Summary: The Lotus Ninjas need to protect Ekron and Ellie from the Triceratons after learning that not only the Fugitoid arrives on Earth, but also Ekron's powerful capabilities.
In outer space, the Triceratons successfully tracked the Fugitoid's trail, which brought several Triceraton ships out of orbit.
"Order from Prime Leader: All units return to shuttle." A Triceraton soldier's voice announced through the loudspeaker. "We are withdrawing. Repeat, withdrawing."
In the Crete Fortress garage, Lee, Ella, and Ellie hopped out of the Cristallum space cruiser. They quickly noticed that Donna and Ekron were still inside.
"Donna? Donna?" Ella shouted. "What are you doing in there?"
Ellie flew up to the cruiser ship and spotted Ekron napping on top of a sleeping Donna.
"No worries, girls. She's asleep, and so is Ekron." Ellie explained. "After all, she did just put the entire city of Beijing back in its place."
With a wave of her hands, Ellie created a medium-sized tornado to gently lift both Donna and Ekron out of the space cruiser.
"Well, girls, that's that. The Triceratons are leaving. We did it." Lee said with a smile as she placed her hands on her hips.
"Yeah, we did." Ella grinned. "We saved the city and sent those Triceratons packing."
In New York, several vehicles began to honk in frustration at the unmoving traffic jam in the crowded streets.
"Reports are coming in from all across the world, the Triceratons are pulling out. It is over. Earth has been spared." The news reporter announced from the radios. "And while authorities still aren't sure why the Triceratons came or what it was exactly that they were after, one thing is for sure, it's good to be alive."
Back in outer space, the Triceraton homeworld hovered above the Earth.
"Activate force field. Prepare engines for full ion burn." Zanramon commanded.
"Departure countdown initiated." The computer announced.
"Sir, incoming message marked urgent." The Triceraton soldier reported. His eyes widened in surprise as he looked at the message on the screen. "Sir, it's the Fugitoid."
"What?!" Zanramon exclaimed in shock. "By the horn of Hackalib, stop everything! Put it on screen!"
The screen displayed the message and began playing the Fugitoid's recording.
"Prime Leader Zanramon, you have hunted me across galaxies and shown no mercy to those who stood in your way." Fugitoid said. "This cannot continue. I am here on Earth to surrender myself to you and spare countless billions of lives."
The Fugitoid's recording message ended.
"Pinpoint that transmission! Scramble all fighters! I want our troops down there immediately!" Zanramon ordered. "Now, bring me that robot's metal hide."
Every Triceraton obeyed and scrambled around the room.
Two Triceraton scientists came running into the room and stood in front of Zanramon.
"Sir, the alien we examined was an Oculo." One Triceraton scientist informed.
"Oculo?" Zanramon repeated in surprise. "But how could there be one here on Earth?"
"We don't have all the details yet, but the Oculo has formed a symbiotic bond with its host." The other Triceraton scientist reported. "But the one we captured was not its host."
"I see. Locate the Oculo and its host, and bring them here." Zanramon commanded. "With its powerful power, no one, not even the Foundation, will be able to stop us. We will be unstoppable."
Zanramon laughed sinisterly.
Back in the Crete Fortress, Donna woke up and sat up with a stretch and a yawn. She noticed Ekron perched on her lap and then turned to see her sisters smiling at her from nearby.
"Hey, girls." Donna greeted. "How long was I out?"
"Not long." Ella answered. "You and Ekron were really out cold after the whole invasion thing."
Ekron squealed joyfully. He zipped over to Ellie, who embraced him warmly.
"Glad you're feeling better, Ekron." Ellie smiled.
"I still can't believe he's an actual alien." Donna said.
"Yeah, no kidding." Lee agreed.
"I don't care if he's an alien." Ellie said. She gazed at Ekron with a soft smile. "I love him just the way he is."
Ekron looked up at Ellie as he beamed with happiness.
"Now that Donna and Ekron are awake, can we celebrate now?" Ella asked Lee.
"Absolutely." Lee replied. "And I know just the place."
Outside, the Lotus Ninjas dashed across the city rooftops as they performed impressive flips and cartwheels while leaping from building to building.
Then, the girls suddenly halted at the edge of the last building and spotted a group of Triceraton soldiers approaching in flying harnesses.
"Triceratons?!" Donna, Lee, Ella, and Ellie exclaimed in disbelief.
The Triceraton soldiers quickly surrounded the Lotus Ninjas, who readied their elemental magic from their fists.
"What are they doing back here?" Ella questioned.
"Greetings, Oculo. We've been looking for you." The Triceraton squad leader spoke as he stepped forward. He pointed his finger at Ellie. "Surrender yourself and the Oculo, so our Prime Leader will be pleased with your cooperation."
Ekron squealed in fear as he quickly hid behind Ellie.
"Not gonna happen!" Ellie retorted.
Donna, Lee, and Ella stepped protectively in front of Ellie and Ekron.
"And if you want them, you'll have to go through us." Lee said firmly.
"Very well then." The Triceraton squad leader said. "Get them!"
The Triceraton soldiers aimed their blasters.
"Take them down!" Lee shouted.
The Triceraton soldiers started shooting laser blasts at the Lotus Ninjas, who swiftly dodged them with impressive agility. Lee jumped in the air and raised her hands as she conjured six water spheres that unleashed powerful jets of water towards the Triceraton soldiers. Donna placed her glowing hands on the ground, summoning two large roses to bloom on either side. The large roses then shot out purple explosive seeds at the Triceraton soldiers. Ellie created four crescent-shaped blades of wind and sent them at the Triceraton soldiers while protecting Ekron at the same time. Ella launched a barrage of explosive fireballs at the Triceraton soldiers. But more Triceraton soldiers kept arriving and blasting lasers at the Lotus Ninjas.
"There's too many of them!" Lee exclaimed. She turned her head to Ellie. "Ellie, smokescreen!"
"You read my mind!" Ellie said.
Ellie magically conjured thick orange smoke that enveloped the rooftop and blinded the Triceraton soldiers.
Once the smoke dissipated, the Lotus Ninjas and Ekron had vanished.
"They've escaped!" The Triceraton squad leader said. He pulled out a tracking device and looked at it. "Activate your trackers and follow the signal! We can't let the Oculo and its host escape! Capture them unharmed at all cost!"
"Sir!" The Triceraton soldiers responded in unison.
The Lotus Ninjas hurried across the building rooftops. They landed on the rooftop of an apartment building and dashed through the rooftop door before slamming the door behind them. They collapsed on the floor and panted heavily.
"Okay. Now's the time to come up with a plan." Lee said. "The Triceratons won't stop until they capture Ekron and Ellie."
"I get why they want Ekron, but why are they after me?" Ellie asked in confusion.
"When the Triceratons captured me and Ekron, they mentioned that Ekron's alien race, Oculos, chooses a host to have a symbiotic bond with. They want to control Ekron. But to do that, they need to sever the mental connection between Ekron and you." Donna explained.
That revelation shocked Ellie, Lee, and Ella.
"So, Ellie is Ekron's host all along?" Ella exclaimed.
"Well, that explains the headaches back on their ship." Ellie said. "But how do we get those Triceratop freaks off our backs?"
"Donna, is it possible that the Triceratons are tracking Ekron?" Lee asked Donna.
"Oh, one hundred percent." Donna confirmed. "I saw one with a tracking device during our fight. But I know a spell that will mask Ekron and distract the Triceratons at the same time." She looked at Ekron. "You're up for it, Ekron?"
Ekron nodded.
Meanwhile, the Triceraton soldiers marched through the narrow alley. The squad leader noticed a strong signal on his tracking device's screen.
"There's the signal." The Triceraton squad leader announced. "Arm your weapons!"
The Triceraton soldiers charged ahead.
"The Oculo should be right…" The Triceraton squad leader continued.
Suddenly, the single signal separated into four distinct ones moving in different directions.
"What?! How can there be four signals?!" The Triceraton squad leader shouted angrily. "Divide into units and follow the four signals! Capture the floating eyeball and its host alive! And as for the other three, destroy them!"
Four fake Ekrons scattered throughout the city. One Ekron darted through the sewer system. The second Ekron headed for the parking lot. The third Ekron sped off toward an abandoned building. And the fourth Ekron made its way to a closed warehouse.
As the evening sky turned to a full moon night, Christine's aides spotted the fleeing Lotus Ninjas and Ekron through the binoculars from a nearby rooftop.
"Christine, we have the targets in our sights." A man spoke to his earpiece. "Continue observation?"
Christine and her team sat inside the armored vehicle as it rolled down the street.
"Observation will continue as planned. Stay alert and do not lose sight of them." Agent Christine instructed through her earpiece. "I repeat, do not lose sight."
Then, Christine tapped her other earpiece.
"It's confirmed that four magical humans are in possession of the Oculo. No, the Triceratons have lost sight of them, thanks to their powers." Christine reported. "Don't worry. We will achieve our goals. I promise you that."
The Triceraton squad leader stared at the signal on his tracking device.
"They're close." The Triceraton squad leader said confidently. "They can't get away from us now."
Then suddenly, the signal vanished from the Triceraton squad leader's tracker.
"What?!" The Triceraton squad leader exclaimed in disbelief. "No!"
In a fit of rage, the Triceraton squad leader growled and smashed his tracker to the ground that shattered it into pieces.
"Spread out and keep looking!" The Triceraton squad leader commanded as he turned to face his squadmates. "We can't let them slip away!"
Elsewhere, the Lotus Ninjas have reached the football field at Roosevelt High School with the real Ekron. They are hiding behind the bleachers.
"Okay, girls. The coast looks clear." Lee said as she surveyed the empty field.
"Brilliant idea, Donna." Ellie said to Donna with a smile.
"The spell will keep the Triceratons distracted for a while." Donna said. "For now, we need to stay alert."
Suddenly, bright lights illuminated and exposed the Lotus Ninjas and Ekron, making them gasp in surprise.
"Freeze! You're surrounded!"
As the Lotus Ninjas and Ekron quickly turned around, four armored vehicles had pulled up and surrounded them.
"Hands up! If you don't comply, we will shoot!" A soldier yelled through the loudspeakers.
To Be Continued...
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