Nicki's Story
31
The Dragon landed with a thud.
"This is the Dragon Haven?" Jay was incredulous. "It looks the same as everywhere else!"
The ninja dismounted and looked around at the landscape, which really did look exactly like everywhere else.
"My scanners aren't picking up anything unusual…" Zane reluctantly agreed.
"Great. So we left Cole back there for nothing." Kai simmered. He felt something swat his leg.
"Ow…WU, NOT IN THE MOOD." he said, turning, but it was actually the tail of the dragon that had whipped him.
"He says we have to follow him." Jay explained as Kai rubbed his thigh. Wu was up ahead, shaking his head like he was disappointed in Kai's accusation.
They followed the Dragon and came to the largest rock formation they had seen yet; It looked like a fortress in and of itself. The Dragon stopped suddenly and shot a blast of lightening at the side of it.
Rather than explode the rock, the lightening hit and dispersed, crackling in some complicated pattern across its surface. After it faded a door appeared, much like the one that had beckoned Jay in earlier.
The dragon entered first, and the ninja looked at each other, not sure. A roar echoed from deep inside.
"Alright, alright, we're coming." Jay said, rolling his eyes. They entered in and the doorway slammed closed. The only light came from the dragon up ahead and Zane.
"I wish we knew where we were going…" Kai muttered, and Jay looked around nervously. Having all this rock above him was making him feel claustrophobic.
"Hush, Ninja." Wu's voice sounded almost reverent. Soon the only sound was the footsteps and talons scraping on the rock floor. Eventually they saw light and Jay couldn't help but hope that they were headed back outside.
As they approached, however, they realized that it wasn't daylight, but the glow of an enormous dragon. It was the color of aged parchment…and looked just as old and fragile.
I know what it is you seek.
All the ninja except Wu and Jay seemed surprised to hear the dragon speak.
"That's how my dragon talks to me!" he started, but a look from Wu cut him off.
You have come at a perilous time. The powers of the Oni are growing stronger and I fear that it won't be long before they unlock the secrets from their past.
The ninja made eye contact. That didn't sound good.
Time is not in your favor. The dragon of Fire is not far from here. The others may not be as easy to find.
Jay wished he could say something sarcastic, but Wu was glaring at him like he was on to him.
Fire Master...proceed quickly and with caution.
Another door opened up to the right of the group. Kai cleared his throat, preparing himself to go through it. He figured it wouldn't be so bad…go in…say he'll pay the price…blah blah blah. He went to enter the tunnel.
You may need help
Kai paused and turned around.
Take the Master of Ice with you.
"What? Why does he get to take a buddy?" Jay couldn't help himself.
Kai looked at Zane, who nodded once as they ran down the tunnel.
Jay watched them go and groaned.
"And what, I just get to stay here and babysit Wu?" He looked down at his sensei, who raised an eyebrow.
"I think it is actually me who is doing the babysitting."
Theater
Lou literally had tears in his eyes as the three performers bowed before the raving crowd. He had desired greatness…but who could have expected that?
Sure, Dareth made up a line here and there, and Edna couldn't help but shake her head at certain scenes…but Ronin. Great Scott, that man could ACT.
Dareth mentioned as much to the thief as they did their bows. "Where did you learn to act like that? If I had known, I would have had you in show business for years."
"Shut up, Dareth."
"I'm serious, your performance was beautiful."
"Great. Now are we getting paid?"
But suddenly a new sound came up over the cheering audience; motorcycle engines.
Ronin cursed as SoG poured into the clearing, surrounding the residents of Jumanaki village.
"I knew this would never work!"
The large purple landmass called Killow addressed the crowd.
"So sorry to interrupt your revelries, but I'm afraid that you've just become the collateral damage in our Empress's wise plan." here he pointed at one of the screens in the village, and on cue a video of Harumi began playing.
The theater troop had retreated back behind the curtain as they listened to Harumi's crazed voice from the video.
"I guess I can forget about that paycheck," Ronin said, annoyed.
"At least it doesn't seem like they're here for us," Lou added hopefully, but Ronin was busy listening to the video. He cursed again.
"She's using the villagers as blackmail to get to Lloyd. Why am I not surprised?"
"We have to do something!" Dareth said, pounding a fist in his hand.
"But what can we do? There's too many of them…we go out there and not only will our covers be blown but we'll get our backsides handed to us." the thief pointed out angrily.
"Then I guess all we can do now is wait and see…" Lou said. He looked out of the curtain at the video.
"We have till dawn."
Keyda
Keyda shook her head in annoyance.
"None of that makes any sense…a floating Island? Evil…snakes? And you were a ghost…" She looked at him with sudden suspicion. "Are you making all of this up?"
He laughed once again, shaking his head.
"I swear I'm not! Though….I could probably be doing a better job at explaining it."
"Yeah…maybe try talking like a sane person."
He looked over at her and smiled, but something in his expression made her feel uncomfortable.
"Stop!"
"What?" he responded, baffled. "What did I do now?"
"You're so impossible." Once again, she refused to look at him.
"Oh yeah? Is that why you saved me after I got flung off the dragon…"
"Don't read into that too much, Idiot. I only did that because I wanted the pleasure of killing you myself…"
"Oh, of course." he said, but his infernal smile was still there. "And why you jumped off the guardian dragon…I take it that wasn't to give the rest of us a chance?"
She snorted. "You never had any chance. I just wanted to save myself from joining your same demise. Which," she turned to glare at him. "I would have, had you not blown up my rock formation, once again."
He shook his head.
"Yeah, bad habit of mine…" This time she couldn't help but join in on his laughter.
"I'm glad to see you're enjoying yourselves."
The door had opened, though the Baron's silhouette blocked out much of the light from the hallway. Their laughter immediately evaporated.
The Baron breezed into the cell like it was a throne room, rather than a dungeon.
"I trust you find your accommodations…comfortable."
Cole glared at him.
"Ah yeah…nothing better than being surrounded by rock and good company."
The Baron looked amused.
"I'm sure. I must say, Cole…you really had me going there. I was beginning to think you were just the Oaf of your group. I couldn't quite figure out why they kept you around."
"Well, don't tell anybody, but it's actually because of my charming personality."
"Quite." The Baron fiddled with a cuff-link as he continued. "Though your display back in the gorge…that was impressive in its own right. What I could do with such power…"
"Keep dreaming."
The Baron shook his head, still smiling.
"I have to admire your spunk, boy. Nobody with half a brain would ever dare speak to me the way you do."
"Well…I have been told I'm pretty stupid."
The Baron looked at the staff in his hand for a moment, and then back at Cole.
"But I'm afraid I would like to harness that power for myself…"
His tone made Cole's blood run cold, but he was defiant to a fault.
"And how exactly do you plan on doing that?"
The Baron pointed his staff at the Master of earth.
"Why…by controlling you of course." And with that red power leapt from the staff and blasted into Cole.
32
Kai and Zane crept down the tunnel, not exactly sure what they would find.
"Why do you think he'd want you to come with me?" Kai asked, trying not to feel annoyed. Jay had gotten his dragon without help…surely he could too.
"Perhaps it's…"
MASTER OF FIRE
Kai spun around.
"WOAH, why is he yelling?"
I KNOW WHAT YOU SEEK.
"Ok, that's really intense…." Kai complained. Zane looked around, confused.
"Whatever it is you're hearing, Kai, I can't…"
"Shhhh!" Kai cut him off. He looked down another tunnel. "It's coming from this direction! Let's go!" He began charging down the hallway, leaving a baffled Zane behind.
"Kai…Kai!"
The red ninja burst into a cavern that was alive with flames with Zane not far behind him. But there was no dragon in the middle of the cavern.
"Where…"
HAVE YOU COME TO FIGHT?
"Oh, are we fighting now? " Kai lit his hands up, looking around. "Why don't you show yourself then?"
Zane was the one who looked up.
"Kai, Look out!" he commanded, before blasting ice to combat the fire flash headed towards his friend.
Kai yelled out and dodged out of the way. He looked up and saw his elemental dragon on the ceiling, mouth open.
"Why do you want to fight?"
BECAUSE YOU WANT TO FIGHT!
"I don't want to fight!" Kai said jumping out of the way from another fire blast. "I want to get that harness thing. You're supposed to ask me if I am willing to pay a price!"
Another Ice blast from Zane was the only thing that kept Kai from becoming a cinder.
DO NOT ASSUME TO KNOW WHAT I DO
Kai kept dodging, firing a few blasts of fire himself. What the heck was this about? Jay didn't have to go through any of this!
DO YOU WANT TO FIGHT, OR DO YOU WANT THE HARNESS?
"I WANT THE HARNESS!"
PROVE IT.
"What is with this guy? He was never this explosive when he was my elemental dragon," Kai muttered. Another blast of fire made him roll away from his boulder shield; Zane covered him as he escaped behind a larger one. "Besides how exactly do I prove something like…" He trailed off as it hit him. He sighed in annoyance; if he was wrong, he was toast.
He got out from behind the boulder he was hiding behind.
"Stand down, Zane." He called. The nindroid looked puzzled but did so.
Kai stepped into the circle in the middle of the room, and looked up at the Dragon.
"Ok. I want the harness. I'm done fighting." The Dragon opened his mouth in return, as if to blast him with another torrent of fire. Kai closed his eyes and waited for the attack. After a few moments of nothing, he opened them. The dragon was suddenly right in front of him, looking at him with a bemused expression.
Very good Master of Fire. Not all victories are gained through fighting, just as Fire doesn't always need to be used for destruction. Fire can be highly beneficial…but only when it is controlled. The question still remains, however: are you willing to pay the price?
"Ah….there it is." Kai muttered.
To be granted the harness, you must be…
"For goodness sakes, YES…I'm willing to pay the price!"
A flash blinded him and Zane, and they both covered their eyes with their arms. When they looked back, the flaming dragon was wearing a harness, and the pull bar was golden.
Kai fist bumped the air. "Heck Yeah!"
Zane looked a little less triumphant.
"The dragon asked you about a price as well?"
"…Yeah...so?"
"I thought perhaps that was simply Jay's puzzle to solve…but it appears that there is more to this." The nindroid looked like he didn't like where the data was pointing. Kai slapped him on the back.
"Slow down, metal man. One thing at a time. For now, can't we just revel in the fact that for once I wasn't the last to accomplish something?"
LLoyd
"HARUMI!" Lloyd's yelling echoed throughout the massive room he entered. There, in the middle of Borg tower, Harumi had made herself a throne room.
"Oh Lloyd…you just couldn't help yourself, could you?" Harumi's voice basically cooed throughout the room. He spun around, trying to locate her.
"Call of your attack on Jamanaki…I came, like you wanted."
"I don't know…maybe I'll have Garmadon kill them all anyways. They can die thinking you failed them."
Lloyd burned with anger.
"Such pointless waste of life to make a point…why lay waste to a perfectly good village who could support you?" he said, trying to keep his fury in check. A blur caught in his peripheries and he turned a bit too late.
She kicked him against a wall right as a cage dropped from the ceiling.
"Oh…how original." Lloyd muttered, as he saw that he was trapped once again. He swore that he had spent at least a third of his life in a cage.
"Hmm…as fun as it would be to have more people hate you…I suppose it would be a waste of resources." She dialed into a borg watch on her wrist.
"Killow, we got him. Yeah…I know, stupid as always. Walked right in all alone," she looked at Lloyd with evil mirth. "Nya must be going insane with worry just about now…"
Lloyd pounded the bars of his cage.
"Ok, you got me, Harumi. You can have your little revenge now. But you leave my friends out of this."
Harumi hung up her call and just shook her head at him, patronizingly.
"Oh, but Lloyd…your little friends are part of the revenge."
33
Kai insisted on riding his dragon out of the tunnels. They burst into the cavern, nearly scaring Jay to death.
"GEEZ!"
"Boo-yah! Check out this bad boy!" Kai held up the golden pull-bar. Jay and Wu just shook their heads.
"Did he ask you about a price?" Jay asked, suddenly remembering.
"Uh…yeah….but just like you said, not feeling any different."
"Hmm…weird. But that means that there are only two more dragons left to find!" Jay said. "Ok, Mr. Ancient Dragon, where's the Ice Dragon at?
The Elder Dragon looked down with Jay with an expression that had more than a hint of disgust.
The location of the other two dragons is unknown to me. You must seek them out yourself.
"Oh, well isn't that typical?!"
"It is alright, Jay. I am sure that we will be able to locate them." Zane comforted.
"Yeah…but it's gonna be hard to find the Earth Dragon without Cole." Kai pointed out. "It's probably time to go spring him out."
"If the Baron even left him alive…" Jay muttered, but Kai shook his head.
"You have got to stop thinking like that, Jay!"
"Master." Zane was looking down at Wu. "I fear it is too dangerous for you to accompany us. The Baron is onto who you are…I think it would be best…"
"…If I stayed here." Wu looked incredibly unhappy about the idea. He finally sighed.
"I lack many of my former skills, including spinjitzu. I want to free Cole as much as the rest of you, but I have to go with Zane on this one. I'd be more of a hindrance than a help."
"That is not what I…" Zane tried to correct him, but Wu held up a hand.
"This is no time for arguing. I will do what research I can towards locating the Ice Dragon. You must get back and save Cole. I am afraid he is in the belly of the beast…"
Keyda
Keyda closed her eyes in an attempt to block out the screams. It proved to be a mistake… Cole's tortured yells immediately brought forth unbidden flashes of memories; frantic people, burning buildings, screams…
Her eyes flew open. She had never seen the Baron's Enrager used on anything other than a dragon, but as she watched Cole thrash against his chains she realized that it must be incredibly painful. She was so busy watching him that she didn't realize that the Baron's eyes had been on her the entire time.
The Baron pulled back his staff, and the Enrager stopped. Cole went limp, shaking and breathing hard; he seemed on the verge of blacking out again. Yet as Keyda looked over, she noticed that his eyes were not red.
The Baron must have noticed as well. "How intriguing…" He lifted the staff again, as if to go for a second round.
"No…" Keyda had breathed the word without even thinking, but regretted it immediately as the Baron turned to her.
"Ah…Keyda, I had almost forgotten about you. I must say, after everything I've done for you over the years, your betrayal has been most disappointing. I had always hoped I'd find a way of making you…useful." He was looming over her now, and she watched in horror as he calmly pulled out a sword.
"No…please…"
"Ah…but what kind of leader would I be if I let the guilty go unpunished?" He held the sword up.
"Then let her go." Cole's voice was haggard, but it caused the Baron to pause. He looked over at the outsider, amused. Cole turned and met his stare.
"Everything you think she's done wrong has been my fault. If a good leader is one who punishes the guilty, then he's also someone who wouldn't punish the innocent. So what kind of leader are you…really?" The Baron's face remained expressionless, and without even looking back at Keyda his sword lashed towards her…
…breaking through her cuffs. Her arms dropped like stones and she shook with fear and adrenaline. Cole let out the breath he was holding.
"Keyda." The Baron was addressing her again, and she looked up at him, still terrified. "You are returned to your previous status…where you will remain until the end of your days. But remember… one step out of line is all it will take…"
"Yes, Baron. Thank you Baron." She bowed low.
"Now leave."
She struggled to stand; spending days in the same position on the cold stone made movement difficult. She finally got to her feet and headed to the cell door.
"Unless…" The Baron began talking, and Keyda froze. He didn't continue until she had turned to face him. "Unless you would like to stay, and witness the fate of this outsider… that is, if you even care what happens to him?" He raised one eyebrow; this was a test and she knew it.
"Of course not." She tried not to notice Cole's eyes drop to the ground.
"Then go."
She turned and rushed out into the hall, into freedom. But she knew it still wasn't true freedom… she was only back to the misery that she had started in. The Baron's voice followed her down the hall, but he wasn't talking to her.
"Now…shall we get on with punishing the guilty?"
She covered her ears and fled as the screams started again.
P.I.X.A.L
P.I.X.A.L moved through the hallway towards what she hoped was the Oni mask containment room. She was up all night narrowing it down, and she had decided that this room would make the most logical sense to hold the Oni Masks. The information pulled from the Borg Tower files seemed to confirm her prediction.
"Ok…I think Lloyd just entered the throne room. We don't have much time." Nya's voice came through her processor.
"Right…I'm headed to the containment room now." She hacked into the security panel by the door and it finally slid open. A few more codes and she was 98% sure that she had taken down any security protocols in the room as well.
She walked into the room, and saw the three masks encased in what she analyzed to be clearstone. It was hard to see much else; the room was incredibly dimly lit.
"I'm in. They are here." she said into her communicator, but something seemed off. This seemed too easy…
The door slammed shut behind her and she whipped out her bow. She heard her communicator crackle; something was interfering with it.
"Isn't this interesting. " She stiffened at Mr. E's calculating voice. She spun at it and shot the arrow, but there was nothing there.
"It does feel a bit like a reprise, however." His voice was coming from a different point in the room. P.I.X.A.L forced herself not to panic.
"Show yourself…I'm not afraid to fight you."
"Ah…so brave…but are you prepared to fight with me?"
She backed up against one of the clearstone cases, eliminating the chance that he would sneak up behind her. She continued to scan the room, trying to locate him.
"We must work quickly…your friends are already on their way."
"We will defeat you…" she said, forcing her voice to be even.
Something landed in front of her, and she recognized it too late.
"NO!" She screamed, as the small robotic spider launched at her face.
34
With two dragons to share the load of three ninja, the return trip went much faster.
"Ok…what's our game plan for when we get there?" Kai called from his dragon. Jay and Zane looked over from the other.
"Um…find Cole, get the heck out of there, find the last two dragons, get the dragon master, kick some Oni butt, and get home." Jay counted off on his fingers. "Did I miss anything?"
"Yeah…the actual plan part!"
"Cole will most likely be being held in the dungeons." Zane interjected.
"Yeah, but where are the dungeons? I mean, it's a pretty big fortress and we were locked in a cozy hotel room last we were here." Kai pointed out.
"Well, that's why we're ninja! We literally pros at sneaking and finding!" Jay snapped back. Deep down he still wasn't even sure if Cole was still alive…but Kai's negative attitude had started to rival his own and he found that incredibly irritating.
"Or we can just blast through the fortress with these two powerful guardian dragons!" Kai said.
We will not be joining you at the fortress.
The dragons spoke in unison, so only Zane was out of the conversation.
"What?"
"Why Not?"
Kai and Jay spoke at almost the same time as well.
"What are they saying?" Zane asked, annoyed that he had no connection to the silent dialogue.
For a Guardian Dragon to lay siege to the Fortress of the Oni is to usher in the final battle. We cannot risk starting the battle prematurely. We will take you to a certain point and wait for you there.
"Are you kidding me?" Jay asked. This kept getting better and better.
"How far is 'a certain point?' Kai wanted to know. Suddenly both dragons dove from the sky, nearly sending Zane flying off the back. They landed with a thud.
About this far.
"You don't say." Kai grumbled as they all dismounted. Zane looked at his friends, irritated.
"Now will someone please fill me in?"
"The dragons can't go all the way to the fortress because it will start off some battle and that would be bad." Jay said, feeling as annoyed as Kai. What was the point of having powerful dragons if all they did was talk cryptically, complain, and abandon you during the fights?
"So I guess we're on foot." Kai said. Zane took a look at their surroundings.
"By my calculations, the Fortress should be just over that ridge." he said, pointing. Jay just shook his head in amazement.
"We are literally in a place that looks like every other place in this stinking realm! How can you be so sure?!"
Zane winked at him. "Because I'm a nindroid."
"No duh…"
"Guys, come on. The faster we get there the faster we can get Cole out." Kai interrupted. They set off.
Keyda
Keyda kept running, not looking back at the fortress. She knew that this would probably fall under the Baron's description of stepping out of line, but she had to get away…from all of it.
Suddenly, she saw figures in the distance, picking their way towards her. Colorful figures.
"They…came back." She was astounded. She had been sure that they would have stayed in the safety of the Dragon Haven, leaving the Idiot to his fate. Though they did appear to be dragonless now…maybe not even the dragons could handle their stupidity. Suddenly, one of them pointed at her and she realized she had been spotted. She could run…but who knew what tricks these outsiders had up their sleeves?
She waited for them to catch up, and tried to look defiant.
"Keyda? What the heck are you doing here?" The blue one asked. She didn't respond.
"Have you just been waiting here this whole time?"
"NO!" she snapped. Didn't any of them know how to think? "I've only just escaped, you imbecile."
"Escaped?" It was the red one who was talking now. He was eyeing her suspiciously, which angered her; he had no idea what she had just been through. "Wonder how you managed to pull that off….where's Cole?"
She looked away. She didn't want to talk about that Idiot.
"I see you've lost your dragon…he finally get sick of you never shutting up?" she turned back to the blue one.
"The dragons have not left us…but we cannot go to the fortress with them." It was the metal man who spoke up… Zane.
The spark of hope from before flashed in her chest once again, though she tried to smother it. She had noticed that he had said dragons…they had found more of the guardians. They were so close…
"We don't need them to save Cole." Kai snapped, still looking at her with distrust. "And we don't need you either. C'mon, guys." He went to leave.
"But I could take you right to him."
What was she saying? She had just escaped the Baron's wrath…why on earth would she stick her neck out again? Especially for these colorful buffoons? But deep down…the spark of hope had continued to burn. What was the point of surviving if nothing changed?
"No thanks." the red one was not backing down. Zane put a hand on his shoulder.
"Kai…"
"I know exactly where he is…I was in there with him." she tried. Why was he being so stubborn?
"Yeah, and now you're out here and he's not…why does that make me not want to trust you?"
"Kai's got a point…" the blue one added.
She glared at the lot of them. She was willing to put her life on the line and they didn't even want her help?
"FINE. Have fun getting killed." she turned to go. Zane stopped her, and then looked at his companions.
"Based on my data…we have no reason not to trust her."
"She's and ONI, Zane! She is literally the embodiment of destruction….that's reason enough!"
Zane was not backing down either.
"We are running out of time. We have to get Cole and still track down two more dragons. We have to get home, Kai…who knows what's happening…"
"FINE. Fine….but I'm watching you." The red one glared at her, and she rolled her eyes. They followed her down to the fortress and into the scum entrance; the only entrance she had been allowed to use for years. She had spent her whole life in this fortress, and the Baron had been targeting her in one way or another that entire time. She had learned quickly how to travel out of sight.
None of them spoke as they went from hallway to hallway, taking the occasional secret passageway she had discovered over the years. They finally reached the dungeons. She stopped them on the stairs.
"Wait here." She had to make sure the Baron was gone. It occurred to her suddenly that the Baron could have turned the Idiot with his Enrager, but she forced that thought away. It hadn't worked before…she didn't know why, but the Enrager didn't work on him. She had to stick with that.
She crept to the cell and peered in. In the dim light she could make out a figure, still shackled. He appeared to be unconscious. She looked around, but there was no sign of the Baron. She turned to the others and motioned them forward.
"We'll have to find the key…" she started, but the hot head just shot a blast of fire and the lock. Within a minute, the door was unlocked. She blinked in surprise and then heaved the door open, ushering them all inside.
"You go free him. I'll stand watch." she said.
"No way," the red one glared at her, but she glared right back.
"I don't have any way of getting him out of chains!" she hissed.
"Her keeping watch does seem to be a logical course of action," Zane whispered as he and the blue one entered the cell. Kai sighed in irritation and followed his friends.
"Cole! Buddy, it's us!" The blue one called softly as the three rushed to the figure. Suddenly, Keyda caught sight of something glinting on the unconscious man…
"Wait!" she tried urgently, but it was too late. A hand clamped around her mouth and yanked her backwards; one of the Baron's Dragon Masters. The Baron glided by her, looking at her with that ever-present face of amusement.
"I just knew you would be useful."
In the cell the ninja had reached the figure only to find that it wasn't Cole at all, but Heavy Metal, chuckling as he lowered his arms and reached for his sword.
Kai whirled to the door, but Keyda was gone, replaced by the Baron.
"YOU SET US UP!" He screamed, hoping she wasn't too far away…because once he blasted through the baron he was coming after her. He lit both hands and faced the Baron while Jay and Zane faced Heavy Metal, prepared to attack.
"Such rage…." the Baron noted coolly. "You know, I can work with that." He lifted his staff.
35
Killow hung up the call with a laugh.
"Looks like today is your lucky day, peasants! The Green Ninja has turned himself in and the Empress is having mercy upon your souls."
The crowd of villagers let out a sigh of relief, while those in the stage-turned-bus felt more alarmed than anything.
"Did he just say that Lloyd turned himself in?" Dareth gasped. He couldn't believe that any ninja would give up like that.
"Sounds like it…" Ronin answered.
"Hmmm…and that Garamdon fellow didn't even show up!" Ed pointed out. Ronin's brow furrowed.
"Come to think of it…nobody's seen anything of Garmadon for a while. He wasn't at the attack on the beach either…"
A pounding sounded from the side of the tour bus. They all looked at each other in shock. Edna wasn't one to ignore someone knocking, however.
"Hello?" she asked, poking her head out of the door. Killow towered over her.
"Hello." He began talking in a demeaning way. "We've been asking the people around here how they liked your show…and it seems you were quite a hit. Things have been pretty dull back at Garmadon Tower lately and we've just won a large victory. We could do with some celebrating…and I think your show would be just the thing…" Some of the SoG members chuckled and cheered in response.
"Oh…well…um…" She turned to the rest of the crew, who were shaking their heads no.
"I'm sorry, did that sound like a proposal? I should have been clearer about the fact that it's an order. We'll even escort you there ourselves." he finished with a laugh.
Ed came up and put and arm around his wife as she closed the door.
"Well…you know what we always say in this family; never argue with a man who's naval is that close to your face."
"Aw man…are they on to us or do they really just want a show?" Dareth asked.
Ronin just shook his head as Ed started driving the bus forward.
"Doesn't really matter at this point…all it will take is Harumi recognizing one of us from the beach…"
"We cannot give in to despair, Gentleman." Lou was sweating, but he looked determined as he faced the rest of his team.
"The show must go on."
Keyda
Keyda screamed as she launched herself at the door once again, but it wouldn't move. She was in another cell…but they hadn't even bothered to chain her up. They just tossed her in and locked the door.
Suddenly, the small armored window flipped open. The Baron's belittling face peered in.
"I'm sorry that I won't be able to deal with you at the moment…" His voice was so tranquil. He terrified and disgusted her at the same time. "I have more urgent business to attend to."
"Where is he?" She spat. She had cowered beneath the Baron for long enough…and she was as good as dead anyways. She was done being docile.
"Who?"
"YOU KNOW who!"
The Baron chuckled.
"Oh yes…I suppose I do. Don't expect to be seeing him again, dear Keyda."
Something twisted within her.
"What are you going to do?" She almost whispered.
He replied in a tone so nonchalant, he might as well have been talking about the weather.
"I'm going to destroy him, of course. Just like I destroyed your village." He left the window open as he walked down the hall.
"WHY?!" She screamed after him, face pressed up against the bars as she watched him go.
He didn't even bother turning as he answered.
"Because I'm an Oni, Keyda. And that's what Oni do."
Nya
Nya and Skylor reached the door, but they found it locked tight.
"This should have been opened…" Nya had no sooner said it than the doors slid open. She and the redhead made eye-contact. Something was up.
"The masks are over there..." Skylor said, heading for them. Nya looked around the dimly lit room.
"Yeah…but where's Pix?"
Behind them the door slammed shut.
"That is not a good sign." Skylor said, crossbow at the ready. She and Nya went back to back, the Water Ninja pulling out her spear.
"Who's there?" she demanded.
"Just a couple of friends."
Mr. E's voice echoed around the room. Suddenly, Skylor caught sight of his glowing eyes and fired a shot, but he dodged it.
"Just you? I'd think they would have kept the masks more heavily guarded." Skylor said as he approached. He tilted his head, as if considering her comment.
"By my calculations, they are guarded well enough from the two of you."
With that, someone came out of the shadow's on Nya's side.
"PIX! Thank goo.."
Nya's comment trailed off as she saw the expression on P.I.X.A.L'S face.
"Pix?"
The android launched into an attack and Nya was barely able to block it. Her friend had gotten a sword from who knows where and seemed bent on destroying her.
"PIX, NO, FIGHT IT!"
The turn of events distracted Skylor, which proved almost fatal as Mr. E attacked. She dodged just in time and soon they both girls were embroiled in a hard battle.
"What did you do to her?" Skylor accused, but Mr. E just gave a creepy chuckle.
"I Improved her."
Skylor dodged another blow and kicked out, but her foot hit solid metal and she winced in pain.
Meanwhile Nya was using the clearstone on pedestals as an obstacle to keep between her and PIX while she tried to talk some sense into her.
"Pix…this isn't you….you can fight this!"
The robot shot an arrow, narrowly missing Nya. It bounced off the clearstone case behind her.
"YOU decide who you want to be!"
P.I.X.A.L pushed the pedestal out of the way, the clearstone box crashing to the ground. It stayed in tact, of course.
Nya blocked another attack and kicked her friend back. P.I.X.A.L seemed unaffected and sprung at Nya, knocking her back into the other pedestal while her spear went flying. P.I.X.A.L aimed an arrow at Nya's heart.
"P.I.X.A.L…NO!" Skylor screamed, but Mr. E grabbed her and flung her away.
"Do it!" he said, focusing in on P.I.X.A.L. "Destroy your enemy!"
P.I.X.A.L pulled the string back and Nya closed her eyes, waiting.
With one smooth motion, P.I.X.A.L turned and fired at Mr. E. The arrow slammed into his neck, immediately shorting out his mental processor. He sparked a couple times before dropping to the ground.
"That should hold him for a bit," P.I.X.A.L commented, holding out her hand to help Nya up.
"Whoo, glad to see that the antivirus program was a success." Nya said with a smile. Skylor came over to join them, rubbing her shoulder ruefully.
"I think that creep knocked my arm out of socket…"
"You were right about the trap, Nya." P.I.X.A.L commented, and the Water Ninja waved her off.
"Eh…Harumi's evil and all, but she's getting a little predictable." She pulled out her communicator. "Hey Misako, we're ready for you to come pick up the masks now."
"Feels good to be part of a real team again." Skylor commented with a smile.
"Well, the battle's not over yet, girls." Nya reminded them. "We still have one damsel in distress to save."
20
