The Kabuki served the fighters food.
"Try the horned wasp eggs" Chen suggests "Delicious!"
"Uh, I think I'll pass" Lloyd says suspiciously and a bit grossed out
"Oh, lighten up, Green Ninja. This isn't a trick. This is a feast to celebrate the eight of you making it to the second round" Chen says and the Kabuki laugh "And I must congratulate the Master of Shadow's defeat over Master of Poison. She was a bit hard to swallow, am I right?" The Kabuki laugh "Laugh harder! Hahahaha!" They forced a harder laugh.
Aria sat quietly beside Master Chen as they ate.
"I want to talk to Aria but Clouse and Chen are always around her." Lloyd grumbles "I need to tell her about his plan."
"Even if you did tell her, Aria is the princess of Ninjago, if she's not careful they'll all turn on her in a moment." Garamdon tells him "They're keeping her close to ensure she's not doing anything she's not supposed to. We already know their goal was to get her in this tournament, we just don't know why."
"At least now that we told the others about Chen's dirty plot to steal our Powers, we're safe in our secret alliance" Kai chimes in
Aria watches the ninja and the other elementals talk amongst themselves.
"Would you rather go talk with all of them your highness?" Clouse asks
"Of course not.." Aria replies "I'm a princess, being a competitor is already overstepping."
"Don't worry your highness, all good things will soon come to the end." Chen smiles "Once you win that is."
"Why would you think I would win?" Aria questions
"Just a hunch." Chen replies "Oo cookies"
A Kabuki retrieves the fortune cookies.
"Ahem, it has come to my attention that there are rumors floating about that I am stealing everyone's power. I am" Chen says and the Masters gasps "But it's all for this staff" He claps, and the Kabuki waves their hand fans "No, no. Not you, staff. I mean my real staff" Everyone gasps as the staff is brought to him "The Staff of Elements. 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 in Ninjago!"
Everyone whispers.
Lloyd stood up "you lied. What about the spell?"
"Spell? What spell?" Clouse asks
"Don't believe him, it's just another trick. Neuro read Clouse's mind and saw it. Tell them what you saw, Neuro" Lloyd says turning to Neuro
Chen and Clouse stare down Neuro.
Neuro looks at them nervously "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? How do we know you're not lying to get the staff for yourself?" Griffin questions
Aria watches as everyone starts settling down and going back to the feast. She then turns and stares at the staff.
"Interested in it?" Clouse asks
"I'm interested in why you lied to me." Aria turns to Chen "You said you were sending everyone home when they lost."
"I am." Chen says "After taking their element for the winner."
"That's wrong." Aria tells him and stands up "Give them back!"
The ninja turned their attention to the front along with the other elemental masters.
Chen laughs "Oh your highness are you feeling alright?"
"What?" Aria looks confused
"Clouse bring the princess to her room to rest." Chen instructs
"Yes master." Clouse bows before taking Aria's arm "Come along."
"What?! No" Aria pulls her arm back "I feel fine."
Clouse pulls her down from the front.
"Lloyd" Aria calls out to him
"Hey!" Lloyd runs over and pulls Aria into his arms "She said she was fine."
"Many who don't feel well say they're fine." Clouse replies "I'm only looking after the princess's best interest, as the royal advisor, who are you to defy the royal family and their staff."
"The Princess herself said she didn't want to go." Garmadon stands up "Who are you as her staff, to defy her?"
"Alright alright!" Chen gets their attention "Everyone calm down, if her highness wishes to stay that's fine. Come take your seat Princess."
Aria takes Lloyd's hand and holds onto his arm.
"You don't have to if you don't want to." Lloyd tells her then looks at Chen "She'll sit with us."
"..very well" Chen agrees looking a bit annoyed
Lloyd leads Aria over to Garmadon and the rest of the ninja.
"Are you alright?" Kai asks
"I only told Chen to give back the elemental's power and he tried to send me away." Aria tells them
"He wants to silence you, you must not let him." Garmadon puts his hand on her shoulder "You are the one with the power here, we'll make sure he doesn't try it again."
"Yeah, just stick with us, we'll keep you safe." Jay agrees
"Thank you." Aria smiles
-
The Elemental Masters and Aria are all in Kai's room.
"Like I said, I ain't joining your little alliance. I'm gunning for that staff." Shade says
"And you'll lose" Aria tells him "Chen's got it rigged."
"Do you think you're that powerful princess?" Shade questions mockingly "You were born with that tittle, not earned it."
Kai growls and balls his fist "How dare you-"
"Guys!" Lloyd shouts "this isn't about an alliance. This is about finding out who is the spy. No one leaves this room until we find out who is passing information to Chen"
"Why are you looking at me, Greenie?" Shade questions "I'm not your spy, try the princess, she's always sitting right next to him."
"Perhaps I can help" Neuro uses his mind "I don't know who, but their are two people here who aren't who they say they are"
"How do we know we can trust you?" Skylor asks "Maybe I should use your power and see inside your head"
"I'd like to see you try, power hoarder" Neuro says
"This is what Chen wants, for us to fight" Kai intervenes "But we don't have to. There has to be a more civilized way around this."
"There is. Everyone who's ever worked for Chen has the Anacondrai tattoo on their back. Find the tattoo, find the spy" Garmadon speaks up
"Anyone object?" Lloyd asks
"Sensei" Aria whispers to Garmadon "The Overlord's mark, it's on my back. They'll all see."
"Stay by me." Garmadon whispers back as Aria moves beside him
The Ninja checked everyone except Shade, Skylor, and Aria.
"Uh, I hate to do this, but it's your turn. Can I see your back, please?" Kai asks skylor
"How could you not trust me?" Skylor questions "I came to you with the fortune cookie-"
"Wait. Where'd Shadow go?" Lloyd looks around
"There he is. Get him!" Griffin shouted pointing at him near the door
"I ain't your spy, and I ain't your friend either. That staff will be mine" Shade says, Lloyd uses his Energy on him, but a portrait of Kai falls on Jay instead.
"Aah! My leg! Get Kai off of me!" Jay shouts
Garmadon tries to stop Shade.
"You cast a long shadow, old man." Shade escapes
"It was Shadow. He must be the spy" Neuro says
"Ow" Jay's freed from the picture, but suffered a broken leg "What happened to our alliance?"
Kai sighs "What alliance?"
Garmadon helps tend to Jay as Aria lets out a sigh of relief.
"Sorry about you having to see all of this." Lloyd walks over to her
"Believe me, I've seen worse, you should see the conference halls in session." Aria jokes
"Well now that we found the spy it won't be long before Chen changes his tactic, we have to be on guard." Lloyd explains "At least now with you by our side, Chen's run out of bargaining chips."
"Was that what I was?" Aria asks
"That's what I'm thinking at least." Lloyd replies "I know my behavior the other night was out of line and I'm sorry for yelling at you, I know you were only trying to help me. I was just worried about you."
"I know, don't worry." Aria smiles "I'm always on your side."