ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: Alan Walker - Alone (Restrung)

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Lost in your mind

I wanna know

Am I losing my mind?

Never let me go

---

The Eliminated Elemental Masters worked in the factory, with Cole whistling as he worked.

''Why you whistling? Yesterday Cole was sad. Not today. What changed?'' Karloff asked the Master of Earth.

''Things are looking up, Karlof. We came here to find a friend, and I found him. All I gotta do now is get Zane and bust him out.'' Cole answered, a confident smile on his face.

''Not so easy. Chen's made it nearly impossible to escape this place.'' The Master of Metal told him.

''I'm still working out the details, but Zane's a Nindroid, a walking computer. If I can get to him, he'll solve anything Chen throws at us in no time.'' The Earth Ninja replied.

The Master of Metal groaned. ''Karlof wished he had friend like that.''

''But first order of business, I gotta let the others know I'm busting him out,'' Cole said, putting a piece of paper in the fortune cookie.

''You put message in cookie?'' Karloff asked.

''I know, right? That's why it's called a fortune cookie.'' The Earth Ninja replied.

''Well, if you get out, don't forget about Karlof.'' The Master of Metal said.

''Yeah, sure. Of course.'' Cole replied, turning to an Anacondrai Cultist. ''Special order for the banquet's ready.'' The cultist took the tray of fortune cookies from him and walked away.

''I hope you have the good fortune for it to end up in the right hands,'' Karloff said.

''You and me both, Karlof. Now all I have to do is figure out how to get out of here.'' The Master of Earth told him.

''Aah.'' The Anacondrai Cultist guarding the way out tried to take a cookie, but the fortune cookie deliverer slapped his hand, stopping him.

Seeing the one that tried to take the fortune cookie had the keys, Cole smiled.

---

The remaining Elemental Masters sat at a semi-circle shaped table, being served food by the Kabuki.

Remo was digging into a pile of ham sandwiches, ignoring the others looks from across the table.

''Try the horned wasp eggs. Delicious!'' Chen told Lloyd, who looked at a bowl of the stuff.

''Uh, I think I'll pass,'' Lloyd replied.

The kabuki then tried to give the same food to (Y/n), who gently pushed it away. ''Please get that out of my face.''

''Oh, lighten up, Orange Ninja and Green Ninja. This isn't a trick. This is a feast to celebrate the nine of you making it to the second round.'' Chen replied, and his kabuki laughed and clapped their hands.

''And I must congratulate the Master of Shadow's defeat over Master of Poison. She was a bit hard to swallow, am I right?'' The Noodle Man asked, and yet again, his kabuki laughed and clapped. ''Laugh harder! Hahahaha!'' Chen commanded, and his kabuki did so.

''You can relax, Lloyd. Even if there was a fight, now that we told the others about Chen's dirty plot to steal our Powers, we're safe in our secret alliance.'' Kai reassured Lloyd, who was looking uncomfortable.

''I tried to enlist Shadow, but that dude's throwing some serious shade,'' Griffin whispered.

''Well, if you plan to stop Chen, you'll need everyone on board. Each fighter that loses gives him strength. Soon he'll be too powerful for even all of you combined to overcome.'' Garmadon replied.

(Y/n) fiddled with her necklace, knowing it held a portion of her power. Skylor looked at her from across the table, turning her gaze to her food when (Y/n) looked her way.

A Kabuki walked into the room, carrying a tray of fortune cookies.

''Ooh, fortune cookies! Bring them to me!'' Chen said, excited.

''But they are for your captured—I mean, honoured guests.'' Clouse quickly corrected himself.

''I'm not gonna eat them, Clousey Clouse. Just read the fortunes. They're my favourite part.'' The Noodle Man replied, putting the cookie in his right-hand man's face.

Clouse took the cookie from Chen. ''Might I warn you our guests are fond of whispering, and I don't think it's about your food. I've heard word they have allied themselves. The Ninja have told them about our secret ceremony.'' His right-hand man warned.

''Do they know about the spell?'' The Noodle Man asked.

''Not yet, but we must get ahead of this.'' His right-hand man replied.

Chen put the cookie back, which a Kabuki brought to the Masters.

''It has come to my attention that there are rumours floating about that I am stealing everyone's power. I am.'' Chen announced, and the Masters gasped.

''But it's all for this staff.'' The Noodle Man told them and clapped. The kabuki waved their hand fans, annoying him. ''No, no. Not you, staff. I mean my real staff.'' He said, and everyone gasped as the staff appeared, being brought to Chen.

''The Staff of Elements. It holds the power of your fallen foes, and soon it'll hold all but one. For the last standing in my tournament will win this prize and be the greatest fighter ever in the history in Ninjago!'' The Crazed For Power Noodle Man announced, and the Elemental Fighters whispered.

''You lie. What about the spell?'' Lloyd asked.

''Spell? What spell?'' Clouse asked as if he didn't know.

''Don't believe him, it's just another trick. Neuro read Clouse's mind and saw it. Tell them what you saw, Neuro.'' Lloyd told the others, standing up and pointing at the Master of Dark Arts.

Clouse stared threateningly at the Master of Mind. ''I—I don't remember. Truthfully, I'm a bit more interested in knowing more about that staff.'' Neuro replied.

''And why should we be so quick to believe everything you say? How do we know you're not lying to get the staff for yourself?'' Griffin asked the Green Ninja. Skylor read the message in her fortune cookie and gasped.

(Y/n) looked at her fortune cookie, and snapped it open, taking the fortune inside. Before reading it, she ate the cookie and put the fortune aside for later.

''It worked. Their alliance is crumbling.'' Clouse told Chen.

''So much for the alliance.'' Formerly four-armadon said.

''They believe him over us?'' Lloyd asked.

One kabuki began to fan too close to (Y/n), annoying her.

''If we're gonna convince anyone, we need proof. We need to find that spell.'' Jay told the others.

''Would you stop that?'' (Y/n) asked, gently pushing them away from her. The kabuki lowered their fan, revealing Nya.

''It's me.'' The Samurai Girl said.

''Nya?'' The others asked, surprised to find her in their midst.

''Lower your voices. I'm undercover. And to be completely honest, a bit out of my element. And I heard what happened to Cole. That was big of you both.'' Nya told them.

''Love is like war, Nya. Everybody gets hurt.'' Jay replied.

''Is it just you, sis?'' The Fire Ninja asked.

''Dareth's also on the island,'' Nya answered.

''What up, Ninja?'' Dareth asked over the communication device on Nya's wrist.

''And in contact with Wu via mobile base.'' The Samurai Girl added.

''If you're undercover, that means you can get close to Clouse's spellbook. All we know is that it's on page 149. I think he might have it in his quarters.'' Kai told his sister.

''I'll look into it. And it sounds like you have your work cut out for you too.'' Nya replied.

''How so?'' Jay questioned.

''How do you think they found out about your little alliance? Someone in your circle of trust is a spy.'' The girl told them.

''A spy?'' The others said in unison, and Nya left before Clouse could become any more suspicious.

''Do you know that servant girl?'' Skylor asked Kai.

''Uh—Know that girl? Uh, of course not. Why? Jealous?'' Kai asked.

''My fortune tells me Cole and your friend Zane will be breaking out.'' The Master of Amber replied, handing him the message. ''You're lucky this didn't end up in the wrong hands.'' She then turned and went back to her seat.

''He found Zane, I can't believe it. Thanks, Skylor. It's good to know there are some people here we can trust.'' Kai told her.

''A spy? Who do you think it is?'' Jay asked the others.

''I have my suspicions,'' Lloyd answered, looking over at Shade.

---

Cole looked over to see one of the cultists with the keys eating a spring roll, distracted.

''It's time.'' The Earth Ninja told Karloff.

''But shift not over for hours,'' Karloff replied.

''It is for me. Hehe. I've been waiting to do this for a long time.'' Cole said, climbing onto a machine and starting to eat the noodles to his heart's content, while the others cheered.

''Get him!'' A cultist shouted and went to strike at Cole, who quickly hopped off the machine. He then pushed a cart into a pair of cultists, knocking them down.

They pushed it back at him, and he jumped over, doing a barrel roll under the conveyor belt as one threw a box at him.

''Let there be food!'' Cole shouted, throwing a box of fortune cookies, which broke on impact. ''Ha! All you can eat. Eat it, guards!'' He exclaimed, jumping onto a conveyor belt and kicking spring rolls at the cultist guards.

''Whoo-hoo!'' The Earth Ninja said as he grabbed a bunch of noodles, swinging it around like a lasso before letting it wrap around a ceiling joint. He swung on it, while the others watched.

''Go, Cole, go!'' Karloff cheered.

Cole yelped as the noodle rope snapped, and he landed in the arms of an Anacondrai Cultist. ''Whoa!''

''Got you.'' Said the cultist, holding onto the Earth Ninja to make sure he couldn't escape.

Cole burped in his face. ''Now I feel better. You got any cake?'' The Earth Ninja asked, before getting thrown into a dungeon. ''It was all worth it! For these.'' He then pulled out the keys he had snatched earlier.

The Ice Ninja freed himself from the chains and looked over at the Ice Dragon, who was still asleep. He then tried to quietly sneak past, but as he started to climb the way out, the dragon opened its eyes and growled.

Zane lost his grip, falling back into the cave with the dragon growling as it moved closer to the nindroid.

''Zane!'' Cole exclaimed, making the Ice Ninja wake up, panting and still in chains. Cole was by his side, using the keys to free his friend.

''Cole?'' The Titanium Ninja asked weakly. ''You've returned.''

''Of course, I did,'' Cole replied, helping Zane stand up. ''I made a promise. Now come here, you shiny new tin can. Ah.''The Earth Ninja then hugged the nindroid. ''Can you feel the love?''

''No. But the longer we stand here, the shorter time we have to escape.'' Zane replied.

''Ha! You know you were always the smart one. Let's go.'' Cole said, and they walked out of the cell.

---

''Like I said, I ain't joining your little alliance. I'm gunning for that staff.'' Ash said, with the remaining Elemental Masters in Kai's room.

''Hey, this isn't about an alliance. This is about finding out who is the spy. No one leaves this room until we find out who is passing information to Chen.'' Lloyd told them.

''Why are you looking at me, Greenie?'' The Master of Shadow asked. ''I'm not your spy.''

''Perhaps I can help,'' Neuro said, using his powers on Shade. ''I don't know who, but someone here isn't who they say they are.''

''How do we know we can trust you?'' Skylor questioned. ''Maybe I should use your power and see inside your head.''

''I'd like to see you try, power hoarder,'' Neuro replied, narrowing his eyes.

Kai went between the two, stopping them. ''This is what Chen wants, for us to fight. But we don't have to. There has to be a more civilized way around this.'' He told them.

''There is. Everyone who's ever worked for Chen has the Anacondrai tattoo on their back. Find the tattoo, find the spy.'' Garmadon said, looking around at the people in the room.

''Anyone object?'' Lloyd asked.

Neuro showed his back without the tattoo. ''Can I go now?'' He asked.

''Not until we check everyone.'' The Green Machine answered. ''Who's next?''

''Let's get it on,'' Griffin said, showing his back.

--

''Well, only three left,'' Lloyd said, looking at the three who were left to be checked for the tattoo.

''Uh, I hate to do this, but it's your turn. Can I see your back, please?'' Kai asked Skylor.

''How could you not trust me? I came to you with the fortune cookie—'' The Master of Amber questioned.

''I'm sorry, but we have to know,'' Kai replied, and Skylor went to show her back, only for Lloyd to notice the Master of Shadow gone.

''Wait. Where'd Shade go?'' Lloyd asked.

''He disappeared through his own shadow.'' The Master of Lightning answered.

''There he is. Get him!'' Griffin said, spotting Shade.

''I ain't your spy, and I ain't your friend either. That staff will be mine.'' Shade told them, and Lloyd fired a sphere of green energy at him, but he disappeared, the portrait of Kai falling onto the Lightning Ninja instead.

''Aah! My leg! Ugh. Get Kai off of me!'' Jay screamed, hitting the floorboards with his fist.

Garmadon tried to stop Shade, but he disappeared. ''You cast a long shadow, old man.'' He said before running out of the room.

''It was Shadow. He must be the spy.'' Griffin told the others.

''Ow! Oh.'' Jay said in pain as Griffin and Lloyd lifted the picture off him, suffering a broken leg in the process.

''Are you okay?'' (Y/n) asked. Jay slowly nodded, trying to reassure the girl.

''Skylor, look, I'm sorry.'' Kai apologised to the red-haired girl.

''Don't. And if you still think I'm the spy, watch me walk out that door.'' Skylor replied coldly, showing her back without the Anacondrai tattoo.

''What happened to our alliance?'' Jay questioned.

''What alliance?'' The Green Ninja asked.

'Was there ever an alliance in the first place?' Morro asked.

I can't wait for Halloween :D

If I manage to get to Possession before the spookiest day of the year, what should I do? xd

As always, don't forget to vote, comment and share this story if you love it!

It helps to leave a nice comment :)

Have a great day, or night, wherever you are!

See ya Bookworms.

WriterAgreste, over & out!