A/n: Hello and happy Monday! Ready for a new chapter?

"Do you think we lost them?" Jay asked after they'd been running through the city for fifteen minutes.

"Yeah." Lloyd answered, "I think so."

"I saw them slip through a portal after we started running." Kai said, "Where do you think they went?"

"The Departed Realm." Lloyd said, "That's where they have Rumi and the others."

"You think Cole is down there, too?" Jay inquired.

"I think it's a safe bet." Lloyd told him.

"So, how do we get there?" Jay asked.

"Look in front of you." Zane replied. Jay did as he was told. Sure enough, Mistake's tea shop was standing right in front of them.

"Do you think she has any Traveler's Tea?" Kai inquired.

"I sure hope so." Lloyd told him.

They opened the door and walked into the shop.

"Mistake?" Lloyd called. He had expected her to respond with a loud "never heard of her!" but she didn't. In fact, there was no response at all.

"Mistake?" Kai said. Again, no response.

"Where do you think she is?" Jay asked.

"I don't know." Kai said. He walked over to the shelves at the back of the room, and searched through the teas until he found what he was looking for.

"Tomorrow's Tea." He said, holding it up.

"Great." Lloyd answered, "Let's go."

"What?!" Jay yelled, startling his friends, "We aren't stealing that!"

"Sure, we are." Kai said.

"But, we're ninja! Not thieves." Jay told him.

"I know, I know." Lloyd said, "But Mistake isn't here right now."

Jay however, still didn't seem happy with the idea.

"We'll pay her the next time we see her." Kai added.

"Fine." Jay said.

Lloyd dropped a leaf onto the floor, creating a portal, and they all stepped through.

:::::::

"You have to admit, this room if pretty nice." Nya said when they reached their quarters.

"For a room with dirt walls, you mean." Skylar told her.

"Right." Nya said.

Cryptor had taken them down the hall to their room, which had no windows and only one small door. Four guards were posted outside their door, keeping them from leaving unless they wanted to. They had just been upgraded to a different prison.

Still, it was nice. There were five King-sized beds, hand-embroidered tapestries hanging from each wall, and piece of diamond and gold engraved into the ceiling to look like stars. There were also five vanities, and the girls sat at each one.

After bringing them up to their room, Cryptor had sent up the dresses they would be wearing to the gala. Skylar's was a bright orange sleeveless gown that came down to floor. She wore a dark red sparkling belt around her waist, and red flowers had been painted around the bottom. Though Skylar was still angry that her father had kidnapped her, she liked the outfit.

PIXAL wore a similar gown, except her was purple, had one strap on the right shoulder, and had silver flowers on the bottom. Instead of a belt, however, a white bandage was wrapped tightly around her waist to keep her from losing anymore artificial blood. Nya would fix her later, but right now, the bandage would have to do. Nya's dress was maroon red, had long sleeves, and a sparkly blue belt. Blue flowers were painted on hers.

Hurumi's dress was the same as Nya's, only lime green with a sparkly black belt and flowers. Misako's dress was shimmery silver with a green belt and green flowers.

Skylar's hair was down, and an orange flower had been pinned on the left side. PIXAL's hair was in a high bun, and she wore a purple flower. Nya's hair was also in a high bun, with a maroon red flower. Hurumi's hair was down, and she had a lime green flower. Misako was wearing her usual braid, and a silver flower.

"Are you ready?" Skylar said to no one in particular.

"Truthfully, no." Nya answered.

"Neither am I." Skylar said.

A few minutes later, some of Cryptor's nindroids came to lead them to the giant ballroom. Skylar couldn't help but feel like a little girl playing dress-up.

The doors to the ballroom were seven feet tall, and ten feet wide. Cryptor, The Overlord, Chen, Morro, and Kozu were standing outside them, wearing identical black tuxedos and, of course, their crystal necklaces.

"PIXAL," Cryptor said, taking her hand, "You look beautiful, even with that bandage." He smirked. PIXAL shot him a look that said she was not amused, but he ignored it. Even in their situation, Skylar thought it was funny that those two fought like siblings.

"Shall we enter?" Morro asked, taking Hurumi's hand. She nodded, refusing to make eye contact. They entered the ballroom, and everyone stopped dancing. As if the King had just entered his kingdom. Skylar didn't recognize a single guest. They were all dead, after all. As soon as he saw Cryptor, an elderly ghost floated over and bowed to him. He didn't look happy, but he did it anyway.

"Dr. Julien." Cryptor nodded. The man stood, but he wasn't looking at the nindroids general anymore. His gaze had drifted to PIXAL.

"And who might you be?" Dr. Julien asked, his eyes brightening. PIXAL opened her mouth to say something, but Cryptor spoke first.

"This is my sister, PIXAL. She represents intelligence." He explained.

"Ah, and android. Nice to meet you, PIXAL." Dr. Julien said, "I had an android son, once."

"Did you?" PIXAL inquired, now interested.

"Yes. He would've liked you, I can tell." Dr. Julien told her. PIXAL smiled; she didn't know who this man was, but she was happy to talk with someone other than Cryptor. They continued their conversation. Nya drifted over to Skylar, wanting to say something.

"That's Zane's father." She whispered.

"What? It is?" Skylar asked, watching the old man smile and laugh as he spoke with PIXAL. "Well, it looks like he approves of his son's girlfriend."

"Yeah. Do you think he knows Cryptor is plotting against Zane?" Nya asked. Skylar saw Dr. Julien glance at Cryptor with a look of hatred and distaste.

"Yeah," She said, "I think he knows." A little while later, Dr. Julien left, saying he had a few things to take care of in his workshop. That's when Cryptor wanted to dance. The music restarted, and he dragged PIXAL onto the dance floor. Chen did the same, saying he wanted some "father-daughter time."

"You know, that was Dr. Julien." Cryptor told PIXAL as they waltzed across the floor.

"Uh-huh." She said, not paying attention.

"And, Dr. Julien is Zane's father." Cryptor continued, "So, you just met your boyfriend's father without either of you knowing it." PIXAL's eyes widened.

"That was Zane's father?!" She asked, looking like she was about to punch him "Why didn't you tell me?!" Cryptor smirked. Then, there was a partner switch. Skylar made sure she and PIXAL became dance partners next.

"I have an idea." Skylar said, "To put an end to this night."

"Really?" PIXAL asked, looking hopeful.

"Yes." Skylar said, "And it works every time." There was another partner switch, and Skylar was back with her father. As they were waltzing, she suddenly stopped. Chen almost crashed into her, but caught himself.

"What is it, Skylar?" He asked. Skylar gave him her best dazed look, and pretended to be too dizzy to speak. "Are you alright?" Chen asked. She shook her head, and collapsed to the floor. "Skylar!" Chen yelled.

Skylar looked over at PIXAL, who gave her a grateful look when the music stopped. She let the doctor drag her out of the ballroom, pretending to be asleep. Passing out. She thought, smiling to herself, works every time.

After the doctor confirmed that she was fine, Skylar was left alone in the hallway for a few minutes while he went to tell Chen.

"I'm telling you, I am on the list!" A familiar voice yelled.

"Ma'am, you weren't invited. I'm sorry." A guard said.

"Well, we'll see about that!" The woman screamed. She stomped away, and soon appeared in front of Skylar. Now Skylar knew who she was.

"Mistake?" She asked, "What are you doing here? Were you invited?"

"Skylar, I was hoping to see you." Mistake said, "No, I wasn't invited, but I should have been. Anyways, listen, I don't have much time."

"Okay." Skylar said.

"I know what these villains did to you and your friends." She said, "And if you want to go back to the living world, you must break their crystals. Otherwise, you'll be trapped here forever."

"But, they're always wearing them!" Skylar exclaimed, "How are we supposed to do that?"

"I don't know." Mistake said, "That's your problem. Bye." She started walking away.

"Seriously?" Skylar shouted, "That's it?"

"Yes." Mistake answered, "I have other places to be. Good luck!"

With that, she walked down the hallway in the opposite direction she had come. She hadn't been very helpful, but at least now Skylar knew how to escape the Departed Realm.