What is this! Our first song from Nalia!? (it's at the end of the chapter.)
Whenever Nalia is singing a song, I'll add a link to the song as an option if any of you wanna listen to it while reading.(check the playlist chapter to see what songs have been used, and in which chapters)
We are getting some fluff here, with Lloyd and Nalia. :D
Oh... oh, Pythor is the first person to feel the full range from our sweet Nalia.
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*The Destiny's Bounty passes a mountain as the Postman, on a bicycle with improvised wings, emerges from the clouds, holding a parcel.*
"Wait! Slow down! I have a package for Sensei Wu!" shouted the Postman.
"First, I'll stomp on his tail. Then when he turns, a thunder clap to his ears. Then when he's stunned, I'll disarm him." said Lloyd.
"Too late, he's already hypnotized you and now you're under his control." said Cole.
"Or he's already put you in a squeeze." said Zane.
"Or spit on you with his hallucinatory venom. Trust me, bad stuff," said Kai.
Lloyd groans as Wu walks into the room. "Uncle, what's the best way to stun a Serpentine if you don't know what kind they are?"
"Sadly, it was the Sacred Flute you four carelessly lost." said Wu.
"Hey, no, no, no, we didn't lose it. Pythor stole it." said Jay.
"Is there a difference?" Nalia scratched her arm. Some of her fever had gone, but it wasn't entirely gone.
"Whatever the case, without it I fear we have nothing to combat their powers. We may have prevented them from uniting in the past, but they will try again, and one day they will be stronger." said Wu.
"Don't worry. I've almost reached my Full Potential, and when I become the Green Ninja, we're not gonna need any magic flute." said Cole.
"You're gonna be the Green Ninja? Hahaha, don't make me laugh." said Kai.
"I guessed Sensei's riddle, so clearly, I'm going to be the Green Ninja." Nalia let out a sneeze of smoke. At least she had stopped sneezing fire, but now it was just smoke.
"I thought it was decided that I was destined to become the Green Ninja." said Zane.
"Oh! The only thing decided about you, Zane, is that you're weird." The ninjas start arguing.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. What's in the box?" Lloyd asked.
"Your new uniforms and some medicine for Nalia." The ninjas gasp in awe.
"Whoa! They've got, like, armor." said Jay.
"I love the gold highlights." said Kai.
"Battle claws!" said Cole.
"The material is really light and breathable." said Zane.
"What kind of medicine is this?" Nalia raised an eyebrow, holding some ointment and a tea bag.
"The ointment is for your skin; it helps to get the itch away. And the tea is to help stop your sneezing, along with any fire or smoke coming from you." Wu explained.
"Oh, nothing for me?" Lloyd asked, when looking into the empty box.
"Um, you get, uh, the box." said Wu.
*The alarm turns off.*
"Sorry to break up the moment, boys, but a small fraction of our slithering friends are stirring up trouble at Mega Monster Amusement Park," said Nya.
"Amusement park? Can I go? Can I go with you, please? Let me make things up. I can help." said Lloyd.
"I'm sorry, nephew. You will stay here along with Nalia, where it's safe," said Wu.
"Oh, ninja get all the fun." said Lloyd.
"What's an Amusement park?" Nalia looked at the others, confused.
"You don't know what an Amusement park is?" Lloyd asked.
Nalia was shaking her head. "Never heard nor seen whatever that is."
Lloyd looked like someone had just punched him in the face, with how he reacted to what he was hearing.
"What do you say, guys? Time to try out the new merchandise?" said Jay, looking at the others.
"All right. This new stuff feels like it'll protect us," said Cole.
"Yet, it provides more mobility," said Zane.
"You wanna strut your stuff on the catwalk, or get down to that amusement park so we can go on some rides?" Jay asked.
"I love a good old fashioned roller coaster, but nothing beats this." They jump off the Bounty.
"So, anything you wanna do since we are both staying on the ship?" Lloyd asked, looking at Nalia.
"How about reading those comics you have? I haven't read a comic before, but they look interesting." Nalia suggested with a small smile.
Lloyd's eyes lit up when she mentioned his comics. "Then let me be the one to welcome you into the starfarer comic!" He took her hand and began pulling her along as they ran to his room, where he kept his comics so they could read them together.
Nalia let out a laugh as Lloyd pulled her along. He quickly pulled out all of his Starfarer comics when they got to his room.
They read through each comic for the next few days while the ninjas competed against the Samurai.
"This is the best thing I've ever read in my whole life. I can't believe I never heard of this comic until now." Nalia smiled while reading another comic while still coughing a little. But she was already feeling a lot better.
"I told you that you would love it. The moment you pick it up, you just can't put it down as you wanna know what happens next," said Lloyd, as they were both laying on the floor reading.
Nalia began humming softly while reading, and as time passed, she ever so slightly began singing.
"Dango, dango, d-ngo, da-o.
dango, my fami-y.
T-e-e is a s-ubb--n roasted d-n-o~"
Lloyd had stopped reading his comic as he heard Nalia's soft singing voice; even though it was short, he couldn't stop taking his eyes off her as her voice made him feel all safe and full of energy.
"L-Lia...."
Nalia snapped out of her thoughts and looked up from her comic. "Yes?"
"Your voice..... you sang," said Lloyd, stunned, and they didn't know how else to react.
Nalia hadn't even noticed that she had been singing, so hearing this from Lloyd made her grow shy, slowly blushing. "I guess I was in a good mood that I didn't even notice." She went on to hide her face behind her comic.
"I didn't know you had such a... I don't even know how to describe it," said Lloyd, trying to think of the right word.
"If I had my voice back to normal, its range would be much bigger. At least that's what Momo and the old man told me." Nalia slowly looked up from her comic.
"Who's Momo and the old man?" Lloyd asked.
"Momo was my older brother.... until he died, and the old man. Well, he was just the old man that would check up on me a few times..... until he passed away." Nalia began growing a little sad.
".....Oh.... hey, how about we take a break and get something to snack on. I'm pretty sure I know where the guys are hiding the candy," said Lloyd, getting up from the floor and holding out his hand.
Nalia looked up at him, a small smile growing on her face. "Sure." She took his hand and got up, too. They left the room still holding hands, with Lloyd leading the way to where he had seen the guys had hidden the candy.
*A few days later, Kai drops Lloyd and Nalia off at the Kiddie Arcade.*
"Okay, I know it's my turn to look after you two, but just play a few games and stay put while I look around. I have a feeling the Samurai may show up." Kai gives Lloyd some coins.
"Oh, let us help." said Lloyd.
"Yeah, let us help. I'm already all better now." Nalia stood next to Lloyd, looking up at Kai with big puppy eyes.
"No." said Kai.
"Come on. At least drop us off at a decent arcade." Lloyd complained.
"Sorry, shorty." He drives off.
"Not fair." Nalia crossed her arms.
"Kai, wait!" Lloyd and Nalia is about to go in the arcade, but overhears Serpentine.
"Let's check it out," said Lloyd, leading the way with Nalia right behind him.
"I hear he found it. And everyone is gathering again." said Skales.
"Found what?" Nalia wondered curiously.
"Impossible. The Lost City does not exist." said Fang-Suei.
"Well, it isn't lost anymore. Haha. And I heard there's gonna be a fight." said Skales.
"A fight? Count me in." said Fang-Suei.
"I have a bad feeling about this, Lloyd." Nalia looked around but couldn't see him anywhere. "Lloyd?"
"All aboard. Next stop, Ouroboros." said Skales.
Lloyd buys two Serpentine disguises, returns to Nalia, and gives her the other. "Come on, this will help us blend in."
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Nalia gave him a worried look but went on to put on her disguise.
"It's the only way we can help the team. If we can gather info, we can tell the others what they are up to," said Lloyd, now in his disguise. "Now, let's hurry before we miss the bus." He took her hand and began leading the way.
They got on the bus, but not before Skales stopped them. "Hey, you, hold it there."
"Huh?"
Nalia grew a little nervous, hiding behind Lloyd.
"Last one in closes the door." said Skales.
"Uh, sure thing," said Lloyd, closing the door before finding them some seats in the back as the bus leaves.
"See, so far, so good," said Lloyd, smiling at Nalia.
Nalia gave a shy smile as she nodded. "I just hope we get back safe." She pulled a little of her scarf under her disguise.
"Don't worry, Lia, I promise we will get back with no problems," Lloyd smiled and gently squeezed her hand with his to comfort her.
"You promise? What if you can't keep it?" A few tears began forming in the corner of her eyes. "I don't wanna lose another person close to me."
"You're just going to have to trust me. And should something happen, we will have each other's back and save the one in trouble," said Lloyd.
Nalia was quiet for a bit, thinking this through for a while. "Okay, I trust you."
*The bus drives through the desert for a day and arrives in the City by night.*
"Lia, wake up; we are here," Lloyd whispered, shaking her awake since she had fallen asleep throughout the ride.
Nalia yawned, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes as she let Lloyd lead the way. While holding her hand to make sure she didn't get lost. It didn't take them long until they found themselves some seats.
"Just do as I've said, and I promise you will be my second-in-command. Forever." Pythor and Skales both put cotton in their ears. "I bring you together to the Lost City of Ouroboros before the statue of our very own Great Devourer to speak of unity."
"Where are the fights?" Bytar asked.
"Where is the big show?" asked Spitta.
"Slither Pit! Slither Pit! Slither Pit! Slither Pit!"
"Argh! You want a show? You want to see a fight? I ask for your allegiance but you will not give it. So I will take it." said Pythor.
"What are you saying?" Fangtom asked.
"I challenge the four tribe Generals for their staffs and their allegiance. At once!" said Pythor.
"I don't like this; I have a bad feeling. Along with the craving to bite into Pythor." Nalia watched closely from her seat.
"I know, but we can't let them find out we are here," Lloyd whispered.
"I fought hard for this staff and will not give it up easily." said Acidicus.
"There's no way he can defeat the four of us at once." said Skalidor.
*Skales secretly hands him the Sacred Flute, and Pythor immediately starts playing.*
"Oh, he's using the Sacred Flute against his own," said Lloyd.
"That's cheating! Oh, that dirty, fucking bastard of a purple gummy worm! I've never wanted to beat up someone so badly until now!" Nalia growled in rage as smoke was slowly coming out of her mouth.
Lloyd looked at Nalia, shocked to hear that coming from her. "Lia, I feel the same. But you need to calm down; your smoke is showing up." He whispered.
Nalia let out a slight growl but calmed down. "Fine."
"My ears!" said Skalidor, covering his ears after dropping his staff.
"It hurts!" said Acidicus, also dropping his staff.
*Skales throws him his staff. Pythor defeats the other Generals.*
"Bow to your master. Bow to your master, Serpentine!" shouted Pythor.
Lloyd tries to but accidentally drops his rattles.
"Oh, mangos." Nalia got nervous, trying to get away.
Mezmo grabs Lloyd and Nalia. "Where do you think you're going?"
"Lloyd? And the mute girl?" said Pythor.
Lloyd gulped while tears began forming in Nalia's eyes.
*They got thrown into two cages.*
"Let us out of here!" said Lloyd, grabbing the bars of his cage.
"And let you two return to the ninjas and share what you know? No, I don't think so," said Pythor with a smirk.
Nalia looked around her cage, trying to find some way to get out of there.
"Don't think about finding a way out, mute girl; these cages are made of vengestone. So you couldn't use your elemental powers to get out of here. Along with that weird fire breath of yours." said Pythor.
Nalia glared at Pythor in the purest rage she had ever felt as she let out a low growl. With glowing, golden eyes. "Worthless pest!" For a moment, Pythor thought he saw a faint silhouette of a huge, raging golden dragon glaring down at him. This caused him to take a few steps back, but it went away.
"W-what in the world are you?" Pythor questioned.
She crossed her arms and looked away, not wanting to look at his face anymore.
"Fine, stay quiet. That's what you are good at anyway," said Pythor leaving.
"Sorry, Lia, it's my fault we ended up in these cages," said Lloyd, looking over at Nalia.
Nalia looked over at Lloyd, giving a small smile. "It's not your fault, Lloydie."
"Lloydie?" Lloyd questioned, confused.
"Well, you keep calling me Lia, so I decided to call you Lloydie." A shy smile grew on Nalia's face.
"Oh, I see," said Lloyd, a slight blush growing. "I guess I don't mind you calling me that."
A big smile grew on Nalia's face, happy he wouldn't mind the nickname she gave him.
"Now, how do we get out of here," Lloyd asked.
Nalia gave a slight shrug, looking around until a craving thought came to mind.
"Lia, what are you doing!?" Lloyd whisper-shouted in shock as he watched Nalia biting her teeth into one of the bars of her cage.
Nalia wasn't sure why herself, but something in her just wanted to bite through these bars and be free.
"Lia, you're gonna break your teeth if you keep doing that." Lloyd wasn't sure what to think, so he looked around to ensure no one was watching.
"Ow!" said Nalia as a tooth fell out.
"I told you it was a bad idea," said Lloyd, looking at her.
Nalia was shaking her head, pointing at the bar she had been biting at. "Worked." She could already feel a new tooth coming out. "Maybe that's why I'm craving to bite stuff; it's my new teeth wanting to come out."
"Wow! The guys weren't kidding when they said you had a strong bite," said Lloyd, surprised.
"What's going on over here?" asked Skales, approaching the cages.
"Oh, umm, nothing," said Lloyd, trying to act like they weren't doing anything.
"I'm hungry." Nalia had gone on to sit down in her cage, poking at her new and much sharper tooth.
"I don't care if you're hungry; I'm not giving you anything," said Skales.
Tears began forming in Nalia's eyes. "Oh, boy." Lloyd whispered.
"But I haven't eaten anything this day, and my stomach is killing me." Tears were now running down her face as she let out a soft cry.
"Okay, okay, I'll get you something. But only if it will make you stop crying. We are trying to get some sleep here." said Skales as he turned around and left.
"Well, that worked b-tt-r than I t-o-ght." A small smile grew on Nalia's face before going back to biting the bars of her cage.
Lloyd's eyes widened. "Did you just fake crying?" He asked.
Nalia looked over at Lloyd and shrugged. "I wasn't lying about being hungry."
"Now, I'm questioning the other times you've been crying. If they have been real or fake," said Lloyd.
"Oh, those times were real. I just faked it this time so I could get some food." Nalia kept biting the bars until Skales returned with food for both of them to eat before leaving.
"But didn't you say that you didn't like lies?" Lloyd asked before eating his food.
Nalia gave a slight nod, eating her food. "I don't..... but my brother told me that, as long as I'm being honest, I'm not tricking people to get what I want."
Lloyd had a skeptical look on his face. "I'm not sure that's what he meant."
Nalia looked at him confused before then getting teary eyes. "Are you telling me that I just tricked poor Skales? I didn't mean to trick him like that. I was just hungry."
"Oh, boy," said Lloyd, knowing he had just messed up, and now Nalia was feeling all bad about fake crying. "No, no, you were just being honest about being hungry. A-and sometimes, when hungry, your thoughts aren't always in the right state of mind, " he said, trying to stop her from crying.
"You think so?" Nalia looked at him, still a little upset.
"Yeah, so don't worry about it. Now, how about we finish eating and then try to get some sleep," said Lloyd.
"Okay." Nalia nodded and went back to eating the rest of her food.
*The next morning.*
Nalia slowly woke up with a yawn before noticing Lloyd was awake but looked worried.
"Oh, morning, Lia," said Lloyd, smiling.
"Why are you looking all worried." Nalia raised a brow, looking at him.
"Pythor is gonna use us as a trap to capture the ninjas and have them fight something in the arena," Lloyd explained.
"Oh, no, that's not good." Nalia got up and began chewing on the bars of her cage. She had been able to bite one of the bars off, but she still needed to bite one more until she could get out.
"By the First Spinjitzu Master, has your teeth become sharper or what, since they weren't like that last night," said Lloyd, since she seemed to have an easier time than last night.
"I got some new teeth through the night." Nalia kept on chewing until they began hearing voices.
"It appears Pythor has successfully united all of the tribes," said Zane.
"I know we ruined their last get-together, but that's no reason not to get an invitation. My feelings are hurt," said Cole.
"There's Lloyd and Nalia." said Kai, as he see Lloyd and Nalia trapped in each their own cage.
"Whoa. And look at who they worship." said Jay.
"Let me guess: the Great Devourer." said Cole.
"All the more reason to get Lloyd and Nalia out of here. This comes to an end today." They run into a trap, dropping their Golden Weapons.
Lloyd gasps. "The ninjas."
"Oh, no!" Nalia's eyes widened in worry. "I need to get both of us out of here." She went back to chewing the bars of her cage.
"Looks like we've caught the main event." Pythor laughs. The ninjas are brought into the arena.
"Main event? What do you think he meant by "main event?" Jay questioned.
"I have a feeling we're the main event," said Kai.
"Or the main course." said Cole.
"Kai, you may be right. Things really may come to an end today," said Zane.
"Uh, don't worry. The Samurai could still come around to save us." said Jay.
"You say you wanted a battle, and I give you one. I give you ninja versus Samurai!" shouted Pythor.
*The Samurai is brought out in chains.*
"What? We have to fight the Samurai? But we don't even have our golden weapons, and he has that hulking thing of armor. It's not fair," said Jay.
"I want to see once and for all who is the greatest hero. Is it Samurai, or ninja? Only the victor will be allowed to leave." said Pythor.
"Stay together." said Kai.
"Perhaps he can join our team to fight our way out? After all, he hates the Serpentine too." said Zane, but the Samurai attacks.
"Scratch that. He is not on our team," said Cole.
"Haha, missed me!" Jay gets hit.
"Tornado of Creation?" Zane suggested.
"Earth!"
"Fire!"
"Ice!"
"Lightning!"
"Ninja, go!"
Bytar losing his lollipop. "Hey, wait!"
*The ninjas make a slingshot and fire, only for the Samurai to block it. Pythor activates spikes.*
"Argh! Why can't anyone play fair?!" Jay complained as Pythor tilted the arena.
"Can this get any worse?" Cole asked.
Nalia growled and tried chewing faster. "This is taking too long." She looked over at the lock on the door to her cage. "I wonder..."
"Lia, what are you doing? Why did you stop chewing?" Lloyd asked.
Taking a deep breath, she took off her glasses. "Sorry, old man, but I'm gonna have to use these guys for something else." She broke the side sticks of the glasses and began using them in the lock of her cage.
"How are you gonna be able to see without your glasses!?" Lloyd worried since he thought she couldn't see without glasses on.
".....I don't have a b-d eye sight, Lloyd," said Nalia, trying to unlock her cage. "Morro made it seem easy, even though I never liked him stealing stuff."
"What?" said Lloyd, confused. "Then why are you wearing glasses if you can see without them?"
Nalia didn't answer him, as she was focused on getting the door unlocked. After a bit, there was the sound of a click, and then the lock fell off the door. "Yes!" She jumped out of the cage and ran over to Lloyd.
"No, Lia, help the ninjas," said Lloyd.
Nalia looked up at Lloyd, her golden eyes glowing as she saw the elemental aura coming from him. But it wasn't hurting her eyes as much as all the other times when looking at the others. "B-but, the promise."
Lloyd was surprised to see her golden eyes, clear without the glasses, before giving her a sad smile. "Sorry, I didn't mean to break it. But I'm sure you and the ninjas will return and save me."
Nalia let out a low growl, trying to hold back tears. She turns around, running over and into the arena.
"What! How did the mute girl get out!?" shouted Pythor, looking over at the cage, seeing the door open and a chewed-out cage bar.
"Nalia!"
"Watch out!"
"Where are your glasses!"
Nalia didn't answer, as she quickly joined the ninjas on the Samurai mech, and they tried to fly away.
"There's too much weight!" Samurai X jumps out, and the mech blasts off.
"I can't believe he just saved us." said Cole.
"He stole our thunder again!" said Kai.
"ARGH!! I HATE THAT SAMURAI!!!!" yelled Jay.
"Go, ninja, go!" Lloyd cheered.
Nalia looked back down at Lloyd. "I'm getting him back; I'm tired of losing those I care about." She let out a low growl in anger as smoke was coming out of her mouth.
"Get him!" shouted Pythor.
"Magnetizer activated." The Samurai steals the Golden Weapons and leaves.
"How do you turn this thing off?!" shouted Kai, only for the mech to swan dive and crash in the desert.
"Where's Kai?" Jay asked.
"Nalia, are you okay?" Cole asked, walking over to her.
With her golden eyes, Nalia sent Cole a cold glare, shocking him as none of them had seen her this angry, not even when Lloyd tricked her with the fake torn-up scarf.
"Nalia, we know you are upset, but we promise we will get Lloyd back," said Zane.
Nalia sent another cold glare, now towards Zane. "Promise! Promise! PROMISE! Everyone who says that always ends up breaking it! And I fucking lose them!" The sand around them slowly turned into a sandstorm because of the rage coming from Nalia.
"Nalia! Please calm down!" said Jay, who was starting to panic because of the sandstorm she was making.
"Getting angry about all of this! Isn't going to help us save Lloyd!" said Cole, pulling her into a hug. "We will get him back, but you've got to calm down before you end up hurting us or yourself."
That seemed to have snapped Nalia out of her rage as the sandstorm slowly faded. Tears were running down her face as she began crying into Cole's chest.
"Kai?" said Jay.
"Kai?" said Zane as the Mech stands up.
"Quick. Get it. It's going to get away!" said Jay just as the Mech flies away. "Great. We lost Kai, the Samurai suit is gone, and we cannot get home."
"I wouldn't say that." said Cole as Kai returns and shows them the Weapons.
*They return to the Bounty*
"He was mysterious. He never said a word. Then he handed me the Golden Weapons, and poof, he was gone," said Kai.
"Poof? He just poofed?" Cole questioned.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Wait a minute, Kai. If the Samurai had his hands on the most powerful weapons in the whole wide world, why would he just give them back to you?" Jay asked.
"Um, I don't know. Maybe she—I mean, he's not so bad after all. All I do know is that we owe him our lives. Maybe he has made us all a little better." said Kai.
"I sense this means the bet is off." said Zane.
"More importantly, my nephew has found his way into the den of all snakes. I fear there may be no way of rescuing him now," said Wu as he looked over at Nalia, who hadn't said a thing since they returned.
"Sensei, there's always a way." said Kai.
"And don't worry. We'll find it." said Cole.
Wu leaves and goes to Nya. "I think you forgot this." He gives her a Samurai weapon. "Iron sharpens iron, and sibling sharpens sibling."
Nya smiles before entering her room.
Nalia had gone outside on the ship's upper deck, looking up at the night sky. Taking a deep breath.
(check the playlist chapter for the name of the song.)
(link to song)
"Hues that you carry inside, they reside in the depths of your heart.
Flickering red and blue lines intertwine, drifting in from afar. I'll sing a song to you, ringing so strong through the fiercest of winds. My voice will carry the words that I held here, resounding within.
As the time is fast asleep. With the wind as soft as skin. Cradled by a sky of stars. We remain just a mirage.
Never would the answer be the tears that fall as I cry out. So why am I crying now?
All I really want is just to find you more than ever. So maybe then it's a shout that this won't be enough. No, it'll never be enough.
Finally, I found the heart that trembles in this chest when. I hold your hand in mine. How many more meanings must we cross till reaching the end? We'll find it all out in time.
So stupid, it could be. Or maybe nothing as it seems.Beyond the black and white, oh, I just want to know. So hand in hand with you, I'll go.
What I cherished most of all, memories I can't recall. I can't put it into words, this feeling inside my chest.
So it seems, maybe then. So it seems, maybe then. This is all that I'll ever know, inside of this heart that's lost its hope. Yet, it seems, maybe then. Yet, it seems, maybe then.
In this heart that yearns once more, it's pounding out loud as if to say."Please hear me today!"
Never would the answer be the tears that fall as I cry out. So why am I crying now?
All I really want is just to find you more than ever. So maybe then it's a shout that this won't be enough. No, it'll never be enough.
Finally, I found the heart that trembles in this chest when. I hold your hand in mine.
How many more meanings must we cross till reaching the end? We'll find it all out in time.
So stupid, it could be. Or maybe nothing as it seems.
Beyond the black and white, oh, I just want to know. So through this life with you, I'll go.~"
Nalia sang in a soft voice, as tears were running down her face.