Chapter 6

The First Move: A Failure

"Where are your parents hiding?" he asked Zachery applying pressure to the area he had been injured in during practice with Terry. Zachery writhed in pain. "I see you're injured. I'm sorry if that happened to be my doing."

"What the heck?" Zachery screamed. "You want us dead so how can you be sorry?" The next thing he knew the world was spinning and then dark.

"How about you?" he asked Robin after finishing with Zachery. "Will you tell me where your parents hide?"

"Oh sure. We can discuss over tea." Robin said sarcastically. One the robots punched him hard in the gut making him dry gag.

"I don't appreciate sarcasm boy." Shou Shi said grabbing his hair and slamming his head against the wall.

Robin stared Shou Shi in the eyes furious. "Well I don't appreciate being looked do-" his sentence was interrupted by Benjamen laughing hysterically. "Do you really think this is a good time to be making fun of me?" Robin yelled.

"Sorry." Benjamen apologized trying to calm himself down. "It's just, you're hilarious," he said bursting into another fit of laughter.

Shou Shi backed away from Robin and decided it would be amusing to see how this conversation would end. "What makes that so hilarious?" Robin asked through gritted teeth.

"When faced with life or death you choose death to protect the parent who put you in danger in the first place," he said wiping the tears from his eyes.

"Why's that so funny?" Terry questioned concerned for her friend's sanity.

"People like him are so dumb it's hilarious," Benjamen said his tone serious.

"Say that again?" Robin threatened.

"People like you are so dumb it's hilarious." Benjamen taunted. Robin managed to jump up despite the binding on his feet but was immediately slammed back down by the robot that punched him. "I'm done with this game. Although it was fun, I have a friend who'll annoy me to death if I don't end this." Benjamen then said to Shou Shi while undoing his bindings "This paper has all the information you want old man."

"Why didn't you just give this to me when you came to me and told me their plan of attack?" Shou Shi asked taking the paper from him and handing it to one of his robots to double-check the information. He was clearly disturbed.

"Because the game would've ended too soon," Benjamen said standing up. "It's over now though. So I'm leaving."

"Is the information misleading? I know how this boy likes to play." Shou Shi asked the robot.

"Our spies in the area are checking the information now." the robot replied.

"You betrayed us?" Sally asked confounded.

Benjamen turned and laughed at Sally. "How can I betray someone I was never really on board with?"

"The information seems to be authentic, but there is nobody there." the robot finally said interrupting their conversation.

"Happy old man?" Benjamen asked.

"You kids today have no manners." Shou Shi sighed. "Tell them to standby and kill anyone who tries to enter. I want all of your group to join them. Do you understand?"

"Yes sir." the robot bowed and left to prepare for ambush.

"How could you?" Terry asked frustrated, confused, and angry all at the same time.

"I just told you I didn't. Terry, I did consider you to be my friend, but I was never friends with any of the others. Sorry, I guess." Benjamen shrugged as he left the bar.

"I have no use for the lot of you now." Shou Shi said as if they were items waiting to be thrown away. "And since you did not give me the information I so politely requested I cannot guarantee that you won't feel anything when you die." He smiled softly and eyed Robin who was beyond furious now. "I'll make sure you all die slowly and painfully, except for you with. Since you are not an elemental master I'll spare your life, but you will live the rest of your life imprisoned for defying my grand order."

"Shou Shi let them go." a voice demanded.

"Dad?" Robin mumbled.

"I knew you couldn't possibly be stupid enough to send these children alone." Shou Shi laughed. I'm guessing you destroyed all of my precious creations outside, Lloyd Garmadon."

"Let the children go, and let's talk," Lloyd said ignoring him.

"You can't beat me so you want to negotiate?" Shou Shi asked amused.

"I'll do whatever I need to do to save my kids," Lloyd said entering through the hole Terry made in the wall.

"How sweet." Shou Shi purred walking towards Zachery. "Unfortunately you elemental masters were never meant to exist. This one is your youngest, right? I'll start with him." he finished slapping Zachery in attempt to wake him up.

"Shou Shi!' Lloyd yelled to get his attention. The magician turned to look at him dropping Zachery on the floor. Zachery groaned in pain and could've sworn he saw red hair in his swimming vision. "I will give you the location of every elemental master left if you let my children go."

"Zachery, stay still I'm gonna cut the rope." a voice Zachery recognized well whispered to him.

"Blake?" Zachery mumbled still not in his right mind.

"Shhhhh," Blake said putting his finger up to his mouth. "He doesn't know I'm here."

"Do you really think I'm so dumb that I would believe your proposal? Also, do you think that I did not see that your accomplices hiding?" Shou Shi said angrily. "Do you believe me to be a fool Garmadon? and here I thought you to be a respectable man." Shou Shi shot a blast in the direction of Zachery and Blake. Terry used her powers to raise the earth in front of them to protect them from the blast, and Blake burned the rubble before it could hit them.

"Thanks, Terry!" Blake smiled.

Shou Shi turned back to Lloyd angry. "You've learned nothing from your past mistakes," he said in a calm tone despite his anger.

"I told you, I will do whatever I have to do to protect my children," Lloyd said standing firm.

Jay walked behind Shou Shi to block him from the kids and Nya on his right to block him from the door. "It's over," she said.

"You can't defeat me, Ninja, this you know, but I'm done here. Unfortunately today you all will live to fight another day." With that, he disappeared.

In Another Place

"I did as you requested your highness." the boy bowed.

"And did you ask the my creations to fall back?"

"Yes your highness," the boy said.

"I'm glad you just happened to be in the area."

"Yeah….. Do you really think they're that dumb?" the boy asked.

"The boy with the Golden Eye wishes to be a hero. He will do anything to achieve his goal, and those around him will do anything to protect him. It will work. This I know. Now bow to the Three Kings and be on your way."

"Yes your highness."