The next day there was a grand feast to celebrate the nine of us that remain in the battle. It's sort of crazy to think that twelve have already been eliminated, but I'm also sort of thankful that I wasn't one of those twelve.
Kabukis walk around, carrying plates of the most unusual dishes for us to try. Meanwhile, we all converse quietly amongst ourselves, attempting to form an alliance.
"Try the Horned Wasp eggs," says Chen enthusiastically. "Delicious!"
"I'll pass," Lloyd says, scrunching up his nose.
"Oh, lighten up, Green Ninja," Chen says with a scoff. "This isn't a trick. This is a feast to celebrate the nine of you making it to the second round." The Kabukis giggle girlishly, clapping their hands for Chen. "And I must congratulate the Master of Shadow's defeat over the Master of Poison. She was a bit hard to swallow, am I right?" The Kabuki's laugh again, but Chen isn't satisfied. "Laugh harder!" The Kabukis' voices raises in pitch as they clap more ferociously and Chen lets out a sadistic little chuckle.
"You can relax, Lloyd," says Kai. "Even if there was a fight, now that we told the others about Chen's dirty plot to steal our Powers, we're safe in our secret alliance."
"I tried to enlist Shadow," Griffin whispers across the table, "but that dude's throwing some serious shade."
"Well, if you plan to stop Chen, you'll need everyone on board," says Dad. "Each fighter that loses gives him strength. Soon he'll be too powerful for even all of you combined to overcome."
A little while later, the Kabukis come out with fortune cookies and Chen starts to giggle with glee. "Fortune cookies! Bring them to me!" he exclaims. Clouse whispers something to him and he puts the one he had just picked up back on the tray and stands to address us all.
"It has come to my attention that there are rumors floating about that I am stealing everyone's power," Chen says brightly. "I am!"
An eruption of shocked whispers rushes through the table. I narrow my eyes. He wouldn't admit something like that; he's up to something.
"But it's all for this staff." He claps his hands and the Kabukis start to wave their fans infront of his face. "No, no, not you staff. I mean my real staff." A door behind us opens to reveal Chens snake staff with the giant blue gem. The Kabukis quickly retrieve it for him.
"The Staff of Elements," he continues. "It holds the power of your fallen foes, and soon it'll hold all but one. For the last standing in my tournament will win this prize and be the greatest fighter ever in the history of Ninjago."
Once again, hushed whispers run through the table, except this time they're excited. It makes my blood boil.
"You lie!" I yell, standing up and pounding my fist on the table. "What about the spell?"
"Spell?" Clouse inquire connivingly. "What spell?"
"Don't believe him!" I growl, "it's another trick. Neuro read Clouse's mind and saw it. Tell them what you saw, Neuro."
Clouse narrows his eyes and we all turn to Neuro, who glances around doubtfully. "I-I don't remember. Truthfully, I'm a bit more interested in knowing more about that staff."
"And why should we be so quick to believe everything you say," Griffin says accusingly. "How do we know you're not lying to get the staff for yourself?"
I narrow my eyes and everything around me turns to a nasty shade of purple, almost like a purple lens was put over my face. I start to slowly stalk towards Griffin, fingers and arms tingling as dark tendrils of energy snake around them.
"You think I want that dammed staff?" I ask, voice low and gravelly. "I know better than to trust something with that much power because all it will bring is darkness and hatred. So I will say this once and only once: I don't want it."
Two pairs of hands grab onto my shoulders, but I easily shove them away.
"Don't fuck with me!"
"Tasha May Garmadon!"
The world returns to its normal color and the wild tendrils of energy disappear. I turn to face my father, who is now on his feet; Kai and Lloyd are on the ground a few feet behind me, rubbing their backs and arms as they get back to their feet. I glare one last time at Griffin and head back to my seat.
"So much for the alliance," Dad says, glaring at me.
"They believe him over us?" Lloyd asks angrily.
"If we're gonna convince anyone" -- Jay pauses to shove away a Kabuki who was fanning him in the face-- "we need proof. We need to find that spell. Would you cut it out!"
"Jay, it's me," the Kabuki says.
"Nya!" we all whisper shout.
"Lower your voices," she hisses. "I'm undercover. And to be completely honest, a bit out of my element. And I heard about what happened to Cole. That was big of you both."
"Love is like war, Nya. Everybody gets hurt," Jay says nobly.
"Is it just you, sis?" Kai asks.
"Dareth's also on the island."
"What up Ninja," says Dareth through the communicator on Nya's wrist.
"And in contact with Wu via a mobile base."
"If you're undercover," says Kai, "that means you can get close to Clouse's spell book. All we know is that it's on page 149. I think he might have it in his quarters."
"I'll look into it," Nya says. "And sounds like you have your work cut out for you too."
"How so?"
"How do you think they found out about your little alliance?" Nya asks. "Someone in your circle of trust is a spy."
Of-fucking-course.
"A spy?" the boys echo stupidly.
Nya bows, waves her hand and backs away. Skylar, however, is quick to replace her.
"Do you know that servant girl?"
"Uh--know that girl?" Kai replies quickly. "Of course not. Why? Jealous?"
I grit my teeth and do my best not to punch either of them.
"My fortune tells me Cole and your friend Zane will be breaking out," Skylar replies, handing over a red slip of paper. "You're lucky this didn't end up in the wrong hands.
"He found Zane, I cant believe it," Kai says breathlessly. "Thanks, Skylar. It's good to know there are some people here we can trust."
She smiles at him before walking away and I cant help but roll my eyes. There's something fishy about that bitch.
"A spy," Jay says, changing the subject. "Who do you think it is."
"I have my suspicions," Lloyd says, glaring over at the Master of Shadow.
I have my suspicions, too, but it is not the Master of Shadow.
~
"Like I said, I ain't joining your little alliance," said Shade lowly. "I'm gunning for that staff."
I roll my eyes and cross my arms over my chest in exasperation. It was late into the evening now and everyone was gathered in Kai's room in order to determine our little mole. We've been arguing with Shade, Master of Shadow, for ten minutes now and have gotten nowhere. Personally, I don't think its him and don't see why we're wasting time.
"Hey, this isn't about an alliance," Lloyd says angrily. "This is about finding out who is the spy. No on leaves this room until we find out who is passing information to Chen."
"Why are you looking at me, Greenie," Shade says, narrowing his eyes. "I'm not your spy."
"Maybe I can help," Neuro says. He presses his hands to his head and closes his eyes tight. When he opens them again, he frowns. "I don't know who, but someone here isn't who they say they are."
"How do we know we can trust you?" says Skylar aggressively. "Maybe I should use your power and see inside your head."
Bitch.
Neuro glares at her. "I'd like to see you try, power hoarder."
Kai jumps in between them, stopping them from attacking each other. "This is what Chen wants, for us to fight. But we don't have to. There has to be a more civilized way around this."
"There is," says Dad. "Everyone who's ever worked for Chen has the Anacondrai tattoo on their back. Find the tattoo, find the spy."
I grin; the bitch is going down. "Anyone object?"
Neuro steps forward and pulls down the right side of his shirt, revealing his shoulder and back. There is no tattoo.
"Can I go now," he asks, annoyed.
"Not until we check everyone," Lloyd argues. "Who's next?"
"Let's get it on!" Griffin says enthusiastically. He pulls down his shirt to show Lloyd his back; he too is clear. A line forms behind him and everyone pulls down their shirts to show Lloyd. As expected, Kai, Jay, and I are clear. Paleman pulls back his shirt, but he's invisible so we cant exactly see whether he has it or not. We clear him anyway. Eventually, only Skylar and Shade are left to be cleared and my heart beats faster with anticipation.
"Well, only two left," says Lloyd, glaring suspiciously at Shade.
"I hate to do this," says Kai as he approaches Skylar, "but it's your turn. Can I see your back please?"
"How could you not trust me? I came to you with the fortune cookie, and we've--"
"I know, I'm sorry, but we have to know," Kai says quickly, cutting her off.
My blood boils with anger. The mother fucking asshole.
"Wait, where'd Shadow go!" Lloyd exclaims.
It's not him, who cares?
"He disappeared through his own shadow," Jay shouts.
"There he is, get him!" Griffin shouts as Shade reappears in a dark corner.
"I ain't your spy, and I ain't your friend either," Shade growls. "That staff will be mine!"
Lloyd lets out a yell of anger and throws a ball of energy, but Shade disappears again and the energy hits the wall, knocking off a painting, which lands on Jay.
"My leg!" he cries. "Get Kai off of me!"
Shade reappears infront of Dad and he lunges for him, but Shade disappears again and reappears behind him.
"You cast a long shadow, old man," he says, running through the doors.
"It was Shadow," says Neuro. "He must be the spy!"
Jay whimpers and cries as Lloyd and Griffin pull the painting off him. Everyone starts to leave.
"Skylar, look, I'm sorry," Kai says, grabbing her arm.
"Don't," she growls back. "And if you still think I'm the spy, watch me walk out that door."
She turns on her heel and struts towards the door, pulling down her shirt to reveal a clean back. I narrow my eyes. The little bitch used Chamille's power to hide her tattoo -- I just know it!
"What happened to our alliance?" Jay asks weakly.
Lloyd shakes his head. "What alliance."
"Who gives a shit about the alliance," I say bitterly. "I know who the damn spy is."
Kai turns towards me, eyebrows raised. "Who?"
"Skylar."
Kai narrows his eyes at me. "She was cleared."
"Yeah, well she was also refusing to show you her back."
"That's because I already knew--"
"And how would you know that?" I yell venomously.
"Maybe it would be best if we all went to bed," Dad says soothingly, stepping cautiously towards me.
"You know what," I say loudly. "You're right. Everybody, off to bed."
I snap my fingers and suddenly a purple aura floats around Lloyd, Jay, and my father. I flick my fingers towards the door and the three of them march out of the room. As soon as they're gone, I turn back towards Kai, glaring. Kai stares back, confused, scared, and most of all, angry.
~
Sassy Tasha ✅
Badass Tasha ✅
Salty Tasha ✅
Bitchy Tasha ✅
All around, super fun chapter to write and hopefully to read! But there was also a very big cliff hanger. 😈 Get your tissues ready because this won't end well. Until then, Wacky AWAY!
Word Count: 2007