Morning...
~~{Wailing Alps}~~
As Cole sailed the ship further towards the mountain coast, the Ninja and Sensei Wu have arrived at the bottom of the very tall mountains with snow caked everywhere and the dark, thick snow clouds covering the high peaks. The air was increasingly cold with the bitter wind blowing in their direction as snowflakes flew everywhere.
"Wow, i-it's a lot c-c-colder than the Frozen Wastelands." Jay shivered from the cold.
"G-G-Gee, y-you think?" Kai deadpanned at the blue ninja while shivering.
"Well, the Wailing Alps are freezing this time of the season." Alisa stated.
When the ship docked to the shoreline, Cole walks over to the deck to join the others. "So, why is called the Wailing Alps?" The black ninja asked, raising an eyebrow the yellow ninja.
"When a strong gust of wind blows through the canyons, it creates a wailing sound like you're hearing the sound of whales." Alisa explains, pointing up at the mountains. "Some people say that some windy blizzards are strong enough to blow anyone away off the mountain."
"Oh, well, t-that's reassuring." Jay said bluntly, letting out a nervous chuckle.
Sensei Wu came out from the lower deck with five backpacks for one each of his students. "The Wailing Alps will be the most toughest challenge you five will ever faced. It will take two days to reach the Tessen of Air and back down the mountain." Wu explained to his students.
"Two days?" Kai asked in disbelief before letting out an exasperated groan. "It'll take a week to climb that high."
"Which is why I have packed each of your bags some winter gear to climb that mountain." Wu said as he each passed a backpack for his students. "I also packed some food and water and some sleeping bags as well. You must work together and push through the challenges."
"Do not worry, Sensei. We will retrieve the Golden Weapon and head back safely." Zane assured, bowing respectfully to the Spinjitzu Master.
"I know you all will." Wu bowed back. "Good luck, my students. Trust each other and yourselves."
The Ninja all bowed respectfully to their master before they put on their winter gear and walked off the ship, then they began to start their journey up the Wailing Alps.
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The Ninja all began to hike up the mountain of the Wailing Alps while trudging themselves through the blizzard, despite how steep the slopes are. Since the weather temperature is decreasing rapidly, they wore winter coats over their ninja gis to keep themselves warm, but the cold air was starting to give them a frost bite on their exposed faces. Despite how cold the Ninja are, Zane is the only one who was not bothered by the temperature at all.
The Ninja now came to a point where they had to scale up the very steep part of the mountain by using pickaxes and some rope, even with all the extra weight in their backpacks they're carrying during their climb. It was a very difficult challenge, even for Cole since he is a very excellent climber as he was in the lead ahead of his teammates.
"How long is it to the top anyway?" Kai asked tiredly as he caught his breath while scaling up the mountain. "I feel like my hands are getting a freezer-burn."
"This mountain is approximately 54,853 feet." Zane answered as he scaled the mountain above the Fire Ninja. "We should be reaching at least two hundred thousand steps!"
"Two hundred thousand?" Kai repeated incredulously. "Ugh! This'll take forever!"
"Quiet!" Cole called out to his teammates when he heard a strange wailing sound. "Do you guys hear that?"
"It's probably just a whale." Jay shrugged as he's right behind his teammates.
"But, we're in the mountains. We're just about feet away from the ocean." Kai points out.
"That's not a whale." Alisa said worriedly.
Suddenly, a huge, freezing gust of wind abruptly blew heavily with snowflakes flying right into their faces as if this was a hurricane or a giant blizzard.
"It's a wind gust! Everyone hold on!" Cole exclaimed as the Ninja immediately held a tight grip on their climbing gear while they braced themselves against the gale-force wind gust.
However, the Lightning Ninja felt his grip loosening as he could barely hold on against the wind, but he suddenly lost his footing on the mountain while hanging onto his pickaxes in a snowy cliffhanger. "Guys! A little help would be nice!" Jay shouted to his friends before one of his pickaxes broke off the cliff, which caused him to nearly fall off the mountain as he watched his pickaxe fall out of his hand and disappeared into the air.
"Hold on, Jay! I'm coming!" Kai exclaimed as he places one of his pickaxes into his belt and starts tugging the rope to make sure it's holding tight.
"Oh, sure! Take your time!" Jay sarcastically shouted, hanging on by one hand until the harsh wind was so strong that it made the blue ninja's hand slip and he falls off the mountain with a scream.
"JAY!" Cole shouted in worry.
As quickly as possible, Kai jumped off the mountain with the loose rope wrapped around his waist as he falls down after the falling blue ninja before he reached his hand out and caught his arm. "Gotcha!" The red ninja then pulled out his pickaxe from his ninja belt and stabbed it into the snowy cliff as they were dragged down the mountain until the axe stopped them into their tracks with Kai hanging onto his climbing gear while holding onto Jay's arm, both dangling over the mountainside.
Kai let out a breath of relief and look down at the blue-clad ninja, "Jay, are you okay?"
Jay managed to catch his breath and glanced up at the red-clad ninja with a raised eyebrow, "I almost fall to my death from the tallest mountain in Ninjago! WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?!" Jay lets out a panic scream.
Kai flinched at the loud tone and sighed in annoyance, "You're welcome."
"Are you boys okay?" Alisa called out as she, Cole, and Zane are a few feet above them.
"We're fine! Don't worry about us! We'll meet you guys at the top!" Kai shouted back before he glanced at the Lightning Ninja, "Jay, grab onto my rope and climb yourself up."
As the red ninja helped his friend, Jay then pulled himself up and grabbed onto the rope to climb up the mountain. "Okay, I got it." The blue ninja stated with a nod.
"Okay, now let's keep climbing." Kai stated as he and Jay climbed up the mountain by the rope while they followed the others.
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Night...
After a few hours of climbing, the Ninja finally came up to a snowy ledge and helped each other up, then they trudged through the blizzard while continuing their journey to the forth Golden Weapon as they stayed together, so neither of them would not fall behind or get themselves lost in this snowstorm. Even with all that weather, the Ninja keep pushing through the small harsh winds while not being blown away.
"Ugh, we've been hiking up that mountain for hours!" Kai complained. "Are we sure this is the right way?"
"The map said the Tessen of Air should be on the first high peak of the Wailing Alps, which is where we are now." Alisa answered.
"We should probably find somewhere safe and warm before we continue our quest." Zane suggested.
"Safe? Safe?! We're on the top of a high windy mountain!" Jay exclaimed in disbelief. "We're probably about a hundred thousand feet away and all we see right now is snow and more snow! I don't think we have seen a single warm house built on this mountain! Or even better, a cave! And do you guys see anywhere that's warm? 'Cause I sure don't!" He ranted his complaints, shouting out last statement before he was cut off when the Earth Ninja smacked him in the head.
"Do you wanna cause an avalanche and make us fall back down to the bottom?" Cole scolds him. "We're Ninja, we're supposed to be as silent and swift as the wind."
"Uh, speaking of the wind." Kai nervously started when he heard a wailing sound as the wind blows in flurries of snow, signaling another giant, dangerous gust. "Wind gust! Anchor down!"
The Ninja quickly take out their pickaxes and jammed them into the snow to hold themselves down, crouching down against the wind as the powerful wind slowly pushed them backwards, but they managed to hold on tight in order to avoid being blown away down the mountain.
"Oh, man! I feel like a windbag!" Jay shouted.
Alisa begins to fight against the wind by pushing her body strength through the gust before her white pearl eyes were caught on something in the blizzard and she squints her eyesight for a better look until she could see a structure in her view within a mile away, which means there is a place somewhere warm to make camp.
"Guys! I think I saw a building up ahead!" The yellow ninja called out over the wind.
"You sure? I can barely see a meter in front of me with all this wind and snow!" Kai shouted.
"Trust me! We can take shelter there!" Alisa replied as she began to use the pickaxes to crawl down the snowy path while she pushed through the wind and the boys started doing the same action as her as they followed their only female ninja friend.
After about a half hour of scaling, the Ninja came across a scaffolding with three temples constructed on a wooden platform right onto the mountainside near the summit with massive sharp icicles hung from its base, the Ninja then immediately head over the nearest temple to take shelter from the harsh weather for the night. As they went inside, Cole made sure his teammates were all inside and pushed hard to close the door from the wind gust before the Ninja took off their winter gear.
"Finally, safe at last." Cole lets out a relieved sigh, leaning against the door. "Least we got a warm place for the night."
"What is this place?" Kai asked in wonder, looking around inside the temple as the whole place has round dining tables set around the room, a metal fireplace on the very left corner, nearly boarded windows, and dust and cobwebs everywhere on the walls and ceiling.
"It's called the Hanging Temple." Alisa answered before she began to explain its history, "It was constructed here years ago after the Serpentine Wars by only one man, a monk from the Holy City of Domu. It was recognized as one of Domu's most iconic and awe-inspiring architectural wonders. It attracts visitors from all of Ninjago, but it has been abandoned after a huge avalanche and wind gusts."
"Man, it's like she's a tour guide or something." Jay muttered over to Kai, who nods in agreement.
"Alright, let's get set up camp for the night and head out in the morning." Cole stated as he pulls out his sleeping bag and sets it out on the floor.
While Alisa, Zane, and Jay pushed a few tables aside to make some room to set up their sleeping bags, Kai is setting up the fire in the fireplace by placing some firewood he found and struggles to light up a flame by scrapping together two rocks he got from outside with his rough hands to create sparks. "Come on, come on." The red ninja grumbled aggressively, trying to ignite the fire.
Alisa notices the spiked-haired boy's struggle and walks over to him, "Do you need any help?"
"No thanks, I've got it. My dad taught me this trick when I was four." Kai shrugged her off as he rapidly clicks the rocks together until he finally creates sparks of flame and lets out a laugh as he got a little flame going, only to let out an annoyed groan when the fire immediately died out.
The Wind Ninja couldn't help but giggle at the Fire Ninja's frustrated attempt as she gently pushed him aside and took out a small stick. "Here, let me do it." She placed the little branch vertically between her hands with the bottom of the wood touching the flat surface of the firewood and started rubbing the branch back and forth as quickly as she could as it only took a minute until smoke was already forming with a tiny flame igniting and she gently blows air on the flame to make the fire roar to life before she closed the metal door with the fire burning the wood. "There, fire's all burning." She gently smiled at the hotheaded ninja.
Astonished, Kai stares agape at the girl starting a fire that easily, "How...How did you...?"
"My father and I used to love camping when I was a little girl, so he taught me how to start a campfire." Alisa explained with a smile. "In case we would ever end up in a situation where we need it."
Kai stare blankly at her for a moment before he crossed his arms with a scoff, "Pfft, showoff."
"AAAHH!" Suddenly, the Ninja turned their attention over to the screaming blue ninja, who began to twitch and wiggle around while reaching his arms out behind him. "Ah! Spider! Spider! Get it off! Get it off! Get it off!" Jay screamed in panic, shaking his whole body around in an attempt to get the spider off him.
"Jay! Stop!" Cole rushed over to his blue-clad friend, trying to calm him down. "Just hold still!"
"I can't!" Jay exclaimed as he continues to wiggle around. "Help! Help!"
The strawberry blonde-haired girl heads over to the panicking auburn-haired boy and stops his struggles by placing her hands on his shoulders, turning him to face her. "Shhhh." Alisa gently shushes the surprised boy as she places a finger over his lips to prevent him from screaming more before she looks around his body and finds a spider crawling on his left shoulder. "Don't...move." She gently tells him, which receives a whimpering 'Hmm-mm' with a nod from the Lightning Ninja.
Alisa then carefully moves her hand towards the spider and gently picks it up from Jay's shoulder, giving the small bug a friendly smile. "Hello there. It's okay, little spider. It's okay." She softly assured the little spider, leaving the boys shocked, but amazed as they witnessed on how she easily handles a little bug. "Spiders are misunderstood creatures, and they're pretty harmless. Even if they hardly bite, it doesn't hurt." Alisa explains her theory, letting the spider crawl on her palm before she holds it out to Jay with a smile, "Would you like to touch it?"
"Uh, well, I-I, uh...I-I-I..." Jay flinched in fear, taking a step back away from the spider. "...Uh, n-no. No, I'm good."
Alisa couldn't help but giggle at the blue ninja's hesitation, "I understand your reluctance, most people are afraid of spiders." The strawberry blonde-haired girl then walked over towards the corner of the wall where a spider web was hanging there and reaches her hand out to place the little spider onto the web with a soft smile.
"Wow, you're...really good with bugs." Kai comments, despite his shocked state.
"You're not really scared?" Jay asked in surprise with an amazement tone in his voice.
"Oh, not at all, I love all creatures. All it takes is kindness and patience to befriend one." Alisa answered with a small giggle.
Cole felt a blush on his cheeks rising with a lovesick smile spreading across his face after he saw how kind and gentle she is with animals, especially with insects. Cole could imagine that if Alisa found a ferocious bear in the woods, she would probably calm it down with a hug instead of running away like any other normal person would do. But this girl, she's so compassionate, but intelligent and courageous, which makes him so enthralled by Alisa's charm and beauty, but mostly her personality.
~~~~~~X~~~~~~
Later that night...
Once the Ninja made camp in the abandoned temple, they had a little bit of dinner with what they packed in their bags and start talking to each other to get to know one another until it was time for bed. Cole, Zane, and Jay were all asleep in their sleeping bags snoring while Alisa was still up making sure the whole room stays nice and warm for everyone.
After packing up their bags, the yellow ninja couldn't help but smile at the sleeping boys as she was glad she became friends with them before she made sure she tucks them in; Alisa tucks the blanket over Zane some more to keep his body warm, then she gently pushes Cole's shaggy hair away from his face, which made him smile in his sleep, and finally, Alisa couldn't help but giggle softly at the way the sleeping Jay is cuddling his nunchucks in his arms like they were his stuffed teddy bear before she reached into his winter bag and pulled out a blue stuffed donkey he always carried when no one was looking, but she didn't care if he brought it as she slowly and gently pulled the nunchucks out of Jay's arms, which made him mumbled in his sleep as he desperately reached his arms out for something to cuddle with, the Wind Ninja then gave him his stuffed donkey as Jay hugged his stuffed toy with a sleepy hum, which made her smile even more.
Alisa then saw the fire in the fireplace was slowly going out and she placed some more logs inside to keep the flames going before she noticed a certain red ninja standing there in front of the boarded window, staring at the snowy blizzard outside through the opened crack with an unreadable expression as she have grown concern of his behavior and could tell that he has been distant from them since they first met, but then again, Kai did lost his sister who was kidnapped by the Skulkin before he became a ninja, she just wished there was something she could do to help him.
Alisa doesn't hesitate to walk over to him and stand next to the spiky dark brown-haired boy. "Hey, are you okay?" She softly asked.
Kai glanced at her for a moment before he looks back outside, letting out a sigh, "...Yeah, I guess."
"You know, it's kinda cold. Why don't you come get yourself warm by the fire?" Alisa gently tells him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
The Fire Ninja shrugs her hand away and shakes his head, glancing away from her. "I'm fine." He stated bitterly, crossing his arms.
Alisa blinks at him with much concern for his behavior, but she does know what he was thinking about, "You're...really worried about your sister, aren't you?"
Kai looks at her for a brief second, then lets out a deep sigh. "Yeah, Nya...she's the only family I have left. We're really close." He expressed his words with a deep frown, much to Alisa's surprise and concern at what he said before the red ninja answers her silent question about what he meant, "Remember when I said my father owns a blacksmith shop in my home village? Well...dad and mom went missing when I was about five while Nya's three, so I have to be the only one to learn how to take care of ourselves while I make sure I protect my sister."
"...And what about your parents?" Alisa gently asked, hoping she didn't offend him by asking that.
Kai just shrugs at her and shakes his head, "Don't know, we called the police for help, but they haven't found anything about them, no report, no evidence, no trace, nothing..." He then lets out a depressed sigh, lowering his head down away from her. "I have to take over my dad's shop, hoping to become the better blacksmith than dad ever was."
Alisa stares at him with much sympathy in her eyes as she places a solace hand on his shoulder, "Kai...I'm so sorry. I have no idea you feel that way."
"It's not your fault. You don't have to worry about me." Kai shrugged her off. "I mean once this is over, my sister and I are gonna go home and be out of your way."
The Wind Ninja was surprised at his statement when he believed she and the boys were in his way, but she lets out a small sigh. "Look, I know all this was new to you, being a team and all, but that doesn't mean that we want you here. You're one of us now." She starts, which made the red-clad boy look at her. "But even if you choose to leave after we stop Lord Garmadon, we'll support you at any other way. We won't push you."
The Fire Ninja looks at her for a moment as he knew that she was right about him leaving when it's all over, so he releases a breath and smiles softly at her, "Thanks, Alisa. You're right, we are a team."
Alisa smiles back softly at her spiky-haired friend and gives him a comforting look, "We'll get your sister back, I promise."
Kai nods at her in response before he offered, "Get some sleep, I'll watch over for a while."
Alisa nods at his offer with a smile before she heads over to her sleeping bag and falls asleep for a long journey ahead of them in the morning, leaving Kai standing there in front of the boarded window watching for any danger while going into deep though of what she said to him as he knew she was right about his teammates watching his back throughout the way, even to support him. Even if he did leave with his sister, he knew he was chosen to protect the Sword of Fire as the Master of Fire, but what other choice will he have and why does he felt so empty inside without a life if he went back?
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The Next Morning...
After they put on their winter gear, the Ninja continued their long and difficult hike up the first mountain peak on their journey to retrieve the Golden Tessen of Air, they started scaling up the mountainside, trudging through the snowy drift up the mountain slope, and hiking up the trail while pushing themselves through the harsh winds, even through the wailing wind gust. By the time they got nearly to the top, the five Ninja finally went over onto a flat snowy ledge and came across a tall mountain pillar, so tall that it could almost reach the grey snow clouds, but all they could see at the very top of the pillar was a golden glow shining bright, meaning that the Tessen of Air is all the way up there.
"Oh, you gotta be kidding me!" Jay groaned in exasperation with his arms out. "You mean the Golden Weapon is all the way up there?!"
"It would explain why it is the most difficult place to hid the weapon." Zane points out.
"Well, we should probably get up there before Samukai comes." Kai stated.
"Maybe the two of us should go while the other three stay here and watch." Cole suggested.
"Well, Cole, since you love mountains and you're the Master of Earth, why don't you go while we stay here?" Jay tells his black-clad friend.
"I agree. And since I'm the Master of Ice, I would suggest that I come along." Zane offered.
"Hold on, the Tessen of Air controls the wind, right? Why not have me and Alisa go up there and get it?" Kai points out, placing a hand on the yellow-clad ninja.
"Wait, Kai, it might be too dangerous with all that strong winds, even with the guardian protecting the weapon." Cole stated his worry.
"So? We can't let Samukai get here and let him have it first." Kai argued.
"Well, I'm not going up there." Jay shook his head in protest.
"Then what do you suggest we do?" Zane asked.
As the boys starts to argue one another, Alisa just watched and stood there for a moment before she stared up at the mountain pillar while wondering what would she do. Sure the winds would be dangerous while climbing up there, but Alisa couldn't help but feel compelled to climb up and grab the Tessen of Air herself, since she is the Master of Wind, meaning that she has to fight against the wind in order to retrieve the Tessen of Air.
With a deep breath, Alisa turns back to the arguing boys to grab their attention, "Guys, hold on. Maybe it would be best if I climb up and get the Golden Weapon myself. After all, I am the Master of Wind."
The four boys stare at her with surprised and worried looks at what she just said.
"Are you sure, Alisa?" Cole asked in concern. "We could have one of us go with you."
"Yeah, I mean, i-i-it would be a lot safer that you have someone accompany you." Jay said nervously. "You know, just to be sure that you're safe."
"I appreciate you guys' concern of me, but just because I'm a girl ninja doesn't mean that I'm a damsel in distress." Alisa replied, giving them a teasing look with her hands on her hips.
"Oh, no. No, i-i-it's not that." Kai stuttered with an embarrassing blush, rubbing his right arm. "We just think that a dragon would attack you and you would need help and—"
"Don't worry about me. I'll be alright." Alisa smiled at her friends in reassurance. "But if anything goes wrong, I'll yell for help."
The boys exchange concern glances to one another before they nodded to each other in defeat and gave the female ninja encouraging smiles.
"Then we will support you throughout the way." Zane smiled at his yellow-clad friend. "Good luck, Alisa, and be careful."
"I will." Alisa nodded in response before she turned and walked over to the mountain pillar, leaving the boys watching her with much concern and worry.
After setting down her bag, the Wind Ninja took a deep breath and took to the mountain side of the pillar by using her hands to hoist herself up and planting her feet on the edges to push herself upwards, instead of using her winter gear. Although she didn't know much about rock climbing, Alisa have climbed up some trees and obstacles during her training, even during her journey to retrieve the Golden Weapons, but none of them where compared to the behemoth of a climb she had before her now. As she continued climbing, Alisa suddenly slipped as she lost her footing and lets out a startled gasp.
Gasping, the boys watched in worry when they saw her slipped as they thought that she might fall.
The yellow ninja take a few deep breaths to calm down and managed to plant her feet back on the mountain edge, letting out a sigh of relief.
The other Ninja lets out a sigh of relief as well as they were glad that Alisa was safe for now.
The yellow ninja have climbed for quite a while, but Alisa was managing to hold on while she continues climbing and keeping her head up, refusing to look down for even a second; She did not want to know how far from the ground she was.
"I just hope she can do it. That mountain is like a mile high." Kai said, concerned for his friend.
"Actually, 1.7 miles high to be precise." Zane corrected, looking up at the mountain pillar.
"Let's just hope Alisa gets the weapon and back down before the dragon will." Cole said hopefully.
"Well, let's just hope that dragon is not as big as the other guardians we've faced. I mean, do you not see how big they are when they tried to eat us?" Jay began to rant. "How big do you guys think this wind dragon will be when Alisa grabs the tessen? Do you think it can control the wind? I bet it controls the wind gusts just to make sure we don't get the Golden Weapon, because—"
"Shh." Zane shushed to cut off the blue ninja's rant. "Do any of you hear that?"
"Besides the wailing wind, no." Kai shrugged.
However, when they heard a distant grumbling sound, the boys then cautiously peered over the ledge and looked down to see a bunch of skeletons climbing up the mountain towards them.
"Oh, boy. We've got company." Kai stated.
"How did they even get up there through all that wind?" Jay questioned incredulously.
"Worry about it later." Cole stated as he and the other Ninja pulled out their weapons. "Right now, we need to keep these skeletons from reaching the pillar while Alisa gets the tessen."
When the Skulkin army climbed over the ledge of the mountain, the Ninja began to fight them off while holding them back for Alisa to get the Tessen of Air. Jay swings his nunchucks around and uses them to grab one of the Skulkin's sword, then pulling it out of his hands before the Lightning Ninja roundhouse kick the skeleton down and start whacking more Skulkin warriors with his nunchucks, whilst punching or kicking them down. Kai clashed weapons with a couple skeletons as they attempt to push each other down, but the Fire Ninja gave it all by pushing the Skulkin back and he jumped over them with a front flip before he kicked them down, he then continued to block his enemies' strikes. Zane twirls his shurikens in his hands and throws them at the Skulkin before he kicked them down, punched them in the heads, and jumped over them to avoid their weapons, the Ice Ninja then caught his shurikens without even looking and punched an incoming skeleton from behind without even turning around.
About halfway up the pillar, Alisa heard some fighting noises in the distance and finally stole a glance below her, seeing that the Skulkin are fighting against the Ninja as she was worried that they might be in trouble if they outnumbered them. Maybe it would have been better if she had helped them, but who will climb up the top of the pillar and grab the Golden Weapon before Samukai does?
Down below, Cole blocks a few swords with his scythe and founds himself looking up directly at a concerned Alisa, who was just hanging halfway on the mountain pillar as the Earth Ninja could see that her eyes were locked onto his. "Keep going!" Cole shouted at her with a grunt before he used all of his strength to pushed them back and swung his scythe to knock them all down.
As she heard him, the Wind Ninja blinks at the black ninja and shakes her head to clear her thoughts from her mind, flashing a smile and nodding her head in approval, "Right." Alisa then felt a newfound wave of determination swept over her as she returned her attention back to the mountain pillar and focused on continuing her way to the very top of the mountain pillar.
The other Ninja continued to fight off the Skulkin warriors as they either blocked their weapons with theirs or knocked them down by punching or kicking.
"NINJAGO!" The four Ninja shouted as they started using their Spinjitzu, knocking them all down while pushing them back over the edge to cause some of them fall off the mountain.
As the Ninja are holding off the skeleton army, Kruncha and Nuckal sneak past them and head over towards the mountain pillar, looking up to see the yellow-clad ninja is ahead of them.
"After you." Kruncha gestured his partner to go first up the pillar.
"No, after you." Nuckal also gestured his partner to go first.
"No, after you!" Kruncha retorted.
"I said after you!" Nuckal retorted back, punching the helmet skeleton in his arm.
"Ow!" Kruncha grunted as he rubbed his skeleton arm before he returned a punch at his partner.
"Ow!" The metal eyepatch skeleton whined before he and Kruncha began to slap each other.
"Wait!" Kruncha stopped from fighting his partner until he got a punch in his skulled face from Nuckal. "Ow! How about we both go up there?"
"Oh." Nuckal blinks in understanding. "Okay, let's go!"
With that said, both Kruncha and Nuckal began to scale the side of the mountain pillar as fast as they can while following the Wind Ninja in hopes to grab the forth Golden Weapon first.
Kai blocks the bladed weapons with his and pushes them away until he saw the two skeleton duo climbing up the mountain pillar not so far behind the female ninja as they were beginning to close the distance between them and Alisa with each passing moment. "Oh, no. Alisa, watch out! You've got trouble!" Kai called out to her before he continues battling the Skulkin.
Alisa heard her red-clad friend as she took a quick glance down to see Kruncha and Nuckal following them, so she quickly kept her eyes focused on the very top where the Golden Weapon was waiting for her up there. Only a few more feet and she would get there first; Both Alisa and the Skulkin duo continued their race, each of them panting heavily as they scaled the side of the mountain pillar.
By the time she finally reached the top, Alisa groaned as she grabbed the ledge and hoisted herself up onto the flat surface of the very top of the pillar. She then stood up to catch her breath with her hands on her knees after all that climbing and looked up in awe to see a golden hand fan gleaming with a golden radiance as it floats over a stone pedestal.
"The Tessen of Air..." Alisa gasps in awe and amazement.
As the yellow ninja began to step towards it, she could feel its power grow within her, since she remembered what her element was, until she was right in front of it and slowly reaches her hand out for the golden tessen before she gently takes the tessen. As soon as she touched it, Alisa could feel the tessen's power with the wind flowing around her, staring at her own reflection through the Golden Weapon.
"Oh..." The Wind Ninja exhales in awe, staring at the Tessen of Air in her hand until an evil cackle brought her out of her gaze and turned her attention to the two skeletons, who both made it up the ledge of the mountain pillar.
"Hehehe, looks like we'll be taking the Golden Weapon ourselves, by force." Kruncha chuckled evilly.
"Yeah, it's two against one, little missy." Nuckal smirked as he and his partner advanced towards the only female ninja.
"Well, I still already learned Spinjitzu." Alisa stated as she took out her original tessen, taking a battle stance to fight the skeleton duo.
However, before they could began to attack, the loud sound of an animal roar was suddenly heard from the distance, which made everyone, including from down below, stop the battle when they heard the noise as the Ninja and the Skulkin all looked around to see where the sound was coming from, but this sound was way more different than a wailing noise from the wind.
As the two Skulkin's bones shivered in fear, Alisa stood guard with her tessen out in front of her and looked around up in the grey snowy clouds, since she realized that whenever someone took the Golden Weapon, the guardian, which is a dragon, awakens and attacks anyone who holds the weapon and will do anything to get it back. While scanning the surrounding area up in the skies, the yellow ninja have spotted movement above her and she quintet her eyes to get a better look, but the flying shape disappeared back into the clouds. Alisa kept her guard up as she looked around to see where the figure was before she heard another roar echoed through the air and looked over to see a bright golden figure soaring through the clouds as Alisa and the two cowardly skeletons couldn't see where the shape was since the darkness from the clouds are simply making it harder to spot.
Everyone stood their ground as they all looked around to find where the yellow figure is at before they all turned their attention back up to the sky when they spotted movement once more where the flying yellow shape is circling around the mountain, letting out a loud roar as it disappeared up into the clouds once again.
Alisa, Kruncha, and Nuckal continued to gaze around their surroundings to spot the figure in the clouds until they realized that their backs are against each other, making them back away from each other since they are still enemies.
Suddenly, the ground shook as a giant heavy creature landed on the ground and they all back up in shock and terror as they looked up to see a dragon right in front of them, its scales are coated in gleaming a bright yellow color while some scales are silver white, it has white large horns on its head, its wings are pure golden with white on the inside, silver spikes on the back of its four legs, white fur on the end of its long tail, its eyes are a crystal blue gleaming down at them, and it has long golden hair on its head with silver streaks, this dragon appears to be female.
The wind dragon lets out a menacing roar at the three intruders and the two skeletons screamed in terror as Nuckal jumped into Kruncha's arms and hanged onto him before the dragon then takes a deep breath and breathes out a huge gust of wind out of her mouth, blowing it at the two skeletons as Alisa immediately jumped out of the way. The dragon's wind power is so strong, it literally blew Kruncha and Nuckal off the mountain pillar as they are flown away into the clouds with their bones scattered into pieces in mid-air.
The wind dragon then turns her attention to the yellow ninja standing there and starts to advanced toward her as Alisa backs away from the dragon and kept a firm grip onto the Tessen of Air in her hand, but the yellow ninja was backing up over at the edge of the pillar and letting out a yelp as she was about to fall off the mountain pillar.
Cole immediately saw his friend in trouble when she is going to fall. "Alisa!" He exclaimed as he quickly rushed past the Skulkin while knocking them down with his scythe, running in hopes to catch his friend before she lands on the ground.
Just before the wind dragon could attack her, Alisa lets out a scream as she falls down the mountain pillar and felt like she was gonna crash onto the mountain floor, but luckily, the yellow ninja felt a pair of strong arms caught her just in time before she was about to hit the ground. Alisa felt relieved that she was safe from harm as she slowly opens her eyes to see a pair of warm chocolate ones, surprised and amazed that a certain black ninja just saved her, but she could've sworn she saw his eyes glowing with the breezing snow blowing his exposed tuff of hair to match his heroic nature.
"You okay?" Cole asked softly, feeling relieved that he caught her in time.
Alisa couldn't help but gazed into those wonderful eyes of his and gave him a soft and grateful smile, "I am now."
Cole couldn't help but smile back as he was glad that she's safe.
A loud roar brought everyone's attention towards the wind dragon flying down towards both the Ninja and the Skulkin and the guardian of the Tessen of Air uses her wings to create a strong wind gust to blow them all away, so the Ninja quickly anchor down to the ground, but the Skulkin army were barely holding on as they were blown away off the mountain while Samukai however held onto the edge of the mountain in a cliffhanger to prevent himself to be blown away.
The Ninja kept a strong hold to fight against the wind while the dragon continues to use her wings in an attempt to blow the Ninja away.
"That dragon could blow us all away at any moment!" Kai shouted over the wind. "We need to get off this mountain!"
Jay struggles to hold tight on the mountain ledge to prevent himself from being blown away before he spotted a lone old tree trunk hanging on the edge of the mountain a couple feet down below, which gives him an idea on how to get down the mountain and away from the wind dragon faster.
"Guys! I have an idea!" The Lightning Ninja called out to his teammates, who all looked at him with a questionable look. "Don't worry! You have to trust me! Everyone grab onto me!" He tells them as the four Ninja gently let go of their hold and the wind began to blow them away towards the blue ninja, who reached his hand out and grabbed onto Zane, who grabs ahold of Kai with Cole immediately taking Kai's leg while keeping a firm grasp on Alisa's hand tight as the Ninja were all dangling over the edge of the mountain peak with the dragon's wind blowing around them as if they were a flag on a pole.
"Jay, are you sure about this?!" Kai questioned.
"I know what I'm doing! When the dragon stops, I'm gonna let go!" Jay exclaimed.
"You're what?!" Cole screamed in disbelief.
"Get ready!" Jay told his teammates as he watched the wind dragon continues to create a wind gust until the dragon slowly stops and starts flying towards them with a roar. "Now!" As he said, Jay let go of the ledge and the screaming Ninja fell down the mountain, but luckily, they landed on the old tree trunk. "Ha, ha! See? Told ya I'm know what I'm doing." Jay tells his friends with a triumphant smirk.
"Um, guys? It's coming back!" Kai exclaimed, pointing at the wind dragon circling around the clouds and flying towards them again.
"Everyone hang on!" Cole pulls out his scythe and uses it to chop the tree trunk out of the mountainside, the trunk then began to dangle down until with one final chop, the Ninja began to ride on the tree trunk down the mountain, just as the wind dragon crashed into the mountainside.
Samukai watched as the screaming Ninja fall down the mountain with the golden tessen while riding on the tree trunk, then he put an evil smirk across his skeletal face with a sinister chuckle, seeing that everything is going according to plan...
~~~~~~X~~~~~~
Screaming, the five Ninja side down mountain of the Wailing Alps while riding on the tree trunk like a toboggan as they hold onto one another, despite jumping over a few bumps. The Ninja sled towards a snowy hill and they went flying in the air before they came in for a hard landing as they continued to sled down the mountain until they finally came down to the bottom of the mountain as they went into a stop, then they turned their attention to Sensei Wu, who was drinking tea while waiting for them.
"Ah, so you have managed to retrieve the Tessen of Air." Wu simply smiled, seeing the forth Golden Weapon in Alisa's hand.
The Ninja exchange bewildered expressions for a moment and they all let out a deep sigh of relief, slumping onto the tree trunk.
"It is past midday, we will make camp around nightfall at the Forest of Tranquility. Then in the morning, we will go to our final destination where the Sword of Fire is located." Wu tells his students as the group went onboard their boat and start to set sail to the location of the final Golden Weapon, the Sword of Fire.
————————————————————————————————————————————
Night...
~~{At the Forest of Tranquility}~~
Once they made camp, the five Ninja began to celebrate their semi-victory of retrieving four out of five Golden Weapons, Cole is playing the bongos while Kai and Jay danced to the beat, Zane is just standing there bobbing his head a bit to the beat, and Alisa sits close to the fire and couldn't help but laugh to the boys' dancing.
"Come on, Sensei, join us!" Kai urges Wu, who was meditating near the fire with the four Golden Weapons in front of him.
"There is still one weapon left. We must get our sleep." Wu reminded his students.
Jay scoffs at the old man's paranoia, "Oh, Sensei. Look, you gotta admit, we're kicking their boney butts." He proved his point out by punching his fists in the air.
"Jay's right. It wouldn't hurt to have a little fun, would it?" Alisa added with a smile.
"Yeah, get up here. Show us some moves!" Kai insisted with a smile.
Wu gave out a second thought before he sighed in defeat, "Hm, I guess I could." He then stood up reluctantly. "Now this move is very special." He said as he got into a stance.
"But if done incorrectly, will it lead to disastrous consequences?" Zane curiously asked, causing his teammates to laugh at his words as the Ice Ninja just kept an innocent look on his face.
"Zane, is that a joke?" Kai managed to gasp out through his laughter. "A sense of humor, you found it."
As Cole played the bongos, Sensei Wu then did a funny little dance. "Shake what your mama gave you." He started as he then grabbed his beard, "Yeah, look at this one now. Mmhm. Ooh-ho, yeah! Spin 'round. Oh, yeah. I put my feet..." He then tugged his beard down as his students started laughing.
"Hey, Alisa. Why don't you give it a try?" Cole gestured her to come up and dance.
The Wind Ninja gave a playful hum and shrugged her shoulders, "Alright, I'll show you boys how it's done." She then stand up with a playful smile before she starts dancing to the beat of the bongos by swaying her hips around and smacking her hip, then she pulls out her tessen and waves it around before she twirls around and fans herself with her tessen, giving the boys a wink.
The boys couldn't help but gawk at her dance and they let out a laugh before Wu, Kai, and Jay began to dance along with her as everyone continued to enjoy their fun while they danced the night away.