DARKNESS IN CHIMA
Part Five: Battle of the Beasts
Chapter XV
The Crescent was alive with activity when the Guardians arrived. The last ten days had transformed the Phoenix sanctuary into a bustling war camp, its once serene spires bristling with the preparation for battle. Across the fortified grounds, warriors from every tribe worked tirelessly to ready themselves for the coming assault on Lion City.
Lions, displaced from their homes, were scattered throughout the Crescent, tending to injured family members and helping where they could. The wolves, who had once stood apart from Chima's alliances, now worked alongside the crocodiles and eagles, hauling supplies and manning defensive lines. The air hummed with purpose and resolve.
"This is… incredible," Zee said softly, her gaze sweeping over the scene.
"Unity always is," Fluminox replied, descending from one of the Crescent's upper platforms to greet the Guardians. "And it would not have been possible without your efforts in the lands below. You have returned at the perfect time. We are ready to retake Lion City."
The Guardians dismounted their dragons and stepped into the Crescent's main hall, where Laval, Cragger, and Eris were waiting with Morro. The room was warm from the glow of Chi torches, their light reflected in the determined eyes of the Fellowship of Chi.
Laval stepped forward, his face breaking into a relieved smile. "You're back! We were beginning to think we'd have to attack without you."
"We're here," Mack assured the lion prince. "Get the other members of the Fellowship here—we have a lot to tell you."
The Guardians took turns recounting their journey through the Dinosaur Tribes' territories, from the Triceratops' Ice Crystal to Zee's battle at the Wind Crystal above Storm Steeple. Their stories were met with astonishment and admiration, but as the tale wound down, Mack's expression grew serious.
"Start getting your people ready to march," Mack said. "I need to speak with the Phoenix about something."
Mack left the Fellowship's tent and approached Fluminox, his voice steady despite the unease creeping into his eyes. "Before we attack, I need your help."
Fluminox tilted his head, his fiery plumage catching the light. "You seek answers," he said. "I cannot give them, for they do not belong to me. But I will show you where you may find them for yourself."
Mack nodded, his resolve firm.
"Gather Laval and the strongest of your warriors, and follow me."
Fluminox led Mack, Laval, Kai, Lloyd, and Morro through a series of hidden passageways beneath the Crescent Flame Temple. The air grew warmer as they descended, the faint glow of Chi crystals lighting their way.
Eventually, they entered a vast cavern where a pool of shimmering water lay at its center. The water glowed faintly, its surface perfectly still despite the energy that seemed to ripple beneath.
"The Nameless Pool," Fluminox said, his voice reverent. "A secret place even among the Phoenix. Here, Chi water exists in perfect equilibrious solution with raw Elemental Energy."
Mack stepped forward, his gaze fixed on the pool. "Why is it so secret?"
"Its power," Fluminox replied, "is to unveil hopelessly hidden truths—truths that many are not strong enough to accept."
"And what if I'm not strong enough?" Mack asked, his voice quieter now.
"Then I would not have brought you here," Fluminox said simply. He extended a hand toward the pool. "Disrobe, and enter."
Mack hesitated, glancing back at the others. Laval gave him an encouraging nod, while Kai and Lloyd offered reassuring smiles. Morro's expression was unreadable, but there was no doubt in his eyes.
Taking a deep breath, Mack removed his robes and stepped into the pool. The water was warm, almost comforting, as it rose around him. When he reached the center, he knelt, took another steadying breath, and submerged himself completely.
The visions came instantly.
The fragments that had plagued him all summer now connected into a single, coherent image. He saw himself standing atop a jagged peak, the sky above him churning with darkness. In his hands, he held the Super Bolt, its light piercing the void. Around him, voices whispered—not words, but feelings of resolve, power, and hope.
Mack's breath caught, and the vision shifted again, this time showing the Legend Beasts standing atop Mount Cavora. Their forms were radiant, their voices joining in a final command: Go.
Mack came up from the water with a gasp, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. A brilliant green light emanated from the water and surrounded him, shimmering for a moment before dissipating. He climbed out of the pool, and the others froze.
Before, Mack's body had been bare. Now, he was clothed in green and black robes and armor—the same he had worn in the Battle of the Sea of Sand.
"Mack?" Kai asked, stepping forward. "What happened?"
Mack shook his head, his expression resolute. "I have to go."
"What?" Lloyd and Kai exclaimed at the same time.
"Again?" Laval sputtered. "When we're preparing to march on the enemy?
"I have no choice," Mack replied, gripping the Super Bolt.
"Mack," Morro said, his tone serious, "what did you see?"
Mack hesitated. "I can't—you just have to trust me."
Fluminox stepped forward. "He cannot describe what he saw until his task is complete. Such is the nature of the Nameless Pool."
The cave fell silent, but the weight of the untold revelations hung heavy in the air.
Kai broke the tension. "Okay… you know we trust you."
Lloyd nodded. "Always."
Laval took longer to respond, his brow furrowed. But finally, he said, "I trust you."
Mack nodded back, his voice firm. "March on your city, engage the Dark Tribes, and hold the line until I return."
With a flash of light, Mack activated the Super Bolt, opening a portal. He stepped through without another word, the portal closing behind him.
Laval sighed, turning to the others. "Well, you heard him. Let's get back and start our assault. It's time to take back what they took from us."
The Crescent's spires glowed faintly under the gathering storm clouds, their golden hues dimmed by the tension that hung in the air. Laval and the Guardians descended the final steps of the Flame Temple, greeted by the sight of a massive army gathered in the stronghold's central courtyard.
From every corner of Chima, warriors had come—crocodiles, wolves, eagles, gorillas, rhinos, bears, and even a few wary ravens, their armor gleaming with freshly polished steel. War machines bristled with weapons, and carts laden with supplies rumbled as they moved into position.
Laval's gaze swept across the army, pride and resolve etched into his features. He could see the fear in some faces, the uncertainty in others, but the unity of the tribes gave him strength.
As Laval stepped forward, a rumble shook the ground beneath them. All eyes turned upward as Mount Cavora, floating high above, began to waver. Its position shifted subtly, but unmistakably, as if the mountain itself were struggling to hold its place in the sky.
The sky darkened—not with rainclouds, but with shadows—as if nature itself was weeping over the darkness with which Tenebris had corrupted Chima's central source of power.
"It's time," Laval murmured, his voice barely audible. His father had not recovered enough to fight, so Laval himself would lead the assault.
The Phoenix leader approached, his wings outstretched, his fiery plumage glowing faintly despite the darkening sky. "Guardians," he said, his tone grave yet steady. "You will need to prepare yourselves for the battle ahead. You have faced darkness before, but the darkness you face today is… unnatural, warped. You must be ready."
Fluminox tapped his scepter on the floor, and a ripple of blue and purple energy spread through the air. The Guardians felt the ground beneath them shift, and before they could react, a glowing portal opened, its edges crackling with power.
"To Earth," Fluminox explained. "Where you may don your battle armor."
The Guardians exchanged glances before stepping through the portal, one by one. Lloyd was the last one, his gaze lingering on Fluminox for an extra moment, wondering at the powers that might be hidden behind his stoic face.
When they emerged on Earth, they found themselves in the familiar confines of the Elemental Temple's training hall. Rows of lockers lined the walls, each marked with the symbol of its respective element.
The Guardians moved quickly, opening their lockers and retrieving their armor. Lloyd's golden dragon scales gleamed in the dim light, while Kai's red flame motifs burned as brightly as his determination.
Pete, however, hesitated as he approached his locker. The pristine white ninja robes he had received when he became a Guardian were folded neatly inside, alongside the armor that had once belonged to Danny.
His hand hovered over the armor, his chest tightening. This was the first time he would wear it, and the weight of that responsibility pressed heavily on his shoulders.
Kai, noticing Pete's hesitation, placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay," Kai said softly. "Danny would be proud of you."
This statement meant a lot from Kai; he had taken a real shine to Danny before he died and served as a mentor to him.
Pete nodded slowly, his voice barely above a whisper. "I just… I don't want to let him down."
"You won't," Lloyd said from across the room, fastening his golden breastplate. "You're here. Fighting for the same cause he gave his life for."
Taking a deep breath, Pete reached into the locker and lifted the armor. The weight was physical, yes, but it was also something more—a reminder of the fallen Guardian's legacy. As he donned the armor piece by piece, he felt a spark of resolve ignite within him.
When Pete stepped forward, fully armored, the Guardians turned to face him.
"You ready?" Jay asked, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Pete nodded, his expression firm. "Let's do this."
As if Fluminox had been watching all along, a portal suddenly opened in front of them, the Crescent war camp visible on the other side.
An Unknown Realm
The Same Moment…
The wind howled around Mack as he gripped the jagged face of the mountain, his muscles burning with the strain of the climb. The stone beneath his hands was sharp and unyielding, cutting into his gloves and scraping against his armor as he ascended. His chest heaved with effort, every breath an effort to push himself higher.
He paused for a moment, clinging to a narrow ledge. Below him, the mountain dropped into an endless void, its edges obscured by swirling mist. Above, the peak loomed like a jagged crown, shrouded in an eerie, otherworldly light.
The climb was grueling, but Mack had no choice. When he tried to summon his elemental dragon earlier, the power that had always been a part of him felt... distant. Locked away. Whatever waited at the top of this mountain would not allow shortcuts. It had to be earned.
Mack gritted his teeth and kept climbing, his armor slowing him down but shielding him from the mountain's constant barrage of jagged rock.
Finally, Mack pulled himself over the final ledge and onto the mountain's peak. He collapsed to his knees, his body trembling from the exertion.
When he looked up, his breath caught in his throat.
Before him was a massive nest made of twisted branches and shards of bone, its size dwarfing anything he had imagined. And there, at the center of the nest, stood a massive dragon.
It was unlike anything Mack had ever seen. He had heard the stories from his fellow Guardians—the four-headed dragon that once served as their ally. But this creature was larger, more imposing, its presence radiating an ancient, almost divine energy. Its six heads moved independently, their glowing eyes fixed on Mack with an intensity that made his skin crawl.
The dragon's scales shimmered in the dim light, their iridescence shifting between shades of green, silver, and black. Its wings were vast, stretching wide enough to cast a shadow over the entire peak.
For a moment, neither Mack nor the dragon moved. The mountain was silent, save for the faint crackle of energy that seemed to hum in the air around the creature.
Then, with a deafening roar, the dragon lunged. All six heads snapped toward Mack, their teeth glinting like polished swords.
Instinct screamed at him to fight, to draw his weapon and defend himself. But he didn't.
Instead, Mack reached for the Super Bolt. He pulled it from his back and held it aloft, its golden light piercing through the swirling mist.
The dragon froze mid-lunge, its heads rearing back in unison. Its eyes locked onto the Super Bolt, and the energy in the air shifted. What had been an oppressive, almost predatory force now felt... reverent.
Slowly, the dragon lowered itself, folding its wings and bowing all six heads before Mack.
Mack's grip on the Super Bolt tightened as he stepped forward, his heart pounding. The words from his vision echoed in his mind: You will need a power greater than your own to conquer the darkness we face.
The Green Ninja took a deep breath and approached the dragon. Its massive heads turned to watch him, their eyes filled with a quiet intelligence. He hesitated for only a moment before climbing onto the creature's back.
The scales were warm beneath his hands, and the dragon remained perfectly still as Mack secured himself. The moment he was seated, the dragon spread its enormous wings, and Mack felt a surge of energy course through him, his power returning in full force, the fatigue of the climb melting away.
The creature roared again, its six voices harmonizing in a sound that shook the mountain to its core. With a single powerful leap, the Ultra Dragon launched itself into the air, its wings slicing through the mist as it ascended, leaving the mighty mountain to crumble where it once stood.