Nicki's Story

91

"I'm pretty sure we were supposed to be driving away from the city…" Lou yelled over the motorcycle engine.

"Maybe…but we have a delivery to make and I doubt the postman's gonna be willing to deliver it for us."

They were nearly to the city, but Cole knew that there were at least a few S.O.G on their trail. He tapped his com-link, trying one last time.

"Lloyd? Wu? Can you hear me?"

There was no reply and he groaned in frustration.

"Communications are still down…I have no idea where everyone is…and if we run into any more S.O.G we are going to be in trouble."

He heard the revving of a few motorcycle engines and turned to get a better look at those tailing them.

"We're going to have to lose them, son." Lou pointed out.

"Yeah, Dad….any ideas on how to do that?"

"Well…if we can't lose them, then at least try and find your friends. Didn't any of them have a specific location?"

"Borg tower…I know Zane and Pix were headed there. By now they've probably already sprung Borg…but it's worth a shot. We're going to have to try and stick to back roads though."

"Technically, we are on a delinquent bike with delinquent helmets…that should at least give us the appearance of being bikers rather than rebels…" Lou pointed out, hopefully.

Cole smiled. "I guess we'll have to see…"

They wove through the city streets, making sure to keep their heads down as much as possible and avoid places where it looked like S.O.G were gathering. They passed quite a few injured bikers…Cole figured his friends had been at least partially successful, then. He hoped that they were alright; without the com-links it was hard to know.

They had nearly reached Borg tower when Lou pointed out an airship heading for the top of it.

"REX…that's a good sign, at least." Cole said.

"We aren't the only one's who've noticed…" Lou said, looking behind them. Cole turned and saw that S.O.G did seem to be gathering—probably for an attack on the tower. No doubt the thugs chasing him and his father would catch up soon as well.

"Alright…we need to get to the top of that tower and fast." Cole said, jumping off his bike. Lou followed suit; he was slower without his cane but managed to hurry as the pair went for the doors.

"Locked?!" Cole said in frustration.

"If your friends have control of the building, they probably engaged the security measures…" Lou pointed out. Cole powered up his earth punch and hit the door, knocking it clean off its hinges. His vision blurred a bit and he nearly lost his footing, but his father steadied him.

"I hope there aren't many locked doors…I can't just go punching through all of them…" he said as they hurried inside. Lou turned to look at the S.O.G crowd making its way towards the tower.

"And perhaps it would be better if most of the doors stay locked…"

Cole frowned. "Oops…guess I gave them a way in, too…"

"Son!" Lou called from his position by the elevator. It dinged open, and Cole made his way over. He punched the control panel for the elevator, shorting it out as he joined his father inside.

"What did you do that for?" Lou asked, incredulous.

"So they can't follow us! Cole explained. Lou shook his head.

"You better hope you didn't just break it for us…"

Keyda

Keyda strained against the chains, but her power was still having no effect.

"You might as well save your strength…the chains are made of vengstone. It blocks elemental power."

Keyda glared at the pale-haired woman. She, Lloyd and Wu were chained together to one of the large pillars in the temple ground as the one called Garmadon stood in the place the altar had once stood, releasing large amounts of Hate aura. The Ultra Dragon was chained up between two pillars on the opposite side of the temple ground, growling angrily at the Dark Lord.

She closed her eyes, willing her aura to appear as well. It wasn't too late…they could still make the connection. Nothing happened and she strained harder, her face contorted.

"Keyda."

It was Wu, and he sounded tired. She opened her eyes and looked over at him. He gave her a sad smile.

"I'm sorry…but while we are in these bonds…there isn't anything we can do."

Nothing they could do?! She hadn't come all this way just to be defeated now. She needed to get out of these chains…she needed to get out of here. She strained[ against the chains again, yelling in frustration. She had to make sure he was ok.

"The unconquerable Oni spirit…"

It was Garmadon who spoke, his voice quiet. He slowly turned to face them.

"Ever since I aspired to rule Ninjago…I planned on shaping it in my own image. But being brought back like this connected me to my Oni roots…and I realized what my true calling was."

He approached them, glowering down at his brother. "You and our father tried to keep my potential from me…you would have had me turn on my Oni side."

"That's not true…"

"Enough! The Oni side of things has been disregarded for too long. Our father turned his back on those he left behind…he ignored the fact that the Oni had been wronged and abandoned them rather than protect them. It has been my destiny to right that wrong."

"What…what are you talking about?" Lloyd asked. His father turned his gaze to him and Lloyd willed himself not to look away.

"This realm was created to be a coward's refuge for our father...but I will finally be able to give the Oni what they deserve; a realm of their own, free from the dragons forever. I will not only rule Ninjago, I will rule it as an Oni King!"

"You would ruin all our father created? He was no fool…nor was he selfish. Both Oni and Dragon tried to use him…his leaving the first realm was an escape, not an abandonment!"

Garmadon just shook his head and turned away, facing the Ultra Dragon.

"The Power of Oni mixed with the Power of Dragon can create great change….and I expect to make the most of it."

Keyda began thrashing against the chains again.

"And what about the other citizens of Ninjago? You would doom your own people?!" Wu cried out.

"My people? In the form I am now, my people would be the Oni. I'm sure that there will be civilians who survive…on the lowest rungs of power, of course…"

Keyda stopped thrashing and shook her head.

"This is wrong…"

Garmadon looked at her with a patronizing expression.

"Why would you not rejoice at this news? I am making the changes necessary to bring the Oni out of the pitiful existence they were left in…" he chuckled darkly at her glare.

"Have my brother and his students filled your head with dreams? Whatever they promised you…I can help you achieve much greater. My brother and I fought to preserve peace in this realm for years…but the truth is that peace will always be unattainable. This realm is no different than any other…there will always be selfishness, greed, and destruction…there will always be people bent on using the powers of darkness to disrupt it. Face it…you are like me…"

"A monster?" she spat.

"A realist… rather than a dreamer. No matter what solution my brother has found for the first realm…we know that it will never be enough. Peace isn't gained because people chose it…it is gained when people are too afraid to disrupt it. Fear…control…those are the true peace-makers."

Keyda said nothing and Garmadon looked at her closely.

"I sense you see the reason in what I say…but still something holds you back…" he shook his head. "You will help me accomplish it, regardless."

92

"I am glad you all made it…" Zane said as everyone exited REX.

"We don't have a lot of time…we're gonna have S.O.G swarming the place soon…" Jay pointed out.

"Then let's get cracking on a plan already," Kai said. "Has anyone heard back from Lloyd or Wu?"

"Their com-links are not working," Zane said. The others made worried eye-contact.

"Can you at least track where they are?" Nya asked. The nindroid shook his head.

"No…which I can only assume means…"

"…their com-links were destroyed." Nya finished.

"Wait…are we saying what I think we're saying?" Dareth asked, worried.

"They were caught." Kai said, voicing what everyone was thinking. "We should never have let them go in alone!"

"Wait!" Jay said suddenly, and everyone looked over at him. "The Dragon Guardians said they'd be with us…which means we have elemental dragons again!"

"Wait…come again?" Nya looked lost.

"We could just go in there, dragons blazing and save them…" Jay continued.

Skylor shook her head. "If Garmadon and Harumi really have captured them, they aren't going to let them out of their sight. If they see us coming in for any kind of rescue, odds are that they'd kill Lloyd and maybe even the others. Harumi isn't going to risk losing her chance at revenge again…"

"Then what do we do? Sneak in?" Kai asked. "I mean…we did it once, right?"

Zane suddenly turned in alarm.

"They must have breached the front door…I'm picking up two figures in the elevator…"

"Well, why don't we just cut the cable before they get here?" Ronin asked.

"Because…they are already here…" Zane answered, activating his powers. The other ninja did the same, facing the elevator.

They waited in tense silence for a few moments. Then, the elevator dinged and the doors began to open.

Cole took in the scene and immediately threw his hands out.

"DON'T SHOOT! DON'T SHOOT IT'S JUST US!"

"Cole!? What are you doing here!?" Kai asked, powering down.

"Ultraviolet found the Samurai X cave…" Cole explained. Jay scoffed.

"Annnd….you got lost on the way to 'Anywhere But Here'?!"

"LOOK…I'm sorry, ok? Just lemme talk to Lloyd and I promise I'll go hide under some rock until this is over…" he trailed off as he took in everyone who was in the crowd. And more importantly, who was missing from it. "Wait…where is Lloyd…"

"We…we think he, Wu, and Keyda were captured by Garmadon…" Zane explained. Cole looked distressed.

"It didn't work…just like Garmadon said…"

"Wait, you've been talking to Garmadon too?! Did you even attempt to stay at the Samurai X cave?!" Jay yelled.

"The good one, Jay. He talked to me again…in that limbo void place or whatever that was. He told me that Keyda wouldn't be able to make the connection…it has to be Wu and Lloyd…"

"But Lloyd doesn't have any powers!" Dareth pointed out.

"That's why I brought these…" Cole pulled out the Baron's gloves. "We have to get them to him if we want any chance of really beating Garamdon!"

"The Baron's gloves!" Zane exclaimed, at the same time Kai said "where did you get those?!"

"They were in Jay's laundry…"

"Um…anyone care to share how gloves are going to help at all in this situation?" Ronin asked, butting in. The ninja looked over at the rest of the group, who all looked rather confused.

"Long story short, they grant Oni power to whoever wears them…" Kai explained.

"But…isn't that dangerous?" Skylor asked.

"Who knows what that would do to Lloyd!" Nya agreed.

"I know it seems like a long shot, guys, but we don't have a lot of options." Cole argued. "The only way we're going to defeat Garmadon is if Lloyd and Wu are able to connect to him…and one of the connections has to be with Oni magic…"

"Before we go rushing into another half-cooked plan, could you at least explain where this reasoning is coming from?" Ronin asked testily. "I mean…you are literally telling us that Garmadon's good side somehow managed to connect with you and told you that Lloyd needed to wear some gloves to save him…"

"Actually, the gloves were my idea. Garmadon doesn't really know about the gloves…or the Baron…or really anything that's gone down…"

"…Yeah….and that doesn't sound crazy to anyone else?"

"I did suggest that it could have all just been a dream…." Lou pointed out. Cole glared at him.

"It wasn't a dream, ok?! This is what we have to work with…so unless anyone has any better ideas…"

"Ok, say this is the direction we need to go…Cole, how would we even get the gloves to Lloyd?" Nya asked.

"Like I said…we sneak in…" Kai said.

"We don't have time for that—by the time we come up with a plan of action and get to them it may already be too late." Jay said. "My vote is still elemental dragons!"

"We can't afford to just wing it anymore, people," Ronin said.

"That is true…the S.O.G made it quite clear that Garmadon wants us dead, not captured. If any of us were caught in the attack it could prove fatal." Zane added.

"Oh great, so Lloyd and Wu, the only people who can actually do anything to stop Garmadon, are trapped with no way to actually stop him because we have the key to the whole thing right here and there's no way any of us can even get it to him without someone getting hurt because we're all on the kill list!" Jay yelled.

Cole blinked.

"Wait…"

"What?!" Jay turned to him. "Did you just come up with another brilliant idea?! I hope it's better than the ones you've been having recently, because ever since you decided to jump off that dragon…"

"I'm not on the kill list….I'm on the Nab list." Cole said. Jay blinked.

"Wow, congratulations…" he said, rolling his eyes. Zane caught onto his friend's insinuation, however.

"Cole, the likelihood that would have of working…"

"Don't tell me, I already know the odds aren't good."

"The odds of what? Not gonna lie…you guys lost me…" Dareth said.

Cole swallowed. "If I were to get caught, they'd have to take me to Garmadon; UV said he had some questions…or something. The S.O.G would take me right to where he was…which is also right where Lloyd and the others were being held; that's how we could get him the gloves."

The group immediately voiced their disagreements.

"NO WAY!" Jay yelled. "Honestly, I have to agree with Keyda at this point; you're an idiot."

"I agree, Cole…it's way too risky…" Kai said.

"There's no other way!" Cole argued.

"Maybe if we dressed up like the S.O.G and were the ones that brought him, he'd at least have backup…" Nya tried.

"Garmadon and Harumi are too close to victory at this point. No doubt they're expecting us to pull something like that; with their paranoia they'll see right through it." Skylor said.

"Um…anyone else realizing that the S.O.G have probably made their way up the stairway by now?" Ronin growled, heading for the stair entrance. He opened the door and sure enough, he could hear the thugs coming up the stairs. He turned to the group. "We got to head out….everyone to REX."

Jay pushed Cole towards the airship. "C'mon, boulder-brain…that means you too."

"GUYS…this is it!" he pulled away from Jay. "This is the final battle…I know it's risky but for all we know Garmadon is pulling off his plan right now… isn't that a much bigger risk? For everyone?"

"Son." Lou finally spoke. "You said you wanted to get the gloves to your friends…and we did. Enough of this giving yourself up talk; it's time for us to leave. That's what you promised Wu…and that young Oni lady as well."

Cole clenched his jaw as bikers began pounding on the stair doors that Ronin had barricaded.

"If there was any other way …I'd pick it. You think I want to get anywhere near Garmadon?! But what good is staying safe if we lose others in the process?" He shook his head. "I'm not losing anybody else, OK?"

"We have to go!" Nya called from REX. Everyone had already boarded; only the ninja and Lou were left on the rooftop as the thudding from the stair-way door grew louder.

"We still aren't going to let you do it, Cole." Jay said, folding his arms. "You're just gonna get yourself killed! Considering how many times you've almost died over the last week, you're luck is bound to run out! Tell him, Zane; he can't argue with a nindroid."

Zane had been processing during the argument and he looked up.

"Jay is right…there is a small percentage that you would make it out of the situation, Cole…" he paused. "But…I also have not found a single other solution to our problem." He turned to the others. "It may be our only way."

"No." Lou folded his arms. "Cole…you'll die. You have to ask yourself if this plan is worth your life!..."

"Maybe the plan isn't, dad…but my friends are. Look…I know you don't like it, but this is the right thing to do; I promised that I would always do the right thing…"

Lou pointed a finger at him. "Do not pull that card with me…"

The door behind them was nearly open now.

"GUYS!" Nya called again.

"Last time we left you behind it did not go over well!" Jay said.

"I know…but you guys are just gonna have to trust that this is the best we can do…"

"You realize if Garmadon doesn't kill you, Keyda will, right?!"

"You need to go…"

The door broke open.

Lloyd

"Dad...don't do this." Lloyd finally spoke, and Garmadon turned to face him. The green ninja continued. "I know you're still in there! The REAL you…the one who values his family…the one who sacrificed himself just to save Ninjago…"

"Perhaps that part of me did survive the separation at first; but even if it did, it is long gone now." His upper fists glowed with power. "This is all that is left of me! Hatred is the only thing I can EVER feel now,"

"That is impossible." He turned to see Keyda glowering at him. Harumi laughed.

"Do you pretend to know anything about the emperor?"

"I know that true hatred requires affection…if it really was impossible to feel love you wouldn't have any power left." Garmadon was approaching her menacingly, but she continued to glare. "Hate isn't the opposite of love…apathy is."

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say that the reason this Oni isn't more willing to embrace her heritage and your plan is because she's feeling some of that affection herself…for the ninja." Harumi cooed from a few yards away. Garmadon looked down at Keyda with distain.

"Is that true? You actually care about my brother and his students?"

Keyda finally looked away angrily.

"I didn't know Oni could care about anything." Harumi said, coming closer. "But I don't blame you for falling for their charminglittle performance… sure, the thought of having ninja protectors seems great at first. They make it feel like as long as they're out there, nothing could hurt you. Like they have everything under control. But sooner or later, they'll let you down. They make promises that they have no way of keeping…they say things that they cannot follow through on." She tilted her head. "Does that sound familiar?"

Keyda snorted. "Protectors? More like a bunch of idiots." She finally looked up at the pale-haired woman. "I'm not here because I need them….I'm here because they said they needed me. Why is it you needed them?"

"I suppose we needed them to get to this point…but their usefulness to our plans has long worn out. I'm afraid that your little friends…or idiots, as you adequately put…won't be around for much longer."

"Enough." Garmadon growled, and Harumi turned in surprise. "It is time to recreate this realm."

Harumi bowed in acknowledgement and Garmadon frowned at the three chained figures.

"I have no use for my son…you said that you wanted…"

"…the chance at revenge, my lord." Harumi finished.

"Yes…" Garmadon waved a dismissive hand. "Take him, then. I have work to do here…"

Harumi signaled to the few S.O.G guards they had brought. They moved in and forced Lloyd to his feet.

"Garamdon, our father did not create this world just so you could destroy it…" Wu said as they unhooked Lloyd from the rest of the chains. His hands were still bound in front of him as they shoved him towards the exit, where Harumi was already waiting.

"I'm not destroying his realm….I'm merely changing it to become what it was always meant to be."

"You saved this realm, father…don't undo everything you've worked for in the past..." Lloyd called back, pushing back against the guards. They grunted and one kicked him to keep him moving forward.

"I am no longer that man…nor will I ever be again." Garmadon murmured as the doors closed behind the green ninja.

93

"Oni? Are you serious, Harumi?" Lloyd said as the guards continued to prod him down the tunnel. "You told me that you wanted to protect Ninjago because we weren't doing a good enough job; this is the opposite of protecting!"

"This is Emperor Garmadon's realm now, Lloyd…if this is what he wants…"

"You didn't know." Lloyd stopped walking. "He didn't tell you his plan, did he?"

"Oh Lloyd….just because your father wants nothing to do with you…"

"How do you know he's going to need you after all this goes down?"

She whirled around, knife in hand.

"No Lloyd…you're the one he doesn't need. That's why he told me that I could kill you myself."

Something suddenly crackled in the former quiet one's ear. She frowned in concentration, plugging one ear. She suddenly smiled slyly, glancing at Lloyd.

"Yes…I'm sure the Emperor will be pleased…but listen, Ultra, I want you to investigate the bikers who brought him in—make sure they are legit. We don't have time for any ninja tricks at the moment. Also, search him…extensively. Then bring him in." She turned to one of the guards.

"Get me a length of vengestone chain…looks like the Emperor's last guest has arrived."

Lloyd felt sick; it was clear that the S.O.G had caught somebody, and if they needed vengestone it was one of the ninja. But which one?"

He didn't have to wonder for long. A minute or so later he could hear Ultra-Violet's cackle echo down the corridor.

"Here you go, boss…caught, wrapped, and delivered. The guys who caught him checked out…they're legit. We found a com-link on him but we destroyed it."

Cole grunted as Ultra-Violet threw him to the ground. He glared at her; he never was sure if she just didn't know her own strength or if she just liked hurting people. Lloyd closed his eyes; Harumi had mentioned that the Samurai X cave had been destroyed; it looked like Cole hadn't escaped after all. Ultra-Violet cackled again and turned to Harumi.

"Want me to bring him to the big boss?"

"No. Lord Garmadon is in the middle of a particular process; I'll go inform the Emperor."

"Whatever you say, boss…"

"I do have a task for you, however; with the Emperor's plan underway it is imperative that we have no ninja interruptions. Have our forces been able to dispose of any of the others?"

"Uh….no…not yet…but they left the city in an aircraft and we're tracking them. They aren't getting out of our sight."

"I want extra reinforcements surrounding the temple; no one gets in, understand?"

Ultra Violet nodded her understanding and headed out, yelling orders at the lackey's that had accompanied her. The guard had returned with the vengestone chain and Harumi wrapped Lloyd and Cole together around one of the pillars in the corridor.

"I need to speak to the emperor…watch them closely till I get back." she ordered the two guards. They nodded and sneered at the two ninja tied to a post. She turned quickly and headed back towards the temple grounds.

Cole and Lloyd sat in silence for a few moments before Lloyd finally spoke.

"Cole…you were supposed to be watching the monitors. How did you not get out of the cave in time?"

"First of all…that wasn't my fault. And second of all, I technically didn't get caught in the cave anyways."

"What do you mean?"

"This is all part of the plan, Lloyd," Cole said in a loud whisper. "If you go down this tunnel and take two rights, there's a secret entrance Zane found…we have help on the way!"

The guards looked at each other and then turned to jeer.

"Nice going, beefcake…guess we should go wait for your friends, huh?" One said as they headed down the hallway. No doubt Harumi would be pleased when she learned they were instrumental in stopping an invasion.

Lloyd looked over at Cole in disbelief.

"Why would you tell…"

"There's no secret entrance, Lloyd…I just wanted to make sure we could talk in private for a second." Cole muttered. He seemed to be trying to remove his gloves.

Lloyd let out his breath. "You wanted to get caught, then? You have a plan for getting us out of here?"

"That's right," Cole said. He had managed to remove one of the gloves.

Lloyd smiled for the first time in hours. "Great! So….you got a key, or maybe you brought some extra dragons from the first realm…"

"Uh….no." Cole had managed to get his other glove off and he looked at them triumphantly. "We have these." He presented the gloves to Lloyd, who just looked at them with a raised eyebrow.

"Um…gloves? I'm not really following…"

"They're not just gloves, Lloyd; they belonged to this crazy Oni guy we faced in the first realm. They're Oni relics; they have the power of pure hatred in them and allow the wearer to use that power—especially if that owner is part Oni."

"Wait, what? Oni gloves? What….what am I supposed to do with these?" Lloyd asked as Cole handed them to him.

"Look, I know it doesn't make a lot of sense, but dumb and dumber are gonna be back anytime now, not to mention Harumi and Garmadon. Keyda wasn't able to connect with Garmadon, because it has to be someone who's close to him…"

"How did you know she couldn't do it?" Lloyd cut in.

"Your Dad told me…"

"What?!"

"Your real Dad! The…the sensei version, I guess. He told me that you and Wu are the only ones who can make the connection….but one of those connections has to be with Oni power. Oh…and Lloyd, there's a com-link hidden in one of the gloves; from here on out you are calling the shots. Everyone's on standby waiting for your order to attack…"

"Slow down, Cole…you talked to my dad? My real one? How is that even possible? Wu said he's in that…that limbo place…"

"Well, I had this vision, I guess you could call it. Though to be fair it started off as more of a nightmare…"

"No…that doesn't make sense." Lloyd's voice was sharp and Cole shut up in surprise. The green ninja continued. "If my dad…my real dad was going to send someone a vision…then…it doesn't make sense that he'd send it to you and not... and not..."

"You?" Cole finished. Lloyd nodded, still looking conflicted. They heard a door slam somewhere down the hall, and they both looked up. Cole looked back over at him.

"Put the gloves on…and the com-link; they'll be back soon. Lloyd, your dad would talk to you if he could, ok? He's really worried about you…and the reason I know is because when I first met him I was there with him…in…the limbo void."

Lloyd had pulled the gloves on over his own pair, keeping the com-link inside one of them so it would remain out of sight. He also looked more confused than ever. "What are you talking about? You were in limbo?"

The footsteps grew closer and Cole looked between Lloyd and where the footsteps were heard getting closer.

"I'm sorry…I never was good at explaining things…but it's in your hands now Lloyd…literally…" he whispered.

"But…I don't even know if I can use Oni power…or if I should…" he whispered back.

Cole didn't answer as Garmadon's red eyes appeared at the end of the hall.

Ninja

REX was struggling a little under the weight of everyone packed in her.

"You realize REX was never supposed to carry this many people, right?" Ronin said, irritated. "Also, is there somewhere I'm actually heading…or are we just sort of loitering…"

"We're waiting for word from Lloyd." Nya said. She had a com-link in and was trying to listen. "They've reached the temple…man, Ultra Violet never stops talking…and her voice is sooo annoying…"

"Should we come up with a game plan for if Cole never actually meets up with Lloyd?" Kai asked. "Because that's actually a possibility…"

"Maybe Cole could just use the gloves to blast out of there at that point." Jay said hopefully.

"Perhaps, though I think that to truly control the power of pure hatred, one would need to be at least part Oni…" Zane said.

"Ok…he's in…" Nya said, filling them in on the conversations she was listening in on. She made a face. "There's Harumi…"

"Do you hear Lloyd?" Skylor wondered. Nya shook her head.

Lou sat near Ed and Edna in the back of the airship, feeling useless once again. Ed patted his back.

"I know it isn't easy, Lou...but I'm sure they know what they're doing. If nothing else, these ninja are good at getting themselves out of pickles."

Easy for you to say… Lou wanted to snap. Ed's son was safe and sound on an airship, miles away from trouble. It was times like this the performer couldn't help wondering what life would have been like if Cole had just stuck with singing and dancing; Lou knew he had it in him. Well…with dancing at least. And dancers never had to go on poorly-thought out missions with small chances of success against murderous villains. Maybe if he hadn't pushed so hard, Cole would have been more willing to follow that career choice…

He knew it was useless to think about it now; fate had made her will known. He just had to hope that his son would pull through one more time…

"He's with Lloyd…he's explaining the plan." Nya said. Everyone let out a sigh of relief. "He got him the gloves."

"So now what?" Ronin asked.

Nya didn't answer, still listening in on the conversation. Kai turned to the thief.

"Now we wait for Lloyd's command."

94

Keyda's hair whipped around her; Garmadon's aura was getting stronger, and wind was picking up. She fought against the chains once again, and then turned to glare at Wu next to her.

"Have you given up already?!" she hissed. He shook his head.

"Of course not…but you will only wear yourself out straining against the chains…"

She continued straining anyways. "What do you suggest, then?" she asked.

"Keyda…"

"I…have…to get out of here…" she said. Her arms were raw where the chains were digging in.

"You're just hurting yourself…you need to relax."

"And what? Wait for rescue?" she writhed, trying to wiggle out of the chains. "You heard the pale-haired lady…she said that your friends are being tracked by her forces…we're on our own…" she yelled out in frustration. "Your plan was supposed to work! Why couldn't I do it?!" She sagged suddenly. "…Why couldn't I do it?"

"It's not your fault, Keyda, it's mine." Wu said softly. "I couldn't see any other way of bringing my brother back…but I should have known that you didn't have the personal connection to complete the aura link with Garmadon."

"So…what? You're saying it's not even possible?" she asked. She had stopped struggling.

"It is possible for us to get out of here…but we may have to be patient." Wu said. He looked over with concern at the Ultra-Dragon, who was snapping as it tried to move further away from the large spiraling cloud of aura amassing in the center of the area.

Garmadon opened his eyes and turned to the guards waiting by the doors.

"The Vengestone chains are interrupting the link…" he called. "Free the prisoners…"

"Um…are you sure you wanna…"

"NOW!"

The guards jumped to action, rushing over to unlock the two figures on the pillars.

As the chains fell off, Keyda immediately threw an orb and knocked the guard across the area. She turned to Garmadon, hands swirling.

Wu stood as well, unsure of what Garmadon's plan was. His Dark brother gave them both a chilling smile.

Keyda looked down and realized that her aura was being sucked into the swirling mass. She powered down and began backing up. Wu too seemed to be retreating backwards, eyes on Garmadon.

"The connection to the first realm is almost complete, brother. All that I need now is the power of both dragon and Oni for the change to be completed…"

Keyda felt some kind of inner tug; she realized in shock that the mass was pulling the aura out of her. He retreat slowed as the connection seemed to be pulling her towards the purple storm.

Wu was having a similar problem next to her, his own aura having formed a golden rope that dragged him towards the middle.

Garmadon chuckled cruelly as he watched them struggle. He had walked away from mass, seemingly unaffected by it.

"You did come here to make a connection, did you not?"

Keyda yelled out in anger, digging her heels in as she tried to wrench away. Wu was trying to cut off his connection through his own meditation, but nothing was working.

"I am glad that you came, Wu. With you dead, I was going to have to rely on my son and whatever dragon power dregs were left within him…and with no Oni in this realm I would have had to make do with the power left in the ancient masks. But my forces not only were incapable of capturing my powerless son…they lost the masks as well. Imagine my pleasure in finding out that you were alive and returning…"

"And how, exactly, did you come to realize that?" Wu asked through grated teeth.

The doors flew open as Harumi pushed her way out into the arena. Garmadon turned to her.

"Is it finished?"

Her pale hair whipped around as she tried to walk over to his side.

"Nearly, your lordship…but I actually came to inform you that our forces captured one of the ninja…the one you wanted to talk with."

He blinked slowly.

"The Master of Earth." he stated. Harumi nodded as Wu looked over with an expression of disbelief and concern. Keyda was too busy screaming and thrashing against her own aura chain to be listening to the two villains.

"I can hold him until you are done here, if you wish…" Harumi suggested. Garmadon shook his head.

"I am done here…there is nothing left to do but wait. Once enough of their aura is absorbed, the portal will be ready." He turned to Harumi. "The temple is protected?"

"Our forces have it surrounded."

He nodded. "Then it's time for me to get a few answers."

Lloyd

Lloyd's palms were sweaty under the gloves. Despite all that Cole had made them out to be, they didn't feel any different than any other gloves he had worn. The com-link was nestled in his left palm; he wouldn't be able to hear anything his friends tried to tell them, but at least they would be able to hear him.

"You left them alone?" Garmadon asked, clearly displeased. Harumi looked around.

"Of course not, emperor…I left them well guarded…" she shook her head. "The guards will be punished…"

Garmadon gave her a look and she stopped talking.

"I will leave you here to finish my son…but where can I go to have a private conversation?"

Lloyd felt Cole shudder next to him and glanced at his friend. He was wearing a deadpan expression…but the green ninja could see that the Master of Earth was terrified. He looked down at the gloves again and willed himself to feel something, anything.

If these are full of Oni power…why can't I feel anything? What if…what if Cole gave me the wrong gloves?!

"This tunnel system is extensive…it should be simple to find some remote corner." Harumi explained as she unchained the two ninja. She turned and handed the chain to Garmadon. "You should take the vengestone with you...I certainly don't need it to subdue the powerless."

Garmadon looked at Cole with contempt. "Based on the state he's in…he doesn't look like he would be much of a threat, even without the chain. However, I will bring it just in case." He took the chain in one hand, and with a sword in another he prodded Cole forward down the hall. The Master of Earth gave on last glance towards Lloyd and the green ninja caught unto the meaning in his expression. It was up to him now.

As he watched them disappear into the darkness, he felt a knife point against his own back. Harumi leaned in close.

"So sorry for the interruption, Lloyd…but now it seems like we have some alone time at last…"

Wu

The Ultra-Dragon roared in warning as Wu continued to approach the mass. He could feel himself weakening as more of his aura was pulled into the abyss-like power orb.

"Why….can't….we….get out of this?" Keyda yelled. Her fists swirled with hatred as she tried to blast her aura link.

"STOP, Keyda, Don't!" Wu yelled back. "You're only feeding it faster! You must remain as calm as possible!"

"CALM!? How are you so calm!?" She pulled at the aura chain; how was it so physical? "We're about to get sucked into a deadly void…which will bring the Oni here…" she grunted and yanked back, but nothing seemed to work. "And if the Oni come here, Wu…they'll never leave. I mean…I don't want to leave…" her voice had toned down, though she didn't stop fighting against the pull. She was silent for a few moments, and then looked over at him.

"The pale-haired lady said that your desert base was destroyed…how many desert bases do you have?"

Wu swallowed as he tried to take even a few steps backwards. "Just the one."

"So…that means…"

"The Samurai X cave was destroyed, Keyda. They found it."

She closed her eyes for a moment.

"Do you think he got out ok? You left him a way to escape, if it came to that….do you think he's safe?"

Wu looked over at Keyda, who seemed both worried and hopeful. She hadn't caught on to Garmadon and Harumi's earlier conversation. He opened his mouth to answer her, but his words caught in his throat. What could he say?

Her eyes locked onto his and he could see how scared she was. How much she wanted at least one thing in their situation to not be hopeless.

"He's ok…right?" she stumbled a bit; being stripped of her aura was taking its toll.

He looked away, swallowing. "I…I have to have faith that he is, Keyda. That we all will be."

95

Cole fell forward, and with his hands still tied he couldn't catch himself. He hit the ground and winced at the fresh pain in his shoulder.

"I suppose this is good enough…" Garmadon said. Cole struggled to push himself upright. He had no idea where he was….there were so many twists and turns in this labyrinth that he wasn't sure he could get back to Lloyd even if he was free to do so. He turned to face Garamdon and felt a flash of fear. The only light in this part of the tunnel was the purple light emitted from Garmadon's aura; that mixed with his crimson eyes was downright terrifying.

"So…I guess now I get to know why I had to pleasure of being on the nab list, huh?" Cole asked, trying to keep his hands from shaking. He didn't want to give Garmadon the satisfaction.

The Dark Emperor pointed the sword at him.

"When did you see him last?"

Cole blinked.

"What? See who?"

In one swift movement Garmadon used one of his upper arms to grab Cole by the collar of his shirt and slammed him into the wall. Cole cried out in both surprise and pain.

"I know you were in the limbo-void with the rest of my soul." Garmadon's voice was dangerously low. "And yet, here you are out of it. I need to know how you got there, how you managed to escape, and when you last saw the rest of me…"

That is what this was all about? How did Garmadon even know?

Garmadon hit him against the wall again. "How did you get there? How did you find the rest of my soul?"

Cole answered through gritted teeth.

"I…don't…know..."

"Now is not the time to play stupid," Garmadon warned. The sword inched closer.

"I really don't…one minute I was facing some bad guy …then I was in the limbo. I don't know how I got there."

"Is my soul still alive?"

Cole thought back to his vision; in truth it was only a few hours ago…so he hoped that good Garmadon was still kicking. But at the same time he remembered how harrowed Lloyd's father looked; he certainly didn't look like he was going to last much longer.

"I don't know…"

"How did you escape?"

"I don't know!"

Garmadon yelled in frustration, throwing Cole hard into another wall. He yelled as he felt something crack before bouncing off the wall and landing on his hands and knees. He didn't even have time to think about the pain because Garmadon was right there again, hands purple with hatred.

"I don't have time for your misguided defiance…I need answers, even if I have to wring them out of you,"

"I'm…not trying to be defiant…I'm telling you…I really don't know…" Cole gasped, holding his side with one arm.

Garmadon pressed the sword tip to his neck. "Then tell me what you do know…every detail your miserable brain remembers."

Cole swallowed, trying to decide how much he should say. He wanted to buy Lloyd as much time as possible to figure out how to use the gloves…and he also wanted there to be something left of him for Lloyd to rescue as well.

"There was…this Baron. In the first realm. He was an Oni. I know that he had something to do with me ending up in Limbo but I don't know what he did or how he did it. And while I was in there Garmadon…uh…you…found me."

"Yes…and you told me all about how you were trapped in the first realm…"

Cole looked up in surprise.

"You…you could hear that?"

"Yes, fool, I could hear you. Connecting to lost bits of soul takes an extreme amount of concentration, but I needed to make sure that I was rid of him. However, that part of me continued to linger far longer than it should have. Which leads us to the last question: how did you escape?"

"I just…woke up…"

Garamdon peered down at him with unblinking eyes.

"You're lying."

"I told you, I don't know how…" Garmadon back-handed him across the face, cutting him off.

"You don't just wake up from limbo…something has to connect to you; pull you out. I can only assume my brother had something to do with it; he connected to me earlier. He probably foolishly believed that I could be so easily saved…"

"If you already knew…why ask me?" Cole muttered.

"Because he wouldn't have been able to do it, just himself…but who else would have been able to…" Suddenly Garmadon trailed off, having finally made the connection. He looked back at the ninja on the floor.

"The Oni girl; that's her role in all of this. She was able to save you, so my brother thought she could save me as well…" the expression on Cole's face was all the answer he needed.

"Then Wu's plan has truly failed…she cannot connect to me. There is no way for the rest of me to return." Garmadon sounded relieved and he turned to sneer at the Master of Earth. "If she was able to form a personal connection…you must have been close."

Cole didn't say anything, choosing instead to just stare at the ground.

"Perhaps it wasn't all of my brother's students that kept her from joining me…perhaps it was just her affection for one of them…"

He kicked Cole up against a nearby railing as he continued.

"I was just going to kill you…or send you back to limbo if I could figure out a way how; if the rest of my soul is still around, it would send quite the message." Cole tried to move but Garmadon whipped the vengestone chain around him, once again locking him in place. "But now that I know there is no way for him to return, there is no need. Besides…after using her to bring the rest of the Oni here, the girl may still prove useful. Thus, you might still prove useful."

Cole struggled against the chain; he was tired of being beaten up and locked up. He suddenly realized that this must be how Lloyd felt.

"Speaking of which…the portal will be nearly completed at this point. I'll come back for you later…if I remember." He hit Cole over the head with the hilt of his sword and the Master of Earth slumped forward. Garmadon deftly cut off a scrap of his black collar and then turned to leave. It was time to fulfill his destiny.

Lloyd

Lloyd swallowed. "Are you going to stab me in the back? Haven't you already done that?"

"Still bitter about that, I see..." she walked in front of him, knife still pointed threateningly. "Do you have any idea how frustrating it is…having my revenge unravel one string at a time? Your many escapes…the fact that your friends survived…"

"What are you waiting for, then?" Lloyd asked. His hands were buzzing.

"You know, I always envisioned your father killing you…and I think he still would, if I could only convince him that you were worth the trouble. But unfortunately he seems to think you aren't even worth that anymore, Lloyd." She used the tip of her knife to fiddle with the collar of his gi. "I know you used to be the only thing in his life that he cared about...the most important thing in his world. What is it like to go from that to being nothing? No…less than nothing. It's like you don't even exist to him…"

"What is it you want me to say?" Lloyd's voice was hard. His fists buzzed harder. "What is it you want to hear before you kill me, Harumi? What is it that you're waiting for?"

She didn't look at him, her knife tracing the designs on the green fabric.

"I don't know, Lloyd…is there something you'd like to say?"

Garmadon's voice suddenly echoed through the caverns. Lloyd couldn't tell what was being said, but it was clear that his father was yelling.

"Oh…these caverns…" Harumi murmured as she looked over in the direction Garmadon had gone. "You could hear a pin drop. Sounds like the questioning isn't really going in your friend's favor, huh? Isn't it a pity that all your little ninja survived death only to come back and get destroyed?"

Something sparked on the gloves, but Harumi didn't notice. She was looking at Lloyd now, taking in the clenched jaw and the furrowed brow. They heard more shouting and the echo of a thud. Lloyd winced at the sound of Cole's pained yell.

"Just think… a few tunnels away your father is killing him…" she tapped the knife against his chest. "And once again you're totally powerless to stop it." She glanced down at his clenched fists. "Not that you've ever been very good at protecting people…"

"Look, I'm sorry that you lost your parents, Rumi…I'm sorry that the Great Devourer destroyed your home and your childhood… but do you think you're the only one who's ever lost anything?" His voice grew louder as he talked. The knife bit into his skin as she went to say something, but he cut her off.

"I didn't have my parents around growing up either. Come to think of it, neither did half of my friends. You made it clear what you think about me and my friends…you think we're weak, childish…but we know just as much about grief as you do, Harumi. The difference between us isn't that you're strong and we're weak…it's that we turned outwards. We actually tried to make the world a better place, but you…you turned inwards and found yourself on a much more destructive path…"

The knife bit in harder as Harumi fumed at him. "Don't you dare compare your loss to mine…it's your fault that my parents are dead! And I've come closer to fixing the world than you ever have…"

"By destroying it?! Don't you realize how many people will suffer because of your choices? Do you really think that this making anything better?" The buzzing was getting harder to fight off, and Lloyd blinked, trying to control the feelings that seemed to be building up within.

She was furious now; she screamed and pulled her hand back in order to send the knife plunging into his chest, but his hands shot up and caught hers just before the knife made impact. In one smooth motion he used her knife to cut through the bonds around his wrists. He jumped back as she yanked the knife away, stumbling backwards herself.

"You really should have killed me earlier…" Lloyd said. Harumi screamed again and launched towards him. He dodged the knife lunge, which unbalanced her. He kicked her away as she swiped again. The knife ripped into his pant leg but didn't break skin.

"You have nothing Lloyd, nothing! There's nowhere for you to run…there are guards surrounding this temple…and your father is only a few tunnels away. Do you think that you can defeat us both, as weak and powerless as you are?!"

Lloyd dodged a few more swipes, mainly staying on the defensive. The anger and resentment that was building up inside was becoming harder to keep at bay.

"No…you have nothing…" he dodged again. "You could have had friends, Rumi…and a family…but you are the one who chose to have nothing."

"I don't need friends…or a family. I have your father, don't I?"

"For as long as you remain useful." He ducked and then grabbed her arm, swinging her away from him and into the wall. "Face it, Harumi…it's like you said yourself; I was one of the only things he cared about. If he doesn't care about me now…he doesn't care about anything…least of all you…"

"I FREED HIM," she screamed. "He needs me!" She charged again and swiped her knife at his arms, legs, neck….anything she could. He dodged again and again, finally grabbing her wrist and wrenching the knife out of it. He kicked her away from him and chucked the knife down the tunnel. She glared and raised her fists; she wasn't going to let him get away from her this time.

"You're wrong about that. Just like you're wrong about me being powerless…" His eyes flashed purple and Harumi blinked in surprise, taking a step backwards. He continued. "Last I checked…you're the one who has no power. There's no mask of hatred…no Garmadon at your side…no allies…just a little girl who took on more than she could handle." He had been approaching her, and she stood her ground. Suddenly, he stopped, face contorting like he was fighting something inside.

"I…didn't want to use this power…" he said. Harumi shook her head, not sure what was going on. All she knew was that it was time to destroy him once and for all, and he seemed distracted. She pulled a smaller dagger out of her boot and went in for the kill. He grabbed her arm, facing her. She shrank back when she saw the expression on his face. She had seen him angry, betrayed…but this…this was hatred. His eyes had stopped flashing…now they just were purple. She also noticed the aura swirling around his other hand.

"What…how did you…" she looked from his hand back to his face, but he just shook his head patronizingly.

"I don't want to use this power…but you've forced my hand. There is no other way…no other option to stop you and my father once and for all. This time, I'm not going to watch helplessly from the sidelines." His grip on her wrist was becoming almost unbearable and she was forced to drop the dagger.

"You targeted my family…my mom, dad, uncle, brothers…you have brought doom to ninjago, hurt countless citizens…and I can't help feel like maybe it's my turn for revenge." He raised his glowing hand.

26