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The team all collectively stood in a ring staring at the peace of paper. It was almost thrown out, if it wasn’t for Zane all observant eyes. It didnt say much, but it was a warning.
«Are we actually going to believe this peace of trash? It screams trap.» Wyldfire scoffed.
«It’s a call for help, we ninja dont ignore call for help.» Kai said firmly.
Cole took another good look at the paper. It was of good quality, fancy writing that reminds of his fathers, and straight to the point, but vauge. The queen has a bounty on her head, they’re going to attack at the grand Rerumu ball. It gave more questions than answers, Cole had never heard of a ball, and what queen are we talking about?
Sharing the same thought, Nya asked, «What even is this ‘Rerumu’ ball?».
«I have no data of sutch name.» Zane said, «Neither do I.» Pixal added.
«I think i’ve heard of it!» the attention turend to Jay.
«Me and Rapton were uh- discussing where me wanted to steal from next…» Jay said with a sheepish undertone.
Cole didnt like where this was going, he had obviously forgiven his best friend for his little amnisha criminal behavior he had the past months, but anything involving that part of his life was still a complicated mess.
«Rapton had an idea to sneak in a fancy ball that was going to happen in a few months from then, and…you know take advantage of the intoxicated guest with their expensive jewelry and stuff and…»
«We get it, you wanted to steal from rich guests. Been there done that. Whats the ball?» Kai grunted.
«Right- so apparently the ball was orchestrated after the merge for monarchies and higher up leaders of each realm and tribes and stuff, you know- to discuss peace for all the merged realms. It’s actually a pretty big thing I’ve heard.» Jay finished.
A ball for a bunch of important people? Yeah, that checks out to where a place it would be easy to land a bounty, Cole thought. The rest of his friends seemed to share his realization.
Lloyd looked thoughtful, and not to mention tired. Cole had noticed latly that the green ninja was more often tired, not only for lack of sleep, but also mentally. It was worrisome, and Cole took a mental note to check up on his leader friend after this.
«I say we go undercover, blend in so we dont look like a target if this end up being a trap after all. And the rest of us are here protecting the monastery.» Lloyd concluded.
«Sounds like a plan to me.» Cole nodded, along with some of the others.
«So Jay, Nya, Cole and Pixal are going undercover, while Zane, Kai and you kids stay here.» Lloyd instructed. The teenagers didnt look to happy about it.
«Why do we all have to stay here? Isnt this a learning experience we could use? With blending in and stuff.» Sora argues, Frak and Arin looking just as determined with her.
«Yeah! I wanna be where the explosions are!» Wyldfire exclaimed, fireing heat in her hands as she spoke.
«You? Going undercover as a fancy person?» Jay mutters unconvinced. Earning a glare from Wyldfires side.
«Im not going to risk you kids getting involved into a matter that maybe isnt even wort the risk. You all are staying here with Zane and Kai.» The green ninja said firmly. A few disappointed ‘awwws’ came from the teenagers.
«Maybe you should be with them, Lloyd.» Pixal offers gently. Lloyd opens his mouth to shut the idea down, but Nya adds «It’s a lot of people, a lot of voices. Id imagined that would be pretty overwhelming.» Lloyd looks conflicted.
«Logically it would make more sense for you to stay, since you would have more energy here.» Zane said.
Cole was still confused on the ‘Lloyd can hear all life forces around him development’, but hes understood much that it’s pretty overwhelming for the green ninja. He was glad for his freinds sake that the other ninja had also noticed Lloyds more hollow personality the last weeks.
Lloyd caved in with a sigh «Alright, I’ll stay here with the others. While you guys sneak into this supposed ball. And remember, blend in.»
«We’re ninja, thats what we do best.» Cole grins.
—
Cole was tugging at his tight collar, it had been a while he was dressed up, he’d forgotten how stiff it was. At least he looked good, it was a simple all black suit with a matching black shirt, and and orange tie for that pop for color. He had attempted to calm down his fluffy hair, but it ended up being a wast of effort.
The others didnt look half bad either. Jay was also in a black suit, white shirt, with a elegant blue tie. Nya was in a strapless dark burgundy dress, black heels and for once had her hair down. Pixal was in a light purple poofy dress, with just as poofy sleeves. Nya had commented to Pixal that the dress made her look like a princess, and Cole had to argee.
The four of them all stood together on the top of the building, looking down at the already crowded ballroom through the glass ceiling.
«Alright, lets do this.» Nya mutters.
—
It was surprisingly easy to get into the building. Knock out a few guards, destroy a few glass windows. So no complications yet.
The group walked together through the extravagant ballroom. It really left Cole awestruck. It was like all the realms cultures and design was merged into a huge fancy palace, golden padderns covering the room from head to toe.
It really looked to be people from all the sixteen realms together and chatting. Creatures Cole hadnt even seen before, and some more recognizable.
«I suggest we split up, cover more ground.» Pixal whispers. Cole and the other two nod. «Sounds good.»
Jay holds up his hand to Nya. «May I have this dance?» Nya giggels, and takes Jays hand with a smug glint in her eyes.
Cole rolls his eyes, but smiled. Of corse, those two would not split up, but he didn’t blame them for wanting to use the opportunity to catch up on time they’ve lost. «Just don’t get sidetracked.» Cole teased the pair.
Hand in hand, they disappeared into the crowd.
Coles gaze flashed around the room, silently wondering where he should explore. Though he noticed that Pixal almost seemed…unsure?
«Hey Pix, you doing good?» Cole questioned. Pixal nodded, though she still looked distant.
«It has come to my attention, that I have never been apart of such a mission before, neither the undercover part, nor dress to this extravagant setting.” The nindroid said. “I am unsure what to do since I have limited experience.”
Cole patted Pixal on the shoulder while giving her a smile. “Dont think to much about it, you’re gonna do great.”
Pixal smiled faintly and shook her head. “I apologize, we are wasting time stalling. Take contact if you need backup.” With that, she also fused with the crowd.
Cole shrugged to himself, and walked through the groups of people. His eyes darted to check his surroundings. Nothing suspicious yet, just fancy people.
What got Coles attention was a waitress walking in his direction, holding a tray of biscuits. As the waitress passed, he with a swift motion took a few pieces from the tray. The night just got better, Cole grinned.
While munching on the food, he continued to walk through the crowd of people. He was starting to consider if the paper could just be a dum prank after all.
A loud trumpet sound made Cole flintch, and his head snapped in the direction of where the sound had come from. At the end of the ballroom, was a large set of beautiful stairs with golden railings, presumably it looked to be where guests walk down from the entrance. At the top of the stairs was a hypnobrai in a tuksido, with a microphone in his hand.
“If i may have all of your attention.” The serpentine started “This year we are closer to reunite the realms to one peaceful unity, since another kingdom has joined our alliance.” The hypnobrai stepped to the side of the stairs and pointed with his free arm to the center of the stairs. “If i may introduce- The ruler of the ivory city of Shintaro- Queen Vania!”
Cole eyes widened as the name ran like an echo in his mind, and the applause became like a dim sound when she walked in slight.
He couldn’t believe it, Vania! Cole hadn’t seen her since before the merge, and that was years ago. The sight took his breath away.
Her golden hair had gotten way longer, it reached under her hips. She wore a traditional Shintarian dress in blue, light turquoise and white, a blent of different fabrics and elegant details. On her head was the crown Cole remembered her having at her coronation. Vanias expression read as serious, though gentle.
Cole hadn’t even noticed he had dropped his biscuit, but he was too awestruck seeing her again. A smile crept on his lips.
“Cole? Cole? Are you there?” His earpiece cracked of Pixals voice, pulling him out of his trance.
He pressed a hand against the earpiece, his smile getting bigger“Yeah, you guys wont believe who-“
BANG
An explosion rumbled through the ballroom, smoke appeared by the top of the stairs. The room erupted in panicked screams.
“Shoot, duty calls!”
Cole fought the stream of scared creatures trying to run from the explosion. When he got to the end of the stairs, he saw Vania had been thrown down a few steps, coughing and making attempts to stand up. At least she was conscious. Her crown was nowhere to be seen. As the smoke dimmed, a looming figure could be spotted at the top of the stairs. Cole caught a glimpse of Vania’s unconscious guards laying at the floor.
Cole didn’t need to think twice, he sprinted up the marble steps and hit his fist together activating his powers. He jumped and slammed into the floor, it cracked under him right at the figure, catching them off balance.
Cole used the villain’s stumbling to his advantage and charged a powerful punch to their gut, making them flying into the wall. That won Cole some time.
He spun around and down the stairs to Vania, and swept her into his arms. Running as fast he could. “Where in the world are the others?” He mumbled.
He could get a glimpse of Vanias face as he held her. She looked shocked to say the least.
“Cole!?” She gasped “What are you- how- what’s going on?”
“Glad to see you too- I’ll explain later.”
Cole got the sight of a hallway and headed towards it. Down the hallway it looked to be an open door, he hurried over to it and slammed the door shut. “We can hide here, so i can catch my breath.”
Carefully he sat down Vania. “Can you stand?” She nodded, but it was clear one of her legs wasn’t up for running.
Her arms hadn’t completely let go of her hold on Cole’s neck and shoulders. Vania looked up at him with wide eyes. He had forgotten how beautiful she was up close.
In unison they both smiled at each other. She embraced him, and he returned the gesture immediately.
“I missed you.” She whispered, Cole hugged her tighter. “Missed you too.”
Eventually they broke apart, Vania’s expression hardened. “Cole, what’s going on?”
“Honestly I don’t know.” Cole admitted “We got a message that said someone would try to overthrow a queen at this ball.”
He scratched the back of his head, “Little did we know that queen was you, I’m not sure if i should be happy or not.” Cole sheepishly grinned.
Vania frowned, “So it’s me that they want?”
“Seems so.”
Vania got quiet, looking thoughtful. Cole laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
“We’ll get you out of here, I promise.” He got a playful gilt in his eyes “And hey, maybe we could reconnect properly after this?”
Vania smiled, it looked genuine. “I’d very much like that”
Cole had missed that smile.
The moment was runied as the walls crumbled down behind them with a loud bang, Cole shielded Vania, but they both ended up falling on the ground.
As the dust cleared, Cole saw a woman with a red mohawk with a hunge tank on her back and out of the tank was two flamethrowers for each hand. The flames was enough to make the woman levitate.
Cole’s eyes widened. “Miss Dementor!?”
The woman looked offended, “Its Miss Demeanor!” She hissed, and pointed her one of her flamethrower towards them.
Cole rolled on the ground with Vania just in time to dodge a fire blast. They both scrambled to their legs, Cole activated his lava arm. He could probably punch away a few fireblast- probably.
He was ready to do just that, but miss Demeanor figure suddely was thrown to the wall.
Cole was relieved seeing Jay and Nya had finally come to the scene, it had been Nya’s water that had thrown Demeanor. As the red haired woman sprung to attack Cole teammates, Jay used his lightning. As the two of them fought, Nya ran to Cole and Vania.
“Cole! Did you rescue-“ Nya cut herself off as she recognized the person behind Cole. “Vania!?” She gasped.
“Nya!” Vania greeted, the renion was cut short when another loud noise made them look in the direction of Jay and Demeanor’s fight.
Jay had Demeanor up against the wall, one hand on her neck. He looked almost feral, like if Demeanor was a target. Cole got a sinking feeling.
“Jay- wait!” Cole called out, but Jay used his lightning.
Demeanor screamed, then fell silent the moment after, and became lim. Jay steps back and her body falls to the ground. Cole could hear Vania’s faint gasp behind him.
The lighting ninja was catching his breath as he looked at Demenor on the ground. Like snapping to his senses, he suddenly looked horrified. “Is she dead?”
They walked over to their friend. Nya took her yang’s hand in hers as comfort. Demeanor laid motionless.
Jay exhaled a shaky breath. Cole figured Jay hadn’t completely let go of his more violent tactics from his bounty hunting days.
Jay slowly looked back at the group, and almost seemed to flinch as he noticed Vania. “Woah, Vania? What are you doing here?!”
“Getting hunted down by that woman apparently.” She replied.
“We need to get out of here.” Nya said, Cole nods.
“Where’s Pixal?” Cole asks.
“Getting the samurai X mech, she’ll meet us at the Monastery.”
Jay still looks shaken up by what just happened as the group start to head their way up the hallway. Cole turns to Vania.
“This is definitely not the way I’d imagined seeing you again.”
Vania faintly chuckled, “Me neither, but at the very least, we’re together.”
Cole smiled at that, “Yeah.” At least they’re together.