The girls traveled through the cave in silence for some time, for different reasons; Alexia out of fear, Lane because of the gravity of the situation, and Moppet since she had nothing to say. But during one of the rests the girls took, Lane looked at Alexia.
"I know they don't like you, but why would someone do something this evil?" She asked. Alexia sighed, leaning against a wall of the cavern.
"Imagine a selfish girl, someone who thinks they're perfect in every way. She thinks being smart isn't cool, fashion is everything, and deceiving people is good. Now send an eviler girl to make sure that the girl never changes and does everything she says. That is what the coven did. When I went to school I was labeled as a nobody, making it completely un-cool to even be around me. In that school, the coven had everyone under their thumbs. They're the reason I cut, the reason I cried, the reason I almost died, the reason my heart was shattered." Alexia blinked and tears ran down her cheeks.
"How can they live with themselves?" Moppet asked.
"Because their hearts are black." Alexia answered, turning away.
This subdued any more questions until screams were heard from within the cavern, and the girls paled. "We've got to hurry!" Alexia said running on ahead to the end of the tunnel, only to freeze in place.
"What's wrong?" Lane asked, coming out to the opening of the cave. Alexia pointed a shaking finger at the person on a throne of black stone.
"Humph. Took you long enough." The person told them, rising. "I was starting to think you wouldn't take the bait." The voice was feminine, but said little else about the girl, as she was in a black cloak that hid her face.
"What are you doing here?" Alexia asked, trying to hide her fear.
"I could ask the same of you. After all, you've been missing for what, four years? Everyone was so worried, it made me sick. Alexia this, Alexia that. Oh, and you should know... He's dead. It turns out he did love you." The girl chuckled, but Alexia was near tears. "Then, one day, a portal opened up, and I was tossed into this world. I was gifted with amazing powers, which I used to raise an army through my pawn."
"Get to the point! Where are the boys?" Lane shouted. The girl sighed dramatically.
"Such impatience. You would think someone like you wouldn't be so hasty, but very well." The girl snapped her fingers, causing wall to open up. Chained to the wall were the ninja, looking defeated.
"What'd you do to them?" Moppet asked fearfully.
"I needed to make sure you came. Be thankful; they're still alive. I want to make sure they see you die." The girl answered.
"Show yourself... Eris." Alexia hissed.
The girl, or Eris, looked surprised as she flicked off her hood, showing hair black as night and piercing dark eyes. "How'd you know?" She asked lazily, going back to her throne.
"You're the one who took him away from me. The only person who knew how much he meant to me before you stole him, tearing my heart apart." Alexia told her, her anger barely under control.
"True, but he's gone now." Eris chuckled, and Lane snapped.
"Listen, I have no idea who you are, but you hurt Alexia. She is like my sister, and someone who does that pays!" Lane shouted, taking out her swords.
Eris rolled her eyes as Lane charged, flicking her hand. Instantly Lane froze, before erupting into screams as a vortex swallowed her, leaving only the marking of the rip in space. "Doctor Who was ever so precious to her, so why not trap her in a never ending time lock? Only in this one, she'll be torn apart, molecule by molecule. Isn't that nice?" Eris laughed.
"SIS!" Moppet shouted, before barring her claws.
"Oh please." Eris flicked her hand again, and Moppet was forced to the ground, ropes entangling her. "You're just a child."
"Why are you doing this?" Alexia screamed, tears on her cheeks.
"Because I want the ultimate revenge. You were the one person I could never tame, and that's something I just won't tolerate. I'll torture you until you can barely breathe, but it still won't be enough. No, I won't stop until you beg for mercy so hard, you'll be pathetic." Eris smirked.
Alexia reached for her sword but Eris used her power to throw it to the edge of the cavern. "I've been watching you. I know exactly how to beat you now. Nothing can stop me." Eris claimed, snapping her fingers again. Now Alexia felt emotions swarm her mind, ripping it apart. "You were always good at handling emotions, but how can you handle all six years at once?"
Alexia didn't answer. Her mind was being overloaded, and she couldn't help but scream and sob as the emotions grew worse and worse.
"Stop!" Kai shouted, regaining consciousness and his voice.
"Oh shut up." Eris clamped her hand and Kai fell silent, watching in horror as the girl he loved was broken further and further by her enemy. "You know how much I enjoy this? This feeling I have, it's more incredible than anything else. Alexia at my feet, helpless!" Eris laughed again. "I feel so confident, I'm going to give you an edge." She threw a dagger at Alexia's feet. "Go on, if you can. Try to kill me. Oh, that's right; you can't!" Eris continued to laugh, torturing Alexia even more. "You can't fight someone who is the perfect counter to you. And I know everything about you." Eris whispered the last sentence into Alexia's ear, taunting her.
Alexia couldn't think, her mind pleading for mercy, but her will refusing. How can I defeat this pain, this stress? He mind sobbed.
It was in that moment Alexia remembered what she had told herself a year ago;
Physical pain will always be able to overcome emotional pain.
Instantly, Alexia knew what to do. She reached over and grabbed the dagger Eris had tossed at her feet, unsheathing it. "You know nothing about me." Alexia hissed. Time seemed to slow down as Alexia made the choice she had promised to never again make.
She plunged the knife into her arm.
At first, there was only more pain. Alexia gasped as blood ran down her arm, her skin becoming distorted like before. It certainly surprised Eris, but she recovered and chuckled. "Trying to end it early?" She asked teasingly.
"No. I'm beating you." Alexia said, rising. She continued to slash at her arm, and soon, the pain from her mind began to fade as the physical pain entered, but it still felt like a massacre. Come on! You can do this! A few cuts are nothing! You're used to dozens! Alexia's will shouted as the cuts continued.
Eris, terrified, raised her hand again, but nothing seemed to happen. Panicking, blasts of dark energy came out of Eris' hands and were fired at Alexia, but she continued to stand and she stumbled to her sword.
"It can't be!" Eris cried, fear taking hold.
"It is. If you truly knew me, you wouldn't have given me that dagger. Because now, I'm stronger than you." Alexia told her, grabbing her sword. She put all of her concentration into her blade, and slowly, the blade lit up in water flames. Alexia slashed, and the tidal of water hit the ripple of time.
There was a flash of light and Lane fell from the portal, her skin pale. Looking around slowly, she noticed Alexia's bleeding arm and the bloodied dagger. Before she could say a word, Alexia shook her head. "I had to. Lane, use my blood. I'm strong enough to lose it." She insisted.
Lane looked from the dagger to Alexia's arm before slowly nodding. Alexia tossed the dagger to Lane, who used the blood to break Moppet's restraints. The three joined, each panting for a different reason.
"Moppet, Lane, free the boys. This is my fight." Alexia said.
"Are you sure?" Lane asked.
"Positive." Alexia answered. The other girls nodded and set about their task.
Eris had gotten over her shock and smiled. "You really think you can take me on?" She asked.
"This has gone on for far too long. I won't let you harm anyone else. The playing field is even now." Alexia answered, gripping her sword tighter.
"You're more right than you think. Even if I can't hurt you, you can't use your powers on me either." Eris smirked as Alexia growled.
"I only need my skills." Alexia said.
"We'll see if you still think that during the fight!" Eris replied, lunging at Alexia. She blocked the thrust, and the battle continued.
Meanwhile, Lane had managed to free the boys with the remaining blood on her dagger. They were in no shape to fight, however. "What happened?" Moppet asked after they had released Lloyd, the last one.
"We were jumped by skeletons. We fought back, but when the girl, Eris, came out, we couldn't use our Spinjitzu or anything." Jay explained.
"So that is what Eris meant. It will be down to whoever has more skill with a sword." Lane said thoughtfully.
"Alexia's gonna win, right sis?" Moppet asked, scared.
"She has more skill, but Alexia's lost a lot of blood in becoming immune to Eris' power. I hope she's still got her previous strength." Lane answered.
"What did Alexia mean when she started cutting her arm?" Kai asked.
"Back in school, the only way Alexia could cope with the emotions and stress was by cutting, since she had no one back then. Now, Alexia is using that to her advantage, but I wonder how long she can keep it up." Lane replied, looking towards the battle.
Eris and Alexia continued to fight with neither gaining the upper hand, until Eris stumbled and Alexia placed her sword at Eris' throat.
"Next time you want revenge, be more careful." Alexia hissed.
"Oh, I was." Eris smirked as Alexia's face lit up with horror as two skeletons grabbed from behind.
"You dirty little-" *If I repeat what Alexia just said, it might exceed the rating settings on Fanfiction.*
"Cuss all you want, but I've got you now." Eris laughed scornfully.
"Not on my watch!" Blood spurts attacked the skeletons viciously until they were reduced to rubble. As Alexia fell over, Kai caught her.
"You alright?" He asked.
"I'm fine." Alexia insisted.
Lane continued to pummel Eris with blood from the dagger, and when that ran out, used her own blood to attack. "Not so invincible now!" Lane cried.
Eris grunted. "Perhaps, since I didn't think you could use your powers on me. But you're not immune to my powers!" She said.
"I don't need to be." Lane jumped over Eris, latching a small device onto her back. Eris' eyes widened.
"Get it off me, get it off me now!" She shouted, panicking.
"Here's a little tip when you hurt someone; never mess with a girl who aced electronics." Lane hissed, pressing a button on her trigger.
Electrical shocks came from the device and Eris screamed in pain as she was electrocuted. She dropped to her knees as it continued, crying out. "Mercy!" Eris begged.
"You're not getting any." Lane answered, her face devoid of pity.
"You know that The Doctor would show me mercy." Eris insisted, her eyes full of tears. "And he's always right!"
Lane leaned down so she and Eris were at eye-level. "The Doctor would show you mercy. But guess what?" Lane was whispering now, her voice so low only Eris could hear her. "I'm not The Doctor, and he isn't here." Lane pressed the trigger again, this time on full power. Eris screamed one last time before falling over.
"It's finally over." Alexia murmured, standing up. "Let's go."
The ninja and the girls exited the cave to find Destiny's Bounty right above them. "You guys are okay!" Nya called, sliding down the anchor. "What happened?"
"Could we please explain later? Like, when Alexia's arm is better bandaged?" Lane asked, as Alexia's arm was done up in a crude cast made up of ripped fabric from her ninja suit.
Sometime later...
"Let me get this straight. You guys are from a parallel dimension, where people don't have powers, watch us on a show, and look completely different?" Cole asked.
"That's about right." Alexia confirmed.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Kai asked.
"Before what just happened, would you have believed us?" Lane asked.
"True. But how'd you even get here?" Jay asked.
"Moppet." Alexia and Lane chanted at the same time.
"Hey! How in the world was I supposed to know you're supposed to plug a cell phone into a TV?" Moppet said in defense.
"Why would you do it anyway?" Zane asked.
"'Cause we were bored." Moppet answered.
"So what now?" Nya asked.
Alexia shrugged. "No idea. Personally, I doubt we could go back."
"For now, you all should rest." Sensei Wu told them.
The ninja nodded, leaving the room.
Alexia went into the girls' bedroom, Kai following. "Why did you take that risk?" He murmured.
Alexia turned away. "If I hadn't, then we would all be dead." She answered.
Kai faced her, his eyes peering into Alexia. "Never do it again." He whispered. Alexia slowly nodded, tears running down her face. Kai gently kissed her lips, pulling her closer to himself.
Meanwhile, Lane had gone onto the deck, watching as the sun set lazily on the horizon.
"Something on your mind, Lane?" Zane asked, walking up to her.
"Everything that just happened... It really made me realize how when you hide things, they may never rise up." Lane murmured, facing Zane.
"Like what?" Zane asked. He was trying feign polite interest, but his heart (metaphorically) was racing. The two moved closer to each other until their faces were just inches apart. Zane leaned down slightly and their lips connected. Even though it lasted less than ten seconds, to them it felt like an eternity, time moving so slow.
When their lips parted, both looked as though they were dreaming. Lane recovered first, and she smiled broadly. She kissed Zane's cheek, and he blushed. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Lane asked.
Zane looked down. "I was afraid that you would reject me because you knew I was a robot." He explained.
Lane chuckled. "Zane, what makes people unique is what attracts me to them." She said, and Zane smiled. They kissed again, only to be interrupted.
"Everyone! Please come to the control room!" Nya called over the intercom. When the others arrived, she pointed to Jay, who was working on a small machine in the corner.
"I've got it!" Jay flipped a small switch, and a portal opened. "I managed to lock onto your dimension with Moppet's cell phone, so this could work."
"Are you positive?" Lane asked.
"...Mostly." Jay answered, looking uncomfortable.
"Uh, guys? Could you give us a minute?" Alexia asked.
The others left the room, making it so that Lane, Moppet, and Alexia were alone.
"Is something wrong?" Moppet asked.
"That's just it, Moppet. I'm not going back." Alexia said. "There's nothing for me there except abusive parents and a stressful life. Here, there's more. I'm sorry, but I can't go back."
"And I'm not leaving either." Lane added. "Being an outcast has never been fun, and there are things here for me as well."
"Not just Zane; Lane, I had Jay do a scan of you, and time won't touch you." Alexia replied. "I think the time lock made it so you're immortal now."
Lane raised an eyebrow. "You learn a new thing every day."
"What about me?" Moppet asked.
"Moppet, you have a chance. You were accepted by people. You can make changes we could never do. And you need to make sure that people understand how it matters for others to not take control." Lane told her, crouching to eye-level with Moppet.
"But what if I'm scared?" Moppet asked.
"People are always scared. It's a human emotion. But it's the ones who can stand up to it and face it that courageous." Alexia answered. "Make us proud."
Moppet nodded slowly, and faced the portal. She took a deep breath, stepping towards it. She turned around one last time, and Lane and Alexia smiled sadly. Moppet turned back to the portal again and touched it hesitantly with her finger. The portal enveloped her and in a flash of light it disappeared, taking Moppet away with it.
"She's gone." Lane whispered.
"Everything alright?" Kai called. The others came in only to be surprised that Lane and Alexia were still there, but Moppet wasn't.
"Where's Moppet? And the portal?" Cole asked.
"Moppet used it. She went back... without us." Alexia said.
It was clear to the others what had happened, as they stopped with the questions. "So what now?" Nya asked.
"Now it is time for us to part ways." Sensei Wu told them.
...What? You think that's it? Hell no, there will be an epilogue!