Ghost Story ► Ninjago [REWRITING]

| XXXII | Nearing Climax

*No POV*

The Ninja and Red continued their struggle against the Preeminent. While it seemed like Zane had an advantage due to being the only one in a mech, he too couldn't do much.

"I thought you were gonna get closer?" Nya said, throwing a ball of water at an incoming ghost.

Kai let out a sound of exertion as he threw his aeroblade at a tentacle. "You don't think I'm trying?"

Wu and Misako ran toward them. "It's too late, we have to get to the ship and protect the people!" he told them.

"What about Lloyd?" Jay asked.

"This is what Lloyd would have wanted!" Misako argued.

"But we still don't know where Scarlett is, either! We can't just leave them here!" Cole objected against them.

Wu raised his voice in an attempt to make himself clear. "She's been taken by Morro. There's nothing we can do. We must help those who cannot help themselves!"

Red was quick to turn his head at the sudden news. "What?" The others were just as shocked.

But Kai was the first to cave in, a sigh leaving his lips. "To the ship, but we're not leaving anyone else behind!"

Zane's mech got knocked down, and he didn't bother to try and get back in it. It was a lost cause. His main priority was following his sensei, who after catching sight of a mother and her daughter, took them with him.

But Red looked around, dead set on finding Scarlett—or better yet, Morro.

Nya grabbed his arm, pulling him with her. "What are you doing? We have to go!"

"I cannot run away knowing he has my sister—"

"She's a Ninja—she'll get through it."

"Lloyd is the Green Ninja, yet he was stuck with him for weeks!"

"Red." Nya yanked his arm, her voice more firm now. "She's stronger than she looks. We're all worried, but the people rely on us to help them. We need you."

And in that moment, they both heard a child's faint cry. "Help!"

The others were too far ahead, thinking they had everyone. Nya and Red found a boy yards away, possibly no older than eight, with his leg trapped under a broken fence. He was trying to break free, but the Preeminent was getting close.

They both rushed toward him, dodging all the tentacles that flew in their direction and jumping over Zane's mech. Nya shot a ball of water at one that was just about to slam down on him.

"You're okay," Nya reassured the boy, pulling him into her arms as Red easily lifted the fence off his leg. The boy looked a bit relieved once seeing a ninja and his leg freed.

But his concerns weren't completely gone as he pointed up. "Please, you have to save my sister!"

In the air was a little girl, screaming in tears as she struggled to break free from the grip the Preeminent had on her. That one second they used to look distracted them from another tentacle coming their way, and it ended up hitting them.

Nya had her back hit the wall, holding the boy to her chest to make sure he didn't get hurt. Red also hit his side, but was quick to get up—his priority shifted to saving the girl. And all three of them gasped when they noticed her getting closer to the mouth of the beast.

Red ran toward the Preeminent, jumping onto the long arms to reach her. He was getting near, but she was too close to the gaping hole and so he had no choice but to form a ball of magic, shooting it at the tentacle that held her. It disappeared, and the girl began to shriek louder as she fell.