ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: Sleeping At Last - Saturn

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◄◄⠀▐▐ ⠀►►⠀⠀ ⠀ 0:00 / 4:50 ⠀ ───○ 🔊⠀ ᴴᴰ ⚙ ❐ ⊏⊐

You taught me the courage of stars before you left

How light carries on endlessly, even after death

With shortness of breath, you explained the infinite

How rare and beautiful it is to even exist

----

Far from home, comfort and friends were the ninja who were still stuck on Delta V.

''These bugs just keep coming. We are going nowhere.'' Kai said to the others.

''Nya, there's no way we're getting off this planet. Any last words, my darling?'' Jay asked Nya, using his lightning to get rid of the bugs.

''How about "It was always you, Cole. I won't be able to carry on without you."'' The Earth Ninja suggested.

''Now is not the time for that! Can't I care for both of you? Now just don't give up.'' The Samurai Girl told the group through the communication device.

''My dad was right, I should've never given up my Golden Power. We could have all been home. Now the Overlord has all he needs to become the Golden Master.'' Lloyd said, feeling guilty.

''Don't say that. I was wrong. You must trust your friends. Trust yourself.'' His father replied.

''They've returned with the Golden Weapons. It's only a matter of time.'' Pixal said.

''Search for the power within, then realize the greatness within each other,'' Wu told them.

''He's right. We can get off this planet.'' The Green Ninja replied.

''What about your Green Power, Lloyd?'' The Fire Ninja asked.

''It's too far. He'd never be able to keep his focus that long.'' The Ice Ninja replied.

Cole sighed. ''No one happens to have a build-your-own-rocket-kit handy, do they?'' He asked the others.

''Whoa. That's it!'' Lloyd replied, getting an idea.

''You have a build-your-own-rocket-kit?'' Jay asked.

''No, but we can make one,'' Lloyd answered. ''Arcturus may not fly, but she'll give us all the metal we need. And Zane knows this solar system better than anyone.''

''And Kai's Fire could weld the missing parts,'' Zane said.

''Cole's manpower could do all the heavy lifting.'' Kai added.

''Jay has enough electricity and nerd knowledge to make a halfway believable spacecraft.'' Cole said.

''And what about me?'' (Y/n) asked. Zane looked at her with a soft smile.

''Great moral support, because we really need it.'' The Ice Ninja answered. The other boys smiled at her, and she smiled back.

''Hey. This could actually work.'' Jay replied, and they started on the rocket. Kai tried to impress (Y/n) by using his fire on a small swarm of the metal-eating bugs, however, she was too busy playing her role to notice.

Finally finished with the rocket, the ninja climbed in, making some last-minute safety checks.

''Boosters?'' Lloyd asked.

''Check,'' Kai answered.

''Electronics?'' The Green Ninja asked.

''Check,'' Jay answered.

''Navigation?'' Lloyd asked.

''Check,'' Zane answered.

''Moral support?'' Lloyd asked.

''Check.'' (Y/n) answered.

''How are we holding together?'' The Green Ninja asked the others.

''Bubblegum and a wish,'' Cole answered.

''Let's go home, fellas,'' Lloyd replied, and the makeshift rocket blasted off.

---

The ninja entered the atmosphere.

''Hold on, we're almost there,'' Cole told the others.

''My power source has reached critical mass. It appears my unlimited energy is in fact limited.'' Zane informed the others.

''Critical mass? Like, it's gonna blow up?'' Jay asked.

''Don't worry about me. I must use my power to hold our vessel together.'' The Ice Ninja replied.

''No way, Zane. Entering the atmosphere means we have air.'' The Green Ninja told him.

''No, it means we're gonna burn up,'' Jay replied.

''Listen! With just enough air, we can now support our Elemental Shields. Let's try, guys!'' Lloyd told them.

Six different coloured shields appeared, one surrounding each ninja like a safety bubble, as they flew towards Ninjago.

The citizens cheered as they saw the return of the ninja, similar to (Y/n)'s return except with more ninja.

---

''I hate to bring this up now, but parachutes would've come in handy,'' Cole told the others.

''Friends and family make a good substitute,'' Kai replied.

''Coordinating catch. Be on the lookout. Kai, go for 56 degrees north, 12 east.'' Pixal told Kai, and he landed in his jet. ''Zane, you're next.''

''Don't worry, I've got you,'' Zane replied, landing in his hover-copter.

''Ninja, go!'' Jay and Cole shouted, landing in their vehicles. (Y/n) slowed her descent, and got on her hoverboard, landing beside Lloyd who was on his Golden Cycle.

''Welcome home, Ninja,'' Wu said.

''Brother, I can't remember the last time we fought together on the same team,'' Garmadon told Wu.

''I have the city in my sights.'' The Ice Ninja told the others.

''City? That's not a city, that's an impenetrable fortress!'' Jay replied, looking at it.

''Behind that wall, the Golden Master has the power of the First Spinjitzu Master,'' Garmadon told them.

''Ninja, if you get this message, I've managed to escape and have found refuge within the Temple of Fortitude here in the city,'' Cyrus told them, on a screen.

''Temple of Fortitude? That was leftover from the Stone Wars. The Overlord used it as a stronghold against the power of the First Spinjitzu Master.'' Wu said, looking at the others.

''It has a sacred seal of protection that can resist the Golden Power. Very clever.'' Lloyd's father replied.

''If you can make it here alive, I think I have a device that could defeat him,'' Cyrus said.

''Then we have to get to that Temple. Everyone, stay together.'' Lloyd said to the others, and they headed to Ninjago City. ''Kai. You, Nya, and Zane take the high road. We'll make our own road.''

''I don't have time for finesse,'' Cole said, breaking through a parking lot concrete wall.

The city building wall began to rise.

''Is that wall getting higher?'' Nya asked, in her Samurai Mech.

''It's just like the Digiverse. His turf, his rules.'' Zane replied.

''The Temple's up ahead,'' Wu told his brother.

''Two down and moving onwards to the—'' Nya said, before getting hit by a car.

''Nya's down! I repeat, Nya's down!'' Kai told the others.

''I'm going back for her.'' The Earth Ninja replied.

''No, I'll go back,'' Jay said.

''Go back, and our probability to make it to the Temple exponentially diminishes,'' Zane told the others.

''This isn't about numbers, Zane. It's about family.'' Kai replied.

''Everyone else head to the Temple, we'll go pick up Nya.'' The Green Ninja told the others.

''I've got her. She's on the corner of Bradley Boulevard and—'' Kai said before something suddenly hit them, knocking them off their vehicles. ''and somewhere.''

(Y/n) looked up to see the Overlord, towering over them, and her hoverboard crushed under his golden foot/claw.

''The famous Ninja have time for a meet-and-greet. Let's dance.'' The Overlord said, laughing as he spun around, and suddenly a giant golden tornado surrounded him.

''Change of plans. Run!'' Lloyd shouted, and they turned and ran, with the oversized humanised bacteria chasing after them.

''Whoo-hoo!'' Cole exclaimed as he flipped over a car.

Garmadon and Wu watched as a golden spinjitzu tornado came into view, and then the ninja, who were outrunning it.

''Brother, now!'' Wu told his brother, and the two closed the doors as the ninja came in.

''Activate the shield,'' Garmadon said, activating it before the Overlord could enter.

''No, no!'' The Overlord screamed as he faced the shield.

---

''You said you had a weapon that could stop him?'' Lloyd asked Cyrus as the Overlord tried to break the shield.

''I do. It's my best-protected secret.'' The Inventor replied. A box rose from the floor, and he used a screwdriver to open it.

''What is it?'' Jay asked.

''It is well-protected,'' Zane told him.

''Is it an ancient curse?'' Lloyd questioned.

''I say firepower,'' Kai said.

''I hope it rocks,'' Cole replied.

''Is it dangerous? Is it alive? Does it come with a manual? Is it a—a—a pill!?'' The Lightning Ninja asked, much to his disappointment apon seeing a small silver pill in the box.

''Ah, not just any pill, a nano pill. For all of time, scientists have been searching for the holy grail of inventions. A diet pill that actually works!'' Cyrus told him, holding it up.

''Wait until you are old, you'll see why it's so important. Tell me, Borg. Does it work?'' Garmadon asked the inventor, shaking his arm.

''No. But the nanotechnology inside has an adverse effect. It not only shrinks your waistline but miniaturizes you as well.'' Cyrus answered, turning to the others.

''You've made a shrinking pill?'' Zane asked.

''Let me get this straight. You want us to get close to this guy, who has armour that with the mere tough, would make us toast, and you want us to give him a pill?'' Kai questioned.

''Precisely!'' Cyrus answered.

''Time we give this bacteria his medicine.'' (Y/n) said with a grin.

''Brother, do you remember when both of us were on the same team?'' Garmadon asked his brother.

''Uh, hey, yeah, old-timers, mind paying attention? We're trying to save the world here!'' Jay interrupted, standing between the two.

''You're right, brother, on the playground when we were kids. Templegate Tigers.'' Wu replied.

''Ha, I threw a mean curveball, and your stick could thread the needle. We never lost.'' Garmadon said, stepping closer to his brother.

''So true. Get us close, Ninja, and we'll give the Golden Master his medicine.'' Wu told the ninja.

---

Grabbing some armour that they had found, the ninja walked to the centre of the temple.

''Are you sure this is gonna protect us?'' Kai asked.

''If the Overlord's Stone Warriors used this against the First Spinjitzu Master, I see no reason why we can't use it against those exact same powers,'' Garmadon replied, looking at the ninja.

Zane looked over at (Y/n), whose hands were empty. ''Here. You take it.'' He told her, offering his armour.

She shook her head. ''If it's the last piece of armour, you deserve it.'' (Y/n) replied, gently pushing it away.

The Ice Ninja smiled, and the two hugged, and Zane pulled out of the hug and put the armour on.

''Zane. (Y/n), we have to go.'' Garmadon told the two, and the others put their armour on.

''Hey, the seal! It's broken!'' Lloyd shouted, looking out the window.

Nya appeared, destroying nindroids with her Samurai Mech. ''Better late than never! Go get 'em, Ninja!''

''Ninja, go!'' The boys shouted as they did spinjitzu and landing on the roof top, while (Y/n) made her way to the Overlord via the streets.

Seeing a car come at her, she ducked, the vehicle flying over her head and landing in front of her.

A giant hand made out of roof tiles appeared, coming down on the ninja, but it was ineffective.

''I don't believe it, the armor's working!'' Cole told the others.

''Keep going! We have to take the heat off the Senseis!'' Jay replied, and the boys ran on the golden web threads, breaking them.

''My powers! They aren't working! They won't start coming!'' The Overlord screamed.

The citizens cheered, and (Y/n) ran past, before noticing more objects come at her. The people screamed as more objects rained down on them.

''We have to save the people!'' Lloyd told the others.

''We have to get the Sensei's closer!'' Kai replied.

A serpentine came up from a manhole. ''People of Ninjago, follow me!''

''The snakes are on our side?'' The Lightning Ninja asked. ''Great. Now I have seen it all.''

''We'll never get close enough,'' Kai replied, looking up at the golden web.

''We won't need to. Ready to thread the needle, brother?'' Garmadon asked his brother.

''Let's show them what old timers can do,'' Wu answered. Garmadon jumped onto the golden web threads, catching Wu on his shoulder as the old sensei jumped into the air, and Garmadon threw the small silver pill into the air, and Wu swung around 360 degrees and hitting it with his staff.

The hit was accurate, and as the ninja watched as the pill sailed through the air, they thought it the plan would be a success.

Then, Pythor jumped into the way, opening his mouth to eat it instead, coughing as he landed. ''Ah! What's happening to me?'' The Anacondrai asked as he shrunk. ''No!'' He slithered away as the falcon chased him.

''That was it? That was all you've got?'' The Overlord asked, grabbing everyone on the rooftop except for Zane.

''The armour, why isn't it working?'' Cole asked the others, struggling.

''Because your time is over!'' The Overlord answered.

''Support me, friends, for one last time,'' Zane said, pulling down his mask and looking up at the Overlord. He then jumped onto a web thread, the others flipping themselves over to help the nindroid in his last endeavour. He rose up into the air, before landing on the spikes of the golden armour. ''Let my friends go!'' He demanded, glowing light blue.

''Go where doomed Ninja?'' The Overlord asked the nindroid.

Zane's body began to shake, looking at the giant humanised bacteria before him with a defiant glare. A half of his face came off, and fell, landing on the ground. ''The Golden Weapons are too powerful for you to behold. Your survival chance is low.'' The Overlord told him smugly.

Zane sighed. ''This isn't about numbers. It's about family.'' He replied. The golden threads that held the ninja turned green, letting them go.

''He's not letting go!'' Lloyd told the others.

''His heart! It's reaching critical mass!'' Jay shouted, watching the Titanium Ninja.

''If his heart overloads, he'll blow! He'll never survive!'' Cole replied.

''Let go of him, Zane! What is he doing?'' The Fire Ninja asked.

''He's protecting us,'' Wu answered.

''I am a Nindroid, and Ninja never quit. Go, Ninja. Go!'' The Ice Ninja told the Overlord, firing a blast of ice at the Overlord.

''What are you doing? Let me go, you fool!'' The Overlord demanded.

''No, Zane, no!'' Jay shouted helplessly.

''We have to get out of here now,'' Wu told the boys, forcing them to go in the manhole.

''No!'' Jay and Kai shouted.

''(Y/n)?! Where are you?!'' Remo asked, fighting the others to get out of the manhole to look for her.

An ice chunk came out of nowhere, stopping the others from opening the manhole. (Y/n) appeared, and tried to move it, but couldn't. She removed her hands from the ice and looked at the Titanium Ninja.

Zane faced the Overlord, chunks of ice raining down as he faced him.

A peaceful smile appeared on his face, remembering all the good times he had.

As the ninja arrived in Jamanakai village.

''Ninja go!'' The boys as they raised their elemental blades to face the Overlord.

Him as he fought the Treehorns after discovering his true potential.

Seeing his father again back at the lighthouse.

Zane opened his eyes for a moment, letting the familiar memories appear in his head for one last time. He then closed his eyes, with a peaceful smile.

Discovering his true potential, dancing after flicking his memory switch back on, hugging his father, meeting and following the falcon-

''You were built to protect those who cannot protect themselves.'' Julien said as Zane let a butterfly fly away.

The two sat beneath the stars, gazing up at the millions of lights that dotted the sky. ''Beautiful night it is.'' (Y/n) said, watching a shooting star pass by.

''Not as beautiful as you,'' Zane replied, whispering. The girl looked at him for a moment, a surprised look on her face.

Those stars above them could not compare to the shining suns that looked back at him. ''You think I'm beautiful?'' She asked.

''I shouldn't have said anything.'' The Ice Ninja replied, turning away.

''Zane,'' She spoke, gaining his attention. ''It's great to be able to talk to someone who is caring, kind and honest.''

''You think I have those qualities?'' The nindroid asked, and she nodded.

''Yes, I'm just surprised no one else has noticed that until now.'' (Y/n) answered with a smile.

The Titanium Ninja finished off the Golden Master.

(Y/n) watched the snowstorm swirl around her, numbing her to the bone. She could no longer feel her feet or her fingers, but that didn't matter to her as she screamed the Ice Ninja's name, her cries lost in the raging whirlwind.

Then, everything was still, and (Y/n) collapsed, closing her eyes.

---

The Overlord's helmet fell, breaking the icy boulder which had stopped them from moving the manhole lid.

Coming out, the others looked around, searching for any trace of their brother. Cole saw something in the snow and picked it up, and it was the other half of Zane's face.

Nya cried, and Cole hugged her while Jay watched, a heartbroken look on his face. The Lightning Ninja then noticed someone lying down in the snow, and he went over, uncovering it to reveal (Y/n), her eyes closed and ice stuck to her (h/c) hair.

Jay checked her pulse, but there wasn't much of one left. Raising his head, he looked over at the civilians.

''Someone call an ambulance!''

:c