#cause Kai and Jay are the only sets I really buy

[darknessinaninja]

OMFSM this time I didn’t need to move Kai next to Jay ( ` ω ´ )

ι ɯαʂ αƚ ƚαɾɠeêëèt αɳԃ ԃιԃ ƚԋʝʂ αƚ ƚԋҽ ʅҽɠσ ʂҽƈƚισɳ. ιɱ ρɾσυԃ 😇

ɐlso ı ɾnsʇ ɟıuısɥǝp ᗪᗴᗩ丅ᕼ ᑎᗝ丅ᗴ ɐup ʇɥɐʇ ɐuıɯǝ ıs ʇoooooooooooo ƃoooooooooooop

ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ

[serenthest4r]

I love that the RGB siblings + Cole have kids now (Lloyd and Arin, Kai and Wildfyre, Nya and Sora, Cole and Fritz, Spitz, Bonzel) but I desperately need the others to adopt a lonely child.

I've decided (because i couldn't stop thinking about it)

Jay - He's got really attached to this one kid (a 9 yr old merlopian girl named Neptune) who's constantly running around the administration, she causes so much destruction and annoyance and he seems to be the only one that likes her. He can't figure out why but he feels deeply connected to her and has kind of stepped in as her father figure. (he subconsciously feels drawn to her as she reminds him of Lloyd before he was aged up) Also she's the elemental master of illusion which is how she causes so much havoc around the administration :)

Zane/Pixal - When they find Pixal she's picked up a set of twin sisters, Keira (elemental master of light, meaning she can make light) and Lucia (elemental master of darkness, meaning she can take light) they're from the realm of madness and hate each other with a burning passion. This is mostly because they see giving as a weakness and taking as a strength so Keira envies Lucia and Lucia thinks she's better than Keira. The only reason Pixal has brought them with her is so they don't get into a massive fight and almost kill each other.

Skylor - A serpentine boy she's named Kia follows her everywhere, she thinks he's around 5 but she can't be sure as he's mute and no one seems to know sign language. He's happy to help out as long as Skylor buys him drawing supplies and at this point they've become family.

Vania - She takes in any people in need and has a group of kids who call themselves the 'sky ninja' they're mostly from Ninjago with the exception of a boy from cloud city. Everyone in this group has a role as one of the ninja and their friends and Vania was honored to find out she was included.

Ed and Edna - It's basically kidnapping at this point but Jay must have at least 100 siblings now.

[juniaships]

Odelloyd (Yodel shipping)

Since @minecraftninjerkid expressed interest I wrote a particularly long post about Odette and Lloyd Garmadon's relationship. It's basically set in my AU of the while Ninjago canon. It's pretty angsty in some parts, and honestly I love this couple because it's a story of two individuals who learn to trust and like TALK with each other and work out their issues together! Plus I feel like if Lloyd needed another love interest within canon it should be someone who can match his energy, a strong young lady who works side by side with him!

Harumi is still the princess but now she has a LADY IN WAITING!! YAYAY

Mostly because she needed a morality pet in some way but also a foil to show if Harumi hadn't been so consumed by personal demons

Odette was a homeless orphan living on the streets with her sister; often stealing from food carts to feed themselves

One night Odette made the mistake of stealing from one of the SOG and they catch her and bring her to their base

Instead of being mad Harumi was impressed by her thieving skills and decided to recruit her. Odette didn't want to at first but then she had second thoughts thinking the extra money could help her and baby sis

So Harumi brings her back and manages to convince the Emperor and Empress to hire Odette as a lady in waiting & decoy if Harumi needed to sneak out to do her business Odette is So instead of it being Harumi it's Odette who stays and befriends the ninja

Odette had NO IDEA her friend plotted to blow up the palace - with her still inside - not great thinking there o' Quiet One

She also had no idea how AWESOME Lloyd is on a motorcycle: "Sweet moves grasshopper!"

They stop at several places gathering clues on the location on the final mask leaving a lot of time for Lloyd and odette to bond; for the first time in forever Odette starts to enjoy life again

The Ninja take Odette in and decide to search for the final mask. Odette does what she can to help out (and find info) getting close to them and my OCs

Lloyd even buys her a gift: a lotus shaped hairpin to replace the one she lost in the palace fight

The jungle incident happens; Lloyd and Odette separates for a while and she comes across the real princess who had stalked the group the whole time undercover

But she's afraid that her big secret might come out everywhere she goes she's often looking over her shoulder

Odette starts to really enjoy the Ninja's company and all her perceived notions about them fade; but she still had to find Harumi to try to talk her out of her plot

Odette meets up with Lloyd inside the caves and they look for the final mask. Finally they see it and Lloyd grabs it, happy that they found the masks before the gang did but notices Odette isn't feeling the same

She's tells Harumi that they're all making a HUGE mistake with the Masks; Harumi of course refuses and orders her to stick to the plan or else

He asks her what's wrong and that's when Odette becomes hysterical and begs Lloyd to destroy the mask or run

Lloyd doesn't know whay she's talking about and tries to calm her down suddenly they hear some sarcastic clapping and in steps in Harumi. Dressed in full Royal Garb

Lloyd is confused and doesn't understand looking back and forth between the newly revealed Princess and the one next to him

Harumi reveals that she is - was - the real princess and that Odette was acting as her decoy to spy on the ninja. She hadn't count on Lloyd catching feelings for Odette which made it all the more sweeter

Odette pleas with Lloyd claiming that while she was ordered to spy, her feelings for him and his friends were genuine. Lloyd coldly brushes he brushes her off and calls her a liar and demands Harumi why she planned all this. The Princess explains that the Ninja failed to save her family from the Great Devourer & that it was Lloyd himself who unleashed such monster on the city killing her parents and several civilians

Harumi also revealed that she had the Emperor and Empress assassinated as punishment for their inaction during that event, and subsequent failure in treating her like a person. "They didn't want a daughter they wanted a Princess."

Harumi takes out her knife and begins attacking Lloyd; Odette watches helplessly as they fight and in the ensuing chaos Harumi knicks Lloyd and orders Odette to return to their group

The Ninja wait by the docks and discovers Odette and the real princess together. They're shocked to see two Princesses; the real Harumi admits her plan knowing they wouldn't last for long to do anything to stop her. An Angry Kai yells at Odette for selling them out

Then the monster attack happens because it is drawn to the mask's essence; Lloyd saves Odette from being crushed, she tries to use the brief chance to explain but he still brush her off

The SOG board their ship and leaves; Odette wallows in guilt Harumi snarky asks her if she really thinks the Ninja are her friends. Odette shakes her head no and looks out the window praying for them to be alright

Back at the city the SOG takes Misako (and Cole's gf Rhenée) hostage to draw Lloyd out. Odette is no longer in her casual clothes but in SOG attire; at the ritual she pretends to be clumsy hoping to stall the ritual long enough

Rhenée asks Odette if she's willing to risk her soul for the terrible actions of other, hoping that Odette can make the right choice. This makes her think about her placement in the SOG

Suddenly the ninja crashes the party just in time and battles the gang. Odette frees Rhenee and Misako and allows herself to be apprehended

Outside she's sitting in the police van when Lloyd walks by and she begs him to hear her out. He wants to listen but is furious with her for betraying them and cuts her off

The ninja head to a bar to celebrate their victory; Lloyd has an honest talk with his mother about Harumi and vows to never trust again. Rhenée says that while Odette lied to them she notices that she's very different from the rest of the SOG

At the jailhouse Odette is sobbing at having lost everything - her friends, her life, and maybe even her sister. She takes out the lotus pin and is about to throw it way when she hears some commotion outside. Apparently the ritual brought back a monster. Fearing for her sister's safety she uses the pin to unlock her cell and sneaks out

Lloyd is too occupied with protecting Baby Wu to fight off Harumi; before she knocks him off Odette arrives & saves him and the baby

In the chaos the Monster arrives and tries to crush them all, Odette gives Lloyd enough time to escape but she falls to her supposed death in the process

Once the battle is over the four original ninjas are nowhere to be seen and are presumed dead

They find out Odette disappeared also, and believe her to he dead too

Harumi and her gang express joy at their enemies demise; and the gang no longer recognize Odette as their own seeing her as a traitor. Deep down Harumi feels a tiny bit pain over the loss of her only real friend but quickly sets that aside to prepare one last scheme

Lloyd grieves Odette's loss regretting they never had the chance to really TALK about what happened between them.

Unknown to everyone, the ninja and Odette were transported to the First Realm

Seasons 9&10 ramps up the angst

Cole is the first one who demands to hear her explanation. Odette explains her backstory and says whole none of it justifies her lies she has now become aware of her actions and is willing to help the ninja FOR REAL FOR REAL

The ninja do NOT want Odette anywhere near them after her betrayal and for a while shuns her.

Zane is the second one; his relationship with former merc Jetta he understands a bit what it's like to choose bad things for survive

Jay and Kai takes the longest: Jay because he's paranoid that Odette may just be evil and insane as Harumi; Kai because he is very protective of Lloyd (who he sees as a younger brother, and even had begun to saw Odette as another sister) and furious that she'd hurt him and their whole team like that

This leads to a series of trials for Odette to prove that she's willing to atone; she actually finds the last dragon's nest and vows to protect it

Meanwhile in Ninjago the city started an underground resistance led by Lloyd and Nya; Lloyd took in Odette's sister to take care of her now that she is gone

Odette and the Ninja finds a way out of the first realm and arrives with their new dragons. Odette splits off to confront Harumi and sees her on top of a building...which is about to fall much to her horror

Lloyd witnesses the scene and shouts Odette's name; the building collapses and he sinks to his knees in fear

Everyone watches with baited breath and cheers as they see both girls and the dragon coming out of the smoke alive

Lloyd and Odette apologize to each other then go off with their friends to fight off the Oni invasion

Once everything is over & Harumi decides to turn a new leaf and surrenders, everyone gathers at the monastery to celebrate. Wu invites Odette and her sister a permanent home with them

After s10 they don't get back together that quickly. Lloyd still has trust issues as in canon and Odette feels like shit believing herself to tbe the cause. Lloyd says it's not her fault, he's simply fed up with random villains coming at him for the crime of being the Chosen One.™

Odette isn't exactly let off easy by the public; there's multiple conspiracies about her and stuff and some aren't exatly forgiving her for working with a group that killed the royal family and destroyed the city. In order to redeem herself in the eyes of the public Odette starts training to become a real Ninja, doing little side missions to help people even something as simple as helping little old ladies use an escalator. Lloyd supports her every step of the way, using his popularity "and natural charisma" to dispel any rumors about her.

[fanfalc-616]

The Rights Of A Nindroid

Chapter Thirteen- Variation Two

(Prevoius variation here)

(Discord Here)

This chapter was originally an RP with @ablackswansweet, and there are two versions- one from both character’s POV. I have Swan’s permission to post this.

The young man can feel the android's gaze on him. It's wary of Martha and him, although he can hardly blame it. But he can't help but find the idea of a machine being "scared" kind of funny.

"What do you want?" It asks, most likely knowing something is coming, judging from the resignation in its voice. Kyle smiles internally.

You can almost see the cracks.

The blond is practically buzzing with excitement. A real android! And he gets to study it up close!

Getting closer, he inspects its face. The eerie look almost makes him shudder.

"I want to learn how you work." He takes Original's chin in his hand, moving it's head left and right to get a better look at it. The winces of "pain" from the android are uncanny.

He writes down some notes and takes his place next to the official again. Next part should be fun.

The android seems less than pleased with him playing with its uncovered face. Still, it bites its tongue instead of Kyle's hand (despite its very obvious desire to do so) until the blond is done, and lets out what sounds like a breath of relief.

How can you replicate relief in coding ? It's AI is fascinating.

"Haven't you done that enough?" It whines, trying to shake off its bonds. "With everything you've done to me, I doubt that any competent mechanic would need any more research."

It tries to shoot him a displeased glare, but without its faceplate it just looks unsettling and pathetic.

Kyle chuckles to himself. For a machine, it's talking a lot. Fascinating.

"Thing is, Original, I'm not exactly a mechanic. I'm just really, really interested by your wires and gears. And how well they respond to… Certains stimuli," he says.

A few more words in his notes and he looks at Martha, asking if it's time. She nods. Awesome.

As fast as he can, the blond connects wires to the android, barely able to contain his joy. It's not everyday you get to experiment on a non-human sentient being.

Stepping in front of the control panel, he waits for the official's instructions, almost shaking from anticipation.

Original isn't looking so good. It seems worried. Well, it's right. It should be. The distress emanating from it is very interesting, too. Can it sense the danger looming over it?

“To begin with, my name is Zane, not Original. Second, if you are so interested in ‘wires and gears’ perhaps a robotics course would be a more healthy outlet for you," it tries to reason with him. Too bad that it's way more interesting than a simple robotics course.

After a pause, it adds, "Why are you doing this? I can assure you that I have never meant to cause harm on any innocents.”

Kyle's hand twitches. He looks over at Martha. She's wearing a displeased expression. He didn't expect anything else, and he's probably making the same face as well.

“You can begin whenever you like.” The official tone sounds slightly interested, now.

He hums in response.

"Hey, Original?" He calls out to the robot. "You talk a lot."

He pushes a button and a small jolt of electricity was released. This fairly small amount of energy is only meant to cause discomfort. Wouldn't want to burn it out too fast.

The android squirms and still attempts to free itself, but no real pain response occurs. Interesting. A new paragraph written.

It still tries to reason with him, going on and on about how it wants it to stop, please. Kyle drowns the sound out with his thoughts. That wasn't very exciting.

Maybe with a stronger charge, something interesting will happen? That's what Martha seems to think too.

The android finally looks like it understands it's not talking him out of it.

How advanced is its code supposed to be, again? That took a while.

“I suppose I am talking a lot,” It concedes, “but not nearly as much as an old friend of mine. Jay couldn’t stay quiet if his life depended on it.”

Is it trying to have a conversation with him? Now? In its situation?

It must have thought of something. Let's humor it.

"Heh, yeah. I had a guy like that in one of my foster homes." A smirk grows on the blond’s face as the robot seems startled. "Didn't end well for him either. No one like a constant source of useless noise, don't you agree?"

Even without a faceplate, its expressions are pretty easy to guess. It's almost laughable how a few words shakes it up.

Making small talk is is a smart plan, he'll give it that. It's probably hoping that it'll make him like it enough to not hurt it. Let's see how long this game can last.

"How is your old friend doing now?" He asks, slowly turning up the voltage. The other engineers told him this should be as painful as period cramps, so that's fun.

The android struggles under the amount of electricity building up. But still, it continues to talk. Kyle's impressed.

“I haven’t seen him in a while- I’ve been a little…” It looks at its restrains and winces, probably reminded of its situation.. “... tied up.”

At big crooked smile appears on the blond's face. It's even making jokes now! Powering through painful situations could be a valuable asset if they were to make something like supersoldiers. Looking good so far.

“I don’t think I caught your name, either. What do you go by?” It asks, most likely trying to get information on him. That's not very important data, though. It can have it.

The blond lets his face turn into a surprised expression for a second. "My name's Kyle. He/him, I guess. But I don't think you're going to need to know that."

He turns the charge a little higher again, hoping to see some more interesting pain responses as they continue to talk. This is getting boring. Martha seems to approve of his method, however. Thanks, mom.

"Tell me about your other old friends. You said you were dating, right? How's it like ?" He asks again, a sinister smile on his face. How about a good old Pavlovian shock therapy?

Original fights any sign of discomfort or pain, and its calm expression is almost unsettling when you know what its sensors are going through right now.

“It’s nice to meet you, Kyle," It tells him, the lie barely noticeable. But Kyle has worked with hypocrites before. Original is talented. “I don’t recall mentioning that I was in an active relationship, but I suppose that the background research you must’ve done would cover that.”

Kyle smiles and says nothing. He increases the tension steadily, appreciating the sight of the android losing its peaceful facade, with flashes of pain occasionally visible on its face.

Impressive. The robot is still fighting. Maybe leaving the sensors at their normal settings was too nice, but oh well. Things are just now getting better.

"Yeah, I read your file before coming here. Big fan, by the way." He smiles, but the hostility starts to seep in his voice. "Wonder how they feel about your self-sacrificing nature," he almost spit out.

No. Breathe. Calm down.

Some composure regained, he suddenly sends it a jolt of electricity. Seeing it almost bite its tongue in pain is pretty therapeutic, actually.

Kyle lowers the voltage to let the robot catch his artificial breath. It's going to give up completely pretty soon. He'll have some fun with it first.

"So, your old friends ?"

Its pathetic sigh of relief is still very satisfying. It looks desperate, and tries to explain its past actions. It really doesn't need to. Kyle already knows they're unforgivable.

“When I was fighting the Golden Master, I meant no harm to any innocent people. I was built to protect those who cannot protect themselves. I… I understand that in some ways, I have failed this function, but I do my best to help those in need.”

The android attempts to steady its breathing. Trying to keep keep a sliver of dignity in front of the enemy, maybe ?

Anyways, it stopped talking. Finally.

Kyle sighs and does his best not to give a snarky reply. It seems to believe in what it's saying, anyways. Further proof of how out of touch with reality its AI is.

Another spike of tension, and Kyle is smiling again.

"You didn't answer my question, Original. How was life with your… Boyfriends ? Kai Smith, Jay Walker and Cole Brookstone, yeah ?" He says, insisting on their last names. They know who they are. Perhaps that'll make it talk.

His excitement level goes through the roof at Original's reaction. It goes stiff, most likely from anger. He found the weak spot.

A whimper escapes it, but it doesn't adress it. It's really mad.

“You do not touch them," it snarls at him. If Kyle's hand had been close to its face, there was no doubt it would've bitten him. “If you hurt them, I swear on the First Spinjitzu Master that I will hunt you down to the ends of the-“ Kyle cuts him off by sending it a strong shock. It cries in pain. The blond doesn't feel bad.

"Calm down. I didn't even actually threaten them yet," The boy mutters, leaving the tension run high a few more seconds before leaving it room to breathe again. The pathetic sounds of relief it does each time makes him want to laugh.

"If I wanted to truly use them as hostages, I'd tell you I know which shop they go to every two weeks to buy supplies and food, which is the one at the end of the main avenue."

Slowly, almost imperceptibly, the voltage starts going up again.

"I'd tell you we have live feed of them almost every day and everywhere they go."

The pain must be becoming close to absolutely unbearable, seeing how the android trashes around. Fun.

"Or… I'd tell you how one of them already got arrested once, and how easy it is to transfer prisoners or fake an accident."

The power is now all the way up. It's almost scary how much this artificial body can handle.

Before it actually physically breaks, though, Kyle shuts off the power. The android's breath of relief is broken up by what sounds like sobs.

The blond comes closer, chuckling as the machine flinches near him. He takes off the wires plugged into it.

"Don't you dare threaten me or her ever again. Remember who holds the power here," he mutters in its ear before joining Martha with a smile, his notepad black with scribbles. She looks satisfied.

The android looks like it wants to say something, but doesn't have the strength to do so anymore. That's a satisfying sight.

He leaves the room with Martha, closing the door after her.

She smiles at him.

"It's close. You were right, you can almost see it cracking by the minute."

She fondly ruffles his hair and he chuckles, his nose tickled.

"Good job, sweetie."

[purplerose244]

Peacefully

Here for this year’s Ninjago Secret Santa! Man I love this event, thank you a lot @coco-jaguar for organizing it once again! ❤ Hi @davisisacommonname, I’m your secret santa! Here’s you gift, I hope you like it! 😊😊

Merry Christmas and happy festivitites!! 💕💕

Summary: It’s a day like others, just without the usual mayhem shaking the entire city. A time to think of less stressful possibilities.

“So, what did we learn today?”

“That dares are stupid?” As they got back inside the monastery, finally escaping the chilling winter air, Nya raised a gigantic eyebrow at the green ninja. At which the mighty leader seemed to shrink the littlest bit. “… that dares involving the master of lighting putting lights on the tree using spinjitzu, resorting in him entangling himself into the wires and making every single bulb explode by electrification, are stupid?”

“There you go.” The master of water sighed loudly. “I don’t even know why I’m surprised it happened.” Despite the nonchalance of this blondie, the brand-new lights that they had been forced to buy and how she was probably the only one irritated about it – especially since Kai had been laughing hysterically for ten minutes straight afterwards –, she smiled.

Lloyd mimicked her, probably sensing he was not in mortal danger anymore, taking off scarf and hat. His golden locks puffed up as soon as the headpiece was off.

“Does the fact that I lost against Cole count as enough punishment?”

“Mhm?”

“I bet with him it was going to be Kai the first to cause an incident, he was supposed to be the one to take the bet. Now I’m in debt of one week of chores.” Another eyebrow was raised, less furious, more judging. “What? I’m trying to catch up, apparently the guys used to bet on everything when they first formed the team, from who was going to be the green ninja, to who was going to be the first to find out the identity of Samurai X! Like, I’m that prophesied green savior, and I knew about your little escapades.” Nya couldn’t help the little smirk. Ironically, the green ninja did turn out to be the first to discover the truth. “I could’ve won two times already, I wanna keep up now.”

They stepped into the kitchen, hearing faraway sounds. The others were most likely elsewhere putting up less expendable decorations. Nya was already looking towards the stove, thinking of nothing other than hot chocolate. Knowing Lloyd, they were on the same page.

“Okay, that’s uselessly prideful and kind of adorable, but this better not turn into a gambling addiction little one.”

“Nya, my father was the king of the Underworld. Is there really a worse evil than that?”

She couldn’t argue back.

Lost in thoughts about something warm to melt her frozen bones, she almost jumped when the sudden scribble came to her ears, and one extremely peaceful whistling that they were all too accustomed to at this point. In the living room right next, sitting on the sofa with the television uncharacteristically switched off, was Cole. Eyes on a random notebook he had on his knees, a pencil in the air, wearing that ridiculous sweater Jay found at the mall with muscled arms drawn over the sleeves – such a miracle of an ugly sweater.

He looked extremely taken by his activity, munching the end of the pencil every once in a while. Seeing their official lifter so calm and captured by whatever mindless activity had forced him to sit down was curious. It did happen before, but lately it got rarer. It was always a nice view.

Nya looked at the green ninja, who pointed at the kitchen with his thumb, right where the mugs where. She nodded, and went to take place next to the master of earth.

Who jumped right away, giving her a look.

“What the…? You’re back already? I didn’t hear you get in.”

“Wow, you don’t say!” From the kitchen the blonde’s voice erupted. “It’s almost like we’re ninja or something, unbelievable!” It followed accurate noises made by mouth, and if they knew him – and after years they absolutely did – then the little brat was probably mimicking an explosion coming out of his head – he was hanging around Jay a little too much.

Nya giggled, while the master of earth rolled his eyes with a little grin.

“Nice to hear you’re all in a good mood after our little blackout. You got the lights?”

“All done. Sorry about the scare, but it looked like you were in your own world.” She tilted her head, looking around. The living room was getting more festive, but it missed at least half the holly. “Didn’t you guys finish while we were gone?”

“We were going to, then something came up and we can’t really continue until Zane comes back to the shop… Kai accidentally set the tree on fire while you two were gone.” Her loud facepalm spoke louder than any of them. “I think Wu is still giving him an earful as he did with Jay as we speak … and before you ask Lloyd, Jay made a mess before Kai. So I still won the bet.”

“Aww, for once that I actually need Hot Shot to cause a mess!” The green ninja came out of the kitchen, the kettle starting to heat up into the kitchen, pout clearly in sight. For being their brave leader and the strongest ninja of all, he was still kind of a kid – although in all honesty, weren’t they all? “Anyway, what got you so into it that you forgot how to hear?” He walked until he was behind the couch, leaning over the master of earth’s shoulder and smiling. “Hey, that’s pretty cool! I didn’t know you could draw!” His surprised tone came out sincerely, especially since it felt like forever since they had found each other in this weird family. Finding new details was always a shock.

Nya scooted closer as well, smiling at the familiar shading of the chicken drawn onto the paper, with the real one sleeping over a pillow in front of the tv.

“You still have a nice touch. I haven’t seen you do it ever since it was just the four of you in action, and this little evil brat was in some random snake prison.” Lloyd mouthed an ‘oohhh’ of understand as why he didn’t remember. “To be more specific, I’m pretty sure it was back when instead of listening to my research about the Serpentine, you guys have tried to poison me with perfume.” Good thing no villain knew about her little Achilles hill.

Cole snorted, pressing his eraser on the corner of the paper.

“You were telling complicated stuff to that airhead that is your brother, to the guy that was lookin at your in awe while trying his hardest to ask you out, and to a nindroid. A robot. You can’t really blame us.”

“What’s your excuse then?” The master of earth raised his piece.

“I’m pretty freaking good at this.” Nya snorted. Again, no arguments here. “You know… I’ve been thinking about those times. And it’s not like it was easier, but I guess we didn’t really know how much things could become complicated and return back then.” Cole looked over the drawing, shrugging. “But I’m in vein of taking something back from there, exactly because we don’t know when we could get called into action again. It’s little, but it’s still mine… I felt silly like that this morning.” He grinned of that introverted nature that, despite years, was still a part of him.

And it was okay. It was great even. Nya gave him a shoulder.

“Hey, it’s not silly, it’s good.”

“Yeah! All of us should do something other than fighting.” Lloyd chimed in, dropping next to Cole on the other side, smiling. “Like for example, even though it’s been a pretty shady part of my life, I kinda miss PE back at Darkley’s. Moving just for the sake of moving. We should play sometimes, not because of training, it could be fun… or Nya could annihilate us, whichever comes first.”

“I’m not that competit-” The master of water blinked twice, shaken by the quickest flashback of her life. “… no wait scratch that, I totally am.”

Cole snickered, tapping the notebook with his pencil.

“Besides having as a golden rule to never put the blacksmith brothers against each other-” It could be the time Ninjago actually managed to get completely destroyed for good. “I would be down for that, why not? No sparring or anything, just a friendly match of whatever. I didn’t even get to do that as a kid, dad would always say that I could risk putting muscles where a dancer didn’t need them…” He flexed one arm, the massive hill pulling up the drawing onto the sleeve. He grinned with satisfaction. “How about football? I’ve always wanted to try football!” Oh for whatever reason other than having the strength to tackle a mountain?

“Absolutely!” Lloyd nodded eagerly. “Let’s do it! Oh, and soccer too, Brad and I used to try that a lot when we were kids!” He seemed to absolutely glow and the perspective, and it was kinda sad that such a simple reality represented an actual opportunity for him.

Before Nya could get lost into more self-deprecating depressive thoughts, and the fact that not even one of them had a normal childhood except maybe for Jay – and considering the still not so clear Cliff Gordon erased reality affair that was still up to discussion –, there was a loud whistle coming from the kitchen. The green ninja immediately sprouted into action, sprinting towards the sound. As soon as Cole decided to put down his drawing, seeing as the chicken had woken up to go bother someone – bet on Kai –, the blondie came back with three steaming mugs, giving to them all.

The master of water held up hers – a blue one with a storm cloud on it saying ‘Too tide to talk’ –, smiling at the distinct bitter scent of black cocoa. They knew each other tastes way too well.

“Sounds good to me. I also fancy basketball, so I’m down for that.”

“Nice! Mm, but how about other hobbies? Nya?” Cole took his time to take a generous sip from his mug that was literally dripping because of the amount of marshmallow – covering slightly the orange surface with ‘I’m a grounded person, like my coffee’ written on it –, while the gray ninja frowned a little. “Anything you would like to regain? You never really stopped with engineering so I’m guessing that’s out of the way.”

“Yeah, but,” She hummed, tracing the warm cup with her fingers. “That wasn’t a hobby or something I liked to do, not at first at least. It was just like Samurai X, a way to show you guys I could do what you did, even better. It grew on me, but it’s kinda work too, I’m proud of it but nowhere near as passionate as Jay or Cyrus Borg could be.” It was all about her tendency of holding onto the things she excelled at after all, the one obstacle that had almost cost her the true potential of her element. Despite her steps forward, putting a difference between liking to be good at something and liking it was still a little complicated. Then again… “… maybe painting?”

Cole grinned in surprise, Lloyd raised his head from his cup showing an impressive chocolate mustache – along with that black mug saying ‘It’s morning so you green and bear it’… and yes those mugs were all Jay’s presents.

“Whoa, where did that come from?”

“Yeah no offence, but you never stroke me as the artistic type.”

“None taken, it’s not exactly something that I feel it belongs to me, but maybe that’s why I used to like it. Because it was so far I didn’t have to think too much about it.” Nya smiled, taking another sip. “Remember the second Steep of Wisdom Wu opened in the middle of Ninjago City? To attract more customers I decided to work on a mural, right on the side. I don’t even know why, I just bought paint, brushes and a suit and started.”

“Oohh, I remember the one!” Lloyd snapped his fingers, the marshmallow in his cocoa shaking in the movement. “It was the one with the big majestic Wu serving the customer, I thought he hired an artist for it! That was cool!”

“You’re not saying it just because you’re my little brother, right?”

“Oh no, if it was ugly I would make a manifest all about it exactly because I’m your little brother. Brotherly code, smack talk every time it’s possible.” And then he fist bumped with his earthly brother nearby, wearing that same stupid grin. “But seriously, you were good at it. We finally have some free time to our hands, maybe it could be a good time for a new work. We still need the mural of that Day of the Departed where Cole turned back human after all, since those monks decided they had ‘lost the harmony of the inspiration’.” No one had been happy with leaving that important adventure behind – too bad they were in a monastery, a place of peace.

Cole hummed mindlessly, munching a marshmallow.

“Tell you what, how about we buy drawing and painting materials together for Christmas shopping?” He chugged down his drink, releasing a very satisfied sigh before leaning his back softly over the couch. “It’s usually Zane or Pix, we could take over for once and no, don’t give me that look water lily, it’s not for buying an extra cake and yes, do give me that look greenie, if you come along we’re so escaping and get to the sweet shop.” And there it came, another fist bump.

She had signed up for this.

She had signed up for this the moment she had let herself being overtaken by a bunch of skeletons, a past hit on her pride that to this day made her want to take a bone and break it in halves every time she thought about it – sports were going to be massacres, she was kinda looking forwards to it.

“I’m bringing leashes for you two vampires with sweet teeth, but it’s not a bad idea. And I like the mall in this period, it could even bring some inspiration as to what to paint.”

“How did you decide the first time?”

“I just thought of a simple design to get more clients.” Nya finished her drink, giving her eyes to a very curious looking blonde, thinking that it had been so long. It had always been so long, every single time she reevoked a part of her life, even though she was still so young. It was that eventful. “I worked on that project all day… but after it melted under the sun, it got ruined because of the wind and a lightning decided to strike it right in the middle, I just splashed it with all the colors I had and spinjitzued the heck out of it.”

“… rage, the mark of an artist.” Lloyd snickered, then he froze, suddenly beaming at the two. “Hey, why don’t you two work on something together? Cole makes the drawing and you paint it, it could be like a Christmas gift or something!”

Nya popped her mouth opened. How did they never think of that? How did they never while they had been battling villain after villain after villain after- Oh, there was the answer.

She turned to the master of earth, who looked just as engaged with the idea, if not more.

“Heck yeah, let’s do it! I can sketch a few ideas!”

“I do have colors I never got to try last time…”

“And I know mom got a few old frames that didn’t get accepted by the museum, I’m sure we can find a good one for this.” Lloyd grinned, scratching his cheek. “It’s almost weird putting up a plan for something other than defeating evilness…”

“Maybe, doesn’t make it any less good.” Cole winked at the two of them, looking inspired. And it was so good to see her brothers so high-spirited, and being happy with them. “… aha, I got one!” The master of earth hurried to the notebook, scrabbling quickly while the green ninja leaned his chin over his shoulder to see better, and the master of water did the same with her elbow on the other side. There was no other noise besides the pencil moving, and the suddenly more vivid voice of the rest of their family not too far away.

Peace was an abstract concept, it was in her life at least. But at least this moment, this situation, this instant, for Nya this was hers. And she wanted to make the most of it.

“… is that Jay getting entangled into the Christmas lights while doing spinjitzu?”

“Yeah? Is that the ‘should I punch you now or later for stupidity’ frown?”

“Nah, it’s the ‘what shade of color better depict bad life decisions’ frown.”

[skalesjr]

My (Dumbass) Monster Au!!

Heads Up before I begin: Most of the monster Designs Are NOT plain Monsters (E.g Mermaids, Griffins, Shapeshifters) But my own design :) 

Okay, So Its Set in like a Modern, More Real-life Setting, And Takes Place Two Years After (Sensei) Garmadon Goes Missing, And Misako Has Abandoned Lloyd with his Uncle. (Also, Morro is alive in this Au and Is Adopted by Wu) So They are Moving to a More City part of Ninjago, (But not Ninjago city!) To set up a teashop! (And live there ofc) But while Exploring an Old house, They Fall through the Floor and into this Cavern, there are Crystals Everywhere. Also, Strange Writing. Morro Sees this Big Green Crystal and Touches it. (But seriously why would you do that) Lloyd Is like, ‘Dude its floating it’s probably cursed. But we are going down together you piece of poo’

And so then!! Bright Light!! And they wake up outside the house, 10 minuets later, They Go back home, Yada. But When they wake up in the morning that’s when the weird stuff starts. Morro has Some sort of Hot food for Breakfast and when he blows on it to cool it down It blows to the Other side of the table?? He’s so confused. And Lloyd While eating SWEARS he saw someone in a coat with a Fish tail. After Breakfast They Go to the Supermarket and See the person again, and they are wearing earmuffs, But it’s Not cold enough for earmuffs. They Buy what they where Going to get and Decide to follow the Person.

The Person Quickly realises that someone is following them. The person Leads them Down an Alley and Uses Magic to dump Water on them. This had the opposite effect. Now the Two really want to know who this person is. They Follow Behind still, Until the person arrives at a Cave. The Person Confronts Lloyd and Morro, When Suddenly a Monster Grabs Lloyd! Morro Tries to Calm the Situation down but fails terribly and Is Kicked to the ground by the monster.

Morro Panics, And The wind Picks Up. The Monster and the Person are Kicked Down, But Lloyd is freed from the Monster’s Grasp. When the Person and The Monster Are Able to get up again, They Ask if they Touch the Crystal. The Boys Reply That they did. The Person and The Monster Light up and Apologise for attacking them. They Introduce themselves as Kai and Nya Smith, Siblings. (But y’all knew that) They Also Explain that many Hunters Come to the Town to Hunt monsters Because of how many Sightings of unnatural Creatures there are.

And that’s Basically the Intro! More Info and Refs under the Cut :)

 Okay! Here’s some more Lore about the cavern and Stuff!

Blue Crystals Give off an aura that Makes Beings into Monsters, and Green Crystals Stop this by giving elemental magic. Red Crystals and yellow Crystals Are a secret Currently ;)

The Longer You stay in the cavern, The More Monstrous you get. Morro and Lloyd Stayed in the Cavern for less than three Minutes So they didn’t really gain any of the effects of the Crystals.

There’s Five Stages. Stage 1 – Nothing really (Under 3 minutes), Stage 2 – Get Spikes/Horns/Tails Stuff like that. (4-8 minutes), Stage 3 – You Look like what you would in Stage Four but More Human. (9-15 Minutes) Stage 4 – You Lose Your Entire Human Shape And look like a Beast. (16 – 20 Minutes) Stage 5 – You lose Anything else that would Make you human. (21+ minutes) Also the Cavern Kills Anyone Not worthy / Can’t Collect an elemental Power

Kai Stayed in the Cavern for much longer. (He Touched the Green Crystal During Stage 3) Nya Touched the Crystal During Stage 2.

Lloyd and Morro! Are Really close even after Lloyd’s father went missing and Misako Left him in Wu’s care. Morro is Adopted, But He’s fine with that.

Kai Is just a plain old fire monster, (Cause You know, He’s got fire)

Same Hot-headed Personality, Just Slightly More Cautious. He Hardly goes into Town. Those Holes In his body? He Spray fire from them like a dragon! He can also have Fire from his Palms :)

Nya Has Those Fish Gill Ear things and a Tail (Kinda Like a Vaporeon) She’s also a Shapeshifter, But Cant Switch out her tail.

Same Personality, But Slightly More Energetic and Stuff, She’s the one to get food and Stuff. She Loves fishing, and Just swimming, she just loves the water (Probably Influenced by her Element)

Zane He’s a stage two because he a nindroid, it doesn’t affect him as much. He Gains Ice Spikes on his body and is always cold to the touch. He’s still his same old self :)

Pixal, She’s a baby! She Lives with Borg and Zane (Who lives in the Tower with them) She Loves Going out with Zane to do Little things like buying Groceries And Lighters because they used up the last 20 to get ice off Zane’s face even though it’s the middle of winter… She’s also slightly more excitable!

Jay, Is a Stage Two and he has Very bad Anxiety. He still lives with his parents, But under all that Anxiety he’s still his same old self!

Cole, He’s A stage 2! He’s Very Cautious and Lives alone. He’s still pretty chill, but only if you’ve Known him for a while.

And that’s What I got so far! I Hope you like My First Ninjago Au!

[ahrifoxtailgoddess]

Ninjago: Guardian of Stars Ch 2

Warning: Contains GORE!!!! If you're a young fan of Ninjago, I suggest you turn around for your own safety of this fan fiction!

Characters: -Kai -Jay -Zane -Cole -Nya -Lloyd -Sensei Wu -Pixal -Misako -Sonya(My Oc) -Star Phoenix(My Oc)

Previously from Ch 1: Kai left the area where Jay was taken and brought back. As he was near the Bounty, he was suddenly grabbed from underneath and was never seen again.

Chapter 2: Hide and Survive

Everyone was busy except Nya, who was curious about Kai's return, she decided to set off to go find him. As she made it only about a block, she saw his armor piece that was laying on the ground. She now realized her own brother was taken. Nya has informed the others of his disappearance, and everyone was worried about what happened and where he went this time. Zane remembered when Jay was taken, he was brought back from the exact spot where he was taken. And they thought Kai was crazy to face the mysterious person, for they don't know how they fight. But for Kai, he woke up and saw himself in a different world not like Ninjago, but instead there were galaxies, floating stones, stars, and constellations that can be spotted. He looked around and proceeded with finding the mystery person. He went over up to the bigger platform with tall quartz pillars, and he saw a sky blue feather just standing there as if someone threw it down to the ground. He went to it and stares at it before picking it up, for it was a trap. A shadow figure stares at Kai as he reaches for the feather on the ground, and threw a dagger towards his hand, but misses. Kai saw that and looked around as he grasps his hands back to see where it came from. He got out his sword and looks around to see where his attacker will strike at next. The figure swiftly and silently moved behind the pillars, targeting his blind spot that he wouldn't expect to see it coming. The mysterious figure jumped on top of the pillars, and was staring at him down while he looked around. He finally looked up to the mysterious figure and had his sword up pointing at them.

Kai: Who are you?!

The mysterious figure didn't respond back to him. He tried to look at them, but all he could see was a cloak draping over the stranger as they stare into his very eyes. Kai asked again.

Kai: Tell me, or I'll fight you!

Once again, no response from the stranger.

He goes into his defensive stance and saw the figure jumped. He followed up and was about to strike at them, but he realized something. The stranger wasn't there, but the cloaked was a diversion to distract him. Behind him in between the crystal pillars, there was a shine in the dark and out came were 3 daggers, he turned in the air and noticed and knocked two of them out of the air, but one of them managed to cut his left shoulder. Blood trickled a bit from the wound, and he just ignored it. He looks around again to see where they will strike at again. He quickly scans the area and notices the same figure hiding behind. He had his swords ready and charged at the pillar, and sliced it in half. He looks and saw no one there, but he suddenly felt the dagger cut his right thigh, which hit a vein in his leg. He looked at the weapon and saw it was the same dagger that Jay recently had. He pulls it out and threw it aside, and he ripped a fabric of his outfit and ties his injured thigh and looks behind him where the dagger came from. This time, he used his Fire Elemental to throw some at the pillars. He looked around and saw the mysterious person running around but wasn't there. He cuts another pillar down and found no one there. This time used his reflexes to hit the daggers that were about to attack from behind. But somehow from above, one dagger managed to slice his skin on his back, not leaving a large open gap, but it was bleeding a bit. Kai ignored the pain again and he threw his sword at where the shadow figure would be hiding. It almost hit them as they dodged the sword thrown at them. But it did cut a piece of their clothing fabric. Kai got his sword back and follows where the figure will go. He's not going to buy the ambushing tactic again. As the figure ran to the dead end area, it was actually booby trapped for Kai to come entering into there. Once he ran in without knowing, there was no exit. All there was is just the stranger and him. He threatens them by raising his sword at them to reveal who they were. The mysterious person raised their hands up like as if they were going to surrender, and Kai bought the bait for the trick they had in their sleeves. Then in a second, the stranger's arms crossed to the opposite sides, which looked like they were crossing their arms, but their hands were sticking out, showing a hand signature of what it looked to be either pulling strings, or an aura around their hands. Kai didn't know what was happening, but he looks up and suddenly saw large daggers that came raining down on him. The Feather Daggers didn't kill him, but instead they caged him and subdue him with the daggers tightly holding him down. He tried to struggle, but he felt his arms getting cut from the large feather daggers that were pinning him down onto his knees. He then looks at the stranger under the shadows of the pillars. They slowly turned their head to him, looking at him with that dark stare that pierces into your soul. He was heavily bleeding from the cuts that were opened from when he was just in battle and struggling, making him feel drowsy in the process. His eyes were slowly closing, which he caught a glimpse of the stranger walking towards him and saw a Feather Plume on the right side of their waist. Which had 3 layers of each feathers from small to big. He then saw their aqua green eyes, the eyes his friend Jay described. He tried to say a few things before he was about to pass out.

Kai: W-Who...are you?...

???: ...Do you remember...from the past?

That was their only response before his vision blacked out.

-Back at the Bounty ship!- Everyone waited for the second day, waited at the spot where Kai was taken. Cole was bored out of his mind, waiting at the park. Lloyd was within the tree, hiding underneath the bushy leaves in the shadow, just waiting still. Jay has recovered from his injuries, but he sat down on a bench near the area. Zane was on the rooftop with Nya, watching as day was passing by slowly. It was really tiring, but at least one managed to provide resources for them. As the sun sets down for night to come, Lloyd told them it was time to watch over for any sign of Kai. Every Ninjago citizens went to bed at night, little were walking around, and the Ninjas were in position to wait. Time passed for every hour, Jay and Cole were slowly falling to sleep, but had to try to keep themselves up. Around 11:00 at night, Zane was the only one awake since he's a Nindroid, everyone was asleep. He suddenly saw something glimmer on the cement sidewalk. He scanned a closer look, and saw what appeared to be a portal opening up. He woken everyone up with high alert that something is coming. They saw their friend Kai, thrown upwards onto the cement, with another dagger stuck in his arm which was smaller. Zane quickly got off from the rooftops and tried to run for the portal to grab the stranger, but it was already closing for him to reach over to. Finally the portal closes and he grunts in frustration that he couldn't get there in time. They looked at Kai, and saw that his injuries were much worse than Jay's previous injuries. They brought him to the hospital for treatment of the injures. Lloyd looked at Zane to see if he got anything.

Lloyd: Zane, by any chance did you get to see who it was who's doing all this?

Zane: I saw only the portal. I didn't get a good look at the stranger, but I know for sure, one of us is next.

Lloyd: *He turns away from the others and he hits his fist on the wall* Why are they doing this to us?! Why are they attacking us one by one?! Why are they only just hurting us but not kill us?!

Jay: *tries to remember* I think...I think that maybe when we recover, we might be taken back again for the same treatment they gave me.. But that would be when...when-WHEN THEY WILL END OUT VERY LIVES!!

Nya: Jay, calm down. Whatever's happening, we'll stop them. Even if they escaped that fast, we have to find a way to open that portal to go and find out where the stranger is.

Cole: So, what do we have to do now? Kai is hurt, and we're just sitting ducks here, not knowing where they'll strike one of us at!

Lloyd: Cole, I understand if you don't like this. Neither do all of us here. But, I'm sensing a pattern for these kidnappings of us.

Zane: If the attacker only goes after us, I would say they would want to torture us for two days only. We get taken around 11:00 at night, and then two days later, the same time.

Lloyd: This time, the injuries as well did lead to this. *pulls out the dagger that was stabbed into Kai's arm*

Zane: Lloyd, the ones we got from Jay, it appears that the materials of those daggers are not earth based.

Jay: What do you mean, not earth based?

Zane: What I'm trying to say is, what if this weapon wasn't on the lists of materials to form and shape this? This weapon would be years of crafting, but I've stumbled onto something that will be interesting.

Nya: Show us then.

Zane: *nods and formed a hologram screen from the machine* What I tested from these daggers so far, each has a different affect of how they're destroyed from our elements. First is Fire. *he burns the dagger, and the dagger starts to turn into dust instead of melting* Second is Lightning. *he created the strongest spark at the dagger a couple times, it shattered into bits of sharp glasses* And for Ice. *he tests Ice on the dagger and it suddenly forms exactly like the dagger, but it grew rapidly, forming almost a sword* Those of our 3 elements are the only ones that cause dangerous affects, but for Earth and Water, it seems there's some positive affects on it. *he shows the results of Earth and Water. Earth made the dagger form into gems, and water only disintegrated the dagger into nothing* Those two are the only elements that can prevent the daggers from hitting you. That would be their weakness to their advantage.

Lloyd: Then, what about my element?

Zane: I haven't tested that out yet, but I wouldn't risk doing it with your Element. I'm sorry Lloyd.

Lloyd: I understand. Now, we know the patterns, the days of disappearance, and the time when one of us will be on the next list. This time, we'll be the ones that will be ready. Zane, can you build a remote that can open the portal like how Kai and Jay fell out of? We'll need it in case one of us gets taken this time.

Zane: It will take some time. I'll do whatever I can to make one now.

Everyone geared up and they finally got some clues of the kidnapper's patterns. When it was night time, it was 10:30 pm for the Ninjas to hurry. Lloyd walked around an area where Cole was nearby him, Jay was near Cole while walking. Nya was the same, but they were all actually near each other to circle around the building where Zane was creating the Portal Device for them. When time was going to reach to 11 o clock, Zane was close to complete the Portal device, only to get a notice when the radar starts to alarm that something is coming for one of them. Who is going be the next target? Nya? Cole? Lloyd? Or Zane?

To be Continued!

If there’s something that doesn’t sound right, feel free to comment down below to let me know what mistakes I’ve made in the fiction!

[silver-ninja-of-the-tides]

Silver and Gold

Chapter 20--Guardian of Earth and Wind

(AO3 ver.)

(Prologue Tumblr ver.; AO3 ver.)

Lloyd's POV

The wolf was the same size as the cheetah, maybe even a little bigger, and it seemed to blend in with the silver torches on either side of it.

Suddenly its ears straightened and its head snapped up. Intense blue eyes stared into us as we stared right back, and I kind of felt a little intimidated just by its gaze.

“This is no ordinary creature, is it?” Zane inquired.

“Now that it’s been turned to silver, no.” Misako replied.

The wolf growled at us for a minute before stopping, laying its eyes on the cheetah. Sensei was nudged forward by the cat, and the wolf lowered its head to sniff him. Once again, he remained calm as he tilted his head up at the canine.

“What is it about Sensei that they like so much?” Jay asked in a whisper.

The wolf pulled at the restraints again, and Kai stepped forward only to be snarled at. He slowly reached for his Fire Sword, and the wolf sniffed his sleeve. Seconds later, it whimpered.

“You must have something to do with who he’s looking for,” Misako said.

“Well who’s he—”

The wolf growled, leading Kai to roll his eyes.

“Who’s she looking for?” “We’ll find out once we get her out of here,” Nya said. Just as Kai was about to cut the chains, low thuds shook the ground.

“That—does not sound good,” Jay said.

The thumping continued, gradually getting louder and louder. As an enormous figure emerged, we all backed up as the Eastern Guardian stalked out of the shadows. Its own massive shadow seemed to swallow up any light we had, but its steel wings trimmed with bronze still glinted in the fire. The tip of the slim tail was titanium as well as its talons and claws. Its lion legs had a bronze pelt, and the beak was a shiny gold. Black eyes almost identical to the Northern Guardian’s eyed us with a livid gaze, and I couldn’t help but wonder if we had bitten off more than we could chew.

Flapping its wings, it clawed the ground as its laugh echoed within my mind.

These are your heroes?! it mocked, her powerful voice almost too much for my head.

The cheetah snarled at the guardian, causing the creature to look down at her.

I had you in my grasp, right where I wanted you, but your companion sacrificed herself to take your place. Such a brave deed, yet none of you petty beings will escape. The hybrid looked to Cole. Earth—one of my elements. You will be my next prisoner, youngling.

“I don’t think so, guardian!” Cole shot.

The cheetah lunged at the guardian, and the guys and I slipped our hoods on before splitting up. I helped Kai cut the chains off the wolf as Nya and Misako had our backs. The guys fired their elements, but Cole’s earth was just absorbed by the guardian.

“Aw seriously?! What gives?!”

Your earth is useless against me, youngling!

“Keep fighting! Ninjas never quit!” I encouraged.

The guardian flapped her huge wings, and the torches swelled as sharpened bones flew toward us. The team was thrown back as Misako and Nya pulled Kai and me down.

“Why won’t they cut?!” Kai asked impatiently. “It’s like they're made out of steel!” “That's because they are!” Nya answered.

Kai set his sword on fire and slowly began to cut through the metal, the wolf’s hackles and ears raised as she eyed the fight. The right chain dropped just as mine did, but an eagle’s cry merged with a lion’s roar rang out. We all covered our ears while the cheetah pawed at her ears, the wolf barking in distress and flattening her ears.

Jay's POV

“How you guys doing?!” I called. “Halfway there!” Lloyd called back.

I shot lightning at the guardian’s torso, making it screech again in pain. “Ha! How’s that for a shocking sensation?!”

You will never defeat me, urchins! she yelled. She swung her heavy tail under us and swept us all off our feet. (Hah. Good one, Jay.)

“Ninjaa-GO!” Cole shouted. The second he made contact with her eagle leg, she flicked him away. His sword slipped out of his hand as he slid down the wall. “Okay . . . That went better in my head . . ."

A fierce growl cut through the air as the wolf joined the battle, chomping and munching on the left wing of the guardian. She shrieked again and tried to claw at the wolf, but the cheetah jumped onto the beast and bit her head. Sensei and Garmadon performed Spinjitzu as Kai, Zane, Cole, Lloyd, and I all shot at the Eastern Guardian’s chest. She soared into the wall of the room and slammed her wings against it, but the cheetah was still holding on to the head.

“Hah! How’s that for some urchins?” Kai taunted.

Enraged, the guardian’s feathers ruffled up. ENOUGH!

We gripped our heads as the griffin shook the cheetah off of her. She heaved herself to her feet as we tried to get ourselves together.

YOU WILL NOT DEFEAT ME! NONE OF YOU WILL! YOU WILL ALL BE MY PRISONERS!

“She’s overloading my system!” Zane shouted.

“She’s overloading all our systems!” I exclaimed.

“We need to leave this place . . .” Sensei grunted. “Now!”

We pulled ourselves to our feet as the wolf practically threw Kai and Nya onto her back. The guardian was about to extent her wings when she yowled, slowly tucking her wings in.

“Her wings! She can’t fly!” Kai exclaimed.

“That should buy us some time,” Garmadon stated. "Quickly!"

Lloyd was scooped up by the cheetah as Garmadon placed Misako on her, and we all darted off as fast as we could.

The guardian’s distorted scream slowed us down, and her giant footsteps echoed throughout the hall.

“She may not be able to fly, but she can still run!” Cole exclaimed. “Run for it!”

Zane dared to glance over his shoulder at the doorway. “Just because she can run, it doesn’t necessarily mean that she can reach us.”

“Of course she can!” Jay yelled.

“The doorway’s too small for her.”

THUD!

“Ohh but that’s not stopping her!” Nya warned.

“Someone open the door!” Kai shouted.

The Ultra Dragon’s roar was heard from outside as the thuds from behind us just got louder and louder. The doors took their time opening up, and I had to squint at the light from outside.

“Hurry up hurry up hurry up!” I yelled.

By the time we were barreling toward them they were open just enough for us to go single file. The falcon cawed twice as the wolf easily jumped onto the dragon’s back. As everyone soared up to the saddle, the cheetah leapt on, and Lloyd flew to the reigns.

The dragon took off within a heartbeat, and the guardian’s enraged scream could still be heard even as we were flying above the trees.

“That was a close one,” Zane said.

“Yeah. Way too close,” Kai said, plopping back.

“You’re telling me,” Jay added.

“I hope we never have to come back here,” Lloyd said.

“Yeah. I doubt we’ll have a welcoming party if we do,” Cole said.

“At least we can focus on what we really came for now.”

“Next stop—the Dark Island!” Nya announced.

(First chapter) (Next chapter) (Previous chapter)

[kelphero47]

The Marvelous Adventures of Echo Zane - Chapter 6

Happy Halloween, my fantastic readers. Hope you enjoy this spooky chapter of TMAoEZ.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"The boy crept slowly down the hall, thinking he was completely alone-" A voice began in the dark before being cut off by a second.

"Boring..." A smacking followed this drawled statement.

"Shhh!" A third person ordered as the second voice winced.

"Suddenly a bright light appeared from behind him. He turned around to find no one there apart from his sister's doll." The first voice continued giving a long pause.

"How is that even scary?" The second voice came back to interrupt again.

"Covered in blood." The first voice finished doing an exaggerated spooky sounding voice causing two voices to giggle while a third just sighed in disappointment. Before any of them could speak again a light came on behind them illuminating the four kids. They all screamed in fear scrambling to grab onto each other as the light was dropped on the floor. "Hide me, I'm too young to die!"

"Are you okay, friends?" A fifth voice came from near the light source before it moved again to reveal Echo stood in a doorway holding a plate of food and a flashlight. The four kids looked at each other before detangling themselves, "You seem distressed... Are the scary stories going well?" Echo asked curiously as he sat down in the group placing the plate of snacks in the middle of the circle they'd created.

"You could say that." Nelson replied nervously, "Thanks for inviting us over by the way, it's a cool way to celebrate having my casts off."

"Yeah, your room is awesome." Sam smiled as he stuffed a cookie in his mouth.

"It used to be a storage room..." Echo explained as he looked around at the boxes still inhabiting the wall of the room. "However, my brother promised he'd help me buy some decorations for it soon, like a new ceiling lamp."

"That's why it's so dark in here."

"I tried replacing the lightbulb by myself but accidently fell off the ceiling." Echo still remembered Zane scolding him for trying to do it himself and then comforting him when his leg had to be repaired, it still kind of hurt. The group fell into a comfortable silence after that, everyone enjoying the snacks Echo had supplied, that was until they began hearing weird noises coming from outside the door. All five of them sat completely still as a strange dragging sound came from right next to the room and listened as it moved down the hall slowly getting quieter as it went. "What the heck was that?!" Sam whisper yelled as he tried to hide under a blanket.

"Perhaps it was one of the Ninja." Nelson offered hesitantly, clearing not believing that himself.

"Perhaps... We should go and see what it is." Echo stood up slowly as his friends moved to stop him, "If it is something dangerous, it is my job to deal with it. That is what I was I made for." He looked determinedly back at his friends before sliding the door open a crack to stick his head out. The four kids looked between themselves again then at Echo's back, they joined him at the door much to Echo's joy as he slipped quietly into the hallway.

The group tiptoed down the hall in the direction they heard the noise travel. They looked around a corner together to find nothing there, "What do you think it was?" Cam asked quietly as moved from their position to continued searching.

"A ghost?" Tree supplied questioningly as he glanced around, expecting something to happen.

"I hope not, I'm allergic to ghost." Sam hid behind his sister, still underneath his blanket.

"No you're not." Cam sighed at her brother as the group fell into silence again, tiptoeing down the hall.

**Elsewhere on the Bounty**

The Ninja were having their own form of sleepover in the game room where they were spending the night video gaming. Cole, Zane, Nya and Lloyd were playing this round with Kai and Jay trying to be distracting. Despite the distraction Nya ended up winning making her the unbeaten champion of the evening. Lloyd overdramatically flopped onto her shoulder, "Teach me your ways."

"No way!" She laughed as she threw him off making him land on the floor with a bang. "If I did that I wouldn't win anymore."

"That's the point." Lloyd pouted making the other ninja laugh. The green ninja sat up again looking thoughtful, "Wonder how the kids are doing..."

"Echo seemed really excited to have company over." Kai chuckled, "I mean he was as excited as I've ever seen him."

"Maybe I should check on them." Zane went to stand up until his sensors picked up a faint noise coming from the halls. He gestured for the others to stop talking making the noise clearer to him, it sounded like something was being dragged along the floor. The other ninja seemed to have noticed the sound as well as they cast questioning gazes towards the door. The room fell into a tense silence as the noise was accompanied by something akin to growling.

When Zane turned to look at his brothers and sister he saw Jay hiding behind Nya while Lloyd was clutching Kai's arm. Cole caught the white ninja's gaze as he also stood up slowly, conscious of making a sound. The two of them inched towards the door together with Cole taking a defensive stance as the android gripped the side of the door. "PIXAL, can you get a reading on whatever is making that noise?"

'It appears humanoid, yet breathing patterns and movement suggest something slower. Only known comparison in my database would be the fictional creature called a 'zombie'." PIXAL informed as Zane slid open the door to an empty hallway.

"A zombie?"

'Yes, a reanimated human who craves the tastes of human flesh in many of its depictions.'

"Did you just say zombie?" Cole interrupted their discussion as the other ninja joined them in the doorway. Zane nodded making Jay tensed up from behind Nya, the lightning ninja looked ready to faint at any given moment. "There's always the chance it could be something else... Right?" Nya tried encouragingly, before another loud growl from somewhere in the ship. The ninja looked unsure of what to do as they focused their attention on the pitch-black hallway in front of them.

"What about the kids?" Lloyd voiced his concern as he shook like a leaf from behind the red ninja, "What if the zombie got them?"

"Not on my watch." Zane spoke determinedly, "Activate night vision." With that the ice ninja's view of the hall changed from black to tinted green.

"You see anything?" Kai asked.

"Other than the hallway... No." Zane answered, "Let's go." With that he began quietly moving down the hall leaving the others to stand and look at each other. Cole, Kai and Nya moved to go after him with Lloyd being led by the fire ninja. Jay looked uncertain for a moment until he heard the growling again and ended up clinging to Nya like before. "Can I just say I how much I hate this plan." He whisper yelled making Cole scoff.

"What plan?"

**Back with the kids**

"Do you guys hear that?" Nelson stopped the group in their tracks causing an eerie silence to fall upon the hallway. The shuffling noise had returned from earlier and was now accompanied by groaning that echoed lowly through the hall. Both sounds were somehow getting progressively louder as whatever was making them seemed to be drawing nearer. Echo instinctively turned to the room next to them, "Quick hide in here."

He slid the door open and closed it behind them as they entered the Bounty's kitchen. It had plenty of hiding places. The group scattered to hide in various cupboards, high and low, while Echo climbed the wall to press his back to the ceiling. He turned off his flashlight just in time for whatever was making the sounds to begin rattling the door.

Everyone in the room tensed as said door was painstakingly dragged open allowing a shadowed figure to enter the room. It took deliberate yet slow steps into the room as something trailed behind it. It seemed to be observing the room for a moment as it turned a half circle before moving towards the cupboards resting high on the wall above the counter, where Tree had decided to hide. It reached out a hand to open it giving a loud growl like noise which made Tree flinch inside the cupboard.

Without much thought Echo removed himself from the wall to land on the creature. Feeling whatever it was crumple under his weight made him wince, it felt organic. It gave a loud groan as it went it pick itself up, somehow managing to throw Echo off. It then moved for the android catching the other by surprise. Allowing the thing to turn the tables and have Echo pinned to the ground. "Get off me!"

**With the Ninja**

They had reached Echo's room and were looking inside to find the kids missing. "What if the zombie got them?" Jay questioned hastily as the group searched for anything that could tell them where the kids had gone.

"We would have heard something if that were the case." Zane theorised aloud, "As even if one of them were being attacked the others would have tried calling for help."

"Then, where are they?" Cole asked stealing a cookie from the plate set on the floor. "These are so good."

"Thank you, and to answer your question... They are most likely still somewhere on the Bounty."

"Let's go find them then, and whatever's making that noise." Kai stood guard in the hall creating light with the fire in his hand.

"We should-" Lloyd began before a loud bang sound came from the other side of the ship. The Ninja glanced at each other then all headed down the hall to where they heard the noise come from. They could hear the obvious sounds of a scuffle until a clear yell rang out as well, "Get off me!"

'That was Echo.' PIXAL informed Zane as he picked up speed to outrun the others as they turned the corner. The kitchen door was open allowing Zane full view as view two figures on the floor, the one being pinned obviously being his brother. He grabbed the one on top by the shoulder then pulled them none too gently off of Echo. The groan that followed made the ice ninja stop in his tracks...

He knew that voice.

Zane looked at the figure he had just pulled over as they went to sit up, seeming dazed. It was Sensei Wu. The light was finally switched on by Kai allowing everyone to fully view the scene in front of them and for the kids to come out of their hiding places. Everyone was completely silent, allowing a click to be heard as Sam snapped a picture of the scene in front of him.

**The Next Day**

"See you soon!" Echo called from beside the Bounty's railing as his friends left with their respective parents. After the mess last night no one had really slept, which Echo hadn't minded all that much, meaning that everyone was kind of exhausted this morning. Lloyd had nearly fell asleep in his cereal that morning, which allowed him a free pass from early training for the day, while the other ninja were kind of having a contest to see who was going to fall asleep first. Personally, Echo thought Kai was going to win, no offense to his brother but the fire ninja had an unhealthy history of staying up for days on end from what he'd been told.

Sensei Wu had been forgiving despite last night's mishaps. Turns out he had a habit of sleep walking and was in the kitchen to get a snack, which meant they'd have to start padlocking the fridge at night. Zane had apologised profusely when he realised he had accidently attacked his teacher, even go so far as to offer to do more chores to make up for it.

No one wanted to admit to thinking that there was actually a monster on the Bounty but everyone kind of knew what the others were thinking. It was kind of silly really. The only monsters they'd have to worry about were the ones the Ninja fought on a regular, which still wasn't a comforting thought. Especially since the group seemed to be a magnet for trouble.