Chapter 10: Your Chariot Awaits, Milady
It took them two days to get to the Realm of the Departed. Part of it was traveling to Ninjago City. A large part of it was convincing Cyrus Borg he had to disable the security around the Realm Crystal, because they needed it for "official ninja business." After taking several DNA tests to ensure they weren't evil villains in disguise or clones trying to steal the Crystal, explaining that they couldn't go into further detail because the situation was of "utmost secrecy" (but really because they knew an unauthorized romp in the Realm of the Departed with a super villain would probably not get them any closer to the Crystal), and finally pulling the "well, we did save your life…" card, Cyrus Borg granted them permission to use the Realm Crystal as long as they returned it.
"I still think this is a trap," Kai announced to Nya and Lloyd as they embarked on their journey through Hiroshi's Labyrinth. Zane had agreed to stay on the Destiny's Bounty with Jay and Cole, who seemed to get weaker with each passing minute. "We get the Realm Crystal, and the second we land in the Departed Realm, Morro's there waiting for us with an ambush so he can snatch the crystal and escape. We're delivering the only thing that can free him right to his doorstep!"
"We beat him once, and we'll beat him again," Lloyd replied steadfastly. "He's not going to get away with anything. That's a promise."
"Keep in mind, guys, that Morro wants something from us- two somethings," Nya inputted as they approached the fortress that housed the Crystal. "I don't think he'll betray us until he gets them."
"Unless it's part of the trap," Kai countered. "Or one of those somethings is the Realm Crystal."
"Well, if you have any other suggestions, we're all ears."
Kai grumbled but said nothing.
Eventually, everything was ready. They had the Realm Crystal, aeroblades for each of them, and several bottles of water in the event that Nya became incapacitated.
Zane finished helping Jay put on his blue gi while the others double checked their gear and made last- second preparations. Cole took over Jay's body for the first time since they'd collapsed.
"Guys," he said, allowing Zane to help him stand. "I don't think we should do this."
Lloyd sighed, "Cole-"
"Morro is too powerful, and I couldn't live with myself if I let you guys risk your lives and all of Ninjago for me."
Zane squeezed his shoulder.
"And we couldn't live with ourselves if we didn't."
Cole dropped his gaze and muttered something quietly, not meant to be heard but heard nonetheless by the red ninja beside him.
Kai stepped forward and shoved him hard. Zane's eyes widened as he moved to catch his brother.
"Don't you ever say that again."
Cole stared back at his brother in bewilderment.
"What did he say?"
"He says he isn't worth it!"
"Family is always worth it, Cole," Nya added.
The black ninja was silent a moment longer- until he winced, grabbing his ear.
"Okay, okay, I get it, Jay! Quit yelling at me!"
They all laughed, including Cole.
"On that note, though," Lloyd led in hesitantly. "Not all of us have to go. It might even be better to leave someone behind in case Morro does somehow get past us."
They all glanced at each other.
"Coming from someone who's been left behind way too many times," Nya answered, huffing. "We're all going, Lloyd. We don't have any idea what's waiting for us in the Departed Realm. It might take all of us to get Cole's soul back."
Lloyd nodded, holding up the Realm Crystal. "Yeah, I thought as much. I did at least leave a note for Master Wu in case he gets back before we do." He smiled sheepishly. "We're gonna be in so much trouble."
Jay took over his body from Cole and shrugged, "When are we not?"
"Hmm. Good point. Let's go. Everyone ready?"
Upon receiving a chorus of enthusiastic yeses, Lloyd activated the Realm Crystal. A bottomless rift opened up the bedroom floor, pulling the ninja down into swirling nothingness.
They smiled at each other and then, they jumped.
Crying out as they collided with each other, the five ninja fell head over heels into the Realm of the Departed.
"Ow, Kai, you're stepping on my hand!"
"Get your elbow out of my ribs!"
"Ow, my hair!"
"Sand in my eye! Sand in my eye!"
Overall, an incredibly ungraceful experience and not at all ninja- like in any respect.
"Finally!"
They looked up simultaneously to see Morro standing over them, his arms crossed. He wore a generic brown cloak and glared down at their unimpressive dogpile from under his dark hood. Lloyd matched his expression and hugged the Realm Crystal protectively to his chest, closing the portal.
"I thought you dolts stood me up."
"We-"
"Guys, we have a problem!" Jay yelled. He coughed and waved his arms to get their attention until he could speak again. "It's Cole! Something happened when we passed through! He's- he's gone!"
"No, I'm not. I'm right here." Cole sat up from somewhere near the bottom of the pile, holding his head. Then, he froze. "Wait... I'm right here."
He looked down at his solid, ghostly body with huge eyes. "I'm right here." He grabbed Jay's shoulders excitedly. "I'm right here!"
Jay touched Cole's wrists hesitantly and the others watched with bated breath. Morro looked on with disinterest, perhaps even boredom. "You… remember?"
Cole nodded rapidly, grinning. "I remember everything!"
The two hugged, laughing though it was very close to crying- then, remembering they had an audience, quickly released each other and coughed in embarrassment.
"Well, duh," Morro rolled his eyes. "Of course you remember now that you're in the same realm as the other half of your soul. You'll only get stronger the closer we get to it. We can use that to our advantage"
"Like a metal detector?" Kai offered.
Morro blinked. "A what?"
"You know." Kai motioned uselessly with his hands as if that would aid his explanation. "A metal detector. It starts beeping louder the closer you get… to metal…," he trailed off when he saw the complete lack of comprehension on Morro's face.
The ghost shrugged, walking away. "Sure, whatever."
"Yeah, he doesn't know much about technology," Lloyd explained, standing up. The others followed suit. "Or, most things modern."
Now that they had recovered from their clumsy landing, the six ninja took the opportunity to finally observe their surroundings. It appeared as though they were smack in the middle of a desert. Random mountains and rocky outcroppings sprouted out of the ground in the distance, but it was mostly just hills upon hills of rolling sand.
The only splash of color to be seen was a slumped over backpack in the shadow of a squat mountain, which Morro headed toward. "I've been waiting a quite while," the ghost threw passive-aggressively over his shoulder. "I was about to give up. Even after I went to all the trouble of pinpointing where your exact location would be and procuring us a vehicle," the ghost shook his head with mock-regret. "No respect for other people's time. That's why nobody likes you guys."
"Hey, people like us…," Jay argued, pouting. "We're celebrities back home."
"Ah, I guess I should have said that's why nobody likes you guys here," Morro slung his small green backpack over his shoulder. "I should probably warn you about that… Nah, it'll be more fun to watch." He smirked.
Lloyd growled, "Morro, if you sabotage us-"
"Kidding, kidding," he held up his hands in a show of innocence, but the arrogant, endlessly amused expression never left his face. "Mostly."
"This 'vehicle' you mentioned?" Nya cut in before Lloyd strangled Morro. She pointedly searched all about her, but, once again, she saw nothing but sand.
"It's over here," Morro led them to the opposite side of the rocky hill. He threw up both hands and sarcastically announced, "Your chariot awaits, milady."
When they saw it, they didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
It was a school bus. A school bus. A rusty yellow school bus absolutely blanketed in garish (and inappropriate) graffiti. A rusty yellow school bus that didn't look like it would hold their weight let alone take them anywhere.
"'Chariot?!'" Nya repeated, planting both fists on her hips.
Morro shrugged. "It's the best I could acquire on such short notice."
"'Acquire?'" Jay leveled a critical stare at him even as he leaned on Zane for support. "So, you stole it."
"Well, what do you expect? I wasn't about to cash in a favor for your sorry lot." Morro crossed his arms, as if they had personally offended him by being disappointed in the bus. "You can always walk."
"I'm driving!" Kai announced, rushing toward the bus before Nya snagged his collar and jerked him backward. "Ow! What was that for?"
"You are not driving." Nya shook her head.
"I'm driving," Morro corrected.
"Oh no, you're not," Lloyd rounded on the ghost, poking him in the chest. "How can we trust you not to drive us right off a cliff?"
"It's my bus," Morro argued.
"No, it's not! You stole it!"
"Well, it's more my bus than it is your bus."
"You two, please stop your fighting," Zane sighed, placing hands on both their shoulders to push them apart. "We haven't even begun, and we're already falling apart. Let's find the most logical solution. Morro, you shouldn't drive because we find you untrustworthy."
"And, I'm not driving because I have to keep an eye on him," Lloyd added, narrowing his eyes at the ghost. "Nya can't drive because she has to be ready to blast him with water in case he tries something."
"I'm not up to it," Jay shook his head weakly.
"Me either," Cole echoed. "I may remember, but I can't guarantee my hands won't phase right through the steering wheel."
"Okay, that leaves me and Kai." Zane concluded. They all turned to the red ninja who grinned invitingly. "Okay, that leaves me." Zane amended.
"What?!" Kai protested. "Why can't I drive? I'm a great driver!"
"You've had your license suspended three times in the past year!" Jay pointed out.
Kai scoffed. "Like ninjas need licenses."
"You've destroyed ten mailboxes, four stop signs, that fountain that used to be in Ninjago City Park, five-"
"Okay, okay, whatever," Kai crossed his arms sulkily. "I won't drive."
Zane smiled. "And, I have no objections. See? A perfectly logical solution. No need to fight."
"Fine by me," Morro said haughtily, straightening. "Let's go."
"And, just where are we going?" Lloyd demanded.
The ghost brushed past him. "Wouldn't you like to know."
Lloyd grabbed a fistful of Morro's cloak and slammed him into the rock wall, causing his victim to gasp in pain and the others in surprise.
"Lloyd-"
"I don't know who you think you are, or what kind of game you think you're playing," Lloyd snarled, jerking Morro forward and up by the collar of his cloak. "But, you are not in charge. I am, and there is no love lost between you and me. I'd watch my step if I were you."
Morro stared, unflinchingly, into Lloyd's eyes. Then a grin spread across his face.
"You are so afraid of me, it's adorable."
Lloyd growled, "Morro, I'm warning you-"
"Aw, what is it, Lloyd? Scared I might… possess you again?" With that, Morro phased through Lloyd's hands and walked into him.
Lloyd shrieked, stumbling backward- no, no, no-
Until he realized Morro wasn't inside him. The ghost was behind him, dusting himself off.
"Been there, done that, wasn't impressed," Morro continued, straightening his cloak. "I'll get you a nightlight if it helps."
Lloyd was flushed, trembling with humiliation. One second- it had taken one second- for Morro to reduce him to a snivelling, helpless-
Kai threw an arm around Lloyd's shoulders. "Alright, back off," he snapped at Morro. "You're not helping your case by acting like a jerk."
Morro shrugged. "He started it."
Zane stepped in as mediator once again. "What we lack here is communication. So, let us communicate in a calm, peaceful environment. Morro, would you inform us of our first step in retrieving Cole's soul?"
"Well, since we are communicating in such a calm, peaceful environment, I guess I will," Morro complied. It was mocking, yes, but it was still compliance, and Zane was grateful for whatever he could get at this point. "I may be the most powerful ghost in the Realm of the Departed, but I can't keep track of every soul- or, half soul- that passes through here. Just don't have the patience."
"So… you don't know where my soul is?" Cole asked, anxiety creeping into his voice.
"Personally? No," Morro sighed. "But, I know a guy who does."
"And by a guy, you mean a ghost, right?" Jay clarified.
"No, I mean a mermaid." Morro said sarcastically before throwing his arms in the air. "Of course I mean a ghost! We're in the Realm of the Departed!"
Jay recoiled, a supremely offended look on his face. "Sheesh, sorry I asked."
"And, just who is this 'guy?'" Nya asked, using air quotes.
"They call him the Bone Keeper. He makes it his business to know where every single spirit is at any given moment," he fixed them all with a look. "And, when I say business, I mean business. I told you nothing was free in the Departed Realm, and his prices are usually steep."
"We can pay it," Jay claimed confidently.
Cole raised an eyebrow. "You mean, I can pay it. It is my soul after all."
"Cole, we've been over this," Jay rolled his eyes in exasperation. "We're in this together."
"You may change your mind when he names his price," Morro unhelpfully added. With a glance at the sky, he said, "If we leave now, we can just make it before sunset."
"I think I speak for everyone when I say, 'let us get this show on the road!'" Zane exclaimed cheerfully before bounding up the steps of the bus and seating himself in the driver's seat. "All aboard!"
Cole and Jay looked at each other before laughing heartily and following the nindroid, with Cole helping Jay up the stairs. Morro rolled his eyes and trudged up the steps, probably regretting all the life choices that brought him to the point of going on a road trip with his six most annoying enemies. Nya glanced back at Kai and Lloyd before following.
Lloyd tried to move, but Kai held him back. "Are you sure you're up for this?" He asked quietly.
The Green Ninja tried to shrug him off, embarrassed and angry with himself for getting so upset. "Yeah, Kai, I'm fine, so-"
"Lloyd, we have the Realm Crystal. You can go home right now if you want, and nobody would think any less of you."
Lloyd scoffed, turning the large gem over in his hand. "Morro would."
Kai shrugged, "Who cares about him? He's a criminal and a psychopath."
The leader cracked a smile at that. "Yeah… But, really, I'm good. I'd never forgive myself if I ran away from him. Besides, I need to be here for Cole."
Kai held his gaze a moment longer, evaluating his truthfulness, before leading the way toward the bus. "Alright then. In Zane's words, 'let us get this show on the road!'"