Chapter 9: The Day Ninjago Stood Still and Last Voyage
Cinder sat off to the side as he watched the other ninja trained Lloyd. The green ninja was blindfolded and looked around trying to see the other ninja, but couldn't with the fold on his face. Cinder wondered why this was necessary, but thought nothing of it as a part of training, so he watch.
"Don't rely on your eyes. Use your ears." Cole said as then Dareth walked into the room.
"Uh, guys, I'm teaching a class later, so I'd appreciate a clean dojo."
The ninja ignore him and kept fighting, Jay knocked into Dareth's collection of fake trophies. Cinder also have to moved as Zane was thrown into the wall above where the dragon was sitting and continued watching,
"Aah!" Jay said
"Ah! No, no, no! No, no, no! No! No, no, no." Dareth said and opens a window to prevent it from being broken by Jay, who was sent flying by Lloyd.
"Aah!" Jay yell as he went through in.
Then Lloyd uses his Fire powers and set a small patch of carpet on fire.
"No, no, no, no!" Dareth said as he puts it out and sighs. Cinder sniggers and leaves the room and heads upstairs to the Bounty. After the events in the museum, Lloyd's mom Misako join the team and helping them with the prophecy of the green ninja. The young lady asked him questions about his biology, strengths, weaknesses, and etc... He didn't mind about his race's history, even though most of it was on a parchment, but was happy for it to be documented.
He was soon up on the roof and carefully climbed up onto the ship's deck, He was still injured from the attack with the Stone Warrior a few days ago. His legs were fully healed along with his tail but was told to take it easy for a few weeks. Unfortunately his wings were taking longer to heal so he was reading books and drawing, he was loving the calm and peacefulness of it. Drawing animals and even dragons from the internet, sometimes drawing himself in different posts.
Cinder was up on the Bounty and went downstairs to his room to grab a book when he hears Wu and Misako talking and then Wu knocking over something .
"Hmm, my. There's so much. It will take days." Wu said
"I should have chosen you." Misako said and Cinder heard Wu sighs
"The past is the past."
"Yes, but there's always the future." Misako said and before Cinder could heard more he felt the ground rumbling. Cinder squeak and stumbled into the room. Cinder blush in embarrassment from the surprise.
"The ground moves. I fear unnatural causes." Wu said and looks at Cinder. "Stay here. You aren't fully heal from the Stone Warrior's attacks." Cinder sighs and agrees and watched the two go down to the dojo. Cinder looked around.
"Well, might as well grab a couple of books to read while I wait."
—
"As this army of stone statues sweeps over the city, no one is safe. Mayhem and destruction are their only want. Attempts at communication have failed, prohibiting even the desperate option of surrender! The mayor has already called for a massive evacuation!"
"Okkkkkkk... that's not good." Cinder said as he watched the news. After Wu and Misako left to help the ninja, he was sitting in the bridge reading books. Then once he felt the loneliness coming in, he turns on the tv and change it to the news to listen. He wanted to know what's going on but saw what the issue is when he saw a stone warrior coming up from the ground.
Cinder knew he couldn't fight in the condition he was in, so he hoped that everyone would be ok. But then he heard someone coming in and looked over to see Nya running in and over to the controls. She was getting the ship into the air and Cinder wonder what she's up to.
"Nya, what's going on?"
Nya looked over to the dragon.
"The citizens are in danger by stone warriors. We don't know where but we found out that they were underneath the city. But I don't know where exactly. We are going to evacuate the citizens from the city to a safer location."
"Ok" Cinder said and continued to listen to the news but distracted himself by reading a book again. But couldn't do that because Nya was communicating with Wu, Misako, and the ninja.
"We have to protect the people. Gather as many as you can and get them to our evacuation point." He heard Wu said
"We've got problems with that evacuation point, guys. I can't find a safe place to land!" Nya said worryingly and Cinder looked out and eyes widened at seeing so many stone warriors.
"Nya, head to the NGTV office building for tne evacuation point." Lloyd said
"Ok then, hope you guys get there soon." Nya said and ended tne communication.
"So? Now what?" Cinder asked
"Well, we need to get to the new evacuation point." Ya said
"Alright then, I'll check the deck if any of those..."
"Rawr!"
"Uh oh." Cinder said and looked out to see a couple of stone warriors out there trying to take out the mast.
"Ugh great, how are we supposed to get rid of them?" Cinder asked and thought of a stupid idea and ran out there. He felt Nya trying to grab him but he was already out. He roared at them to get their attention, and watched as they came at him.
"Please, by the First Spinjitzu Master, please work elemental breath." Cinder thought and focus on his Earth element and then breathed out. His elemental attack knocks a few off the ship but the others dodge it. Cinder dodge a sword swipe from the left, then the right, but was hit from behind by one of them and slid along the floor towards the edge. He groaned from the hit and got up and looked at the warriors. Cinder knew that these guys needed to go, and thought of another idea.
"HEY YOU STONE HEADS! I want to know why you can't speak in Ninjagian while you speak gibberish? Are you so dumb because you all have thick heads making you all dumb?" Cinder taunted
The warriors growl angrily and charged the purple dragon. Cinder calm himself and focused on one ability that could work. Everything slowed down as time was affected by the purple dragon. Cinder moved around them and dodge their slow-down attacks and avoid them. Cinder turned around and resumed time and watched as the warriors fell off. He turned to Nya smiling but screeched when he felt pain on his left back leg and turn his head to see a stone warrior stab him with its weapon. Before he could said anything he was pull off the Bounty towards the ground.
"CINDER!"
Cinder fell towards the ground, wondering how many times he's going to have this problem. He was getting closer and closer to the ground and closes, waiting for death to take him to the Departed Realm. Suddenly something caught him before he hit tne ground. Cinder opens his eyes up and look up to see Ultra carrying him in one of their mouths.
" ?"
"Shush little one, relax. Let yourself go to rest." Shard said and before Cinder realized it, he felt himself losing consciousness as sleep took over.
—
"Uuuuuuugh, what happened?" Cinder said goggy as he woke up. He tried to move to see where he's at but something grabbed him. He heard a growl and looked up to Ultra staring down at him.
"Uh... hi?"
"He he he, good morning little one, how do you feel?" Rocky said
"Sore, goggy, and hungry."
"He he, well you have been out for a few days. Your body is healing from the injuries that you suffered from those warriors." Flame said
"Oh." Cinder said and looked around his surroundings. He could see the ocean a few feet away, the sandy beach, and the Bounty sitting on the ground. Cinder could see a few groups of people around campfires. He remembered what happened back in Ninjago City but didn't remember being here with the other ninja and citizens.
"Cinder?"
Cinder's jaw dropped when he heard that voice. He looked over to see his dad walking over. He watched his dad's reaction to his bandaged body and whined nervously.
"Cinder, son, what happened to you?" Lou asked
"Well, this wasn't my fault ok? I was grabbed and thrown around like a rag doll by a giant stone guy." Cinder said, shaking in fear remembering all the pain. He then calmed down as his dad rubbed his head slowly, making him purr while Ultra started nuzzling him gently. Cinder wondered what Cole was doing, he could see him by the Bounty with Jay, Kai, and Nya. He couldn't see Lloyd or Misako, but probably the two were inside the ship doing something.
"What's going on? I see the others over by the Bounty doing something on the boosters. I wonder what's wrong?" Cinder said curious
"Well, you'll have to wait later till they get that fixed." Lou said and Cinder hummed in contentment. Curious about what the plan was.
—
A few mins later Ultra carried Cinder over to the others after he ate. Cole saw Cinder awake and came over and gave the purple dragon a hug. Once Cinder assured his brother he's ok, he turned to see Lloyd and Misako coming over and listened to what the others were saying.
"We just got our tails handed to us and we couldn't even stop one of them. Ugh, I hate feeling helpless." Kai said
"We mustn't give up hope, Kai." Wu said
"But the Stone Army is indestructible. You saw it. At best, all my powers could do was slow them down. Especially with Cinder, he couldn't take down as many as me so what will help?" Lloyd said sadly
"That's not entirely true. There is a way to defeat them. And it is told within the scrolls." Misako said and everybody, with Cinder being carried by Cole, heads inside the Bounty and she shows them the scroll. "The prophecy reveals that the power to defeat the Stone Army lies within the Green Ninja."
"I tried. I gave them everything I had." Lloyd said
"Yes, but you are stronger than you think. Look. The true power of the Green Ninja can only be unlocked when his four protectors find their own pure elemental powers." Misako explain
"Are we the protectors?" Cole asked while Cinder sat on the table looking at the scrolls.
"Pfft, silly question. Of course we are. Haha, right?" Jay said laughing nervously
"If we are the protectors, then we're doomed. Our elemental Golden Weapons no longer exist. We cannot tap into our elemental powers without them." Zane said solemnly
"But the powers do exist within each of you. And there is a way to unlock your powers on your own. We must go to the Temple of Light." Misako said
"Temple of Light? What's that?" Nya asked
"The gold in the Golden Weapons was from the Golden Peaks, but they were forged in the Temple of Light, a powerful place I thought only existed in legend." Misako explained
"It's on the Dark Island?" Wu asked surprise
"I think our only choice is to find out." Misako said
"So we get our powers back? All right!" Cole said happily
"But there's still one big problem: the Bounty can't fly." Nya said concerned
"It's a ship, right? Can't it sail?" Misako said
"Silly question. Of course it can. Haha, right?" Jay said and Cinder paw-faced at the blue ninja.
—
Cinder watched as the waves lap at the ship as it sails across it. After getting the Bounty into the water. He and the others were given a farewell by the citizens. Cinder got a hug from his foster dad and gave a song to both him and Cole by his dad's quartet. Kai appointed Dareth as honorary ninja to watch over everybody along with Ultra protecting them. Cinder was given a lick and nuzzle by Ultra and carried him up to the deck for the departure. Soon after the farewells, the Bounty was setting sail towards the dark island.
Cinder hum contentedly as he slowly walks back inside. Entering tne bridge, he sat down and listened to the others talking about their destinies. Then Zane got excited.
"My Falcon has arrived at the Dark Island!" The white ninja said as he plugs himself onto the computer so everyone can see what he sees. "There, now we can all see." They all watched as stone warriors worked on weapons and machines. Then suddenly a Stone Warrior shoots down the Falcon, hurtling Zane back. Everyone gasps. "He's...he's gone."
"We don't know that." Wu said
"Oh, Zane. I'm so sorry." Nya said sadly
"Well, he was our friend too, so we're not gonna let him go in vain. If the Stone Army wants a fight, they have one." Kai said angrily
"Well, that's going to have to wait because right now, we're sailing straight for a storm. All hands on deck." Misako said
—
Cinder sat at the table as he watched Zane talk to the man who built him. The past few hours have been crazy as they were sailing to the Dark Island. But unfortunately the Bounty was damaged by Starteeth, who had eaten through the side of the ship and rudder, and was drifting through the sea when they came upon a little island with a lighthouse... no prison from what Zane suspected to be. Walking up to the door of the building, it opened to reveal a elderly man with glasses and white hair wearing a lab coat. Revealing himself as Dr. Julian and the one who built Zane was a shock to hear, especially seeing the Nindroid happily hugging him. Then the man brought them in to hide from a Leviathan that was living close by.
Cinder then watches Dr. Julien press a switch and everyone quietly watches as a mini robot serves them Tea. Jay tries to mess with it, but it ends up getting tea poured on his groin. As he reacts to the pain, everyone laughs at his misfortune. Cinder just sip the tea he was given slowly as its warmth went down his throat. He then listens in onto the conversation from Zane and his father.
"Yes, you did, and believe me when I tell you, I thought I was kaput, but as you know in Ninjago, the past is the past." Dr. Julian said
"And the future..." Misako said
"...is the future." Wu finished
"Yes. But after I turned off your memory switch, what you didn't see is bonehead Samukai reviving me with a special elixir. He wanted me to create state-of-the-art war machines for their army. He said if I did, then I would be able to see my son again. And to make sure I didn't escape, he chained a Leviathan to keep guard." Dr. Julian explained
"A Leviathan? That's what we heard in the ocean?" Lloyd asked
"Yes. When Samukai didn't return, I thought I would never see you again. But as so much time has passed I started to question if you would ever want to see me again. I was afraid if you found out what horrible things I've created, you would think I was a...a monster." Dr. Julian said solemnly
"We will get you out of here, Father. Now that we are together, perhaps we can invent a way off this rock." Zane said with determination in his eyes
"Could you repair the rocket boosters on our ship?" Jay asked
"That sailing ship has rocket boosters?" Dr. JuIian said surprised
"Well, the rotors and gears are shot." Nya explained
"Eh, pish posh. No matter! I'll have your ship airworthy by dawn!" Dr. Julian said confidently. Then a growl was heard outside as the building shook.
"It's an earthquake!" Cole shouts
"No, it's much worse! He's here. Everyone hide!" Dr. Julian exclaimed as everyone hid. Cinder unfortunately couldn't hide because of his injuries. But luckily his injuries made it noticeable that he was healing from them. The Leviathan rises up out of the ocean and checks on the elderly man in the window.
"Nobody makes a sound." Dr. Julian whispers and turns to the Leviathan "Aha, if it isn't my old chum" He arranges the tea bowls and uses chopsticks to tap them. "Hehe, just marching to the beat of my own drum. You know, doing whatever I can to pass the time. Since I'm so, you know, heh, alone." The Leviathan then noticed Cinder sitting there. He squeaked in fear of it and hid. Dr. Julian looks at the Leviathan. "Oh, you see this little fella? He's in pretty rough shape from the storm last night. He will be staying for a few days to heal and will be in good shape to fly. Hope you think I was escaping he he he he he..." The Leviathan looks at Cinder, nods and goes back into the ocean. Everyone came out of their hiding spots. Cole grabs Cinder and hugs him for the act.
"If we're gonna make something and get out of here, we're gonna have to hurry before it comes back." Kai said and everyone agreed.
—-—
Cinder sat on the deck as the others worked on getting the Bounty airborne again. He couldn't help much with his body still bandaged, and Sensei told him that he shouldn't do more harm to his body. So he watches them repair the boosters, rudder, and side of the ship. It had been a few hours now and he was fortunate to be on watch duty if the Leviathan came up. Suddenly he heard it growl and he roared to them that it's coming.
"Everyone aboard! It's coming!" Dr. Julian shouted
"It's here!" Kai yelled as the levitation rose out of the water.
"Get us out of here, Nya!" Jay yell
"I hope she's ready!" Nya grunted "Come on!" The Leviathan grabs the Bounty before it could fly away.
"Lloyd! Use your Elemental Powers!" Wu shouted
"As you wish, Sensei! Release us, you monster!" Lloyd yells and a big burst of energy comes out from the green ninja and stun the Leviathan.
"Well done, Lloyd!" Wu said but spoke too soon as the Leviathan grabbed them again. Cinder looked over at Zane who was looking at something off the deck. He came over to see what he saw but didn't need to.
"It's chained!" Zane shouted and stood on the Bounty's railing.
"Zane! What are you doing?" Dr. Julian exclaims
"The Leviathan won't let us leave. I think I know a way I can help." Zane said
Cinder knew what Zane was going to do and prayed that he would be ok.
"But you can't jump in. These oceans are filled with Starteeth." Dr. Julian said worried
"I know." Zane said and dived into the sea.
"Zane! No!" Dr. Julian yelled as Zane landed into the sea. Cinder came over to the elderly creator and assured him that Zane will be ok. The Bounty was still being pulled closer to the ocean. Nobody has any ideas of getting away. Cinder sat there patiently, knowing what's going to happen.
"Help!" Lloyd shouted
Suddenly the Leviathan lets go of the Bounty.
"It let us go." Kai said
"What happened?" Dr. Julian asked
"Zane released the Leviathan, and now it's letting us go." Lloyd said
"But where is my son?" Dr. Julian asked worryingly
"I'm here, Father!" Zane shouted as he climbed over from the side.
"Zane! Zane." Dr. Julian exclaimed happily and hug him
"How did you know if you freed it from captivity it would let us go?" Wu asked
"Because no one deserves to be held captive. Not even a monster." Zane replies as the Leviathan swims away. "Farewell, creature from the sea. Enjoy your freedom."
Cinder smirked at Cole as the Bounty continued on to the Dark Island. Cole saw this.
"You knew what Zane was doing didn't you?" Cole asked suspiciously
"Well... I didn't know what he's doing until he was about to jump off." Cinder said cheekily
"Ugh! I hate it when you are like this." Cole said annoyed
"Oh, but you love me bro!" Cinder said happily and he went back inside to get out of the cold weather. He hopes the rest of the trek across the sea will be better than before. So the purple dragon enters his bedroom and lays down, ready for a nap to relieve some stress, and though how much more time do they have before the Final Battle begins?
—-
Chapter 9 Edited and Spell checked
