A/N: Enjoy!

Part 3- Rising Hero

The ninja stormed through the Monastery doors, startling Wu and Pixal.

"What's the emergency?" Pixal asked, genuinely confused.

"Lloyd's been captured, and she" Kai jabbed his thumb over his shoulder at his sister, who seemed oddly sheepish "pulled another Wu on us tonight."

"What'd she do?" Wu asked in the same confusion as Pixal.

"Jay's alive and she didn't think to tell us until tonight," Cole answered.

"In my defense, he made me promise not to tell," Nya protested.

"Nya, you have some explaining to do," Wu sighed. "Boys, do not be too hard on her."

Lloyd was standing, chained next to Jay. Green was too stunned to speak and Blue was too sheepish. Both ninja jumped when Pythor spoke.

"Well, it's time to begin, wouldn't you agree?" he asked, rhetorically. Lloyd and Jay both balked at what that might mean. Jay turned to Lloyd with an intense look in his electric blue eyes.

"Promise me something, Lloyd," he said, not breaking eye contact. "Promise that whatever happens to me, you'll press on. No point in them losing two ninjas. Promise you'll stay strong!"

Lloyd had rarely seen Jay so serious, he had no choice but to agree. Pythor only smirked as he unchained Jay's wrists from the wall and immediately chained them together. Jay stared back, much braver than Lloyd ever thought he could be.

"Cute," Pythor taunted. "Especially for the expendable one, I believe is what Fire called you."

A look of pain flashed through Jay's eyes, though was quickly replaced with one of defiance.

"Kai never meant it!" Lloyd yelled. "Jay, don't listen to him! He's only trying to hurt you!"

"Oh, Lloyd," Pythor sighed. "I believe I've told you this already, but the physical tourture is so much more fun than the mental. Except when it comes to you."

"Remember your promise!" Jay yelled over Pythor. "Don't break, no matter what happens to me. You're the leader! They can't afford to lose you!"

"Jay…" Lloyd whimpered.

"Stay strong! Don't break! Remember your promise!"

"Oh, this is going to be fun," Pythor chuckled darkly.

A/N: That's that.

Reveiw!

~NG