Flames of the Past #4: A Tangle of Lies (A Ninjago Fanfiction)

Chapter 2

Kai felt a sudden flash of fear as the door closed behind Wu. Wu was leaving! He almost wanted to call his sensei back, but he was able to refrain himself. For some reason, he felt sick in the stomach and foggy in the head. Struggling not to panic, he hurried over to Lloyd and sat on the bed beside the green ninja. Feeling his brother's body heat soothed him again and he let out a breath of relief.

Cole and Jay joined Zane on his bed, which was next to Lloyd's, and the five faced one another.

"So..." Cole started. He sighed. "All the stuff that happened with Garmadon... the murder, the letter... it's been crazy."

"That was only the beginning," Lloyd claimed. "That was a fight over one Crystal. The Fire Crystal. There are still five more, three of which we already know their locations. The Sons of Darkness stole the map, but their advantage isn't too great. We know Trynia has the Water Crystal, Doxton has Earth, and Fervendale has Lightning. The only things we don't know that our enemies now do is where the Ice and Energy Crystals disappeared to, and where those people took the Fire."

"Unless the Water, Earth, and Lightning move and we lose track of them," Kai reminded him. "Sensei G. said the map tracks wherever they go. The Sons of Darkness do have an advantage."

"But Garmadon's letter said something about unlocking the map," Zane reminded them. "Perhaps the Sons of Darkness cannot read the Crystals' locations yet."

"Maybe we shouldn't stay here," Jay broke in. "We should take the Water Crystal, then the Earth and the Lightning before the Sons of Darkness can."

"No, we're not leaving," Kai told him.

Cole crossed his arms. "Why not, Mr. I'm In Charge?" he challenged.

Kai looked at him. "It's something I've been thinking about," he began. "The Sons of Darkness must've targeted Shillvaron first for a reason. And if that's true, Skylor could still be in danger. With her and everyone else from Shillvaron here, Trynia could be their next target."

"What would they have against Shillvaron?" Cole questioned.

"They seem to like fire," Jay suggested.

Kai winced as he remembered bomb after bomb blowing up Shillvaron's palace. The horrifying event had led to Garmadon's death. Kai shuddered and shoved the memory away.

"It wasn't only Shillvaron," Zane offered. "We heard from King Otis that they were attacking Fervendale, too."

"But Doxton and Trynia haven't seen a sign of them yet," Cole added.

It was then a thought hit Lloyd and he perked up. "My dad's note... he said the ally lives in Fervendale. What if they know?"

"That would explain it," Zane agreed.

"Then what about Shillvaron?" Jay demanded.

Cole looked thoughtful. "Well, if Sensei G. knew what he was talking about with Clouse—"

"And he did," Kai interrupted firmly.

"—Clouse is from Shillvaron," Cole continued. "He was positioned there every day. Maybe he thought to attack Shillvaron first because it's the closest, and it wouldn't put suspicion on him. It's a simple idea, but that's probably what I would do."

"And now Clouse is here," Kai backed him up. "So if that's true..."

"Their next target will be Trynia," Zane finished for him.

"And if it's not?" Jay prompted. "I mean, we don't know for sure if Clouse is their leader, or if he's even a part of the gang at all!"

"Come on, he's always giving us weird looks," Cole argued.