Chapter 4: Kings of Shadows
Snow falls as the group are on a ship to sail between glaciers of ice to the next location of the next golden wepon, the Shurikens of Ice. "I spy with my little eye, something white." Pinkie Pie told Thunder.
"Is it the ice?" Thunder answered before Landrush sigh as he steers the ship.
"Would you both be quite for once?" Landrush asked the two as he looked at them. "This an't easy." The ship then bumped into something as everyone on board a bit off balance. Landrush quickly turned his attention back to steering the ship.
"Oh, I spy something broken." Thunder said. Trail has shacking from the cold as he is not used to it.
"If sensei knows the way to the next golden weapon, why isn't he steering the ship?" Trail asked as he pointed to Wu, who is on one leg on the head of the ship while he leaned forward. "We've been drifting aimlessly for miles."
"Sensei's wisdom is beyond our own." Frost told Trail. Applejack out of all of them was sea sick green as she stood near the edge of the boat and throw up.
"Well, let's hope we get there soon. Applejack just barfed up her lunch, again." Gaia pointed out.
"The most powerful move in Spinjitzu can only be accomplished when all six elements are combined." Wu told them when he turned to face them before flipping through them and did poses as he called out each element. "Earth, ice, wind, fire, life, lightning."
"What happens when all six elements are combined?" Ocellus asked Wu.
"The Tornado of Creation." Wu answer. "The power to create something out of nothing." He said as spin his hooves around each before his tea cup appeared in one. Trail then flipped forward and did the same poses Wu did. "No Trail. If done incorrectly, it will lead to disastrous consequences."
""Disastrous consequences", right." Trail said as he didn't believe it.
"You should really listen to sensei, Trail." Flash told him. "Remember what happened in the Caves of Despair?" He asked before the boat bump into something and everyone on board fell down. As they did, the ship was getting covered in ice.
"Uh, wasn't me." Landrush quickly defend himself.
"Did I do that?" Trail asked as he looked at his hooves.
"No. We are here." Wu told as he sees that they have arrived at the location of the Shurikens of Ice are, the Temple of ice. The ninjas had gone up ahead as the others stayed on the ship. Because now that they know the weapons are guarded by dragons and they take guarding the weapons very seriously, they agree that it would be safer if it was just the ninjas. They soon enter the entrance to the temple and found some ponies frozen.
"Whoa, looks like someponies already been here." Landrush said when they the frozen ponies. They soon reached the chamber where the Shurikens of Ice are floating under a ice dragon head statue.
"The shurikens." Frost said when they saw them. They each were under them before Frost jumped up and grab them. But the moment he touched them, they froze him solid and the dragon head statue open its mouth, as the guardian was awakening. The others quickly grabbed Frost and made a run for it before the ice dragon came down and chased after them. They soon made it pass the entrance of the temple and lucky for them, the ice dragon was too big to go through.
They ride Frost like a sled when they got outside and sled down to the ship. They lean to each side as they pass through each checkpoint before they slammed into the leg of the last one and free Frost when they did. "Ow." Frost said before they crashed into ground. Spike brought out the map and and they decided to go after the Sais of Life in the Dread Forest.
Within the Dread Forest, the ninja are found jumping from branch to branch as they made their way to the location of the sais. They soon reached a gigantic tree stump where two sais with dragon heads looking up on the handles are stick in a pedestal where green dragon head statue stares down on them. The Sais of Life. Gaia pulled out the two sais as vines grew when they were and the dragon statue open its mouth. As soon as the life dragon awaken, the ninja ran for it. The ninja were going as fast as they can, but the life dragon was catching up to them.
Just as the life dragon was about to chomp on Gaia's tail, Rainbow Dash flew in at her top speed and picked them up in a hot air balloon basket. She then made a u-turn as the ninja hold on tight as she did her sonicrainboom away from the dragon and to where the others are. When she stopped, the ninja struggle to let go of the basket as Spike pulled out the map. When they helped them out of the basket, they all agree to head to the Sword of Fire in the Fire Temple.
Within the Fire Temple, the ninja were fending off the skeletons as they made their way to the Sword of Fire in the center. Trail saw that two skeletons were close to the sword, so he think fast and did Spinjitzu. He made his way to the center before he back flipped and grabbed the sword before they could.
Once the sword was pulled out, the fire dragon awaken and emerged from the lava. Once the ninja saw it, they quickly made their way to the exit just before it's tail closed it by knocking down some rocks. As the ninja ran out the temple and left the skeletons to deal with the fire dragon, they made to their camp where the others have set up. As Pinkie Pie gave each of them a cold drink after fighting in that very hot temple, Spike brought out the map and they all agree to go for the Nunchucks of Lightning.
The ninjas have arrive to a spire in the middle of electrical storm and was climbing to the top where the nunchucks await. "We are being followed." Frost said as he looked at the faith of the spire and sees the skeletons and Samukai are here.
"Let's go!" Thunder shouted as they begin the climb to the top. It was a tough one with the lightning bolts nearly hitting them, but Thunder soon reached the top. "All right!" He shouted when he saw the Nunchucks of Lightning floating infront of him. He picked them up and showed the others he got them, before multiple bolts hit the top and a blue lightning dragon appeared. Thunder and the others jumped down and used gliders Thunder made to escape. Samukai watch as the ninjas escape with the fifth weapon and chuckled.
The ninjas soon reached a forest where the others have set up camp are waiting. "Did you get them?" Fluttershy asked as Thunder showed them they have succeeded. Everyone but Wu were celebrating as Spike and Landrush we're beating on bongos while the rest dance. Yona was even doing the yak smash to the beat.
"Once we get Twilight back and head home, I am throwing the biggest party ever!" Pinkie Pie shouted with glee.
"I love parties, that means there's going to be cake!" Landrush told Spike as they continue to play the bongos.
"Come on sensei, join us!" Trail asked him.
"There is still one weapon left. We must get our sleep." Wu told them.
"Ah sensei, look you gotta admit we're kicking their bony butts." Thunder said.
"Yeah, don't be a wet blanket. Get up and show us some moves." Rainbow Dash said.
"I guess I could." Wu said before he got up. "Now this move is very special."
"But done incorrectly will it lead to disastrous consequences?" Frost asked, causing everyone to laugh.
"How insane. Is that a joke, a sense of humor? You found it." Gallus told Frost before Spike and Landrush continue to beat the bongos.
"Shake what your mama gave ya." Wu said as he did a funny dance. "Yeah, look at this one now." He lifted up his long mustache as he dance. "Oh yeah, spin round. Oh yeah, I put my hooves." Everyone laughed at his funny dance before they continue to have fun. Hours have passed and everyone have fallen asleep.
"Flash." A familiar voice called out to him. "Flash." Flash woke up and saw it was Twilight calling to him from a short distance. He could see a unicorn standing next to her before Trail woke.
"Princess Twilight?" Flash asked when he saw her.
"Aqua?" Trail asked when he saw his sister before they ran off. Flash quickly got up and chase after them while Trail quickly felt around for his sword. He felt a weapon like a sword and picked it up before he followed Flash. The two followed Twilight and Aqua to a temple that is floating in mid air near a cliff. This is where the last golden weapon, the Bo of Wind, is being kept, the Wind Temple. Both Flash and Trail saw both mares run across the bridge to the entrance of the temple.
Both Flash and Trail followed them inside the temple. Inside, the floor was split apart with no under below, for it was being kept up by the wind itself. In the center of the chamber is the golden wepon that has two dragon heads on both ends, the Bo of Wind. When Flash and Trail walked in, they looked around to find both Twilight and Aqua till they saw them standing infront of the weapon.
"Aqua!" Trail said with hope when he saw his sister.
"Princess Twilight!" Flash called out before the two ran to them.
"Don't worry, I'm right here." Both Twilight and Aqua said together as their bodies turned into shadows with red eyes and their voices turned into a stallion's voice. The two shadows merge into one and grew bigger as it laughed maniacally. Both Flash and Trail stop when they saw this shadow and knew who it is.
"Garmadon." Both Flash and Trail said with a serious tone. Just as Flash was reaching for his weapon, he realized he forgot it. Trail ready his sword, but saw that he accidentally took the Sword of Fire.
"Forgotten something?" Lord Garmadon asked Flash before he looked at Trail. "And how kind of you to bring me the Sword of Fire."
"You can't hurt us here, you're banished!" Trail told Garmadon. "Trapped in the Underworld."
"And that you are going to remove the Bo of Wind for me." Garmadon said.
"I don't think so! We will never do anything for you!" Flash glared at Garmadon.
"Are you sure about that?" Garmadon asked before his shadow vanished as chains in the back of the room came down, with both the real Twilight and Aqua being wrapped by it as they dangled over a bottomless pit.
"Flash!" Twilight called out when she looked at him and Trail.
"Trail!" Aqua called out to her brother.
"Aqua!" Trail called out to his sister.
"Princess!" Flash called out before they heard Garmadon's from everywhere.
"If you don't remove the bo, how else would create a draft you both can use to get close and free the two?" Garmadon asked them.
"Don't do it, you know it's a trap!" Twilight told them.
"She's right, and besides... I get free us..." Aqua said as she try to break free from the chains. "Okay, that's tight." The chains then began to lower them down. Both Flash and Trail ran to them as the chains lowered before they heard Garmadon again.
"Tick tock, tick tock." Garmadon taunted. Both Flash and Trail looked at each other and they knew they have to do it. So Flash ran towards the bo before he fipped over and grabbed it.
"NINJA GO!" Both Flash and Trail shouted as they did Spinjitzu. The power of the Bo of Wind creating a wind draft witch they use to glide across over to Twilight and Aqua. Trail then used the Sword of Fire to cut the chain and he caught his sister as Flash caught Twilight before they land on the floor. "Are you two okay?" Flash asked as they got up.
"Yeah, we're okay." Twilight said as they heard Garmadon chuckling.
"Stay close." Trail told the two as he and Flash took a defensive postions while they made their way to the way out.
"Trust me, after what we've been through, we're not going anywhere." Aqua told her brother before Garmadon's shadow appeared infront of them.
"You can't hurt us, you're only a shadow!" Flash told Garmadon.
"Even shadows have their uses." Garmadon told them as he did something to both Flash and Trail's shadows. Their shadows had glowing red eyes as they moved infront of them.
"Flash, look out!" Twilight warned them as she pointed to the two shadows. Both Flash and Trail jumped back when their shadows pointed their weapons at them.
"Stay back!" Trail told both Twilight and Aqua.
"Stay close, stay back, make up your mind." Aqua complained. Trail then swung the Sword of Fire at his shadow as Flash swung the Bo of Wind at his, only for their attacks having going through them. When the shadows stuck back, their attacks landed and they kicked them, both Flash and Trail fell back to ground. "That's not fair!"
"Oh, am I being too hard?" Garmadon asked as he multiplied the shadows. Both Flash and Trail got up and charged at the shadows. But their attacks were doing no good as they kept going through them. While their attacks did nothing, the shadows were landing on them. Both Twilight and Aqua looked away as Flash and Trail were getting beat up by their own shadows. Two shadows knocked the golden weapons out of their hooves before they were knocked back. One of the Flash shadows picked up the bo while one of the Trail shadows picked up the sword.
It seems the shadows have won before Sensei Wu suddenly appeared and attack the shadows with his own. With his shadow, his attacks was able to land as he knocked them back each one by one. His shadow then turned into a giant eagle and frightened the other shadows, but really Wu was just doing a hoof shadow puppet. Wu laugh at how the shadows ran scared from that before he kicked the two with the two golden weapons and the weapons flew in the air before Wu caught them. "Brother, I see you protect two, but what of the other four?" Garmadon asked his little brother.
"They are safe, far from your grasp Garmadon!" Wu told him.
"I wouldn't be so confident." Garmadon told them as he used his magic to show them what he means. Landrush lays on the ground asleep alone as the others are nowhere in sight. Landrush couldn't help but feel something was wrong as he woke up and open his eyes. He looked up to find the skeletons are here and have him surrounded. When Landrush quickly reached for his weapon, he found that Kruncha had it and saw the others are tied up.
"I believe these belong to Lord Garmadon now!" Samukai said as he holds four of the six weapons before every skeleton cheered. After Garmadon stop showing them, they knew they have to help.
"My brother must not unite the six weapons. We must keep them apart." Wu told them as they head for the exit.
"Awaken guardian of the wind, they are stealing the bo! You must not let them escape!" Garmadon shouted as they made it to the center. Winds have gathered as Wu head for the way out, but the winds took form of a bright yellow wind dragon as Wu jumped on top of its head. Wu quickly noticed this and jumped off its head.
"Not on my watch." The wind dragon said before it roared at them, causing Aqua to scream in terror. The dragon then used its tail to knock down some rocks on the ceiling and blocked the way out. "You will not leave here with the weapon!" She told them.
"There's no way out, he's taken away all our options!" Trail said.
"All but one." Wu said before he back flipped on to a peace of rock near the pit.
"Sensei, what are you doing?!" Flash asked as Wu cut the peace of rock he is on with the sword, then used the bo to push it closer to the pit.
"No you fool!" Garmadon shouted when he saw what Wu just did.
"If he is to bring the other weapons here, then I will bring both the Sword of Fire and the Bo of Wind to the Underworld. It is my sacrifice to bear." Wu said as he sat down on the rock as it floated to the pit.
"No, it's ours! We shouldn't have come on our own!" Trail said.
"Trail is right, sensei! You don't have to do this! There has to be another way!" Flash told Wu. Wu then pulled out his teapot and poured some in his cup before he went over. "NNNNNOOOOO!" Both Flash and Trail called out when they saw him fall down the pit before they fell to their knees.
"Then I will see you there, brother." Garmadon said before his shadow vanished.
"It's all our fault. Sensei won't hold out for long." Trail said as his sister and Twilight turned to the dragon approaching them.
"Forget sensei, what about us?!" Aqua asked as there's no way out of the danger they are in.
Back at the camp, the skeletons had the group tied up and hoist in the air so they don't try anything. "To the Wind Temple!" Samukai declared as the skeletons cheered before Garmadon's shadow appeared next to him.
"My brother has taken both the Sword of Fire and the Bo of Wind to the Underworld! Hurry, return home and unite the weapons before it's too late!" Garmadon ordered Samukai before the shadow vanished.
"Uh change of plans, to the Underworld!" Samukai declared as the skeletons cheered again. As Nuckal cheered, someone took his sword and replace it with a stick. When Nuckal stop, he quickly noticed the stick he is holding.
"What happened to your weapon?" Kruncha asked before he jumped on the big machine on four wheels. Nuckal just he just shrugged his shoulders before he threw away the stick and joined Kruncha and Samukai before every skeleton ride off with the golden weapons and left the group hanging, literally.
"Great, now what?" Landrush asked as Thunder reached for something.
"Now we get out of here." Thunder said as he pulled out Nuckal's sword.
"Uh Thunder, before you do that you might wanna-" Gaia try to tell Thunder before he already swung the sword and cut the rope and they all fell to the ground. "-warn us!"
"Come on y'all! You four go after them skeletons, while we head for the Wind Temple!" Applejack shouted as she and the others went to Wind Temple.
"She is right, let's go!" Frost said as he, Thunder, Landrush, and Gaia puts on their masks and chased after the skeletons. The skeletons ride their vehicles so fast as they are try to crossover to the Underworld.
"Faster!" Samukai ordered. The skeleton rev up the giant vehicle as fast as it can. "We need to go faster to crossover to the Underworld!" As they continue on, one of the skeletons disappeared in a flash as it crossover to the Underworld. Another jumped a ramp before it crossover to the Underworld. As the skeletons continue to ride on, the ninja were catching up with them.
"There they are!" Landrush shouted when they saw them. They went as fast as they can to catch up to them. They are getting close to the big one where the golden weapons are.
"More speed! We'll never get home at this rate!" Samukai told the skeleton who is driving. So the skeleton put it in top gear and press the gas pedal down to go faster. As the speed gauge was reaching red, it suddenly went back to green. "What's wrong?" Samukai asked before he looked back and saw Landrush holding on to a chain and slowing them down. Frost and Gaia landed on top of it before ducking under a branch that knocked two skeletons off. Samukai saw them before Thunder jumped on the front of the vehicle and knocked the two skeletons off with his nunchucks. "Get them!" Samukai ordered.
"NINJA GO!" Thunder shouted as two skeletons jumped on the big vehicle as he did Spinjitzu and knocked the off. He then spin to where the weapons are chained. He try to break the lock on them, only to hurt his hoof when he punched it. "Okay, that's why they make keys." He said as he climbed up the vehicle. Landrush made it on as he and Gaia swung their weapons to keep skeletons back while Thunder came up. "Hey guys-" He spoke before Gaia accidentally hit him in the throat. That hit cause him to lose his voice.
"Sorry! I didn't see you!" Gaia shouted before she kicked Nuckal back. Frost jumped to where the driver is.
"Greetings!" Frost said as he was to knock te driver out before Samukai kicked him back. Frost quickly grabbed the front of the vehicle as the skeleton face on the front had its jaw move up and down. Samukai then knocked the driver out and took the steering wheel. He then had the vehicle go as fast as it can, so fast that the ninja were holding on for dear life before they were thrown off. The gauge was in the red as the giant vehicle left a blaze trail before it crossover to the Underworld with the golden weapons.
The ninja got up from the ground before thunder roar as they stood up. "We just-" Thunder try to say but he coughed as his throat hurts.
"You don't need to say it, I know. We've lost." Landrush told Thunder. The four knew what has happened and knew there's no way to follow the skeletons to the Underworld. They have failed Equestria.