ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: Halsey - Castle

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◄◄⠀▐▐ ⠀►►⠀⠀ ⠀ 0:00 / 4:18 ⠀ ───○ 🔊⠀ ᴴᴰ ⚙ ❐ ⊏⊐

Oh, all of these minutes passing

Sick of feeling used

If you wanna break these walls down

You're gonna get bruised

--

The screen panned around a golden teapot with three blue panels surrounding it and Jay yelled and grunted. The camera zoomed in on the teapot and the reflection revealed a skeleton being kicked by Jay, grunting once again.

Jaybird whipped out his nunchucks, fighting the skeleton who was dodging his attacks. The Lightning Ninja knocked the skeleton away and four more skeletons drop from the ceiling.

Jay grabbed the teapot handle and turned it switching the first blue panel to red, which flipped around to reveal Hair-gell head.

''Ninja, go!'' Kai exclaimed, using spinjitzu to defeat the skeletons.

A skeleton was knocked down a ramp, and under was Zane stretching his arms. Some skeletons sprinted down the hall and the Great Cake Devourer ghostly emerges from the wall making the skeletons ran back only to find a punch from Zane who crashed through a barrier of ice.

Porcupine and Jaybird came sliding down the ramp whooping with excitement and all four ninja lined up together facing the screen. Cole went forward and pounded the floor tripping the skeletons into the wall, and the ninja went into their fighting stances.

The Four-Armed-Samukai crashed through the wall and charged at them. Suddenly, a bright green light appeared and the Green Bean emerged. He landed and punched Samukai with his green Energy.

''Do you have the golden scroll, Lloyd?'' Hair-Gelled Porcupine asked the Green Ninja in a projected voice.

''I sure do, Kai! But I don't know what is says. Can anyone help me read it?'' Lloyd questioned.

''We can! Because reading is the first step to every adventure. Go, reading, go!'' The ninja said at the same time.

''And... Cut! Brilliance plus perfection! Clean up, little fellas and make some headway here. That's a wrap!'' Dareth spoke.

''A wrap?'' Nya asked. ''I just got here. Dareth said—''

''Hey, hey! There's my boys! I knew you could Spinjitzu but that acting knocked me out.'' The Brown Ninja told the boys. He then noticed Nya. ''Oh, hey, sweetheart. Mind sticking around for a segment to teach girls how to apply makeup?'' He asked.

Nya looked to the back corner, where some girls applied makeup, Dareth's words angering the Water Ninja. ''You're gonna need makeup when I rearrange your face!'' She yelled, walking over to punch him but the Lightning Ninja held her back.

Jay grunted. ''Easy! Nya is one of us now, there's no reason she should be treated differently.''

''No Reason? You added a girl to the group. You know how much that hurts your image? You're a boy band, a hunk machine!'' Dareth replied.

''No. We're equals. Our power comes from no one being more important than the other.'' The Green Bean told him.

''Important? No. Irresistible... uh, debatable.'' Kai said, winking at some fangirls in the doorway, making them scream and try to run to him, but the guards prevented them from doing so.

''Oh my gosh, it is him!'' A girl yelled.

The Brown Ninja chuckled. ''I don't tell you how to do your business, don't tell me how to do mine. Remember how every time you save Ninjago no one cared?'' He asked.

''Well, now Dareth's in charge and Dareth says don't change the recipe. You boys are the face of the franchise, competing with (Y/n), and now for the face of teen idol!'' He exclaimed, whipping out a magazine with Lloyd on it, and Jay and Cole on each side of a heart with Nya in it.

Lloyd read the title. "Sensei Lloyd"? But I'm only a Sensei-in-training.''

''And what's this about me and Jay still fighting over Nya?'' Cole asked. ''That's old news.''

''Who cares if it's real or not? Isn't this what you've always dreamed of? You're the hottest thing in Ninjago!'' Dareth told them.

---

The ninja snuck around the city, being chased by their eager fans, hiding in phone booths as the crowd of fangirls passed, then went back the way they came with their fans following.

''Fold your drawers, hot off their new LP, it's the sensei-tion sweeping the nation. The pop that can't seem to stop. Here's another number one hit from Go, Ninja, go.'' A man spoke.

''My favourite? Easy. Lloyd. He's the best.'' A boy told an interviewer.

''I like Kai. He's, like, so hot. Literally.'' Said a woman.

''Crime down. Ninja way up. Who doesn't like these six Ninja? Correction, seven.'' a man corrected himself, holding up a magazine.

''Jay. He is so funny. And cute.'' A girl said.

''I like Cole. I mean, he's a ghost. You want him, but you can't have him.'' A fangirl interrupted.

''Who likes Nya or (Y/n)?'' The reporter asked.

'' "Like them?" Meh. Do I want to be them?'' The girl asked.

''And get to hang out with them? Oh my gosh!'' A woman fangirled.

The audience clapped as the cameras focused on the love triangle trio, who sat on a lounge.

''Just between you and me, Nya, Jay or Cole?'' the Late-Night Show Host asked the Water Ninja.

''Honestly, not a chance. We're a team. Instead, I'd rather talk about—'' Nya started.

''Uh-huh. Not a chance? Really?'' The Late-Night-Show Host questioned.

''Oooh.'' The audience said as the camera zoomed in on Jay, who looked uncomfortable.

''I'm telling you, never gonna happen,'' Nya told him.

'' Aah! Zane. Definitely Zane. He's cool.'' Said a boy.

''Ninjago is safer because they are here, hiding in plain sight...'' The reporter told his viewers.

''My mom says I'm cool.'' The boy said, trying to stay in view.

''...waiting to defend us from wherever evil lurks. But the real question we all want to know is, where are the Ninja now?'' The reporter asked.

The cameras cut to the studio, where a man smiled at the camera. ''Next up on NGTV News, A certain singer finds herself in deep treble, stay tuned to find out!''

---

The boys and Nya arrived on the Destiny's Bounty, where (Y/n) kicked and punched the training bots.

''Are you okay?'' Remo asked, slithering over to her. The Master of Illusion sighed, stopping her training for a moment to take a break.

''I'm okay,'' (Y/n) replied.

''Are you sure?'' Zane asked, making the girl turn to face the others.

''Did I stutter?'' The Master of Illusion questioned. She then realised what she said, and sighed. ''Sorry, I haven't had the best day.''

''It's alright,'' Lloyd replied with a small smile.

'Kai's hair looks... normal...' Morro spoke, making (Y/n) look towards the porcupine, who was paying no attention to their conversation, taking a selfie. 'It's better that way.' He added.

(Y/n) turned her gaze to Cole, and remembered what Wu told her. ''Oh, Cole, Sensei Wu wanted to see you, it's about your ghost ability.''

The Spectral Earth Ninja blinked in surprise. ''Thanks (Y/n), I'll go see him now,'' Cole told her and walked off to find Sensei Wu.

---

''Look inward. When one is a ghost, one may have new abilities. Focus and discover them.'' Wu told the Master of Cake, who turned invisible and reappeared.

''Whoa. Did you see me? I disappeared! I mean, did you not see me?'' Cole asked the old man.

''Very good, Cole. Only you can unlock what is truly inside. That is it for today.'' Wu told him.

''Dareth wants me to teach girls how to cook? How about I teach them how to do this?'' Nya asked herself, spraying water on the sparring bots, while (Y/n) had to dodge her attacks. Meanwhile, Zane and Jay played a game of Minidroid Chess.

''I win again,'' Zane said, knocking over Jay's king.

Cole whistled as he walked over to the pair. ''Ah, Minidroid Chess. So what's the tally now? A hundred games to none?'' He questioned and laughed.

''Set them up, Zane. We're going again. What's got you so cheery?'' Jay asked the Spooky Cake Ninja.

''Remember back in the Tomb of the First Spinjitzu Master, when we all saw the reflection of our future selves?'' Cole asked.

''You mean when you couldn't see anything?'' Jaybird questioned.

''Yeah, it wasn't because I'm a goner. It's because I can disappear.'' the Coal-haired ghost answered, turning invisible for a moment.

''Oh, then why don't you make like a ghost and vanish?'' The Lightning Ninja asked. ''I need full concentration.''

''Oh, touchy are we? Teach him a lesson, Zane.'' Cole told Frosty the Ice Ninja and left.

(Y/n) stood with Nya, looking at the destroyed training bots which lay on the deck, in pieces.

''Bad day?'' Misako asked the Water Ninja. ''You're supposed to hit them, not destroy them.''

''I'm a girl, but I'm also a lot of other things. But what does that matter when everyone only sees me as one thing: the girl Water Ninja.'' Nya told the old woman, glancing at (Y/n), and groaned. ''I just wanna be given a fair shot.''

''Why? To make things easier?'' Misako asked. ''The harder it is, the more you will excel. You'll never be happy if you let the world define you. You've got to define yourself.'' The old woman told her and finished repairing the bots. ''Now, again. And this time, destroy all the targets.''

Nya caught sight of Jay staring at them. ''What are you looking at?'' She asked.

Jay sighed. ''See? Even though it's fate, I still can't win.''

''Checkmate. Again. A hundred and one to zero.'' Zane told him, and Jay laid his head on the Mindroid Chess Board.

''Sensei's back, and there's trouble.'' Lloyd said, and everyone headed to the bridge.

''What is it?'' Kai questioned. ''Have they sold out of Kai action figures? I knew there wasn't enough—''

''No. It appears when you destroyed the Cursed Realm, one ghost escaped. And you know him all too well. Clouse. Security footage shows him buying a train ticket that will arrive in Stiix in just a few hours.'' Wu answered, stroking his beard.

''Clouse? The sorcerer from Chen's Island? What does he want with Stiix? That place is just a salvage yard now.'' Cole told the others.

''That's why I want you to go there and stop whatever it is he is planning to do.'' The old man replied.

''But Dareth wanted us to visit the hospital for that Grant-A-Wish thing,'' Kai said.

''Hey, we take orders from Sensei Wu, not Dareth. Lil' Nelson only has a broken leg. If his wish is to be a Ninja for a day, that day can be tomorrow. Suit up.'' Lloyd told the others.

' ''Only has a broken leg?'' Oh wait, you don't recall (Y/n) having TWO broken legs?' Morro asked.

'Calm down, Morro.'

'Sorry, I've been thinking a lot recently, it doesn't help with what I saw in my reflection either.'

'What did you see?'

'I... was no longer a ghost. There was a campfire in the background, with people sitting around it.'

''In my future vision, I saw myself and my grandfather, but he looked younger, had black hair, with that grandfather clock in the background.'' (Y/n) mumbled, but Wu heard, and his eyes widened in realisation.

The Master of Illusion then followed the others, leaving the old man.

---

The Ninja flew on the dragons, towards where Clouse was.

''Back to the grind,'' Nya told the others.

''Ha, if it weren't for the Bounty, I don't think we'd ever get any peace and quiet,'' Jay replied.

(Y/n) looked down, seeing a crowd of fangirls scream, with some of them taking photos of the majestic beasts flying through the sky. Wren stood amongst them, waving up at the Master of Illusion, who waved back.

''We're just over Ninjago City. Isn't that where Lil' Nelson is? What do you say, drop by for a quick stop?'' Kai asked. ''In and out.''

''We don't have time.'' Green Bean told the others.

''Technically, we do. As long as we don't encounter any problems.'' Frosty the Ice Ninja told the others.

''What does Sensei always say?'' Cole asked. ''Never put off until tomorrow what can be done today.''

---

The ninja arrived at the hospital.

''As a part of the Grant-A-Wish Foundation, we dub you an Honorary Ninja for the Day,'' Lloyd said, signing the Purple Ninja's cast.

'' Aw. I wish I broke both my legs.'' Said a boy.

''To tell you, it's not fun at all, it hurts, trust me.'' (Y/n) told him.

''Could you stay to sign their casts?'' Lil' Nelson asked the ninja.

''Aw, I wish we could, but duty calls,'' Nya replied.

''Uh, not sure how far we'll get. Looks like we've got company.'' The Master of Earth said, and he and Ginja looked out the window to see their fans.

''How'd they find us?'' The Lightning Ninja questioned.

"Reply. Of course I'm at the hospital. My hair is sick. Haha. Send." Kai said, looking at his phone.

''Are you sending out a Chirp?'' Nya asked her brother.

''Uh, my followers have needs too.'' Slightly Burnt Toast replied.

''If you recall, I said we would get to Stiix in time minus any problems. This constitutes a major problem.'' Zane told the others.

''Yeah, well, I don't see us flying out of here with these birds in the sky,'' Cole said, and helicopters appeared.

''Cole's right. No Dragons. If we're gonna escape, we can't be followed.'' Mint Ninja replied.

"His hair is sick." Said a woman, and gasped. ''He is here! Aah!'' The fans then grabbed the guard, slipping past the defences.

''For Pete's sake, put me down. I'm a grown-up! Whoa!'' The officer yelped.

''They're coming. What do we do?'' The Earth Ninja asked.

''You say I'm a Ninja for the day, call me...the Purple Ninja!'' The Purple Ninja/Lil' Nelson said, kicking the door open.

''That hood looks legit. Did you make that?'' Nya questioned.

''You have a lot of time on your hands when you break both your legs. This way. Double Leg, hyah!'' Lil' Nelson replied, opening another door and closing it before the fans could enter. ''This is as far as I can go. Follow this up to the rooftop. From there, take back streets. I'll hold them off at the pass.''

''Lil' Nelson—I mean, Purple Ninja, thanks,'' Lloyd told him.

''No. Thank you. You made my wish come true.'' The Purple Ninja replied. The ninja took the stairs, with (Y/n) being the last, saluting the young boy who returned the gesture, and then they were gone.

''Phew. Looks like we lost them.'' The Coal-haired Ninja told the others, on the rooftop.

''But the nearest rooftop is still too far to jump.'' The Green Bean said.

''Airjitzu?'' Kai asked.

''Whoa. I just learned how to make a Water-Dragon. I haven't even earned my Airjitzu suit yet.'' Katara 2.0/Nya replied.

''But if we don't leave now, we'll never get to Stiix to stop Clouse,'' Zane informed them.

''We're a team. We stick together.'' Jay added.

''Thanks, but I can stick up for myself,'' Nya said.

''He was only trying to be nice.'' The Master of Earth replied.

''It's okay. Right now, we're just having our first fight.'' Jay told her.

''What do you mean "right now?" And just what are you implying by "we?" The Water Ninja asked.

''They're gonna see us. Quick, take cover.'' Lloyd said, and everyone except Nya used Airjitzu to hide behind a billboard.

''Nya, you need to hide too. Ugh. Forget what I said, just take my hand.'' Jaybird told her.

''No. What did you mean when you said "we?" I'm a Ninja, and I'm no man's girl.'' The Water Ninja told him.

''Just take his hand, Nya. Or else we're gonna be spotted.'' Cole said as a helicopter flew by.

''Too late. So much for stopping Clouse.'' Kai replied.

''Ugh. Let's just hope he missed his train.'' Green Bean told the others, making (Y/n) sigh.

''Ugh. They found us. Now, what do we do?'' The Master of Earth questioned as Jay held out his hand to Nya, who turned and walked away.

''Just do what you're doing, but don't run away from the cameras. Run toward them. Ninja visit hospital. This is gold!'' Dareth exclaimed, in a helicopter.

''We don't need more publicity. We need less. We have to get to Stiix to stop Clouse.'' Lloyd replied.

''Could be a big scoop. Say no more. Hop in!'' The Brown Ninja said as they hopped into the helicopter and flew away to Stiix.

---

The greasy-haired Master of Dark Arts (and crafts) searched a pile.

''No. No. No.'' Clouse mumbled, before seeing a teapot. ''Hmm. Yes.'' He then ran to a nearby building. ''The Teapot of Tyrahn.'' He said and rubbed it. ''Work, darn you.'' He switched a panel and freed an Orange Garmadon Ripoff/Djinn.

''I am free? Where am I? What year is it?'' Nadakhan asked, confused.

''Nadakhan. It's you. I've freed a genie.'' Clouse said as the Djinn circled him.

''I prefer the term, Djinn.'' The Orange Garmadon Ripoff corrected him.

''Who cares? I want my three wishes.'' The greasy-haired ghost told him.

''Mm. I must warn you. You cannot wish for love, death, and most certainly...'' Nadakhan warned.

''More wishes. Yes, yes, I know the rules. Ahem. I wish for my Book of Spells.'' Clouse replied.

''Very well. Your wish is yours to keep.'' The Orange Garmadon Ripoff told him. Clouse grabbed the book, happy to see it again.

''Tricked you. Now, with my spells, who needs more wishes?'' The greasy-haired ghost asked. It then started to catch on fire. ''Oh. What's happening?''

''You should've known. The book was last thrown into a fire. Perhaps you should wish for more than a pile of ash.'' Nadakhan answered.

''You conniving genie.'' Clouse hissed.

''Djinn.'' The Four-armed Orange guy corrected. ''And for your second wish?''

''There's no way I can defeat those Ninja if I continue to be a ghost. I wish...I wish to become mortal again.''

''Your wish is yours to keep,'' Nadakhan told him.

''Yes. Yes, it's working. I can-I can feel again.'' Clouse said, looking at his arms and hands. He then started to agonise in pain. ''My hands! My head! The pain!''

''Yes. Becoming physical is a painful process. I wish it could be over soon, but right now, you're probably thinking about your last wish. But the pain is too unbearable to think clearly. Wish it all to go away.'' The Djinn replied.

''I-I wish it all to go away.'' Clouse foolishly wished.

''Your wish is yours to keep,'' Nadakhan told him, and the Master of Dark Magic was trapped inside the teapot. ''Be careful what you wish for.''

---

The Master of Ice scanned Stiix's residents.

''I detected no trace of Clouse,'' Pixal told Zane.

''He isn't here.'' Frosty the Ice Ninja informed the others.

''He could be long gone by now,'' Cole replied.

''But look what I found. A Kai action figure. Some fan probably lost it. Now way anyone threw this out. Practically priceless.'' Slightly-burnt Toast told the others.

''No sign of Clouse.'' Green Bean added.

''Better keep looking. Wu's at the Domu Library researching what Clouse could be looking for. If I hear anything, you'll be the first to know.'' Misako informed her son.

''Don't hear anyone that could be Clouse.'' (Y/n) spoke, opening her eyes after trying to listen for the Greasy-haired Ghost.

''Come on, guys. Let's keep our eyes peeled.'' Lloyd said.

''Look, another Kai doll. There's dozens.'' Jay pointed out, seeing a sea of Kai dolls covering the ground.

''Ugh,'' Kai said, tossing the Kai doll in his hand aside.

---

The ninja sat at a table.

''Uh, no sign of Clouse?'' The Green Ninja asked the others.

''I don't get it. You'd think they'd remember seeing another ghost.'' The Spooky Master of Earth replied.

''I know. I haven't even been asked to give a single autograph. Not that I want the attention!'' Kai yelled, and the citizens shushed him.

''Where are the Ninja? This reporter has the answer.'' A man on the tv told his viewers.

''Hey, can you turn it up?'' The Green Bean asked.

''Hey. No one here cares for them, fruit-coloured Ninja.'' A guy replied.

''That's not zesty at all...'' The Orange Ninja said.

''Excuse me. What fruit is black?'' Cole asked the others.

''Uh, blackberries?'' Blueberry Ninja answered.

''Shut it, Jay.'' Blackberry Ninja replied.

''They're calling it the Crime Wave of the Century.'' A Man on Tv said.

''Guys, listen,'' Nya told them.

''Earlier today, Green Ninja Lloyd Garmadon was caught on tape robbing the city bank.'' The man on Tv told his viewers, showing a clip of the Green Bean stealing money.

''Whoa! That looks like, um, me.'' Lloyd said, confused.

''And that's not all. At Mega Monster Amusement Park, Zane was on a rampage of vandalism and mayhem.'' The reporter informed.

''Hey, wait. My memory has no recollection of that.'' The Master of Ice told the others.

Jay grunted. ''Someone's pretending to be us.''

''But why?'' Nya asked.

''And how?'' Cole questioned.

''I am ashamed I ever wore their underwear. Oh, uh, I mean, T-shirts.'' Rufus corrected himself, on Tv.

''Any comment about your son's offences?'' The Reporter asked Jay's parents.

''Jay would never do this. And if he did, he had good reason. I hope.'' Ed told the reporter.

''You hope? It wasn't me, Dad! It wasn't me!'' Jaybird tried to tell his father.

''Jay, shh.'' The Master of Earth shushed the Mouth of Lightning.

''You believe them?'' The man asked. ''They destroyed our village, act like they saved the place, and then go around doing as they please.''

''Last time we were here, they didn't act like that...'' (Y/n) mumbled to herself.

''Yeah. You're right. Ninja, ugh, hate 'em.'' Kai replied. He then lowered his voice to a whisper. ''Maybe now is a good time to leave.''

''The Ninja are at large. They are armed and dangerous. And they have legs. If you see them, do not approach. Call local law enforcement so that we can apprehend.'' The Commissioner informed the citizens of Ninjago.

''Hello, local law enforcement?'' Zane asked. ''We are the—''

''Zane, what are you doing?'' Lloyd questioned the Ice Ninja.

''I am programmed to obey the law. Not telling them our location would be a direct violation.'' Frosty the Ice Ninja told him.

''Aw crab nuggets.'' (Y/n) said as the residents of Stiix turned their faces to the group.

''Hey, aren't you—'' a guy asked.

''No, no. We're not the Ninja. We're that other group with a Nindroid, two ghosts, a girl—'' Chattermouth answered, getting up from the table.

''Ah! Seven on seven. At least it's an even number.'' Kai said as they stood.

''We're not gonna fight them. Right now, it's us who look like the bad guys.'' Lloyd replied.

''How are we supposed to defend ourselves? Witty banter?'' The Lightning Ninja asked the others.

''Statistically speaking, your witty banter tends to only get us into more trouble.'' Frosty the Ice Ninja answered.

''I liked it better when they were fans,'' Kai replied.

The ninja skedaddled, with the residents of Stiix chasing them, and went onto the rooftops, using airjitzu to get to one roof to another. They then went under the floorboards, with the cranes being lowered and police officers using their flashlights to look for the suspected ninja.

''Lower all the cranes and check them out! Those fruit-coloured bozos could be hiding anywhere.'' The Commissioner ordered.

''We need to split up,'' Lloyd told the others.

''Split up? But we're all in this together.'' Cole replied.

''We have a better chance of getting out of here if we divide.'' Mint Green Ninja informed them.

''Nothing good comes when we're split up. That's when bad things happen. Chen's Island, Yang's Temple, Morro's possession. All bad things.'' Jay listed off all the situations in which it happened.

''We have no other choice. We have to go.'' The Green Bean told them.

They gave each other one last glance before they all split, each going their own ways only to delay their capture.

Wu opened a book. "Be careful what you wish for." Hmm.'' He said, unaware of the consequences.

Nadakhan appeared. ''Did someone say "wish?"

finally...

it's done

okay, that's the longest time I've had Writer's Block. XD

Anyways, don't forget to vote, comment and share this story if you love it!

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See ya, Bookworms!

WriterAgreste, over & out.