Hello everyone! Did you miss me? Anyway, let's continue. Thank you all for your patience.
Ch. 13 The Threat of Darkness
Within the castle of Corona, in the main throne room we're presently our heroes. The King and The Queen sat in their respective thrones; Rapunzel and Eugene, along with Pascal on her shoulder, stood on the right of the thrones; Maximus and a guard stood on the left; the seven Ninja stood in the middle of the throne room.
"You know who was responsible for that attack?" The King asked the Ninja.
"Yeah, unfortunately." Lloyd responded.
"So, who is this, Overlord-character?" The Queen asked.
Rapunzel looked to Eugene and vice-versa, having been recently told about him before during their ride back to Corona. The ninja each gave a sigh before explaining the situation to them.
"Probably the worst possible threat Corona could ever hope to face." Nya said.
"You see, as you already know, we're not from here." Cole began. "We're from the realm of Ninjago."
"Yes, you told us this." The King replied.
"But here's what we didn't tell you." Kai began. "Ninjago was created by one man, the First Spinjitsu master, using the Four Golden Weapons of Spinjitsu." Kai explained as he, Jay, Cole, and Zane took out their respective weapons.
"That was my grandfather." Lloyd said, surprising the King and Queen a bit. "He was pretty much the 'light' of Ninjago. However, in order for there to be light, there must also be shadow, and within shadow is there is darkness, the blackest of darkness that existed from the very beginning; an ancient evil spirit called the Overlord."
"Due to there opposite natures, the Spinjitsu Master and the Overlord battled for the sake of all life in Ninjago." Zane continued. "Each side was equally powerful, even with his own power of creation and the Four Golden Weapons; the Spinjitsu Master and the Overlord we're both evenly matched, their battle could have gone on for eternity."
"Until the Overlord cheated and created his stone army." Jay put in. "So the Spinjitsu Master said enough was enough, so he used all his power to divide Ninjago in half."
That surprised the King and the Queen more than anything.
"He divided… an entire… continent?" The Queen questioned.
"Yep." Cole confirmed.
"He also placed a spell, as long as the balance between light and dark is even, the Overlord would remain trapped." Skylar stated.
"I would assume then that didn't last very long." The King guessed.
"No." Kai confirmed. "The Overlord set in motion a chain of events that set him free. He has one goal in mind; absolute domination over everything in all of creation."
"So, to be clear… our kingdom is threatened by an evil spirit?" The Queen asked for clarification.
"Not just any evil spirit." Lloyd stated. "He is the physical manifestation of evil in our world. He is literally evil incarnate."
The King and Queen looked to each other with worry; as did Eugene and Rapunzel.
"But you guys fought him before, right?" Eugene asked. "So you know how to stop him?"
"We did fight him before, twice." Cole confirmed. "Problem is, every time we did, he almost won, and we almost died. He is the most ruthless, and most dangerous enemy we have ever faced."
"What does he want though?" Rapunzel asked.
"Knowing him, he is probably looking for a way to restore his power." Zane answered.
"So he has not reached his full power?" The King asked.
"Trust me, if he had his full power, we would know." Jay stated.
"But why come here?" Nya asked. "Why come to Corona?"
"He said he had already found a way to restore his power." Skylar recalled. "Which means we can guess that he's been here for a while."
"You think he was the one who brought Gothel back?" Cole questioned, earning looks of surprise from Eugene, Rapunzel, Pascal, and Maximus.
"It would make sense he could do that, and bring Pythor here to." Kai figured.
"But why?" Lloyd questioned. "I mean it makes sense why he would go to Pythor, but why Gothel? What does she…" Lloyd's mind then began to put the pieces together. Overlord found a way to restore his powers, and there was one power in this realm that could be capable of that, and Gothel knows that power all to well. Lloyd then looked to Rapunzel with surprise and realization in his eyes "It's you."
"What?" Rapunzel questioned.
"You! The Overlord is after you!" Lloyd spoke, earing shocked expressions from his fellow ninja.
"What?!" Eugene, the King, and the Queen all exclaimed.
"You're right, that makes sense." Kai agreed. "That would explain why he brought Gothel back. She raised you." Kai said to Rapunzel. "Who else would know you better than her?"
"He did that? He brought her back?" Eugene questioned.
"But why me? Why come after me?!" Rapunzel exclaimed.
"It's your powers." Nya deduced. "The Overlord wants your power."
"They know about your powers?" The King asked his daughter.
"Kai was hurt when he and the others tried to rescue me, so I kinda… healed him." Rapunzel explained as she shyly rubbed the back of her neck. "But, I get what you're saying, but my powers can heal, I've never used them to do what you're thinking."
"Your power cannot just heal." Zane began. "From analyzing the incantation that is sung when you use them, your powers 'bring back what once was theirs', theoretically, it could be used by the Overlord to restore himself to his own full power."
"He could." Lloyd agreed. "He did the same once with my Golden Power, and it was very similar to yours."
"So… I'm his target." Rapunzel shook before Eugene put an arm around her to comfort her.
"No!" The King spoke. "I will not allow my daughter to fall into the hands of being so vile!"
"Something tells me, he doesn't care what you think." Jay told the King, who ignored him.
The King turned to the guard. "Gather all the guards! Place the entire kingdom under lockdown! No one enters or leaves without my knowledge!"
"Yes your majesty!"
"It won't work." Lloyd stated, stopping the guard.
"Sir Lloyd…?" The Queen questioned.
"It won't stop him. You saw what he did with you underground armory. He won't stop until he gets what he wants, even if it involves destroying all of Corona." Lloyd said with seriousness evident in his voice.
That hit the entire group with such force that they almost reared back. "He… he would really… destroy our kingdom?" The Queen questioned.
"You have no idea how far he would go." Kai stated.
"But we have to protect our daughter!" The King argued. "She only recently returned to us and I will not take the chance of loosing her again!"
"Hey! Hold on! Don't I get a say in this?" Rapunzel questioned, getting everyone's attention. "Look, if the Overlord wants me, and if he's really as bad as you say he is, I don't want to see everyone I care about risk their lives, even loose them, over me."
"But Rapunzel…" The Queen began.
"She's right." Nya agreed. "You can build a massive dome over this whole Kingdom and it still wouldn't stop him."
"Seriously. You can even try to push the entire kingdom somewhere else, and even that wouldn't stop him!" Jay stated.
"Then what do you recommend?" The King asked.
Rapunzel sighed. "I think… maybe I should leave." That surprised her parents quite a bit. "I mean, if he's after me, and if I'm not here, he'll leave the kingdom alone, right?"
"Good thinking." Skylar said.
"Agreed." Zane stated. "If a something does not have what the Overlord is looking for, it will be of no interest to him, and he'll leave it alone."
"Alright, then it's decided then." Rapunzel stated.
"Rapunzel wait." Eugene spoke up. "I'm going with you."
"Eugene…" Rapunzel tried, but Eugene and Max already came up to her.
"If the Overlord really wants you that badly, I'm not letting you out of my sight." Eugene said firmly.
Rapunzel sighed. "Even if I said no, you'd probably come anyway."
"Yep. The same goes for the rest of us"
Maximus stood firmly as Pascal also took a stance and saluted as well, saying he was ready for battle.
"We can't change your mind about this." The King told his daughter, knowing when she sets her mind on something there is no point in trying to stop her. "But at least take a few guards with you, just to be safe."
"That won't be necessary." Lloyd spoke up. "Because we will be with her as well." Lloyd said as he and the other ninja took dramatic poses and even displayed a bit of their respective elemental power.
"Guys…" Rapunzel tried.
"Sorry princess, you ain't' getting rid of us that easily." Jay stated.
"We're ninja, we stick together." Cole said.
"And a ninja never quits." Nya added.
"But more importantly, a ninja never abandons their friends." Skylar said as well.
"Agreed, we are all friends; and we are better off if we stick together." Zane stated.
"But also, we may want the Overlord away from Corona, but you defiantly do not want him to get your power to get his back." Kai said.
"Kai's right." Lloyd said. "The Overlord wants nothing more than absolute domination, and he defiantly has the power to pull that off."
"Is he really that strong?" Eugene questioned.
"Oh yeah, you got no idea." Cole said.
"We may have beaten him twice, but we nearly died each time." Jay stated.
"And the second time we especially almost lost Zane." Kai added. "We are not taking any chances with this."
Rapunzel was absolutely touched by all this. Her friends we're nothing short of amazing. They we're determined to protect anyone and we're willing to face a monster of pure evil without thinking twice. She couldn't help but give a grateful smile.
"Thank you. All of you."
"Hey, that's what friends are for, right?" Lloyd said with a smile.
Two hours later; the guards we're escorting Kai, Rapunzel, Lloyd, Eugene, Nya, Pascal, Zane and his falcon, Cole, Jay, Maximus, and Skylar to the bridge that led outside to the kingdom. The King and Queen we're also present to bid them farewell.
Once at the bridge, Rapunzel took a moment to embrace both her parents, who embraced her back.
"Be safe my dear." The Queen said as she stroke her daughter's face.
"I will Mom. I promise."
The King placed a hand one Eugene's shoulder. "Take care of yourself Eugene."
"You to, your majesty." He replied as the two men shook hands. The King then turned to Kai and Lloyd.
"I am counting on you, look after our daughter."
"Don't worry your majesty. We'll protect her with our lives." Kai assured him.
"You have the word of the defenders of Ninjago." Lloyd added.
"What of your golden weapons?" The King questioned. "You sure it was wise to have them locked away in the vault below the castle? Why not take them with you?"
"Those things can be handy, but they can also very be dangerous in the wrong hands." Lloyd stated.
"Yeah, we don't want to tempt the Overlord any more than he already is." Kai added.
"And your dragon?" The King asked.
"You should keep him here, just in case." Kai replied.
"Come on people let's go!" Jay called "We're burning daylight!"
"Hold you're horses we're coming." Eugene responded.
The group of heroes then crossed the bridge and began their leave into the forest, on their mission to seek safety and find a way to defeat the Overlord once and for all.
Done. I know that seems like a short chapter. But I think it serves its purpose. Anyway, thank you all for your support and your patience with me. Enjoy yourselves an see you next time.