Hello. Thank you all for your patience. For those of you who don't know, class has started back up for me, so it may be longer breaks in between updates. Again, thank you for your patience.
Ch. 10 Campfire Tales
Night had fallen, and the heroes decided to set up camp for the night and make their way back to Corona in the morning. They we're tempted to use the Ultra-Dragon to get back, but it had already flown back to the kingdom so walking was pretty much their only option.
They all sat on top of logs all around a campfire. Skylar was currently wrapping a bandage around the knife wound on Kai's right arm. Zane still had his ninja mask wanting to avoid revealing his exposed Nindroid circuits.
"Take it easy will ya?" Kai jokingly complained as Skylar tightened up the bandages.
"It is your fault, you're always the reckless one." Skylar joked back.
"Isn't that one of the reasons you like me though?" He joked, which resulted in his bandage getting tightened up even further.
"Hey, are they… flirting?" Eugene asked Cole as Pascal looked at the two.
"Yes, I think they are." Cole replied.
"So what brings you ladies here? You miss me?" Jay asked Nya in a somewhat cocky tone.
"We came to see if you needed help, which looks we we're right." Nya replied.
Maximus gave a snickering snort to Jay, which he pushed back.
Rapunzel would have given a laugh herself if there wasn't something troubling her. She looked to Kai as Skylar finished wrapping around his arm.
"So how is it? Don't sugar-coat it." Kai asked Skylar.
Skylar sighed. "You'll heal, but it's pretty deep you won't be able to use that arm for a while."
Kai gave a disappointed sigh. "Its my sword arm though, I can't use my sword if I'm like this."
"You're just gonna have to sit out for a while Kai, sorry." Lloyd told him.
"If you attempt to use that arm in combat you'll tear many of your muscles and it'll hurt your arm even further." Zane advised.
"Great, just great." Kai said sarcastically.
Rapunzel had a sense of guilt sweep over her. She felt greatly responsible for this. True, she didn't ask to be kidnapped, again. But she felt she could have done something. She didn't want to see one of her friends hurt and unable to defend himself if they came into trouble, she knew what she had to do now.
Rapunzel moved to Kai's side. "I'm sorry, it's my fault."
"Don't worry, wounds are consequences of battle, I'll heal." Kai told her.
Rapunzel put her arms on the wound.
"Uh, what are you…?" Kai began.
"Look just don't, don't freak out okay?"
Eugene, Max, and Pascal looked to Rapunzel, having a good feeling what she was about to do. Kai, Lloyd, Skylar, Nya, Cole, Zane, and Jay looked confused at what she said. Why would they freak out?
Rapunzel sighed and began to sign.
"Flower, gleam and glow. Let your power shine."
As she began to sign her hands began to glow gold, much to the ninjas' astonishment.
"Make the clock reverse. Bring back what once was mine."
Kai's arm began to glow a light gold as well and he looked down surprise to see the wound glow an even brighter gold.
"Heal what has been hurt. Change the fate's design. Save what has been lost. Bring back what once was mine. What once was… mine."
Once she finished her hands ceased their glowing, as did Kai's arm. Curiously, he slowly began to unfold the bandages, once he did he looked in surprise at his bare arm, it was completely healed, not even a singe scar.
Nya, Zane, Skylar, and Lloyd came to get a closer look as well.
"Whoa!" Kai said.
"It's… it's healed." Nya stuttered.
"Not just outside." Zane informed. "All his internal injures on his arm have been healed as well. As if the wound was never there."
"I don't believe it." Skylar breathed.
"Please, don't freak out." Rapunzel uttered, fearing the worst.
"Yeah, it's not us you should be worried about." Kai told her.
All eyes slowly shifted to Jay who had a blank expression on his face. The other six ninja looked at him like he was a bomb ready to go off.
"Jay…" Nya began slowly.
"She can glow." Jay uttered slowly. The ninjas winced at what was to come.
"Jay, keep it together." Kai advised.
"Why does she glow?" Jay questioned, getting slightly louder.
"Jay, try to stay calm." Zane told him, but it didn't work.
"How can she glow?!" Jay shouted as he shook Zane. "Did you know she could glow?!" He demanded as he shook Eugene. "Did you know she could glow!?" He yelled as he looked into Maximus' eyes. "WHY?! WHY CAN SHE GLOW!?"
*Slap!*
"Thanks." Jay said, calming down.
"Happy to help." Cole replied.
Lloyd looked to Rapunzel, the pieces in his mind coming together. He knew he sensed something inside her. It was like his Golden Power. True she probably couldn't use mountains, but this kind of power was still impressive none the less.
"You have healing powers?" Lloyd asked.
"Yeah, I know, crazy right?" She asked as she rubbed the back of her neck.
"If by 'crazy' you mean 'cool', then yes." Jay told her.
"Most impressive." Zane admitted.
"I gotta admit, that is pretty awesome." Nya said.
"We've seen people who can turn invisible, coat themselves in metal, create small tornadoes, even change shape and run really fast; but this is the first time we saw someone with healing powers." Cole added.
"Looks like this world has it's own 'Elemental Master' of sorts." Skylar said.
Rapunzel was slightly taken a back by this. It's been a while since she got this kind of gratitude. A grateful smile formed on her face; which Eugene noticed.
"Thanks, I owe ya." Kai told her as he flexed his newly healed arm.
"Uh sure. Okay Zane, you're next." She turned to the masked white ninja.
"Uh, no thank you… I am fine." Zane quickly said. Him and the other ninjas we're now a bit nervous.
"Zane, I saw you get hit in the face with a bomb, I highly doubt it left you unscathed." Eugene recalled.
"A few scratches but I am fine." Zane dismissed.
"Yeah, Zane's one of the toughest ninjas here, he can handle it." Jay added, not wanting to reveal a certain secret.
"Yeah you don't need to worry." Cole put in.
"No, I insist." Rapunzel told them as she moved closer to Zane, who tried to move back. "If my friend is hurt, I want to be able to help him…"
"I said NO!" Zane replied rather harshly.
Rapunzel was moved back by this. Eugene, Max, and Pascal looked surprised as well. Rapunzel looked down a bit hurt by this. The other ninjas soon felt a wave of guilt sweep over them.
"Zane… show them." Kai told him.
The ninjas we're slightly surprised at this.
"Kai? Are you sure?" Lloyd asked.
"There gonna have to find out eventually, might as well bring it all out into the open." Kai shrugged.
"Find out what?" Rapunzel asked.
"Okay, now this time; you guys have to promise not to freak out." Cole told them.
Eugene and Rapunzel looked to each other with confused expressions.
Zane gulped as he slowly removed his mask to reveal his face. His left side had it's synthetic skin taken off, revealing his cybernetic eye and all his robotic parts.
Rapunzel quickly moved back and covered her mouth to keep herself from screaming. Eugene moved back as well, as did Maximus and Pascal looked like he was about to faint.
"This is what the inside of me looks like." Zane told them as he held his hand over his cybernetic parts. "I am not entirely human. I am a Nindroid."
"A 'Nindroid'?" Eugene queasily asked.
"A robot. A machine." Lloyd translated.
"He wasn't 'born' in the same sense as us." Cole said. "He was built, by one man."
"A person was built?" Rapunzel questioned. "How is that possible?"
"Well, where we come from, we've got more advanced technology." Kai added.
"Physically, I may be a machine." Zane began. "But deep down, I am no different from any of you." Zane began to take of his shirt and opened a small compartment in his chest, revealing a glowing blue orb.
"What is that?" Rapunzel asked as she and Eugene looked at it with wonder.
"This is my heart. With it, I am able to think, to feel, and understand just like any other human." Zane told them.
"It's… beautiful." Rapunzel looked at it with wide eyes.
Jay felt like it was time to lighten up the mood so he began to speak up. "Hey, you know what one of the best things about him being a Nindroid is? His funny switch."
"His funny what?" Eugene questioned.
Jay looked near Zane's heart and flicked a certain switch.
With that a catchy toon began to play from Zane's body as he begun to dance and then began to sign. "Hello my baby, hello my honey. Hello my rag time gal! Send me a kiss by wire!" Zane finished dancing and posed.
Eugene immediately laughed and held his stomach; while Maximus gave a laughing neigh as well as Pascal chuckled and squeaked. Rapunzel snickered as she held her mouth.
Jay rubbed a tear from his eye as he laughed a bit to. "That never gets old."
The remaining six ninjas all smiled at the mood starting to lighten up a little.
"Okay, there's obviously a story to come with this isn't there." Eugene said with a smile.
"Yeah, but I think you guys got one to." Skylar replied, causing him and Rapunzel to look at each other.
"Tell you what." Lloyd spoke up. "We'll tell you our story first, you guys tell yours after. Deal?"
"Deal." Rapunzel replied as she put her head on her hands, eager to listen and find out more about her friends.
From there the Ninja began to tell their tale. Rapunzel and Eugene we're both immediately surprised to hear that they we're from another world. Zane's falcon had projected holographic images of various people and buildings to add illustrations to their tales, of course they had to explain that the Falcon was also a robot like Zane.
The ninja began to tell the story of the First Spinjitsu Master creating Ninjago using the Four Golden Weapons, along with his battle with the Overlord. Rapunzel was slightly scared as they described the Overlord as a being that is the essence of evil itself. After the Overlord's defeat, the ninja began to tell of the First Master's sons Wu and Garmadon, with Garmadon being bitten by an evil snake called the Great Devourer and it's venom slowly corrupting his heart. After the First Master's death, Wu and Garmadon took up the role of protecting Ninjago along with the Elemental Masters. The majority of it centered on fending off the Skeletons and maintain peace between humans and the Serpentine.
During this time, Garmadon had begun training with Master Chen. Lloyd revealed that Garmadon was his father, and that Chen had taught him how to fight dishonorably, which further the corruption of the Devourer's venom; even faking a love letter from Wu meant for Lloyd's mother. Which surprised Rapunzel and Eugene quite a bit.
Also during this time, Wu had taken up an orphan named Morro and had decided to train him in martial arts, Morro being Wu's first student. Morro was the Master of Wind that the ninja mentioned a few days ago. When Wu learned of this power he believed Morro was meant to be the Green Ninja. The ninja then explained how the Green Ninja was a warrior of prophecy meant to defeat the Dark Lord. When it turned out Morro wasn't the Green Ninja he had become bitter and jealous, so he left to prove destiny wrong.
After Morro had left, the Serpentine had struck and the war had begun. The ninjas explained the five breeds of the Serpentine and their powers. They Hypnobrai with the power to mind control; the Fangpyre that could turn anything or anyone into a snake with a bite; the Venomari who could spit hallucinatory venom into their victim's face; the Constrictai that could burrow underground and put their opponent in a stranglehold; and finally the Anacondrai who we're the most dangerous and powerful of all the Serpentine. Garmadon had developed the idea of using Sacred Flutes to drive the Serpentine into tombs to seal them away, which worked. Chen had aided the Serpentine and for it, was banished from the land. The Anacondrai Generals we're banished to the Cursed Realm.
The Ninjas then had to explain the many realms to the heroes and how each on was different, and for one that was bright and nice, there was another that was dark. Rapunzel and Eugene hung on every word.
Just after Lloyd had been born, his father Garmadon had been fully corrupted by the venom in his heart and tried to steal the Golden Weapons to make Ninjago in his own image. Wu tried to stop him and a battle between brothers broke out. Garmadon lost the battle and was banished to the Underworld where he ceased control of the Skeleton army. After this, Wu hid each of the Golden Weapons and placed a dragon to guard each of them, and left the map for Kai and Nya's father.
Several years later, Wu came to visit Kai who was a blacksmith at this time. The skeleton army arrived under orders from Lord Garmadon and had taken the map and kidnapped Nya in the process. Wu offered to train Kai, which he agreed to if it meant saving his sister. Kai then met Jay, Zane, and Cole and they set out to find the Golden Weapons. When Kai tried to get the last one, Garmadon threatened to kill Nya if he didn't get it for him, after a fight, the weapons we're taken to the Underworld where the Ninja pursued them. Garmadon however used them to escape the Underworld vowing to return and become more powerful.
After which, Lloyd had escaped from his boarding school that he was left at by his mother. Lloyd was just a kid at the time and didn't know much better, he accidentally opened one of the tombs of the Serpentine. When Rapunzel questioned why he did that, Lloyd said he wanted to be like his father Lord Garmadon. Lloyd was then manipulated by the last Anacondrai survivor Pythor, who united the Serpentine and plotted to unleash the Great Devourer for revenge. Lloyd was Pythor's hostage at this time. And during this, the ninjas had to explain that in order for them to become stronger, they each had to unlock their True Potential, by overcoming obstacles in their hearts. Zane had to discover his identity, Jay developed the courage to confess his feelings to Nya (which Rapunzel thought was sweet), Cole had to mend his relationship with his father, and Kai had to come to terms that not everything had to rest on his own shoulders. Garmadon had come to aid the Ninja so he could rescue his son. Rapunzel was happy to hear, that despite being the Dark Lord, he still had some good in him. Eugene was surprised to hear he had four arms. It was soon revealed that Lloyd was the Green Ninja destined to fight his own father, which saddened Rapunzel a bit as she felt sympathy for Lloyd now. Pythor had successfully awakened the Great Devourer, which ended up devouring him. The Ninja and Garmadon worked together to destroy the Devourer, during the chaos Garmadon had stolen the Golden Weapons.
After this, the Kai, Jay, Zane, and Cole vowed to train Lloyd to become ready to fight his father. During this, Garmadon had enslaved the Serpentine and fused the Golden Weapons into the Mega Weapon. After several failed attempts to kill the four ninja and prevent Lloyd from reaching his destiny, the Mega Weapon was destroyed and shot out into space. Lloyd was reunited with his mother, and the Serpentine revolted against Garmadon. He washed up on the Dark Island and formed an alliance with the Overlord. The Overlord's stone army awoken, and the ninja traveled to the Dark Island. It was revealed that everything that transpired was all a part of the Overlord's plan to return. He was the true Dark Lord. During the battle, Lloyd had to accept his destiny as the chosen one and unlocked his own True Potential, becoming the Golden Ninja and defeating the Overlord, while also purifying Garmadon of all the evil and venom in his body, which Rapunzel was elated to hear.
When Eugene asked if it was over, the ninja replied no. They explained that the Overlord survived, much to the audience's shock. The Overlord had taken over the systems of New Ninjago City and built an army of evil Nindroids. He set his sights on Lloyd, hopping to use his powers to become whole again. Rapunzel related a bit with Lloyd, knowing the feeling of people targeting you for your power. They we're extremely shocked to hear that Pythor had survived and now aligned himself with the Overlord. When Lloyd gave up his Golden Power, the Overlord set his sights on the Golden Weapons, which he used to become the Golden Master, and almost succeeded in killing the Ninjas. Zane revealed his sacrifice and how he almost died. Despite this, Rapunzel and Eugene we're deeply saddened at the grief of Zane's friends that they felt at that time.
Later on, the Ninjas received an invite from Chen for his Tournament of Elements, which invited all the Elemental Masters, and hinting that Zane was alive on the island. Lloyd revealed that the tournament was all just a cover up for Chen to steal all the Elemental Powers to turn him and his cult followers into Anacondrai. Skylar also revealed that Chen was her father, and that she initially sided with him, but Kai convinced her to help them, which Rapunzel thought was sweet. Despite that, Chen succeeded and turned everyone, including Garmadon and Skylar into Anacondrai. Chen had almost succeeded in concurring Ninjago. However, Garmadon choose to banish himself to the Cursed Realm to free the original Anacondrai Generals and banish Chen as well. Rapunzel expressed her sympathy to Lloyd for loosing his father.
The Ninja then explained that when the portal opened, something else came through, someone who wasn't meant to escape, Morro. The Ninja talked about how Morro became a ghost and possessed Lloyd and attempted to take the Realm Crystal to release the Preeminent to curse the 16 realms. The ninjas explained how they learned Airjitsu and Nya told them it was time for her to become the Master of Water. Cole also told them of how he became a ghost, which Eugene was interested in. The ninja then explained how they defeated the Preeminent, and how Garmadon was able to escape the Cursed Realm and Cole turned human again; much to Rapunzel and Eugene's happiness. Nya explained how she unlocked her True Potential, by coming to terms with the fact that she might fail, but not to give up no matter what. Rapunzel was somewhat saddened to hear of Morro's death; true he was a jerk, but he just wanted to become stronger, he just took the wrong path.
"And that's it." Lloyd concluded after two and a half hours of story telling.
"Wow." Eugene said, as it was all he could say.
"You guys, you've really been through a lot, haven't you?" Rapunzel said.
"Hey, it's what we do." Jay replied with a smile and a shrug, as Nya playfully elbowed him.
"Okay, now it's your turn." Cole told Rapunzel. "Why do you have healing powers?"
Now it was Rapunzel and Eugene's turn to explain. They told the story of how it started off with a magic golden flower that created from a magic drop from the sun. The flower had the ability to heal anyone or anything if they sung a certain song. They also told of a woman named Gothel who hoarded the flower for herself to keep herself young for hundreds of years, which Nya found to be the height of vanity and narcissism.
During the centuries, Corona had formed and grew. Less than two decades ago, the queen, Rapunzel's mother was pregnant but also sick and was running out of time. The whole kingdom searched for the flower. The ninjas we're especially impressed by this determination. They managed to find it, which was made into an antidote and healing the queen and also helped her to give birth to a healthy baby girl, Rapunzel with long golden hair. The ninjas connected the dots, now knowing where Rapunzel had gotten her healing powers.
Zane pointed out it wasn't to different from the Elemental Masters, causing Rapunzel to blush a bit. She explained how it was originally thought to be in her hair, it we're to be cut it would turn brown and loose it's power. Because of this, Gothel had kidnapper her as a baby and taken her to a tower where she raised her for years and lied to her whole life saying the world was evil and the tower was her only sanctuary.
The ninjas (Skylar and Nya especially) we're disgusted at Gothel now. Rapunzel told them that Pascal was pretty much her only friend, and when she turned 18 she wanted to go out to see the Lanterns which we're lit by her parents on her birthday hopping for her safe return, Gothel of course shot her down. Eugene, who was a thief at that time accidentally found Rapunzel's tower where he agreed to help her.
The ninjas now understood the vendetta the Stabbington Brothers had for him. Though they we're surprised to hear she didn't cut her hair for her whole life and that it was very, very VERY long.
They manage to get to the kingdom and see the lanterns, after which Gothel had orchestrated Eugene's capture and had tricked Rapunzel into coming back with her; when Rapunzel realized she was the Lost Princess, Gothel tried to keep onto Rapunzel even if it meant tying her up and dragging her everywhere. When Eugene tried to rescue Rapunzel, Gothel stabbed him in the back (literally). Though Rapunzel pleaded to heal him and promised to go with Gothel without a fight, before she could, Eugene cut all of Rapunzel's hair, allowing Gothel to age rapidly into dust and die.
The ninjas agreed Gothel got what was coming to her, and we're especially impressed Eugene was willing to sacrifice his own life for Rapunzel. Though it was revealed that the power to heal was within Rapunzel all along and the hair was only a conduit.
"That's pretty much it." Rapunzel finished.
"I got one word, 'wow'." Skylar spoke.
"Man, and you thought our adventures we're crazy." Jay said.
"Well, we didn't have to deal with Dark Lords, Snake men, Skeletons, and Ghosts." Eugene said.
"Touché." Cole replied.
"I guess, we have a lot more in common huh?" Lloyd told Rapunzel.
"Yeah, looks like it." Rapunzel agreed. "But, it's very nice; to know there are others with powers out there."
"Yeah, it is." Kai agreed.
"That makes you an honorary Elemental Master." Nya told Rapunzel, surprising her a bit.
"Well I can't do Spinjitzu, and I can't form my own dragon either." Rapunzel contradicted.
"It isn't just about power." Kai told her. "It's about the heart. Knowing the dangers that are ahead, knowing that your scared, but going on anyway."
Rapunzel smiled and blushed as she rubber her hair.
"They're right." Eugene agreed as he put his hand on her shoulder. "You're the bravest person I know."
She gave him a quick peck on the lips for that.
"Get a room you two." Jay cracked and Nya elbowed him again.
"I don't know about all of you but I'm exhausted." Skylar said with a yawn.
"Yes, perhaps it's best we all get some rest." Zane advised.
"Alright." Kai spoke up. "Lets all get some sleep, we still got some ground to cover before we get back to Corona."
With that all the heroes drifted off to sleep. Not knowing, that from a far distance, a certain dark presence was watching them.
"Rest while you can little children." The Overlord spoke. "None of you are prepared for what comes next." He said with an evil cackle.
Done. The reason I put the stories in paragraph form was because they would have taken up A LOT of space if I wrote it as they told the story.
Again, thank you everyone for your patience. See you next time.