Ninjago: The Adopted Smith

King Of Shadows

Cole scowled at Kai and Nya, as all 4 of them were now pulling a horse carriage that Wu was riding in, and he was heavy. Zane noted, ¨I sense this is a strange form of team building¨ as they huffed and puffed up the hill, but Zane for some reason. Cole spared some breath to talk, ¨Just keep pulling, we have a long way to go.¨ Kai turned to their two new companions, interested to hear there stories. ¨So, where did sensei find you two?¨ Cole thought for a moment, then responded. ¨Let's just say if it wasn't for sensei Wu, I don't think we ever would have been seen together. I was testing my limits, I was climbing the highest mountain in ninjago, way ahead of all the adults with full harnesses when I saw sensei at the top drinking tea.¨ Zane nodded, ¨and I was testing myself. I was seeing how long I could breathe under water when suddenly, I saw an old man drinking tea under water next to me.¨ Nya turned to her brother and saw her expression of shock mirrored on his face. The girl decided not to dwell on it, as it would most likely make less sense as time went on. She went on to say, ¨Your right, if it wasn't for sensei, none of us would...¨ Wu suddenly cut Nya off. ¨Shh.. Stop! The caves of dispair. Samukai must be close to unearthing the scythe of quakes. Remember, don't use the scythe. For it's power...¨ Nya scoffed, ¨It's too much for us mortals. All right guys let's chop socky this lemonade stand!¨ She first looked to Kai, who seemed as clueless as her, so then turned over to the resident earth ninja. ¨Cole, what's the plan?¨ ¨Sure do.¨ Cole responded. ¨First we lower ourselves down the ledge, then...¨ but then Cole stopped. ¨Where's Kai and Nya?¨ The boy asked Zane, the only supposed team member who had stayed with him who shrugged. The duo then found out both siblings had went ahead and were already on ground level. They decide to ditch the plan and come to Kai and Nya's rescue instead, who have been caught by a skulkin  warrior. Cole ends up smashing it to prevent the group from getting caught. But then Kai notices something on Samukai's belt. ¨The map!¨ He calls out to the others, Who are now riding the conveyor belt unnoticed by the skulkin, who seem to be looking for something. One of the skeletons picks up a rock excitedly. Oh oh I found something!¨ The dimwitted skulkin cheered, and his partner scolded him. ¨That's another rock you bone head! But the skulkin was undetered, ¨But it's shaped like a donut!¨ He replied, ¨I wonder what it tastes like.¨ He then attempted to bite the rock and broke a tooth, while his partner looked ready to smack him. Kai and Nya again split from the group to attempt to get the map, whilst Cole and Zane follow. 

Both boys are now really mad at the siblings. Once they all catch up, they notice Samukai leave and place the map in his base. That's when Nya noticed something. ¨It's upside down, they dug in the wrong spot.¨ Zane responded, ¨the golden weapon is here,¨ and snags the map with one of his shurikens. Kai and Nya study the map together and Kai tells the team, ¨there's no time to waste,¨ the two again taking off without the others, who stare and then chase after the masters of fire and water. Kai and Nya work together to move a boulder and then are faced by the other two ninja. Cole reminds them, ¨Hey! Before you two race off again, you need to remember we're a team!¨ Nya rolled her eyes, ¨Yeah, whatever.¨  Cole grabbed the scythe and tossed it to Kai, but the skulkin heard the ninja and were coming towards them. The ninja kept on the path to find skulkin in their way. The ninja looked at each other and started into battle. To prevent the enemy from getting the scythe, Zane called to Kai who tossed the golden weapon to him. Zane then threw it back to Cole. Nya soon found herself getting overwelmed by the skulkin. ¨Too many of them!¨"She shouted and Kai ran over to help his sister. ¨I've got it!¨ The boy shouted, charging into the many warriors when he realized how similar this was to the training course. ¨Hey guys!¨ He shouted over, ¨it's just like the training course! Over the planks! Dodge the swords! Here comes the dummy!¨"Eventually, Kai found himself in a spinning fiery tornado. Nya looked over at her brother suprised, ¨Spinjitzu!¨ She shouted. ¨Kai! What's the key?¨ Kai stopped his tornado for a moment to talk to his sister. ¨I'm just going through the motions!¨ He responded, ¨That must be what Wu meant when he said we already know it.¨ Nya then started to go through the training course motions as well. ¨Over the planks! Dodge the swords! Here comes the dummy!¨ The girl spun in a oceanic cyclone, knocking several skeletons, who then began arguing who she had called a dummy. Zane then got into the flow, creating an icy tornado, Cole creating a brown one with dirt and rocks. Together, the four ninja in training took out the hoards of skulkin attacking them. Samukai realized they were about to be overtaken and ordered his men. ¨Retreat!¨ Cole watched the skeletons rush off with a smirk on his face. ¨Guess they didn't want another serving of these babies, ¨he remarked. Kai and Nya watched him with disgusted looks on their faces. ¨Good thing they didn't check the merchindise in the back,¨ Coel turned and then stopped in his tracks. ¨Kai puts his fist in the air, ¨Whoo hoo!¨ And Nya agrees, ¨Alright!¨ Cole attempts to get the others attention, he taps Kai's shoulder, who turns. ¨Uh... guys...¨ Zane sees the look on their leaders face and catches on. He asked the others, ¨Didn't sensei say there was a guardian protecting the weapons?¨  ¨Cole started stuttering, ¨is that not what I think it is?¨ The others agree that it is in fact a dragon, which shoots out sand at them. The four realized they were trapped between the dragon and the back of the cave, so Kai grabbed the scythe of quakes from Cole, who looked horrified. ¨No no Kai, bad idea. Sensei told us not too!¨ Nya snapped back at the boy, ¨then you better keep your mouth shut!¨ She was completely done with this, and her temper at times rivaled her brother's. Kai swung the scythe, which drove the earth dragon back. Before they could celebrate however, a very angry sensei Wu showed up, very unhappy with them using the scythe. Neither sibling really cared, the only reason they were there in the first place was to rescue their brother. Meanwhile, Samukai travels to the underworld to beg lord Garmadon for forgiveness. ¨Master I have failed you, they have learned spinjitzu and they have the scythe. Lord Garmadon then said, ¨good,¨ suprising his crony. ¨Then my brother was there. ¨If I can gather my army,¨ Samukai started,  ¨then we can easily ambush them at the...¨ No.¨ Garmadon cut the skulkin off. ¨Let them think they are winning.¨ Samukai, stared at him, dumbfounded, ¨I do not understand.¨ ¨Everything is going acording to plan,¨ Garmadon remarked before breaking into an evil laugh. ¨Bring me the boy, itś time he proves useful to me.¨Samukai could swear he heard concern in his tone, but was probably just hearing things.

The ninja were now in a boat sailing through the frozen wastelands, Kai shivering badly. He had never been very good with the cold, and his current worry seemed to make it 10 times worse. Cole was steering the boat and was getting tired. Nya looked around worriedly, ¨If sensei knows the way to the next golden weapon, why isn' he steering the ship? We've been drifting aimlessly for miles. Sensei began to speak, ¨The most powerful move in spinjitu can only be created when all four elements are combined.¨ He began to demonstrate the moves, ¨Earth! Ice! Fire! Water!¨ Nya asked nervously, ¨Uh, what happens if all four elements are combined?¨ ¨The tornado of creation,¨ Wu responded, ¨the ability to create something out of nothing.¨ A still frozen Kai began to replicate the movements Wu had done. ¨Don't Kai! Wu warned, ¨if done incorrectly it could lead to disasterous consequences!¨ Kai was unimpressed, but then the skiff crashed into a snow covered mountain. ¨Cole remarked, ¨Uh.. wasn't me.¨ A still shaking Kai looked down at his hands, ¨d...did I do that?¨ ¨No,¨ Wu shook his head. ¨We are here.¨ As the group walked into the cave, Cole inspected all around them. ¨Hmm...¨ He said. ¨It looks like someone's already been here. Zane spins around and then notices what they have been looking for. ¨The shurikens!¨ The young nindroid reached out for the weapon but as soon as he touched them, he became frozen instantly. When the ice dragon awakens, the ninja vacate the premises with a frozen Zane. The ninja then head to the fountain of life to collect the next golden weapon, not knowing the Skulkin are following them. Nya snatched the weapon just as the dragon appeared, and the ninja snuck out, only to be met with the skulkin. The group then leave, not knowing this is all part of garmadon's plan.

The ninja set up camp and celebrate, but Wu, who is meditating and insists the others sleep. However, due to the urging of the young ninja, reluctantly joins the celebration. Later all the ninja go to sleep, but Nya hears a voice calling her name. ¨Nya! Kai!¨ Shouts a small and tinny voice and Nya turned to her older brother, who's already getting up. The two run off into the wood where they heard the calling voice of their little brother. Heedless of the direction, they ran all the way to the fire temple, where they stopped, glanced at each other, and started in. ¨JAY!¨ Kai shouted as Nya added her own voice to the semi silence. ¨JAY!¨ That's when they saw a siluwet of their little brother, the 7 yr old then transforming into a malevolent being of darkness. ¨GARMADON!¨ Both siblings screamed, and then reached for their respective weapons, only to realize they left them at the camp. ¨Forgot something?¨ The dark lord taunted and Nya snapped, having enough of this. ¨You can't hurt us! Your only a shadow! Trapped in the underworld!¨ The villian smirked, ¨and that's why he's going to remove the sword of fire for me.¨ ¨Not a chance!¨ Kai returned, but both siblings gasped when they saw Jay lowered down on a chain to the lava below. ¨If you don't retreive the sword, then how are you going to save your precious little brother?¨ But both older siblings noticed his tone was no longer taunting and he now almost seemed worried for Jay. Both Kai and Nya dissmissed that as nonsense, but Kai didn't waste another minute, jumping over to the sword and grabbing it, then cutting a terrified Jay down as Nya made her way over. Both ninja stood protectively in front of their little brother, Nya advising, ¨stay close.¨ The 7 yr old whimpered, ¨Trust me, I'm not going anywhere!¨ ¨Nya glared at the shadow man. ¨You can't hurt us! Your only a shadow!¨ Garmadon sneered at that. ¨Even shadows have their uses,¨ he said creating shadow doubles of both Kai and Nya. ¨Stay back Jay,¨ Kai warned. Jay ducked behind a rock, grumbling, ¨stay back, stay close, make up your minds!¨ Kai and Nya attempt to fight the shadows, but their attacks go straight through the vapor. ¨Aw am I being to hard?¨ Garmadon teased making more doubles. The shadows eventually knocked the sword out of Kai's hand and Wu swooped in to protect his students. Garmadon then shows the group the other 2 ninja being attacked and captured. Wu took the sword of fire to the underworld, leaving Kai, Nya and Jay alone with the fire dragon.