RISE OF THE GUARDIANS
Part Three: The Armies of Light and Shadow
Chapter XIII
The Ninja Residence; Ninjago City
Ninjago
Wednesday November 14, 2018…
It was a week away. The final battle loomed like a great cloud over the horizon, and it was difficult to think about anything else. Every minute of every day was filled with preparation—training, armor and weapon forging, strategizing. The battle was all there was.
But most of the Guardians had been looking forward to this particular day as a reason to take everyone's mind off of the imminent battle and celebrate something.
A few days prior, Zee, Kasey, and Danny somehow managed to covertly assemble all of their housemates except for Mack to tell them that November fourteenth would be the Green Ninja's birthday.
Everyone knew that while the battle would be fought by everyone on the field, it would be Mack who would face down Rikayla in the moment that would decide the fate of the universe; and they knew it was wearing on him.
So, the house's residents squeezed into Danny's room while Mack was fully immersed in his daily saxophone practice in the training room, and they unanimously spoke in favor of throwing a grand celebration, both to honor their friend and to bring some much-needed joy to the house.
Mack landed his energy dragon on the lawn and dismounted; it dissipated shortly thereafter. The Green Ninja was satisfied with the results of his visit to the Stone Army tomb to observe the training that was transpiring there.
Though the battle loomed and was heavy on his mind, he was feeling confident about the army he would lead a week from today.
He found it somewhat odd, however, that none of the other ninja wanted to accompany him to the tomb, but he was hesitant to complain since he was actually glad for the time to think quietly to himself (which is why he chose to fly instead of teleport to the tomb. It also inspired the people of Ninjago City when they saw one of the ninja's dragons flying overhead).
My father says that on the day I was born, he swore to protect me always, Mack thought as he walked up the porch steps and approached the door to the house. Now, eighteen years later, I'm preparing for a battle to protect him. And everyone else.
"I will protect them," Mack said aloud, grasping the doorknob. "I must protect them."
When he opened the door and made his way to the living room, Mack gave quite a start when all of his housemates yelled out, "SURPRISE!"
Instead of the green decorations one might have expected, the living room was decked out in crimson and white balloons and streamers. The ninja and everyone else of the house were gathered in front of a shiny, black baby grand piano with a white bow on top.
"We spilled the beans on your birthday," Danny shrugged, gesturing to himself and Zee and Kasey flanking him.
"We knew you were bummed about not being able to practice piano while you're away from home," Lloyd said, "so we called in a favor from Dr. Borg, and he sentthisover."
"You guys—you didn't—" the usually eloquent and inspirational Mack stammered before falling silent. The speechless Green Ninja was quite a sight.
Finally, Mack took a deep breath, keeping the tears welling in his eyes from dripping down his face.
"Thank you," he softly said.
"Don't thank us yet—we're not done," Kai smirked, leading Mack into the kitchen as the rest of the house followed.
The kitchen was decorated in similar fashion to the living room.
"These decorations make me want to say a 'Roll Tide,'" Mack laughed.
Danny elbowed Jay. "Told ya he'd say that—you owe me $10."
"Shut up," Jay rolled his eyes.
"Zane," Lloyd said, "show Mack what you and Morro have been up to."
Zane took Mack's arm and led him to the oven.
"Mack," the nindroid said, "what's your favorite meal?"
"Easy. My mother's homemade lasagna."
Morro, playing like a game show host, opened the oven to show, to Mack's excitement, an exquisite lasagna that had just finished baking.
"And if you're worried about it being authentic," Zane took the lasagna out as he talked (having no need as a robot for oven mitts), "please recall the time during our stint on Earth that I assisted Mrs. Sharon in making this very meal."
"The Ice Master Chef was able to access that memory is his databank to recreate the recipe," Morro explained.
"Wow, it looks great," Mack beamed. "I can't wait to dig into it."
"And that's not all," Nya then took Mack and led him to the refrigerator. Zee opened it and took out a large, strangely shaped cake. "Zee and I made this late last night and hid it in the fridge in the garage—"
"Just praying you wouldn't go in there for some reason and find it," Zee interrupted as she placed the cake on the kitchen island. "It's your favorite, red velvet and buttercream icing with walnuts."
Mack took a good look at the cake and burst out laughing. "And it's in the shape of the Great State of Alabama," he managed to get out between laughs.
When he had calmed down from his fits of laughter, he just stood and looked at his housemates—his family—with a content look on his face.
"You guys are the best," Mack said simply.
"Zee, Kasey, Danny—it was their idea," Lloyd replied.
"But you all did it. You're all here, surrounding me. And I'll never forget it."
Danny put an arm around Mack. "We thought it would be good, with everything going on and what's coming up, to just put all that aside for one night and celebrate. You're our leader, and you're my best friend. So, happy birthday."
After a great big group hug, the warriors ate the absolutely decadent lasagna, enjoyed the delicious cake, and spent many hours into the night playing games and laughing and even singing songs together until they finally went to bed some time after midnight, each one of them knowing that they had a family that loved them.
Especially their leader, the Green Ninja.
The Ninja Residence
Ninjago
Tuesday November 20, 2018…
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the atmosphere around the house grew somber. No one talked to each other—everyone quietly went their own ways after dinner.
The powers of darkness would reach their Apex in twenty-four hours.
No one retired to their bedrooms, interestingly, and no one went off to be alone. Instead, they splintered into small groups—some pairs and some trios. Garmadon, Misako, and Lloyd walked the perimeter around the house while Morro and Zee kept to the swinging bench on the front porch.
Kasey, Cole, and Zane chose to hang out in the training room; meanwhile, Jay and Nya sat in the living room. Kai and Danny talked on the back porch, and Wu and Mack stayed in the kitchen, having offered to clean up after the dinner that Zane and Nya prepared.
"Are you alright, son?" Garmadon asked, hand on Lloyd's shoulder.
The Garmadon family walked with Lloyd in the center, and his mother and father to his right and left, respectively.
"I guess. Just trying to be focused."
"The battle is tomorrow," Garmadon said. "It is still today."
"What are you saying?" Lloyd frowned.
"In preparing for the future," Garmadon replied, "don't forget to live in this moment."
"And don't be ashamed to lean on those who care for you if you lack the strength to act alone," Misako added.
"I have to be honest," Lloyd sighed. "Since I asked Mack to take leadership of the team, I've learned the value of that—both those things."
"These are lessons that every warrior must learn," Garmadon stopped walking, and so did Lloyd and Misako. "But I tell you to live in this moment of peace not as a sensei speaking to a warrior, but as a father to my dear son."
"Don't lean on your friends because it is necessary to win your battles," Misako rubbed her son's back. "Lean on your friends simply because they are your friends."
Morro and Zee sat close to each other on the front porch swing, their fingers intertwined together. The wind blew softly as they simply enjoyed each other's company.
"So," Morro said, "it's been an interesting few months, huh?"
Zee snorted. "Yeah, I usually vacation at Mount Cheaha the week of Thanksgiving because the fall leaves are pretty. Instead…"
"You're here in another realm getting ready to give Rikayla her due beating?" Morro offered.
"Yep." After a moment, Zee talked again. "I was having such a quiet summer before all this started. When Mack came back to Earth and brough y'all with him, I didn't think that a few months later I'd be preparing for any kind of battle.
"And I certainly didn't think I'd get a cute ghost boyfriend out of all this."
The wind masters both snickered at that before falling quiet again.
"Morro?" Zee spoke up after sitting in silence for several minutes.
"Yeah?"
"I've been wanting to ask you something, but I'm worried it's insensitive…"
Morro frowned. "You can ask me anything."
"How can I touch you even though you're a ghost?" she asked.
"I honestly don't know," Morro shrugged. "Usually, I have to focus to make myself 'solid,' but when I'm with you…"
Morro didn't finish; instead, he let go of Zee's hand and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer to him. "Maybe there are some things stronger than this curse on me."
In similar fashion to Morro and Zee on the porch swing, Jay and Nya sat on the couch in the living room, Jay holding Nya close to him.
"You okay?" Nya asked.
"Why do you ask?" Jay cracked quickly.
"Well, we've fought together a lot of times. You're not usually this quiet beforehand… or any time."
Jay rolled his eyes as Nya smirked.
"It's different," Jay said. "We've had tomorrow circled on our calendar for months; I don't think any battle has ever had this kind of anticipation. It just feels like the fight is bigger than all of us, and it kinda makes me feel weird."
"I feel the same," Nya replied. "It's like… everything's already been decided, and we're just walking a path that's already laid out."
Jay sighed. "Well, the path runs out tomorrow."
Nya laughed. "At the end of the day, it is just another fight, right?"
"Right," Jay nodded, but he wasn't quite convinced that was true.
Mack and Sensei Wu cleaned the kitchen in somewhat uncomfortable silence. Mack didn't seem to feel very talkative, and Wu was unsure whether to press for conversation or leave the Green Ninja alone.
"You know," Wu finally spoke up when the dishes were clear and leftovers put away, "it might make you feel better to talk about it."
"Talk about what, Sensei?" Mack frowned.
"I sense that you are very conflicted about the ones you left behind on Earth."
Mack sighed. "Anna tried to make me promise I would return safe, but I couldn't. I could only promise to do everything in my power to stop Rikayla. She tried to hide it, but I could tell that upset her.
"I know that this battle ends with either myself or Rikayla being destroyed by the other. I don't fear death, but I fear what will happen to my loved ones if Rikayla defeats me. I only pray my fear doesn't get in my way."
"Were you afraid when Garmadon revealed your destiny to you?" Wu asked.
"Yes."
Wu stroked his beard. "What about when he suddenly left after only a few months of training you, or when you stepped into Ninjago to find us, or when the burden of training and leading the ninja fell on you, or when you had to hunt down the Golden Weapons on Earth?"
After a moment of thought, Mack answered, "Every step of the way, I've been afraid that my abilities aren't sufficient to defend my loved ones from darkness."
"And has that fear ever stopped you from pursuing your destiny?"
Mack closed his eyes, remembering every moment that he shoved down the fear and forced himself to act. He remembered in particular—back in September—not even knowing how to use his full power offensively but blasting Rikayla before she could attack Danny, regardless of his doubts.
"No," the Green Ninja said firmly. "Fear has never stopped me. And I swear to you and myself, it never will."
After some time spent in the groups into which they had splintered after dinner, the residents of the house all ended up in the living room. It was a couple hours after dark, and no one said anything.
Kasey, Cole, and Zane spent their time organizing and gathering weapons in the training room, and Kai and Danny sparred in the front yard after reminiscing about their many memories with their sisters.
Jay opened his mouth to shatter the silence, but he was robbed of the opportunity when a knock on the front door made everyone jump. There was ample reason to suspect that there might come an ambush by Rikayla's forces tonight, to keep the Guardians from confronting the Queen of Darkness at all tomorrow.
Mack cautiously peered through the window before sighing in relief.
"It's okay," he said before opening the door to reveal Skales.
"Why so on-edge?" Skales joked, getting a small laugh out of a couple of the ninja, who had all come to see who was at the door.
After a bit of small talk, Cole asked what everyone was thinking: "Not that we're not glad to see you, but what are you doing here?"
"Well, I've just put my son to bed and my wife Selma suggested that, maybe, I should come see you before we meet tomorrow to go to battle. She thought you could use a friend more than a fellow warrior."
"She was right," Mack smiled. "It's been quiet around here this evening. We're all a little…"
Worried? Stressed? Mack wondered at the appropriate word for a moment before remembering what Skales said when he first came in.
"… on edge."
Skales nodded. "You're not alone. It was a bit tense at the Stone Army tomb before I left to spend dinner with my family. But as I was leaving, Acidicus and Skalidor started telling Serpentine war stories. It was inspiring—a reminder that not much has changed since the old wars, except that now, we are fighting for the greater good instead of selfish gain."
"Like Mack said when you agreed to fight with us," Lloyd said. "We won't forget the Serpentine when we tell our war stories one day."
"You guys are pretty badass," Danny interjected, earning some calls of agreement from the group.
"Likewise," Skales replied. "When our children and grandchildren talk of tomorrow, they will talk of the day that the Guardians, ninja, Samurai, and Serpentine joined together to fight for what is right and good."
Skales went home after a couple of hours of chatting. The next day, the Guardians, their ninja and samurai brothers and sisters, and the Serpentine would face Rikayla's army as a band of warriors united by a bond of friendship as well as great respect for their fellow fighters.
They would need that unity if they were to overcome the power of the Queen of Darkness under the Apex.
Sea of Sand
Ninjago
November 21, 2018…
In one moment, the Sea of Sand was just that: a vast, sprawling, empty desert devoid of anything resembling life.
In the next moment, a giant mass of darkness sat upon the sands. The Army of Eternal Darkness had teleported to where their master would take control of the annual Apex of the powers of darkness that would allow her to engulf the universe in shadow.
At the head of her army, Rikayla stood in elegant, black battle armor upon her golden chariot pulled by two black horses manifested from the power of the Hammer of Night, which she grasped in her hand. She wore her golden crown as she watched the horizon—in the direction of Ninjago City—waiting for her enemies to gather their courage and show themselves.
Her enemies would be here soon; they would come to prevent the Queen of Darkness from fulfilling her destiny. The scouts—Scio and Dubito—just yesterday reported that the ninja had their own army: the warriors of the Serpentine tribes.
I should have expected he would find an army, Rikayla thought silently. The Serpentine may be mighty warriors, but they are hopelessly outnumbered and can never hope to stand against the Imperia or any of my loyal allies.
Rikayla looked to the west. The sky was beginning to show the orange and purple hues it hid in the daytime as the sun started its descent.
Hours.
Hours until she would finally taste the sweetness of unbidden darkness—not spoiled by the harshness of light—never again to be restricted by the lingering power of the First Spinjitzu Master.
"When the sun has set," the dark queen whispered, "so shall begin the night that will never end."
Corridor of Elders; Echo Canyons
The Guardians and their allies marched silently through the Corridor of Elders, the path they chose to take them to the Sea of Sand. To their battle with the Army of Eternal Darkness. All held their Golden Weapons in hand and maintained a stoic affect to inspire their own army.
Morro carried a pair of katana, Zane wielded a pair of sai, and Nya brought her newly rebuilt and upgraded Samurai X Mech to bear.
Ed and Edna had graciously allowed the Fangpyre to use their bite to transform several of their scrap items into war machines including ATV's, bikes, and a few tanks and helicopters (the Guardians carried preemptive assurances from the Mayor of Ninjago City that they would be compensated for the scrap's value).
The Destiny's Bounty floated behind the army. Wu, Garmadon, and Misako stayed behind on the ship to provide a quick evacuation if necessary. Should Rikayla prove too powerful to defeat, the only option would be to turn and run, and hopefully find a way to hide from the regime of darkness she sought to establish.
As the rock beneath the army's feet transitioned to sand and they began to emerge from the canyon, they knew that the battle was upon them. They knew they had just stepped into the arena, where their enemy waited for them.
Mack looked absently to the west and saw a colorful sunset taking form.
"An hour, if that long, until the sun sets" he said, softly enough that only Lloyd and Kai to his right and left could hear him. "An hour to win this war."
After a few more minutes of marching, a large, dark mass became visible on the horizon…
Rikayla smirked when she saw the Destiny's Bounty floating above the approaching mass of warriors.
She turned to Tenebris and said, "Stand down until I give the order."
Tenebris nodded.
The Queen of Darkness then dismounted her chariot. "Magno, Ferra, Milites; come with me."
Rikayla and the three she had summoned walked out about twenty yards from the rest of the army, and there they waited until the Green Ninja halted his own forces just several feet from them.
Mack walked ahead until he was only feet away from Rikayla.
For a few eternal seconds, the Sea of Sand was absolutely silent.
"Impressive numbers behind you, Green Ninja," Rikayla sneered.
"This battle doesn't need to be fought," Mack stated. "You should surrender and go back to the Realm of Madness. You know as well as I that the Super Bolt is the key to balancing the scales of the universe."
Rikayla snarled. "That is how it's written. However, I think you'll find my power to be more substantial than some dusty old scrolls."
"Very well. Have it your way, Your Highness."
"Of course, I will," Rikayla replied with a wicked smirk before turning her back to the Green Ninja. "Magno?"
With a mighty roar, Magno pounded the ground and the resulting shockwave knocked Mack off his feet and back to his army.
Rikayla walked back to her chariot with her entourage and simply nodded to Tenebris as she mounted her chariot. Tenebris then shouted, "CHARGE!" and the Army of Eternal Darkness ran forward, putting hundreds of soldiers between the Queen of Darkness and her enemies.
"Today," the Green Ninja shouted, raising the Super Bolt to the sky, "all of us are the Guardians!"
The Guardians and their allies roared their own battle cry and charged forward.
And the armies of light and shadow clashed.
