Ninjago: Tales of the Merge

The Lie

Marina POV

In front of us was a kingdom on clouds.

"Whoa." Sora, Arin, and I said.

"The Cloud Kingdom. Whoa." Kai said.

"Why wasn't this here on our way out?" Sora asked.

"It's a floating kingdom," Lloyd replied. "Maybe it drifted into our path?"

"The Cloud Kingdom was our destination," Nya said. "Yes, it may have drifted to us. It lookss quiet,"

"Looks relaxing here," Arin said. "I could really get used to this." As soon as we were in the kingdom, the area around us shook violently. Lloyd stops the ship as Ain yells, "Relaxation is cancelled!"

Suddenly, a part of a building broke and was now falling towards us. Lloyd quickily dodges it.

"That was a close one," He said. 

Just then, we heard a scream. "Help!" We look over to see two monks, a man and a woman holding on tight to the edge of a building about to fall

"We have to save them," Sora said. 

"We got this," Nya said. She and her brother use Spinjitzu to reach the monks. Soon, they were near them and on top of the building. They were just about to pull them up when the part of the building broke apart and all four of them start to fall.

Arin use his grappling hook to get them all to safety, landing on the Bounty.

"Way impressive, Arin!" Kai said. "Very ninja."

"And Kai rarely admits to being impressed." Nya said.

"What's happening here?" Lloyd asked.

"The beast is smashing everything!" The woman said. "How was this unforeseen?"

"Beast?" Nya asked. "What beast?" We turn around to see a giant monster witha lot of tentacles and one giant eye. It was coming out from what looked like a rift. Wow. That thing looked like a starfish!

"Oh, that one." Nya said, answering her own question.

"Wanted to know more about MergeQuakes, Nya?" Lloyd asked. "Today's your lucky day. This monster's realm must be merging here." As soon as the monster comes out of the rift, we see two white dragons attacking it.

"There are dragons here?" Sora asked.

"They came from one of the lands we crossed over and thought this would be a safe place to live." the woman said.

"Everyone, save the people," Lloyd ordered. "I'll try to close the MergeQuake." 

"So that rift was a MergeQuake," I said. Just then, I have an idea.

"Lloyd," I said. "Riyu can't save the people since he's a dragon. He will probably stay in the Bounty. Do you mind if I look after him?"

"Sure," Lloyd replied. "If you don't mind us having all the fun, saving the Cloud Kingdom,"

"I don't mind at all," I said, smiling. So Kai, Lloyd, Nya, Sora, and Arin left the bounty. 

I picked up Riyu, carry him to the room that i was in before with Ras, dropped him, then closed the door. I then grabbed the pen Ras gave me, pushed the button, then dropped it.

Instantly, a hologram of Ras came out of it.

"So Marina," He said. "Have you made your decision?"

"The decision was difficult," I said. "I know that if I could bring Riyu to you, it would mean betraying my friends. But they are like my family. They are not my family. You could make it happen. You could revive my parents and with the help of the Source Dragon, you could give me all my power. Even though I was less interested at technology and Ana was my friend now, she was also my Person to Beat. It's a goal I have for years, and I am bound to achieve it. So my final decision was a yes. I accept your deal,"

Ras smiled. "Good," He said. "I will send the Claws to pick you up. The question is, when?"

"The others are fighting a beast and saving people in the Cloud Kingdom," I said. "And I am alone in the Bounty you attacked earlier with the dragon you want. You can come now,"

"Got it," Ras said. "See you in a few minutes," And with that the hologram disappeared. I picked up my pen and place it in my pocket.

I look around and saw that Riyu was hiding under the table. He must have heard what I had said because he was shivering in fear.

I grab a nearby crate with a hole, walk towards Riyu, open the crate, and placed him inside. I then closed the crate. "Sorry Riyu," I said. "But the decision had to be made," I carried the crate out of the room.

There, I saw three members of the Claws of Imperium waiting for me. I gave one of them the crate and hop on a mini flying vehicle with another Claw. 

I rode the vehicle away from the Bounty until I saw the sight of Imperium.

The vehicles landed in front of what looked like a palace. Once we got off, the Claws took me and the crate into another room. There was a throne. Sitting on it was Empress Beatrix, and next to her was Ras and Rapton. I kneel before them.

"Empress Beatrix," I said. "I accepted your deal. I brought you Riyu," The empress smiled, got out of her throne and looked at the crate. She looked through the hole.

"You've done a great job, Marina," She said.

"Now can I get my parents back and the rest of my powers?" I asked. The empress smiled, but this one was an evil one.

Ras and Rapton walked towards me as the empress said, "Did you really think that part of the deal was true?"

"What do you mean?" I asked, confused.

"That part was a lie." The empress asked with a smirk. "Why would we bring back your parents when we don't know how, or perhaps didn't want to. And why would I want to give you more power if I already gave you all of it?" I was shocked, but it quickly turned to anger.

"You monster!" I yelled. "Why would you do that?" "You were the perfect bait," Ras said. "We know how your life was, and we used it as an advantage,"

"Then tell me the real reason why you wanted Riyu in the first place," I said. "Riyu was the first," Rapton said. "Then we could hunt down his whole family soon enough. Then we have enough dragon power for the Photacs. And We knew you would be easily fooled to do so for us,"

I clenched my fists. Now I was furious. I rushed over to attack the empress, but Rapton and Ras quickly grabbed me and handcuffed me.

"We wouldn't want you to ruin our plans," The empress said. "Take the dragon to Dr LaRow's lab. Put Marina in a cell. Oh, and keep the cuffs on," 

So while Rapton carries the crate out of the room, Ras brought me to a cell. 

He shoved me inside, locked the door, and left. I sighed. Hopefully the others will find me and will understand my actions.