(They come up to Doomsday Comix and enter it.)
Cole: You brought us to a comic book store?
Lloyd: Trust me. If there's anyone who knows how to defeat a monster that doesn't exist, I know just the person to talk to. (They start walking along the store.)
Kai: (stopping Lloyd.) We're not coming to pick out your stupid comic, Lloyd! This is serious business.
Anna: Were not, Lloyd's really into something.
Jay: (grabs a comic book, gasping) Oh, look. A first edition "Daffy Dale." I used to love that nut growing up. ( He laughs before he soon clears his throat.) So juvenile.
(Lloyd guides his embarrassed friends to the register, where a man with a ponytail and beard sirs.)
Lloyd: Fellas, meet Rufus McCallister, AKA Mother Doomsday.
Rufus: Well, if it isn't Lloyd "Hemorrhoid" Garmadon. (Jay catches up with the others.) Sorry if you came looking for the latest "Starfarer," I'm all sold out.
Lloyd: Wh—Sold out? (He screams, causing everyone to look at him.)
Anna: Lloyd.(She reminded.)
Lloyd: Oh, actually, Mother Doomsday, we need help.
Rufus: Well, color me intrigued.
Lloyd: We have a problem. There's a Grundle on the loose and we need to know how to deal with it.
Rufus: (misunderstanding) Oh, a theoretical question.
Lloyd: Yeah, theoretical. Can you help?
(Rufus lowers his seat, gets off and comes out from behind the register.)
Rufus: Dromaeosaurid Theropod Grundalicus. Phew! Although extinct, there has been a plethora of film, television and comics exploring the mythology around the primordial predator. (He grabs a nearby comic, showing the Grundle.) Supposedly, they always get their prey.
Anna: Why did I just not understand a word he said.
Kai: Me neither , Sounds like he knows his stuff.
Lloyd: (pushes through Zane and Kai) Can it be stopped?
Rufus: First thing you need to know is its thick shell-like hide is invincible to swords, scythes, nunchucks, and throwing stars. So your cheap imitations will do nothing to slow him down.
Cole: Swell.
Rufus: Second of all, it's nocturnal and will only hunt at night.
Jay: Oh, good. It's still daylight, so we can relax for a bit. (They look outside a window before Rufus looks at him, suspiciously before Kai clears his throat.) Uh, I meant theoretically.
Rufus: And the only way to defeat it is with light. (He puts the comic back.) Like a vampire, with enough of it, it could potentially destroy him. (He comes up to a display.) If I had my weapons of choice, may I recommend the Illuma-Sword? (He opens the display case, revealing four purple bladed Illuma-Swords.) These are authentic replicas that would come in handy were you to live long enough to actually face a Grundal. And if swords are your thing, (He points to another case.) maybe I can interest you in an authentic ninja gi, (The display has Kai, Zane, Jay, and Cole's ZX Gi inside.) signed by the very ninja that saved the city.
Kai: Uh, we'll just take the light swords. (He goes up to the fake Illuma-Swords and is about to grab one before Rufus stops him.)
Rufus: Not so fast. This "Starfarer" combo pack can only be won in the Fritz Donnegan Trivia Battle Royale. (He points to a fan, dressed like Fritz Donnegan, talking to some cosplayers.) You have what it takes to be the best?
Jay: You can do this, Lloyd.
Lloyd: Sign me up.
-
(Later that night, at Doomsday Comix, Lloyd and the fan are on a stand. Jay is eating cotton candy.)
Rufus: It's down to the final two. This question is for Lloyd.
Crowd: (chanting) Lloyd! Lloyd! Lloyd!
Rufus: What is Fritz Donnegan's famous catchphrase?
Lloyd: "Fear? Fear is not a word from where I come from."
Rufus: Correct! We're all tied up.
(The crowd cheers as the fan looks at Lloyd, who smirks at him. As they keep celebrating, Zane looks out the window.)
Zane: (to Cole) It's getting dark. The Grundal will be on the prowl soon.
Kai: Don't worry. I got faith Lloyd can win those Illuma-Swords.
Anna: Even if he does win the Illuma-Swords what good are thry to us, they just flashlights shaped like swords.
Cole: Huh yo-
Kai: (They soon hear slurping and turn to Jay, who is eating some cotton candy.) Is this really the best time to be eating cotton candy?
Jay: It makes me feel young. Deal with it.
Rufus: Final question. The first person to answer this will win. (He turns to the competitors.) In the latest issue of "Starfarer," how did Fritz Donnegan escape the Imperial Sludge?
Lloyd: (struggles to find the answer) But I haven't read the latest issue!
Fritz Donnegan Fan: By reversing the polarity of the ship's gravity transducer.
Rufus: We have a winner!
(Lloyd looks to see the ninja are disappointed while the rest of the crowd cheers. Pretty soon, the lights shake before the power goes out.)
Rufus: Who shut off the power?
(Everyone looks up at the sound of the disturbance as the sign falls off)
Anna: It's here.
Rufus: (confused) What's here?
Jay: You know that theoretical discussion we had earlier? (chuckles)
(The Grundle appears on the glass roof.)
Rufus: Not the...(The Grundal steps on the glass, cracking it before looking down.) Grundle!
YOU ARE READING
Ninjago: Darkness Within Arc (2)
AdventureAfter Anna and the Ninja defeat the devourer, they start to train Lloyd. However, they encounter problems as the bounty is gone, leaving them with nowhere to train Lloyd. Additionally, Garmadon possesses the golden weapons. This situation raises the...
