As Jay held the snakes off long enough for Nya to escape with Ed and Edna, Nya began to survey her options as she contacted the others for help.

"The other ninja will be here soon. We're going to have to fight them off until we can get our hands on that cure. I just need-"

"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT THING?!" Jay screamed, interrupting her.

A giant green mech stomped towards the ninja, swinging what appeared to be nunchucks.

"Oh! That was supposed to be a gift in your honor, son." Ed explained sheepishly.

"Thanks, but no thanks!" Jay breathed, sprinting towards the others. "What are we gonna do, Nya? Did you see those weapons? Those vehicles?"

"Right now our top priority is curing your parents." Nya held his hands, calming him down. "We need to avoid getting bitten, or things are just going to get worse."

"The others are coming right?" Jay asked frantically, glancing around. "Because right now, we're crazy outnumbered."

"You're right about that." Kai's voice suddenly appeared behind them. Nya screamed as he grabbed her by the waist, pulling her back. As she began fought him off, Kai suddenly let go, stepping back. "D-Don't fight me... Jesus..." he crouched to the ground, holding onto his face.

"Kai...?" Nya started, prepared to fight, only to watch him stumble away into hiding.

"What the hell was that about?" Jay asked, rushing to her aid. "Did he hurt you?"

"No, he just... ran away, like he was in pain or something." Nya shook her head. "Never mind him, we've got to get that cure!"

"Right!" Jay zapped a few snakes with his nunchucks, clearing a path to the general for Nya.
-
Fangtom hissed in alarm once Nya began to cut her way through to him. "Kai? My lord! Where are you?"

"I'm here." Kai coughed, gripping onto scraps of junk for support as he climbed up to the snake. "We need to get out of here at once. I need... I need to replenish... dark matter."

"What of the ninja?" Fangtom asked, hailing a helicopter.

"Forget them, and Jay's parents too. They're cutting your troops down, and who knows the amount of damage they'll cause once the others get here."

"You mean us?" A familiar voice asked smugly. Cole.

The earth ninja was standing next to Zane, weapons in hand and prepared to attack. Kai pursed his lips together in frustration. "Dammit." He spoke lowly as he grit his teeth. "Let's get out of here."

The generals hopped onto the helicopter right as it took off, narrowly missing Zane's hand grabbing for the staff. "No!" The ninja cried, attempting to knock the craft down with one of his shurikens.

Kai grinned as he knelt to the floor of the flying platform, attempting to ease the pain he was in. Back to Jamanakai for more of that stuff. Then I'll see if the tea lady has any extra. That way nothing will hold me back.
-
"We can't let them get away with the staff!" Nya cried out, taking Jay's arm. "Form your jet-thing!"

"Got it!" Jay closed his eyes and transformed his weapon once again. Nya was about to jump inside with him before he waved her out. "Stay with my parents. I'll get it myself!"

Without another word, he flew off, leaving her alone with the other ninja, who didn't stay for very long either. Nya scrunched her brows, watching as they sped off without her.

Edna must have noticed her sullen expression. She took Nya's arm and turned her around. "Sweetheart, don't you have a vehicle?"

Nya opened her mouth, quickly shutting it and shaking her head. "No, my weapon doesn't do that. I don't even have a specific weapon."

Sensei stepped in to explain. "Nya's element is powerful enough to hold her own in a fight, perhaps even more powerful than the raw energy of the ninja. She has barely scratched the surface of her potential." Wow. Thanks, Sensei.

"We shouldn't have a problem catching up with them." Ed grinned, holding out a pair of keys in his scaled palm. "Those snakes turned everything except the good ol' jalopy."
Nya's eyes widened as he tossed the keys to her. "Go on, take her for a spin. We'll sit in the back."
-
Nya sped after Jay, wincing as he flew right by the helicopter, barely missing them. Come on, Jay. You got this.

And then, a cheer. She glanced up from driving, realizing Jay had grabbed the staff after all. "Yes!" She cried out loud with Sensei and his parents.

She glanced down at the road once, only to hear a sudden scream. Looking up again, her eyes widened in horror as she watched the ninja falling from the sky. He lost focus!

Cole and Zane sped to catch him, only to crash into each other and lose their vehicles as well. Nya bit her lip, stepping on the gas. It's all up to me.

Jay plummeted down, his screams growing closer by the second. Nya's teeth nearly sank through her lip as she focused on the precise area he was going to land.

His screams stopped. Impact.

She heard him grunt in pain, and she slowly turned to face him. He had landed almost perfectly in the front seat with her, clutching onto the staff for dear life. Other than the initial shock, he seemed alright.

"Jay." She sighed in relief, side-hugging him as she slowed to a stop. Overhead, she could hear the Fangpyre General roar in anger. "We need to get out of here! Get on!" She called to Cole and Zane.

Nya raced to the Bounty once everyone climbed on, ushering Jay's parents inside and taking the staff. "I'll cure your parents, just get this thing in the air!" She called back to Jay, grabbing a couple of cups from the cappuccino machine on her way inside.

She sighed in relief once his parents drank the contents from the staff and slowly returned to normal.

"Thank you, Nya." Edna smiled, touching her hand. "You're just my son's-"

"SHIT!" Jay blurted in frustration, slamming his fist on the red button. "It's not working!"

Nya was about to run over and help him fix the machine, only to stop once she saw Ed move to help Jay. "Dad, you're okay!"

"Need some help?" Ed asked with a smile, kneeling down to look at the machinery. "Just a rearranging of wires- Ah, here's the problem." A snap, and the jets on the Bounty began to whir.

"Thanks, dad." Jay smiled softly, moving back. "I'll let you do the honors."

With a press of the button, the Bounty took off, just as helicopters soared past the ship, sending them all off of their balance. Nya stumbled out the open door and slipped on the deck, crying out in alarm as the staff fell out of her hand and into the general's below them.

Kai growled, clutching onto his chest. "Great, you got your fucking staff! Now let's get out of here!"

Nya watched as they flew off in the opposite direction, slowly getting up. Damn. She gripped onto the railing of the deck, lowering her head. I've lost another staff.

"Nya!" Edna cried out, rushing to the deck and hugging her. "Oh, poor girl. I thought you had fallen off." Jay and Ed had followed her, with the others close behind.

"I'm fine, guys." Nya blinked, swallowing. "I lost the staff, though."

Sensei shook his head. "What's important is that we cured Jay's parents and you are safe with us. The Fangpyre would have followed us to the ends of the earth to get that staff. It is probably best that we let it go."

Nya nodded, turning to look at the horizon. "That was intense." She breathed, slumping against the railing.

"I'll make dinner." Zane piped up with a smile.

"It's okay if you guys don't want to stay." Jay turned towards his parents. "But it would be nice. I've missed you so much."

Ed and Edna moved towards Jay, hugging him. For once, the talkative family was silent, immersed in emotion.

Nya smiled, ignoring the twinge of sadness and longing in her heart. She moved inside, prepared to help Zane with dinner.

"Nya? Sweetheart?" Edna's voice called after her.

"Yes?" Nya asked quietly, holding onto the doorframe.

"Come in here." Ed waved her over. "As far as we're concerned, you're family too."

Nothing could stop the tears that began to flow out of Nya's eyes. She sniffled and ran into their hug without hesitation, her heart filling with warmth and a sense of belonging. For once.

Family. She smiled, holding onto the three of them. I never knew I needed this until now.