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Chapter 7: The Sign
Deep within the New Temple, Garmadon meditated in the center. No torches were lit, no windows were open. The room was pitch black, yet to Garmadon, he had never felt so illuminated with power.
"Mmm, yes. Yes. YES!" His red eyes shot open, and extending his four arms, the surrounding torches illuminated with a purple flame. "QUIET ONE!"
The front door opened immediately with Harumi rushing in, her eyes needing to adjust to see him. "Yes, my lord?" The dark one stood on his feet, and after staring at the ceremonial table in front of him, he turned to face her.
"Ready a Nindroid Gunship. Inform Clouse that he will accompany us." She bowed her head, and befoire walking out, looked back up to him. "What destination shall I inform the pilot?"
He cackled and smiled. "I have had a vision of what is about to come. We head for Ninjago City."
"Please don't tell me that's him!" The Elemental Masters stared at the fisher's village. At least what is left of them.
Huts were tattered. The remaining civilians ran in terror in every direction. And at the center of it all was Shade facing Mr. E. "Yeah, Skylor, that's him. Come on guys!" Kai jumped out of the Destiny's Shadow and rushed into the action. Quickly passing him was Turner in a white light, who gracefully picked up shade before Mr. E's red sword could strike at his head.
"AH! WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?"
"A friend!" He carried him back to the bounty, and the rest watched as Kai, Skylor, and Karloff ran at Mr. E. "Hey, four-arms!"
The red Mask of Vengeance turned, staring right at kai. "Ajnin ym ton era ouy!"
"What?" he swing his sword, which was blocked by three others before he spun back. "I don't understand! Karloff!" On the signal, the Master of Metal slammed his fists together and punched the SOG General towards Skylor. But Kai did not expect what happened next.
Skylor mimicked Karloff's moves, and her skin turned metal as well. As Mr. E quickly approached, she punched him to the ground, and ran at him in a white flash, punching her still metal fists into his chest, before picking him up by the feet and spinning him into a circle before hurtling in the air, out of sight.
Kai stood dumbfounded at what just happened. "You- you copy powers?" As she turned back to normal, she sighed with a smile. "Yes, that's what Amber is. Once I touch an elemental, I gain their powers. See?" She opened up her hand to show a small ball of flame.
"Whoa... cool!"
"You're not... mad?"
"Mad? I mean, yeah, I feel tricked, but this is great! A powerful fighter like you would really tip the scale! Skylor, this is incredible!" She blushed for a second out of embarrassment. "Thanks, I've nev- WAIT! We have to get moving! If they knew you were here, then they know about the others!"
Kai didn't respond. He didn't have the chance before she ran to the Shadow, now with one more crew member. Karloff ran beside Kai as they approached. "Ey, not to worry, Fire Ninja. She is just always on her toes to be keeping out of trouble."
"Trouble? Then she chose the wrong line of work." Karloff let out a hearty below as they boarded the ship, heading for Jamanakai.
In skies above the Cloud Kingdom, Nobu took the helm of the boat as Fenwick explained the extensive history of the Realm Crystal and the Scroll of Airjitzu. "So you see, these treasures were the last parted to Ninjago before The First Spinjitzu Master's passing. Them, along with the Sword of Sanctuary."
"And where are they?"
"Oh the Sword is here. The First Spinjitzu Master himself gave it to us for safekeeping. The Scroll, however, is lost to us." Mystake's eyes widened at this news. "What?"
"Yes, I am afraid our powers have somehow... diminished. They have been for some time now." Lloyd looked just as confused as when he first arrived. "What Powers?"
Fenwick sighed, and nodded to Nobu, who docked the boat in front of a large Temple in the center of the city. "This way. You see, Sensei Lloyd, it is our duty, much like it is yours, to preserve a balance. Except we don't fight." Once they walked up the stairs and inside the large doorway, Lloyd saw hundred of brown-clad monks writing scriptures. He walked to the closest one, and was shocked at the name he saw on top. KAI SMITH.
"We write."
"You... you write out our paths?" He turned in shock to see Fenwick and Nobu nod. "We are the Writers of Destiny. It is our job to write out the path of every hero who has an eefect on the balance. But for quite some time, our scriptures have stopped working."
"And... Jay? You made him die? And my uncle? AND MY FATHER?" At this point, every monk stared at him in fear, but Fenwick still remained calm. "No. Garmadon's journey was supposed to be complete. Once he joined your fight again, our hold on his path began to falter. But we still managed to get some things across: He saved you from the Nindroids, after all. But we never wrote this fate for him." He walked to another Monk, staring at his scripture. "And Wu, he was supposed to inspire you to fight the Overlord by fighting him one on one, stalling him. But Jay..."
"Yeah?"
"Jay was never supposed to even be there. His parents were supposed to escape the Junkyard, and he would move them to safety. When he made the decision to sacrifice himself, our powers broke completely." The monk with Kai's scripture spoke up. "Yeah, I'm writing about Kai running back to be with his the others at the tower, but he's off fighting the SoG General with the Elemental Masters!"
"Yeah!" "None are working!" "All we can do is write!"
"Yes, I'm afraid they are correct. We are not fighters." Lloyd's eyes were tearing up at the news that until recently, his path had been written out entirely. "Ok... so where is the Realm Crystal?"
Before answering, Fenwick guided him and Mystake to a back room, leaving Nobu to tend to the Monks. Once the doors closed behind him, he looked back at Lloyd. "Why... in the tomb of the First Spinjitzu Master, of course."
Lloyd smacked his forehead at his stupidity. "Of course! The clues were all in the writing! We just have to get to the Whirling Ocean!"
"Oh, but I'm afraid you are too late."
"What do you mean?"
*IN THE TOMB, UNDER THE WHIRLING OCEAN*
Ronin burst first into a large open space, landing on his face. He looked up to see a skeleton holding a shiny jewel. "AH!"
"Well done, Ronin, you have found it!" Behind him came Chen, Krunch, Knuckal, and a handful of their minions. Knuckal stared in awe. "Oooh, SHINY! Gimme, gimme gimme!" He ran to grab the Realm Crystal, causing the skeleton's arms to fall off of the body. Ronin couldn't believe the sight.
"Whoa, be careful!" Chen stared at him in confusion. "Erm- you don't want him to drop it, do ya?"
"A fair point. Knuckal, let's go!" The Skulkin general nodded, and raised the crystal up, allowing it to absorb everyone in the room, including the body of the First Spinjitzu Master.
*BACK IN THE CLOUD KINGDOM*
"I mean that you are too late."
In Nimbus's "house," King Pythor lay next to General Cryptor and several Nindroids, all electrocuted by the hairy beast. "Did you hear that?" A slight spark caught the albino Serpentine's attention, then a small portal formed in the room's center. Out stepped Chen, Ronin, the Skulkin Generals, and several cultists and Skulkin warriors.
"Oh, Chen, I never thought I'd be so happy to see you!"
"Come on, Pythor. We still have work to do." The cult leader motioned for his men to recharge the Nindroids with their carry-on tazers, reactivating their own weapons systems as well. The oily man extended his arm for Pythor, who gladly took it. "I believe these are yours as well." From his back pocket, Chen took out the small Serpentine crown, and Eyezor walked forward with Pythor's Anacondrai staff.
"Now, let's get that Sword!"
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?" Mystake sensed something was wrong, and in a flash, grabbed Fenwick by the throat, holding him up a good few inches off the ground. Lloyd stood back surprised, unsheathing his blade towards Fenwick, though the gray-haired man only chuckled at the failed attempts at intimidation.
"I put destiny into my own hands. Our powers are failing. The future is uncertain. But my realm will survive what is to come, even if I had to betray them!" With a growl, Mystake threw him to the ground, knocking him unconscious. "We have to get the Sword!"
Lloyd nodded, knocking down the door they just came through with a massive green energy blast. "Where is the Sword of Sanctuary?!"
Nobu turned to face them. "This way!" He pointed to the side door of the temple's main room, and began to run that way. In the heat of the moment, the two followed up a flight of stairs, taking them outside along the top of a wall.
"Hurry, heroes! The Sword is in the Keeper's Tower!" He pointed to a tall tower that stood out among the several smaller buildings that lay atop the clouds on the Temple's south side. As the continued to run along the wall, Lloyd yelled after Nobu.
"Why should we trust you? Your Headwriter seemed comfortable with the act of betrayal!"
"Headwriter Fenwick has lost his faith in you, and in our purpose. He has for some time."
"You knew?"
"I did, though I did not know the extent of his betrayal, and I could not make a move against him until you showed up and he revealed himself to you. Otherwise, I would have. Quickly!" He hailed the closest flying boat, which anchored near the wall slowly as he hopped on, taking the wheel from the driving monk.
"Jump on, this will get us there faster!" They followed his instructions, allowing them to approach the tower far faster then on foot. Until...
"PORT SIDE!" The monk yelled, alerting the other three to notice the approaching missile from the right. But it was too late for Nobu to take evasive actions. He turned the boat up towards the right, allowing the missile to hit the lower deck near the back. "JUMP OFF!"
Lloyd and Mystake ran forward towards the end of the boat, hopping on the nearest cloud. the young Sensei turned to see Nobu quickly following behind, with the Monk right behind him. "Come on, Nobu!" The bowl-haired ginger jumped in the nick of time, grabbing onto the clouds edge. The monk jumped right behind him, extending his arm for Nobu to grab.
Until a red laser hit his chest midair, killing him instantly as his body and the boat fell into the abyss below. "NO!"
Lloyd looked up to see a Nindroid with a rocked launcher and a smoking eye staring at them from across the abyss, in front of the entrance to the Keeper's Tower, pointing right at them "General, there they are!"
From behind the lone Nindroid, emerging from the front entrance of the Tower, approached the Nidroid General, Kruncha and Knuckal, some strangely robed man with slicked black hair and a purple snake headdress, and Pythor with the Sword IN HAND, pointing right at Lloyd. "Get them!"
Without any notice, several Nindroids, humans in snake-skull dressing, and Skulkin warriors ran from out the temple towards Lloyd and Mystake from the sides, swords and axes at the ready, guns taking aim. But as they lifted him above the abyss, Nobu let out a loud whistle.
And once again, all hell broke loose.
Within the streets of Ninjago City, Zane was patrolling in the armored Titanium Tumbler, generously provided by Cyrus Borg. Although inner-city violence was practically dead, the White Ninja refused to neglect his duties to Ninjago and it's citizens. He would even say he enjoyed the relatively quiet time away from training their new students, and the adoring looks from the everyday person as he or she would smile brightly and wave as he passed by.
He was just passing by the preserved reconstruction of the private Palace, which internally caused Zane dismay, as the Emperor, Empress, and Arms-master Hutchins were still presumed to be in the clutches of the Dark Army. Fortunately, the sound of Pixal's voice from the vehicle's radio brought him back to reality before he dwelled too long in-thought.
"Control to Zane, please respond!" Zane noted the slight distress in her tone.
"This is Zane. Pixal, what is wrong?"
"Cyrus Borg's newly built threat-analysis system has detected an anomaly!"
Zane knew that could only mean one thing. "A realm breach?"
"Quite possibly, but we are not sure! The threat is not certain, and should not be a cause for alarm until verified, but go to the given coordinates and help evacuate the area! "The computer blipped as a set of coordinates appeared on the screen. It was right by the center of the city, by the Tower. "I am on my way!"
He shifted into high gear as the Tumbler raced down the street, alarms sounded to ensure that blocking vehicles will move. After passing a few blocks, he noticed several police cars followed his lead, alarms also blaring. Zane noticed the Police Commissioner in the car next to him; a man Zane admired, though he did not agree with his "full-force" tactics. But now was not the time to worry about that.
Pulling into the City Center, Zane jumped out, seeing Cole, Nya, and Dareth were already there, each holding weapons in preparation for anything. They had helped evacuate any bystanders in the area. The Black ninja smiled at the Nindroid approaching. "Zane! I see you brought friends."
The Commissioner scoffed slightly at the comment as he got out of the car. "My men will assist in any way we can, Cole. TOMMY! SIMON! JIMMY! Give your team their assignments, and fan out for anything!" The three cops did as they were ordered, and all 30 some-odd police officers spread out.
Nya attached her two swords to her armor's back, nodding at the incoming Commissioner. "You sure are effective, Sir."
"My thanks, Samurai X. I do try to model my own force's efficiency after yours. After all, if not for the efforts made by you and your team, none of us would be here." Cole lowered his hammer, and Dareth did the same with his two long knives. Zane, who had watched silently, only raised one eyebrow at the comment. Nya only smiled at the flattery before making a correction.
"That is very kind of you to say sir, but I am actually no longer Samurai X- I'm training to become the next Elemental Master of Water."
"NYA! You are going to tell him the big news before your own brother?! No offense." Cole's reaction was sound. Indeed, Mystake had revealed the truth of Nya's heritage and her own inner powers while Kai was away, but Nya hated the secrecy of it.
"Yes, I might as well. He'll find out soon enough. I am only wearing the armor because I have not mastered the element yet. Once I do, the mantle of Samurai X will be passed on to another."
The grey mustache of the Commissioner lifted with his smile. "Well, I feel sorry for whoever has to fill your-"
"SIR! UP THERE!" The all turned to Officer Simon, who pointed at the sky above them. In the clear blue, Zane spotted exactly what the young Officer spotted: several hundred feet in the air, a series of purple sparking electricity occurred without any visible cause.
Dareth raised his knives. "What is it?"
"Unclear, but be ready!" On Zane's word, every officer raised their pistols in the air in preparation for whatever was to come.
"I sense..." Zane closed his eyes in an attempt to preemptively see what was to come. "I sense..." But his sixth sense was no help. It did not foresee what occurred next:
After the sparking stopped, a small purple circle appeared, with it's white rim expanding into the size of a person. "Oh no..."
A PORTAL.
Only half a mile away, hundreds of feet above ground, a single Gunship floated above a cloud, away from the sight of the Ninja and Police below. Clouse, Harumi, and Lord Garmadon peered from the ships door at the same sight, seeing the portal expanding. Both practitioners of the Dark Arts were very confused by what was happening but, the Dark Lord smiled at the sight.
"GET READY!" Zane took out his new bow, aimed high. Everyone had crouched down, ready for anything to emerge. Then, just as quickly as it had appeared, the portal blinked into nothingness. They all lowered their weapons in confusion.
"Ummm, what was that?"
Clouse sputtered. Harumi looked to the dark Lord for an answer. "My Lord, what was that?"
"That, Quiet One, was what we have been waiting for for the last six months. That was the sign. Prepare yourselves for what will soon come."
Okay! Another one done. I jope you are still reading. PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW if you have any comments or questions, and I will update as soon as I can!
R&R!