Ninjago: Purpose and Meaning

16. Aftermath

The Elemental Masters gathered on the beach, watching as the pirates sailed away from the village and onto the open sea.

Nadine wouldn't even have noticed when Naomi, the Master of Gravity put her down if it wasn't for her legs collapsing beneath her the moment they touched the ground.

Naomi hurried to her side, falling on her knees beside her as she helped her sit.

"What happened?" The Master of Gravity asked.

Nadine waved away her worries. "Soto just got a lucky hit."

She didn't want them to make any fuss about it. They had all sustained worse wounds during their years as the protectors of Ninjago. This light headache was nothing to make a big deal about.

"Why were you on the ship?" Nadine asked, not remembering any of the Elemental Masters arriving on the ship except for herself.

Naomi looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "We saw you go aboard," Naomi said like it was obvious. "We came to help. What were you doing on the ship?"

Nadine chuckled at Naomi's reaction. "They were going to fire the cannons at you."

She didn't need to explain. She had gone there to help them and they had gone there to help her. It was like it always had been. They helped each other.

"Is Tierney okay?" Nadine suddenly asked, looking at Nepenthe who was still staring after the pirate ship that had disappeared behind the cliffs.

The Master of Minds turned to her with a worried look before he nodded. "I told him to come back here, so he'll probably be here soon."

Nadine nodded, relieved to hear he hadn't gotten himself into any trouble after she left. A small part of her had been afraid he would have tried to follow her, but fortunately, he hadn't.

She rose, brushing the sand off her as she looked after the pirate ship, disappointed not to see it. They really had gotten away, again.

Ember came up to her, nodding to the side, and she understood he wanted to talk privately.

She followed the Master of Amber, walking a few steps away before he turned to her with a worried look. She already knew what he was going to say.

"I assume you remember Soto talking about going to the Dark Island?" When Nadine nodded, he continued. "He wants to find the Overlord."

Nadine grimaced at the mention of his name.

"No one knows the First Spinjitzu Master imprisoned him there."

Ember shook his head. "True, but there are stories about the treasures and the powers that await those who go there. And it seems Soto believes the stories." He paused for a moment. "We can't let him get there."

Nadine nodded, completely agreeing. "We won't. I'm just not sure how to stop him yet."

-

The Elemental Masters waited in the village for a few hours. They didn't want to leave before they were sure Soto and his pirates had left, so they waited until Nepenthe could confirm they weren't just waiting until the Elemental Masters had left.

But, at last, they traveled back to their home. They had to start over their plans now that Soto was gone yet again. They had to be ready for the next time he decided to attack Ninjago.

But, Nadine silently doubted he would attack another village. At least, for a while. The pirate captain had said he would find the Dark Island.

The Dark Island was a legend. The legend started back at the end of the Stone Wars when the First Spinjitzu Master split the world in two. Since then, nobody has seen the other half of Ninjago. It had disappeared in the west, nobody knowing what happened to it.