Onyx and the Legacy of the Green Ninja

Paper Beats Rock

Lloyd was speaking to Misako as the group walked through the museum, ready to leave. "Have you discovered a way to prevent me from facing my father?" He asked. Misako shook her head regretfully. "I'm sorry, not yet. But I have reason to believe there's still hope," she said. Lloyd opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, something suddenly crashed through the wall, filling the hallway with a cloud of dust.

When it had cleared, the ninja were able to lay eyes on the assailant. 'Oh-" Onyx swore in her head as she saw a stone warrior standing in front of the gaping hole, huge scimitars held in his four hands. "WHOA!!!! EXCUSE ME?! Will somebody please tell me: WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?!!" Jay screamed, eyes huge. Misako gasped. "The Stone Warrior," she whispered. "The Devourer's venom has awakened him!" Zane cried. "Oh, great! Kai, take care of him," Cole ordered.

"Um, me? Okay, blockhead. Take this!" Kai shouted, drawing his katana and dashing at the Stone Warrior, leaping up into the air and bringing his blade down upon its head. Instead of cutting through, the blade shattered to pieces, clattering to the floor. Kai looked down at the useless hilt in his hand. "Well, in my mind's eye, I saw that playing out entirely differently. Whoa!" He gave an alarmed shout as the Stone Warrior swung at him. He leapt back, narrowly avoiding being sliced in half.

"Some things are better left buried!" Onyx exclaimed as the warrior caught Kai by the ankle and dangled him upside down. "The Overlord created his Stone Army from an indestructible material only found on the Dark Island!" Misako informed them. "Ah, great. You could've mentioned that earlier!" Kai shouted, struggling to get free. "What do we do now!?" Onyx exclaimed. "Use your element!" Misako suggested. Onyx gave her a confused look. "I can't! I don't have the daggers!" She shouted, dodging a chunk of stone the warrior kicked at her.

"Lloyd!" Wu shouted. Lloyd dashed forward and flung a beam of green energy at the warrior, sending it flying backwards and freeing Kai from its grip. Onyx gripped the pommel of her sword anxiously, afraid that it would get back up. Just when she was sure that it truly had been defeated, the warrior staggered to its feet, snarling indecipherable words in a language she'd never heard before.

"How are we supposed to destroy this thing?!" Cole shouted. "You can't," Misako said bluntly. "So I guess that leaves us with run," Onyx said. "Yep. Run!" Kai shouted, taking off. "It's a good thing we're in a museum!" Jay gasped as they ran. "Why's that?" Misako, who was surprisingly fast for a woman her age, asked. "Cause we're all about to become history!" He wailed, pointing behind them. The warrior was gaining on them. "The guy's got a pair of sneakers on him. Pick up the pace, go, go, go!" Lloyd ordered. "He's a block of stone! How is he so fast?" Onyx hissed.

The party just barely managed to make it into the remains of the gift shop and slam the door shut. Kai and Cole immediately began barricading the door with whatever they could find. "This thing is unstoppable!" Cole exclaimed as the doors began to buckle. "Indestructible, to be precise," Zane corrected. "That door ain't gonna hold him forever," Kai said. "Then let's settle this like men. With Rock, Paper, Clamp. Loser has to face him, so the rest can escape. Nu-uh, not you two," Jay said, refusing Onyx and Lloyd.

The former gave him a harsh stare. "Now's not the time to be a gentleman!" She snapped, elbowing her way into the game. Kai sighed and nodded. "On three. One, two-" Lloyd suddenly gave a shout. "That's it!" He cried. "What's "it?"" Wu asked. "If you guys can keep him busy, I think I know how to stop him," Lloyd said quickly. "I say we give the kid a shot," Cole said. "You're just saying that 'cause you're too afraid to face him," Jay barbed. "Do you wanna face him?" Cole countered. "I say we give the kid a shot," Jay said immediately.

"Onyx, you come with me. I'm going to need a hand," Lloyd said, yanking the grille over an air vent off and gesturing for her to go. Onyx did, crawling into the tiny space. "Be careful, Lloyd. And good luck," Misako said. "Thanks, Mom," he responded. Even with as serious the situation was, Onyx found it sweet that he had called her 'Mom.' "The same goes for you, Onyx," Wu said. "Don't worry, Sensei. We'll be fine," she assured him.

Onyx and Lloyd crawled through the vents, Lloyd giving her instructions on where to go. After a few minutes, Lloyd tapped her leg. "I think this is it," he said, pointing to a grille just up ahead. Onyx nodded and carefully pushed the covering out, slipping out of the vent and leaping down to the ground, Lloyd right behind. They were standing in the room with the hole. "What does this have to do with paper?" Onyx asked. Lloyd grinned and dashed over to the corner of the room, where several rolls of the patterning paper used on the floor were leaning up against the wall.

The plan clicked together as he tossed Onyx a roll. She laughed. "You're devious today," she remarked, helping him spread it out over the pit. When they were satisfied with their work, Onyx glanced at Lloyd, ready to hear the next step. "Okay, now I'll lure him-" Onyx cut Lloyd off. "No, let me be the bait," she said. Lloyd shook his head. "I can't let you-" Onyx interrupted him again. "'I'm faster than you, and I'm also not Ninjago's final line of defense. Let me do it," she said. Lloyd hesitated. "Do you trust me?" Onyx asked. Lloyd sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. But promise me you'll be careful," he said.

Onyx nodded. "You act like you haven't met me. Of course I'll be careful. You wait in here and get ready to shove him in or catch me, just in case," she said before dashing off.

Onyx ran through the museum, following the sound of shattering pottery. She came up upon a hallway that contained rows of vases. The Stone Warrior was swinging his blades wildly, pulverizing the exhibits. Onyx winced, hoping that they hadn't been too old or expensive. Then she saw Misako standing behind a pillar. "Psst!" Onyx hissed, trying to get her attention. She succeeded and waved the woman over.

Misako glanced around nervously before breaking cover and running over to Onyx. "Go to the room with the hole, but stay away from where it is," the ninja ordered. Onyx waited until the woman was out of sight before leaping out from her hiding spot and waving her arms. "Hey Rocky, feeling a bit stoned today?" She shouted, then immediately wanted to kick herself. She'd been listening to Jay way too much. But perhaps the stupidity of the insult has worked in her favor, because the warrior roared and ran at her. 

Onyx tore through the halls with the warrior in hot pursuit, leading him to where she and Lloyd had set their trap. As she came into the room, she noticed that Misako wasn't there. Lloyd must have hidden her with him. Onyx paused right in front of where the floor ended and the paper began. "Take the bait, you great brute," she muttered, waving her arms and making faces at him.

The warrior's venomously green eyes narrowed hatefully at her as he lunged. Onyx ducked, feeling his chestplate brush the top of her head as he flew over her, landing on the edge of the hole. "Hey, loser! Paper beats rock!" Lloyd shouted, leaping down from the top of a pillar and kicking the warrior backwards. The stone juggernaut fell through the paper and gave a terrified shoot as he plummeted.

Onyx walked up beside Lloyd and glanced down, watching the warrior fall... and fall... and fall even father until she couldn't see him, even with her darkvision. "Of course, the bottomless pit," Misako said, emerging from behind a pillar. She turned and hugged Lloyd as the other ninja walked into the room. "I'm so proud of you. I feel like the balance has brought us together," she said.

"Stay with us. Help us fight the good fight," Wu said. Misako looked at Lloyd. "If that's okay with my son," she said. Lloyd paused a moment before smiling lightly. "Hey. The more, the merrier," he said. Misako smiled widely and hugged her son again.

Onyx watched the two of them. She was slightly envious that Lloyd was able to be with his mother, but at the same time, she was happy that he had at least one parent who was able to be with him. Suddenly, a shot of pain stabbed into Onyx's head. "Ngh!" She rubbed the bridge of her nose. It was gone as soon as it had come, so quick that no one had noticed it. Onyx shook her head. It was probably just one of those random headaches. After all, what else could it have been?

Onyx walked over to the other ninja, who were talking excitedly about the defeat of the Stone Warrior, and joined in on the conversation. As of right now, everything was fine.

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My paternal grandparents were just visiting! Also, is anyone else terrified of squirrels for no logical reason?

Musical of the Day: Annie (I just got to go see this one done professionally! The girl who played Annie fell flat on a lot of notes, but Roosevelt and the dog were awesome)