Yeah, I wasn't sure what song to use here, it was between two songs that could fit in well here. So I was struggling for a while figuring this out. XD
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*At the banquet, the Kabuki serve the fighters food.*
"Try the horned wasp eggs. Delicious!" said Chen as he was enjoying his food.
"Uh, I think I'll pass." said Lloyd, pushing the food away.
"Same here." said Nalia, not finding it very appetizing while wearing her sunglasses.
"Oh, lighten up, Green Ninja and Miss Starlight. This isn't a trick. This is a feast to celebrate the eight of you making it to the second round." said Chen, having the Kabuki laugh. "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 laugh. "Laugh harder! Hahahaha!" He shouted as the Kabuki forces a harder laugh.
Nalia slightly narrowed her eyes at him while eating some of her food. "Rude."
"Relax, Lloyd, Nalia. 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." said Kai trying to have the two not be so dense.
"I tried to enlist Shadow, but that dude's throwing some serious shade." said Griffin.
"Well, if you plan to stop Chen, you'll need everyone on board. Each fighter that loses gives him strength. Soon he'll be too powerful for even all of you combined to overcome." Garmadon explained while glancing over at Nalia.
While eating, they notice Clouse leaning over and whispering something to Chen, who then turned to look over at Nalia.
"Miss Starlight, may we request a song for this wonderful feast?" Chen asked politely.
"Huh?" Nalia raised an eyebrow before glancing at the others and then back at Chen and Clouse, thinking it over for a bit. "Sure, but I would need a mic."
"Oh, that isn't a problem." Chen had a Kabuki bring her a mic.
".... Well that was fast." Nalia got up from where she was sitting, rolling her shoulders before putting on the ear piece with the mic on it. "I'm sorry, but not sorry if I break anything. I like using my powers when I perform, it makes it more entertaining." She explained with a cheerful smile.
"No worries! You just focus on what you do best, Miss Starlight! It's not every day we get a live performance of a famous singer!" said Chen, all excited.
Nalia was about to walk into the middle of the room but was stopped by Garmadon placing a hand on her shoulder, gaining her attention.
"Be careful, Nalia, don't do anything that gains Chen and Clouse attention." Garmadon whispered.
"Don't worry, Sensei Garmadon, I'll be careful." said Nalia and walked to the middle of the room, thinking of what song she should sing.
Nalia knew she had to be careful, but thinking about their friends they had lost along with Chen stealing their powers, she could feel her anger returning, so she decided on a song that she could let out her emotions. Since she knew she couldn't hold them bottle up forever.
With a deep sigh, Nalia began tapping her foot and clapping her hands in the rhythm of the song she had in mind.
(The song she is singing/I edited the text a little)
(link to song)
"Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Enemy fire!
Who's a friend, who's an enemy?
Because sometimes it looks the same to me
But looks can be pleasing
Yet so deceiving
Sweet words from a serpents tongue
It's like playing with fire
Who knows what truth is
How do you prove it
I swear I see you watching me, well.~"
Nalia glared towards Clouse and Chen as she started singing before turning her attention back to the others.
She began using her sand powers to glide around the room as her voice was reaching out to everyone.
"Oh, oh, oh
Come a little closer
Oh, oh, oh
You can be my hero
Oh, oh, oh
Keeping me safe from all who conspire
Enemy fire!
Oh, oh, oh
I'm looking for some shelter
Oh, oh, oh
From the helter skelter
Oh, oh, oh
Just keep me away from all who conspire
Enemy fire!
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Enemy fire!
Enemy fire!
Burn a hole through the plastic crowd
Because I've been trying to find the way out
It's so confusing but never amusing
Sweet smiles in the aftermath
Turn and whispering behind my back
I need an ally to guard the nighttime
Someone to keep me from these crazies.~"
While singing, Nalia's eyes started glowing behind her sunglasses, along with a few tiny stars slowly floating around each elemental master, glowing to the flow of the song.
"Oh no, Nalia is letting her powers get out of control. We need to stop her before it gets worse." said Garmadon looking at the ninja.
"But how? If we try cutting in, it might just catch even more of their attention." Kai whispered.
"We gotta do something!" said Jay looking at the others.
Clouse narrowed his eyes as they were watching and leaned over to Chen and whispered something that went unnoticed, as everyone's attention was on Nalia.
"Oh, oh, oh
Come a little closer
Oh, oh, oh
You can be my hero
Oh, oh, oh
Keeping me safe from all who conspire
Enemy fire!
Oh, oh, oh
I'm looking for some shelter
Oh, oh, oh
From the helter skelter
Oh, oh, oh
Just keep me away from all who conspire
Enemy fire!
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Enemy fire!
Enemy fire!~"
Nalia began having the room slowly turn into a galaxy with stars falling around everyone, while she kept singing and letting out her bottle up emotions she had been keeping in up until now.
But as she was singing, she took notice of Lloyd using sign language to gain her attention, without anyone else catching on to it.
"Lia, you need to tone it down! Your powers are going out of control, Clouse and Chen will catch on to it if you keep going. Please!" Lloyd tried telling her through sign language.
Nalia glanced around the room and saw what he was trying to tell her. "Oh, mangos...."
With a much clearer mind, Nalia had the room change back to normal with the star disappearing into forms of sand.
"All around me I hear cries
And comets are falling from the skies
Can't you help me save my life?
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Enemy fire!
Oh, oh, oh
Come a little closer
Oh, oh, oh
You can be my hero
Oh, oh, oh
Keeping me safe from all who conspire
Enemy fire!
Oh, oh, oh
I'm looking for some shelter
Oh, oh, oh
From the helter skelter
Oh, oh, oh
Just keep me away from all who conspire
Enemy fire!~"
Nalia went on to dance with each elemental master she got close to, and would with some of them take on a small ride on her sand waves.
"Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Enemy fire!
Enemy fire!
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Enemy fire!
Enemy fire!~"
As Nalia finished her song, she landed back in the middle of the room and gave a small bow, with everyone clapping and cheering from such a performance.
"Oh what a show! I see why they are calling you Starlight, you really are a shining star with that voice of yours!" said Chen, clearly pleased.
"Thank you for your kind words." said Nalia, with a bright smile while giving back to mic before going back to her seat.
"I told you to be careful, Nalia, letting out your emotions like that is very dangerous and reckless." said Garmadon in a stern tone.
"Sorry, Sensei Garmadon." said Nalia, rubbing the back of her head. "I'll be more careful from now on."
Nalia let out a sigh before a bowl of cut up mangos was handed to her. "Thank you." She gave a soft smile to Lloyd, not surprised that it was him.
"We know how you feel with all of this, but please don't put yourself in danger." said Lloyd with concern.
"Sorry....." Nalia began eating some of the mango slices. "And thanks for warning me, by the way. Smart idea to use sign language to let me know."
Lloyd smiled with a slight blush on his face and rubbed the back of his neck. "I mean, it was the only logical idea that I thought would work without them catching on."
A Kabuki goes and retrieves the fortune cookies.
"Ooh, fortune cookies! Bring them to me!" said Chen excitedly.
"But they are for your captured—I mean, honored guests." said Clouse.
"I'm not gonna eat them, Clousey Clouse. Just read the fortunes. They're my favorite part." said Chen as he was breaking a few cookies apart to read some of the fortunes.
"Might I warn you our guests are fond of whispering, and I don't think it's about your food. I've heard word they have allied themselves. The ninja have told them about our secret ceremony." Clouse informed him.
"Do they know about the spell?" Chen asked.
"Not yet, but we must get ahead of this." said Clouse.
Chen puts the cookie back, which the Kabuki brings to the masters. "It has come to my attention that there are rumors floating about that I am stealing everyone's power. I am." The masters gasps at this. "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.
Nalia had to hold back a growl looking at him, as everything he was saying was getting on her nerves for some reason.
"You lied. What about the spell?" said Lloyd, slamming his fists on the table.
".... Lloyd." Nalia whispered, looking over at him.
"Spell? What spell?" Clouse asked.
"Don't believe him, it's just another trick. Neuro read Clouse's mind and saw it. Tell them what you saw, Neuro." said Lloyd, turning the attention over at Neuro.
Clouse turns to stare at Neuro, making him become nervous under the pressure of everyone's eyes on him. "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 asked, turning to the ninja.
Skylor reads Cole's message and gasps.
"... What just happened?" Nalia asked in disbelief.
"It worked. Their alliance is crumbling." said Clouse to Chen with a smirk.
"So much for the alliance." said Garmadon.
"They believe him over us?" Lloyd questioned, looking at the others, unable to believe this.
"That doesn't make sense at all." said Nalia, shaking her head.
A Kabuki starts fanning too close to Jay. "If we're gonna convince anyone, argh, we need proof. Ugh. We need too, oh, find that spell. Would you cut it out!?"
"Jay, it's me." Nya whispered.
"Nya?" Everyone said surprised.
"Lower your voices. I'm undercover. And to be completely honest, a bit out of my element. And I heard what happened to Cole. That was big of you both." Nya whispered while fanning her fan. "And it's nice seeing you too, Nalia, after being on that tour for months."
"Happy to see you too." said Nalia smiling at her.
"Love is like war, Nya. Everybody gets hurt." said Jay.
"What? So does that mean love is bad if it hurts people?" Nalia asked.
".... It's complicated." Jay and Lloyd whispered.
"How is it complicated?" Nalia asked.
Nya had to hold in a frustrated groan. "Do I need to have another talk with you about love?"
"No thanks, being told 50 times is more than enough." said Nalia, not wanting to go through all of that stuff again for hours.
"Is it just you, sis?" Kai asked.
"Dareth's also on the island." said Nya.
"What up, ninja? Little Starlight." said Dareth on a communication device.
"And in contact with Wu via mobile base." Nya added.
"If you're undercover, that means you can get close to Clouse's spellbook. All we know is that it's on page 149. I think he might have it in his quarters." Kai explained to her.
"I'll look into it. And it sounds like you have your work cut out for you too." said Nya.
"How so?" Jay and Nalia asked.
"How do you think they found out about your little alliance? Someone in your circle of trust is a spy." Nya explained.
"A spy?" The ninjas looked at each other and then at the rest as Nya leaves before Clouse could see her.
"Do you know that servant girl?" Skylor asked, turning to Kai.
"Uh—Know that girl? Uh, of course not. Why? Jealous?" Kai asked.
"My fortune tells me Cole and your friend Zane will be breaking out." Skylor hands him the message. "You're lucky this didn't end up in the wrong hands." She leaves.
*Later, The Elemental Masters are in Kai's suite.*
"Like I said, I ain't joining your little alliance. I'm gunning for that staff." said Shade.
"Hey, 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." Lloyd told everyone as he glanced over at Shade.
"Why are you looking at me, Greenie? I'm not your spy." said Shade.
"Perhaps I can help." Neuro uses his Mind on him. "I don't know who, but someone here isn't who they say they are."
"How do we know we can trust you? Maybe I should use your power and see inside your head." said Skylor glaring at Neuro.
"I'd like to see you try, power hoarder." said Neuro returning the glare.
"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." said Kai getting between them.
Nalia slowly raised a hand. "Umm, I have a question."
Everyone turning to look over at Nalia.
"What's a spy?" Nalia asked.
...
...
...
...
"How do you not know what a spy is?" Skylor asked.
"I guess we can count Miss Starlight out from being the spy." said Griffin.
"Either she is very stupid or a very good liar." said Shade, narrowing his eyes at her.
"I can confirm, she isn't the spy after just reading her mind. Which is completely blank with just questions." said Neuro.
".... I'm no liar." said Nalia glaring at Shade. "So you better take that back."
"Okay, enough. Everyone who's ever worked for Chen has the Anacondrai tattoo on their back. Find the tattoo, find the spy." said Garmadon.
"Anyone object?" Lloyd asked.
Neuro shows his back without the tattoo. "Can I go now?"
"Not until we check everyone. Who's next?" said Lloyd looking at the rest.
"Let's get it on." Griffin shows his back.
"So what is a spy?" Nalia whispered to Jay and Kai.
The two ninjas gave a sigh and began explaining to her what a spy was.
After a while the ninja check everyone except Shade and Skylor.
"Well, only two left." said Lloyd.
"Uh, I hate to do this, but it's your turn. Can I see your back, please?" said Kai walking over to Skylor.
"How could you not trust me? I came to you with the fortune cookie—" said Skylor feeling offended.
"I'm sorry, but we have to know." said Kai.
"Wait. Where'd Shadow go?" Lloyd asked, not seeing him anywhere.
"He disappeared through his own shadow." said Jay looking around.
"He's over there!" Nalia pointed over at Shade, her eyes glowing gold behind her sunglasses so she could see his elemental aura.
"Get him!" shouted Griffin.
"I ain't your spy, and I ain't your friend either. That staff will be mine." said Shade and starts running out of the room as Lloyd uses his energy on him, but a portrait of Kai falls on Jay instead.
"Aah! My leg! Ugh. Get Kai off of me!" shouted Jay as he was struggling to get the picture off of him.
Garmadon tries to stop Shade. "You cast a long shadow, old man."
"It was Shadow. He must be the spy." said Neuro.
"Ow! Oh." Jay struggles free from the picture, but suffered a broken leg.
Nalia quickly rushed over to help Jay up and wished she could heal his leg right now. But couldn't risk anyone knowing her voice could heal injuries.
"Skylor, look, I'm sorry." said Kai, trying to apologize.
"Don't. And if you still think I'm the spy, watch me walk out that door." Skylor shows him, her back without the Anacondrai tattoo as she left the room.
"What happened to our alliance?" Jay and Nalia asked.
"What alliance?" said Lloyd, looking at the others.
"Are you gonna be alright, Jay?" Nalia asked, worried for his broken leg.
"I'll survive... I think." said Jay with a slight smile.
"What are we gonna do now?" Kai asked.
"For now, we should get back to our own rooms and catch some sleep. Tomorrow we can work out a new plan on figuring out the spy and stop Chen." said Lloyd as he walked over to Jay and Nalia so he could have Jay lean on him instead. "I'll help you back to your room."
"I'm sorry I couldn't be much help." said Nalia, hating that she was still lacking some knowledge, even though she had been reading a lot of stuff that the old man had been giving her back in the cave.
"Hey, don't worry about it, Lia. We all did what we could." said Lloyd with a small smile. "We'll figure something out, I promise."
Garmadon gave a small nod. "Lloyd is right, you all did what you could with the info you had." He gently patted her head. "Now, I'll walk you back to your room. Can't be too careful after your performance."
A small smile grew on Nalia's face as she scratched her head. "I'll see you guys tomorrow then. Night guys."
Nalia and Garmadon left Kai's suite, while Lloyd and Jay did the same thing as the two groups split up.
After getting back to her suite, Nalia said goodnight to Garmadon and closed the door with a heavy sigh. "Maybe after all of this, I should check a library with how much I'm lacking in what should be common knowledge."
Just then another headache came, though it was a lot more sharp and painful as she had to lean over her bed. Holding her head in pain as she let out a low growl.
"Stupid headaches, when will they stop coming?" Nalia growled before she head a knock at the door. "Who can it be at this hour?"
Nalia slowly walked over to the door while holding her head with one hand as she went on to open the door.
When opening the door, Nalia's eyes widened at the sight of the person in front of her, slightly taken aback before everything went dark.