Chapter 36: Spy for a Spy

The Kabuki served the fighters food.


"Try the horned wasp eggs" Chen suggested "Delicious!"


"Uh, I think I'll pass" Lloyd said suspiciously


"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 said 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.


"Relax, Lloyd" Aria said taking his hand "everything's fine"


"Yeah 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" Kai said


Griffin walked over "I tried to enlist Shadow, but that dude's throwing some serious shade"


"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 instructed


"I'm more concerned about my powers right now" Aria said


"What's wrong with your powers?" Garmadon questioned


"Something doesn't feel right" Aria answered "when I try to use them it feels like their's something else"


"Continue meditating and see if you can find it, other then that how's your training? Have you tried turning into your dragon form?" Garmadon asked


"As in having my horns?" Aria questioned


"No I mean your dragon, dragon form" Garmadon clarified "like your father's dragon form"


"So I can go full on dragon like him?" Aria questioned


"Of course, you are his daughter, you have dragon blood in you. You just need to unlock your form and be able to transform" Garmadon replied


A Kabuki retrieves the fortune cookies.


"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.


"My bet is on the Dark Lord" Chen said


Aria sighed "Master please don't say that"


Lloyd stood up "you lied. What about the spell?"


"Spell? What spell?" Clouse questioned


"Don't believe him, it's just another trick. Neuro read Clouse's mind and saw it. Tell them what you saw, Neuro" Lloyd said turning to Neuro


Clouse stares at Neuro "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(Skylor reads Cole's message and gasps.)


"So much for the alliance" Aria shrugged "It's fine I work alone"


"You're a ninja Aria" Kai said


"Yeah but most of the time I show up to save your asses" Aria crossed her arms


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" the Kabuki whispered, she sounded like Nya


"Nya?" they all said surprised


Nya shushed them "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"


"Is it just you, sis?" Kai asked


"Dareth's also on the island" Nya informed them


Dareth was heard on a communication device "What up, Ninja?"


"Oh god" Aria said as she covered her face


"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 said


Nya nodded "I'll look into it. And it sounds like you have your work cut out for you too"


"How so?" Jay questioned


"How do you think they found out about your little alliance? Someone in your circle of trust is a spy" Nya informed then leaves before Clouse can see her.


"Aria you're close to Chen, have you seen anyone around him?" Garmadon questioned


"his daughter" Aria replied


"Do you know that servant girl?" Skylor asked as she came over


"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.


"He found Zane, I can't believe it" Kai said happily


"I'm glad someone found him" Aria said "we haven't been looking"


"Yeah but a spy? Who do you think it is?" Jay questioned


"I have my suspicions" Lloyd looks at Shade


-


The Elemental Masters are in Kai's room.


"Like I said, I ain't joining your little alliance. I'm gunning for that staff." Shade said


"And you'll lose" Aria said standing up from Kai's bed


"Do you think you're that powerful princess?" Shade questioned mockingly


"yeah I am" Aria said crossing her arms


"Guys!" Lloyd shouted "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 asked "I'm not your spy"


"Perhaps I can help" Neuro uses his Mind "I don't know who, but someone here isn't who they say they are"


"How do we know we can trust you?" Skylor asked "Maybe I should use your power and see inside your head"


"I'd like to see you try, power hoarder" Neuro said


"This is what Chen wants, for us to fight" Kai intervened "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 said


"Anyone object?" Lloyd asks


"I do" Aria said "I'm a girl and the only thing you'll see on my back is my bra"


"Or you're the spy" Neuro said


"Lloyd has seen my back" Aria argued


"Yeah she's good" Lloyd said


The Ninja checked everyone except Shade, Skylor, and Aria, but Lloyd already gave them the all clear for her.


"Uh, I hate to do this, but it's your turn. Can I see your back, please?" Kai asked skylor


"How could you not trust me?" Skylor questioned "I came to you with the fortune cookie-"


"That doesn't change anything" Aria interrupted "you making excuses and delaying us looking at your back is being suspicious"


"Wait. Where'd Shadow go?" Lloyd questions


"There he is. Get him!" Griffin shouted pointing at him


"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?"


"What alliance?" Aria questions

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