I realized something when I came back to reread this chapter, so I re-uploaded it after fixing the problem. The next chapter… I will have it up as soon as I can, but I'm not sure when yet.
Later:
In Ninjago city, in front of the dark tower, Kerrie stood leaning on the front double doors, waiting for the Ninja crew to arrive if they came. She wore a long black cloak that was tied with a golden string around her neck, and a black hood over her head that was attached to the cloak. Her eyes were closed, as she thought about what Darkness told her to do, but more importantly, about his appearance. He ordered her to watch over the tower if all of the Ninja came, and to make them feel welcome, but he didn't look normal:
(His hood was off, his hair looked messier around his bangs, and his expression held a forced grin, with hints of mixed emotions in his eyes. As Kerrie was leaving to stand guard at the tower, she could hear the Overlord trying to counsel Darkness to relax, but he fell silent when Darkness turned his way. Kerrie looked back as she walked, but Darkness' back was towards her, although the Overlord's fearful expression showed that she didn't want to see how Darkness was looking at him.)
As she stood in front of the Dark tower, she had many questions on her mind.
'He's losing his cool temperament... I was sure he was going to start attacking like a wild man from the madness he feels inside. But what's stopping him? Was it that power surge a while ago? Was that the ninja and kunoichi? Is their strength bothering him? Or something more?' Kerrie thought, but her thoughts were cut short when she saw a familiar airship flying down from a pretty long distance away to the city.
"Ahh, Darkness was correct. It's them," Kerrie spoke out loud, as she took a few steps forward and stood in front of the double doors.
She removed her hood and crossed her arms, as she wore a smirk on her face while waiting for the Bounty to set down.
Bounty:
"We made it, guys! Get ready!" Lloyd said, as the Ninja stood on deck and drew forth their weapons.
"Be careful everyone! And don't fight alone! We are all in this together!" Raven said, as the Ninja agreed with nods and 'yeah's.'
The Bounty landed a quarter of a mile away from the tower, and the ramp was laid out. The Ninja crew walked on the ramp to ground level, as they were heading towards the dark tower. This time, there were no thorn bushes surrounding the tower, and there seemed to be no sign of the Lizarians. King Terrin, Dr. Julien, Malentha, and the Verpentine stood on the Bounty to guard it, while Sensei Wu, Sensei Garmadon, Misako, Marcell, and the Vampires joined the Ninja, although they stood behind them.
As the Ninja were walking towards the tower, memories of their previous experiences in the city came to their minds: being caught in the dark bubbles, fighting against each Shadow Darkness that toiled with their emotions, being physically injured while some injuries were lethal, and having to watch the ones they care about and love getting hurt before their eyes. Although these were very distressing moments in their lives, remembering those moments at this time were actually empowering the Ninja, and encouraging them to fight with all their might to protect each other, and the world.
As if their hearts were beating as one, the Ninja stood before the dark tower and Kerrie, as they came to a halt at the same time. The others with them also stopped walking.
Lloyd and Raven took a few steps forward, as their expressions were serious and calm, along with the others waiting behind them.
"Well... how nice to see all of you," Kerrie said, as she stood in front of the tower doors with a slight smirk on her face.
"Kerrie," Raven nearly whispered, remembering that this woman was very dangerous, and that she was the same one who sealed her mother in a crystal prison and tried to kidnap her and Lucy.
"Kerrie, as much as it pains me to let you off the hook for now, I ask that you step aside and let us through to Darkness. We have no business to fight with you right now. I suggest you take this opportunity to rest... or escape from us while you can," Lloyd said, in a serious tone.
Kerrie's eyes widened in surprise, as she shifted her weight on her left leg and placed her right hand on her hip.
"Well well. This is surprising. You've grown up quite a lot Green Ninja. You too Purple Ninja," Kerrie said, and she shifted her weight back to both feet, as she placed her hands behind her back.
"I shall not stop you. You may enter the tower. Darkness welcomes the ninja and kunoichi to enter," Kerrie said, and she stepped aside.
The Ninja slowly advanced forward, as the others behind them started to follow.
"Ah Ah Ah! Not the rest of you! The ninja and kunoichi may enter, ONLY," Kerrie said, as everyone stopped walking.
"I don't like this," Flare whispered.
"We'll follow what she says for now. We need to get to Darkness," Lloyd whispered.
Raven turned to the crowd behind them and nodded, as the others stood in place. The Ninja continued ahead into the tower, but not before making narrowed-eyed glances towards Kerrie, who only smirked. When the Ninja were all in the tower, Kerrie said,
"Oh! I forgot to mention, this was indeed a trap to separate all of you. Bye~"
The doors of the tower immediately slammed shut and locked, as the Ninja ran back and pounded on the doors, but to no avail.
"I KNEW IT! We should have rushed her!" Flare said, as she flailed her arms around for a moment.
"It didn't matter. We have to reach Darkness," Auria said, as she brought out her Platinum Fans in each hand.
The other Ninja also brought out their Platinum weapons at the ready, while Lloyd and Raven raised their fists on guard. The large circular room they were in was all black, besides the floor being marble-colored. On the opposite side of the doors was an elevator of silver doors.
"Ha ha Darkness! Putting an elevator here was a mistake! We can get to him in no time," Jay said.
Two small lights activated above the elevator doors, as a -WOOOO- sound was heard, and then it stopped.
"Someone already beat us to it," Cole said.
"It looks like the elevator can only go up one more floor," Lucy said, noticing that there were only two lights above the elevator.
"That's one cheap elevator," Christa said.
"There's way more than one in there!" Flare said, as her Platinum Scimitar was enveloped in shadows.
The Ninja readied themselves for whatever was going to come out of the elevator, as the doors immediately slid open.
Lizarians, Lizarians everywhere! They sprung out from the elevator, as the red- and orange-eyed ones hovered in the air, while the blue-, green-, and yellow-eyed ones were spread across the ground floor. They snarled and growled, and there were at least twenty five of them.
"Oh g-gosh. Not them again," Jay said nervously, referring to the green- and yellow-eyed lizarians.
"Pull it together man! We have to smack these guys around and get through," Flare said.
"We shouldn't waste all of our time on them. I'm sure if we defeat Darkness these creatures would also disappear," Auria said.
"Okay, then what should we do in the meantime?" Kai asked.
"We have our Full Potentials. Only two of us need to stay behind," Auria replied, as she took a few steps forward.
"Then two shall stay," Zane said, as he also stepped forward next to Auria.
"No. You should move ahead," Christa said, as she stood in front of her sister.
"What do you mean?" Auria asked.
"This is a tall tower right? And the cheap elevator can only go up one floor. If there's no way to go higher, then they'll need your help to reach the top," Christa said, as her Platinum Gauntlets started to glow yellow while she raised her fists up.
"Don't worry Auria. I'll take care of Christa, and we'll take down these guys," Cole said as he stood next to Christa while his Platinum Scythe glowed black.
Auria nodded in approval, as did Zane, while they took a couple of steps back. The Lizarians that sprung forth from the elevator started moving forward to attack.
"We could use the flying ones to get across to the elevator," Raven said, noticing how the flying lizarians created a path to the elevator from above.
"That's genius. Let's go," Flare said.
"I need to reach my sister. I have a funny feeling about leaving her and the others back there," Lucy said.
"Then let's hurry across," Kai said, as he ran forward.
"Cole! Give me a boost," Kai said, as Cole turned back towards him and laid the top of his scythe on the ground before Kai.
As Christa used sound waves to push the Lizarians back, Kai stepped on Platinum Scythe as Cole flung it up and over himself while Kai ascended towards the flying lizarians. Kai was able to bounce on their heads as he flipped to the wall and then wall-kicked down so that he landed in front of the elevator.
The others followed Kai's example, besides Flare who fell into her shadow and crossed from 'underground,' and Auria who jumped over them with wind power to get across. The Ninja entered the elevator and pressed the button to reach the next floor, while they looked at Cole and Christa with worry. However, Cole and Christa were smiling, as they were surrounded by Lizarians back-to-back, while their eyes were glowing their respective colors.
"They're fine," Flare said, while the others signed in relief, as the elevator doors closed.
Outside:
"Your a coward Kerrie! Locking the ninja and kunoichi in there like that! How dare you!" Luna ranted, as the others stood behind her with furrowed eyebrows.
"Oh please, Vampire underling! You know and I know I can't take on ALL of them by myself! And besides, Darkness wanted me to do it! Cause I'm actually not alone..." Kerrie said, with a sly smirk, as she snapped her fingers.
The sounds of claws scrapping the ground and tower, as well as the growls of numerous beasts, filled the air as Lizarians were climbing or walking around the tower to be seen by the Ninja allies. They stood behind Kerrie, as the flying one also stood behind her on the ground. They slightly outnumbered the Ninja allies.
"Ooh no," Luna said, noticing that they were outnumbered by the beasts.
"We should challenge Kerrie by herself. She's already strong, and we wouldn't want to risk actual casualties with the Lizarians this time," Andrex whispered to the others.
"That's a good strategy, but the only problem is, who is going to face Kerrie?" Sensei Garmadon asked.
"I could fight her," Bronze replied.
"Not alone. Remember, Kerrie knows the Crystal technique and she may be prone to cheat. The only one who she fought fairly with was Sensei Reine," Sensei Garmadon said.
"Since your all taking so long, we'll go first... attack!" Kerrie commanded, as the lizarians ran ahead to fight the Ninja allies.
"No time for strategy now," Stephen said, as he and the others readied themselves for battle.
"Then show them no mercy," Terrin said, as he just arrived with the Verpentine as support.
"Just in time your highness. We need the extra support," Sensei Wu said.
"No problem," Terrin said, as he stepped forward while giving Kerrie a cold and intense glare that froze her in place.
'Darn it Terrin! Why are you here?! Your actually scary to me!' Kerrie thought, as she stood where she was, noticing that Terrin was doing the same.
'He won't fight unless I do... Darn It TERRIN!' Kerrie thought, as her fingers curled into fists.
"I guess all we needed, was Terrin," Misako said, as she brought out her hunter's knife.
"Let's GO!" Sensei Garmadon shouted, as he led the charge to fight the lizarians.
Final Story Arc: Start.