Ninjago: Amplified - [A Ninjago Fanfiction]

[44] - A Primal Consultation

Akiri let out a strangled gasp as an invisible force pushed her backwards.

Yuri, being the closest to her, used a katana to slice away the vines that had tangled within the oni's horns.

Akiri's embarrassed gaze swept across the group around them, and she rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly.

"Er-- sorry for that." She chuckled. "Still getting used to this form."

"Don't worry." Onyx teasingly tapped the oni's forehead with a finger. "It's good seeing you like this, horns and all."

"Yeah," Gold chimed in as the group resumed their trek. "It's good to see you happy again."

"Alright, you guys," Nya nudged Akiri playfully. "Come on, quit the sappy talk. We're on a mission, remember?"

"Right, right." Akiri laughed at the water ninja's mock scolding. "Sorry, mom."

"Damn right!" Nya whisked a hand through her hair dramatically, strolling ahead of the three.

Another week had passed; like the previous days, there were few sightings of Hikaru's people. The oni himself had vanished completely since the destruction of his metal beast, yet--judging from their allies' missing elements--it was clear that he was still alive. That knowledge alone sent a shared wave of unease throughout them all.

It was also the exact reason why they found themselves deep within Hiroshi's Labyrinth.

If they couldn't stop Hikaru, then they'd need a backup plan. With Mistaké's Traveler's Tea reserves running thin, they had no choice but to search for a different means of transportation.

The Realm Crystal had proved to be their best option.

They'd be able to use Hikaru's disappearance to their advantage. The ninja would summon their faraway allies from distant realms, bringing them back to Ninjago. With their help, they'd be able to transfer Ninjago's people to the First Realm-- the one place where Hikaru could never follow.

If all other plans failed, then they, too, would escape to the First Realm-- at least, until they could figure out how to stop Hikaru, that was.

It was a formidable backup plan. Akiri just hoped that the crystal's retrieval would go smoothly.

"Borg's sentries have been notified of your arrival." Pixal announced over their communicators. "They are prepared to defend you if necessary."

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that..." Jay mumbled nervously.

"Come on, Jay," Kai ducked beneath a low branch. "We haven't seen Hikaru in a long while. I doubt he'd show himself here, of all places."

"Don't." Nya turned around abruptly, narrowing her eyes at her brother. "Don't jinx it."

"Alright!" Kai held up his hands innocently, smirking. "Sorry. Won't happen again."

"How are you guys even directing us right now?" Eris changed the subject, much to their relief. The ghost traveled with them from the air, effortlessly phasing through the thick vegetation overhead. "I thought that this place was supposed to be an inescapable maze."

"It is." Cole acknowledged from the front of the group. He lashed his scythe across the greenery ahead, creating a pathway through the walls of plants that encompassed them.

"We've had our fair share of experience here." Lloyd clarified from behind the earth ninja. "Definitely won't be our first visit to Borg's Stronghold."

"Hey, you guys have destroyed artifacts on a couple of your missions, right?" Jay mused as he bounded over a fallen log. "Did you ever try to come here?"