DARKNESS IN CHIMA
Part One: Out of Place
Chapter II
After being whipped around in the portal for a few minutes, the four Guardians were ejected into a lush forest. As they got their bearings, they saw that they were by a large rock, and a river flowed beside and below them.
"That was rough," Kasey said, dusting off her purple ninja garb.
"Natural portal," Jay explained. "I guess they're rough, right Mack?"
Mack did not respond. He appeared entranced by the large rock near which they had teleported into this unknown realm. He tentatively reached to touch it.
"Mack?" Lloyd frowned.
"I've seen this rock before," Mack whispered, "in my dreams."
Mack turned to face the other three. "But there were people here when I saw it."
Lloyd opened to respond, but then the Guardians sensed movement in the trees around them. They looked around in a tense moment.
"Easy," Mack steadied his friends. "We're not here to fight, Guardians, but be prepared to defend yourselves. If there are locals here, we'll probably need their help to solve the mystery of the orb."
Mack drew his black sword instead of the Super Bolt, Jay and Kasey drew the Nunchucks of Lightning and the Spear of Water, and Lloyd drew his sword. They waited another moment; then, the ambush came.
A battle cry came from the woods, and two strange warriors jumped out. They appeared to be anthropomorphic animals—both walked like men, but one was a lion and the other a crocodile, and they wore armor. The lion man had a broad sword and the crocodile a double-ended dagger; both weapons glistened with a blue energy.
Weapons clashed as the pair of warriors attacked the Guardians.
After a few minutes of failing to breach the Guardians' defenses, the two strange warriors looked at each other and smirked. They broke off from the fight, and both reached into personal packs and pulled out two orbs identical to the one that Jay and Nya had found in Swift Creek.
"More of them," Jay pointed at the pair. "Those orbs—that's why we're here!"
The lion warrior's face turned to a concerned—or threatened—frown. "Oh, so you're here for our Chi?"
"Big mistake," the crocodile warrior growled.
Kasey smacked Jay in the head. "Do you ever think before you speak?"
Before Jay could retort, the native fighters plugged the orbs into sockets in their armor. A burst of energy came over them, and they appeared to be filled with great power. They reengaged in the fight and despite the Guardians' two-to-one advantage in numbers, they began to overpower who they perceived as invaders.
The crocodile knocked Jay to the ground and pinned him, and the lion cornered Kasey against the great rock. Mack and Lloyd were about to capitalize on the natives' vulnerable positions with a counterattack when a dozen more lion warriors emerged from the woods around them. They were carrying spears and shields and appeared to be guardsmen.
"Drop your weapons, outsiders," one of the lion men ordered. He had lighter skin than the rest and his armor was more decorative, as if he were a high-ranking officer in some military force.
The lion and crocodile that had ambushed the Guardians let go of Jay and Kasey as their power from the orb wore off, and they joined the ranks of the newly arrived warriors. Mack told the Guardians to do as instructed, and so they dropped their weapons.
"State your business here," the same lion stated.
Mack raised his hands. "We come in peace."
"Then explain why you attacked our prince and his friend."
"They attacked us," Lloyd asserted, "we only defended ourselves."
Another lion snarled. "So, you're invaders AND liars!"
"No, wait, it's true," the lion that had originally attacked with the crocodile spoke up. "We started the fight, and they were just fending us off."
The apparent lion prince walked up to Mack. "If you truly come in peace, then I am prepared to welcome you in peace."
"Sorry we ambushed you," the crocodile said in his gravelly voice. "We were on patrol, and we saw you just appear out of nowhere… we panicked."
"It's alright," Mack offered a friendly smile. "We probably would've reacted the same way."
"I'm Laval," the lion prince introduced himself, "and this is Cragger," he also introduced his crocodile friend.
"I'm Mack; this is Lloyd, Kasey, and Jay."
Laval nodded to each of them before his face turned serious. "When we pulled out our Chi, the one in blue—Jay? —said that's why you were here. As Prince of the Lion Tribe, the Keepers of the Chi, I must ask what he meant by that."
Jay sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. "Like Kasey said, I should probably spend more time thinking before I speak…"
"One of these orbs ended up in our world, somehow," Mack explained. "We traced its trail back to a portal that led to this realm, so we decided to investigate how that might have happened."
"Your world?" Cragger frowned.
"Realms?" Laval pondered. "Who are you guys?"
Mack took a deep breath. "Look to the sky."
Mack waved his hand above his head, and small holes in the sky appeared to open up, showing glimpses of a few of the realms.
"I have opened small windows in the Ethereal Divide to show you that this world is one many. You can see the Underworld, Ninjago, Earth, Cloud Kingdom, and more. There are sixteen. These worlds are under our protection; whenever the darkness rises to threaten them, we will rise to meet it.
"We have done this once, crushing the Army of Eternal Darkness, and we will do it again, as many times as we are called. We are the Guardians."
The windows to the realms closed as Mack continued.
"Nothing is supposed to cross the Ethereal Divide, the border between the realms, but something did: that 'Chi,' as you called it. I believe it was sent to us so that we would investigate and make our way here."
Cragger lightly elbowed Laval. "I think your father will want to hear this."
"I think you're right," Laval agreed. "Laterus, finish up the patrol of this area, then return home. Cragger and I will take our guests ahead to the Lion Temple."
The lion who had ordered the Guardians to surrender nodded, and he and the other warriors left Laval and Cragger alone with the Guardians.
The Guardians picked up and put away their weapons.
"Are you ready to get moving?" Laval asked.
"Just a second," Mack replied. "We'll need to bring in the rest of the team if we're moving forward. They've been at home, waiting for the go/no-go."
Laval frowned. "How many are you?"
"A fair few," Lloyd smirked as Mack summoned the Super Bolt and opened a portal.
Beyond the portal, the rest of the Guardians along with Morro and Nya could be seen waiting in the Fountain Room of the Elemental Temple.
"Come on through, everyone," Mack said. "Don't worry, it's safe. These are our new allies, Laval and Cragger."
Mack introduced each of the ninja to Laval and Cragger as they came through the portal.
"Is this how you thought today was gonna go, buddy?" Cragger asked Laval, to which Laval shook his head and laughed.
"Wait 'til Dad sees this," Laval said.
"We're ready go," Mack stated. "But before we go any further, tell me: what world is this?"
"This," Laval replied, "is Chima."
About twenty minutes of walking later, the party of twelve—Laval, Cragger, the eight Sworn Guardians, Nya, and Morro—came out of the woods and beheld Lion City, the temple standing tall in its heart and the Chi falls streaming into it. The outsiders wondered at the grand sight.
Laval and Cragger explained that Chi flows from the floating mountain above—Mount Cavora—into the Lion Temple below.
They walked through the city, receiving strange looks. Finally, they walked up the steps of the Lion Temple.
"This is the Chi Pool," Laval explained once inside, "where Chi from Mount Cavora is refined into orbs that we can use."
At that time, an older and regal-looking lion walked in, accompanied by two guards.
"Dad!" Laval exclaimed. "There's someone here you have to speak with."
"What in the name of Cavora…" the older lion mumbled.
"Guardians," Laval announced, "this is my father Lagravis, King of the Lions, and his guards Leonidas and Longtooth. Dad, these are the Guardians. They're here to—"
"Wait, son," Lagravis interrupted. "These are… humans?"
"Humans?" Longtooth repeated. He looked tough and had scars that looked like claw marks across his chest. "I thought they were a myth."
"I don't know about that," Laval replied, "but they say they're from another world, and that they watch over the Realms and defend them from darkness."
Lagravis pondered this for a moment. "Legend has it there are sixteen realms…"
"Your legends are true," Mack took that as a good time to speak up. "Yes, we are humans; yes, we are from another world; and yes, your world is one of sixteen."
"What do you make of all this, Dad?" Laval asked.
"Laval, I…" Lagravis took a deep breath. "I fear what the presence of these 'Guardians' could mean for our world."
Longtooth shook his head. "Surely it won't—I mean, it can't be as bad as those old books say."
"Wait," Laval frowned, "what are you talking about?"
"There is a prophecy," Lagravis said softly.
"Oh no," Jay facepalmed.
Lagravis paid the interjection no mind. "For ages, we have regarded it as simply a part of our ancestors' mythology. But if the part of that mythology that describes the existence of humans and other worlds is based in reality, then we must consider that this prophecy holds some weight as well."
"And what does the prophecy say?" Lloyd asked.
"Your arrival, Guardians, is foretold to warn of a series of events that could ultimately destroy our way of life. It is said that a great battle between light and darkness that transcends the borders of our world will take place in the shadow of Mount Cavora.
"But the outcome… the outcome is not given in the prophecy. The prophecy instructs us to heed the arrival of ten humans at our temple as a warning of the impending conflict."
Mack pondered this for a moment. "I sense there is more to all of this than I had considered."
"'All of this'"? Lagravis raised an eyebrow.
"Dad," Laval said, "they say they found a Chi in their world, and they came here to investigate."
Mack took the Chi out of his side pack. Absently, he noted that touching it didn't cause any reaction in him, and he wondered if it was because the Chi was back where it belonged.
"Two of our team found this in a creek in the realm of Earth. We traced it here by following the energy flow from a nearby portal. I believe someone sent this Chi to our world with the intent of leading us here, possibly as a call for help in the battle your prophecy mentions."
"I see," Lagravis replied. "This is disturbing. We will check with all the tribe leaders to see if anyone has had a Chi come up missing."
At that moment, a lion guard ran into the Chi Pool chamber, looking panicked. "Lagravis! Crocs are under attack!"
Lagravis growled. "Let me guess, the Outland Tribes?"
"Yes, my lord. In greater numbers than we've seen."
Lagravis cursed. "Laval, Cragger: take a squad of our soldiers and assist our allies."
"Sure thing," Laval nodded. "Just so you know, Laterus and the patrol should be back within the hour."
"What's going on?" Morro asked.
"The Outland Tribes," Lagravis answered. "They've been harassing the Crocodile Tribe in the swamps for weeks now. Until recently they kept to themselves in the Outlands, then that suddenly changed."
Cragger picked up the tale. "We've been able to hold them off, but our warriors have been worn down lately by the constant attacks. In the last raid, they managed to steal an entire platoon's worth of weapons."
"Lagravis," Mack said, "would you mind if a couple of Guardians and I followed your troops to the swamp? We would like to observe how things work around here so we can investigate our situation more efficiently. We'll assist your troops, with your permission."
"Are you their leader, green one?" Lagravis asked.
"I am," Mack answered. "My name is Mack."
Lagravis nodded. "Then, Mack, you and two of your Guardians may follow our men to the swamp. I know they will appreciate your assistance."
Mack turned to the Guardians. "Zee, Kai, you'll come with me. Everyone else, stay here and do what you can to get a feel for how things work around here."
With that, Laval and Cragger quickly led Mack, Zee, and Kai out of the temple.
"How are we getting to the swamp?" Mack asked Laval once they had exited the temple and were on their way to gather a lion attack group.
"Speedors," Laval replied. "You three will have to hitch a ride."
Laval gathered his troops by sending out a loud roar, explaining that each lion knew what the roar meant. There were different roars that signaled danger to the city, the death of a tribe elder, a call to battle, and more. This was a specific call to assemble the Lion Tribe's elite strike force, famous for always being prepared to mobilize at a moment's notice.
The Guardians followed Laval and Cragger to the hangar underneath the city, where the vehicles were kept and the lion attack group was already assembled (and where the Guardians learned that Speedors were racing bikes that also served to quickly deploy into battle).
"Scorpions and bats are attacking the Crocs again," Laval briefed his men. "Mount up and follow Cragger to the swamps—he discovered a new shortcut after the last attack."
The warriors mounted their Speedors, and the three Guardians accompanying them did as Laval suggested—Mack riding with Cragger, Kai with Laval, and Zee with one of the other lions. The three held on for their lives as the Speedors earned their names, making haste for the swamps to assist the Crocodile Tribe.