Hi all! I know it's been awhile. I'm really sorry. So much has happened since I've been gone. A few major life events happened that took me away from writing, as well as my job and college. If anyone still reads this story, I just want to say thank you for sticking around. It means so much to me and continues to motivate me to keep writing. I'm still committed to finishing this story, and might start posting more frequent but shorter chapters and see how yall respond to that. So let me know if that's what you guys want! I'll do my best to make it happen.
Anyway, sorry for the Drabble, here's the long awaited update!
Night blanketed the valley in darkness, giving the ninja perfect cover as the Bounty sailed along the sky, the landscape rushing by them below. Nya was at the helm, diligently guiding the ship as they went, with Lloyd keeping a watchful eye on the different screens. He had tried to find Zane's beacon and attempted to contact his comlink, but the thick forest was scrambling the signals, even with Morro's tracker. The others were keeping an eye out for any sign of their missing nindroid as well as any sort of threat. In order to keep a low profile, they had sent the Ultra Dragon back home, and had stowed a note in his saddlebags telling the others of their findings.
Jay looked down as the trees moved past, the cool night air blowing past his face. Everything was so new, nothing he had seen here he had lay eyes on before. They had been traveling farther into the valley for a few hours now, yet so far they had seen no sign of Zane, much less any sign of human life. The valley stretched seemingly forever outward, but despite the fact he was still worried.
"Jay?" Said a voice beside him. "Are you alright? You seem troubled."
Jay looked up and saw Wu standing by the rail next to him.
"Yeah...I guess I'm just worried about Zane, I mean all of us are. But…"
"But what?"
"This valley, it's so massive. We don't know what's in it...Sensei, what if we can't ever find him?"
"We have to have faith Jay." Sensei reminded him. "We know Zane would never give up on us, it would be wrong to not do the same. We will do anything in our power to get him back, wherever he may be."
Jay nodded, but Sensei sensed something else was bothering him.
"Are you sure that's all? I sense something else occupies you."
"Uh...horses. I'm scared of the horses." Jay admitted. "What if they're like the Treehorns?"
"We'll have to wait and see Jay."
…
Clemens was in the barn, checking on the mares that were in foal. He was stroking one of his favorite mare's necks when suddenly he heard a ruckus. Shots were fired, which sent some of the horses in the stables into a panic. He heard yelling and the squealing of tires, and knew something had gone terribly wrong. He ran out of the foaling barn and to the house to find the door wide open and a truck flying down the road. Gunshots rang out again.
"What the hell?"
He ran inside for his gun, when he saw chunks of ice in the living room and Samuel's gun on the floor. Obviously there was a struggle. What had happened?
The door swung open and Clemens turned around. Samuel stood there, gun in hand. His chest was heaving and tears were falling from his blazing eyes.
"Samuel, what the hell happened?" He asked. "Where's Zane?"
Samuel stepped inside, anger radiating from him in waves.
"He killed her."
"What?"
"That son of a bitch killed her…"
"Who? Zane? How?"
"He let her die, that damned bastard." He growled, walking past Clemens. He went for his gun safe and tossed one of his rifles to the old man.
"Sam, you're not answering me." Clemens said, following him. "What happened back there?"
"Get every person that owns a gun and get them out here. He needs to pay for what he's done."
"Samuel, wait-"
"If you don't want to do it, fine, I'll do it my damn self!" Samuel snarled. "He killed my niece and your great-granddaughter, and I won't stop until I have his head. Now are you with me, or are you with him?"
Clemens sighed in defeat. He shouldered his gun. "With you."
"That's what I thought." Samuel said. "Now let's go, we have a nindroid to put down."
Clemens reluctantly followed Samuel out the door and to one of the ranch rigs. They drove from property to property, knocking on doors and explaining what happened. Soon they had amassed a sizable crowd willing to help Samuel hunt Zane down, about a dozen. They all joined up at the entrance of Flint River, mounted on their horses. Samuel led the way and they followed Gale's hoofprints all the way up to the treeline.
"Remember, Zane isn't the friendly robot we all took him as, and we made a grave mistake welcoming him as one of our own. He left her to die, and this may be our only chance to make things right." Samuel said before they went into the forest. "If you see him, shoot him on sight, and I want him dead. Don't let him deceive you, that fool's got a silver tongue, I would know." Samuel unshouldered his gun. "Now let's find this son of a bitch."
Samuel led the way and the other followed, fanning through the trees. Clemens rode at the very back, still not sure if all this was justified. Hell, Samuel hadn't actually told him what Zane had said. He knew his grandson wasn't in his right mind, he never was when he was angry, but as of right now there was no stopping him. Clemens hoped that by the time they did find Zane that he would have cooled down enough to be a little more level-headed and actually listen.
"Um, sir?"
Clemens looked over to where the voice came from and saw Jackson riding next to him.
"Hm? Yes son?" Clemens replied. "What is it?"
"Do you think he actually killed her?" Jackson asked. Clemens sighed.
"I don't think so." He said. "I'd hope not. He never seemed like the person to do such a thing."
"Okay." Jackson said. He guided his horse Bo over a log. His voice dropped to a whisper, as if he didn't want Samuel to hear lest he face his wrath. "I don't think Zane did any of those things. I don't want to kill him. I only came to see if I could find her."
Clemens nodded. "I believe you. I don't want him killed either."
"Samuel won't actually kill Zane, will he?"
Clemens looked ahead, where Samuel cradled his gun, and the look on his face made it clear he was out for blood. The old man sighed.
"I wouldn't count on it…"
…
Gale stumbled over a rock, and Zane gasped and grabbed the seat of his saddle before he could fall. The horse regained his footing in the cold water as they crossed a creek.
"Are you alright?" Zane asked as he fixed his grip on the reins and patted his neck. The horse whickered and they finished crossing. Zane got off and checked Gale's feet to make sure he wasn't hurt. He had been pushing Gale to his limit all night since they escaped, no doubt the horse was exhausted, he was tripping and falling over rocks and sticks, his coat stained in sweat and blood tainted the white hair from scratches and cuts going through thick brush. Seeing his horse in this state made Zane feel awful, as if he already didn't have enough to feel bad about. But they had to keep going.
"Come on, we must go." Zane said. He grabbed his horse by the bit and led him into the trees on the other side. He put his foot in the stirrup. "I'm sorry."
Gale groaned as Zane's weight settled on his back again before ambling forwards.
They had been travelling through the forest all night, wandering aimlessly to try and find some kind of place where they could hide. This was a part of the forest that Zane had never been in before, so he had no idea where he was, all he could do was hope he found something, anything that could help him. No doubt the ranchers would be coming for him, and if he didn't come up with a plan soon, he was done for.
Not like he had a lot of options. He was practically a world away from anyone from Ninjago, and Hailey was missing, and likely dead. And not only was Morro after him, but he had managed to turn the only people that would help him against him.
Zane wanted to kick himself for being so stupid. Why didn't he just tell her to turn back? Why didn't he listen to his sixth sense, especially since it never failed him? Why didn't he try harder to save Hailey from Stonetooth?
"Oh, why, why, why, why, WHY!" He said, punching the saddle in a rare moment of frustration.
Maybe Samuel was right, he was a heartless machine. If he had put even just a little more heart into his fight with the dragon, he could have been able to save her. He knew he had physically given it all he had, but deep down he felt like he could have done more. And now there was no good way to make things right.
Zane heaved a shaky sigh, but it did little to relieve him of his frustrations. He was at his wits end at what to do. He considered going back to Flint River to clear his name, but discarded the idea, knowing he would be shot dead faster than he would be able to get a word out. He could go back to Elkhorn, but he knew Christopher and Tony would almost certainly be there. No doubt Samuel had told them what happened. He could also go to Oldenburg, but that would take him closer to Samuel and the other ranchers. He tried to devise a way to possibly scale the mountains and navigate the range and forests beyond, but his ice powers wouldn't be enough to cross the ravine, and he feared his energy dragon would attract the attention of Stonetooth or possibly something else.
They kept wandering about the forest, but Zane couldn't tell where they were, everything looked the same. Had they been going in circles this entire time?
They were in a more hilly region, so he pushed Gale on up to the top of the ridge off to their left. They must have gone far as they were running away from Samuel, because there was no sign of civilization anywhere.
But there was a strange flickering light down below on the other side, about a mile away. Zane couldn't see its source, but it seemed to be spread throughout the trees. Intrigued, Zane tapped Gale with his spurs and made their way down to get a better look.
It was slow going. He had to be careful to not push Gale too hard as they made their way down the rocky slope, stopping occasionally to listen for any voices. Soon they made it to the bottom and wound their way through the trees, the odd glow becoming visible through the branches. In it's light, he saw something strange on the trees to his side that made him get off. He clutched Gale's reins as he walked over and rested his hand on the scorched bark of the tree's trunk. It was nearly hot to the touch and still smoldering. The burn went nearly all the way up the tree and by his calculations was a result of a large plume being launched in some manner. What could have caused this?
He got back on Gale and continued toward the light, seeing the same marks on another tree. There also was dirt freshly kicked up, as if there was a struggle. What had happened here?
Zane's investigation had brought him near the edge of a clearing, and the glow was closer now. As he neared, from Gale's back he could see that on the far edge was the source of the glow. Zane's heart dropped as he gasped.
Ghost soldiers. It was two of them, standing guard at the edge of the clearing. They were here? How? And for how long?
They hadn't conquered Ninjago already, had they?
Zane and Gale crept closer to the edge. He noticed that they seemed to be guarding something that lay between the two of them, a dark figure laying on the ground, and it was...human shaped?
Gale took a couple steps forward and Zane leaned forward in the saddle to get a better look. It was definitely a person. And it looked familiar. Whoever it was, they weren't moving. The ghosts hadn't taken the life of a Mt. Horn citizen, had they?
Gale was starting to get antsy, carrying his head high and snorting. If Zane wanted to get a closer look, he'd have to go on foot.
He got off. "Stay here." He whispered before getting down low and stalking his way around the clearing's edge, staying out of sight. He managed to get closer to the person and saw they appeared to be tied up, but in the darkness he still couldn't see. He switched to his night vision. It was a girl. There was no blood, at least what he could see.
Could it be?
Zane zoomed in, and they could see they were breathing. One of the ghosts poked the person with their sword.
"Should we hit her again? I think she's waking up…"
The other ghost pushed them over to the side. "No, she's still out."
The hair fell from their face, and Zane clamped a hand over his mouth to stifle his gasp.
It was Hailey, and she was alive!
Joy and relief washed over the nindroid like a waterfall. He thought she was as good as dead. He could feel the weight being lifted from his shoulders as he realized that he still had a chance to make things right.
But he had to get her first.
Zane dropped down again and continued skirting the edge of the clearing. She was being flanked by two ghosts, tied up with rope. He'd need to defeat them and cut her free. What did they want with her anyway?
Zane kept going till he was directly behind the ghosts and scanned his surroundings for any other ghosts. He sent a blast of ice off to his side in the trees to distract them. They ran to investigate and Zane saw his chance. He lunged forward and scooped up Hailey's limp form before dashing across the clearing and into the trees. Once they were under cover he set her down and scanned her for any injuries. Besides a big bruise on her head, she was unharmed.
Zane gently tapped her face. "Hailey." He said. "Hailey, wake up. It's me."
Hailey's eyes fluttered open as she drew in a breath. She groaned.
"Hey, hey," Zane said as she came to. "It's me, Zane. Are you alright?"
Hailey grimaced before opening her eyes. She blinked groggily.
"Z-Zane?" She muttered. "Is it really you?"
"Yes. You were taken by the ghosts so I was able to get you. Are you hurt?"
"No…" She said. "But my head hurts like a bitch…"
"I figured. You have a bruise right here," he traced around it with his thumb. He growled. "What did they do to you?"
"I think they knocked me out, but I don't remember…"
There was a pair of angry voices as the ghosts guarding Hailey discovered she was missing. Zane rolled up his sleeve.
"We must get out of here, it won't be long until they find us." He said. He opened up his arm panel. "I'm going to cut you free."
"Wait, don't." Hailey said, doing her best to sit up. "Let me try."
Zane was about to ask what she meant, but stopped as suddenly a purple glow began to radiate from her. She furrowed her brow and the rope that bound her hands behind her body began to smolder and smoke. The ice ninja watched in astonishment as purple flames licked away at the ropes until they snapped. Her hands freed, she grasped the ropes at her legs and melted through them. Now free, she got up and hugged Zane as tightly as she could.
"Oh my god, you really came for me." She said.
"Of course I did, why wouldn't I?" Zane said, returning her hug. "I'm so glad you're okay, I thought Stonetooth killed you!" He broke the embrace to look her over.
"The ropes, I saw what you did. How did you do it?"
Suddenly Hailey's expression faltered.
"I used...my fire." She said, almost guiltily. "I don't know why, I just figured out that I could."
"Show me." Zane said.
Hailey held out a hand and curled her fingers as she stared intently at her palm. She continued to tense as a purple glow started to form.
"Come on…" She strained as she focused more. Zane watched in amazement as a weak purple flame came alive between her fingers, dancing in the night breeze.
"Relax."
Hailey obeyed and the flame vanished into a wisp of smoke as she relaxed, heaving a breath.
Zane almost couldn't believe it. The legend, it really was true. And nobody believed in it, yet he was watching it unfold in front of his very eyes. It had been this entire time!
"Hailey…your fire…do you know what this means?"
"I-I don't know…"
"It's you. It's been you all this time. You're the lost descendant. You're the one the legend speaks of."
Hailey stared down at her hands in disbelief, little purple sparks floating around her fingers. "I knew something was different when I woke up…but why me?"
"Destiny has its odd ways that we will probably never understand." Zane replied. "But this is no mistake."
"I don't think I like this…" Hailey muttered as she watched a tiny flame make its way around her hand. "My powers-or whatever you call them…what if I can't control them? What if I hurt somebody? What if I can't do what the legend says I'm supposed to?" With each word she became more anxious, which caused her whole hand to be engulfed in purple flame. She gasped and held her arm away from her in fear.
Zane grasped both of her hands in his, the contact of his icy palms extinguishing the flames.
"Hailey, look at me."
She did as she was told, her eyes wide with fear. He could feel her trembling.
"I understand this is so much pressure in a short duration of time." Zane began. "I too felt this way when Sensei first handed me my robes and weapons at the monastery. But I had him and my brothers to guide me. Destiny brought me here for a purpose, and now I understand that it is to teach you. I will be there every step of the way just like Wu was for me, and you'll learn how to control your powers and use them for the greater good. I can promise you that."
Hailey threw herself into Zane's arms and buried her face into his neck. "Thank you Zane. I don't know what I would do without you…"
Zane wrapped his arms around her. "Of course. It is my duty. And my honor."
Zane held her, grateful beyond words that she was safe.
"WHERE IS SHE?!"
Morro's angry booming voice reverberated through the trees. Zane's heart skipped a beat as he quickly got up.
"We need to go now." He whispered. "Stay low. Follow me."
Hailey said nothing, following Zane as they stalked their way through the brush. Not too long and they saw Gale's white coat through the darkness. Zane looked behind them to see if the coast was clear. He got up and ran over to his horse. Hailey did the same.
"Hi sweetheart." Hailey whispered as he rubbed his soft nose. He nickered.
"Get on behind me." Zane said and held out his hand.
Hailey reached for it when suddenly a green fist bolted out from the trees behind them and grabbed her arm, yanking her back. "Zane!"
One of the ghost soldiers stepped out from behind the tree, with Hailey in his grasp. Hailey flung fire and her fists in all directions, but it did nothing.
"LET HER GO!" Zane bellowed. He leapt off the saddle and threw an ice beam at the ghost, but he simply stepped to the side and Zane missed.
A green glow and a hissing noise filled the forest. Zane looked to his right and saw a large pair of red eyes through the trees. His heart fell as Morro, mounted on his dragon, stepped out of the shadows. Horns and claws glowed in the moonlight. They met eyes.
"Hello, Zane." The ghost general said. "Long time, no see."
The way Morro said his name made the nindroid shiver. He did his best to ignore the hairs pricking up on his neck.
"What do you want?" He growled, balling his fists.
"I'd thought you'd never ask." Morro said. He lifted the dragon's reins and the animal began to walk in circles around the other three.
"You see," Morro began. "As you know, I've been looking for a Spinjitzu master for quite some time. That green dressed rat couldn't hold up to me, and somehow he managed to escape with the rest."
Zane gasped. Lloyd was found?
"I can't release the Preeminent without a Spinjitzu master. You know that." He continued, staring down at Zane's small form that was dwarfed by the dragon. "I will admit, your friends are a lot smarter than what I initially let on. But I took care of them."
Zane felt himself start to shake. "What did you do to them?!"
"It's not important." Morro said nonchalantly. "Just know they won't be coming to find you any time soon."
"As I was saying, without a Spinjitzu Master there is no Preeminent. Your friends weren't of any use to me, so I needed to find a different approach. And I found a solution."
"Attilia! Give me the girl."
"No!" Zane roared and ran towards them, but Attila stopped him with his sword and forced Zane to back away.
The ghost soldier walked over to the dragon with Hailey in tow. Morro jerked on the reins.
"Easy, Reaper." He warned. "She's not a snack."
Reaper grabbed Hailey by the back of her shirt and lifted her up to his owner.
"No, no no no!" Hailey said, struggling against their hold. "Zane!"
"Its okay Hailey!" Zane said, trying to keep her calm. "Its okay. I'll get you out of this."
"I don't think so." Morro said, grasping Hailey by the back of the neck. "I've been fooled once, so shame on your friends. But fool me twice, shame on me. And you and I both know I don't like to be made a fool. So make no mistake ice ninja," He gave Hailey a shake. "I don't plan on letting this slip through my fingers any time soon. She's the missing piece to my plan."
"You're a sick bastard." Zane spat. "She's too young, you'll ruin her! She doesn't even know Spinjitzu!"
"That's the point, droid." Morro said. "I'll use her all I need. She's possessive of a power no one has seen before. And I'll take my chances. She's too valuable to me. And besides," He grinned evilly. "She helped hide you from me. And for that she and all those she loves will pay dearly."
Morro yanked the reins and Reaper turned to leave, but a sudden wave of rage came over Zane. He couldn't let Morro get away. No doubt he would return and bring hell back with him and ravage Mt. Horn. All the innocent lives of the valley's people being subjugated. Families torn apart, men. Men, women, and children used at the ghost army's disposal, as forced laborers, soldiers, bargaining chips, human shields, or even massacred. But not on Zane's watch.
With a great cry the ice master leapt forward and slammed his fists onto the ground. Veins of ice sprang from the ground and enveloped Reaper's legs and neck, preventing him and Morro from escaping with Hailey.
"You fool!" Morro spat. "What are you doing? You're only delaying the inevitable!"
"No, you are the fool!" Zane yelled. "I am tired of playing your games Morro, I am done hiding from you. You will do no harm to her, her family or anyone in this land! Not when I have anything to say about it!"
Morro chuckled. "Brave."
Reaper broke free from the icy shackles and shook off the ice from his neck. Morro threw Hailey down onto the ground where two ghost soldiers shackled her hands behind her back and held her between them by her arms.
Zane watched Morro jump down from Reaper's back as it disappeared into a green mist.
"I was hoping to make this easy. But you and your friends love making things difficult for me." Morro said, advancing on Zane as he drew his sword. Still, Zane remained steadfast.
"If you want her, you'll have to get through me first!" Zane shouted, his eyes blazing with a fury Hailey hadn't ever seen before, ice and snow swirling around his fists.
"So be it then."
Suddenly dozens upon dozens of ghost soldiers appeared from the surrounding woods. Zane's heart sank. He glanced over and saw the horrified look on Hailey's face. She knew.
They were trapped.
Morro held up a hand, telling his army to halt.
"If any unwelcome visitors come to try and stop us, kill them on sight!" He demanded. He turned back to Zane, a sick grin on his face.
"I want this one for myself."
Morro got closer and the ghost general and ice ninja began circling each other.
"Look at you." Morro sneered. "Once a high and mighty ninja. Now, you're just a lowly," He paused to look up and down at Zane's dirty ranch clothes. "Whatever this is." The demon was overcome with sick joy as he saw the raw anger he brought out of the nindroid.
"Did you really fall that bad? Did being away from your home and friends affect you that poorly? Did you really just give up like that? Because deep down you knew that your so-called teammates would never come looking for you?"
Zane shook his head violently, trying to get the thoughts out of his brain. Morro had no idea what he had been through. He knew nothing.
Right?
"I took care of your friends. I made sure they wouldn't come looking for you. Not that they were in the first place but I digress. And now without them, Ninjago is ripe for my taking. And there is nothing you can do about it."
"I won't let you," Zane hissed, forming a sword of ice in his hands. "This isn't your destiny Morro, it never was, and never will be. You can't change that."
"DON'T TELL ME WHAT I CAN AND CAN'T CHANGE!" Morro screamed, lunging at Zane. They locked blades. "This is my destiny, and you're not about to stand in the way of what is MINE!"
"I-can," Zane grunted as he pushed back against Morro. "And I will!"
"How?" Morro jeered. He struck at Zane again. Zane blocked but his knees buckled under Morro's force. "You're too weak. You let your ninja ways go once you realized you wouldn't be able to get back to Ninjago anytime soon. This place and these people made you soft. If your team ever does find you by the time I'm done with you, they won't want you back."
Zane snarled as he shook his head again. He was getting to him, and even if he tried his best not to, Morro knew what he was doing, and was doing it well.
"Don't listen to him, Zane!" Hailey cried. "You know that's not true!"
"Shut her up!" Morro snarled.
The ghost soldiers holding Hailey captive went to make a move but Zane shot a beam of ice which caused them to duck.
"Don't you DARE touch her!" Zane roared. He leapt up and at Morro. He dodged a few hits before locking blades again.
"You will not hurt her." Zane growled ferally as he stared daggers into Morro's eyes. "You will not hurt her, or any other person here. You will not harm this valley. You will not get away with this, and you will not cause any more harm to Ninjago, over my dead body."
Morro just smirked. "Have it your way, ice ninja."
Morro leapt back and so did Zane. The master of ice bellowed with anger and rage as he and the ghost general charged at each other. The sound of steel sliding across hardened ice filled the trees as the two battled each other. Zane felt his instincts, muscle memory, and strategies he had gained as a ninja return with every strike and blow.
But it wasn't enough. Every time Zane tried to attack Morro his weapon only phased through him. Also the ice was getting more cracked and chipped with every swing, so Zane was constantly on the defensive. Morro had landed a few strikes and patches of liquid silver were forming on his shirt.
As Zane blocked one of Morro's swings, the sword of ice he had been using shattered into pieces. He ducked to avoid Morro's weapon before leaping back and launching an ice ball, knocking the ghost general's sword out of his hand and sending it bouncing into the trees behind him. Morro watched it disappear before turning back to Zane with a growl.
"So that's how you want to do this?" He said. "Fine!"
Morro stomped his foot on the ground. Suddenly a cold gust of wind blew through the trees, which turned into a whirlwind. The tall pines creaked and groaned from its force. Branches and twigs snapped off and blew around them as the wind became stronger. It almost knocked Zane off his feet so he resorted to using his fist to ice himself to the ground to keep from blowing away. Morro charged at Zane again, this time sending a huge gust of wind his way. Zane used his other hand and deflected the attack, the ice being blasted apart by the wind causing a huge plume of snow in the air.
Zane freed himself from his own ice and braced himself as Morro charged again. The two used their elements to push back on each other, but Morro was stronger. Zane felt himself sliding back as Morro pushed forward. Zane lost his footing and was blown backwards. He hit a tree, knocking the breath out of him. He struggled to get up.
"ZANE!" Hailey yelled over the screaming wind. "LOOK OUT!"
Zane looked up as a huge looming shape came rushing toward him. He quickly rolled to the side and a huge tree came crashing down to where he was just a second before.
Zane got up and jumped on top of the fallen tree. Morro was right below him, so Zane landed a solid kick in the ghost's face which sent him flying backwards. Zane dove after him, wasting no time icing Morro's feet to the ground. Morro tried to escape but couldn't.
"Now turn her over." Zane demanded.
Morro narrowed his eyes. "Oh, I'm not finished with you yet."
He blasted wind at Zane's feet, causing the nindroid to go flying back into a tree. As soon as he fell to the ground he sprang back up and launched himself at Morro.
As the battle continued, Hailey couldn't help but watch in amazement. Watching Zane fight like a ninja was like watching water move, so smooth and fluid. And he was fast. They both were. It was hard to tell who was winning.
Morro swung but Zane jumped to dodge him. But as he turned back around Morro's fist collided with his face. It was a solid hit, Zane started seeing double as he staggered back. While Zane was stunned Morro blasted a gale force wind. Zane felt what seemed to be a bowling ball being thrown at his chest. Hailey watched as Zane flew through the air to hit one of the trees behind him so hard the tree itself rocked before falling a ways down to the ground. Half of Zane's faceplate cracked and fell off. He lay with his face in the dirt, unmoving.
"Zane!" Hailey cried. "Zane! Come on, you gotta get up! Please get up!"
Over the ringing of his ears Zane faintly heard her desperate voice and Morro's laughing. He tried to get up, but he couldn't get his knees to move.
Morro turned to Hailey. "Like I said before, I would make sure your friends wouldn't find you. Your robot friend couldn't even save you." He ended the sentence with a smile.
"Let's see, how about we see what we've got here." Morro said as he rubbed his hands together and walked toward Hailey.
"No, no NO!" Hailey cried, fighting against the ghost soldiers' grip. "Leave me alone! ZANE!"
Zane had used the tree to support himself to get up. At the sound of her voice he looked and realized what was about to happen.
Morro rushed forward-
"WAIT! Please…"
Morro stopped and turned around. Zane was gripping the tree with trembling arms. The wires from the exposed portion of his face were sparking.
"What!?" Morro snapped.
"Please…don't hurt her…" Zane gasped between breaths. The look of desperation on his face was heart wrenching.
"Oh really? Why not?"
"Listen…the girl-Hailey…she's not strong enough for you…You'll deplete her before you can do much of anything…Doesn't even know Spinjitzu. She isn't the one you want."
Morro crossed his arms. "Perhaps a fair point. But why are you telling me this?"
Knowing Zane, Hailey knew exactly where this was headed. She shook her head pleadingly.
'Please don't do this.' She mouthed.
But Zane paid no heed to her. "She may not be capable enough for you. But I am."
"So let her go. And take me instead."
"What?!" Hailey yelled. "Zane are you CRAZY?! He's going to kill you!"
He didn't pay attention to her. He looked back to Morro.
"Hmm," Morro said, tapping his chin. "Interesting offer…"
Morro thought about what the nindroid could do for him. Being a robot, Zane didn't have the typical limitations that humans do. He could do much more with the ice ninja than Lloyd. Zane knew Spinjitzu, which was what he needed to find the FSM's tomb. Also all of his robotic abilities would be Morro's to exploit. Being nearly indestructible, with elemental and Spinjitzu powers, as well as whatever else the nindroid had to offer, having him under Morro's hand would make him one of the most fearsome, formidable warriors Ninjago had ever seen. Not to mention the way it would break the ninja team to see their comrade not in their right mind.
"Very well." Morro said. He turned back to his soldiers.
"Go ahead and untie her." He commanded. He swung a sick gaze towards Zane and pointed. "As for this one," He smiled.
"Seize him."
The ghosts dropped Hailey and she was finally freed.
"Zane!" Hailey cried as she ran over to him, but she was blocked by a ghost soldier who was keeping her back with his blade.
"Not a step closer." He warned.
Hailey tried to see past the ghost where Zane was still clutching onto the tree. "Zane, don't do this, please!" She pleaded. "I can't lose you again!"
"Its-its okay." Zane said to her. He groaned as he struggled to stay up. "I'll be okay, I promise. You're not going to lose me."
"Get the vengestone chains!" Morro barked. "I don't want him pulling any tricks!"
"Zane, please!" She said. "He's going to kill you!"
"No, no he won't-gah!" Zane said, when his knees were kicked out from under him. He hit the ground and his face was pinned in the dirt. He gasped as he felt his energy draining from his body as the cold vengestone shackles touched his skin.
"A deal is a deal, droid." Morro said. "Call her off or I'll take both of you!"
Zane was dragged up to his knees. He saw Hailey kept running to get to him.
"You need to get out of here!" He said to her. "Take Gale and go!"
"No!" She yelled back. "I'm not leaving you here!"
"Hailey, listen to me! You heard him. You need to get to safety."
"Get back!" Attila said as he blocked Hailey for a fourth time.
"Zane please!" Hailey cried, looking over the ghost's shoulder. "He's going to kill you!"
"No he won't." He said as he was being chained up further. "I'm too valuable to him."
Morro looked between the two. "Alright, I'm getting tired of this. Grab her too!"
Attila and a few other ghosts began advancing on her. Terror leapt into Zane's throat.
"GO! NOW!" He yelled. "FUCKING GO!"
Finally she listened. She turned and fled just in time for the ghosts to miss her as they tried to pounce. Zane never cursed, but this time it was enough for her to grab Gale's reins and jump onto his back. Gale took off but just before she disappeared into the trees she turned the horse around.
"Don't worry Zane, I'll find a way to get you back!" She said. "No matter what it takes!"
Her and Gale turned and ran into the trees, Hailey looking over her shoulder until she couldn't see Zane anymore.
"Thank you, Zane." She whispered as tears pricked her eyes. "Stay strong, I'll be back for you."
She turned back to between Gale's ears, focusing on what lay ahead as she tried to come up with a plan.
"First we need to find somebody, anybody, and tell them what really happened and that Zane wasn't trying to kill me. Once we clear his name then we gather a party to fight these guys." She said partly to Gale, partly to herself. She thought for a moment.
"But how are we gonna stop them, Gale? Bullets don't work, swords and knives don't really work, the only thing that works really is water. Plus, you and I and everyone else don't know squat compared to Zane and the other ninja."
The two continued on through the dark forest. The moon and stars slowly moved across the sky as the night went on. By the time they had reached an old logging road, Hailey still hadn't worked out a solution. She heaved a sigh of frustration.
"Oh Gale," Hailey sighed, dropping her face into his neck and running her fingers through his mane to soothe herself. "What are we going to do to get your owner back?"
Silence stretched between them. The big gray waited for Hailey patiently. Eventually he nickered. Hailey sat up in the saddle.
"You're right." She said, picking up the reins. "We need to get going. Come on."
Hailey and Gale began trotting down the old road, being careful to avoid any more ghosts or other danger. They had been going for only a few minutes when suddenly Gale stopped in his tracks. He raised his head high and snorted, his ears rotating all around. He was sensing something Hailey couldn't.
"What is it, boy?" She whispered. She stared down the road ahead and the trees flanking it, but saw no movement or anything unusual.
A soft wind blew, and then she could smell it.
Jet fuel? Why was she smelling jet fuel in the middle of nowhere?
Suddenly she heard it- a faint rumbling sound that was getting steadily louder and louder by the minute.
Gale's ears shifted backwards. Being a horse, he could hear things easier than Hailey can. Seeing this Hailey looked behind her. A faint red spot in the sky, getting closer as the rumbling got louder.
"What is that?" She said. Was it Stonetooth again? Was it Morro? A Mt. Horn fighter jet?
As it continued to get closer, she slid off Gale and led him into the trees. The two of them peered at the sky, watching the mysterious object continue to approach.
Hailey squinted to get a better look. It looked like…a ship?
"Is that a ship? And is it flying?"
By now it was practically over their heads. Sure enough, it was a ship, with a massive pair of sails and rocket boosters, painted red with a dragon's head at the bow. Hailey's jaw dropped at the spectacle. Then something caught her eye.
On the rail were three figures. Though Hailey couldn't make out their faces, she could faintly see what they were wearing. One was clad in blue, one in red, and one in green. Why did they ring a bell in her memory?
She thought hard. It was then she remembered a conversation between her and Zane before everything started to fall apart.
'We live in this giant red ship called the Destiny's Bounty.' Zane had said as they were on the return trip from Oldenburg. 'It looks like a dragon.'
The people…the dragon ship…
"Oh my god!" Hailey cried. "Its the ninja, Zane's brothers, they're here! They're here and they can help us get Zane back! Come on Gale we gotta go!"
She jumped on and Gale sprang from the trees and onto the road, chasing down the ship. She had never felt a horse move so fast.
"Hey!" Hailey yelled. "HEY! Stop, I know where Zane is! Stop the ship!"
The Bounty kept going, giving Hailey no heed.
"HEY! STOP! STOP THE SHIP! WE NEED YOU!"
Still nothing. The Bounty was beginning to get farther away now.
"No, no, we can't lose them!" Hailey cried. She raised one of her hands which sent a massive plume of purple flame into the air. "STOP! WE NEED YOU TO HELP US FIND ZANE!"
Still nothing. She released flames from both hands this time, lighting up the forest around them.
"PLEASE! STOP THE BOUNTY! ZANE NEEDS YOU!"
The ship put on a burst of speed and vanished behind the trees. The rumbling grew fainter until it couldn't be heard.
"NO!" Hailey cried out with dismay. "No! Please come back, Zane needs you…I need you…''
Gale slowed to a halt as they both looked after where the Bounty had gone. Hailey closed her eyes and sighed.
"I blew it. I fucking blew it." She whimpered as she hugged Gale's neck. "I have no idea what we're gonna do now…"
Suddenly the rumbling returned. Hailey looked up and saw the Bounty reappear. And it was headed their way!
"They see us! THEY SEE US!" Hailey stood in the saddle and waved her hands over her head. "HEY! Over here!"
The Bounty came closer before its thrusters rotated and it began to lower into the trees ahead.
"Come Gale! Yah!"
Gale took off at a gallop towards where the Bounty had landed. The two turned a bend on the old dirt road and saw the ship anchored on the path ahead. As Hailey and Gale got close, she watched as six figures emerge onto the ship's bow. Five jumped down to the ground. It was the ninja, Zane's family! Now she would finally be able to-
"Stop!"
The five ninja on the ground summoned elements from their hands and got into battle stance. Hailey gasped and pulled back on Gale's reins, the two sliding to a stop.
She couldn't make out their faces, they were clad in different colored robes and masks. One green, one blue, one cyan, one red, and one a carbon gray. The latter stepped forward.
"Not a step closer!" He said. "Who are you?"
Hailey froze with wide eyes. This was not the encounter she expected at all.
The one in blue looked at Gale. His eyes went wide and he gasped.
"AAH!" He yelled before climbing up the stern and running across the deck.. "IT'S A HORSE! SENSEI! HELP MEEEE!"
"Well, are you gonna talk?" The red one said. The fire in his hands grew greater. Hailey gasped and backed Gale away.
"Will you guys stop it?" Said the cyan ninja, a feminine voice. "You're obviously scaring her!"
"Well maybe that's what she needs." Said the green one, green light formed around his hands. He began to advance on Hailey.
"Oh, this was a fucked idea," She said as she grabbed Gale's reins and was about to turn and run-
"Ninja! Stop!"
Hailey turned the horse back around. Standing at the top of the dragon's head was an elderly man in a cone straw hat, white robes, with a flowing cape carrying a staff.
"Disengage at once." He demanded sternly.
"Yes, sensei…" The four boys muttered. The girl crossed her arms.
"See? I told you she wasn't bad news."
The man the others called Sensei nodded. "Indeed, she is not. In fact I think she comes bearing some very important news, am I correct?"
Hailey gulped and nodded, still rattled by the encounter.
"News?" Said the ninja in black and gray, flipping off his mask, revealing black locks of hair. He looked at her questioningly. "What news?"
"I-you guys are the ninja right?" Hailey began. She slid off Gale's back. "And this is your ship?"
"Yeah…" Said the red ninja. He pulled his mask off and narrowed his eyes. "How do you know us?"
"Zane told me. He told me you guys are his brothers. He told me about your ship and the adventures you went on."
"Wait- Zane told you this?" The green ninja with blonde hair said.
Suddenly fire erupted from the red ninja's hands.
"Where is Zane?!" he demanded as he charged at her. "What did you do to him?!"
"I didn't do anything!" Hailey yelled as she jumped back. "I didn't do anything! Please just let me explain! I need your help!"
"Kai!"
"Sorry Sensei." Kai said. "I don't know what got into me."
Sensei nodded. "Very well." He said. "Come aboard so we can discuss this."
Hailey watched as the ninja turned and jumped back onto the ship. She watched, baffled about how she and Gale were gonna get up there.
"Uh, guys?" Hailey said. "I can't jump that high!"
Suddenly a slot below the deck opened, and a ramp extended outward until it touched the ground. She drew in a breath.
"Okay Gale," She said. She patted the horse's neck. "Here goes nothing…"
The two walked up the ramp and onto the deck of the ship. The girl ninja was waiting by the main door that led to the inside. She saw Hailey's hesitation and gave her a smile.
"It's okay." She said
Hailey nodded and tied Gale's reins to the main mast before walking inside.
"Whoa." She said, looking around the inside of the Bounty.
"Yeah, whoa is right." Said the girl as she led Hailey through one of the hallways. "Can you believe this used to be just an old rickety ship in the desert?"
Hailey was in awe. She caught glimpses of a kitchen, bedrooms, and other living areas, as well as a control room with a plethora of screens, switches, and buttons. This place was literally a flying fortress.
"Nope." She said. "Not at all…"
The girl eventually led Hailey into one of the rooms. It was a large one, which had tables, chairs, a huge control panel, the helm of the ship in front of a huge window, and a massive holographic map of the continent. One of the smaller monitor's screens was white, with coordinates, though they were currently scrambled. The ninja and their sensei were waiting at the table for the two girls. The girl ninja pulled up a chair for Hailey to sit in next to her. The others were eyeing her intently.
'I'm staying close to her.' Hailey thought.
The sensei cleared his throat.
"I apologize for the brash encounter earlier. Please allow me to give a more proper introduction. I am Sensei Wu, and these are my students." He pointed to the girl. "This is Nya."
Nya again gave her a smile.
"Hi…" Hailey said quietly.
"This here is Cole, master of earth," Sensei Wu said, pointing his staff at the black ninja. "This is Kai, master of fire, Lloyd, the green ninja, and this here is-"
Sensei stopped as he seen Jay's chair was empty. He looked over to the window, where the blue ninja was poking his head over. Gale was beyond the window, pawing at the deck, when he looked up and saw him. The blue ninja yelped and ducked.
"It saw me! It saw me! What are we gonna do?!"
"Jay," Kai grumbled. "We don't have time for games right now. This is important!"
"That's Gale." Hailey said to Jay. "He's Zane's horse. He's not going to hurt you."
"What?" Cole said. "How do you know Zane?"
"Is he okay?!" Kai asked.
"Where is he?"
"Enough! Let her talk." Said Wu.
"He's been living with me and my family for the last several months. And we've been trying to keep him safe so we could figure out a way to send him back home. And no, not exactly, which is why we need to go get him."
"Okay," Cole said, crossing his arms. "But how can we know for sure that you can be trusted? You could be one of Morro's little tricks for all we know…"
"Look, I don't know how to prove it to you guys, okay?" Hailey said. "But listen, I've gotten to know Zane pretty well since living with us. He's honest, he's intelligent, he's brave, selfless, compassionate, he loves to cook and he's so good with animals…" She sighed.
"And he talks about you guys all the time. Jay, you're really good with electrical work. Cole, you're like the leader of the group, and you love cake. Kai has a temper. Nya is a strong independent woman. Kai and Nya are siblings. Wu is the master and like Zane's father figure since his creator died. Lloyd, you're like the little brother. He really misses you, and lately it's been getting to the point where me, my uncle and my grandpa could see the toll it was taking on him. I understand if you can't trust me, but please at least let me take you to him, for his sake. Please…" she started to choke up when she thought of Morro's cruelty towards the nindroid she witnessed. "He means so much to me, I just want to get him back alive."
The ninja looked at each other, the looks on their faces coming to a silent agreement. They could tell she wasn't bluffing by the look of desperation and sadness on her face. Nya rested a hand on Hailey's arm.
"Okay, we see now." She said, "We trust you now. We've been looking for him for a very long time,and all this time he's been with you?"
Hailey nodded. "That's right."
"I understand. We want Zane back more than anything else too. And thank the FSM you found us, because now we have a fighting chance at bringing him home safely, together as a team, okay?"
"I mean, she is right." Kai said. "I don't think Morro would care enough to know us like that."
"I wouldn't put anything past him at this point!" Jay countered.
"Okay, whoa, I don't understand." Said Lloyd. "So-um…what's your name?"
"Hailey."
"Hailey." Lloyd repeated. "Okay, so what I don't understand is this: How did you find him? And what is he doing here? How did he get here?"
Hailey explained everything to them, when she first found him in the woods while hunting, how they took him in, how they got him to blend in with the Mt. Horn people, their adventure with the Untamed, and her encounter with Stonetooth which led to Zane rescuing her for Morro and trading her for himself. The ninja were in awe.
"And now that's why I'm here. I know you have questions, but Zane is knee deep in shit right now, so can we please get going?"
Lloyd stood up. "She's right, we need to stop wasting time." He turned to Hailey.
"Hailey, when you last saw Zane, where were you? And how long ago was it?"
"I don't know exactly where, but I can show you the way." She said, getting up. She looked out the window. The moon was still high. "It was sometime earlier tonight."
"Okay that helps a lot." Lloyd said.
"But I wouldn't be able to tell from up on the ship. I'd have to use Gale again. Plus once we get closer it'll give us away, and Morro might end up hurting Zane or worse…"
"I like the way you think." Nya said. She began walking over to where the other control room was. "How long do you think we can use the Bounty before we risk being caught?"
"Well," Hailey said, thinking. "If Morro hasn't seen you already, I think our safest bet would be where me and Gale found the road. From there you'd have to be on the ground with me."
"Okay, that sounds like a plan." Cole said.
Nya returned from the control room with something in her hands. It appeared to be some kind of headset.
"Here take this." Nya said, handing the headset to Hailey. "It's a com link, it's how we all communicate with one another. Your com link is linked to the rest of ours."
"Thank you." Hailey said as she put it on. "So I guess I'm gonna lead you guys on Gale. I'll tell you when we reach the spot."
"Let's do this." Kai said. "I'm done playing into Morro's tricks, and I'm ready to get Zane back."
"Me too!" Jay said. "Let's kick some ghost butt!"
Hailey smiled. Finally, it was happening. They were gonna rescue Zane. They were gonna reunite with him and be able to send him home.
But they had to find him first.
Hailey ran out onto the deck and untied Gale.
"Okay boy, take us back to Zane."
Hailey climbed into Gale's saddle. She looked back to see Nya at the helm.
"You ready?" Cole's voice came over the com link.
"Ready as I'll ever be!"
"Okay Hailey and Gale." Said Lloyd. "Lead the way to our nindroid."
Hailey spurred Gale. The white horse whinnied and reared before jumping off the deck and hit the ground galloping. Nya opened the throttle on the Bounty and together they took off, finally on the way to save the master of ice.
Oh man! Things are about to boil over now! What do you think will happen next? Will the ninja get to Zane first? Or the ranchers? And what are Morro's plans for Zane? Find out in the next chapter! Realtreegal, out!