. 'Hey Loser!' The statue slowly moved in on the boy whilst the others pressed themselves against the wall, but still at the ready to jump in at any time should the kid's plan backfire. The stone warrior raised his weapon, ready to strike.
Lloyd just grinned. "paper beats rock!' he called as the statue dashed towards him. The blond grabbed his mother and the two managed to get out of the way just in time. The warrior stumbled and tried to regain his balance as he did there was a distinct tearing sound and only a second later the floor gave away and the giant statue fell down the large bottomless pit that lloyd had somehow managed to hide underneath a large sheet of paper.
Misako was busy praising her son as the others walked into the room. Having missed most of what happened in the room.
Wu made his way up to the two and turned to Misako. 'Stay with us.' he asked the woman. 'Help us fight the good fight."
Misako smiled and shared a look with her son. 'If thats okay with him.'
Lloyd just shrugged. 'Hey, the more the merrier.'
Calli gasped as she suddenly shot upright, eyes wide as she grabbed her chest. Rosie jumped on her lap in an instant and tried to calm her down. There was a bit of movement above her but she didn't really register it as her markings started to burn her skin. Eventually the girl managed to slip out of her hammock and quietly dashed to the kitchen to cool her arms and not wake anyone up. There was a dark cloud in the back of her mind that she could't seem to push away. Eventually the burning on her arm stopped and it was only her torso and back that were still somewhat burning. She sighed and let herself fall down on a kitchen chair, it didn't look like she'd been getting any more sleep this night.
The girl eventually tiptoed back into the room only to be grabbed by her waist and pulled into a bed. She hissed a bit. Both from the pain on her body and the fact Cole had caught her unaware.
'Sorry.' He mumbled. 'You okay?'
'My marks are burning.' She muttered and went to lay on her unmarked arm. He gave her a worried look but she just shook her head. 'I'll be fine. It'll probably be gone in the mornin'.' She was silent for a moment as he adjusted his arms so he didn't accidentally end up hurting her. 'Just warn me next time before scaring the livin' daylighs out of me, okay?'
the only answer she got was a light, tired chuckle and a small kiss on her temple.
Holy, I finally finished. I am so sorry this took so long to update, but it's soooo long and I had my final Exams. I'm currently even on my way for the final presentation so wish me luck. Also this episode is one bloody exposition dump so I couldn't really cut it in pieces...
Anyhow, onto the review:
MightyShipper: Haha I love cats as well, I have 3 at home actually. And a bunny.
RPMShadow: I finally have :)
Well, I hope you all enjoyed and i'll see you in the next chapter!