I am very sorry to have kept you guys waiting for the next chapter, I really am. And I have a couple things to say before we start reading.
The first thing I need to point out is that the owner of the OC Star, Kairocksrainbow, has requested few tiny changes for Star, so if you ever notice her acting differently an don't like it, don't blame me because I am not Star's owner, alight? BTW, Kairocksrainbow, I don't know if you have an account on this website, so every time I see your reviews, I can't go and private message you. So could you help me out on that? Thanks,
The second thing I want to point out is that there is something in this chapter that some readers MAAAY or may not find it offensive. So if you do find it offensive, then I'm sorry. And I'm certainly not going to tell anyone one what the offensive part is. Ok?
Chapter 2 – The tournament starts…NOW!
Chen's Island was getting closer, and as the boat got closer, the island seemed to get bigger and bigger…and there was a was a temple that looked like a speck compared to the huge island.
"Let me see!" Karloff grunted as he pushed through the crowd, but was stopped when he pushed Kai.
"Do have any patience what-so-ever?" Kai snapped.
There would've been another fight…if the distant chanting from the temple hadn't caught their attention as they pulled up to the shore. Pretty soon, as they unloaded from the boat, and they began to hear drums too.
"Welcome to where the fun begins: Chen's Island! My master will be pleased to have so many brave fighters in his tournament!" Clouse announced, "oh, and he'll be most pleased to see you again, 'Sensei Garmadon'."
"Well, the pleasure is all mine," Garmadon said sarcastically as he glared at Clouse while getting off the boat.
"Man, there's some real Goddamn tension between you two," Cole added.
"How come we've never seen or heard of this island on a map?" Kai questioned, ignoring Cole's statement.
"And clarify for me as to why the founder of Ninjago's most popular noodle house is assembling a fighting tournament," Cole snapped.
"Chen used to be a friend, a very trusted ally even…but during the Serpentine Wars, Chen turned against his own kind, then siding with the treacherous Serpentine," Garmadon explained.
"You mean he was an enemy in the same wars you and Uncle Wu fought in?" Lloyd interrupted, and they then realized they were being left behind as everyone else was heading towards the temple, and so they followed.
"He used deception as a weapon, and in doing so, divided the Elemental Masters. It was a miracle when we were able to win the war, and he struck a deal for his surrender; the deal was he was never allowed to leave this island. Unbeknownst to Ninjago, he began to slowly, but surely, build a secret empire here," Garmadon explained.
"Well, he's not gonna divide us," Lloyd said firmly.
But then Kai looked behind him and noticed the red-head woman was walking by herself behind them, and so he smiled a goofy smile and shoved everyone to the side of the walk-way.
"L-ladies first!" Kai said sheepishly, as that made the woman smiled and kept walking, but everyone else was not happy.
"Oh, really?!" both Kate and Star asked in unison and in anger, and Kai just sighed happily as he ignored them and watched the woman walk away.
"I think our biggest concern should be that Zane could be anywhere on this huge island. Let's stay vigilant, guys," Cole said in a hushed voice as they all came up to the temple's walls and large entrance doors.
But soon the two, large, red doors opened, revealing another walk-way into the real building. And as they walked through and looked down, they noticed the snake-like carvings into the stone walk-way.
And that's also when the chanting and cadence of mighty drums grew louder, and as they continued walking, it got faster and faster, as the men who were chanting and beating the drums were all dressed in blood-red cloaks.
"I always wondered what walking into a red-carpet event would be like," Jay happily pointed out.
"Chen thinks he can live like a king, and does whatever he can to make that luxury possible. He's very self-sufficient here; nothing on his island happens without him knowing or his permission…and that includes leaving or coming to the island," Garmadon pointed out.
"How do you know so much about this place? You never told me about it," Lloyd added matter-of-factly, but Garmadon didn't reply at first as he messed with his shirt a bit, and pulled it down to reveal the back of his left shoulder-blade.
On his shoulder-blade was a swirling snake with dark purple scales.
"That's because Chen was my mentor—before he was my enemy."
The tattoo on Garmadon's back practically matched the design on the huge red carpet with golden designs in the huge, circular room, with many pillars all around the room, and everyone waited for their next command.
"You never said anything about you having a sensei," Lloyd said quietly.
"When I was about your age, I…sought out darker means of guidance. Chen taught me that no matter the cost, that winning is key…no matter who I hurt…but it wasn't until you saved me that I let the light guide me again, Son."
Lloyd couldn't help but smile again.
"Yeah, but apparently, even a great teacher like him never had a great sense of humor that rubbed off on you. Lighten' up, will ya? We're in an under-ground, secret fight club. Who else can go around saying they did that?" Jay asked enthusiastically.
But then a tattooed man suddenly banged on a giant gong, making everyone silent as Clouse walked out and pointed upwards.
"All rise for Master Chen!" Clouse announced, and everyone did as they were told and stood as they saw a shadow descending from the ceiling.
Pretty soon, a thrown with small golden dragon statues as a crest was placed on the floor, and in the thrown was a man.
The man was old, as he had a few wrinkles in his face. He wore blood-red attire with golden laced designs and accessories; he also had a little black goatee and some side-burns. On his back was a long, black cape. But the most captivating thing about him was his red colored irises…but mostly the giant snake skull he wore on his head.
"Welcome to my Tournament of Elements! Now, if you could die!" Chen yelled with a grin, and suddenly all the doors slammed shut, "…rect your attention to me, please."
"I forgot to mention that he was always very theatric," Garmadon whispered as he, along with everyone else, sat back down.
"Never before have I seen so many Elemental Masters—under the same roof. It's a Goddamn miracle, if you ask me. I see…the Master of Fire…Earth…Shadow…Speed…even a green prophet!" Chen announced as he pointed at the said people, but then he saw Garmadon.
"Well, it looks like Clouse was telling the truth; even some old acquaintances have bothered to show up," Chen said darkly.
"But maybe we showed up because we have some catching up to do," Kate said firmly, and stood, up catching everyone's, even Chen's attention.
"And who are you supposed to be? I don't recall giving you an-," Chen began angrily, but then he paused when he REALLY looked at Kate,
"Kate…is it really you?" Chen asked as he was…sobbing? There were literally tears forming and his eyes, and when Kate knew he was crying, she cried too.
"Yes, it's me…Daddy!" Kate sobbed softly and suddenly hugged Chen, and Chen wasted no time in hugging his long-lost daughter back.
"Daddy?!" all of the ninja, even Garmadon asked in unison.
Chen and Kate pulled away from their hug, but Chen cupped Kate's tear-stained face to look at his beloved daughter.
"You look…just like your mother; you have her beauty…I-I'm so sorry that I couldn't be there for you," Chen pleaded, and luckily wiped away all his tears before any were spilled.
"It's ok, Daddy…I was lost for a long time but then…" Kate began with a sniffle as she referred to Lloyd, "Lloyd found me."
"Oh! So my daughter is married to the Green/Legendary Golden Ninja, eh?" Chen asked angrily as he towered over Lloyd, making the said blonde scared, but then he smiled, "I should thank you, but it's be more fun to get back to this competitive tournament of mine."
"Which, um, uh…shouldn't we be starting now?" the red-head woman called from across the room.
"Oh, but of course!" Chen yelled, and with that, the gong was rung again, drawing everyone's attention to it. And they all noticed the design on the golden gong that was a carving of a snake's skeleton.
"The symbol before you is the Anacondrai tribe's symbol; the Anacondrai were the most superior Serpentine to ever roam Ninjago. The tribe's creed? 'Only ONE can remain'," Chen explained darkly, and then the gong was once again rung.
But this time, the gong split In two, revealing brackets of every person, or contestant, in the room.
"We may not have to face each other for a while, but we'd better find Zane before we do," Lloyd whispered firmly.
"Now, feast your eyes…on the Jade Blade!" Chen announced, and everyone followed his gaze towards Clouse, who was holding up a blade made of jade gemstone, like Chen said before.
"Here, these little blades are like lives. Retrieve one in each challenge, and you can go on to the next. But if you allow your opponent to retrieve it instead…you're out!" Chen explained loudly, "it's not rocket-science; every match will be different, no challenge will ever be the same as the last, and your powers will give you the advantage and keep you going, so you can either use them…or lose them!"
"But what does Karloff get?"
"If you win, you get to stay on the island. But win it all—and you'll be rewarded with fortunes beyond comprehension—AND a life-time supply of noodles from my noodle house!" Chen announced happily, "but I think we were already aware that no one is here for noodles, right? No, you all want the glory and honor of being Ninjago's greatest fighter!"
The other elemental masters cheered with Chen's statement, but the ninja and Garmadon remained quiet.
"But what really happens when you lose?" Garmadon piped up.
"Last time I checked, no one likes to lose, Bitch!" Chen laughed, and everyone, except Garmadon and the ninja, laughed hard with him, "now, my island is not like the Dark Island, oh no, it is a happy, fun place, so please, enjoy it!"
"You will now all be directed to your rooms!" Clouse announced, and then clapped his hands, and on his command, a bunch of woman dressed in many sparkly and colorful robes, black hair, and painted faces, walked out in rhythm and silence.
"This place has clowns, too? What's next? The Anacondrai come back?" Jay asked sarcastically.
"They're not clowns, Jay. They're called Kabuki; they're Chen's gestures," Garmadon clarified.
Suddenly, the Kabuki all stopped at one person, and grabbed their arms in a vice grip and began to walk off with them…but Kate and Garmadon were the only ones who didn't get a Kabuki to drag them way.
"Stay together, and don't lose focus!" Garmadon cried up to the many floors that the ninja were being dragged up, but then Clouse grabbed his arm and took him away.
"What did he say?" Kai called up.
"I think he said 'fuck us'!" Jay joked.
But Kai didn't have time to laugh about it as his arm was hurting, but his Kabuki finally stopped in front of a room.
"Your Fire Suite, Master Kai," thee Kabuki said in a creepy, soulless, voice, but Kai ignored it as he looked into his suite, and then the Kabuki slammed the doors behind him.
The whole room was just amazing to Kai; it had red carpets and banners with brilliant fire designs on them. His suite even had an ocean view, and he had a king-sized bed with fiery colored blankets and pillows.
But it wasn't over for Kai when he then saw a huge, full-body portrait of himself standing in raging flames.
"Wow. I look sexy," Kai complimented.
He then walked out to his balcony that over looked the ocean, and breathed in the ocean breeze.
"I could totally get used to this," Kai said happily, and leaned on the balcony's railing…but then he gasped when he saw that the woman was on the balcony next to his, which mean that they're neighbors.
But Kai was also surprised that she not only had her hood down, but that she had completely taken her jacket off, revealing an orange, or sun-burst colored gi…in which Kai thought looked sexy on the woman. But he also couldn't take his eyes of her red pony-tail.
It was like Kai could hear sweet music in his head, and it nearly made him look stupid when the woman looked at him.
"Well, what do you know? We're neighbors! Ain't that somethin'?" Kai asked with confidence.
"Guess so," the woman sighed, but with a smile.
"I'm Kai, by the way; Master of Fire, too!" Kai said while getting too cocky again, and then lit his fist on fire to show off.
"My name's Skylar; Master of…oh, wouldn't you just love to know?" Skylar asked sarcastically, and then cocked an eyebrow at Kai's flaming-fist.
But then that's when Kai felt the burning on his hand, and cried out in pain as he tried to shake it off; the whole time he looked like an idiot, Skylar was chuckling at him.
"Every device in your room has been configured to only interact with your own electrical signal," Jay's Kabuki explained, and then just shut the door and left.
The walls to Jay's room were, well, blue, and Jay also had a king-sized bed with his respective colors.
"Hmm…my own electrical signal, huh?" Jay asked himself, and then produced the tiniest little electrical spark within his fingers…and with that, a huge, seventy-one inch flat-screen T.V. popped up from the floor, and there was even a huge game console to go with it.
Pretty soon, Jay was kicking back on his huge bed while playing GTA Five.
Star's room was alien; the walls were dark, and yet glowing…it was like watching a lava-lamp that's always surrounding you. Even the blankets and pillows on Star's bed looked like a lava-lamp. Oh, and there was one more thing about her room: everything was floating.
"How did they know I loved lava-lamps?" Star asked with a grin as she used her gravity powers to levitate herself up to her bad, and she comfortably lied down on it.
"Like sleepin' on air…oh wait…"
Unlike the others, Cole didn't exactly have a comfortable bed…in fact, it wasn't even a bed; it was just a rock with smaller rocks on it…that are supposed to be pillows?
"I know I'm the Master of Earth, but that doesn't mean I like to sleep on it and break my fucking back!" Cole grunted as he repeatedly tossed and turned to get comfortable. But when he gave up and stood up from his 'bed', he accidently bumped his head on what he assumed was a switch, and then a couple of walls started to pull apart, revealing a bunch of shelves with food on them.
But not just any food, noodles and many other items from Chen's Noodle House…but best of all: cake!
Cole sprinted towards the nearest cake and a fork, and just started mowing on it.
"Oh, I'm in heaven!"
Lloyd looked at himself in the mirror at the attire they had picked for the tournament. What they picked were like sleeveless gis; perfect for the humid jungle terrain.
"Ok, this is pretty hot," Lloyd chuckled, but then he gasped when he heard his bedroom door creak open…only to see Kate standing there.
"Whoa! If I had known my dad was going have you wear so little clothing, I would've brought you here sooner," Kate joked as she closed the door and walked further in.
"I'm glad you're ok," Lloyd said, and then pulled Kate in for a kiss, "but wait, I thought Chen…er, 'Dad-in-law'…thought that we'd all have to remain in our own rooms."
"Well, I get a pass because I'm his daughter…a-and because he didn't know I was coming and he didn't have a room for me. So would you be as so kind as to share yours?"
"Hell, I'll even share my bed," Lloyd said seductively.
"Oh, I'd like that."
Back outside at the temple doors, Garmadon was pushed out by Clouse.
"Sorry, but Chen said that there was no room for you," Clouse said sarcastically.
"Fine. I guess I'll just stay and guard; wouldn't want anything bad to happen to the ninja…I know how you always loved to use dark magic," Garmadon growled.
"Oh, but why would I cheat? And against the ninja?" Clouse asked, but then slammed the door in Garmadon's face.
But suddenly the P.A. system, that was installed all throughout Chen's temple and most of the jungle surrounding it, suddenly switched on.
"My beloved contestants, hidden throughout my island are Jade Blades, and in every challenge, there is always just enough for all except ONE contestant! Those who come back empty-handed, are disqualified!" Chen announced, making Garmadon struggle to get back in.
Chen also managed to snap Skylar and Kai from their conversation on the balconies.
But apparently Jay was ignoring it as he was taking a dip in a hot-tub in his bathroom.
"The first challenge starts…NOW!" Chen yelled.
"Wait a minute?! Now?!" Jay asked in surprise, and then his bathroom doors flew open, revealing the same brown-bearded man from the boat that had the staff that produced vines from his twisted staff: Bolobo the Master of Nature.
Good thing Jay was in his hot-tub and not his bath tub…because then he wouldn't be wearing his blue swimming-trunks.
"This damned bathroom could use some fresh air due to your 'generous' odor! Lightning—meet nature!" Bolobo grunted in a deep voice as his staff began to work its wonders.
The twisted end on Bolobo's staff started to emit a bright green ray of light, and from the green light grew many thick vines that started to fill the room and surround Jay, as the said Master of Lightning was panicking in his blue swimming trunks and luxurious hot-tub.
Jay was quick to react though when he bounded from his comfortable seat in the tub, but he was cornered by the every-growing vines. But Jay wasn't going to give up when he glared at Bolobo, and he fired a current of electricity towards the bearded man. When Bolobo was hit by Jay's lightning, the buff man was knocked a few good feet onto his back.
But Jay was not successful yet; Bolobo looked up as he shook away the dizziness, but when he looked straight up at a light in the ceiling, he noticed a Jade Blade that was hidden in the glass of the light.
The blue ninja then noticed his mistake of knocking Bolobo back when he saw the Jade Blade too, and it was too late for him to do anything when Bolobo created a set of more vines to cage Jay, and keep him from reaching the Jade Blade.
Lloyd and Kate knew they had better get going into the challenge before they lose their place in the tournament. The two walked out of Lloyd's room while they listened to Chen's voice continue to ramble on the P.A. system.
"May the BEST fighter win!" Chen announced, and then began to maniacally laugh.
Kai and Skylar jerked that heads up, and at the exact same time, they laid their eyes on a Jade Blade that was balanced on a tip of a fancy roof tile on the top of the temple.
"A Jade Blade!" Kai called out the obvious.
Inside the temple, Masters of Speed, Sound, Gravity and Light: Griffin Turner, Jacob Pevsner, Gravis(an Indian man with that big poofy hat that was purple with a red ruby crest, and he had a dark goatee)and Paleman were all sprinting and shoving each other to get to a Jade Blade that was not very well-hidden in a vase across the way, but Lloyd and Kate saw the blade too, so they went after it.
"Split it?" Kate questioned.
"Split it."
And with that, the married couple began to make their way towards the Jade Blade too…but then the leg of Ash, a man with ash-colored hair and the Master of Smoke, came out from the room next door, and tipped Lloyd; Kate then stopped because she wouldn't leave Lloyd behind.
Once Kate helped Lloyd back to his feet, Ash still implied that he wanted a fight, so Lloyd gave him one. But when the green prophet went to land a punch to him, Ash exploded into ashes and disappeared.
"What the hell?" Lloyd questioned with much confusion.
But suddenly, Ash appeared again…BEHIND Lloyd, and it was too late for Lloyd to retaliate because As had already landed a hard blow to the back of Lloyd's head.
Skylar and Kai glared back down at each other.
"That one is MINE!" Skylar yelled as she leapt up and tried to kick Kai back, but the Master of Fire was able to dodge her attack as the red-head jumped up from balcony roof to balcony roof to reach the blade.
But Kai wasn't going to give up that easy as he jumped up after Skylar, and now the two were side by side on the same roof, and Skylar tried to push Kai off first.
"Would you stop?!"
"YOU fucking stop!" Kai snapped as he nudged Skylar back, but he soon regretted it when Skylar lost her grip and started to fall. But Kai wasn't going to let her fall as he grabbed her wrist.
"AH! HELP!"
Kai knew he was risking it, but he helped Skylar anyway; he swung her back once, and then up again to throw her directly up into the air. This resulted in Skylar landing right within reach of the Jade Blade, and so she took it from its hidden spot, and then looked and smiled back down at Kai.
Though he wished Skylar's beautiful green eyes would make him feel better…like they always do, they aren't this time. Now, he was at risk of getting kicked out of the tournament and sent off the island.
"See ya later—Hot Tamale!" Skylar called down before she leapt up onto the roof and disappeared from Kai's vision.
"What does Karloff win?!"
Kai knew that angry roar anywhere; he looked down and saw Karloff was walking out of the temple towards a tray Jade Blade that was sitting out in the middle of the yard.
Kai grinned as he knew he had a chance again; he could totally beat this clunk-head.
Cole stumbled out of his room as he clutched his stomach from a TERRIBLE stomach ache; he really went too far this time with all that food.
"Ugh…why…out of all times?" Cole whined as he nearly threw up. The Master of Earth continued to watch the scene before him; the scene being Jacob Pevsner, Gravis, Paleman, and Griffin Turner all fighting to get to the Jade Blade in the vase, and he also noticed Lloyd and Kate trying to fight back Ash, but he kept disappearing on them before they could ever hit him.
But Cole turned lucky when he looked down and noticed that there was actually another Jade Blade hidden behind some potted flowers on the floor below, so he smiled and slowly made his way down the stairs while continue to grasp his aching stomach.
Through his red sun-glasses, Griffin was the first to notice Cole and his attempt for the Jade Blade below, so he suddenly sucker-punched Paleman and Jacob off of him, and he literally zipped towards the stairs after Cole.
And Cole was merely just two feet away from winning…when Griffin suddenly came out of nowhere and ran and snatched Cole's blade.
"Sorry, Rocky—too slow!" Griffin chuckled as he swung the Jade Blade in front of Cole, making the said Earth Master glare and growl.
"You bastard!" Cole shouted angrily.
Jay wasn't holding up so well as he was STILL trapped in his bathroom behind Bolobo's vines. But Jay had an idea; he managed to squeeze a hand through the plants, and grab the remote to his huge, flat-screen T.V. He pressed the power button, and his T.V. popped up, along with a Fritz Donnogan movie appearing on screen.
"Ooh, I love Fritz Donnogan!" Bolobo fan-boyed, and in doing so resulted in him losing control of the plants keeping Jay trapped, and so they started to go limp, which is what Jay wanted.
The blue ninja then grabbed a blue towel and pushed his way through all the vegetation, all while Bolobo was hypnotized by the T.V.
Jay then crept up behind Bolobo while twisting his towel up tightly, and then whipping Bolobo with the tightly-twisted towel, which certainly took the Nature Master by surprise as he grabbed his back side in pain. And Jay only continued to whip Bolobo until he could no longer hold the Jade Blade and dropped it, allowing Jay to grasp it.
"Yes, I win! I LOVE my new room!" Jay cheered like a little child.
Lloyd and Kate were still handling their problems as they continued to fight some of the other Elemental Masters. But it wasn't long before the two finally managed to keep them at bay and make their way towards the Jade Blade.
But across the way was Clouse, and he wasn't going to let his Master Chen down that easy, so he raised his hands and placed them close together in a certain way while he started to chant something. Soon, a dark purple aura engulfed his hands as he kept them aimed at Lloyd and Kate.
Clouse's sudden use of dark magic suddenly caused the dark purple dragon designs on the carpet start to come to life as they sprung up and grabbed Lloyd and Kate's legs, stopping them both in their tracks.
That's when the Master of the Mind Neuro, a tall and pale man with sleek white hair and a black streak down the middle, stepped into the situation, as he had no one to stop him with fighting, and so he grinned as he saw his clear and victorious path to the Jade Blade.
Clouse continued to use his dark magic while keeping his hands clasped together and his eyes shut tight, but this distracted him from noticing that there was someone else on the scene.
Suddenly, Clouse felt something hit him and he was knocked down onto his back. It was actually a person who attacked him, and that person was Garmadon. And Garmadon's sudden attack caused Clouse's magic to stop, thus freeing Lloyd and Kate, and they could now fight back Neuro.
"Hurry, you two! You mustn't lose!" Garmadon called as he continued to keep Clouse down, but it wasn't easy.
Meanwhile, on the floor below, Cole had just managed to fight off the other Elemental Masters too, and he look towards the middle of the room to see that the Jade Blade was still there.
"Ugh…this is worse than that ass cramp from The Dragon Ride of Twenty-Fifteen," Cole groaned as he slowly made his way to the blade. But when he went to reach for it for the second time, the blade suddenly started…levitating?
"What the-?" Cole then questioned as he tried t keep up with the escaping blade, but then he felt someone slap his face.
"Bastard!"
"Bitch!" Paleman called back to Cole as he remained invisible, but it wasn't over just yet.
Cole then went to drastic measures as he ran up to a pillar and kicked it hard, which made dust start to fall from the floor; the dust then revealing Paleman's invisible figure when the dust covered him.
"Got'cha," Cole said quietly with a grin, and then he used Spinjitzu and knocked Paleman back down to the ground, and Cole was then able to grab the Jade Blade for once.
But then the Master of Earth regretted using Spinjitzu when the spinning suddenly took a toll on him and nearly made him throw up. But the sickness was terribly timed when Gravis used his gravitational powers to run on the ceiling directly above Cole and he snatched the blade from Cole's grasp.
"Hey, you dick-head! That's mine!" Cole shouted, but Gravis never looked back. But Lady Luck was once again on Cole's side when he saw yet another Jade Blade that was hidden under a small couch.
All of the Elemental Masters…except Cole, Kai and Karloff…were gathered in Chen's temple again, as there was a huge pedestal that held the many other Jade Blades. Even Star managed to gain one as it was her blade that Clouse was placing on the pedestal.
"Hey, how come THEY both get a blade for the price of one?!" Skylar asked angrily.
"She's my daughter and he's my son-in-law; they get freebie to split their Jade Blades at the end of every contest," Chen replied.
"That not fair!" Skylar growled.
"Life isn't fair," Chen said darkly.
"There are now only two blades remaining-," Clouse cut in, but then the doors flew open.
"Wait…hold up…I got one too!" Cole panted as he sprinted in while clutching his stomach with his other hand.
"Alright, buddy! Ya made it!" Jay said happily.
"First of all: we're not buddies. Second: where's Kai?" Cole questioned flatly.
Little did Cole know that Kai and Karloff were glaring at each other, as if they were about to have a Mexican stand-off go down in the yard between the Jade Blade that lay right between them.
"Remember: only ONE can remain," Chen repeated.
It wasn't long before the fight between the Masters of Metal and Fire began. Kai created a fireball in his fist, and Karloff bashed his metal gauntlets together, turning him into his larger, metal self again.
"GET ON WITH IT!" Chen's voice rang from the P.A. system angrily.
They both started running towards each other at the same time, and Kai was the first to fire, but Karloff blocked his fire with a single wave from a gauntlet fist. But Kai wasn't done yet as he created a larger wave of fire and blew it towards Karloff, only for him to jump back and dodge the fire. Karloff then bounded from his spot and towards Kai, in an attempt to pound the red ninja into the ground with a single punch, but he missed. Though, his punch did accidentally knock the Jade Blade a few feet away. so now they were sprinting towards the blade.
Who was going to get it?
Everyone heard loud footsteps approaching the room, so they looked towards the door to see who the winner was; the ninja were hoping it was Kai.
"KARLOFF WINS!"
Everyone then cheered; even Chen and Clouse got a good, dark chuckle out of it…not because of Karloff's victory, but because it was Kai's defeat. And of course, Garmadon and the ninja weren't happy about this.
But as Karloff held up the blade with victory, it wasn't over yet when he felt something odd with the gauntlet holding the blade. But he didn't realize it was actually Kai unscrewing a bolt on the gauntlet, causing it to fall from Karloff's hand, until AFTER his gauntlet and the blade fell to the floor.
"Ha! Maybe you should check your suit regular for loose screws, Jackass!" Kai laughed as he picked up the Jade Blade. This then turned frowns upside-down for the ninja and Garmadon…but it also turned a smile into a frown for Clouse.
Kai created jet-like streams of fire from his fists, which then allowed him to fly up to the pedestal, and place his Jade Blade onto it. That earned him more cheers, but he was more concerned about Skylar as she and him glanced at each other. Kai then gaining a proud nod and smile from Skylar, thus making him smile too.
"We have our first loser!" Chen shouted.
"What?! No! That no fair! He cheated!" Karloff protested.
"Cheating is NOT how you prosper, Kai," Garmadon growled.
"Oh…you know what?! Fine! Karloff never wanted to be on this fucking island, anyway!"
Chen's throne was then lowered as the said lord backed up to sit upon his throne.
"Well, I'm sorry to hear that—because you're gonna wanna learn to love it!" Chen shouted as he suddenly pressed a button on a control panel that was built into his throne. The button then seemed to activate a trap-door directly below Karloff, and if you know the physics of trap-doors, you would've already known that he plummeted into the unknown below.
"As recently presented—if you lose, you are OUT! Break the rules, you are OUT! So my word of advice: never bite the hand that feeds you—Chen's noodles! Now, rest up for tonight! Tomorrow's challenge will recommence!" Chen announced, and with that, one of his snake-tattooed cronies rang a gong.
Now was the time to chow. Garmadon, the girls and the ninja were all eating their food at a large, semi-circlular booth; along with all the other Elemental Masters as they ate at their own different tables.
"At least the food here's good," Cole said with enthusiasm.
"Ugh, it's all KILLING me! What the hell is under the trap-doors, and what the hell happens when you lose?!" Jay suddenly ranted.
"Try not to think about it," Garmadon said softly.
"How can I NOT think about it?! We moved on, and now I feel guilt; it's not a fun feeling."
"You think you're the only one that feels terrible? Our mission is simple: we find Zane and get off the damnable island—tonight," Kai said firmly.
"And how do you propose we do that, Einstein? You heard what Chen said: you break a rule, and you're out. What makes you think he'll just let us roam freely around his island?" Kate questioned.
"If you recall, we are ninja; thus professionals of stealth. Meet me in my room at midnight," Kai replied in a hushed voice, while he noticed Paleman walking by…but he wasn't expecting him to stop at their booth.
"Can I please sit here too?" Paleman sheepishly questioned.
"Um, how 'bout ya just disappear? This is a private table," Jay replied angrily, and with that, Paleman disappeared, but…
"We can still see your lunch-tray, Dumb ass!" Jay sighed. It wasn't long before Paleman reappeared and walked away in anger.
"Wow, Jay, you really told him off. Are you feeling ok? Unusual and sudden bursts of aggression are—usually my thing," Cole said in surprise.
"See what this whole trip to this island is doing to me?! It's like it's corrupting me! I want it to stop!" Jay rambled on.
"Right, ok…see you all tonight," Kate cut in slowly.
Kai was admiring himself in a vanity mirror in his sleeveless, red ninja gi. But then the red ninja looked at the clock: a minute until midnight. Kai then opened his balcony doors and walked out to the edge; he peered over the edge as he saw a few night patrols with spears walking by.
And it was now that the other ninja started to arrive at his balcony and go into his room. But just as Jay was the last one to hop down to Kai's balcony, wouldn't ya guess that Skylar for some reason decides to walk out onto her balcony right at the same time.
Kai then began to panic inside, so he pushed Jay off the edge, causing the Master of Lightning to yelp as he fell.
"What did you just say?" Skylar questioned as she looked over at Kai, and luckily saw no Jay.
"U-um, I-I said…WAG-AAHHH-WOOOOW, what a beautiful night!" Kai said as he suddenly came up with it, and then her nervously laughed as he quickly looked down to find Jay trying to keep quiet while holding onto the bottom edge of the balcony, only for his grip to by loosening.
"Uh, right…what do you think happened to Karloff?" Skylar asked as she ignored Kai's weird behavior.
"I don't know—and to be honest, if I knew that that would've happened, I-," Kai's voice was now calmer and confident.
"Meh, ya did what ya had to do to simply stay in the tournament. And I'm sorry that I gave you the cold-shoulder earlier—it does seem like a good idea to have friends here."
"K-Kai…" Jay whispered in a strained voice.
"Jay, will you just shut up?" Kai hissed under his breath while glaring down at Jay.
"You remember earlier? When you asked me about my powers? Well-,"
"Uh, yeah…um, that's nice…but, um…whoo! Is it cold out tonight, or what? Well, guess I'll see you tomorrow, bye!"
Skylar was taken back a little by more of Kai's weird behavior as he suddenly just walked back into his room and closed his balcony door behind him.
"Um…ok?" Skylar said as she shrugged and walked back into her room too…which is exactly what Kai wanted as he quickly opened the door and ran back up to help Jay up onto the balcony.
"Gives ya a whole new level on 'leaving you hanging' doesn't it, Romeo?" Jay asked sarcastically.
Meanwhile, the others were still waiting on Kai and Jay, and they were happy to see that they finally walked back in.
"Whoa-ho-ho! Nice crib!" Jay said with amazement as he laid his eyes on Kai's awesome room for the first time.
"I know! It's bullshit, isn't it?! It SO much nicer than my room!" Cole said angrily, but then he seemed to smile as he turned over towards a large bowl of chocolate-covered shell peas, "look, it's even got chocolate-covered shell peas!"
Cole then began to grab and wolf down as many of the coated candies as he could. But then he grabbed the entire bowl and jumped up from his seat, and bounded onto Kai's bed back first.
"Oh, and your pillows—so soft. It's such a crock that mine are made of fucking rock!"
"We need to focus, guys. This place was swarming with patrols. How are we going to search the whole island for Zane?" Kate suddenly questioned.
"We're ninja, so we travel by shadow. I don't care how long it takes us, we're covering every inch of this island from top to bottom," Kai replied firmly.
But then no one noticed the fact that Cole was no longer around as…Kai's bed flipped over.
"Maybe we should split up?" Star suggested.
"No. We're a team, and we stick together like we always have," Lloyd protested…just as Kai's bed flipped again and Cole appeared while still holding the bowl of candy and still lying on the bed.
"Uh, guys, the bed is-,"
"Cole, for the last time: we fucking get that you like my bed! So quit foolin' around!" Kai said angrily.
"No, not that. I found a way of how we can search the whole place."
Pretty soon, all the ninja was struggling to fit and lye on Kai's bed…which was very awkward.
"Ok. I feel ridicules," Lloyd admitted, and then he sat up to look at everyone, "You better not be messing with us, Cole."
"I'm not! The bed must've moved when I triggered something…but what? All I did was lie down, and then I stretched a little-AAAAAAHH!"
But before Cole could finish his sentence, he triggered the bed again when he moved the pillow, and the bed flipped over again. And the other ninja were surprised to see that Cole wasn't joking because underneath Kai's bed was a secret series of tunnels.
"I don't think Zane is ON the island—I think he's IN it."
"You might onto something there, Kate," Kai said as he kindled a flame in his fist, creating a source of light for them in the dark tunnel.
But suddenly grunting was heard echoing off the tunnel walls.
"You guys here that?" Lloyd questioned.
They all looked around, and Jay was the first to notice two peepholes that were perfect for a pair of spying eyes. So the Master of Lightning then started to climb up the support beams to reach the holes, and he then looked through them in wonder.
"Someone must be fighting on the other side," Jay called down.
"Who's fighting?" Cole called.
"Actually… it's NOT a fight. It's Skylar's room, and she's only training," Jay replied…which then caught Kai's attention first.
"Skylar?! Really?! Ooh, lemme see! Lemme see!" Kai said excitedly as he anxiously climbed up to the peepholes too.
"I knew you had the hots for her," Cole said with a smug look.
"N-no…she's merely competition!" Kai clearly lied as he started to push Jay away to look, but the two only ended up sharing the pair of spy-holes.
They didn't know it, but Kai and Jay were looking through the holes that would actually be the eyes of a portrait of Chen from the point of view in Skylar's room. And they were watching her do one-hand push ups.
"Man, you guys are pervs! This is invasion of privacy of the opposite sex! How are you not noticing how wrong this is?!" Kate asked angrily.
"But her room doesn't reveal a thing about her powers!" Kai added…but what he and Jay saw next shocked them. When Skylar was done with push ups, she then created within her fist a ball of…fire.
"What'd ya see, now?" Cole asked with anticipation.
"She's…fire," Kai sadly replied.
Everything was now awkwardly quiet.
"Well…this is some awkward incest," Lloyd suddenly pointed out while scratching the back of his head, only to earn a slap from an angry wife.
"You're not helping!" Kate snapped.
"Whatever, let's just keep going," Kai sighed as he and Jay leaped back down and the others continued to make their way down the dark tunnel…but not before Cole grabbed his bowl of candy again.
"This might as well be a maze. Good thing you're leaving a trail, Cole," Jay said as he looked back at Cole.
"Wait, what am I doing?" Cole asked quickly, but then he looked behind himself and realized that while he had munching on his candy and has been continuing to walk, he has been accidentally dropping candy.
"Oh yeah, right…totally meant to do that."
It wasn't long before the ninja had entered a new area of the tunnels because now the tunnels were looked like they were no longer made out of the insulation and support beams of the temple, but rather stone.
"Stop!"
Everyone halted at Lloyd's stern voice as the said green ninja pointed down at a trip-wire.
"Booby traps."
"What?! This place has booby-traps too?! How much more awesome can this place get?!" Jay asked with excitement, only to earn a disappointed glare from Lloyd, "u-um, ah…AHEM…I mean…booby-traps, schmooby-traps! Boo!"
"From now on, we need to watch where we walk," Lloyd said in a once again firm tone.
"Hey…anyone else here that?" Kai suddenly asked. It took a few seconds, but they soon heard drums being beat and chanting.
They soon saw a large group of Chen's minions coming through the tunnel.
"Be quiet and hide! Hurry!" Cole demanded in a hushed voice. And so he, Kai and Jay all hid well behind a large rock while Star used her shadowy parts of her Shadow and Gravity powers to become like the shadows and practically turn invisible. And due to the fight with some of the Elemental Masters from the first challenge, Kate was able to absorb shadow powers and turn into invisible shadows too.
After the first quarter of Chen's minions walked past without seeing the ninja, Lloyd then signaled everyone. He signaled them to each grab a crony.
Meanwhile, the rest of Chen's minions had already made it to a large room that was down the tunnel. The room was circular, and made completely of the stone that made up the rest of the deeper tunnels. But the most outstanding feature was the large opening that was shaped like the unhinged jaws of a snake.
Hidden at the back of the chanting and drum-playing men, the ninja were wearing the stolen attire of the minions they captured, and they used the chocolate from Cole's candy to create their tattoos…but Cole wouldn't stop eating his, so Kai slapped his hand away.
"Stop eat you tattoos!" Kai snapped in a hushed tone.
"Well, I'm sorry if I can't quench my hunger for fucking chocolate!" Cole hissed back.
"Will you two quit it? We need to blend in," Kate cut in a whisper.
The ninja then noticed Chen as he stepped out onto the snake-shaped opening in front of the large group of tattooed, snake-skull wearing men. They also noticed that Chen's men quickly bowed in Chen's presence, so they bowed too in order to not look suspicious.
But clutched in his fist was something the ninja hadn't seen Chen have before: a staff, and this staff was unique. Its tall handle and body was made from obsidian, and there was a golden plate that had the symbol of the Anacondrai tribe on it…but its most head-turning feature was its odd crest. It had the crest of a large, bright white glowing gem.
"Bring out the loser!" Chen called out.
"Let go of Karloff!"
The ninja were surprised to see Karloff being forcefully dragged in by a couple of Chen's men. Karloff was then tossed closer to Chen, and the Master of Metal looked up in confusion at Chen, who was grinning evilly down at Karloff.
"Remember that saying, dear Karloff? 'Only ONE can remain'? I mean, it's like I said: either use them or lose them!" Chen shouted, and then something started to happen between Chen's staff and Karloff.
A bright white beam of ice shot from the crystal of the staff, and it engulfed Karloff, but it looked more like it was practically sucking the soul right out of him. But no sooner had Chen sucked all of Karloff's metallic powers from him did Karloff end up with a star-struck face as he went limp and very weak.
"Did he just…steal his powers?" Kai asked in shock.
"He did. And used ice to do it," Cole replied.
"You don't think he stole Zane's powers too, do you?" Jay questioned in fear.
"What…what happened to my metal?" Karloff asked with shock.
"Your metal? It's simply mine now," Chen began and he laughed maniacally, "but now you are free to go…"
"Really?"
"…to the factory!"
Chen's men then began to drag a thrashing and struggling Karloff away.
"No! No! Let Karloff Go! NOOOO!"
All of the ninja looked at each other because they didn't know what to think of this; of what just happened right in front of them.
"Uh, guys…we might wanna amscray," Lloyd whimpered.
"Why?" Kai questioned.
"The ocolate-chay has been elting-may!" Lloyd replied in fear. And he was right because now the ninja's faces no longer looked like the tattooed faces of Chen's men. It wasn't long before they were compromised.
"Intruders?" Chen asked with surprise, but then the ninja sprinted away before Chen could decide anything else, "No! Don't let them escape! After them!"
The ninja were now being chased by Chen's cronies down the tunnel…but wouldn't you have it, irony was on their side when Cole accidentally triggered the trip-wire when he tripped over it. The trip-wire turn out to activate a large spike metal door that quickly came down and closed, keeping Chen's minions from reaching them.
But it wasn't time to rest yet with large axes made from bones and obsidian suddenly unfolded from the walls, and more suddenly started to fall while getting closer to the ninja.
"Oh no! RUUUUUUN!" Kai yelled, and they wasted no time in doin just that. And they were nearly nicked by the last axe when they were luckily able to dodge it in a smaller opening that led down.
"That sound…it's so…familiar," Jay suddenly said, and everyone was confused at first, but then they realized what he was hearing: hissing and rattling; that is, hissing and rattling of a snake…and a very large one from the sound of it.
So they followed the sound when it sounded like it was coming from down in the tunnel in front of them…but they regret ever looking down the tunnel.
What they saw had to be the second largest snake they've ever seen. It wasn't as big and didn't have a frill or flight-hood like the Great Devourer, but it still looked menacing and very dangerous. It was covered in dark purple scales, but it had blue and green scales on the top of its forehead and snout. It also had a row of spikes running down its neck, and its eyes glowed a intimidating and deadly bright purple. And it sat coiled down below while it shook its large, purple and spike rattle for a tail.
"OH SHIT!" Lloyd suddenly cried.
"Hurry, up here!" Kai called as he and the other ninja wasted not time in using their ninja skills to travel higher to the next set of tunnels above as the purple snake continued to try and snap its jaws and large fangs at them while it sprung up each time.
And when the ninja reached a crawl-space, it was barely enough room for them to get all scrunched up and just out of the monstrous snake's reach. But Kai then scooted back a bit, and he hit a button with his elbow, thus activating a trap-door that dropped them all back into square one: Kai's room.
"Can we not sneak around again? Following the rules probably consists of less wounds," Jay moaned in pain.
"We didn't find Zane, but we found something just as important. My dad lied to us. His tournament was never about glory, it was about him stealing all of our powers," Kate reluctantly explained.
"But why? What could he possibly be planning with everyone's elemental powers and a giant snake?" Lloyd questioned.
"I have no idea. But we're gonna need to play by his rules if we're to ever find out his plans AND find Zane," Kai replied firmly.
"I'm just glad we weren't exactly caught. That was WAY too close," Jay said as he turned around in embarrassment and showed everyone the chomp hole in his pant leg that that monstrous snake took a bite out of.
Sitting comfortably and calmly in the coils of the huge, purple snake the ninja encountered was Clouse, as he removed the piece of red clothing that was once a part of Jay's pants.
"Well done, my beloved pet. Now we know who the imposters are. Oh, but don't worry—they WILL pay dearly."
My favorite parts of the Ninjago franchise has ALWAYS been the Serpentine. I just loved bringing in and describing Clouse's pet. You guys agree?
Anyway, until the next chapter I'm TRikiD, bye-bye!