Querencia

S2 E10: The Last Voyage*

Hidden on a coastal beach out past the Glacier Barrens were the people of Ninjago City, who had been rescued by the Bounty, as well as about 100 more people from the closest villages around the city. The trip to the hidden beach had been easy enough, the Bounty having a surprisingly smooth flight after Nya managed to adjust the engine's power. No issues had arisen amongst the people, most only having scratches from falling or stumbling in the panic to get away.

Nearly as soon as they had landed, early the next day, Nya had begun trying to fix the engine. She had cataloged the extensive damage done to the right hull and engine before waking the ninja to recruit them for help with the engine. Zane and [M/n] were pulled away, to their luck, to join Wu.

They found their teacher on a tall grouping of rocks, waiting for them with a pair of old binoculars.

"What is it, Sensei?" Zane questioned, noting the grave look on his face.

"I wished to know if either of you could see what I am seeing. I hope that it is simply an old man's overactive imagination," Wu said, passing the binoculars to [M/n]. Looking through them, he saw an island in the distance.

It was shadowed in mist, but if he looked to the right, he could see volcanoes. Multiple, their light glowing through the mist. "I see it as well, Sensei. This does not seem good." He handed them over to Zane.

Zane hummed when he saw the island, "Hmmm, most peculiar. Yesterday, there was just ocean, but now there is an island." The Falcon shrieked, circling overhead. "Ahh, I nearly forgot. The Falcon found me earlier this morning to bring me news of Ninjago City. The Stone Soldiers are gone. There was no sign of them."

"The Dark Island," Wu murmured, frowning. "It is most peculiar that Ninjago City was attacked by the Stone Army just yesterday, and yet today they have vanished."

"They must have returned to their Master, just as they were awoken by him."

"I fear that answer. But what's most important is we have to find out what is on that island," Wu decided, tucking the binoculars away.

"Perhaps my Falcon can have a look. Give us an idea of what we are walking into," Zane offered, holding out his arm. Gliding down, the bird perched on his arm, both waiting for Sensei's decision.

"Very well." With a parting shriek, the Falcon took off.

They watched him fly away for a few long minutes, watching until it was little more than a dot in the distance. Unable to watch it any longer, the trio made their way back to the Bounty, stopping at the engine where everyone was working.

A spurt of oil hit Jay in the face, "Ugh! Useless pile of junk!"

"Oh, it's worse than I feared. The rotors on the starboard booster are completely destroyed, which destroyed the port boosters. They're shot from the strain. Oh, sorry, guys. She's not getting airborne anytime soon," Nya apologized. [M/n] could tell she was genuinely worried about the Bounty, working on it so much it had become one of her 'babies.'

Cole ran a harsh hand through his hair, "So if the Stone Army attacks again, we're preda facile." (easy prey.)

"We just got our tails handed to us, and we couldn't even stop one of them. Ugh, I hate feeling helpless," Kai groaned, smacking the hull in anger.

"We mustn't give up hope, Kai," Wu stated, resting a hand on the young man's shoulders.

"But the Stone Army is indestructible. You saw it. At best, all our powers could do was slow them down," Lloyd said, unable to look away from [M/n].

"That's not entirely true. There is a way to defeat them. And it is told within the scrolls," Misako corrected, stepping out of the Bounty to get their attention. Confused, the group followed her inside. There, the divide between Lloyd and [M/n] became even more obvious - Lloyd stood by his mother and Uncle, [M/n] leaning back against the door, the farthest point away from Lloyd. "The prophecy reveals that the power to defeat the Stone Army lies within the Green Ninja and Silver Ninja."