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"I told you I needed him alive!"
"And I told you not to Alex's powers until I was done!"
Julic clenched his fists. The winds picked up. "I wouldn't have had to take her powers if you hadn't killed Lloyd! If you could've just been patient we both could've got what we wanted," he growled. He took a deep breath. "If you still want your fun, I know exactly what you can do." The winds died out as Julic calmed. He needed another moment to control her powers.
"What would that be?" Joey asked, crossing his arms.
Julic smiled. "Alex has a small bit of dark magic in her, a "gift" from your grandmother. With a snap of your fingers, you can unlock just enough to keep the others away from her."
"How is that fun?"
"Because, right now she'd need her friends most. Take that away…"
"And she crumbles."
The black veils dissapeared. "Joey must be gone," Lucas said.
"All right, Kai, Zane, Tove, you guys find Jay, Zoey, and Lloyd. Lucas and I will go help Alex," Cole said.
Zane opened his panel and pushed a button. His eyes turned blue and he looked down one of the halls. "Zoey and Jay are down here," he said, "but I'm not sure where Lloyd is."
"Hopefully with Alex," Lucas mumbled. While the three went towards the cells, he and Cole hurried down the path Alex had followed Joey down. It wasn't a long hall, but it had a turn to a dead end. Lucas froze when he saw Alex at the end with Lloyd.
"Alex!" Cole yelled, running down the hall, Lucas right behind him. "Is Lloyd…"
"Leave us alone!" Alex snapped. She refused to let go of Lloyd. She refused to believe he was dead.
Lucas, seeing that there was no venge stone, used his powers. He couldn't find Lloyd's psyche and he looked to Cole, shaking his head.
Cole started over to Alex, reaching his hand out, but a barrier stopped him. He gazed at the black barrier that suddenly formed around Alex and Lloyd. Was Joey still around? Was he watching them and keeping them from comforting their friend?
Lucas closed his eyes, slipping into Alex's mind. Please Alex, you have to get up, he thought.
No! Alex snapped.
Alex, he's gone, Lucas stated. I can't find his psyche. You have to let go or we'll never find Joey and Julic.
You just don't care! You always hated the idea that Lloyd turned out to be the green ninja! Well, I could've let go of you when you were taken but I didn't. I'm not letting go of Lloyd! He has to be okay!
Lucas stared at his sister. Maybe she was right, maybe he didn't preticularly like Lloyd, but he wasn't glad he was dead either. Alex just…
No!
Lucas stumbled backwards onto the floor. He opened his eyes and everything was dark and hazy.
Alex stared at her older brother for a moment. "I…how…" She stared at Lucas for a moment. How did she manage to do that?
"Alex," Cole said, kneeling down and placing his hand on the barrier. "Please, we just want to help you. Maybe it's not too late for Lloyd. Maybe if we find Joey, we can make him reverse it."
Alex looked down. "But he won't reverse it. He did it to get back at me," she told him. "He was mad that Lloyd was training so young, the exact reason I didn't train him. He wanted me to suffer."
"Then we'll make him fix Lloyd," Cole said, smashing his fist into his hand. "Just let me help you get Lloyd out of here." He reached his hand out.
"Stop!"
The three turned to Zoey, Jay, and the others as they ran to them. "What's wrong?" Cole asked, frowning.
"Alex isn't using the magic directly, but she's the cause of the barrier," Zoey said. "The more she gives up or feels, the more powerful it gets."
"That explains it," Lucas mumbled. "If magic was real."
"Come on, Lucas, just except it," Tove said. "Magic is real."
Alex stared down at Lloyd. The more she felt the stronger it got? How was she suppose to cut off her emotions after her brother was killed in front of her? That was probably the point. More tears streamed down her face. She needed Cole to comfort her, to put his arms around her while she went through this, but he couldn't.
"Alex," Jay said, getting her attention. "We need to get out of here. If Joey and Julic decide to kill all of us, they could. We are right next to a highly active volcano after all."
Alex nodded slightly and stood with Lloyd in her arms. He'd look peaceful if she didn't know he was dead. Cole started to Alex again but the barrier appeared again. Stupid barrier, they both had thought.
"Let's hurry," Kai said. "The sooner we leave, the sooner we find Joey."
"And the sooner we find Joey, the sooner we get him to fix Lloyd."
Everyone walked into the apartment, Alex laying Lloyd down on the couch. "Alex, we will help him," Cole told her. "I promise."
Alex shook her head. "Don't make a promise you can't keep," she said, her voice cracking. "People get hurt." She turned and walked into the training room.
Misako came down and gasped, running to her younger son. "Oh, Lloyd," she whispered.
"Don't worry, we'll find a way to make Joey undo whatever he did," Lucas assured his mother, putting an arm around her. "I won't make you go through with Lloyd what you went through with me."
Misako turned to her eldest son and started sobbing into his gi. Lucas looked up to the others, a worried look on his face. What if we can't get Joey to undo this? he asked, or what if Joey can't do it?
He has to be able to, Cole insisted. From what I've heard, magic has no limits.
Especially dark magic, Zane agreed. If he could do it, he could undo it.
Cole walked into the training room. Alex was sitting in the corner, her face burried in her knees. "Alex," he said.
Alex sniffed but she felt all the energy leaving her. She could sense the barrier was gone, though she could hardly keep her eyes open. "Cole," she said, letting him know she heard him.
Cole walked over, making sure the barrier was gone. Once he knew it was, he sat down next to Alex, putting his arm around her. He didn't bother saying anything else. He let Alex soak his gi as she cried into him. At some point she started breathing more heavily, falling asleep. He kissed her forehead and rubbed her shoulder, glad he could finally be there for her.
Joey stood up and looked to his bed. He made it quickly and headed for the door. His dream was still fresh in his mind. He got his revenge, so why did he still need to help Julic get the other ninjas powers? He didn't! Joey walked to the door, grabbing the doorknob. No, the door creaked too much. He didn't want Julic to know he left, he knew how to restrain his powers. He snapped his fingers and vanished from the room.
Joey looked around the apartment building. It was dark and quiet. It seemed everyone was asleep. He walked over to a room in the corner and peered inside. It was a training course, and in the corner Alex and Cole were sitting together. He used his powers to hide himself, but he realized they were fast asleep. He took a step back and felt himself bump into someone. He turned and saw Lucas.
Why are you here? he snapped in his head, causing Joey to wince at the slight ring that came with it.
I...I'm here because...uh... Joey suddenly couldn't remember why he was here.
Well while you're here, fix my brother!
Joey looked to Lloyd on the couch. Fix him? He couldn't fix him if he wanted to! He knew a lot about his powers given he didn't have them that long, but reversing what he did would be new to him.
Maybe I didn't make myself clear, Lucas's voice said. Fix my brother!
No, Joey told him. I don't know how and I don't want to.
Lucas's eyes began to glow and Joey fell to his knees. He had practiced for Lucas's powers, but he was panicking now. He closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths, clearing his mind completely. Once he felt the pain leave completely, he stood and watched Lucas.
"How..."
"Julic prepared me for all your powers. You can't shut down my psyche as long as I have my magic."
Lucas looked to his brother. "I know you were an only child, but remember how it felt to lose your parents. Making others feel your pain won't help. In fact, it'll be your downfall."
Joey looked to Lloyd, then to Alex and Cole. He couldn't be a good guy, not after what he did. Not after promise his grandmother made. Not after he unlocked his dark magic. It was too late to change, so he didn't care that it was his downfall. He closed his eyes, vanishing and leaving Lucas.
Joey froze as he reappeared in his room. He turned around and stared at Julic. "Where'd you go?" he asked.
"I...just...stepped out," Joey stammered.
Julic clenched his fists. "You'll regret thinking of betraying me. You'll regret seeing the ninja. If you ever leave without my permission again..."
"You don't own me!" Joey snapped.
Julic chuckled. "I don't own you? Boy, you have no idea what I'm capable of."
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