The last stack of papers hit the table with a dull thud. Nya straightened the pile and put her hands on her hips with a hum of satisfaction.
"That should be the last of it. This file is on the Sons of Garmadon. Profiles of organisation leaders are in the back," she informed, scanning the table to make sure everything was in order.
"Thanks," Cole answered, putting aside a nougat-coloured folder. "I just finished this one, where should I put it?"
"Data on the first realm?" She pointed to a corner of the table. "Over there."
Cole lightly tossed the folder to the edge before picking up the newly arrived stack, still warm from the printer.
"How's the kid?" he asked, riffling through the pages.
"Still sleeping. It's been… what, seventeen hours?" She poked around some of the piles with disinterest. Research was good and all, but she was itching for some first-hand information. Yesterday, she shuddered at the thought of facing an Oni. Now she just felt left out.
"So~," Nya started, twirling her hair, "was she really that strong?"
"Of course I held back!" Cole said hastily. "-But it took a lot to keep her at bay, -and she didn't even have any combat experience."
"Did she transform?"
"No. She was... -looked- human the whole time."
"Did she have fangs?"
"How is that even… ugh, I have no idea. I was a little busy trying not to turn into paste."
"Then what about the dark fog? Was it the same as back then?"
"That was…" Cole felt his chest tighten. "It was ghastly. Familiar, but still… different somehow. I felt tainted for hours afterward, like… like it infected me or-"
"Hey, hey; calm down," Nya panicked. "Take it easy. Breathe." Cole realised that he was clenching his collar. He let go and put his palms on the table. Nya stretched out her hand and a bottle of water shot to it like a magnet.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to-" she started, offering the flask.
"That's alright," Cole said, raising his hand. "I'm good."
They remained silent for a minute. Nya squirmed a bit and decided to shift the subject slightly.
"Did you get hold of the caretakers at the orphanage?"
"I just got off the line, actually," Jay said, revealing himself at the door to the library. "As we thought, this kind of thing has never happened before."
"We? I was the one who… ugh, never mind," Cole muttered, flipping to the back end of the sheaf.
"Hey Cole, you look kind of pale." The blue menace pouted as if speaking to a toddler. "Do you need a nap~?"
"Buzz off, Jay!"
The Ninja's scar sparked slightly as he puffed out his chest again, back to normal. Jay winked knowingly at Nya, who thanked the heavens for her fiancé.
"Alright. Enlighten us," Nya urged with renewed curiosity. "Who is she?"
The Blue Ninja glanced down on a small, messy notebook.
"Kid's been living at that orphanage for a couple of years. No one knows where she came from. No relatives. No contacts. Not even a name." He paused and looked towards the door, as if expecting the girl to walk in at any second. "She's got quite the record, though," he continued, turning the pages. "Countless infringements, bad manners, violent outbursts… the list goes on. One time she was even caught trying to start a fire."
"So was she the one who...?"
"Yes and no," Jay said, gesturing vaguely. "Apparently, she'd been acting strange these past couple of months, -worse than usual- and yesterday, she was being yelled at because of it. When the caretaker -Harst- grabbed her arm, she went completely crazy! That's when…" -He hesitated for a moment, glancing at Cole- "...the aura appeared around her. A lantern was dropped in the ensuing panic and the caretakers were too busy getting everyone out to keep it from spreading. You know the rest."
Nya stroked her chin with a frown.
"These past couple of months…? Four months ago... the Oni attack!" she burst out. "-that's got to be it."
"What? Oh, right, I was thinking the exact same thing," Jay lied, half expecting a sarcastic remark, but the Black Ninja seemed engulfed by what he was reading. Jay raised an eyebrow, but took the opportunity and leaned closer to Nya.
"But did the black fog ever reach Stiix?" he whispered. "Like… did she react to it?"
"Oh it reached, alright. I heard it spread like roots to any populated area as soon as the Oni left Ninjago city."
"Better be careful when wakes up, in case it shows up again." She leaned back and tapped her foot for a moment. "By the way, just calling her 'she' is annoying. If the kid didn't have a name, then what did they call her?"
"Let's see, it was..." Jay flipped through his notebook. "Achlys."
"Um… guys?"
The couple turned to Cole, his face showing a strange mix of concern and accomplishment. He slid the stack towards his two companions, revealing the face of Ninjago's previous royal heir.
"That orphanage. It's the same one as Harumi once lived in."
"The Quiet One?" Nya blurted out. "You sure?"
"Yeah, and that's not all. She's been known to make several 'donations' to them in the past. Some of the other members in the Sons of Garmadon also grew up there." -He tapped the page- "She clearly had connections to it."
"Really?" Jay mumbled, looking closer at the picture. The former princess greeted him with a warm smile. "Small world, huh?"
"No, just think about it! Harumi was obsessed with the Oni. She must have spent years studying them, trying to tap into their power. What if she tried making one?"
"Experimenting on orphans?" Nya grimaced. "I wouldn't put it past her..."
"Okay, okay, but this is still just speculation. How do we know half this stuff anyway?"
"Skylor's been tracking down the remnants of the S.O.G, mapping out their criminal network. Seems like that father of hers made some deals with them in the past, so she's taking it personally."
"Chen! That conniving little…" Jay grumbled. He sighed and shifted his feet. "Fine, but that still doesn't prove anything. How do we know for certain if-"
A sudden crash erupted from the other side of the monastery. Surprised voices rang out, followed by the breaking of wood. Cole shrugged.
"Why don't we go ask?"
The guest room was a comfortable suite, spacious and located the furthest away from the noisy training grounds. The beds were large, with mattresses like clouds and pillows soft as cotton candy. A bathroom lay in the far corner, with a spacious tub, hot water and fresh towels.
In short, nothing for a ninja.
At the moment, however, the room was far from its regular, orderly state. When the trio from the library arrived, they were met by smashed bed frames and a storm of fluffy feathers. Zane and Kai stood huddled in one corner of the room; the child, Achlys, in the opposite one, lungs heaving. At the sight of Cole, she let out a sharp breath and pressed herself against the wall.
"Zane, what happened?" Nya asked, eyes locked on the girl.
"She woke up normally, but as soon as she saw me, she entered a panic state. Her strength and agility are abnormal."
A sliding door opened down the corridor, revealing Pixal in full armour. She rushed down the hall and joined the party in the doorway. Cole stepped through the door cautiously, avoiding any sudden motions. He looked at the two ninja and raised his hand.
"Take it easy. You're only making things worse. She's just a kid."
"Just a kid? She threw a bed at me! A bed!" Kai cried out. "If you feel better suited, go ahead."
Cole swallowed. He wasn't all that good with words. Talking was Jay's thing. Correction: rambling was Jay's thing. Talking was Master Wu's thing. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but found it too dry. He swallowed and tried again.
"Please calm down, we're not going to hurt you. My name's Cole-"
"I know who you are!" the girl hissed. "You're those eyesores jumping around, pretending to be heroes. You and your cloven honey-tongues, your ridiculous outfits, stupid hairstyles. You good-for-nothing rats! Lowly worms! Slimes!"
"Ouch…" Jay squeaked. Cole was unfazed.
"Okay then; Achlys, was it?" The girl winced at being called her name, as if the ninja's mouth had soiled it, but it got her attention. "There was at least one phrase in there that I have no idea how you learnt, but all I can say is that you have no reason to be afraid. Right now, the fastest way to resolve all of this is by talking, not throwing beds."
"Just… leave me alone." She averted her gaze, refusing to meet Cole's smile.
"Everyone." The eyes in the room turned towards Pixal. She pushed her way through the small crowd "Look at you all; ganging up on her like she's an enemy! You should be ashamed of yourselves!"
The ninja squirmed a bit. True enough; from the girl's perspective, she had basically been abducted. Kai was about to object, but Pixal's glare made him bite his tongue.
"Please withdraw to the courtyard. Zane, prepare something for her to eat."
The ninja looked at each other, concerned, but eventually nodded. One after another they left the room, but Zane hesitated in the door. Achlys was eyeing him suspiciously, still pressed against the wall.
"Will you be alright, Pix?"
"Certainly," Pixal answered confidently. "I can handle myself." Zane remained silent at first, but then smiled, nodded and closed the door behind him. He rubbed his hands on his way to the kitchen, determined to make his best dish yet.
"I kind of feel bad now," Jay remarked, stepping down onto the training grounds. Cole murmured in agreement. Nya nodded silently.
"Well I think she's overreacting," Kai grumbled, rubbing his arm. "She could at least hear us out before throwing a tantrum… and a bed."
They stopped a bit from the building, with the exception of Jay, who started pacing back and forth.
"Alright. Let's say she actually calms down. Then what?" the Blue Ninja remarked. "Maybe that brutish strength of hers will go away again?"
"Doesn't matter," said Kai gruffly. "How would we know it's gone for good? As long as there's even the slightest chance for her to explode again, we can't let her out of our sight."
"Calm down, big bro. I get that you're on edge, but she's still just a-"
"She's not 'just' a kid, Nya, stop saying that! We can't pretend that we'll be able to treat her like one!" Kai's outburst took the others by surprise. Jay stopped dead in his tracks. The master of fire breathed audibly for a moment.
"Sorry, it's just…" he clenched his fists, looking for the right word. "Her power's running amok. It's controlling her. She needs to learn how to control it."
Cole bit his lip thoughtfully, crossing his arms.
"I understand where you're coming from, but kids are smarter than people realise -we should know, we've been kids twice- but I don't think the rage she's feeling appeared overnight, it's just all coming out at once."
"Which means…?"
"Being an Oni does not make you evil. Just look at Wu! And Lloyd! And Mystake! If anything, we shouldn't focus on what she is right now, but what she could become."
Kai stared off into the distance before closing his eyes.
"I know that. The enemy isn't out here" -he tapped his chest- "it's in here."
The atmosphere turned into a strange mix of melancholy and relief. Soon, a mellow fragrance wafted through the air, stirring their bellies.
"Speaking of what's on the inside," Cole said, rubbing his stomach. "With Zane's cooking on the case, she'll absolutely feel better. And I'm starved!"
As if on cue, the door slid open, revealing Pixal. Beside her stood Achlys, her eyes darting from side to side taking in everything in her surroundings. Her brows were still locked in a frown, which seemed to be her default expression, but the rest of her had settled down somewhat. She was wearing one of the spare black yukatas, a bit too large, adorned with swirling white clouds. Her gaze wandered to the ninja, where it lingered for a moment before turning away in disinterest. Kai was the first to step forward.
"I think we got off on the wrong foot. Um… Achlys was it?" he spoke mildly. "I didn't want to scare you before. Pixal, Cole, thanks for stepping in."
Achlys seemed to find the cobblestones very intriguing.
"I know it was sudden but bringing you here was for your own good. We can't force you to stay though, so if you want to we can take you back-"
"No!" the girl burst out, bright violet eyes staring right into Kai's. "I won't go back! Not there." Her expression was like a cornered beast's.
"A- all right," Kai stammered. Then, as if flipping a switch, his mouth was forced into a smile. "Of course! No problem! Just make yourself at home. We'll figure something out. For now…feeling hungry? How 'bout something to eat?"
The fragrance had grown stronger. The air felt like a cloud of silk, littered with spices. A collective growl rang out among the group's bellies. Achlys' was the loudest of them all.
"...Fine," she mumbled.
Sunlight struggled through small gaps in the clouds. The rocky hillside, damp from the rain, scattered the rays in sparkling grains at people walking by. One of the residents of the village, a lone huntress returning with her latest catch, was admiring this scene and was thus the first to spot the two strangers. They were approaching slowly on foot, cloaks glistening, meaning they, too, had been outside during the downpour. The huntress squinted, hand to her brow. Whoever they were, they couldn't be good news. She knew how to discern predators from prey.
She turned around, sending droplets flying from her clothes and hurried up the hillside. The people, emerging along with the sunbeams, greeted her as she walked past, complimenting her catch and invited her in for tea. The huntress grinned half-heartedly as she declined, instead quickening her step toward the largest building in the village; the town inn. She was not in the mood for food or drink, however. Her goal was the highest floor, where the grand chief had his residence. The huntress opened the door and darted up the stairs.
Not long thereafter, the door to the inn slid open, admitting the two robed figures. Because of the rain, the house had filled up dramatically and few were ready to leave just yet. It was a comfortable dining hall, furnished with low tables and a few hunting trophies, bustling with cheerful voices and the dull smacks of tankards colliding. The floor was covered with tatami mats, worn down by frequent passage. A handful of people noticed the strangers as they entered, eyeing them curiously from head to toe. While most of their faces were concealed by hoods and some kind of scarves, it was all too clear that they were foreign to the area. One was young, judging by the spring in the step, while the other was adorned with wrinkles, encircling his watchful eyes. One of the men at the table rose up and approached the two with an inviting smile.
"Welcome," he bellowed," to our humble village. Well met, friends, no need to be shy! The name's Wago. What brings you here?" The man held out a hand to greet them. The coated youngster did not accept it.
"Well, this is quite the reception," he answered, a male voice penetrating the fabric of his scarf. His gaze wandered across the room. "As expected of someone under a Daimyo like Saru."
A few people in the room stirred. Confused whispers rippled among the patrons at the tables. The word 'Daimyo' was thrown about several times. Wago was puzzled.
"Ah, you mean chief Saru?" He let out a hearty laugh. "That's what we call him here at least. I wouldn't know what you call him where you come from. Have you traveled far, strangers?"
The youngster's eyes narrowed studying the man. By now, every face in the room was locked on them.
"Oh, we've been on the road for some time now. Just happened to be in the area. Heard a funny rumor, too. Apparently, the Daimyo…" He paused briefly to let the word sink in. "-owns a very special kind of blade. I would love to see it myself."
"I don't…"
Wago got no further. A door opened on the second floor, grabbing everyone's attention. Steps were heard and a figure in luxurious white garments appeared upon the balcony overlooking the large room. There was a certain air about him; his very presence demanded respect as he put his hands on the railing and examined the strangers below.
"Ah, yes; I did think it strange that the room had gone quiet. Welcome to our village, dear friends. I hope no one's caused you trouble?"
"If it isn't the high host himself," the elder of the cloaked men hummed.
"In the flesh," the man said proudly. "To whom do I have the honour of speaking?"
The youngster grunted angrily.
"You're in no position to talk about honour, Saru. After all, you-"
A sharp, whistling sound clove the air, followed by a loud, metallic clang. A lone arrow shaft clattered to the ground, its head shattered from the impact with the cloaked boy's sword. When had he drawn it?
The huntress, standing in the shadows by the corner, grit her teeth and reached for another bolt. Wago lashed out like a snake, striking with a blade hidden in his sleeve. The elder was upon him in an instant, grabbed his wrist and hurled the burly man over his shoulder straight into the wall. A number of people let out horrified yelps, but others rose and joined the assault on the cloaked strangers.
"My people!" the chief screamed. "These men are assassins! They seek to ruin our peaceful abode! Get to safety!"
Another arrow was set free, shrieking through the air, only to be deflected once more. The two men danced fiercely through the horde of attackers, sliding past swings and swipes, tossing grown adults around like old sacks. A horde of people desperately tried to escape out back or through the windows.
"I can't believe he attacked us with people still inside," the youngster yelled, deflecting a flying mug with a kick. "I thought he cared about his image!"
"He is either very confident or very foolish; and I doubt it's the latter," the elder called back, ducking under a hurled chair. Two men with glass bottles held high above their heads pounced him. The elder flicked his cloak, sending an arc of water droplets straight into their eyes. The next instant, he grabbed their collars and sent them sprawling on the floor behind him.
"Watch your back," he muttered.
A woman with brass knuckles rushed at the youngster from behind. He crouched down and, with a swipe of his leg, stole her footing. Her face flashed with surprise before crashing headfirst into a table.
On the balcony, several people streamed out of the door and drew up beside Saru, who was watching the struggle intently. Bows in hand, they drew their arrows back and took aim.
"Incoming!" shouted the youngster, diving behind a toppled table. The elder, too, far from cover, dug his foot under a tatami mat and, with a jerk of his ankle, flipped it upright. Several thunks were heard in rapid succession as the arrowheads struck the makeshift shields.
"Give up!" Saru commanded. "The building is surrounded. You have nowhere to flee."
The youngster saw his chance. They were talking. That could buy some time.
"You're the one who should give up, Saru! You've revealed your true self. There's no coming back from this!"
"Lies and deception, cowled interloper! You will never corrupt our peaceful village. As chief, I will protect it! If anyone is unable to return here, it is you, delving in the depths of evil and vile corruption, for true might will always come from righteousness!"
The extravagant man went on and on, throwing insults and abuse. The remaining brawlers had retreated to the front of the counter. After a minute or two, the last panicked patrons had managed to leave the room. The moment they did, Saru's expression changed.
"-that being said…" he leered. "How did you find out?"
"We have our ways. The bigger the fish, the harder to hide it." The cloaked youngster stepped out from behind the table. The archers reacted immediately, drawing their bows, but Saru raised his hand to stop them. The elder followed out into the open.
"No matter. It is of little consequence whether you tell me or not."
"You seem awfully confident. Care to explain why?"
Saru smiled, gloated even.
"Ah, yes… you mentioned it before, did you not? This blade of mine? Someone's been running their mouth, no doubt, but I'll see to their punishment later." He tilted his head, like a cat looking at a new plaything. "However, I am tempted to show you, if only to see you lose all hope. Feast your eyes… and despair."
The man reached into his robe and unsheathed a shining, golden sword with a circular blue guard and a crystal at the hilt. He brandished the blade with gleeful pride.
"No…" the youngster exhaled. "It can't be…"
"Oh, but it is. The Sword of Destiny. In its reflection lies the far future of the beholder. An inevitable, inescapable, absolute premonition!"
"It can't be…" the boy repeated, slumping on all fours in utter hopelessness.
"Oh yes." Saru exclaimed with boundless excitement. "And let me tell you what I see! I see myself as the head of our brotherhood. The Shogun! Ruler of Ninjago! It has been foretold! It is my destiny!"
"It's wrong…"
"The blade is never wrong, boy. Its visions are absolute. Its edge unrivaled, even by its sister sword. Yes… the Sword of Sanctuary may be powerful, but I've always been more of a long-term strategist. With this blade in my hand, my fate is sealed; and with it, all of Ninjago's as well!"
"It's the wrong sword!"
"Beg your pardon?"
The boy was slamming his fist down on the ground in frustration. The cloaked elder kneeled beside him and put a consoling hand on his back.
"It's the wrong sword! We spent weeks and weeks gathering data! We worked for days on end, walking through the rain, gathering information and now that we finally got a good lead, it's just a stupid freaking fortune cookie butter knife!"
Saru seemed utterly confused.
"And," the boy screamed, walloping in his misery, "It just had to be when we got our new uniforms. I mean come on! Troika worked day and night on them. Brand. New. Gear. And guess what?! Nine days of hiking and undercover work where we can't even wear them, that's what! Nine. Days."
"Excuse me, but… can we get back to my monologue…?"
"Huh? Was he saying something? I missed it."
"I take back what I said, nephew," the elder spoke with a sigh. "This man is a complete fool."
Saru was dumbstruck. Every fibre of his being swelled with rage.
"Fire!" he screamed at the top of his lungs. The barrage of arrows soared forth, piercing the strangers. The fabric of their cloaks was shredded and fluttered to the ground, but the men were not within. Two tornadoes of swirling energy burst to the sides before dispersing, throwing the unconscious brawlers towards the walls.
"Firing with your own men still at risk. You really are the lowest possible scumbag," Lloyd said, tightening his arm brace. "Now that's more like it. A proper ninja robe."
"The best way to defeat an enemy is to make them your friend," -Master Wu dusted off his hat- "but you merely see puppets, friend or foe alike. You are no chosen one, Saru. Your future holds nothing but ruin for yourself and everyone around you."
"My destiny is greatness! You think you can fight destiny, fools?! Let's see you try!"
"We will!"
Wisps of green emanated from the green ninja's hands, which he instantly threw forward.
With a burst of light, the supporting pillars of the balcony were obliterated. With a loud crack, the entire plateau came crashing down towards the brawlers beneath, who narrowly managed to throw themselves out of the way. Lloyd leapt forward and, using one of the brutes as a foothold, soared through the air towards the Daimyo, drawing his weapons. The archers, off balance, could not help him. It was him against the Green Ninja.
Sparks shot out at the collision. Lloyd came in with too much momentum, forcing Saru to deflect him sideways. The ninja easily flipped around and landed nimbly on his feet, releasing a flurry of attacks with two katana. Saru's blade flashed, diverting each blow by the skin of his teeth. Meanwhile, a bowman recovered from the initial shock, nocking an arrow on the string. The ninja's ear caught the sound and drew close to the Daimyo.
"Don't shoot, you fool!" Saru snarled, trying to break free from the boy's pursuit, but he persisted, sticking like glue. The brawlers in the room watched the struggle unfold. Some took hesitant steps forward, but Master Wu appeared in front of them.
"The lesson is underway," he said calmly. "Please do not intervene."
Saru was backed into a corner. He was experienced, but the boy was stronger. Gritting his teeth, he deflected yet another strike, hands growing number by the second. However, he was not afraid. Destiny was on his side. He glanced at his reflection in the blade. Yes, it was there. The robe. The golden embroidery. The crimson helm that crowned the Shogun's brow. He saw his own eyes behind the iron mask: a glorious, unwavering, unrelenting countenance. Yes, his future was secure. He couldn't help but smirk. The vision gave him courage, enough to recklessly charge forward, much to the ninja's surprise. You may be strong, brat, but you're too soft.
The boy was forced to block, using the shock to jump backwards. The huntress took her chance and rallied the archers to unleash a hail of arrows on the ninja. One of the huntress' own shafts bounced off Lloyd's armguard which made him flinch in pain.
Saru's smirk had now grown to a full smile. He angled the blade's broadside toward his opponent. He wouldn't need much. A scar would suffice. If he saw in the boy's future where he would be hurt, he was certain to inflict the blow. Who knew, maybe this was where the ninja's story would finally-
The Daimyo froze. Something was wrong. The reflection seemed split; shattered, as if countless shards of the future rained down at once. There was a blinding light, an all-consuming darkness. A formless gray amalgamation. What am I looking at? He peered closer. A humanoid shape took form, but it was vague and fleeting. It was the ninja, no doubt about it, but painted with several layers, a mosaic of time, as if holding one mirror in front of another.
"What in the world…?" he got out before the huntress' scream brought him back to reality. Lloyd had braced himself against the wall and was on his way back. Sweat appeared on the Daimyo's forehead, but the conviction of triumph was too prominent in his mind. With a powerful roar he charged once more, determined to shatter the boy like his shattered destiny. This time, however, his opponent was ready. He jumped up, kicked back, whipped around and spun in a fluid motion, gaining tremendous momentum in a green flash of light. His target was not the man, but the weapon.
With a deafening clang, the Sword of Destiny was cloven in two. Saru, who had been holding the hilt in a vice grip, was thrown aside and hit the floor. The green ninja flicked a sweatdrop from his chin and exhaled sharply. The archers were schocked and exchanged frightened glances. A glare from the huntress gave them the will to keep fighting.
Now, soldiers and villagers stormed in through the front door, prepared to defend their chief. The first thing they saw was the mass of groaning fighters lying on the ground, which caused intense rage to swell inside them. The second was the Green ninja, standing on the wrecked balcony over the defeated shape of their chief. The innocent villagers were immediately taken aback. What was the Green Hero doing there? Where was the enemy? The huntress smirked and raised her hand to signal the attack.
Then, a scream of utter terror pierced the room and echoed down the slopes of the mountainside. Saru was lying on his stomach, despair and denial frozen on his face. His words were near unintelligible, a mix of sobs and wailings of disbelief. In the reflection of what remained of his sword, the powerful Daimyo saw his future. The striped clothes of a convict. The shadows of iron bars cast on his face. An existence devoid of power. Devoid of freedom.
"How?!" he cried. "How can this be?! It's impossible! My reign was inevitable! Destiny ordained it! How?!"
Lloyd showed a twinge of pity for the man, his body seemingly shriveling up within his luxurious robes along with his ambitions.
"I don't know," he said solemnly. "But part of me would say that the future isn't something one is given. It's something you earn through effort." The Chieftain's anguish was enough to make the remainder of his followers lose hope. Archers relented their bows, soldiers dropped their swords and spears. The huntress stood petrified, unable to utter a single word. The future they were promised, erased in an instant. The sunlight struggled through the gaps in the clouds. It would take time until the light could truly shine through.
Lloyd and Wu sat on the roof of the inn, watching Saru being led to the police helicopter. Destination: Cryptarium Prison. Lloyd issued a deep sigh and lay down on the slanted tiles.
"There's going to be a power vacuum now that the village has lost its leader. Not to mention that the Shogunate has lost one of their top brass." He scratched his head thoughtfully. "I'm not really big on politics, but this is a problem. They won't just sit idly by as we block one of their trade routes, and this town doesn't have much in the way of defence if they come knocking. Next time, they won't bother to hide their intentions like Saru did."
The master nodded.
"Your display of foresight makes me proud, Lloyd. You have truly grown," he hummed, stroking his beard. "The police are competent enough. They will keep this village safe for the time being."
"Foresight, huh." Lloyd held up the Sword of Destiny, or rather, what remained of it. The reflection reminded him of something, but he couldn't quite place it. It was difficult to see through a broken blade, but he could make out his own face; its strange, shifting features of light and darkness and who knows what else. Was this his future? It seemed too surreal, almost metaphorical.
The helicopter took off, but took no notice of a newspaper that slipped out when the door closed, torn into the air as the aircraft rose above the hill. Carried by the updraft, it fluttered about and slapped Lloyd right in the face. Grunting in discomfort, he tore the print from his cheek and was about to crumple it when something on the frontispiece caught his eye. He straightened it out and let out an audible gasp.
"'Oni attack in the City of Stiix, averted by ninja. Village suffers heavy damages in ensuing fire.'"
Wu's eyebrows shot up.
"Oni?! When did this happen?!"
Lloyd looked at the date of the paper. It was three days old. They quickly read through the rest of the article, but rather than sating their curiosity, it only made them hungrier for details. The two exchanged an anxious glance.
"We need to go home," they said in unison.