The Crazy Art Called Love

27 | Ambush on the Palace

~~UV's POV~~

It was finally time for the next phase of obtaining the Oni masks. The SOG had been preparing for days for the next raid and this time, we are not going in by stealth. If the Ninja try to stop us, I always have my insurance plan.

"We have one goal and one goal only. Get the Mask of Deception. Do what is necessary to keep out the ninja." I started my speech as I paced in front of the SOG in our headquarters. "The palace will be filled with guards, and I'm sure all of you have completed our training. If you get caught, don't give out any information. Are we ready?"

"Yeah!" Cheers erupted around the room, music to my ears.

"Then let's get that mask!"

As I lead the biker gang through the streets of Ninjago City, one thing echoed in my head.

"Do us proud, Vi. Mommy and Daddy will always be here."

The very last words of my parents before they died and that's definitely what I'm going to do.

"Hang on, Mom and Dad. I'll show them who I can be." I whispered under the bandana that covered my nose and mouth.

The engine of my motorcycle revved from behind me along with the other engines of my fellow gang members. Tonight was the night I take it all.

~~Lloyd's POV~~

"Blast zap! There's blast zap!" I couldn't quite understand what Cole was trying to say. The signal must be interfering with our communicators.

"Cole? You're not coming in. You have a bad signal." I responded.

"We've gotta get everyone out of here. The whole palace is rigged to explode! It was Hutchins."

Once I finally understood what he was trying to say I immediately started running. Despite our fight, Harumi was the first person that came into my mind. Nothing else but her safety mattered to me and that was enough to get my feet running to her bedroom.

"Rumi!" I yelled through the halls.

"Lloyd!" I could hear her screams echo through the halls of the palace. It seemed like fate had other things planned because an explosion happened right behind me which caused the ceiling to collapse.

"Hang on, Rumi!" I called with hopes she could hear me.

I made it towards the entrance and saw a motorbike coming near me. With a swift kick, the driver was out of the vehicle. I heard footsteps from behind me and I turned around to find Hutchins running away from the chaos.

"You did this! You helped them!" I accused as I pinned him up on the pillar.

"I had nothing to do with this." He defended but I was not buying his lies.

"Cole said he saw you in the tunnels with the explosives."

"Whatever your friend saw, it wasn't me. I have served this house for the better part of my life and have sworn to protect the Royal Family."

A scream echoed from behind me and before I could check who it was, Hutchins pushed me down.

"Watch out!" He yelled right before a dagger got stuck on the pillar where I stood just a few seconds ago.

"You-you saved me." I gasped from my spot on the floor. If he really did betray the royal family, why did he save me just now?

After the scream came a cackle that I knew all too well. The headlights of a motorbike shined on us as we both got up and I managed to jump out of the way before it came crashing onto the pillar. I have a feeling that was intentional.

And it was. The motorbike climbed up the pillar and Ultra Violet turned towards me. I pulled out my sword and tried to attack her but she was quicker than I thought.

"Does anyone have eyes on the princess?" Hutchins called out which brought my attention back to my mission.

Rumi. I got caught up in cornering Hutchins I forgot about Harumi! But it seems like this girl really wanted me away from the Princess.

"It's you again." I said as I recalled our encounter at the mall and the news center. She used her motorbike to attack Hutchins so I tackled her out of her own bike.

Her back hit the pillar the same time my face hit the floor. I went to get up but she was faster than I was. Ultra Violet got the dagger from the pillar and held it up before Hutchins. Before I could do anything, Zane came in with his spinjitzu and froze her. Behind him was Harumi in a green dress and white paint spread across her face. She had the straps of a backpack around her shoulders.

"Thank goodness. Are you okay?" I ran up to her and quickly examined her for any injuries.

I would never be able to forgive myself if she got hurt under my watch. There were scratches on her face and arms which got me worried.

"I'm fine, Greenie." She placed a hand on my shoulder and smiled before turning her attention to Hutchins. "But what about the mask?"

"The team is on it. We need to get you out of here." I said before grabbing her hand and running through the halls of the palace once more.

The explosions caused some fires to start around the place. As if the debris wasn't enough. I had to pull my hood over my head to avoid inhaling the smokes. When I turned my head, Harumi had her other hand over her face for probably the same reason.

"Turn right!" She informed me and I quickly changed directions. We ended up in the throne room but there were no signs of the Emperor and Empress anywhere.

"Uh, I think my brother just destroyed the mask of Deception." I heard Nya say from our communicators and my eyes widened. How is that possible?!

"What?" I exclaimed out loud and turned towards Hutchins.

"That one was a fake." He informed us and grabbed something from behind the throne. "I procured the real ones from the vaults below."

"A fake?" Harumi asked in disbelief as she eyed the mask in his hands.

"Forgive me, Your Highness. It is the Mask of Deception. I wasn't sure if I could trust the Ninjas." Hutchins explained and turned towards me. "But I do now."

I smiled at that. Maybe I was too quick to judge him. Hutchins pushed the Emperor's throne forward and it revealed a secret passageway from below.

"Take it and get the Princess out of here." He instructed and placed the mask in my hands.

"But what about my parents?" Harumi asked and I was a little taken a back when she didn't refer to them like how she usually does.

"I'll find them." Hutchins insisted and I began to climb down the stairs.

"I was wrong about you." I stated and I meant it.

"Go!"