Hey guys! Sorry that it's been so long! I'll just get right to it, don't won't to keep you waiting. (Sorry if it's short!)
Chapter 12: Another Man Down
(Nya's POV)
I'm running away. I can't stay there... I can't look at him anymore. Guilt, pain, and anger fill my soul as I try so hard to make my tears disappear.
He loved me. He really did. It wasn't just a little crush. His heart didn't deserve me to reject it. I've been a fool. What sort of girl would listen to a machine to tell her who she was meant for anyway?
"Well, we have no idea where he is so we're going to need to find some sort of computer system." I frown at the familiar voice. Very slowly I curl my hand into a fist, my knuckles turning white.
"Perhaps I could hack it," another voice says. I can't take it anymore...they speak so normally, as if there was nothing wrong at all...I'll show them...
I charge forward, my hand still curled into a fist. The two figures turn around to face me. I zone in on the left one, fire in my heart as I ram myself right into Cole's chest.
"Nya," he says softly. "Why are you crying?"
"IT'S YOUR FAULT!" I scream, punching him in the chest.
"What's my fault?"
"IF YOU HADN'T HURT JAY HE WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE TO FIGHT BACK HE WOUDN'T HAVE FAILED!" Tears stream down my face faster and faster.
"Nya, what in Ninjago are you talking about?" he cries. Pixal, who stands next to Cole, looks alarmed and steps back.
"I NEVER LOVED YOU!" I punch him hard again. "AND I STILL DON'T! YOU'RE A BASTARD AND A TERRIBLE LEADER!" I can feel my strength dwindling... Weakly I shove my right fist forward towards Cole again. He holds out his left hand completely flat, my weak punch hitting his palm.
"Nya..." he says softly. I sink to the floor, my damp hair clinging to my face. I take short gasps of air, shaking from my sobs. "I never loved you that way either. I was trying to tell you that, but you and Jay kept interrupting me." I look up at him, more tears falling from my blue eyes. "But I do still love you as a sister..." He squats down next to me. "So tell me...what's going on?"
"J-Jay..." I sob.
"Okay..." Cole says. "What about Jay?"
"It's your fault!" I snap, unable to contain my anger. He's being too calm.
"Okay, okay, it's my fault," Cole sighs. "But Nya...what happened to Jay? Did they capture him? Is he wounded?"
"Why don't you see for yourself..." I whisper. Cole's head snaps up, as if he was expecting Jay to come up from behind me.
"Ummm...Nya..."
"No...f-follow me..." I say, choking back another sob. I slowly get to my feet, shaking like crazy. Cole stands up as well, and Pixal walks back over to us.
The walk to the end of the hall is short, but excruciating. Every step seems to hurt... Once we turn the corner up ahead, we'll be able to see him...
"You ready?" I whisper. "Just turn the corner..."
Cole chews on the inside of his cheek, looking nervous now. With one last bit of confidence, he takes a deep breath...and turns the corner.
(Cole's POV)
When I first enter the hallway, I see nothing. It's a perfectly ordinary hallway: walls, floor, ceiling, security cameras... I'm starting to wonder if Nya's going crazy. To tell the truth, I wouldn't be surprised. She's been through a lot. But as I continue walking down the hallway, I start to see it.
Wires, pieces of metal, broken katanas and other various items litter the floor. Someone's defeated all these Nindroids. And it looks like some of them were defeated by hand.
My blood runs cold about halfway down the hallway as a spot a familiar face. I rush over to his side, my body shaking.
His green eyes are wide open, but dull and lifeless. The energetic spark they always had in them was gone. His cheeks are pale, drained of blood. His lips are curved into a peaceful smile...
But his chest...his chest is the worst. Blood, thick, dark, crimson blood, stains his blue gi. I slowly place my hand on it, and then pull back. My hand is coated with red.
"No..." I whisper. I begin repeating the word, hoping if I say it enough, this will all go away... "No. No. No-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no!" The last word comes out sharper than the rest as I feel a tear in my eye.
I turn back to look at Nya over by the end of the hall. She's watching my expression carefully, searching for an emotion that I'm not showing. Suddenly her face softens a bit, and another tear slowly slides down her already tear-stained face. Pixal wraps an arm around Nya's shoulders and the two girls walk over to me.
"Y-You see?" sobs Nya. "He's dead...he's really, truly dead..."
"Don't say that..." I whisper. "Don't say that word." That awful, terrible word.
"But Cole..." Pixal says softly. "It is the truth. Jay is..." Pixal trails off when Nya gives her a look.
"What...what do we do?" I ask painfully, another tear joining the first.
"I don't know..." I whisper. "There's...there's no hope..."
CRASH!
The wall suddenly breaks open, metal and glass shattering everywhere. Pixal slams her back against the far wall in an attempt to get out of the way. Nya holds Jay close, protecting his lifeless body.
Coughing, I sit up as the smoke starts to clear. All I can see are bright lights above me, but then a hear a familiar voice.
"Did someone call for a Ninja?"
"K-Kai?" I cough. The smoke has finally cleared, revealing two giant car-tanks. Lloyd and Kai are sitting in the one with the open cockpit, and Garmadon's with...Dr. Julien?
"Yup," Kai says, grinning as he and Lloyd exit the tank. "And I found Lloyd. And a few others."
"KAI!" screams Nya suddenly, rushing forward towards her brother.
"Nya!" he beams. She throws her arms around him, and Kai holds her close to his chest.
"Shh...it's okay, sis...I'm okay..."
"I was s-so scared..." she whispers. "I thought...I though they killed you..."
"Nope," Kai smiles. "Don't worry, Nya, I won't die without saying goodbye." Nya laughs through her tears.
"Not that again."
"Hey, it's always good to go back to your childhood!" Kai laughs. I smile.
Lloyd walks over to me, "Hey Cole."
"Hi," I reply.
"What happened to your cheek?" Lloyd asks, sounding concerned. "And...were you crying?"
"Long story..." I murmur.
"Excuse me," a voice says. We both turn around to face Pixal. "I do not believe we have met."
"Yeah, I was kinda busy," laughs Lloyd. "I'm Lloyd Garmadon, the Green Ninja!"
"And I am Pixal," Pixal smiles. "I have heard a lot about you from the others."
"Yeah, Kai mentioned you to me," Lloyd says. "Are you and Zane...?"
"..." Pixal doesn't answer.
"Sorry, I didn't realize it was such a sensitive subject." Lloyd looks a bit embarrassed.
"That is quite alright," Pixal replies.
"Hey Cole," Kai says, walking up to us. "Where's Jay?"
"Uh..." I can barely speak. "Well...Kai...Lloyd...I am afraid to tell you that...we're another man down."
Looks of horror spread across their faces.
"He was taken by the Nindroids too?" gasps Lloyd. I shake my head.
"Is he evil?" Kai asks worriedly.
"Worse..." Nya whispers.
"Umm...really hurt?" Lloyd looks a bit scared.
"W-Worse..." stammers Nya. She's about to start crying again. Nya's words hit Lloyd and Kai like a brick to the chest.
"No..." Kai whispers.
"Y-You're kidding, r-right?" Lloyd's eyes are wide and slightly hopeful.
"No..." Pixal says. "They are not kidding..."
"F*CK MY LIFE!" screams Kai suddenly, whirling around on his heel and slamming his fist into part of the wall that's still intact. "WHY THE HELL DO WE HAVE TO BE LOSING! HEROES DON'T LOSE!"
"That's where your wrong, Kai," I whisper. "Heroes lose all the time. They just don't show it as much in movies because it's painful."
Kai looks at his hand. Blood is streaming from his knuckles, and his fingers are bruised black and blue. It's obvious he hasn't been fighting barehanded in a long time.
"It's not fair..." whispers Lloyd.
"Life is never fair," Nya sobs.
"Truer words have never been spoken," I say softly.
"INTRUDER! INTRUDER!"
"An alarm? Really?" chokes Kai.
"We're screwed..." whispers Lloyd.
"No Jay, no Zane, no techno-blades," I begin. Everyone looks at me. "But why should we count the things we don't have? We do have each other. And we have something very important...hope. If you and Kai hadn't showed up, then yes Lloyd, we would've been screwed. But we've got you guys now, and you're restored out hope. So...let's do this."
"Um, Cole?" Lloyd says in a small voice. "That was a great speech but...you might want to turn around..."
AND BOOM! YET ANOTHER CLIFFIE! I realized that the last chapter wasn't really a cliffie, but it did keep you wondering what Kai, Lloyd, and Nya were planning so...in a way it was!
(Hey GreenCircuit fans, if you want, you could take the conversation between Lloyd and Pixal as more than just Lloyd asking about Zane... ;) Haha I had to XD)
In case you're curious, the line "I won't die without saying goodbye" is a reference to the sibling's past. I have this headcanon that Kai and Nya used to play adventure games with wooden swords and stuff, and Kai was overly-dramatic to make Nya laugh. Hmm...that would be a good one-shot idea... :D
Anyways, review!
~ForeverDreamer12, signing out!