Skillet - Awake and Alive

I've been war with the world 'cause I

Ain't never gonna sell my soul

I've already made up my mind

No matter what I can't be bought or sold

---

(Y/n) was talking to Dareth and petting Remo, who looked like he was in paradise.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lloyd leaning on a railing, alone. She saw Misako walk over, before turning her head back to Dareth. 

Then, seeing the others hop off the stage with Cole holding the microphone and singing and dancing, before hopping back on.

Lloyd looked over at the tv.

''Dareth cut the music,'' Lloyd said.

Dareth turned off the music, leaving the others to sing the song only to realise the music turned off.

Groans and mumbles were heard, and (Y/n) turned her attention to the small flatscreen tv.

''It's always good to see my beautiful Gayle Gossip, ah,'' Dareth said dreamily, leaning on the counter. 

Gayle Gossip looked towards the camera. ''-Where an assailant rammed a stolen garbage truck into the front of it.'' She said as the others walked closer to the tv. ''I'm hearing the word it was a jailbreak. A prisoner was freed from custody''

''Okay, maybe not always good,'' Dareth said, looking a bit serious. ''Hey, didn't you just put the princess in jail? You don't think it's her, do you?'' He asked the ninja. 

The ninja looked concerned as Gayle Gossip continued. ''Okay, I'm getting verification the prisoner that was freed was the recently apprehended Jade Princess, Princess Harumi. Security footage caught the two on video...'' 

The ninja watched as they saw the footage. Harumi ran out before a dark figure in armour ran behind her.

''You think... that's him?'' (Y/n) spoke, sounding nervous. 

''Holy cow. That looks like--'' Dareth said, eyes wide. He gasped.

''That's... that's impossible.'' breathed Lloyd, who looked shocked.

''Could be anyone,'' Kai replied.

''But he has four arms,'' Zane argued.

''So does Mr E.'' Jay said, smiling. ''Heh, who doesn't have four arms these days?''

Turning towards the ninja, Lloyd spoke. ''We stopped the ceremony, didn't we?'' He asked them.

Misako's mouth was open, she was shocked too.

''I'm telling you, that's not him. If that's Lord Garmadon, heh, I'm Lord of the Jig.'' He replied.

The cop on tv spoke. '' That-that was when she said, ''Kneel before Lord Garmadon.'''' The police said nervously, wearing a blanket and holding a cup of coffee.

''Ah. Okay. That's definitely him.'' Jay said.

''You better start jiggin','' Cole said to Jay, looking at him. Nya picked up baby Wu and held him in her arms.

''Misako, can you find a place to keep Wu somewhere safe?'' Nya asked her, handing Wu to her. 

Wu giggled. ''I have a corner pad on the east side.'' Said Dareth ''You two can make it your own. Heh, heh. Just don't mind the underwear lying around.'' 

''We'll take him there now.'' Replied Misako, walking forward towards Dareth.

''The rest of us-- we've got work to do.'' Kai turned to the ninja.

----

The Ninja were at the Police Station, talking to the commissioner. 

''And you're sure it's Garmadon?'' Zane asked.

''Yes, but he's not the man I remembered.'' He answered. ''This is someone... else. Like they just brought back the worst parts. Twenty of my officers tried to take him down, but-- just-- Ah. We couldn't stop him. I tried to reason with him, but it was like there was nothing left inside to reason with.'' 

''But you saw where they were going,'' Nya said. ''He didn't just break Harumi out and disappear. They must have left a clue.''

''All they left us with is broken glass, a handful of sore backsides, and a healthy dose of humility.'' He replied looking down. ''Ah. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.''

''You did what you could. Besides, this is my fight to bear.'' Lloyd said, stepping forward and pointing to himself.

''You sure you're up to this, son?'' He asked Lloyd.

''We all are,'' Kai replied determinedly.

''And look on the bright side, it's just your father and Harumi.'' Cole reminded him. ''At least the rest of the Sons of Garmadon are locked away, right?'' 

''I don't think that's true, Cole.'' Said (Y/n) as she looked at the Tv.

''I'm now standing outside the Kryptarium Prison--'' Gayle Gossip stated.

''Aw, come on. More breaking news?'' Jay interrupted.

''I'm getting word there's been a prison break-in, but you heard me correct, folks-- a break-in. The entire prison has fallen under the control of its prisoners.''

''Ha. At least you got to admit we've got a top-notch NewsCenter.'' Said Cole.

''And we now know where Harumi and Lord Garmadon are,'' Zane replied, smiling.

---

The Ninja was on the Destiny's Bounty.

''This is not good. This is really not good.'' Said Cole.

''You barely beat them last time,''  P.I.X.A.L said.

''And that was when we had the help of the entire police force. '' Zane replied, looking serious.

''And now they have Lord Garmadon on their side,'' Nya said, looking at Lloyd in concern.

Lloyd glanced at the photo of him and his father. ''We go to Kryptarian Prison.'' 

''Okay. We take on Garmadon, Harumi and her entire gang, while they're fortified in an impenetrable bunker.'' He replied. ''Not the best idea. Anyone have anything else?'' He asked.

The Ninja was silent.

Jay frowned. ''Okay, not all at once. One at a time, please.'' He said sarcastically.

''I have to face him. I turned him once, I can turn him again.'' Lloyd replied, determined.

''Ah. That sounds like a really bad idea.'' Kai stepped forward, putting his right foot on the wooden platform.

''And Kai knows bad ideas. He's full of them.'' Cole retorted, and (Y/n) had to hide a laugh.

''I agree. It's too dangerous. That's exactly what they want.'' Zane advised them.

''And Lloyd, you heard what the Commissioner said about your father. It's not him anymore.'' She said to Lloyd, concerned. 

''We don't know that,'' Lloyd argued. ''I have to try.'' 

 ''Ah. I believe in this instance, your past may be clouding your judgement, Lloyd.'' Replied Zane.

''Yeah, you're just gonna have to trust us,'' Jay spoke. ''We need to stay as far away from that place as possible.''

''Listen to the Lord of the Jig. He's right on this one.'' Said Cole, (Y/n) snorted and glanced at Jay.

''Ah. Okay, then what do we do?'' Lloyd asked.

The ninja was silent.

---

(Y/n) was out on the deck, watching the clouds go by. Hearing Lloyd open the weapons cabinet, she turned her head slightly. 

He grabbed a parachute and stood on the railing opposite her. He glanced at her, before looking at the photo he held, and then-

He was gone.

Seeing the others go to control, she joined them, not saying anything. 

They watched as the map showed Lloyd's tracker, him on the move.

''He's in his car,'' Cole said, getting the map to show how far away Kryptarium prison was.

''I-I can't change course. He's locked the navigation.'' Nya replied, trying to get it to work.

''Zane, find a way to override it,'' Kai said to him.

Zane punched the keys, concentrating.

''Don't do this,'' Nya said to Lloyd, desperate.

''I'm not in the mood to talk. This ends now.'' He replied, sounding angry.

''No, Lloyd, this doesn't end now,'' Jay said to Lloyd, switching places with Nya. ''It's a two-way frequency. Come on, buddy.'' 

Lloyd's fist punched the screen, breaking it. 

---

''Ah, that should do it, we've regained control of navigation,'' Zane said, turning to the others. He then turned around, his smile turning into a look of surprise. 

''Hey, what's with Lloyd on the TV?'' Cole asked.

''Harumi. She wants us to watch.'' Kai answered.

''I do not think this will end well...'' (Y/n) said.

---

''Get us there,'' Kai ordered, and the Ninja immediately ran to their stations. (Y/n) sat on a chair, thinking about what she could've done. 

She should've tried to stop him. 

But she didn't. 

The Bounty went full throttle, going towards Kryptarium.

---

Lloyd lay, his eyes closed and faintly muttering words under his breath. (Y/n) felt guilt, a lot of it. 

''Hurry. He's burning up.'' Said Jay. 

Mistaké poured the tea into a cup. ''You cannot hurry tea. Only have the patience to get it right.'' She said, walking towards Lloyd. ''It is ready.'' 

''Is it going to make him better?'' Cole asked.

''It will heal his wounds, but...'' She replied, looking down.

''But what?'' Nya said, turning her head towards the old and mysterious woman. 

Kai sighed. ''There's always a ''but''.'' 

''It comes with a price,'' Mistaké answered. 

''Whatever it is, we will pay it,'' Zane promised. 

''I will take no coin for this.'' She replied, raising her voice a bit. ''I speak of a price for you and your friend. Each of you must lay your hand upon him. The tea will focus your elemental powers to save him. But it may use up all the power you have left.''

''Are you telling me to save him, we could lose our power?'' Jay asked. 

''Perhaps. Perhaps not.'' She replied, sounding uncertain.

''Do it,'' Nya said.

''Wait!'' Everyone looked at Kai. '' You don't just jump into decisions like this. I mean--''

''Well that's a first.'' (Y/n) muttered under her breath.

''You're just worried about yourself.'' Cole interrupted him. 

''Maybe I am.'' He replied. ''But you saw how powerful Lord Garmadon was. Without our elemental powers, what chance do we have?'' 

''The decision needs to be unanimous,'' Zane stated. ''I will give up my power to save Lloyd.'' 

''Me too,'' said Jay.

''It's not even a choice,'' Cole said.

''Easily a wise decision.'' (Y/n) added.

Everyone looked towards Kai before he walked over to his spot. 

Giving Lloyd the tea, the Ninja focused their powers.

Orange for Cole.

Red for Kai.

White for Zane.

Dark blue for Jay.

Light blue for Nya.

Dark orange for (Y/n).

---

The Ninja ran along the rooftops, trying to catch up with the stone giant.

They stood on the roof of a building, watching the giant.

''Sweet Garmageddon!'' Jay exclaimed, watching the towering giant.

Watching as Harumi and Garmadon talked to him, the Ninja were ready.

''Not so fast!'' Shouted Kai, the others standing beside him. 

'' ''Not so fast?'' That's our big entrance? You used that ages ago.'' The Master of Blabber (I mean Lightning) said. '' After all these battles, all this time, you couldn't come up with something better?''

Kai turned to Jay, getting distracted. ''Look, I'm sorry if I'm distracted by that giant, walking thing.'' 

(Y/n) narrowed her eyes as she saw it turn around. 

It growled, and Cole shook Zane's shoulder and pointed. ''Uh, guys, I think he heard you.'' 

Kai turned around. 

The giant brought its fists back, and it crashed into the building. 

The Ninja fell, with Jay screaming and groaning every time he hit something. His hands grabbed a ledge jutting out, with him panicking as he struggled to keep a hold.

A piece of rubble hit the ledge, forcing Jay to let go and fall towards the ground. 

Zane created a slide of ice, saving him. Jay landed, with Zane behind him, and (Y/n) sliding down it easily. 

''Thanks.'' Jay and (Y/n) said, thanking the nindroid.

---

''We hear you loud and clear!'' Said Kai as the Bounty flew near Lloyd. He waved, and the ninja was smiling. 

''Jump!'' Cole cried out to Lloyd.

''It's too far!'' Lloyd replied, shouting.

''Get us closer!'' Jay ordered Zane.

''She's as close as I can get her!'' Zane said back.

''Careful!'' Shouted Kai.

''Are you actually doubting my ability to closely approximate the true value of our surroundings?'' Zane asked, looking at the screen. ''I'm a nindroid.'' He added.

''I wouldn't doubt your abilities, not one bit.'' (Y/n) said, crossing her arms.

---

''Lloyd, jump! You can make it!'' Shouted Kai.

Lloyd glanced at Harumi, then at the ship. 

He jumped, and Harumi grabbed his leg. Wu flew out of Lloyd's grip. ''Catch him!'' He yelled.

The ninja quickly formed a human ladder, with Cole holding the baby. Using the momentum, Cole flipped onto the deck, where he and (Y/n) looked at the baby in adoration.

Zane gasped, turning the wheel to avoid crashing into a building. 

''We have to go back.'' Said Kai, looking at Zane. 

''I'll circle around.'' Replied the nindroid.

---

The stone giant grabbed the Bounty from behind, stopping it.

Its glowing purple eyes looked down at the scared Ninja.

Zane tried to turn on the thrusters, but it was no use as the stone giant's grip was too tight.

Slowly crushing the ship while Lloyd watched terrified from afar.

''Hands off you big oaf!'' Jay said to the giant. ''We just had her repaired!'' 

''What do we do?!'' Asked Kai, clutching onto the railing.

''I don't know!'' Answered Cole, who was holding the baby and (Y/n) standing beside him. 

Zane grunted, still trying to get the ship out of the giants crushing grip. ''I can't break free from its hold!'' 

''We have to go!'' Baby Wu said to Cole.

''What do you think we're trying to do?'' Asked Cole, looking at Wu.

''We have to go!'' Wu said again, flailing his arms.

''To go,'' Jay said in realisation. '' ''For your time of need, tea to go!'' '' He gasped. '' I think this is why she gave us this!'' He held up the bag of tea Mistaké gave him.

''Well, what are you waiting for?'' Kai asked.

''Spill the tea already.'' (Y/n) chuckled. 

Jay opened the bag, and bright shining golden stars floated out, surrounding them in starry light. The ninja watched as the stars surrounded them, like flecks of gold scattered across a starry sky.

''Go!'' Wu said, looking at Cole.

''Go where?'' Cole asked him.

''I feel funny...'' Jay stated, looking around.

''What's happening?'' Kai asked, confused.

The only thing they could see was stars, twinkling amongst a sea of purple.

Onto season 9!