Turn In The Tide- Fight On Book 1 (Ninjago AU)

Chapter 4

NYA'S POV
"Stop the vessel! We have reached Merlopia!" Zane announced. I steered the Hydro Bounty towards a rock platform and Lloyd shut off the engine. I grabbed our oxygen tanks and we equipped ourselves with additional weapons. Zane opened the latch, and we swam out.

We reached the castle after several minutes of swimming through the underwater kingdom. Many citizens were staring at us by the time we reached the castle doors. The guards opened them, and we ran in.

"Benthomaar!" I exclaimed when we reached the throne room. Benthomaar stopped pacing and grinned widely.

"Nya? Zane! Lloyd!" He exclaimed. "And... friends?"

"Hello, Benthomaar. I don't believe you have had proper introductions," Zane said. "This is Master Wu. I am sure you saw them during Wojira's attack, and during the reign of the Crystal King."

"Yeah, I recognized you, I just didn't know your names. Where is Jay? And Pixal? And Maya?" Benthomaar asked.

"My mother is at her blacksmith shop with my father. Jay and Pixal hung back at Ninjago City to fight Kalmaar with Kai and Cole," I explained. Seeing Benthomaar's confused expression, I added, "Kai's my brother, the red ninja, and Cole is the black ninja. I'm sure you would recognize them as well."

Benthomaar seemed upset. "So you have heard of Kalmaar escaping?"

"Yeah, do you know why or how?" I asked suspiciously. Benthomaar shook his head a little too quickly.

"I saw Wojira swallow him whole along with the rest of you. I promise! I don't know how he escaped, or why he waited this long to attack again!" He said defensively.

"Oh, really? Then how come Jay says he saw Wojira spit out Kalmaar when Nya defeated her! He said you jumped in the water to save him, and you swam away with him!" Lloyd accused. Benthomaar was tense.

"Fine. I'm so sorry. I lost my father, I didn't want to lose my brother, too."

"Adoptive brother," Zane corrected.

"Yes," Benthomaar agreed. "But I didn't intend to let him escape. I brought him back to Merlopia after Wojira was defeated, and then I came back and searched for Nya for a year. Then I went back to Merlopia, and returned when Nya sent the signal so I could help beat the Crystal King. Then, when I came back, he was gone! I put him in a cell, and asked my best guards to watch over him, but he's gone!"

"Well right now, he's attacking Ninjago City," Lloyd gritted out. He shoved a print-out of Kalmaar in Ninjago City into Benthomaar's face. "And it's all your fault!"

"Lloyd," I tried, but he didn't listen. He fought against Zane's grip.

"You weren't like this when we last met," Bentho whispered.

Lloyd glared at him. "Well, circumstances were different!"

"Guys, please! We'll never be able to defeat Kalmaar if we argue!" I yelled. Lloyd and Bentho immediately shut up, and Zane chuckled.

"Let's get back to work," he recommended.

COLE'S POV
"Kalmaar!" Kai exclaimed. He raised his katanas, but Kalmaar just laughed.

"Ninja, don't you understand? You can't defeat me with some useless toys! You can't defeat me at all!" He exclaimed.

"Yeah, but you don't have an army. A villain can't get far without an army. Just read Pythor's book, 'A Guide to Villainy'," Jay suggested. He handed Kalmaar the thick, purple book I had checked out earlier in the arcade.