Ninjago: Where Heroes Come From

Chapter Eighteen: Garmadon's Children

Wu knelt before Pythor, his head bowed, listening through the rough fabric as the Anacondrai laughed over him. He didn't move, didn't speak, didn't even listen to what the snakes around him were saying. Wu thought only of his ninja, praying that they would have enough to sense to know what to do next. With all five blades in their grasp, the serpentine had everything they needed to free the Devouror, and the world's last and only hope was that the ninja would stop the before they did so.

They would have to fly to the Lost City of Aura Bourus, and with any luck, they would be able to wrestle at least one blade from the serpentine's grasp. If they couldn't... he shuddered, closing his eyes. He didn't want to contemplate a future in which the serpentine ruled, where the Devouror was free... Pythor had to know it wouldn't work. He was clever, sly, he had to understand that the Devouror would not be tamed. It was the creation of the Oni, born to destroy and do little else. The life of the one who freed it would not be spared.

"On your feet, old man," Pythor ordered, as Wu was hauled roughly into a standing position by several disembodied hands, "we sail to Aura Bourus now."

"And what will you do when you arrive?" Wu asked, his voice muffled by the bag but audible nonetheless. "How will you coral the Oni's beast, Pythor?"

He knew it was coming, even if he didn't see it. The slap turned his head, raking the burlap against his skin and rubbing his cheek raw. Wu didn't cry out, keeping his mouth clamped firmly shut, satisfied only by the growl of distaste that issued from Pythor's mouth.

"We sail to Aura Bourus," he repeated, "lock him in the brig. We won't kill him just yet." Pythor's voice was close, like he was whispering in his ear, his tone breathy and full of hatred. "He needs to see his ninja fall at my feet. He needs to watch his world crumble before he crumbles with it."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Why did we leave him?" Lloyd demanded, not for the first time. He and Lexi were sitting below deck, having been ordered to stay hidden until the ninja gave the all clear. They both knew it was the only suitable way the ninja could hope to protect them if the Devouror was unleashed-- when was more like it, though nobody would admit it out loud-- but the twins had consented to hiding anyways.

"We had no choice," Lexi said softly. She wasn't looking at Lloyd-- he'd noticed that she had the tendency not to look at people when she was upset-- staring instead at her feet, swinging back and forth as her legs dangled over the edge of the couch, not quite reaching the floor. Her hair was falling loosely about her shoulders, sticking to her face with sweat. Out of everyone, the twins seemed to be the best off after the fight. Nya had been kept busy with treating Cole, who'd been stabbed, as well as making sure that Jay's battered leg wasn't broken, before allowing Zane to look at the gash above her eye. Kai was furious at having abandoned their sensei, although his obvious concussion might have been a contributor to his irritation. Wu, obviously, was in the hands of the enemy, who were no doubt on their way to Aura Bourus to unleash the Devouror.

"I know you didn't want to," Lexi went on, still not looking up from the floor, "but you have to admit we couldn't have done anything. He was surrounded, and we were running for our lives, and..." her voice trailed off and she looked up at Lloyd, her eyes wide and empty. "We only have once chance to save the world, Lloyd. Do you really think we can?"

Lloyd nodded. "Of course," he said, "why wouldn't we?"

She stared at him, saying nothing, like she wanted to tell him he was wrong and that they couldn't possibly win. There was a part of him, a small, weak part, that screamed she was right. Things were hopeless, so hopeless, and they didn't stand a chance-- but that wasn't what a ninja would say. Ninja never quit. Ninja never stop fighting. Ninja always do what's right.