It was the day after the fight and everyone was at Laughy's to celebrate their victory.
Ava was sitting down as she watched the show and Wu danced.
Pixal came to sit next to her after speaking with Misako who had gone to talk to Lloyd.
"Still not in the dumps hugh." Ava frowned.
"You worry a lot for him." Pixal looked curios.
"I guess once I feel attached to someone I become quite protective, even if I don't always show it at times." Ava took a sip of boba.
"We have not really had a chance to speak with each other. I am Pixal."
"I know, I also know you're the current Samurai X. Love the work and the new color scheme." Ava smiles.
"Why thank you, I felt it suits me much better than red. No offense to Nya." Pixal replied.
"Everyone needs to make their own mark. Anyway, I'm just glad things are calm now. I was finally able to call my family today and tell them I was fine." Ava sighs.
"It would be natural for them to worry. My own creature asked how I was doing currently." Pixal replied.
"Aw that's sweet."
"Yes, I suppose it is. I wanted to ask you something?"
"Yeah, what is it?"
"I wanted to ask, what do you think of Zane?" Pixal asked seriously.
Ava looked surprised she knew Pixal and Zaen used to date so it was weird that she asked that, but looking at Zane as he danced and sang with his friends, she couldn't hide the truth.
"He's amazing." Ava smiles lightly.
"Have you told him this?" Pixal asks.
"Not yet, there was no time to really talk during the mission and now….I guess I just need to get my senses together to figure out what I want to do. Pluss I'm not sure if he feels the same or if he's just being nice to me."
"That is understandable." Pixal nods and smiles.
Pixal may not be dating Zane anymore but she was still his friend and cared for him, he wanted him to be happy with someone and Ava seemed to do that.
'Now if only one of them would say something.'
As Zane was singing he noticed Pixal and Ava talking, 'I wonder what they are talking about? Wait, would Pixal tell her of my feelings?'
At that he left the stage and headed over "Hello Pixal and Ava, what are you two talking about."
"Just some girl talk. Why'd you stop singing?" Ava asks.
"I wanted to see if you wished to join?" Zane smiled as he made up on the spot.
"Sure why not, look's fun." She smiled as she followed him.
As they headed up Zane looked at Pixal and she just smirked as she waved at him.
He wondered what that meant.
As they got on stage Ava took a breath and began to sing along with the others "Wednesday morning and we soon discover. We gotta push our game."
"Oh right Ava's here." Cole called.
Zane then sang "We slept on Thursday just to get it over. The whips a day away."
Then they all sing together "They say 'Go slow.' And everything just sands so still. We say 'Go, go!' You're gonna see us rip into it!"
Cole and Ava kind of took over the singing at the end and soon they jumped off the stage and she laughed.
Zane grabbed her hand and twirled her out and then back into a dip.
"Wough, someones got moves." Ava laughed as Zane smiles before following the others to the stage to sing the chorus.
That's when the music was cut off.
"Hey!" Ava shouted, she was just really getting into it, everyone was also complaining.
"What is it, Lloyd?" Misako asked.
"Look." he pointed at the news.
"It's always good to see my beautiful Gale Gossip, ah." Darreth sighed.
Then she heard the news as Gale said "Where an assailant rammed a stolen garbage truck into the front of it." It was the police station.
"Oh no don't tell me…" Ava groaned.
"I'm hearing word that it was a jailbreak. A prisoner was freed from custody." Gale reported.
"Okay, maybe not always good." Darreth added to his last comment.
"Who wants to guess it was Harumi." Ava frowns.
"What? Why would you say that!" Jay screams.
"Because it is the most obvious." Zane replies.
"Okay I'm getting verification, the prisoner that was freed was the recently apprehended Jade Princess, Princess Harumi."
"Ack, why!" Ava threw her arms up.
"Shhh, they're still talking." Kai shushed.
"Security footage caught the two on video…."
They saw Harumi and then a black figure that Ava couldn't really make out.
"Oh man. That looks like…" Darreth starts, then gasps.
Everyone looks at Lloyd "That….that's impossible."
"Wait who does everyone think it is, I can't see the footage too well?" Ava looked on confused.
Zane whispered "It looks suspiciously like Garmadon."
"What, but we stopped it!" Ava shouted.
"Could be anyone." Kai added.
"But he has four arms." Zane replied.
"So does Mr. E. Heh, who doesn't have four arms these days?" Jay replied.
"We stopped the ceremony, didn't we?" Lloyd asked his mother.
Ava then thought 'Wait, was this because I hesitated?' looking back if she had joined in earlier, could she have stopped this from happening?'
"I'm telling you it's not him." Jay spoke up "If that's Garmadon, heh, I'm lord of the Jig."
A police officer on the news then said "That-that's was when she said, kneel before Garmadon."
"Ah. Okay. That's definitely him." Jay admitted.
Ava walked off and Zane followed "What is wrong?"
"This is my fault, if I hadn't hesitated then we could have stopped the ceremony in time." Ava panicked.
"You cannot know that for sure, the ceremony was not even complete when we stopped her." Zane replied.
"Still I should have acted quicker." Ava held her face and cried, this was all her fault.
Zane held her shoulder and said "Ava you cannot blame yourself for such an uncertainty. For all we know the ritual might have already been completely long before we arrived."
"Ava what's wrong?" The others came up, Nya the one who asked.
"Ava blames herself for Garmadon's return. She feels her hesitation might have given Harumi time to finish the ritual." Zane explained.
"That's crazy, you saw how everything was flying around and stuff. The ritual was probably already finished before we even had time to do spinjitzu." Jay spoke up.
"Jay is right, this was bound to happen, with or without you hesitating. Now it's up to us to stop them once more." Lloyd frowned.
"You're not disappointed in me?" Ava looked up.
"After everything you've done, how can I? And no one blames you." Lloyd came up and held her shoulder as the others nodded.
Ava smiled, she felt better but she still felt slightly guilty as well. 'I can't let myself hesitate like that again.'
With that they needed out, they needed to find Harumi and Garamond and fast.
Ninjago
The first place they went too was the police station, they needed to see if they could find any clues.
Zane asked the Commissioner "And you're sure it was Garmadon?"
"Yes, but he's not the man I remember." the elder replied "This is someone…else. Like they just brought back the worst parts. Twentie of my officers tried to take him down, but….just…Ah. We couldn't stop him. I tried to reason with him but it was like there was nothing left inside to reason with."
"But you saw where they were going. He didn't just break Harumi out and disappear. They must have left a clue." Nya asked.
"All they left us with is broken glass, a handful of sore backsides, and a healthy dose of , sorry I couldn't be of more help." The officer replied.
"You did what you could. Besides, this is my fight to bear." Lloyd replied.
"All of ours." Ava frowned, she didn't like that tone in his voice. 'Does he think that just because that thing resembles his father he has to take responsibility.'
"You sure you're up for this, son?" the Commissioner asked.
"We all are." Kai spoke up.
"And look on the bright side, it's just your father and Harumi. At least the rest of the Sons of Garmadon are locked away, right?" Cole tried to be optimistic.
That's when the news came up again.
"I'm now standing outside the Kryptarium prison…" Gales voice went out as they saw the TV. The news on once more.
"Aw come on. More breaking news?" Jay exclaims.
Gale continues, "Where I'm getting new's there's been a prison break in, but you heard me correct folks….a break in. The entire prison has fallen under the control of its prisoners."
"Ha. At least you gotta admit, we got a top notch newscenter." Cole said.
"And we now know where and Garmadon are." Zane added.
"Anybody else think this sounds too much like a trap." Ava frowns.
"If it is, we'll be ready." Lloyd replied, upset.
Everyone was soon heading onto the Bounty and flew off.
"This is not good. This is really not good." Cole complained.
"You barely beat them last time." Pixal replied.
"And that was when we had the help of the entire police force." Zane added.
"And now they have Garmadon on their side." Nya said.
"Sigh, how are we gonna get through this." Ava frowns, not seeing how they'll do it this time. But….
'We have to find a way.' she frowns.
"We got to Kryptaruim prison." Lloyd frowns as he stands up.
"Okay. We take on Garmadon, Harumi, and her entire gang. While they're fortified in an impenetrable bunker. Not the best idea. Anyone have anything else?" Jay asks.
Sadly, no one did.
"Okay, not all at once. One at a time, please." Jay added.
"Jay, knock it off. And give us time." Ava glared.
"I have to face him. I turned him once. I can turn him again." Lloyd added.
"Ah. That sounds like a really bad idea." Kai replied.
"And Kai knows bad ideas, he's full of them." Cole pointed.
"I'm with Kai. You saw the damage Garmadon caused." Ava frowns, how could she make him understand that that thing wasn't his father.
There was no way it could be. She had never met the man but Lloyd told her stories and she'd seen pictures. She knew enough to know that this creature was made from nothing but darkness, Lloyd needed to understand that.
"I agree, it's too dangerous. That's exactly what they want." Zane pitched in.
"And, Lloyd, you heard what the commissioner said about your father. It's not him anymore." Nya explained.
"We don't know that." Lloyd protested, "I have to try."
Zane sighed "I believe in this instance, your past may be clouding your judgment, Lloyd."
"Yeah, you're just gonna have to trust us. We need to stay as far away from that place as possible." Jay said.
"Listen to the lord of the jig. He's right on this one." Cole added.
Ava came up to hold his shoulder and said "Lloyd, during my training you taught me to never rush into a situation without thinking it through first. I know your father means a lot to you, but right now, you're too close to this fight. Maybe you need to step back a bit."
Lloyd sighed, "Ok, then what do we do?"
Again no one had any ideas.
So they split up to try and figure something out on their own.
Ninjago
Ava sighed as she sat in the kitchen, taking a snack to bring up her energy.
As she opened the fridge though, she was surprised at what she saw.
Zane was sitting in a meditated pose inside.
"Zane?" she asked, confused.
"Oh, I apologize." Zane walked out of the fridge as he said "Meditating in cold places helps me to concentrate." he rubbed the back of his head.
"It makes sense with your powers and being a nindroid keeping cool helps to keep your processors stable. Um, that wasn't offensive was it?" Ava asked.
Zane shook his head and said "Of course not, you are correct. Keeping cool is essential for my body to process properly. You are quite smart."
Ava flushed as she said "Thanks, you are too." she then grabbed a snack and sat down.
Zane sat with her and said "You seem somewhat worried."
"I've never battled anyone like Garmadon before. Any advice?" she frowns.
"You will be fine, but stay close to us. Garmadon is like no enemy we have fought, and it will be difficult for Lloyd." Zane frowns.
"I feel sorry for him, he's already suffered so much now that brat Harumi does this to him." she frowns.
"You are quite angry."
"I hate bullies, I had to suffer a lot from people like that growing up. I don't want other people to suffer like that. I guess that's why I wanted to be a ninja." she smiled.
"You seem to know yourself well." Zane smiles.
"Not always, there are still things that I think hold me back and that's why I can't unleash my full potential." Ava frowns.
Zane nods "It is not an easy task to accomplish, sometimes there are things in our heart that hold us back from reaching our true power."
"I wish I knew what mine was." Ava sighs.
"You will, one day." Zane held her hand and Ava smiled.
Maybe her feeling for Zane, and how she hasn't told him has held her back.
She wanted to say something to him but Lloyd came in saying "Hey guys, Nya has a plan she wants to tell us. So head to the cabin."
The two nodded and headed over.
They waited with the others till Nya came.
"Okay Nya, so what's your plan?" Cole asked.
"My plan? I thought it was Pixal's?" Nya asked.
Then Nya gasped as she turned to Lloyd, who was outside the room and locked them in.
"Hey!" Ava called.
"Lloyd what are you doing!" Nya called.
"I'm sorry I have to confront him. I have to face him." Lloyd replied.
"No, you can't." Coel called.
"He'll kill you!" Ava shrieked in panic.
"Come on, Lloyd." Kai added.
"It could be a trap." Zane called.
"Yeah, and, hey, we can talk it over. We'll figure it out." Jay added.
"I'm sorry guys. It's something I have to do alone." Lloyd replied before leaving as they called for him.
Ava was in a panic, they had to do something!
Everyone then tried to break the door open, but no one could till Cole finally stepped in.
With this they rushed up to the controls but….
"He's in his care." Cole said "He's heading towards Kryptarium prison."
"That idiot." Ava growled as she held her head.
"I..I can't change course. He's locked the navigation." Nya replied.
"Zane, try to find a way to override it." Kai demanded as Zane got to work.
Ava couldn't stand there and do nothing, she got on the bridge and tried to calm herself down.
'Why couldn't I think of something, I'm usually good at making ideas, so why this time. If I had made one would Lloyd have listened?'
Ava was creative, she knew this, but she was also hesitant. With her words maybe not, but her actions, when it came to dangerous situations at least, she was hesitant.
Maybe if she could learn to just jump sometimes! But her fear and worry had always pulled her back, at least since what happened some years ago.
She had tried to go to college and everywhere she went she was criticized for what she did. It led to her locking herself away from everyone and now….
Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I'm through with playing by
The rules of someone else's game
"I'm tired of second guessing myself! I wanna be free!" Ava shouted to the wind as her powers began to flow about.
The other looked over confused.
"Um, what's wrong with Ava?" Jay asked.
Zane wanted to look but he had to work on the system.
'Ava, what is wrong?' he frowned worriedly.
Too late for second guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It's time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes and leap
At that she saw the edge of the bounty and thought 'I have to trust myself, Lloyd needs us, ninjago needs us.'
With this the wind became stronger and she ran towards the dragon heads.
"What is she doing!" Kai called.
Everyone gasped as they went to stop her, even Zane.
But none of them could stop her as she leaped into the air and shouted "I'm not afraid anymore!"
It's time to try defying gravity
I think I'll try defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye, I'm defying gravity
And you won't bring me down
With that a blast of air swirled around her, her body became transparent teal as she flew into the sky.
"Ava!" Zane called as the other looked on in shock.
"She released her true potential!" Cole cheered.
"Go Ava!" Nya cheered.
She looked back and smiled as she said "Get the bounty back under control, I'm going after Lloyd."
I'm through accepting limits
'Cause someone says they're so
Some things I cannot change
But till I try, I'll never know
They all gasped as Zane called "But Ava, Garmadon is there!"
"I'm not afraid, not anymore. I've let myself be held back by my fears for too long. Lloyd helped me to stand on my own feet, now I need to pay him back."
They all looked at each other and nodded.
"Be safe." Zane looked up worried.
She smiled and said "I'll come back."
And with that, she flew off towards the prison.
Too long I've been afraid of
Losing love, I guess I've lost
Well if that's love, it comes at
At much too high a cost
She had always wanted to be accepted, she still did at least by some. But not by everyone and especially not by others who judge and treat her like dirt.
Today she would not let their criticisms stop her and instead futile her to fight!
Unlimited
My future is unlimited
And I've just had a vision almost like a prophecy
I know it's sounds truly crazy
And true, the vision's hazy
But I swear someday I'll be
She flew fast and faster, and soon she could see the prison. It was right there in her reach, and she would fight.
Maybe she didn't know everything that would happen, but she had to have faith that she would survive!
Flying so high (I'm defying gravity)
Kiss me goodbye (I'm defying gravity)
At last she arrived, she dived to where Lloyd had crashed in, only to see and hear the worst sight ever.
Garmadon held a weekend Lloyd up as the monster said "I have no son."
At this Ava felt the wind rise within her like a hurricane as she blasted her power towards the monster.
"And you're no father!"
At this the wind crashed into Garmadon so powerfully he not only had to let go of Lloyd but he was forced into the cement wall to storngly it cracked.
Lloyd looked up weekly as he said in shock, "Gasp, Ava!"
So if you care to find me
Look to the western sky
As someone told me lately
Everyone deserves the chance to fly
"I'm here Lloyd!" she flew over to him, and held him in her arms.
"Argh! Stop here!" Harumi yelled.
But anyone who came near was just blasted back by her.
I'm defying gravity
And you won't bring me down!
Bring me down!
"None of you will hurt him, or me! I am the wind!" Ava brusted out as another huge blast went through the prison, causing the prisoners to fly back and the camera to break.
Bring me down!
Ah
"NO! You insignificant ninja, how could you stop us!" Harumi glared.
Garmadon growled as he tried to get to them, fighting against the wind, step by step.
At this Ava studio up with Lloyd, and arm over her shoulder as she said "This is my warning Harumi, leave everyone alone. Or next time, I won't hold back."
With that Ava took to the air with the weak boy as they headed out of the prisons and to the Bounty.