Part 5: Fear and Zanna

Chapter 17: Fear and Guilt, Frost and Milla

February 6th 2043

I sighed as I glanced over to the numerous cages around mine. Each of the ninja had one, as did Frost's parents.

The ninja had been trying to break out for a day now. I don't know how they can keep at it. Cole keeps trying to bend his bars, Kai keeps ramming into his cage, and Lloyd constantly tries to summon his elemental powers. Jay only sits and talks about what a bad situation we are in, and Asuna and I keep thinking logically about how to get out.

"Guys it is no use. Why don't you stop beating yourselves up?" I said with a voice of disappointment. "I know you managed to get out last time, but what are you going to do— jump from the cages fifty feet in the air?"

Cole and Kai stared at each other then slumped to the floor of their cages. They had managed to get out with the hairclip Asuna had, but Guilt had captured them once again, and raised our cages so that they couldn't run if they broke out.

A door opened below us and we all poked our head in-between the cage bars to see Guilt walking to the center of the room. He held something in his right hand as he walked. He walked up the spiral staircases and entered his room, as he did only once every week. We all shook our heads and lay on the floor of our cages once more.

"This is hopeless…" I whispered as I closed my eyes.

I sudden heard the faint flapping of wings.

"Milla! I knew I would find you eventually!" A young echoing voice whispered loudly.

I snapped open my eyes and stared out of my cage. I smiled.

"Carly! I never knew I would be this happy to see you!" I exclaimed softly to the Knee-Dragon.

"Carly?" The ninja all asked at the same time. They stared in awe at the pale blue-feathered dragon with ruby eyes.

"I bet you're happy to see these too." Carly said as she lifted her head slightly, jingling the keys that were in her jaws. I smirked.

"But what about the height of the cages?" Asuna asked. Carly frowned and dropped the keys carefully into my cage. She turned and dove to the ground. After a few minutes we started to lower silently. When we reached the ground we saw Carly perched on a lever on the wall.

"Good girl!" I said as I unlocked my cage. I ran to the others' and unlocked theirs. "You guys get out of here. I have to see something."

"We stay with you." Asuna whispered. "Lloyd and I. The others will go." She said glancing to the ninja, who hesitantly nodded and ran off.

"What do you need to see?" Lloyd asked as he followed my glance to the stairs.

"Just don't speak and follow me…"

We ran silently up the stairs to Guilt's room, Carly perched on my head. I leaned on the door and listened.

"—Will you do about him?" Guilt was saying.

"I do not know." Came a soft voice. It was female. It sounded like it was coming through some sort of communicator. "I encountered him and his friends while I was flying to Elzmara Town, the capitol to take care of Burn."

"What did he do? What happened?"

Who is he talking about?

"He attacked me. Sent his sword across my face."

"How? I thought that you were flying?" Guilt asked, I could tell through his voice that he already knew the answer.

"He grew wings! I cannot believe it. After he slashed my face he fell but his uncle caught him. After that he drilled right through me using his two swords!"

Two swords! They're talking about Frost!

"So he defeated you?" Guilt asked with an angered voice. "Do I have to personally go over there and capture him myself?"

"Just give me one last chance, master. Tell me what I must do."

"Alright, fine. I have a nasty way for you to break him. It would break anyone, really. Maybe even me." Guilt said with a devious voice.

I took a step back, and Carly gave a small yelp of surprise. I gasped and started following Asuna and Lloyd as they ran.

"Hey!" Guilt shouted.

We slid down the rail of the stairs and ran to the door.

Guilt laughed as something grabbed my ankle. I fell, hitting my chin really hard on the marble ground. I noticed Lloyd and Asuna on the ground as well. Guilt shimmered into view in front of us with a snarl.

"You disgusting little…" I snarled. "What are you going to do to Frost?!"

"Oh, why don't you have a front row seat and watch for yourself sweetheart? I am sure that it will be very… entertaining." Guilt said with a nasty sneer. He snapped his fingers on his right hand and a large mirror appeared in front of all of us. The glass shimmered as I saw Frost flying with an angel, a girl fairy, a male fairy and Wu, who now had wings as well. I snarled, and narrowed my eyes at the image.

Frost's PoV

I sighed as the heat in the air struck me again. We were nearing the place that mirrored the Birch Wood Forest. I believe Burn called it the Fire Plains. It lived up to its name with the numerous mini volcanoes at our feet and the very few hills and trees in the area. I noticed a small hill in the distance safe from the small erupting volcanoes.

"Let's rest over there." I said as we flew down. The closer we got the more I realized that it wasn't a hill. It was a cliff.

I glanced to Zane.

"This must be where your female form fell…" I whispered, and got a nod in response.

I sighed as my wings folded back, finally resting. Burn was clearly upset that we stopped, but I could tell that she was glad to stop her wings.

I sat on the ground and closed my eyes. Without meaning to, I fell into my dreams.

I opened my eyes to find myself in a strange field of short grass. There was nothing else, just the grass and the blue sky. I yawned and stood, twitching my wings twice. I stretched and turned. My eyes widened.

"Milla?!"

Milla stood in front of me, half a football field away. Her blonde hair still had the tips of white, and still went to her waist. Her uniform was different though. It was a simple tunic that was slightly torn at the bottom and the sleeves.

"Frost? Is that really you?!"

I blinked twice.

Is it really you? I thought to myself. I decided it wasn't.

"Yeah… its me…" I mumbled.

"When are you going to save me?!" She asked with a smirk.

"…Working on it…"

"Really? 'Cuz it looks like you are hanging with another girl!" She snarled.

"What?"

"That girl in the fire armor! Face it, I am old news to you aren't I?!"

This didn't make any sense, what was she going on about?

"Y-You're thinking too much into thi—!"

"Oh so I guess you are just helping her with—!" She took a step towards me and I took one step back.

"Yeah I am just helping her!"

She only stared at my feet, ignoring my comment.

"You… stepped away from me… so you do hate me… now…"

"What?! No that's not— I-I meant—"

"Save it! If you are moving on then I will too!" She said as the space next to her shimmered. Guilt appeared with a smirk on his face.

He seemed to have more color, now that I noticed. If I really studied him, I could make out his Zane-like features. I could also tell what he was wearing, a black version of Zane's old ninja uniform, the one that mom had hung up in her closet.

Milla smiled as she put an arm around his neck, and he put one on her waist. Milla shimmered and changed.

She had black hair, with violet tips. Her beautiful emerald eyes turned into blood red ones, and were removed of any love and compassion. She now wore black and purple lightweight armor. Her shoulders had plates just like Zane's uniform once did and her boots went up to her knees.

The ground changed into stone and the sky pure black, the moon was the only light.

I glared at Guilt, trying to control my anger.

"He won't abandon me!" She yelled as she hugged him tightly. I growled and unsheathed my swords, holding them tightly, my wings twitching in anger.

"No, I will not sweetheart." Guilt answered as he placed a soft kiss on her cheek.

That shattered what little calmness I had in me.

With a burst of energy I shot forward, dragging my swords on the ground and creating sparks. I jumped into the air and went to drive my swords through Guilt when he snapped his fingers and Milla and himself teleported across the plain. I snarled and threw Guilty Blade at him in pure hatred.

"No!" A voice shouted as the blade whistled towards the evil entity.

I gasped in pure shock and stood paralyzed as Milla ran in front of Guilt, and my blade drove into her instead.

She placed her hands on the black handle and tried to pry the sword from her abdomen.

I heard a clatter as Frost Bite hit the ground at my feet.

Guilt laughed and took a step back, shimmering away.

"MILLA!" I shouted as loud as I could. I ran to her and skid on my knees painfully as she fell into my arms.

"Frost…?" She weakly asked as she stared up at my eyes. She shimmered at she was back to her blonde haired self.

"I am here Milla…" I whispered softly. I put a hand on her cheek and felt tears swell in my eyes.

"Why… why did you… have to do this… to me…?"

"I-I d-didn't mean to— I-I…"

I couldn't speak. I shook so bad that I was surprised that the world didn't shake with me.

"Why… Why did you do it, Milla?! Why did you jump in front of him?!"

"Because… I love him…"

My breath caught in my throat. I blinked twice as a tear fell from my eye.

"Milla… do you really… love Guilt…?"

She stared at my eyes, and I stared at hers. They didn't have that spark to them. This wasn't really Milla… but… it felt so real.

"Yes…" She said as her eyes closed. "…I do…"

She gave one last exhale before she burst into millions of little orbs of light. Guilty Blade clanked as it struck the floor. I continued to stare at the ground where she was a second ago.

"Milla…" I whispered into the air. I gave a shaky breath and forced myself to stand. I used my swords to keep myself standing. "Why… Why Milla…?"

I bit my lip and looked up to the black sky.

"Why?!" I screamed as loud as I could. "Why do you do this to me, Guilt?! I hope you hear this! Because I swear on my life that I will destroy you!"

A bright light flashed, and I was forced to cover my eyes.

The light vanished, and I opened my eyes.

I stared at the bright blue sky. I sat up and looked to my left. The mini volcanoes. To my right, the cliff.

It wasn't real, but the shock stayed with me.

I shook my head and pulled my knees close to my body.

I hid my face as Zane woke. I cried freely and heard Zane gasp as he neared me.

"Frost? Frost what's wrong?" He asked frantically. "…Frost?"

I shook my head and looked up at him.

"I… killed… her!" I screamed and buried my face in his shoulder. "I killed Milla!"

"Frost?" Wu dais with concern, and Miles and Burn woke form the noise as well.

"I… can't do it, Uncle!" I sobbed. "I can't defeat Guilt! I can't save my parents! I can't save Ninjago! I can't save Milla!"

"Frost!" Zane shouted angrily. He grasped my shoulders and forced me from his own, lightly shaking me. "Frost, listen to me!" He stared me in the eye. "You can save everyone, and you will."

"No… I am nothing compared to Guilt…"

"What about me and my brothers?! A simple orphan, a rock climber, a failed blacksmith and a failing inventor ended up helping a kid of fourteen defeat an enemy that was nearly a couple thousand years old!"

"Then you go and defeat your own Guilt, Zane!" I shouted into his eyes. I got up and flapped my wings, soaring away from everyone, tears spilling form my eyes.

"Frost!" They all shouted.

I am sorry… but I cannot do this… I am done.