A.N: I am gonna finish this story if it kills me! I am determined to get this DONE by the end of the month. Yes, that is unrealistic, since I have finals in two weeks, but hey? Who cares about logic? XD
R&R please. Thanks as always for reading.
Lloyd's POV:
You know that feeling you get? When your heart just briefly stops and you feel like it's the end of the world as you know it? That's what I felt as I walked towards the bridge. My stupid dream predicted the future, and devourer knows just how accurate it will be.
Zoe was trailing behind me, her face as hard as a marble bust. I still didn't understand why she was so mad. Did I do something wrong? I sure hope not. She can be scary when she's cross.
Cole looked grim as he started at all of us as we slowly trickled into the bridge. His face was covered in ash and dirt. Jay had an angry red burn on his hand, and Zane, while he didn't have any injuries, had a troubled expression on his surface. Kai was unharmed, but still fuming and swearing obscenities about serpentine under his breath.
I cleared my throat. "Did you get the scroll?"
"No. They outnumbered us by a landslide. We didn't stand much of chance," Cole said grimly.
Kai scowled. "It's almost like they expected us to show up. There was a lot more than any of us anticipated."
Uncle raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Was there more serpentine, or shadows?"
"Shadows," the four ninja said in unison.
"The crazy thing was" Kai started, "was that the shadows Lloyd shot, well, grew. They were huge, and way more powerful than before. Virtually indestructible."
My eyes widened. I had a feeling that I had a lucky shot back there. Well, several of them, as a matter of fact.
"So, how many scrolls are left for them now?" Zoe asked, refusing to meet her brother's eyes.
"They have ice, earth, lightning and fire. Shouldn't that be all?" I asked, confused.
Cole winced. "If that was it, than they would be after you, I would think. The solstice is the day after tomorrow. There must be at least one more."
"Then what is it?" Jay's eyebrows furrowed together in concentration, like when he was analyzing a blueprint in the early hours of the morning.
There was a silence hanging in the air, the room in deep thought. Zane perked up. "Sensei, does Lloyd have an element that applies only to him?"
I glanced at Zane. "Last I checked, no."
All eyes turned to my Uncle, even my Dad, who gave him a look that said what haven't you told me?!
Finally, the old sensei sighed. "Yes, Lloyd does have his own element besides the four elements of spinjitzu. The green ninja also possesses the power of creation, or golden power, the manifestation of light."
"Cool!" I said, louder than I thought. The adults in the room chuckled.
"Aw, why does he get all the cool stuff?" Jay whined. I smirked.
"Jay, don't give him a bigger ego than he already has. The last thing we need is another Kai." Cole glanced at said ninja as he said this.
"Hey!"
The room erupted in laughter, taking almost five good minutes to die down all the way.
"But seriously," Cole said as he regained composure, "this is the last straw. If they get this last scroll, then Lloyd, it's game-over."
"Not if we have anything to say about it!" Jay slapped his hand on the table in defiance. "But enough of all the serious end-of-the-world stuff. Let's play soccer!"
Our leader rolled his eyes, but grinned good-naturally. "Fine, but only for a little while. There's a park close by. Nya, are you going to land the Bounty?"
She nodded, her obsidian bangs falling in her eyes briefly before being brushed behind her ear. "Aye-aye captain!"
I stiffened, as I felt myself pale in the face. This can't be happening…this can't be happening…this can't be happening…
"Lloyd?" Kai's voice broke through my thoughts. "You okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."
All eyes turned to me. Awkwardly, I shrunk down in my seat. "Nothing," I mumbled, "I'm fine."
Kai looked doubtful, but turned away towards the door as the Bounty landed on the grass.
We divided into teams. It was me, Kai and Jay against Cole, Nya and Zane. Jay looked upset that he wasn't on the same team as his girlfriend, but eventually complied.
In a few minutes, the game was in full-swing. Even though there weren't any goalies, we were evenly matched. Jay cost us a few points though by refusing to take the ball from Nya, afraid he would hurt her.
"What if I kick her in the shin instead? That would hurt!"
I rolled my eyes. I played rough with Zoe, and she didn't complain. She wasn't my girlfriend though. That was different.
Kai sighed. "She's my sister Jay. If you hurt her by accident, I won't be mad at you. Relax. It's soccer, not World War III." Jay frowned, but nodded in agreement.
Soon it was tied three to three. I was beginning to feel hopeful that my dream meant nothing, that I really wasn't going to be caught again and I had nothing to worry about. However, my gut felt otherwise.
Nya had skillfully kicked the ball to Cole and he began dribbling up the field towards the net. I sprinted to keep up with him until he and I were running side-by-side. Quickly, I cut across him, caught the ball and dribbled in the opposite direction.
I looked up from the ground to see Kai wide open. I gave a good hard kick, and the ball sailed over his head and into the woods behind him.
I froze, and muttered a curse under my breath. Cole looked at me sternly as he walked up to Kai, but I didn't care. All that mattered was that the ninja were about to walk into a serious trap.
And it was all my fault.
Suddenly, I realized that the serpentine only wanted me, not the ninja or Nya. And if it was me they wanted, it was me they were going to get. There were only four outcomes to this. I get caught, the ninja get caught, none of us get caught, (which was highly unlikely) or we all do. I didn't want them to get captured when it's my fault.
"I'll get it!" I yelled. And before anyone could protest, I charged into the woods.
The path I walked on was worn with age, rising and falling with the hilly landscape. A scent of pine and fresh dirt filled the air. The trees hung over me like a tunnel as it blocked out any sunlight. As I walked, I tried desperately to steady my breathing and calm down. The ninja will save you eventually; they won't let anything hurt you…again.
Soon I found the soccer ball stuck in a rose bush. I huffed. Of all places…
But, nevertheless, I crawled through and groped for the ball, ignoring the cuts now forming on my arms. After grabbing it, I scootched out, but froze as a hand was placed on my shoulder. Or rather, a claw.
"Hello little one. Ssso nice of you to join usss."
Standing above me was the hypnobrai general himself. "Skales," I growled.
He smirked. "Now now, there is no need to be hossstile. We just wanted to invite you to our humble dwelling once more."
I shrugged his claw off my shoulder and took a step back. "Fat chance. Slither back to the dirt hole you came from Skales. I'm not interested."
He looked ticked off at first, and then sneered down at me like he was superior. "We thought you might sssay that."
As fast as lightning, (and believe me, I know firsthand how fast that is) two other serpentine pinned my arms behind my back. I panicked and shouted at the top of my lungs, "You guys! Help me! Skales is-"A claw clamped my mouth shut.
"Sshut up! Just ssshut him up already!" Skales hissed.
A thought occurred to me. "Wait! How did you know we were here anyway?"
"We have our ssssources. Now move, we don't have all day you know. Pythor would like to give you his regardsss."
My limbs turned rigid as I realized who it was.
Eurus. That backstabbing no-good little…
A shadow warrior pressed his sword at my back, and I immediately surged forward, leaving the soccer field behind me.
A.N: What? I said he wouldn't capture him. *smiles evilly*
I'll keep updating this story until it's done. Yay!
Review please. Have a great day/night!