"Alright!" Forte shouted into her mic, "Who's ready to have some fun?!"
Forte gave a jump into the air just as the entire audience of the stadium let out a massive cheer. All around, people held up their Borg Watches, flashing them various neon colors of blue, green and pink. As Forte landed, she looked up as massive spotlights began to roam the audience. She reached up and made a small heart with her hands, thrusting it out towards them. The audience let out another cheer as she snapped her hands down and played a long riff on her keytar.
"You sure about that?!" Forte shouted again, "Because tonight you're gonna have to have five times the energy!"
The crowd erupted again. Forte, grinning heavily, slid her foot back to hit a hidden switch. Slowly, the elevated cylindrical part of the stage she stood on folded down into the stage with a long spiral, ending with her facing away from the crowd. Underneath her, a massive circle flashed with a deep neon blue color, highlighting her. She reached up and adjusted the mic hanging from her ear, a smile on her face as she took a few deep breaths.
"Then give it up… for the debut return of Five Element Time!" Forte shouted. The crowd went wild as the stage began to hiss with a tiny amount of smoke. More platforms rose up from under the stage. The crowd began to frantically shout and cheer out as each of them rose up.
Forte spun around first, grinning as she addressed the crowd in her normal chaotic half rockstar, half popstar outfit, her massive pink hair fluffed up around her head. A deep purple ring of light to her left highlighted Ren, her hair pulled back while she raised up her hands in a deep, frilly purple dress. Directly in front of Forte, a deep orange circle lit up as Carnelian jumped up and did a flip, landing with a flick of a Rhotatae disc that shot out into the crowd, her own dress swinging about her hips as the deep amber outfit hugged her body. To Forte's right, a deep blue circle lit up, and from it Mizuko rose up, running her hands back along her head and grinning out as she, also in a deep blue dress to match her color, swung around and wavd eagerly at the audience.
In front of all of them, forming a diamond of lights with Carnelian in the middle, a deep green circle rose up. The girl that came out looked the most unsure of them all, her thighs pressed together as she, in the same big and frilly dress as her friends, this one a deep green, contrasted her deep white hair. She nervously held up her hands and waved to the crowd.
"L-Let's get this s-show started!" Harumi shouted nervously. She immediately winced as the crowd roared their approval at her. With a nervous turn to her friends, Harumi nodded and took a long and deep breath, just as Forte held up her keytar, shifted the settings, and began to play. Harumi took a deep breath as it started, thrusting her hand out and putting on a deep smile. Ren, Carnelian and Mizuko all rushed over and got onto their knees around Harumi as Forte played an opening electric riff. The lights in the stage began to flicker as the girls all readied, the music began to build up, the electric tune filling the space as the crowd waited anxiously. Finally, just as the music hit its peak, it cut out, letting the girls cut back in with the opening lyrics:
Awaken Returner, you just have to want it
A miracle that you are longing to feel!
The girls jumped up and spun around, letting Harumi leap forward to the edge of the stage.
Awaken Returner, you just have to wish it
Excitement until you hit the limit and want more, more, more, more, more, more!
Harumi drew her hands close to her heart as the girls jumped on each beat until they were in line with one another.
The audience cheered out as the four of them began to step backwards in time, ending up in front of Forte.
When were my dreams filled with that yearning
Carnelian broke off and swung her arms in front of her as she put her hand on her chest.
Was it all just a story in my heart?
Ren put her hands up and swayed side to side, putting her back to Carnelian.
With a reality getting even scarier
Harumi danced forward in a zig-zag, ending up right beside Mizuko.
Those thoughts felt like they might vanish
Mizuko reached out and grabbed Harumi's hands and spun her in a circle, jumping together.
I awaken in the light!
The girls all put their hands to their chins and thrust them out in a large flap.
Wanna succeed but gotta get it right
Harumi broke off and quickly ran off to the left.
Never gonna stop, gonna have to proceed!
Carnelian grinned and mirrored Harumi to her right.
Giving my all to walk this way!
Ren clasped her hands together and pointed forward as she hopped backwards.
Heading straight down the path to a gentle future…
Mizuko mirrored Ren, ending up beside her.
I'm not sure if I can keep walking…
The lights suddenly cut out, the girls all hidden in darkness as Forte leapt down from playing and collapsed her hands to her heart.
That's not true, you know it!
The girls each suddenly lit up, the stage under them reflecting their colors as they each raised their heads up in a dramatic flourish.
Just take a look around and around and around!
Carnelian started them out by holding her hands together and jumping into the air, while Harumi and the others followed until the music had reached its peak.
I wish you, were with me, so we could start Unlimited Dreaming!
Harumi stepped backwards, letting Carn and Mizuko hold her shoulders and rotated around her, ending in her charging up a Rhotatae disc to fire it into the air with a massive burst of green.
You're not alone!
Each girl slid forward with each syllable and thrust their hands out in front of them and rushed to start the chorus.
Lloyd watched with a shocked expression on his face. In the second row, Lloyd, Lulloyd, Monty and Mage all sat, watching as the beautiful and flashy colors rolled over them and, more confusingly, they watched the girls perform a full on idol routine. Each of them had the tickets sent directly to them through their devices, all courtesy of Forte for the event.
"She wasn't kidding…" Lulloyd blinked.
"You knew about this?!" Lloyd blinked. Lulloyd gave him a sheepish glare as Lloyd shook his head, "I mean, uh… I just. This is…"
"You didn't download her album while we were here?" Monty sighed. After a moment, he leaned over to Lulloyd and whispered into his ear, "Mezame Returner?"
"Pretty sure…" Lulloyd whispered back, "How much on Atsuku Nare being next..?"
Mage, still transfixed by the sheer mass of sensations being thrown at him, was standing up on his chair and cheering along with the crowd. He held glow sticks in his hands, devices he'd questioned only as far as what to do with them. He began to swing them about with the same force of the crowd behind him, lighting up the entire audience as he jumped about, giddy as a child as he watched his friends on stage.
"Is, Over coming?" Lloyd asked, shouting to be heard over the crowd.
"Sure he's just being fashionably late," Monty shouted back at him, "Now shut up and let them perform."
Lloyd raised his head just in time to see the girls spinning their performance around into the final stages. The girls shouted the last bit of the chorus together as they, now at the opposite edges of the stage, each turned to each other and held their arms up together, charging Rhotatae discs they shot towards the center of the stage. The discs began to spin around each other in a massive light-filled glare of color as they each began working their way towards each other:
Call for it, call for it, the best and the highest
The girls each reached each other and took point together in front of the spinning discs
There's not a thing to fear
The girls each spun to face the audience.
Not a thing~!
The discs broke apart as Carn waved her hand in front of her face.
Let it reach all the way out, our passionate feelings,
The girls quickly danced around each other, trading spaces across the stage and ending up in a line together with their foot pointed forward, Harumi in the center.
Without our souls singing freeeee!
Each of them put their hands together and held the note hard as they turned to face Harumi, sliding onto their knees with Harumi standing.
Cut in~!
Harumi put her hand to her face and gave a wink to the audience.
The crowd roared as the girls jumped up and rapidly began to dance around one another again. The music began to fade out as Harumi turned and pointed up into the air to her left, leg bent forward, as Ren and Mizuko dropped to their knees in front of her, Forte and Carnelian further out with their arms splayed up in a large L. Monty's eye raised hard as the sight as the music cut out and the girls began to fiercely gasp out and pant on the stage together.
"We're Five Element Time!" Forte jumped up to her feet and shouted, "Let's get this concert started off RIGHT!" The crowd cheered again as the lights flashed up again, the show continuing. Lloyd, smiling to himself, picked up his own glow sticks and stood up with a loud shout, joining the crowd as the girls readied their second song with more yet to come.
"Alright," Monty held his drink in front of him, "That last pose was just the Hari Hari Yukai and if you tell me otherwise, I'll blast you through that wall."
"I-I'm not arguing with you!" Lulloyd gasped out, "T-They did the pose and everything!"
"Uhhh, I heard something about going through walls," Dareth, cleaning a glass with a rag, slid down the bar and shook his head, "I'm gonna have to ask you not to do that, the windows here were very expensive."
"Do I look like I care?" Monty turned to look at him with a harsh glare. Lulloyd groaned out.
"Uh, are you, old enough to have that?" Dareth pointed to the alcoholic beverage in Monty's hand, "I mean, I don't know how to count ghost years."
Monty, looking Dareth hard in the eye, slowly leaned forward and let his cape spread to the side, revealing the glint of a new pistol on his hip. Upon seeing it, Dareth promptly turned around and walked away, causing Lulloyd to sigh and quickly rush over to apologize.
Across the bar, Harumi and her girls all sat, giggling to each other and chatting loudly about the performance. The ambiguous drinks around their table were being downed at a fast rate, fast enough that by the time Dareth finished with one round, Forte was ordering another round.
"We could have nailed that last mark way better!" Carnelian slammed her hand on the table, "I don't care how hard they cheered!"
"You're far too critical," Ren chuckled, "Given we only have two weeks to rehearse, that was a very good performance."
"You gotta give us more time, Forte!" Mizuko chirped out, "It's really hard to learn that much!"
"I assessed your performance to be 89.56% accurate to the initial plan you provided me," Olive informed the girls with a nod, "I, personally, consider that to be a success."
"Wait, how can we be point-4-6 percent away from an A?!" Forte asked with a gasp.
"You missed one step during your third song," Olive informed her, "Ren was forced to make an extra step to cover it for you."
"Did I?" Ren asked, "I don't quite remember. It was a blur, honestly. Rather intense."
"Well, either way…" Harumi smiled, raising her drink up, "That was… really fun, girls!"
"Here, here!" The others cheered, giggling at the silly shout as they each took a long and hard sip. Lloyd and Mage, both sitting with the others at the table between Harumia nd Ren, raised up their own drinks, decidedly less adult than the ones the girls were drinking.
"So, Olive!" Mage leaned forward when he finished his sip, "Why weren't you in the band with them?"
"I was offered the chance in the past," Olive informed him, "But at the time I was uninterested in such things. Now I am content helping them from backstage rather than on it."
"Well… you guys were amazing," Lloyd blushed, "I uh. I didn't even know you could give performances like that."
"What?!" Forte suddenly climbed up onto the table, "Are you telling me you don't have awesome amazing performances like this here?!"
Lloyd, taken aback by just how energetic and sudden her reaction was, went silent. Harumi quickly reached up and helped to coax her down. Dareth came over as that was happening, passing out another round of drinks to them.
"Heh, never seen you girls around here before!" Dareth nodded, "You all from out of town? Surprised you even found this place!" Dareth chuckled, "I normally don't let kids in here, but… well," He looked at Mage sitting by Lloyd, "Always happy to help a ninja out!"
"Thanks, Dareth!" Carnelian gave him a salute, "You'll be rewarded handsomely for your services."
"Good, I'd hope so!" Dareth chuckled, then coughed out, "Since, uh, you know, you have had a lot of drinks. I put it on your tab."
"Keep it open, thank you," Ren smiled, "We intend to be here for a while."
Dareth, sensing much more reliability from her, gave her a small smile and left. Lloyd, after their concert and handling the massive amount of fans that wanted an autograph for the re-debut of Five Element Time, had suggested they make their way here in his world. With some of Olive's improvements and some swift tinkering, they'd been able to use their wristbands alone to get the girls here, though Harumi had warned him such a thing would put a strain on the devices.
"It sounds as though you're all having fun," Over announced. The girls turned and saw Over striding into the bar, a few glow sticks in his hand. As soon as they saw him, the others quickly shouted for him to come over.
"Over!" Mage waved, "Why weren't you at the show?!"
"Oh, I was," Over shook his head, holding up his glow sticks, "I simply was caught in the back. I couldn't quite make it to the seats that you arranged for me."
"What!?" Forte shouted, "How, why?!"
"Because the concert was rather packed," Over shook his head, "I don't quite think that I could have made it there even if I was escorted. I didn't wish to disturb them. I could see just fine from the back," Over's eyes glowed. He pulled a chair up over the large group, Monty and Lulloyd swiftly joining him to complete them.
"Did you like the show?" Harumi asked, suddenly blushing in worry.
"It was very entertaining," Over nodded, "I normally don't enjoy flashy things, but yours was rather fun. I compliment whoever came up with your choreography, I found it the best part."
"That's me," Ren raised her hand, "Forte can't come up with a dance to save her life. I analyzed a lot of samples she gave me and came up with them for her."
"Then you did a wonderful job," Over informed her, "You should feel very proud of yourself. As should all of you."
"Course we did," Carnelian grinned, throwing an arm around Harumi, "You want a drink, big guy?"
"I just ate," Over shook his head, holding up his own wristband, "But I appreciate the offer. I will take you up on it later."
"It's great to see you again, Over!" Lulloyd smiled, "It's been… w-what, a month now? I was kinda, worried something happened to you."
Ren, sensing that the group needed some alone time, stood up and smiled, "Come, girls, let's go see what else this place has to offer," The others nodded their heads and stood up, Forte reluctantly after trying to finish off her drink. Soon enough, they had moved into another part of the large space to find something to mess with, leaving the six of them together to look towards each other with an awkward silence.
"What have you been doing, Over…?" Harumi asked, hoping to break the silence.
"Traveling the universes, just as I promised," Over nodded, "I fulfilled a promise, then I began my wandering. So far, I have not seen much out of the ordinary," He turned to face Lloyd, "It appears as though your world is either the basis of, or closely associated with, the basis of the other worlds."
"Really?" Lloyd blinked, "Mage told us you were going out traveling, but… what things have you seen out there?"
Over paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts, "Well. Most of them are small variations. Details that shift and turn, but the story remains the same. It's a rather enlightening experience, actually. Though there was one where I was asked to play a Reaper's Game and narrowly avoided getting involved… I did manage to grab hold of this, though," Over opened his palm and revealed a pin with a white skull on it, "Not quite sure what it does, but it was strange."
"You having fun on your extended tourist trip, then?" Monty asked him with a sigh, "Still planning on going out there for all time?"
"I doubt I could spend eternity wandering an infinite corridor of endless possibilities, I doubt even I could stay sane in that circumstance," Over shook his head, "Yet I find it… somewhat a relief from everything before. I have made it my point not to get involved in any event, for the sake of my own sanity and timeline variance, but seeing what could have been gives my mind security in what has already come to pass," Over nodded, "My own timeline was sacred to me. And it appears as though it will remain that way.I find comfort in that fact."
"I have a working theory that we can't travel into worlds that are straight up timeline variations of our own," Harumi put her hand up, "Even if you know our worlds all have similar events, we all differ in having some kind of variant power. Ophiod is the exception, but even he has enough differences that I doubt we could run into another one of ourselves out there."
"How, is Ophiod?" Lulloyd asked, "Did, anyone talk to him?"
"Ophiod wishes to walk his own path alone, without the intervention of others," Over answered, "I have not spoken to him. I do not believe he wishes to do so. But, I imagine that if he has great need of it, he will contact us," Over nodded, "That much is certain."
There was another round of silence between them. The memory of what they had all done together was fresh in their minds, and yet simultaneously hard to bring up. What they'd done in the interim between that event and now was equally as hard to voice, it seemed.
"I'm working on rebuilding the Summit!" Mage smiled happily, "And the Amber Tribe! I moved in with Skylar to help her out with that."
"You what?" Over asked, his eyebrow perking up, "Does she not live alone, isolated from everyone else?"
"Yep!" Mage nodded, "I figured I could help her out and, you know. Give her some company and all that!"
"And your father has no issue with this?" Over's eyes narrowed further, "Your friends? None of them see issue with you living with her?"
"...Why would they have an issue with that?" Mage asked in confusion, "I'm the Dragon Lord! If people see me there, they'll come to the Amber Tribe and we can start rebuilding!"
"..." Over frowned, leaning forward and putting his hands under his chin, "I see."
"How goes being the son of the world's craziest warlord?" Monty turned to Lulloyd, "Still doing crazy things?"
"I mean… not really?" Lulloyd rotated his head, "Honestly all I'm doing is just just, training and getting things back to normal. I missed… a lot of school, so that's also kinda taking up my time. Between that, hanging out with the others and training, it's… kinda been all I've done."
"Alright," Monty sighed, turning to Harumi, "I'm guessing you'd say something like you're training to become a full time idol?"
"W-What? No!" Harumi shook her head, "First of all we're not idols, we're a pop band! And secondly, this was a favor for Forte after everything that happened!" Harumi grumbled out, "I'm actually opening up a Dojo under Uncle Dareth's business."
"My what now?" Dareth walked over, "Came to see if you guys need anything."
"Nothing for right now, thank you," Harumi nodded. Dareth let out an audible sigh of relief and quickly scampered away to the other group of loud, chattering girls that seemed to never have any bottom to their wallets or their drink orders.
"You're opening a Dojo?!" Mage leaned forward, "That's perfect for you! You're a great teacher!"
"Does that mean you're going to stop fighting crime?" Monty narrowed his eyes.
"Of course not," Harumi shook her head, "And for the record, I work with the police, so it's not just 'fighting crime.' I just… figured it's time I finally put my feet down and decide on my path in life," Harumi smiled gently, a distant look in her eyes, "I let myself get pulled back for too long. I'm going to start moving forward again."
"That sounds great, Harumi," Lulloyd smiled, "Uh… I don't know if it's weird to ask, but…"
"If I need help, you'll be the first ones that I ask," Harumi smiled at Lulloyd, "The girls are nice but… Ren and Olive are the only ones I'd trust to teach and they both are too busy to help out."
"Well, that offer is appreciated," Over smirked, "Now then. I believe that leaves Monty next."
"What do you want me to say?" Monty grumbled out, "I'm back to working at the shop. Just same old, same old. Still bailing Ronin out of bad deals. Haven't had anywhere to go and raid yet for treasure, so it's been extra boring."
"And that sounds exactly like what you wanted, right?" Harumi nodded, "You complained from the start you wanted to go back to normal."
"Oh yes, you have one over on me," Monty rolled his eyes, "I'm just doing what I do. Enough about me, though," Monty turned to Lloyd, "Spill it."
"Uh… nothing?" Lloyd swiftly replied, "We've moved into the new Monastery now and we're just working to keep it up and running. Wu's been really big about training us lately, I think so this whole Twin thing doesn't happen again."
"Good," Monty frowned, "You need it." Lulloyd groaned out at his rude tone.
"You're right," Lloyd smiled at Monty, knowing how to handle the remark, "I'm working hard to get stronger for Ninjago. I won't let something like this happen again."
"Well well, you can learn after all," Monty acknowledged, "Good for you."
The group devolved into an amused chuckle at Monty's remark, something which Monty didn't expect. As they each looked around at one another, taking their time in enjoying the other's presence, Lloyd found his spirits lifting. After everything, every battle and moment of stress and struggle, he'd always wondered if they would remain friends.
"I have an idea," Lloyd put forward, "What if, we met up like this every so often? Not all the time but… what if we came back to the bar and just, hung out? We can check up on each other and… you know," Lloyd waved his hand, "Just… be friends?"
There was a small moment of silence across the table, making Lloyd worry that he'd perhaps done something wrong. A bit later, however, he heard them each speak up and it brought a smile to his face.
"I see no reason why not to," Over nodded, "As long as we do so discreetly."
"I-I can probably get away from school and dad long enough to come!" Lulloyd added.
"It sounds like fun," Harumi added, "I'm in."
"That sounds great!" Mage added, "I'm in!"
"...I'm not going to be the one to say no," Monty frowned.
"Then…" Lloyd, looking around, saw the small karaoke stage in the bar and stood up, "Why don't we do a song together? Whenever I come here with the ninja, we do a few songs too, you know. Hang out!"
"You are not making me-" Monty began, only to see Mage's eyes sparkle with delight. Over turned to look at Monty with a piercing glare that told him, above all else, he wasn't allowed to decline this offer.
"My voice might be a bit sore," Harumi rubbed her throat, "But it sounds like fun. Can we all fit up there, though?"
"We do this all the time!" Lloyd nodded, a rush of giddiness flowing through him, "Come on!"
Before the group knew it, Lloyd had piled them onto the stage. Lloyd stood at the mic, holding it tightly. Harumi and Lulloyd were to his sides, bent forward to get in closer. Monty was half-phased through Lulloyd in order to lean in, an annoyed look on his face. Mage had his eyes glowing copper as he hovered in the air, putting him on the same height as Over who stood beside him. They both were behind the other four, leaning in. At the table in front of the small stage, the five girls all quickly cheered for them.
"So, what song do you want?" Dareth called out to them, "I'll get it going for ya."
"Put on the Weekend Whip!" Lloyd nodded, "Everyone knows that one!"
Dareth selected their song and hit a button, causing the lights above them to begin to flash and flare up with color. As the music began, Lloyd began to bob with the beat, the others following suit sans the grumpy ghost. As they all crowded around the mic, Lloyd took a deep breath, a smile on his face that he hadn't felt in a long time as they start the chorus:
It's time for trainin' and we're getting started! It's on you know!
Author's Note:
I've compiled my final thoughts into the Afterword after this, please read to the end for an update on the last Ninjaverse content!