to rule the world | a ninjago au

[3] is being called fuego a crime? lmk

astra

Her jaw dropped open as she stepped into the gigantic cavern, and might have stayed open if she hadn't seen Garmadon standing in the corner.

The Simulator.

An enhanced, controlled, training experience for elementals.

How original.

The excavated space didn't look at all special. In fact, it was less developed than normal areas of the converted labyrinth. The walls weren't slick with special white panels, there weren't training mats or tools underneath. She spied a small cupboard built into the wall behind Garmadon's casual slouch and glanced at the others.

Zane and Pixal looked like their birthdays had come early. Their eyes were a little glazed over and moved slowly as they scanned the room. Most likely with their robotic sensors or something. They creeped her out a little, she wasn't going to lie. Kai, supported by a crutch he didn't need but used for show, didn't look very amazed. He seemed to be defiant to accepting help from the SOG and only did so because he would have died without it. Skylor's face was screwed up in confusion.

She was thinking the same thing as all of them.

How is this a simulator?

Nya and Jay were looking at this as inventors, but as much confusion as everyone else. Jay was the more...imaginative one out of the unlikely couple (or couple to be, honestly, they were both blind), and Nya was slightly more logical. That assumption was riding on the terms of their escapade from the Woodlands and the hallucinatory behaviour afterwards.

Cole and Lloyd didn't have much of a reaction apart from confusion and an expression that looked like they wanted to climb the walls. Cole, probably because he saw the craggly cave as a challenge to an experienced climber, and Lloyd because he wanted something to do. Because he got bored easily, and so did Astra.

"Welcome to the Sim," Valley smiled, slinging an arm over Troya's shoulders. "Basically our baby, by this point."

Cassie choked, hard, on her hotdog and spluttered as Maya grinned.

"Although it doesn't look like much now," Astra coughed out a strangled scoff as Lloyd bounced around them gleefully. I can hold out until I win. I have the willpower not to sock Smith, who is currently lying on the ground in 'pain'.

"Trust me, the Sim will beat you black and blue. We didn't go easy on this thing. Titanium can attest to that." Valley nodded to Duckman, who grinned, sporting a black eye Astra hadn't known the background off. Kade looked like he was itching to heal it and the long slash on Astra's arm from a training that morning. She declined in favour of good old fashioned healing.

"Alright, since you think this is so funny, step up Reaper." Cassie cocked her head with a smirk that Astra would willingly bet was hidden under the bandages. She glared at Troya, certain to keep her internal silent grudge against her going.

For seven months, Cassandra Harlow had kept Astra's ancestry from her. Neither of them wanted to apologise to each other. Astra didn't see why she should need to apologise when it was Cass who had been keeping something huge from her. Astra stepped up to the black spot where Valley was pointing to and accepted a new earpiece that hooked around her right ear.

She hissed as a shock teased her ear. She blinked, and then the world around her span into a new landscape. Immediately, her hand dropped to the dagger that would usually be by her ankle, but had been taken off on order from the Maya. Astra had trusted Maya fully and now was beginning to regret it. The cavern had been turned into a jungle with vines and trees drooping all over the place in exotic greens and purples.