"Um, thanks,"Skylor replied, still quite confused by the sudden change of topic. "Your old home?" "Yeah, we have quite similar tastes in decor actually." K'lynn was now standing by Skylor's window feeling the curtains with his gloved hand.
"Well, I got most of the ideas from my mother. She was quite the designer when it came to things like this. Our house used to be the best one on the street."
K'lynn flinched slightly but not enough for Skylor to notice. "Oh, your mother." "She's the reason why I'm doing all of this. I owe it to her." Skylor said.
"Don't you think ...If anything she probably owes you ...for not being around that is...You've been apart for a long time..I assume?" K'lynn questioned.
His question kind of alarmed Skylor, it came out of no where and ...why was he asking her this?
She shook her head. "I try not to think about it like that. She's my mom and I love her no matter what. I'm going to find her...with or without Tolin."
K'lynn was now standing by the counter, tossing the salt shaker in the air. "You're much more courageous then you led on...you know that." "When something is as important as this you don't hold back." Skylor replied.
Then the room suddenly got quite for a second and Skylor began to think. "What about you?" she questioned.
"Excuse me?" K'lynn's head turned to her abruptly. "What's in it for you...all this I mean...helping Tolin." Skylor added. "I don't understand."
Skylor's hands made their way back to her hips as she frowned at him."No offence but you really don't come off as someone who would do any of this willingly." K'lynn turned back towards the window."I...I have my reasons."
"Thought so...care to expand on them?"
"Later perhaps, we really need to get started." K'lynn pointed to Skylor's clock, which hung from the wall. "I'm assuming you want to go back to the ninja first correct? I'll go meet up with the army at H.Q."
"Yeah, I guess." Skylor frowned again as she watched K'lynn leave. She was so close....and then...she wasn't.
K'lynn returned back to headquarters. The army would waiting to commence.
Skylor was getting way too suspicious now. Sometimes K'lynn wished he didn't go down this route. He wished that he could have found another way to do this without her being involved, but sadly it was too late now.
Tolin was watching his every move. He couldn't slip up. They had to figure out what he was trying to find. He still wouldn't tell him. Right hand man or not, Tolin kept his true plans hidden deep within himself. Deep where no one could reach them.
As he walked to his room he noticed a note on the door. It was left by one of his fellow allies in the army.
K'lynn's eyes grew wide as he began to read. "They're on to you. Tolin hasn't found out yet, but people are getting... suspicious. I can distract them for a little while, but you need to tell her the truth. Tell her where her mother is."
In furious anger K'lynn ripped the note down from the door and crumbled it. "I can't. I just can't yet."
He sighed. Now he knew it wouldn't be long before Tolin caught on.The man was crazy, not stupid. He'd figure out where K'lynn's loyalties really lied.
He banged his forehead against the wall. This wasn't what was supposed to happen. "I still need time." he mumbled under his breath. One of the army men then approached him and interrupted his fit of rage.
"K'lynn, the army is ready. Tolin has given us our first destination." he said as he bowed.
"Let's move out then." K'lynn gestured him to return to the army. "Time for all the chaos to start."
Nya sat on her bedroom floor, inspecting the peculiar symbol that still remained on her arm. She adjusted the intensity of her magnifying glass and peered deeply into it. The doctors never did explain why it formed and she really didn't understand it herself. Why go through all that trouble and inconvenience just to temporary immobilize someone? The mark had no significant purpose besides just... being there. It made no sense. Absolutely no sense.
Her eyebrows furrowed as she examined it further. Her hand began to run itself across the skin where the mark was. It felt almost rough in comparison to the rest of her. Somewhat hard as well. She continued to contemplate it all, placing the memories of the incident directly into her mind. She remembered the sudden warmness of the air, the hooded figure who attacked, Jay who accompanied her-Wait, that's right, Jay was there. Jay was right there.
She focused her mind again, remembering more details. Placement was key. The figure was aiming for Jay. Not her...Jay. Not her. Could that possibly explain why the poison had little effect on her? Was it because it was somehow, in some way formulated especially for Jay? Perhaps?
It still wasn't crystal clear yet and probably wouldn't be since she hadn't the slightest idea of what they were up against yet. One thing she was sure of was that this was only the beginning. A little warning shot to grab their attention. Something would be happening today. She was sure of it.
The good thing right now was that the pain in her arm had subsided. It wasn't as intense as it first was and she was slowing gaining her feeling back. Sadly, Jay was still on her tail about every little thing, which was less exciting. She knew he was only trying to be helpful and it was sweet and all, but Jay can sometimes be more pain than help. Nevertheless, she still appreciated his efforts. At least he tried to help. Not to mention, it was pretty adorable, seeing him so worried and compassionate.
Nya's ears perked up as the sound of knocking caught her attention. This knock was unfamiliar to her. It didn't sound like any of the ninja, she had their knocks memorized. This one was soft, almost as if the person behind the door was scared of breaking it...or touching it in general.
"Come in, its not locked." Nya quickly pushed some of the scattered junk she had laying around to the side. She hadn't noticed how disorganized her room had become these past few days. It was disturbing and not like her.
The door clicked open and a white skinned, sliver haired girl stepped through. "Hello Nya." she smiled up at her and continued to fiddle with the purple bag that was in her hand.
"Pixal hey! You're here already." Nya greeted her with a hug as she got up off the ground. Pixal then analyzed the room, scanning with her eyes. It certainly wasn't what she expected to see. Nya had showed herself to be a very organized person and this...most certainly was not that."I'm sorry am I to early?...I'll come back..." Pixal spun on heels and was about to depart when Nya grabbed her shoulder.
"No, no its fine. I just lost track of time." she explained. "I'm ready for you." Nya had informed Pixal that she could stay in her room until the ninja finished her's. Originally, she had planned to stay in Zane's room, but Sensei wasn't too keen on that idea. Pixal still didn't understand why he was so dismissive to it, and I think he planned to keep it like that.
Nya didn't mind Pixal staying with her. It would be nice having another girl around here while Misako was gone on a trip. "Is that all you have?" she questioned, quite surprised. The small bag she was holding looked like it could carry two outfits and a pair of shoes... at most.
"Yes." Pixal didn't seem alarmed by Nya's tone of voice, which wasn't surprising. She probably thought having that little was normal.
"Ok well, the spare bed is in the back. You can put your things in the nightstand next to it. Er..wait...do you even sleep?"
"Cyrus added a function that allows me to have to have six or seven hours or down time for internal maintenance and recharge. It's similar to what you call "Sleep"." she explained.
"I see, that's cool."
Pixal then blinked and continued to stare in Nya's direction. "Nya, may I ask what exactly you were doing when I entered?" Pixal's voice expressed curiosity...and concern.
"Oh, I was just examining this." Nya raised her arm and pointed to it.
"Is that the mark you were inflicted with when you and Jay were attacked? Zane told me about it. Quite intriguing."
"That's one way to put it." Nya replied.
"May I exam it with my scanners?" "Um, sure be my guest I-" Nya was unexpectedly cut off by her older brother, who was running into her room. He placed his hands on his knees and took a couple breaths. "Sorry- running. This- hallway is long." he began, his sentences choppy. "Just thought I'd tell you Sky is here."
"She is? Thanks, I'll go see her in a minute." "Alright then." Kai left the room and continued down the hall to meet her. Skylor was sitting on the couch but she seemed to be focused in deep thought. He started to debate whether or not he should even disrupt her ...but he hadn't talked to her in so long. He had to say something. Even a simple "Hi" would be better than nothing.
He took and deep breath and walked toward her. "Hey, its been a while." Skylor looked up to acknowledge him as he sat down next to her, but her gaze immediately returned back down to the floor. "Hello Kai." she said as she smiled briefly.
"Long time no see right?" Kai laughed but then stopped when he noticed Skylor wasn't. Her attention wavered elsewhere. She was still staring down at the ground.
"Hey, you ok?" He placed his hand on Skylor's shoulder.
Skylor couldn't help but flinch when he did. "You aren't contagious. You aren't contagious. You aren't contagious. Relax." she whispered to herself.
"Sorry, I'm fine. I've just been thinking. That's all." she replied, biting her tongue to hold back the truth.
"That's good." Kai took his arm and wrapped it around Skylor's shoulder. "You had me really worried you know." "Sorry..." she mumbled.
"It's fine. You're here now. That's all that matters." he pulled her closer into his lap and she leaned her head back into his chest. Then...they just sat there for a while. Kai loosened Skylor's ponytail and began to play with her hair. Twirling it with his fingers like always.
Skylor just continued to think to herself. The warm embrace of Kai helped to calm her a little. It gave her a sense of hope and comfort. Even if things got rough he'd still be there.She could count on that. She had never felt this close to someone before. It wasn't like the closeness a child has with their parents. It wasn't the closeness she shared with Nya and the other ninja. This was a special closeness. The closeness that bonded two people for life. In that very moment she wanted to forget everything and run away with Kai. To anywhere really. It didn't have to be expensive or extravagant. All she wanted was to be with him...away from all this. Away from all the work, the obligations...she didn't want that...she didn't need that. In that very moment all she needed was him.
"Run away with me Kai." she whispered , her words were muffled by her sleeve, since her hand was partially covering her mouth. Kai stopped running his hands through Skylor's hair and chuckled. "What?" He questioned lightheartedly. Skylor glanced back up again, blinking her eyes. "Nothing...it was nothing." As much as she wanted to, they couldn't really do that. They both had to fulfil their responsibilities, personal, and to Ninjago. Running away would just have to continue to be a secret fantasy of hers.
"Oh, ok." Kai responded. He had also been thinking, except he was thinking about what Jay told him. The words of the blue lightning ninja lingered in his thoughts. "You need to tell her how you feel." Of course, Kai wanted to tell her...he really did, but he could never find the right time. Something always came up or he could never work up enough courage to just say it.
"Skylor?" "Yes Kai?" He paused for a moment, letting his hesitation to take over. Say it...tell her. "Are we...together?"
Skylor felt her body freeze as she processed Kai's words. "Are we ...together?" What did he mean?
Kai was also starting to feel the pressure now. Skylor could hear his heart pace faster as silence befell them. Kai bit his lip as Skylor still didn't respond. Maybe he should have worded that differently...or just not asked it at all.
"Are we?" Skylor's voice echoed as it suddenly filled the air, and Kai jumped a little. He honestly didn't know the answer. They had hung out and talked to each other several times but no one ever thought to ask. "Do you...want to be?"
"Do you?" She inquired of him.
Kai smirked slightly. "I asked you first." Skylor huffed, rolling her eyes playfully. "Well..." she paused again, " I'd like to say w-" Sadly, she didn't get to finish her sentence because a blinding red light began to flash and a loud siren blared across the room.
"What is that!?" Skylor yelled, covering her ears from the painful noise.
"New alarm system...blame Jay!" he yelled back, "Something must be going on lets's go!" Kai grabbed Skylor's hand and ran to the control room. He had to admit he was a little upset that he didn't get to hear Skylor's answer to his question.
Unlike Kai, Skylor knew very well why that alarm was blaring so loud. Tolin's army must have started attacking. She had hoped that she'd have a little more time then this to sort out what exactly she was going to do, but it was too late for that now. If Tolin was one thing it was that he is persistent...and evil.
She also thought K'lynn would had given her some kind of warning. He must have been held up at the moment. Controlling an army like Tolin's was hard enough.
"Jay, what is going on!?" Kai and Skylor entered the control room and eyed Jay. He was frantically running around pushing buttons, while Cole and Zane continued to watch the monitors.
"Sorry, sorry! My alarms are going off like crazy! I just got a call from one of the local villages. The lady said something about the shops being set on fire and mysterious ninja like figures everywhere!" "What?" Kai questioned.
"Yeah, the surprising part is that they seem to be only burning the buildings. I haven't gotten any reports of people getting hurt or attacked yet." Jay added, still trying to adjust his volume settings.
"Why would someone just burn villages?" Kai questioned again, anger in his voice..
"You're about to find out." Sensei Wu then stepped back from the corner, holding a tea cup in his hand. "Zane, Kai and Jay can go check it out. I want some of you to stay here just in case we get any more alerts."
"Yes Sensei." They all then bowed in front of their teacher.
"I'll go with you as well." Skylor said as she suddenly stepped forward. "Cole and Lloyd could probably use you here..." Kai began.
"No, I have to come with you- " she snapped. Kai's eyebrow rose slightly and Skylor then lowered her head a little, adjusting her tone. "I mean- I can be used better there. I have Zane's ice as well..."
Kai looked at Jay and Zane, who both responded with nods. "True. Let's go then."
"Be careful ninja. You don't know what you're up against." Sensei Wu advised.
The ninja decided to ride their elemental dragons to the village. It would be faster than running and less of a headache than keeping up and storing actual vehicles. Skylor rode on Kai's dragon, since she hadn't unlocked her's yet. And even though she still wanted her own, right now, in this moment, she was just fine with sharing Kai's. It gave her time to focus on her "plan", if you could even call it that. It was more of an idea.
She knew at some point she'd have to break away from the team and find K'lynn and she'd also have to keep the ninja occupied, which she'd figured wouldn't be too much of problem since their main focus seemed to be on protecting the people.This still wasn't the best idea she could possibly think of, granted if she had more time, but it was something and something was better than nothing at this point.
Still though, parts of her wanted to quit right now and try to find some other way but that option was out of the question. More was at stake now, people, finding out Tolin's plan, finding her mother. If she quit now she'd be dooming all those people. She couldn't rely too much on Tolin's words that he wouldn't hurt them, seeing as he didn't lend a drop of mercy to her when they first met, and the last thing she needed was for the idea of him torturing innocent people to be weighing on her conscience. If she was there following this "plan" of hers than at least she could even the odds in her favor and make sure the ninja got the job done.
Now, Kai was keeping his attention towards the Sky, but in his mind, he still thought about Skylor. He didn't know exactly what it was, but she hasn't been acting like herself lately.
He twisted his lip and turned back to her. She was holding on to his waist very tightly, but her eyes still focused elsewhere. Even after their little chat they had, she still seemed off. Of course, this could just be a result of her worrying about the villages and this new villain, but...he could sense it was more than that. More then what she had be leading him to believe as well. It all started at that hospital. What happened after she left was still a mystery but a deep knotted feeling in his gut told him she didn't simply go home that night.
Asking her questions about it now didn't seem like the best idea and speculating only made things worse. If Skylor knew something she would tell him and if she didn't she probably had a good reason for it. Right?
He'd just have to convince himself she was ok and focus his attention back on the mission. That's where his focus had to be ...on the mission.
When the ninja arrived they were greeted with a scene of chaos. Black smoke rested in the atmosphere and flames danced in the wind. The sound of buildings collapsing and tools being clanged grazed their ears as they flew down. Some of the village leaders had already taken the lead in evacuation so the ninja's main focus would be calming these fires and helping the people escape.
After landing their dragons, Kai got off and took a look around. He felt himself swallow hard as he continued to process the image in his mind. It was an eerie reminder of the stories his father used to tell him about his battles. All the villages he watched be destroyed, the villains he faced, the people he couldn't save.
Chills went up Kai's spine as me mouthed those last words, "people you can't save". Those were words he never wanted to hear.
"Jay, Zane, you know what to do right?" he questioned as he shook the thought from his mind. They both responded with firm nods as they approached the village leaders, and asked who else was missing.
Skylor then took a step back from them, easing her way past the ninja. Her body froze mid-step when she heard Kai call her back. She had hoped he wouldn't notice. "Wait, Skylor where are you going?"
Her brain rummaged around her thoughts, trying to think of some excuse. Something believable. "I just thought I'd check the west end for more people."
Kai titled his head, quite puzzled by her decision. "That's where the army is at. It's not safe to go alone." Skylor tried to act confident, hiding her now clammy hands behind her. "It's fine. I'll be careful. There might be people still trapped. I have to go see."
"But-" Kai raised his hand and reached to stop her, but Skylor had already disappeared through a cloud of smoke.
"I'm sorry Master K'lynn but Tolin have given us orders not to let you near these objects."
K'lynn inhaled some air, his lungs more than likely full with smoke. His blood was boiling inside him and his temper extremely agitated. He wanted to just...strangle this guy right now. To just take his leather gloved hands, wrap them around that neck of his and just...snap. Instead though, he kept his composure, slowly exhaling and taking a step backward.
Be calm. This had been the third time he was denied access to the the items the army was collecting for Tolin and it was really starting to bother him. Greatly.
"But why?" he tried his best to keep his tone in check. " I'm second in command I should be able to see these items!" His hands started to clench as he exhaled once more.
"Top orders, we can not disobey Master." The army man replied. Despite K'lynn's attempts to sway him he was determined to keep these new orders. Orders K'lynn was not informed of in any slight way...and this concerned him. There was no reason why Tolin would need to hide any of this from him. It didn't seem right and the thoughts made his stomach knot.
He then set his jaw and turned toward some buildings. He needed answers and he most certainly wasn't going to get them here.
Skylor pushed back some fallen debris out of her way as she climbed up over one of the collapsed buildings. "So many houses...gone." she whispered faintly to herself. All this...all this destruction and chaos...for what? No, Wait. Stop. She tried to make herself stop thinking like that. Whatever as under these villages was important. It had to be important. This wasn't just Tolin having some "fun". He had a purpose.
Smoke now clouded her vision and her eyes and lungs began to burn from it. She wasn't even certain she knew where exactly she was going.The only thing she really could go off of was the banging sounds that seemed to grow even louder with every step she took. As she adjusted her stance to keep herself balanced she...felt something. It was odd. This stray thought that seemed to enter her mind.
"Not safe. Something wrong." She closed her eyes slowly and tried to dismiss it but it only projected itself further. She could see big, red, bold letters now, so clear she left like she could touch them.
"Not safe. Wrong. Very wrong."
Skylor massaged her temples as her brows furrowed. She couldn't decipher it at all. The words came to her scattered as if some of the sentences got scrambled in translation. Was this a warning? Perhaps from that same person who tried to contact her before? But..why? What was wrong?
"Skylor there you are!" She swung her head back and eyed the figure who called her. It was K'lynn.
She blinked at him. "K'lynn, why aren't you with the army? What's going on? I didn't expect the fires to be this intense and persistent."
"I actually don't exactly ...know. That's why I sent-" he stopped before he could finish the sentence and Skylor was too disoriented by his sudden appearance to notice his little slip.
"Wait. What do you mean you don't know? How do you not know?" she questioned, quite concerned.
"I-I can't see what they're doing anymore. Someone said something about new orders from Tolin. I can't see what they're finding." K'lynn explained, he didn't sound happy about this.
Skylor raised her hands and closed her eyes, shaking her head. "What are you going to do? I thought you were Tolin's top henchman or whatever."
K'lynn shrugged, equally caught off guard by this. "I thought so too. I don't know what's happening. It doesn't make any sense," K'lynn paused as a horrible thought hit him,"Unless...u-unless."
Skylor blinked again and cocked her head to the side as she watched K'lynn. He just froze, repeating that same word. "Unless." "K'lynn, unless what?"
Skylor's concern was growing even more as K'lynn hesitated. Sometimes she wished he would just talk to her and tell her what was the matter. She thought they had made some connection these past few days, but K'lynn was so ..distant. She knew he probably had problems of his own but still...he could trust her. Why didn't he trust her!
"N-nothing. It's nothing. I have to go. I need to find Tolin a-at head quarters." K'lynn stammered as he stumbled back, almost tripping over some debris.
Skylor squinted her eyes, trying to make sense of it all. "Isn't that far away? How will you even get there?!" K'lynn reached down into his pocket and pulled out a small square shaped object.
"I'll use this...its experimental, but it should do the trick." It glowed, blue in color and had several tribal like markings on it.
"What is that?"
"Teleporter. Tolin's scientists have been working on it for a while. I managed to...get my hands on one for.. emergencies." Skylor knew that probably meant he stole it but right now she didn't want to question him.
"Does it work?"
"Sort of...like I said. It's experimental." Skylor sighed. "More like dangerous. You don't even know if it will work do you?" "It'll work."
"K'lynn!" she grabbed his arm and pulled him back, fingernails digging into his coat. If Skylor could see his eyes she knew they'd be begging for her to let go.
