https://youtu.be/PlYPh8FS-H0

"Keep up, Rockheads!"  An irritable, gruff voice remarks scathingly.  The man turns around and faces your way, and you raise an eyebrow at his outfit, which is an obvious match to Acronix's, with the addition of a strange helmet on his head.

So that's Krux.  I mean, I would assume so, given his ridiculous getup-  OHMYFIRSTSPINJITZUMASTER, WHAT IN THE SIXTEEN REALMS ARE THOSE THINGS?!!

About a score of things line up in front of Krux with neat military precision, evidently awaiting their next order.

The biggest, which seems to be some form of commander, steps forward and bows deeply to him, then begins speaking in a terrifyingly gravelly voice.  "I would appreciate it if you didn't call my Stone Warriors 'Rockheads.'  We obey you because you wear the Helm of Shadows, not because we are friends.  You would be well-advised to remember that."

"-And you would be well-advised to remember that the only reason you're even here is because I stole your precious 'Helm of Shadows', you fool!"

"Kozu."  Cole tells you in a quiet whisper.  "He's the Stone Army's general.  You do not want to mess with him."

You miss the generals' next remark, but catch Krux's sharp retort.  "Then I suppose that you don't want revenge on those idiotic ninja, General?"

Kozu rumbles a reply.

Krux smirks.  "To be fair, I think that many of us would like to do something along the lines of that to them.  I'm just giving you first crack.  You should be thanking me."

Kozu glares at him, then nobs brusquely.  "My thanks to you for this opportunity, my Lord.  I will not let this chance slip away."

"Wow.  You guys are really unpopular, aren't you?"  Ava mutters.

Lloyd glares at her, but says nothing.

"..My worthless brother should have been back by now.  I suppose that he's gotten sidetracked by some form of ridiculous technology or another again."

Everyone looks at each other.

"..I mean, seriously!  How long does it take to retrieve one measly Blade from wherever he said it was?!!  And betting with me on how quickly he could fetch it, too!"  Krux emits a derisive snort and begins pacing the forest floor.  "I had a schedule outlined for him!  What good is he if he can't even stick to the blasted schedule?!!"

"It sounds like there's no love lost between those two."  You whisper.

"Nope.  Apparently, Acronix was their mother's favorite, and Krux is a total control freak.  And a nag."  Kai clarifies.

"How do you know?"  Morro asks.

"-Once you're fighting villains, they tend to tell you their whole tragic backstory for some reason."  Nya grumbles.

"It's weird."  Cole agrees.

"Indeed.  I find it extremely bizarre myself.  It seems quite illogical to-  Oh.  My apologies, Morro."

"It's fine.  I'm over that now."  Morro smirks at Lloyd.  "..Though I still think that I would've made a better Green Ninja than you."

Lloyd huffs quietly at him, then the two share a grin.

"You know that the whole point of being a ninja is doing things in silence, right?"  Ava hisses grumpily.  "..Well, that and stabbing things until they di-"

Jay shifts uncomfortably and steps back a pace.  A twig snaps underneath him, and everybody freezes in horror as your enemies all turn towards the source of the sound.

"Who's there?!!"

526 words.