As soon as Nya was out of earshot, I sighed to myself and muttered, "I should've controlled it. If she sees.. " I thought about Hanna, how heartbroken she'd be if she found out...I shivered at the thought of her angry. I looked around and ran into my room, throwing myself on my bed and raging at the ceiling. Why me?
"Why you?" From seemingly nowhere, a whispery voice called out. Maybe it was just in my head. "Why do you think? Ponder it."
"Where the heck are you?" I asked. "Who are you?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" The voice, now clearly female, giggled. "But it doesn't matter now. Two girls, one heart?"
"Why is that so important to you?" I aggressively searched my room for the source of the voice. "What the- WHAT are you?"
"Here to help!" I heard a cutesy giggle. "I'm only a child, but I'm sure I have my ways~"
"A child? How did you get here?"
"Like I said, I know things." She chuckled. "Maybe there are ways you can...settle this conflict?"
A whirlwind shook the room, and I struggled to keep my balance. Falling, I began to see something. The wind gathered in one place, and the resulting tornado began to shift its shape, creating what looked to be the small, round-faced, and rather adorable form of a little girl. Silver eyes gazed into mine, and a tiny hand outstretched, her white hair adorning her entire body with its incredible length, so much that it loosely wrapped around her arms and legs. "Come with me, Lloyd Garmadon. I'll show you what you want to see."
I hesitated, but gradually, her innocent appearance drew me in. I slowly reached out, and on contact, a sensation of pressure racked me with pain, and what felt like a fire burned me from the inside.
I managed a sad smile as I finished discussing my days with the Sky Pirates to the others. I hated telling the tale, but they had to know eventually. I couldn't just live with Nya and I hiding it behind lies. Sometimes I was tired of hiding things.
And then I felt a pang. My heart nearly jumped out of me.
Lloyd wasn't there!
I gasped, then glanced cautiously from side to side. Where was he?
"Uh...gotta go! Just gotta check on...uh, see if I...well, I have to go. That way." It hurt, but I didn't want to worry my allies. I got up and dashed into Lloyd's room. He wasn't there! I searched on, under, behind, through, any way I could think of, for any traces of him. All I saw was a small pile of ash by the window. I could feel my heart pounding under my skin as scalding tears welled up in my eyes. "Lloyd..."
I dashed out of the room and into my own, flinging my body onto the bed and burying my head into my pillow, sobbing without control.
"I know where your friend is, Jayson Gordon." I heard a whisper, and not just in my head, I knew. "Do you wish to find him?"
"I...thought he was dead," I muttered, looking up.
"Oh, no, no!" The voice became clear to me that it was an adult female. "Wow, Jayson, I'm not surprised. You always were naive, and this is no exception! He's just somewhere else now. I can take you there, if you wish."
That word was too familiar, and she was suspicious already. "I don't wish anything, go away."
"Oh, Jay-Jay, you're only scared." I felt a gust of wind by my ear. "You're just too afraid." Wind began to blow my hair. "The anxiety consumes you beyond belief. You try to hide it, but you always fail. You do want your dear Lloydkins back, don't you~?"
"I hate losing people," I replied. Oh gosh, I probably shouldn't have told her that! "Show yourself. I want to know if I can trust you."
A tornado nearly threw me off the bed. The wind thinned and shrank, making itself visible and shaping into an average height, average weight woman, wearing a knee-length dress and a worn sweater. Her hair was long enough that it coiled around her feet. "Come with me, Jayson. Together we can find Lloyd."
Punching bags. Treadmills. Weights. It was my gym that made me feel at home. I worked and worked until it hurt, and that's where I found my comfort. Feeling something. Giving my body the iron it deserves.
"GrrrRRRAH!" I groaned as I gave my heaviest barbell yet a last lift. Finally managing to carefully place it back, I got up, panting, and got out. I looked around.
The place seemed weirdly empty. I expected to see Jay grabbing a quick snack, or Lloyd playing video games. But neither of them were out. Though I didn't want to stalk them, I checked the corridor, silent without Jay's chattering. Slowly, I opened Jay's door, expecting for him to respond.
The room was empty. Not even his computer was on. The window was open, and a light breeze escaped it. Something was on the floor...some kind of silver dust, like glitter. I looked up.
"Jay...?"
"Do you want to see your friend again?" A whisper, like that of a teenage girl, filled my ears. "I can show you where he is if you want."
"He's my best friend," I replied. "I'd give anything to have him back."
"Would you give me your hand?" I was encircled with wind as a single transparent hand formed into a figure, a slender young girl with her hand outstretched. Her hair was long enough that even her high ponytail couldn't prevent it from brushing her ankles.
"Cole, no!" I turned around, freed from my trance. Nya was running in the open door. "It could be a trick to suck you in!" She turned to me. "I happen to be his girlfriend. I have to protect him."
I sighed, turning repeatedly from Nya to the girl, then took her hand. "We'll both go." I sighed, firmly placing my hand into the girl's. "Take us wherever this is."
The sensation was like being compressed in a solid cyclone. It was surreal, yet agonizing. I grunted, biting my lip, but it came out nonetheless.
My eyes fluttered open and I flexed my fingers, sitting up. PIXAL was with me. She scooted forward on the mattress next to mine, getting up and looking at me. She helped me up, and together, we entered the corridor. My sensors detected no present activity, and I was rather baffled.
"Zane, where is everyone?" my fellow android asked me, holding onto my hand.
"I am extending my knowledge of the present situation," I replied, scanning every room in the Bounty. "Only Kai is present. I cannot find any sign of the others. There is no known logical explanation for this. PIXAL, have you found anything?"
"Scanning...there are various particles in each room. Ash, as if from a fire, in Lloyd's. Metal substance, as if from a project, in Jay's. Soil and mist in Cole's, suggesting both Cole and Nya's past presence." PIXAL looked at me. "They have vanished, leaving behind only remnants of their existence. I have no knowledge of possibility of such an event."
"They just...vanished?" I looked through my memory files. "I recall hearing each victim scream, as if in pain. That means someone, or something, must have caused it."
I looked around, and as if on cue, a strong breeze blew around me. "This does not compute," I muttered. "Zephyri? Here?"
I felt invisible hands on me, and PIXAL reacted as if it were the same. My artificial heart began to operate at a faster pace than usual, and the wind constricted me like a snake. My system overloaded, and I couldn't help but scream.
My eyes fluttered open and I flexed my fingers, sitting up. PIXAL was with me. She scooted forward on the mattress next to mine, getting up and looking at me. She helped me up, and together, we entered the corridor. My sensors detected no present activity, and I was rather baffled.
"Zane, where is everyone?" my fellow android asked me, holding onto my hand.
"I am extending my knowledge of the present situation," I replied, scanning every room in the Bounty. "Only Kai is present. I cannot find any sign of the others. There is no known logical explanation for this. PIXAL, have you found anything?"
"Scanning...there are various particles in each room. Ash, as if from a fire, in Lloyd's. Metal substance, as if from a project, in Jay's. Soil and mist in Cole's, suggesting both Cole and Nya's past presence." PIXAL looked at me. "They have vanished, leaving behind only remnants of their existence. I have no knowledge of possibility of such an event."
"They just...vanished?" I looked through my memory files. "I recall hearing each victim scream, as if in pain. That means someone, or something, must have caused it."
I looked around, and as if on cue, a strong breeze blew around me. "This does not compute," I muttered. "Zephyri? Here?"
I felt invisible hands on me, and PIXAL reacted as if it were the same. My artificial heart began to operate at a faster pace than usual, and the wind constricted me like a snake. My system overloaded, and I couldn't help but scream.
"AAAAAHHH!"
Zephyri? Oh no!
I took, like, no effort in coming up with that name.
The screams of my friends were what woke me up. Groggily, I trudged out of bed and called them, not amused. "Jay? Cole? Zane?"
I checked in everyone's room, but there was no sign of them. I looked in the kitchen, in the living room, even the basement. I even climbed to the deck. "Come on, guys, this isn't funny! I swear if you keep scaring me like this, I'll- GAHH!"
For heaven's sake, I slipped on ice, hitting my head hard on the wooden boards. "Gahh! Son of a...ugh!" I bit my lip and got up. "Seriously, stop pranking me like this!"
I heard a cutesy giggle out of nowhere, causing me to glance about for the source of it. "Oh, Kai...aren't you a wonder?"
"Where the heck are you?" I glanced about. "Nya, stop sneaking up on me!"
But Nya was nowhere to be seen. And then it got windier.
"Nya? She's somewhere else. So are your friends. But I can be anyone you like..." The voice changed to something more low and raspy. "I can be your dear, your darling Skylor." Then it changed to an older, more mature tone. "Or your sweet mother..."
"Where are my friends?" I asked aggressively, still looking around. A tornado formed in front of me, shrinking, narrowing and shaping itself to resemble Skylor. I felt more weak, like I could fall for anything.
The Skylor imposter stretched out her hand. "Come with me, Kai. We can find them, together."
"How can I know to trust you?" I glared at her.
"Ooh, tricky, are we?" She stepped towards me, every movement graceful and inviting. "Let's see..." She placed a hand on my back, smiling at me slyly. I could feel the wind rushing around me, getting closer and stronger...
*** "Where are my friends?" I asked aggressively, still looking around. A tornado formed in front of me, shrinking, narrowing and shaping itself to resemble Skylor. I felt more weak, like I could fall for anything.
The Skylor imposter stretched out her hand. "Come with me, Kai. We can find them, together."
"How can I know to trust you?" I glared at her.
"Ooh, tricky, are we?" She stepped towards me, every movement graceful and inviting. "Let's see..." She placed a hand on my back, smiling at me slyly. I could feel the wind rushing around me, getting closer and stronger...
"Woah..woah....woaaaahhh...WAAAAHHH!"
Holy cow, all of you noobs, just GET AWAY FROM THE CREEPY LADIES!!! *mutters in German* Das ist nicht gut.
So I've already got a pretty good idea of what the new suits are gonna look like. I may describe them in a future chapter! (Yay, they won't have to wear makeshift hoodies anymore! )
*** "Where are my friends?" I asked aggressively, still looking around. A tornado formed in front of me, shrinking, narrowing and shaping itself to resemble Skylor. I felt more weak, like I could fall for anything.
The Skylor imposter stretched out her hand. "Come with me, Kai. We can find them, together."
"How can I know to trust you?" I glared at her.
"Ooh, tricky, are we?" She stepped towards me, every movement graceful and inviting. "Let's see..." She placed a hand on my back, smiling at me slyly. I could feel the wind rushing around me, getting closer and stronger...
"Woah..woah....woaaaahhh...WAAAAHHH!"
Holy cow, all of you noobs, just GET AWAY FROM THE CREEPY LADIES!!! *mutters in German* Das ist nicht gut.
They aren't dead, though...the reason I'm delaying right now is because I have to figure out where they're gonna go. Sorry. I'll post another chapter in time.
The screams of my friends were what woke me up. Groggily, I trudged out of bed and called them, not amused. "Jay? Cole? Zane?"
I checked in everyone's room, but there was no sign of them. I looked in the kitchen, in the living room, even the basement. I even climbed to the deck. "Come on, guys, this isn't funny! I swear if you keep scaring me like this, I'll- GAHH!"
For heaven's sake, I slipped on ice, hitting my head hard on the wooden boards. "Gahh! Son of a...ugh!" I bit my lip and got up. "Seriously, stop pranking me like this!"
I heard a cutesy giggle out of nowhere, causing me to glance about for the source of it. "Oh, Kai...aren't you a wonder?"
"Where the heck are you?" I glanced about. "Nya, stop sneaking up on me!"
But Nya was nowhere to be seen. And then it got windier.
"Nya? She's somewhere else. So are your friends. But I can be anyone you like..." The voice changed to something more low and raspy. "I can be your dear, your darling Skylor." Then it changed to an older, more mature tone. "Or your sweet mother..."
"Where are my friends?" I asked aggressively, still looking around. A tornado formed in front of me, shrinking, narrowing and shaping itself to resemble Skylor. I felt more weak, like I could fall for anything.
The Skylor imposter stretched out her hand. "Come with me, Kai. We can find them, together."
"How can I know to trust you?" I glared at her.
"Ooh, tricky, are we?" She stepped towards me, every movement graceful and inviting. "Let's see..." She placed a hand on my back, smiling at me slyly. I could feel the wind rushing around me, getting closer and stronger...
Holy cow, all of you noobs, just GET AWAY FROM THE CREEPY LADIES!!! *mutters in German* Das ist nicht gut.
They aren't dead, though...the reason I'm delaying right now is because I have to figure out where they're gonna go. Sorry. I'll post another chapter in time.
So I've already got a pretty good idea of what the new suits are gonna look like. I may describe them in a future chapter! (Yay, they won't have to wear makeshift hoodies anymore! )
Darkness and silence. Not something I wanted to experience, but at least I wasn't in pain. I began to hear a soft howling, as if by wind, and I managed to open my eyes, the slits my heavy eyelids allowed bring in some light. But after all that darkness, the light was too bright. I had to close them.
Numbness seeped away, and I began to feel the grass and soil pressed against my face and my bare torso. Wait...bare?
I opened my eyes again, more successfully now, and pulled myself up. Looking down, I saw that I did in fact have no shirt on, my only covering being a tattered, baggy pair of shorts, and marks from the friction covered part of my body, as well as some of my face, particularly my right cheek. I felt weak and tired from the pain earlier. Glancing around and seeing no one, I called out. "Am I alone?"
No answer. I rose and looked around. It seemed like a barren grassland. And then something hit me in the head. A big rock? No. A package.
"Dress," a childish voice, eerily familiar, told me as some of the breeze collected into her form. "You won't want to be in such little clothing in front of your friends."
"Huh? You took them too?" I asked as I pulled out a jade green robe from the bag.
"Don't dress here," the spirit told me, pushing me towards a rather large boulder. "Please. You're not alone here. You won't want people to see you...well...you know."
I nodded and took the package behind the rock, pulling on the provided outfit. I examined it, looking down at the threads in awe. The deep green was beautiful, and complimented the lighter green of the undergarments. It seemed to shine in the sun...or whatever the light source of this realm was. It complemented every movement, and I noticed golden dragon patterns along the collar. The pants weren't baggy, but they were loose enough to provide free movement. There was even a ninja mask, adorned with my Ninjagian symbol, concealing my face well but light enough to be breathable. "Wow! These are...nice!"
She giggled. "Of course. Mikaze Kingdom is rather well-known for its expert tailoring."
"Mikaze Kingdom? Wait, what realm are we in?"
"Oh? This is the Zephyr Realm. I took you here because I need your help."
Darkness. Silence. A gentle prickling sensation. I was half-conscious, but I could barely open my eyes. From what I could tell, I was shirtless and my body was pressed against the floor. Something that felt an awful lot like a box hit me in the back, right where some of my scars from my time with Nadakhan were, and the discomfort was enough to wake me up.
"Augh!" I shot up, blinking and squinting in the bright light. "Where the heck..." I took a couple steps and the grass felt good between my toes. I couldn't help but breath in the air of this place, the fresh scent lifting my spirits. And then I remembered the box.
Sitting down, I crawled over to it. My vision was a little blurry from being unconscious, but I managed to open it. Though my eyes hurt a little from the light after such darkness, I could tell it was something blue and made of soft cloth.
"Hello." The wind woman from earlier greeted me casually, waving in a friendly manner. "Please get dressed, those scars are starting to get a little depressing."
I stood and nodded, pulling out the robe as I blinked to get my vision back. I looked around, and there was a stand-alone brick wall not too far from where I was standing. I got behind it and quickly dressed. I couldn't help but stand in awe as I examined my new outfit. The fabric, soft and supple, was a beautiful royal blue, striking lightning patterns, as well as the word "spark," emblazoned along the tomoeri (outer collar), while the hanaeri (inner collar) was a pleasing baby blue. Even the obi had some nice minor details, and the pants were incredibly comfortable. "Wow! Heheh...give your seamstresses my congratulations, these are pretty awesome! Now...where, exactly, are we?"
"This is the Zephyr Realm. Your confusion is expected, as not many Ninjagians know of this place." The woman smiled. "You are here simply because we need to be defended from an opposing force, but don't worry; we won't send you off right away. Your friends are this way." She turned. "Come on. Don't leave me hanging, as some say."
I nodded and followed her. "So...is there some sort of headquarters we're all meeting at, or..."
