Well, this was an interesting chapter, I'll say. :)
You guys are welcome to try and find out what kind of deal Nova made with the Overlord. >:3
____________________________________________________________
*In the ocean, Jay is struggling to break free of the ropes.*
"Aah! Guys, I see something. I see something!" shouted Jay in a panic.
"Can you describe it?" Nya asked.
"Can you define "something"?" Zane asked.
"Does it have teeth?" Cole asked.
"Does it have scales?" Nova asked, though knowing it wasn't anything dangerous.
"Ugh, these ropes are tough. I think I can burn through them!" said Kai.
"Shh! They'll hear!" said Nya before looking over at Nova. "Can't you use one of your weapons to get out? You're a thief, so you should know how to get out of this."
"Like this?" Nova easily got back on the ground, free of the ropes as she was holding her odachi.
"When did you summon your weapon?" Cole asked.
"When you all gave me the death glare because of my bad joke." Nova walked over and cut Zane, Wu and Lloyd free, while Kai helped Cole, Misako and Nya.
"I'm amazed you haven't gotten rusty, after being locked inside your workroom for a whole month." said Lloyd until he got a punch to the arm.
"Not funny, greenie." said Nova while testing her right arm to see that she could still somewhat move it, but it was clear it needed some fixing. "Just because I haven't been on any missions, doesn't mean I don't do some training."
"Let's hope this final sacrifice appeases Wojira, once and for all." Mammatus turns around to find that the ninja have freed themselves. "Stop them!"
"Ninja, go!" shouted the ninja and Nova as they all used their Spinjitzu.
"Hurry up, Dwayne!" shouted Clutch.
"I'm trying, Mr. Powers!" Dwayne catches a Keeper spear flying his way and cuts the ropes.
"Faster next time, intern!" said Clutch.
*The ninja fight their way through the Keepers and reach the end of the docks.*
"Zane, a little ice?" Lloyd asked.
Zane freezes the water and they continue running out to sea.
"Somebody, help! There's definitely something out here! Something big and snaky and glowing!" Jay shouted.
"Jay!" shouted Nya as she and the rest caught up to his raft.
"Oh, thank goodness! It's so good to see you guys!" said Jay in relief.
*A fireball lands between Jay and the ninja, separating them.*
"Over there! I see something!" Nya attacks it with water, but it does nothing.
"What is it?" Kai asked.
Nova let out a long whistle. "Damn, this looks way more creepy up close than on the TV."
"I don't know, but it's big! Get me out of here before it comes back!" Zane creates an iceberg for Lloyd to reach Jay. "Hurry!"
"Just stay still!" said Lloyd as he was trying to free him.
"Look out!" shouted Jay as another fireball strikes and Lloyd falls into the water.
Lloyd quickly swam back up to the surface of the water. "Jay?"
"I'm okay. I think I can get loose, just need a few more... aah!" A giant claw reels Jay in.
"Jay!" Lloyd sends an energy ball at Wojira.
"No!" shouted Nya.
"Aah! It's got me! Aah!" shouted Jay.
"Jay!" shouted Cole.
Nova started counting in her head, until she hit zero when she noticed the ninja turning their heads to look over at her. "He isn't dead." She raised her hands.
Nova could feel the rage rising from them, mostly Nya as she was walking towards her ready to throw a fit. "No, no, I don't wanna fucking hear it. I'm not gonna get blamed for another fake death, I've been through enough on this fucking island."
"How can you act so calm and say that it's a fake death!?" shouted Nya at her in full rage with tears forming in the corner of her eyes. "We just saw Jay get eaten!"
Nova let out a frustrated sigh as she rubbed the bridge of her nose. "I've been though enough shit, and by THE MOTHERFUCKING Ơ̶̧̳̼͇V̸͙͗͑̆͘̚͜Ḝ̵͍͇͕̀R̶̨̛̗̱̖̓͌L̴̲͍̑̿͘͝O̶̤̹͈̹͗Ṙ̶̟̃D̵̤̮͖̯́̀̀ YOU GUYS AREN'T GONNA DROP THIS ON ME AGAIN!!!!" Her eyes started glowing pink as she was poking Nya with each word she spoke.
"Guys! Enough fighting, look what I found." said Lloyd getting out of the water and back on the ice the others was standing, he then pulled up the wooden tooth he found floating in the water.
Nova took a deep breath as she tried to calm down, crossing her arms with a huff.
"I believe Ocea is right, Jay might be alive, and I think our so-called Wojira is a fake." Lloyd went on to show them the wooden tooth.
Nya started to calm down from this, and now started feeling bad about putting the blame on Nova once again like when they thought Zane was dead. She turned around to look over at her. "I'm really sorry Nova, we-I shouldn't have blamed you."
"It's fine, I knew this was gonna happen and I didn't need my future sight to see this coming." Nova sighs but gives a slight smile "Now how about we get back to the shore."
*The ninja reach the shore and are surrounded by Keepers.*
"You fools! You risk angering Wojira? If the beast returns, you will be the next sacrifices!" said Mammatus.
"No, we won't, because Wojira doesn't exist." said Lloyd.
"Blasphemy! You saw her!" said Mammatus.
"Why does it feel like we are going around in a circle?" Nova rubbed her head as she was getting a headache from this.
"We saw something, but tell me: do sea monsters have wooden teeth?" Lloyd slides the wooden tooth over to Mammatus.
"I don't understand." said Mammatus.
"It's a con. You've been tricked into giving sacrifices to a fake monster." said Lloyd and Nova in unison.
"But that's impossible." said Mammatus.
"Why don't you tell us how all of this started? From the beginning." said Lloyd.
"Finally some peace, and we don't have to fight and shout." Nova thought with a relieved sigh. "When this is all over, I'm gonna ask Wu for some special training if my part of the deal is gonna work. I'm gonna need a head start with this while the Overlord isn't lurking around and seeing what I'm up to."
Mammatus cleared his throat as he started speaking. "For thousands of seasons, our people have been entrusted with the protection of the amulet. Entrusted by the First Spinjitzu Master himself to keep it from Wojira, for if the serpent ever obtained it again, the seas would rise up and swallow all the world. But Wojira slept, and all was peaceful. Until one day..."
*Flashback.*
"Come quickly!" Past PoulErik takes Mammatus to the docks. "It's her. Isn't it? It's Wojira! The sleeper has awoken! What should we do?"
"This doesn't seem right. Wojira should be asleep at the bottom of the sea." said Past Mammatus.
"Someone must have awoken her!" said Past PoulErik.
"We should send her a sacrifice of gold and gems to appease her!" said an unknown figure.
*End of flashback.*
"I did not know where the idea came from, but it was worth a try." They send out a raft full of treasures. "We thought we had appeased her, but only a week later, she was back. Soon our treasures were gone, so we gave fruits and coconuts, whatever was left. But we needed something to placate Wojira forever. We needed an ultimate sacrifice!" Mammatus finished telling them how it all happened.
"So you thought you'd sacrifice our friend?" Lloyd asked.
"We were commanded to defend the amulet at all costs! Not some costs, all!" said Mammatus.
"Sacrificing Jay cost you nothing, but it could cost Jay everything." said Kai.
"You lost our friend. You're gonna help get him back." said Nya.
"You owe us that much, after everything that has happened so far." Nova crossed her arms, glaring at him.
"How?" Mammatus asked.
"First, you're gonna draw me a map of the coastline and show me any place near the water where someone could hide something really big." said Lloyd.
Nova turned off her mask as she decided now would be a good time to talk with Wu, as the others got busy finding Ronin's hideout. "Master Wu, could I talk with you for a minute?"
"Of course, Nova, what do you need to talk with me about?" Wu asked as he wondered what was on her mind.
"When we get back from this adventure, I wanna hear if you could give me some training. But without the others knowing, most of all Lloyd." said Nova.
Wu gave her a confused look as he started stroking his beard. "Why is that, Nova? And what kind of training are you seeking to learn from me that it must be kept a secret?"
"I can't tell you the reason, but all I know is that you are the only one here who can teach me. I know I'm gonna need it in the future, at any cost." Nova had a serious look in her eyes as if it was life or death.
"What kind of training do you believe that only I can teach you, and not the ninja themselves?" Wu raised an eyebrow at her.
"As much as I know I can believe in the others helping me, there is only so much that they can teach me. But you being much wiser and more experienced along with being our Master, I know you are the best choice for me." Nova let out a small sigh. "I can't use my elemental powers, they are too unstable, and with it being the opposite of your powers let alone training. That would be a waste of time."
"Then what are you seeking, Nova? I can't help you if you keep dancing around the topic." said Wu.
Nova looked over her shoulder at the ninja as she saw that they were still busy before looking back up at Wu. "Creation, I need your help in drawing out my creation powers, Master Wu. I know I have it somewhere deep inside, I've felt it when I really needed it."
Wu had stopped stroking his beard as he looked at her in surprise. "But if you have the power of creation too, would that mean you're like my father?"
Nova shook her head. "I'm nothing like the First Spinjitzu Master, through my adventures I've learned a lot about myself. But there is still a lot I don't know yet. What I do know is that the Overlord didn't plan for me to have it in the first place."
"I see." Wu started to calm down a bit after this. "But what makes you want to learn—" He was cut mid sentence when Lloyd came over to them.
"We've found out where Jay might be, we better hurry." said Lloyd, to which Nova gave a slight nod.
"Lead the way, greenie." Nova smiled and started following him and the rest of the ninja.
"What were you talking with Master Wu about?" Lloyd went on to asked.
"Just if he had some tea that could help with my headaches." said Nova.
Lloyd raised an eyebrow looking at her. "Just tea?"
"Yes, broccoli, just tea. You think I can't talk about normal stuff?" Nova shook her head as she was getting another headache.
"Well.... I mean, you talking about normal stuff is kind of rare when it's you." Lloyd went on to avoid the cold glare he was getting from her.
*Later in a cave, two henchmen lift Jay and carry him to the water when the ninjas swing into the cave on ropes, except Nova, who was using her grappling hooks.*
"Throw him out to sea! He's too much trouble!" said Criminal 1.
"Yes! But he's our trouble!" said Lloyd.
Cole kicks the two henchmen into the water and catches Jay. "Aww, good to see you, guys! How'd you find me?"
"Once we figured out this alleged sea monster wasn't real -" Lloyd started.
"We had a little talk with the leader, who told us about a cave -" Cole joined in.
"Where some thugs just might be hiding a big monster!" said Nya and Nova in unison.
"Smart thinking, guys! But this is a pretty bizarre crime ring going on here. Any idea who's behind it?" Jay questioned.
"We figured that out too. Remember there was a breakout to Kryptarium Prison? All kinds of criminals back on the streets?" Lloyd started questioning.
"Yeah!" said Jay.
"Well, guess who still hasn't been caught, and who likes to use weird vehicles to get his way!" said Lloyd.
"Hey Ronin, did you miss something?" Nova waved a wallet in the air, giving a teasing smile.
Ronin gave her an unimpressed look. "Nice trick shrimp, but did you forget something?" He waved back with Nova's wallet, which he had stolen at the same time as Nova stole his.
"What!?" Nova couldn't believe that all this time he had done the same to her as she did to him. "Not fair old man!"
The ninja was surprised by this interaction, as so far they had never really seen these two in the same room before.
"We sure they aren't related?" Jay whispered.
"I believe you're getting rusty shrimp, this is what happens when you stop being a thief." said Ronin before throwing over the wallet that she easily caught.
Nova checked her wallet and saw that it was empty, a low growl came from her before she threw back his wallet which he caught with ease. "Old motherfucking asshole!"
Ronin gave a slight shrug at her swearing at him, but he did take notice that she seemed a little more nervous, let alone upset. He glared over at Lloyd who, like the others, just watched on in confusion.
"If you get bored with the ninja, you know where to find me shrimp. I might take you under my wing again, as long as you don't bring the law with you." said Ronin with a bored look on his face.
Nova knew this was Ronin's way of showing his softer side, after staying with him for so long they both kind of knew what each other felt or meant. But that didn't mean they would ever say it out loud, as that would ruin each other's reputation in the criminal world. ".... Whatever, old man."
Kai cleared his throat, getting everyone's attention as he had them returned back to the reason they were here. "I thought you always worked alone, Ronin. Well, besides when Nova was still working for you."
"I usually do, but when the police hired me to track down all those escaped prisoners from Kryptarium, I realized I had an opportunity to put them to work, for me!" said Ronin.
"Too bad you went through all that trouble for nothing." said Cole.
"Not for nothing! These islanders had been sitting on a small fortune of gems and gold bullion! But if they're starting to sacrifice people, I may have cleaned them out, so I'll cut my losses while I'm ahead. So long, ninja. Keep them busy, boys!" said Ronin as he was running away.
"He's escaping!" shouted Nya as she and the rest of them were fighting off all of the criminals.
Twitchy arrives on a catamaran. "Not on my watch! Come on, storm, give me all you've got!"
"Twitchy?" said Lloyd surprised.
"How did he even find us?" Nova questioned as she used her dual blades that she had summoned to block the attacks.
"It's never too late to conquer your fears, especially to rescue a friend! Hold on, guys!" shouted Twitchy.
"Whoa, hey! What are you doing? You're gonna sink us both!" shouted Ronin.
"That's the plan." Twitchy leaps off the catamaran and into the water just as it rams into "Wojira", sinking both vehicles.
"Someone help Twitchy!" said Lloyd.
"That was a very brave thing to do, Twitchy." said Nya as she goes on to help him out of the water.
Ronin tries to escape, but Nova easily catches his foot with one of her grappling hooks, causing him to trip. "You're on thin ice shrimp."
"I'm already on thin ice, Ronin, just not with you." Nova whispered to which only he heard, causing him to raise a questionable eyebrow.
"You're gonna see the inside of a jail cell for this, Ronin." said Kai walking over as he began tying him up.
*Back at the village, Ronin and his henchmen are locked in a cell.*
"And I would have gotten away with it if it weren't for you ninja and your pesky friend." said Ronin.
"What is this, Scooby-Doo?" Nova raised an eyebrow.
"What's Scooby-Doo?" Jay asked.
"Just an old TV show in my old world." said Nova.
" Well, did I have a feeling he was gonna say that?" said Cole as Zippy appears and growls at them, scaring the prisoners.
"Let me offer my sincerest apologies, my ninja allies." said Mammatus.
"For what?" Cole asked.
"Having our Stone Guardian attack you, locking you up, sacrificing your friend to a monster, that sort of stuff." said Mammatus.
"Nah, forget it." said Kai.
"Yeah, happens to us all the time." said Cole.
"You'll be surprised by how many times it happens to us, mostly them." Nova pointed towards the rest of the ninja.
"Hey!"
"I'm just happy they captured Ronin and his thugs, and found my mom and Master Wu alive and well." said Lloyd.
"And Clutch Powers." said Zane.
"Oh yeah." said Lloyd and Nova in unison, not giving a real care about him.
"I still think we could have left him in the cell." said Nova.
"On behalf of the Keepers of the Storm Amulet of Wojira -" Mammatus realizes the amulet is missing. "What? Where - ?"
Nya turns to Dwayne. "Where's Clutch?" Dwayne nervously points towards the jungle. "Ugh."
*At the docks, Nya zaps Clutch with a spear.*
"I don't think that belongs to you." said Nya.
"Oh, how the heck did that get in there?" said Clutch, trying to act innocent.
*Later, Lloyd, Misako, and Wu are at the docks.*
"Lloyd? Are you okay?" Misako asked.
"I was just thinking, I know Ronin's monster was fake, but I guess I was wondering if Wojira is really still out there, somewhere." said Lloyd.
"If she is, may she sleep for another thousand years." said Wu.
"By the way, Master Wu, did you and Nova really just talk about tea?" Lloyd asked.
Wu looked at Lloyd as he stroked his beard, catching on that Nova had told him a lie about them talking about tea. But decided this was her decision to make as for whatever reason she needed him to train her in using her creation powers. "Yes Lloyd, why you ask? Do you find it weird we couldn't have a normal conversation about tea?"
"No, no, of course not Master, I just wanted to be sure. Since Nova has a habit of avoiding the truth at times, or keeping things a secret. Like you sometimes." said Lloyd.
Wu gave him a questionable raised eyebrow. "I see, well then I'm sure she has her reasoning to be keeping secrets, like myself as you say."
"Guys hurry it up already!" shouted Nova as she had gone on to see what was taking them this long. "If you don't wanna be left behind, move your lazy asses already!"
"I'm happy for you two Lloyd, but she really needs to cut down the swearing." said Misako, shaking her head.
Lloyd scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile. "Yeah, I don't think that is gonna happen. Like with her temper, it's kind of just a habit you need to get used to."
Misako let out a small sigh, but knew that her son was already an adult, so she couldn't really lecture him. "So, when should I hope for you two, to give me grandchildren?"
"M-Mom!?" Lloyd's face started turning red like a tomato.
"Now, now, Misako. They are still in the early stages of their relationship. Give them a bit more time until then." said Wu.
"Master Wu!?" shouted both Nova and Lloyd as they were all red in the face. Nova hadn't said anything when she heard Misako speaking about it, but when Wu joined it that was crossing the line.