The next morning, Sensei Wu had managed to somehow find a gong, and promptly awoke the ninja (and the people next door) at sunrise. They all groaned, but Sensei Wu only stopped when a rap on the wall from the other apartment was heard.
"Sensei, we don't even have a place to train!" Annabella grunted.
"The boys found a suitable area to train Lloyd, and you must do so!" Sensei Wu told them.
Groaning, the girls rolled out of bed, and finally Sensei Wu left them alone. Diane was the first to get dressed and soon the smell eggs and bacon filled the apartment. Surprisingly, the people who came to the kitchen first were the guys. "I thought you also had a kitchen."
"Cole's cooking again." Kai grunted. A yawn came from the girls' bedroom and they came out, rubbing their eyes.
"So, where're we supposed to train Lloyd?" Emera asked.
"We found a small dojo which should serve our needs." Zane replied.
"Although, the sensei's weird." Kai muttered.
"Kai!" Nya scolded.
"No, he's seriously weird, Nya." Jay put in. "He thinks he's the greatest."
After breakfast, the boys went with Lloyd to the dojo, while the girls went to a garage. Nya had apparently rented a space there, and decided to make a vehicle for them. "Alright, here's the diagram I made for a vehicle." She pulled out blueprints, which confused Annabella and Emera, while Diane nodded.
"Uh, I think we'll leave this to you." Annabella said quickly. Emera nodded, and Nya smiled.
"Go ahead." She replied.
The two went exploring Ninjago City, walking to the square where they had beaten the Great Devourer. "What do you think those things were yesterday?" Emera asked Annabella, who shrugged.
"Don't ask me. Diane seemed freaked out about them when we fought them, but who really knows?" She responded.
"Ask us." Voices hissed. Annabella and Emera spun around, and people screamed as more of the demons appeared.
"I'd rather fight!" Annabella countered, sending water their way. Emera grabbed one of the lampposts which had been knocked over, using the metal to send shards into the demons.
After a good half-hour of fighting, the two trudged back to the garage, only to find the other two faring about as well as them. "What were those things trying to do?" Nya asked.
"Beats me..." Emera muttered. Her watch com beeped loudly, startling all of them. "Whoa... I think the guys called my com multiple times..."
"Mine too." Annabella murmured. Diane paled.
"Those demons weren't after us! They were a diversion!" She yelled. "Nya, do you know exactly where they went?"
Nodding, Nya lead the group to the dojo, only to find the inside destroyed. A few students in white gis and a man wearing brown were knocked out, while Lloyd nursed a large knot on his head in the corner. "Lloyd, what happened?" Diane asked, scared.
"Those demons from before... ow..." Lloyd rubbed his head. "They attacked us all at once... I don't remember what came next, though."
Nya checked the bump, sighing. "They must have knocked you out. But why didn't they take Lloyd along with the others?"
"Search me." Annabella growled. "But I'm ready for payback."
"But the question is, can we follow them?" Emera pointed out. "We've got no hints, nothing to go on."
"Maybe..." Diane murmured. "Something they had me do in the facility was detect auras. If I was able to find a trace of those demons,"
Annabella smiled as she caught on. "Then we can find them!"
"But how are we supposed to find them? It's not like they would leave a trail." Nya pointed out.
"Not intentionally, but perhaps I can trace it." Diane closed her eyes, concentrating. When her eyes opened, they glowed silver. "Follow me." Her voice had changed, morphing into a deeper tone.
The girls got on their dragons, Lloyd and Amelia hitching rides with Nya and Emera respectively and Diane led the group to a cavern complex. At the entrance, Lord Garmadon stood with the Serpentine. "Stay back!" He ordered.
Fearless, Diane stepped forward. "You are not the person we seek. Stand aside and let us see your master."
"I have no master!" Lord Garmadon bellowed, angry. Diane raised her hand, and vines trapped Lord Garmadon where he stood.
"Kaihōsareru." Diane murmured. Lord Garmadon froze before he went limp. The Serpentine looked around, confused, before passing out.
"What the hell just happened?!" Annabella asked, confused. Lloyd ran over to his father, and sighed at finding a pulse. Diane nearly passed out before Emera and Amelia caught her.
"Diane? Are you okay?" Amelia asked. Diane opened her eyes.
"I can't remember anything past the dojo. Where are we?" She questioned.
"Somewhere." Emera answered. "You led us here, so we might as well check it out. You two," She pointed to Amelia and Lloyd. "Stay out here."
"Sis, I can help!" Amelia insisted, and Lloyd nodded.
"Me too!" He added.
"Sorry, but it's too risky." Emera told them. "Just wait."
Amelia slowly nodded, but once the others were out of sight grabbed Lloyd's arm. "We're going to follow them."
"I thought you agreed with them." Lloyd said, confused.
"Maybe, but I have a debt to repay Emera. And I intend to pay in full." Amelia replied. "Now let's go!"
The female ninja made their way into the cavern, thankfully without the need for fighting through demons. "Hey, Diane?" Annabella asked.
"Yes?" Diane responded, distracted.
"What happened to you when you... sensed that aura?" Annabella asked.
"I do not know." Diane sighed. "I... felt something familiar come over me, and I only became conscious when you awoke me."
"Well that's creepy." Emera muttered.
"Do you think that's dangerous?" Nya put in.
"No. It did not seem to harm me when I was in the state. For now, we should focus on finding the others." Diane insisted.
The three other girls looked at each other, confused, but Diane continued to lead them farther into the cavern complex. As they went farther in, groaning could be faintly heard. "Anyone else kind of freaked out?" Emera murmured.
"Yup." Annabella and Nya chorused, but Diane hushed them.
"Just a bit further!"
Finally, the four arrived at a large chamber, where a black haired woman sat lazily. "I suppose you thought to take your sweet time?"
"You were expecting us?" Nya asked, surprised.
"Naturally. I knew it would only be a matter of time once I captured the fools." The woman rose, and a small amount of light revealed her features; gray, cracking skin and soulless black eyes.
"Don't you dare insult them like that!" Annabella, Nya, and Emera roared.
"Yet you didn't capture us?" Diane noted quietly.
"No. Those fools must use weapons to channel their powers. Although, the ninja of wind is rather weak as well, but still, useful." The woman said lazily. Nya swore under her breath. "Oh don't be insulted, it's only natural as your powers were never tested."
"You- you put us in the facility?!" Annabella screamed.
"It was to unlock your powers. Those tests helped make your powers grow, so that this moment could happen." The woman replied.
"What kind of bitch does that?" Emera questioned.
"Call me the Demon of Darkness." The woman told her. "I was unable to regain a human form after I used the Overlord and Stone Warriors to fight against the first Spinjitzu Master. So I sent the serpent upon his son, gaining a new pawn. Now... I merely need a few hundred souls before I completely regain my form."
"That's repulsive!" Diane shouted, finally losing her temper. "Souls are a sacred thing of life. They are the energy of human beings! You have no right to take that away!"
The Demon of Darkness looked at Diane, curious. "I admit, I was puzzled at how quickly you found me. I thought I would need to leave a trail. But clearly it was unnecessary... as you were there, Gādian."
"G- Gādian?" Diane murmured, surprised.
"I will explain... as soon as you swear loyalty to me." The Demon of Darkness smiled. "Become my lieutenants, and I may even spare the useless boys."
Annabella snorted. "Join the person who tortured us? Hell no!"
"I think you'll be begging for my mercy soon." The Demon of Darkness sneered.
"How do you figure that?" Emera challenged.
"With this." The Demon of Darkness moved her hand. Immediately, Annabella, Emera, and Nya began to scream, while Diane froze, her eyes glazing over.
...I AM SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SOOOOORRY! I SWEAR I MEANT TO UPDATE!
Don't worry, next chapters shouldn't be NEARLY as long. Then There Were None is going to be updated soon too, vote in the poll on my page, and When Nightmares meet Darkness' Daughter is... close to ending. I swear, just do what my friend do0m has people do:
THREATEN ME WITH BODILY HARM!
...Except with Then There Were None. I just need to consult do0m on that chapter for finishing. The other two, go ahead, it should get me going. So, hopefully I can update this story soon, and until then, bye!