Hi everyone. Sorry I haven't updated in a while, things have been crazy with school, work, and everything. But I finally got some free time in, so here you go.
Ch. 3 Operation: Rescue the Princess
Corona Castle, Dining Room
It's a very pleasant morning. The sun is shining (when is it never?), and everyone seems happy. The King and Queen, and Rapunzel, are enjoying their breakfast. Well, mostly his and her majesty, Rapunzel for the most part was just picking at her food, this was noticed by both her parents.
"Rapunzel, dear. Are you alright?" The Queen asked.
"Hm?" Rapunzel came out of her train of thought. "Oh yeah, I'm fine mom."
"You barley touched your breakfast" The King noted.
"Well it's just…" the princess sighed "I met two people yesterday."
"Did something happen?" The Queen asked, worried these mysterious people might have done something to hurt her.
"No. No, no, nothing bad. They both seemed real nice." Rapunzel answered, putting her parents at ease. "I just… felt something with them."
"What do you mean by 'felt something'?" Her father questioned
"Well… how should I describe it?" Rapunzel toyed her breakfast with her fork trying to find the right words. "Well, one of them felt like… fire, I guess."
"You mean this person was on fire?!" Her mother exclaimed worriedly.
"What? No!" Rapunzel quickly put in. "I mean, it felt like there was fire inside him. Not that he was burning or anything, like his soul was fire. Like a, warm camp fire."
"And this other person?" The King asked
"He felt like light." The princess began. "Like there was a bright light, shining… it's hard to describe, but it feels… very similar to me."
"Um, Rapunzel, I don't think we understand." The Queen said
"Like… my powers, it feels like my power, almost."
This caused both her parents to look at each other. Someone else had powers like her? But there was only one flower. Also, what was with this, 'fire person'?
"I don't know what to think." Rapunzel admitted "They didn't feel like bad guys. To be honest, they felt like some of the greatest guys ever, kinda like Eugene."
The parents both gave expressions that said 'why am I not surprised?' They found it quite funny that she compared people with her boyfriend. They owed everything to Eugene; for rescuing their daughter and bringing her back, but more importantly, they we're grateful for the fact, that he gave her someone to love and find happiness.
"Well, maybe you'll run into them again today and find out?" The queen said to her daughter. "I'm sure they're still here."
"Yeah, they said they're travelers, and with a place like Corona, they're bound to stay for a few days. I'm sure I'll run into them again." Rapunzel said with a smile.
Both parents smiled at their daughter's endless optimism.
Hotel
The five ninja we're currently having breakfast of their own, within the restaurant of the hotel they we're staying at, however, only four of them we're enjoying they're breakfast.
While Kai, Lloyd, Zane, and Cole we're having eggs and oatmeal, Jay was stuck having a glass of water with several vitamins. Not surprising, given how much he drank at the Snugly Duckling yesterday. On top of that, he had a major headache.
"Guys, next time I try to drink something at a bar; just knock me out. Agh." Jay said, before rubbing his head, which was still aching.
"We did try to warn you." Cole told the lightning ninja.
"I suppose it is fortunate I brought those viatmins and painkillers with me." Zane added.
"Yeah, whatever." Jay said. He quickly took note of the food Zane was eating. He lowered his voice, "by the way, how can you eat exactly, you're a nindroid?" He lowered his voice to avoid drawing attention of nearby people.
"Oh, my body's fluids absorb the food's nutrients and the remains are discarded into small sceptic tanks that I occasionally need to empty." Zane explained
"Good to know." Jay replied. "Say guys, considering my, 'state' yesterday, I missed out, what did we find out here?"
Kai then began to explain the details to Jay. "Well basically we learned this kingdom's princess was kidnapped as a baby and raised by some witch-woman."
"About 18 years later…" Lloyd began "A thief found and rescued her. Now he's living with the princess."
"Sounds like something you hear from a fairy tale." Jay noted
"We had yet to find anything that could be considered a 'great darkness' as Sensei Wu predicted." Zane explained
"Yeah, we we're at a bar filled with people who look like barbarians and Vikings, and they we're really nice. I don't see anything that can be considered evil here, this Corona has to be the nicest place we've ever visited." Cole noted
"Still, you can never be too careful." Kai said.
"Hmmm, guys?" Lloyd said, getting their attention "I think, Kai and I ran into the princess yesterday." That got the attention of the Lighting, Earth, and Ice users.
"You mean that Rapunzel girl?" Kai asked, to which, Lloyd nodded. "But that painting showed a baby with blonde hair, hers was brown."
"I know, but those eyes, they we're the exact same from the painting." Lloyd told them.
"Maybe she dyed it?" Jay suggested
"Can they dye hair here?" Cole questioned "This place looks like renaissance era, I doubt they could dye hair here."
"Perhaps we may run into her later today." Zane suggested "But why does this girl interest you Lloyd?"
"Well… I could feel something." Lloyd began, while Zane, Cole, and Jay looked confused. Kai wasn't, as he was with Lloyd at the time. "Something inside her, it almost felt like my golden power, only not as strong."
That really got their attention. "What do you mean by 'not as strong'?" Cole questioned
"Well, she probably couldn't move mountains or summon a golden dragon spirit, that's for sure." Lloyd explained "But there was definitely something. And I feel like we have to keep an eye on her."
"You think she might have something to do with Sensei's vision?" Kai asked
"Not sure, it's a gut-feeling." Lloyd explained.
"Well, we should probably find out, just to be on the safe side." Zane suggested
"Assuming Jay's okay to walk today." Cole cracked.
"Very funny." Jay said sarcastically, while rubbing his head.
The Castle Gate.
The guards stood ever vigil at the gates towards the castle. They would not allow anyone to pass, for fear of failing Maximus, and earning a frying pan to the face from him. They're vigil was interrupted when even more guards came to the gate, at least 3 dozen in total. With the former captain leading them.
One of the guards came to the captain. "Sir? Why are so many guards here?"
"I've heard rumors on an attempt to take princess' life, so I increased security at the gate." The captain told the soldier.
"An attempt on her life?" The guard questioned "Then we will keep our upmost vigil sir."
"That's all I ask." The captain said. "Where's Maximus?"
"Oh he's right behind you." The soldier replied. The guard turned to his former horse, who was giving a suspicious look at his former rider.
"What? Better to be safe than sorry, right?" He said, with the horse looking more suspicious. "You we're my horse, remember? I think you can trust me." Said horse could only keep looking, before giving a slight nod. The captain smiled as he left, while Maximus continued to stare, not really sure if he could trust his former rider, who rarely appreciated him, not like Rapunzel or Eugene do.
As the guard left, his smile turned a little more sinister, all is according to plan.
The five ninja, who had continue to bear their casual clothes, continued their trek through the kingdom, on their way to the castle.
"So what's the plan?" Jay asked "Just go up to gate and ask to speak to the princess?"
"Yeah, pretty much." Kai confirmed. "I see your looking better."
"We're ninja, remember, we can cope with anything." Jay said, confident he is over his hangover.
"Getting back to the subject…" Cole began. "I'm not sure we can just waltz in. If the princess returned to Corona only recently, I'm sure it's gonna be guarded."
"Then we'll just show them we don't mean any harm." Lloyd said.
"Yeah, well, I'm pretty sure five strangers, hiding four powerful, and dangerous, golden weapons could probably say otherwise." Jay speculated
"Then we'll just give them up." Kai said.
"Give them up!?" Cole questioned "Isn't it our duty to protect the weapons!?"
"Yeah, from Lord Garmadon." Kai answered. "But considering he's on our side now, and there's no dark lord in sight, I'd say we can be apart from them for a few minutes."
"Good point." Lloyd said.
"Well, getting to the castle may be more difficult than one might think." Zane said.
"Why's that?" Cole asked
"I sent my falcon on ahead. From his eyes, I can see that security around the main castle gate has nearly tripled." Zane relayed.
The mechanical falcon flew high above the caste and zoomed in on the increased number of guards.
"Well, can you use him to find the princess?" Kai asked
"The falcon searching for her now." Zane answered "A young woman shouldn't be too hard to find."
"Then let's keep moving." Kai said.
The five ninja then continued their walk through the kingdom and towards the castle.
Corona docks
A small row boat arrived at the docks. Two passengers we're on top. They we're the infamous Stabbington Brothers, whom the captain helped secretly release last night.
"Well, what do you know?" The brother dressed in green began "He actually did it. That captain actually got all the guards off here."
"So now what?" The brother in black with an eye patch questioned "We just wait?"
"Yep" the other brother replied "We wait, we grab them both and head back to the ship."
"I gotta say." The eye patched brother began "To actually betray the kingdom to get rid of Ryder? Don't get me wrong, I hate his guts too, but still…"
"Yeah, he must really hate him. Better keep your eye on that guy, just in case. I don't want to go through another scam like we did with that old hag."
"Tell me about it."
Castle Gardens.
Rapunzel continued her walk with Eugene through the gardens, both of them clearly enjoying each other's company. Even Pascal, who was on Rapunzel's shoulder the whole time was enjoying the moment, though he kept himself camouflaged to give them privacy, or more accurately, spy on them.
"Aw, this is nice." Rapunzel began as the two sat on a stone bench. "It's such a gorgeous day."
"When is it never?" Eugene replied "But, don't get me wrong, I think things are going great, but… it seems a little boring"
"Boring?" Rapunzel questioned
"I mean nothing's happening. There's no parties, no chases nothing."
"Well, if you want interesting, you could go back to being a thief again, and have Max chase you like old times." She said with a playful smile.
Though he can tell Rapunzel was joking, he did NOT want to relive those chasses, just thinking about it made him shiver. "Ugh, no thank you. I didn't mean, that interesting. But it would be nice to at least fight someone."
"We can head to the Snugly Duckling in town if you want." Rapunzel suggested "I'm sure they'd be happy to see and fight you."
"Yeah, that'd be fun. But I think I'd rather stay here with you."
"You and you're cheesy lines." The princess joked. The two then began to close in, and the camouflaged Pascal looking more sly, and when they're lips we're centimeters apart…
"Your majesty!" A voice called, causing the two to split apart, and both blushing immensely. The guard captain came running to them, with a panicked look on his face. The princess quickly took notice of this.
"Is there something wrong?" Rapunzel asked
"I have terrible news." He began "We believe an assassin has infiltrated the castle." This caused both the former thief and princess to look at each other in surprise, even Pascal returned to his normal color and looked shocked.
"An assassin? Are my parents okay?" The princess asked
"They are." The captain confirmed, causing her to sigh in relief. "They are in the throne room, with multiple guards, I assure you they are safe. We've even taken the liberty of posting Maximus and at least three dozen guards at the main gate."
"So what now?" Eugene began "Are we supposed to look for this guy or…?"
"The king and queen both ordered me to escort you both to the docks." The guard answered "You two will get in a boat and part into the waters and wait till we find this scum."
"So what, we just hide?" The princess questioned, not liking this "I'm tired of constantly being hidden."
"I assure you, this is temporary and it's for your own safety." The captain told her.
"He has a point." Eugene began, earning a questioning look from his girlfriend "I love a man-hunt just as much as the next guy, but I'd rather be helping you get to safety and out of danger."
To this, Rapunzel got out her trusty frying pan "You know I can take care of myself."
"We don't know what this guy has, I'd rather be safe than sorry." Eugene told her, as he placed his hands on her shoulders. She could see the look in his eyes, and didn't want to get him or her parents worried.
"Okay, let's go." Rapunzel resigned.
"Then follow me." The captain said, and the three began to head for the docks. He smiled inwardly. Soon Ryder, soon
Pascal soon noticed something. Standing on the perch of the garden's fountain was a falcon. The falcon looked at the princess. The chameleon cold tell there was something up with the falcon, nothing evil, but something felt weird about it.
Back in town, Zane just got what he needed from his Falcon's eyes, literally. "My friends, I have found her."
"The Princess?" Lloyd asked
"Yes." Zane confirmed. "Unfortunatley, it seems that there is an attempt on her life taking place at the castle."
"What?!" The four ninja exclaimed
"Well what the heck are we waiting for!? Let's Go!" Jay exclaimed.
"Zane, where is she heading?" Kai asked
"She as well as a friend are being escorted to the docks." Zane replied "My falcon will continue to follow them."
"Okay then." Kai began "Lloyd get back to the Ultra Dragon, you run as fast as you can."
"Wait, what? Didn't you say we need to keep our cover?" Lloyd questioned
"Someone might die!" Kai exclaimed "I think that's a little more important." Lloyd nodded, he knew that the life of someone was more important "Here, take this comn and stay in contact." Kai handed the green ninja said comn device before Lloyd ran out of the kingdom as fast as he could. With his ninja-trained body, he should be able to get to the Ultra Dragon in ten minutes tops.
"Okay, what about the rest of us?" Cole questioned
"We need to get to the harbor." Kai answered. "Zane, keep your falcon's eyes on that princess, let's go!"
The remaining four ninja then ran towards the harbor.
The Docks
The guard captain lead Rapunzel and Eugene to the docks, as he said he would. At first it seemed, fine. Pascal however, looked at Eugene silently telling him that something doesn't feel right. To which Eugene agreed.
"Rapunzel, stay close. I got a bad feeling about this." Eugene urged
"Yeah, sure." Rapunzel agreed.
The next thing they heard has a yell and the sound of wood smacking a head. They both turned in shock to find the guard captain had been knocked unconscious, even more shocked when they saw who did it.
"Been a while Ryder." One of the Stabbington brothers greeted.
Before Eugene could react, the other brother smacked him in the face with a wooden oar, knocking him unconscious, much to Rapunzel's shock.
"You guys again!?" She exclaimed. "I thought you we're locked up!"
"Yes, we we're." One of the brothers said
"Got out." The other brother added. "And you're coming with us"
"Only this time, no hag or thief here to save you." The first brother warned.
Before Rapunzel knew it. The brothers grabbed her. They quickly wrapped cloth around her mouth tightly to prevent her from screaming. They then tied her hands behind her back, and wrapped rope around her upper body, tying her arms to her body. They finally pulled a bag over her head.
Pascal tried to help. He jumped on one of the brother's shoulders and shot his elastic tongue into his ear. The brother yelled and shoved the chameleon off of him, onto the wooden dock.
The brothers then loaded the unconscious Eugene onto their row boat, with the bound and gagged Rapunzel. They quickly began to make their way through the water.
The guard smiled, having pretended to have been knocked out. He got up. His plan had now begun. The Stabbington brothers would work with the pirates, who we're hiding their ship deep in the harbor, they would kill Ryder and hold Rapunzel for ransom. Once the ransom was paid, they would let her go. It sickened the guard to go so low, but he would do anything to get rid of Ryder. He walked back to the castle to inform the guards of what just 'happened'.
The unconscious Pascal felt something nudge him. He woke up, with more and more nudging. He slowly opened his eyes to see a falcon, the same falcon he saw at the castle, up-close. Pascal quickly got up and formed a karate stance, thinking the falcon was gonna eat him. The falcon simply shook his head, causing the chameleon to raise an eyebrow. The falcon then motioned to the water, where Pascal directed his attention. Even from far away he could see Rapunzel, causing Pascal to be filled with fear, his best friend had been kidnapped.
The falcon walked in front of Pascal and motioned him to get on his back. Pascal was confused, giving a look that silently said why should I trust you?
The falcon gave a look that said what choice do you have?
Pascal then realized what was at stake, one look from the falcon's eyes told the chameleon he was there to help. Pascal climbed onto the falcon's back and they both flew off.
Kai, Zane, Jay, and Cole got to ledge that lead to a fifteen foot drop into the harbor.
"Brothers." Zane began "My falcon has saw the worst, the Princess had been kidnapped" The other three looked in shock.
"Are we too late?" Cole guessed
"No." Kai said, determined "It's never too late for us."
"Guys, look!" Jay pointed into the water, where they could make out a large ship. How anyone in the kingdom missed it was beyond them.
"My falcon is showing me that is where they are heading." Zane relayed
"Who's on the ship exactly?" Kai questioned
"Give me a moment."
The falcon flew over the boat the brothers and their captives we're in, and flew towards the ship the boat was heading towards. It was a large ship with black sails, the flag on top was black with a white skull and crossbones. It was a pirate ship.
The two then looked down at all the pirates on the ship, there we're at least a three dozen of them. The sight alone made Pascal shiver. The falcon, however, relayed the images to Zane's eyes.
"It is a pirate ship." Zane said
"Ugh, pirates again?" Jay complained
"Yeah, I don't think these are the same guys Garmadon resurrected." Cole guessed
"Guys let's focus!" Kai urged
"Kai, do you read me?" Lloyd said through the comn.
"I read you, Lloyd." The fire ninja answered "Are you with the Ultra Dragon"
"Yeah, I am."
Lloyd was now in his green and silver techno-ninja robes, sitting on top of the four-headed dragon, reins at the ready. The two had exited the woods on foot (dragon's foot anyway) and came to a beach. They could get a clear view of the kingdom, but Lloyd wasn't paying attention to that.
He looked through a spy-glass and saw the situation. The boat with the princess and the pirate's ship.
"So what are you seeing?" Kai asked
"I see a tied up princess, a guy unconscious, a couple of mercenary-looking guys, all heading to a pirate ship"
"Okay stand by, be ready to move." Kai said. "We gotta get down there."
"What? We swim?" Jay questioned
"You got any better ideas?" Kai asked.
"We have no time, we must go." Zane urged.
The four ninja then dived into the water. They swam underwater as fast as they could possibly move. Zane, being a nindroid, could last underwater a lot longer than his fellow ninja could; but Kai, Jay, and Cole, due to their ninja-training, could last underwater for almost an hour, and swim faster than the average human.
The falcon landed on the ship, on top of the bowsprit, just as it connected to the bow. It and Pascal both watched as Rapunzel and Eugene we're loaded onto the ship.
The pirate captain walked out. He had a large red beard, he also wore a black suit, a black hat and a red feather; complete with a hook on his right hand, peg on his left leg, and an eye patch over his left eye. He saw the brothers come on-board.
"Nice work fellas." The captain congratulated.
"Thanks. It was our pleasure." One of the brothers replied, before removing the bag from Rapunzel's head.
The princess did not like the situation she was in, not one bit. She was completely tied up and gagged, Eugene was still unconscious, and there were pirates surrounding her, giving lustful looks.
"Ooh this is a fine one." One of the pirates observed
"I think she'll be fine here." Another pirate cracked, with the others laughing.
"The princess is off-limits!" The captain exclaimed, silencing his crew. "We're holding her for ransom nothing more. You bums touch the merchandise, and I'll throw you overboard." All the pirates then made their distance, not wanting to be tossed of the ship.
One of the Stabbinton brothers than got water in a bucket and threw the water in Eugene's face as the other brother held him down.
Eugene quickly woke up. "What the heck where am I?" He took note of surroundings, but once he saw Rapunzel he grew angry. "Rapunzel! Let her go!" He tried to shake them off, but the pirates came and held him down with the brothers. The captain held a sword to Eugene's neck, silencing him.
"Don't bother." He said "No way are you getting off this ship alive."
"You hear that Ryder?" One of the brothers asked
"Not alive." The other brother finished.
Unknown to everyone else. The four ninja had successfully made their way to the ship. The quietly emerged from the water and slowly climbed the ship. Each of them wore dark clocks to hide themselves. Zane thought it was a good idea and he was right.
Once on the ship, no one really noticed, as they we're paying attention to the scene unfolding infront of them, Kai opened his comn so that Lloyd could listen in.
"Look, I know you guys want payback on me being all back-stabby…" Euegene began "But that was a long time ago, come-on, can't we all just make up?"
"Hmm…" One of the brothers mused "Let me think…."
"No!" the other brother finished.
Eugene sighed. "Look you got me, let her go." Referring to Rapunzel "She has nothing to do with this." Rapunzel could only muffle through her gag, trying to protest against Eugene's request.
"Oh we will." One on the brothers confirmed.
"Aye." The pirate captain began "I'm sure the king and queen of Corona will pay a pretty large ransom for their little princess. Wouldn't you say boys?" All the pirates then yelled in excitement at that.
"As for you…" the pirate captain addressed to the reformed thief. The brothers then cuffed Eugene's hands and put the chain on a hook that was connected by a long rope to the Yardarm. Three pirates pulled the rope and he was hoisted all the way to the top. The yardarm was moved so that Eugene was haning over the water, he was pretty high up.
"Who here wants to see the legenedary Flynn Rider go splat?" The captain shouted, to which all the pirates, even the brothers, all yelled. Rapunzel tried to beg them, but couldn't get any words through her gag.
Pascal wanted to do something, but the Falcon shook his head. Pascal gave a skeptical look, but the falcon then motioned to four clocked figures, and gave a sly smile.
"Lloyd, did you get all that?" Kai whispered through his comn.
"I got it. I can see everything through the spyglass. Four-Heads and I are standing by."
"Wait for my signal" Kai said.
One of the brothers took out a cross-bow and aimed it at the chain of the cuffs, the only thing keeping Eugene from plummeting.
Eugene and looked at his beloved Rapunzel, he was prepared for the end, while she had a look of desperation in her eyes. "I love you." He said.
The crossbow was fired. The arrow had pierced the chain, and Eugene fell. Rapunzel screamed through the gag as he fell, Eugene screamed as well, the pirates and Stabbington brothers all yelled happily. During this, no one could hear Kai screaming to Lloyd through his comn.
"LLOYD! NOW!"
The water's surface was approaching him quickly. However, right before he made contact, a large figure quickly flew in and grabbed him with its claws. Eugene opened his eyes to a sight he found unbelievable, even more so than when he first saw Rapunzel's hair glow. A giant four-headed dragon had just saved him from death.
"Nice timing boy." Lloyd congratulated as he pat the dragon, which purred in response.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!" One of the brother's exclaimed
"IS THAT A DRAGON!?" The other brother shouted.
"A DRAGON WITH FOUR HEADS!?" The pirate captain exclaimed
All the pirates we're yelling in surprise amongst themselves, while Rapunzel could only look with wide-eyes. She thought dragons only existed in stories. The surprises we're not over yet.
"NINJA…GO!"
Everyone turned to that shout, they briefly saw four small tornadoes. One of fire, one of lightning, one of ice, and one of earth. Once the tornadoes ceased, in their places, stood Kai, Jay, Cole, and Zane all bearing there ninja robes, ready to crack some skulls.
"Where did they come from?!"
"Who are they?!"
These questions ran through the crowd as they saw the ninja. Rapunzel looked in shock, wondering how they could have gotten here so quickly. She caught a glimpse of the red ninja, she couldn't see his full face due to the ninja mask, but she recognized the eyes and the hair-style, despite meeting him only yesterday briefly. Kai? Hearing the red ninja speak, gave it away as she recognized the voice.
"Okay guys listen up, let the princess go right now."
"Who the Hell are you?" One of the Stabbington brothers questioned
"The guys who are gonna kick all your asses if you don't let that girl go." Jay answered
"kick our asses?" the other brother questioned "You do realize where you are right?"
"Yeah we know." Cole confirmed "Still doesn't change anything."
"We will not ask again. Release the princess, now." Zane warned.
"Or what?" The pirate captain challenged.
To this, the ninja each drew their respective golden weapon. Kai brandished his Sword of Fire. Cole revealed his Scythe of Quakes. Zane displayed his Shurikens of Ice. Finally, Jay showed off his Nunchucks of Lightning.
All the villains drew their weapons as well. After a heated stare-down, Rapunzel could only look in worry, wondering if these four we're up to the task.
Kai then made a small slash with his sword that sent a small fireball to the pirate captain. It hit and blew up his belt, causing his pants to fall down, revealing his undergarments much to his shock.
Jay, Zane, and Cole all laughed at that; Rapunzel laughed through her gag as well.
The pirates we're shocked beyond words, their captain had just been humiliated.
"Kill them!" He ordered
The four ninja smiled behind their masks, relieved to finally get some excerise. Kai was reminded of a similar situation he was in some time ago. "Ninja vs. Pirates, round 2"
Done! *sigh* Again, sorry it took so long, but with school, work, and everything. My schedule was loaded. Thank you all for your patients. It is greatly appreciated. I hope to update again soon. Enjoy.