I'm hiding like a coward. I haven't even had the courage to call my father yet. I know he'll just be disappointed in me. I know what he'll tell me I have to do, and I know that I won't be able to do it. The Demons were right; I am weak. I am selfish, and this has gone too far. How did I get here?
"I wish I could go back," I whisper. "I wish I could wish it all away." A tear slides down my cheek. "I wish this could all just stop." Another follows. "I wish the voices would disappear. I wish I wasn't so selfish. I wish . . . I wish . . ."
I roll away from the pillow and throw it to the ground, standing up abruptly. "YOU HEAR THAT, NADAKHAN? I WISH THIS COULD ALL JUST FUCKING STOP!"
My door bursts open and a person clad in blue comes tumbling in. "DON'T USE THAT WORD!"
"Jay?"
He stares at me, panting like he'd just ran a hundred miles with a boulder on his shoulders. When I glance down at the Vengestone ball chained to his leg, I understand why.
"Tasha." He breathes a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness you're still here. Nadakhan has taken both Kai and Zane."
"I know," I say, bowing my head solemnly. "He's also got my mom and Wu."
"Ugh! Of course he does. Do you have any idea how to stop him?"
I nod. "I wished for the power to destroy him once and for all--" Jay's face lights up-- "but if I did that, we'd never get to see our friends again, so we gotta figure out how to save them first."
His face is eerily serious. I don't think I've ever seen him this attentive before. "Any ideas yet?"
"No. That's the only problem." I heave a sigh, running a hand through my hair, messing up the perfect middle part. "I have no idea what to do. I've been trying so hard to figure something out, but--" I stop myself before I say too much.
Jay's eyebrows furrow. "But what?"
Cole's words from about a year ago echo in my head. "He's more observant than you think."
I should trust him. I want to trust him; He's my teammate after all. So why don't I just say something?
"But . . . I'm sure that with the two of us, we'll put something together eventually."
A frown pulls his lips down. I can see it in his eyes that he want's to question me further. To figure out what has me so hesitant so he can fix it and we can end this. He just want's to help. Why won't I let him help?
"Yeah," he finally says. "Yeah, you're probably right."
My heart sinks in my chest. Why can't he just pry a little more? "Right. But, um, right now, I should try to keep my cover. Th-That means you cant be in here for long."
"Right. Um. When should we meet again?"
"Tonight. Around dinnertime, come to my room."
Jay eyes me warily. "Won't the pirates get suspicious if we don't show up for the meal?"
I shake my head. "No. I never join them for meals, and the bottom of the ranks always gets last pick, so you wouldn't eat till later anyway."
"Okay, sounds good." He takes a tentative step towards the door. He still wants to ask. Instead he says, "See you tonight."
"See you tonight."
And with that, Jay disappears, and I am left alone with the voices once more.
~
I'm pacing back and forth across my room. Jay hasn't shown up for our meeting yet and it's way past the dinner rush. I don't wanna leave my room to search for him; That would raise suspicion. Plus I hate the way the crew stares at me.
An hour passes. Then two. The voices are taunting me the whole time.
He's abandoned you.
No, he would never.
He's realized what you really are.
No he hasn't.
He see's that you're a monster.
He has not. I am not.
He knows you're a villain.
I am good.
Then why isn't he here?
They're making me angry. So angry that I want to destroy things. I want to hurt people. I want to use my powers. I can feel it bubbling up inside me, making my fingertips tingle. I need some form of release.
Out of the corner of my eye I spot my bow. I want to take it, and I want to use it. But is this really me, or is this the demons' influence?
I need the escape.
The carbon fiber weapon is light in my hands. I nock an arrow and take aim. The patterns in the wood kinda look like faces. The arrow imbeds itself in one. Then another. And another. Then there's a knock at the door.
I whip around as it opens. Jay stands there, hands raised in surrender as my next arrow points at his throat.
"Woah, Tash. It's just me."
Shoot, the demons purr.
I'm shocked by the sudden desire to actually do it.
I lower my bow and drop it to the ground, letting the arrow skid away in the opposite direction. My hands start to shake. What the fuck did I just do.
"Tasha, are you okay?"
I stare at my fingers. They twitch uncontrollably. But is it from fear or from literal pent up energy?
"I . . . I almost killed you."
Jay takes my hands, and I look up into his eyes. They're actually a very nice shade of brown. I can see why Nya so often gazes into them.
"What's going on?" he asks, and when his voice cracks, betraying his fear, I break down.
~
Jay's avoiding me. Or maybe I'm avoiding him? We haven't spoken since I cried in his arms two nights ago. I didn't answer any of his questions, nor did I find the truth to any of mine. I just cried and now he won't talk to me. Sure, I haven't left my room since then, but he also didn't seek me out, so that must mean I scared him, right? You avoid those you're afraid of. Civilians used to do it, the pirates have been doing it, and now Jay's doing it.
You're loosing them all.
I can't deny that as the truth. Maybe these demons really are right. Maybe I'm actually meant to be . . .
A buzz on the loudspeaker overhead jolts me from my thoughts.
"All hands, keep an eye out for anything suspicious. The prisoner has escaped," Flintlocke booms.
Jay has escaped? Well, that explains why he hasn't come to me; he's been busy plotting his fight for freedom.
There's a banging at my door followed by Dogshank's aggressive growl, "Get out here and help or you'll be the next one in cuffs."
I let out a heavy sigh. I don't have the energy for this. Would it really be so bad if I was bound to a ball and chain? At least that way I wouldn't be able to hurt anyone, no matter how much I may want to.
No, the voices growl.
"Alright, fine," I grumble aloud. My bow gets thrown over my shoulder, my knives get shoved into my boots, and the sword I found in the closet now hangs at my hip. Adequately prepared, I open the door and begin my search.
~
I don't know how, but I ended up on the roof of one of the tallest buildings in Ninjago City--well, now the tallest building in Jinjago. From up here, I can see practically everything: the temple that once belonged to master Yang, a random clump of trees from a pine forest, Jay and Cole jumping onto a ship full of pirates . . .
Wait a second. Jay and Cole just jumped on a ship full of pirates! And if Cole's here, then Lloyd and Nya must also be here.
I don't hesitate. I leap off the building.
The air caresses my skin, sending goose pimples across my body as I plummet toward the Earth. My fingers tingle as my power begs to be used. I let it loose. Energy explodes from my hands, shooting me forward towards the pirate ship, almost as if I was shot from a canon. When I start to get close, I throw my arms out to the side, palms splayed, causing the kinetic energy created by my burst to decrease rapidly, slowing my body down enough for me to land gracefully on the poop deck.
"How wonderful of you to join us, Ms Garmadon," says Flintlocke in a mocking voice.
I narrow my eyes at him. "Where are my friends?"
"Your friends are standing right in front of you. You're part of our crew. Not theirs."
I can't help but scoff. "If you really think that, you're more stupid than I thought. Let my friends go."
"You don't give orders here."
"Let. Them. Go. Or else."
"Or else what? Huh?" The sneer in his voice makes my blood boil. Who the hell does he think he is?
I raise my hand to show the dark violet sparks of energy that crackle between my fingers.
"Take them out of the whole. Prepare the plank," Nadakhan's voice carries from his quarters.
"You wouldn't dare!" Nya's shout comes from the same room. My power falters, and Flintlocke chuckles.
"You heard the cap'n. Bring forth the prisoners."
Dogshank and Doubloon lead out Lloyd, Cole, and Jay, who are all in Vengestone chains, and at the same time, Nya and Nadakhan come onto the deck. I'm frozen in place. The voices are shouting in my ears and I can't think straight.
"You hurt them and you can forget about any deal," Nya shouts defiantly.
"Then agree to marry me right now and it'll all be over."
"Nya! Don't do it! It'll make him all powerful, and--"
"The black one goes first," Nadakhan snaps, glaring at Cole.
My mind is reeling. Marriage? All powerful? I've been here this whole time and I didn't know this. What the hell have I been doing?
Doubloon pushes Cole onto the plank and suddenly everything comes back into focus.
"Get your hands off him," I snarl, stepping forward as balls of energy form in the palms of my hands.
"Stand down, Tasha Garmadon," Nadakhan says in that condescending voice he always uses. "You've lost."
"No, I--"
You won't do it.
I let the energy fade away, cut off by the stupid voices in my head.
"Restrain her."
Clancee hurries to follow orders, and suddenly I'm trapped to a Vengestone ball and chain.
"I won't ask you again, Nya," Nadakhan says, turning towards her. "Give me your hand, and they live. I remind you, below us is nothing but ocean. And just what does water do?"
My eyes widen and so do Cole's. Why didn't I stop this when I could?
"Nya, you can't," says Lloyd, desperation heavy in his voice.
Flintlocke leans towards Nadakhan and says something I can't quite hear, and Nadakhan's response shocks everyone.
"Quiet, you hairy-lipped fool. Or should there be one more walking that plank?" When the response is silence, he whips towards Cole standing on the edge of the boat, and with nothing but malice in his voice, gives the command. "Push him over."
"Wait!" Cole yells, and everybody stops. "Don't I get any last words?"
Nadakhan rolls his eyes. "Humor me."
"I wish . . ."
"Cole! Don't do it!" Jay shouts.
Nadakhan waves his hand to silence him, suddenly intrigued. "You wish?"
"I wish Vengestone didn't stop our powers, but made them stronger."
The ball and chain at our wrists glow for a moment, then stop. Power surges through me. Stronger than ever before. I feel rejuvenated, which is honestly refreshing after the week I've had. The demons are pleased.
Cole guffaws. "I can't believe it worked!"
"If he's within earshot, he has to grant the wish," Lloyd explains.
"Get them!" Nadakhan screeches.
Cole breaks away from Doubloon and Nya from Nadakhan, and the five of us regroup. We all stand back to back, using our powers to fend off the approaching pirates, though most of them tend to avoid me.
"I wish someone told me we were gonna use wishes!" Nya exclaims.
"Your wish is yours to keep," Nadakhan says almost desperately.
"Careful not to waste wishes," says Lloyd. "That's two down with eleven left."
"Eight," I correct. "I used mine."
"Remember the rules," says Cole. "You can't wish for love, death, or more wishes."
"Cole's wish made our power's too strong," Jay exclaims, as a lightning bolt jumps from his hands towards his face instead of his opponent. "I can't control it."
He's right. My balls of energy are growing larger and larger without me even meaning to. I have to focus extra hard to maintain accuracy and it's giving me a headache.
"No. I knew this was a bad idea, but nobody listens to me!" Jay yells, voice rising an octave with each word.
"We have to break off the ball and chains," shouts Lloyd. He attempts his own, but he can't seem to get control over his energy bursts and they're not hitting their target. "Tasha!"
I close my eyes and take a shallow breath, imagining that the size of each burst is equivalent to the size of that breath. It works and I am able to break the chains without taking our hands off.
"I ain't afraid to shoot you where you stand," Flintlocke says, pointing his pistol straight at Lloyd's face.
"I wish you were a lousy shot!"
He scoffs. "I never miss." Then he fires, and the bullet completely misses. "I said I never miss!"
Nadakhan just shrugs. Panicked, Flintlocke starts to rapidly fire his gun, and he ends up shooting a hole in the ship's balloon.
"Stop firing, or else you're going to put a hole in all of us!" Nadakhan snaps.
"And would everyone stop wishing!?" Jay screams. "Nothing good is going to come of this."
Nadakhan raises the Sword of Souls and strikes the ground. It turns to ice. Zane's power. Now every movement causes us to slip
"That's not fair," Cole shouts, dodging a pirates sword before punching him. "He's fighting with our friends' powers. I got it! I wish he didn't have that sword."
Sparkles appear around the blade, and it lifts out of Nadakhan's hands, into the air. Flintlocke jumps and catches it before handing it back to the Jinn.
"Well, you got what you wished for, boulder brain," snaps Jay. "Words matter. We can't just fire of wishes from the hip like this."
"That's six left," says Lloyd considerately. "We have to be wiser what we wish for."
"No, not wiser! Quieter! No. More. Wishes!"
"How about this: I wish I was wise like Wu."
Sparkles glitter around Lloyd. He brings his hands together and bows his head, just like Uncle Wu does every so often when he's deep in thought. Then he slides skillfully across the ice to take out three unbalanced pirates.
"Yeah, maybe we're overthinking this," says Cole, sliding beneath a pirate before jumping back up and kicking him in the back. "Why hasn't anyone just said, 'I wish us all out of here?'"
"Oh, you fool!" Nadakhan yells.
The ship starts to tilt and everybody slides with it. Pirates fly overboard. A few lucky ones manage to grab onto bolted down clutter. I grab onto Lloyd, who's holding onto the cage door that leads to the cellar.
"We really need to start listening to me!" Jay screams. Then he gasps.
"I really wish you hadn't said that Cole," Nya cries.
"I heard that!" Nadakhan yells, relieved. "It's yours to keep."
The ship stops turning, but unfortunately it's already in a vertical position so we're all still dangling precariously.
"Hold on!" Lloyd shouts. Then he groans. "I'm not just getting wiser. I'm getting older."
"He wants you to wish it away," Jay shouts. "You can't!"
"Well, unless someone wishes something quick, we're all gonna fall," says Cole. "And don't look at me, I don't have any left."
Then he and Nya fall. Then I slip from Lloyd's grasp. Then Lloyd lets go. Now we're all falling.
"Then I wish those clouds would stop us!" Nya exclaims.
When we hit the clouds, it's like landing on a trampoline. We bounce a few times before we slow to a stop.
"Would you look at that," Jay says with a hysterical chuckle.
"Lloyd, what's happening to you?"
I glance over at my brother upon Nya's words, and almost gasp at how much he's aged. His hair has turned grey and wrinkles are forming on his forehead and around his eyes.
"Don't worry about me. Jay and I have one wish left, and I'm not gonna use it to save myself." Even his voice is growing weak.
"But you'll continue to get decrepit. And you already sound like an old person. Let me use my last wish to save you."
"Jay," says Lloyd, putting his hands on his shoulders, "the wise thing to do is to save it. I see beyond the now. You'll need it."
"For when?"
"For when it's said from the heart."
"Said from the heart? Hearts don't talk!"
Nadakhan has finally recovered from his bounce fest. "Think you can use your wishes to stop me?" he growls.
"I wish for a sword!" Lloyd screams. The silhouette of a sword flows in his fist until it solidifies in his hand. "No, Nadakhan. I know our wishes will stop you. Just not today." He takes the sword and stabs the cloud beneath Nya and Jay, causing them to fall.
"Nya! Jay!"
"Don't worry," says Lloyd, grabbing Cole's shoulder to keep him from going after them. "Those two will save us all."
Suddenly, I get it. So do the demons. They are not happy. They're livid. I almost attack Lloyd. This was a mistake.
"Why would you do that?" Cole exclaims, breaking me from my near-rage. "You wasted a wish."
"No, I saved the last one: Jay's wish." He turns towards the Jinn, a defiant gleam in his eye. "We've made our three wishes, Nadakhan. You can't control us."
"You're right. I can't make you wish it all away. But I can make him!" Everyone's attention turns to the snake. "You never made your wishes, Clancee. Wish these three away for me. Do it!"
"Oh, I don't know, c-cap--"
"Do it! Or I will cast you away!"
"Oh!" Clancee covers his eyes with his hands. "I w-w-w-wish . . ."
"Do. It. Now!"
"I-I wish them away!"
Lloyd, Cole, and I are surrounded with sparkles. The world is starting to spin. The demons are screaming like crazy. I reach for Lloyd's hand, and he takes it.
"W-what's happening?" asks Cole.
"What is supposed to happen."
Then everything goes black.
~
Bit of a long chapter for ya. And I actually got it done sort of by the time I said I would. Hope you enjoyed. Only one more for this season! Until next time, Wacky AWAY!
Word Count: 3191