Written by: dxganronpa

Scarlett slowly opened her eyes, feeling pain all over her body when she tried to sit up—so she didn't move again.

It took her a few seconds to realize where she was, and when she did, she almost screamed.

The memories of what happened not too long ago all rushed back into her head and her eyes widened. "No, no, no, no, no... this can't be happening!"

"Oh, you're awake, Dragonfire?"

The voice sounded like it was hissing in her ear, and she jumped in fear a shadow was right next to her. Fortunately, it was only outside the cage.

A cage. I'm actually in a cage.

"Are you afraid yet?" the shadow asked, his voice menacing enough to send shivers down her spine.

"I'm absolutely terrified." If there's no use hiding it, I might as well admit it.

"If only we could feed off your fear—we'd have absolutely everything we desire."

"Sucks. I won't be here for long." Scarlett crossed her arms, turning to face the rock wall. "They saved Mia, I'm sure they'll find a way to get me back too."

"Hmm... why are you so sure of that?" The shadow wasn't much farther, as his voice was very close. "You do understand you're the weakest member? You haven't even unlocked your powers yet."

"So why did you take me?" she snapped, finally turning her body back around and facing the shadow that stood in front of her. Her body hurt, but that wasn't her biggest concern. "If my powers are nonexistent, then why bother coming after me?"

"Because... we can unlock them for you," the shadow answered.

"Unlock them... for me?" Scarlett repeated those words in her head, but she quickly shook it. "You're a liar—you all are! I know my friends can help me... no matter how long it takes... to..." Her voice slowly trailed off, and she was at a loss for words.

"Was that hesitation?" He knew her thoughts of weakness were returning to her mind, and he smirked. "You're feeling weak. You feel as if you're an unnecessary comrade."

Scarlett took in a sharp breath, clenching her fists to refrain from saying anything. The shadow noticed this and continued to speak.

"Those ninja aren't going to do anything. They're glad you're gone. They don't have to worry about training you anymore—you're a lost cause."

"Shut up!" She felt tears well up in her eyes, and she was glad the room wasn't bright at all. "You're not making any sense! You're saying I'm a lost cause, an unnecessary comrade to them, but here I am! You hunted me."

"It's exactly like you said—to them, you're a lost cause. But not to us." Now the shadow was definitely in the cage, moving around her in a circle and speaking to her. "We can help you unlock your powers much quicker than they ever can. You can be an asset—never again useless."

Scarlett said nothing as the shadow spoke, and a few seconds after. But she didn't want to give in so easily to them. "And then what? I'm your pawn to take over Ninjago or something? No thanks."

"Never again will you have to deal with your own friends speaking negatively of you behind your back, saying things that I'm sure you wouldn't want to hear."

Now this was news. She looked up, tensing a bit. "What?"

"Did you think I was lying when I said they were glad you were gone?" the shadow questioned, slipping around to behind her. He grabbed a strand of her hair and lifted it slightly, shaking his head. "They were never worried about you being kidnapped, because they figured you weren't unlocking your powers anyway."

"You... you lie..." But Scarlett found herself hugging her knees, half of her head buried inside her arms, her tears threatening to spill.

"Then let me show you."

Without hesitation, the shadow formed a ball-like object in his hands. He held it in front of her, allowing her to see the image.

It was everyone on the Bounty, talking amongst themselves in the Bridge. They were all laughing and smiling wide.

Lloyd spoke first. "Now we have a fighting chance against the shadows. We don't have to exactly worry anymore, don't we?"

"No, we don't. At this point, we can just go into their cave and take them out! We're all ready, aren't we?" That was Jay's voice.

"But what about Scarlett?" Zane asked.

"What's the point? She's already in their hands. Come on, I can't be the only one who's gotten tired of her complaining about being the weakest link or whatever." Mia.

Hearing that made Scarlett's chest tighten. What could she say now? The proof was right in front of her.

"Might as well just leave her and save the day, am I right?" Kai said, laughing with the rest of the group.

"Mia Brooklyn... of all people, I'm sure she would defend you the most. And that red ninja, isn't he the one you... fancy?" the shadow mocked, continuing to keep the orb in front of her.

"Just... take it away. I've seen enough." Scarlett let her entire head fall into her arms, and she let the tears run down her cheeks.

The shadow did as told, putting away the orb. "They don't believe in you. We may be the villains in their eyes, but we can be your saviors."

She didn't say anything after that—but she believed them. She believed the words of the shadows, that the ninja didn't want her on the team. They thought—no, they knew since the beginning and only egged her on until this day.

"Think about it," the shadow told her. He then finally slipped out of her cage, leaving Scarlett alone and to her own thoughts.

So... what now? I'm stuck with nobody, she told herself. Alone and engaging with the enemy.

And then something rang inside her head. It was the same voice as when Mia was rescued, when she was brought back to the Bounty.

Scarlett...

The voice was feminine, although she couldn't put her finger on it. She kept her head in her arms and only asked, "Who are you?"

But the voice only continued to speak her name, and this time, something else.

Take the offer. That's the only thing you've got left.

Scarlett wanted nothing to do with the shadows. Nothing to do with the ninja at this point. The people who she assumed were her friends never thought of her as one of them in the first place. So why did they bother with her?

She'd just forget to try and answer that question as she opened her arms, laying on her back and closing her eyes. If I'm staying here, I might as well sleep.

The shadow, far away from her cage, laughed maniacally. "Weak and gullible."

* * *

"Okay, so we have no idea where Mia is, but we do know where Scarlett is." Jay was pacing around in the Bridge, panicked. "At least we have something, right?"

"That something isn't enough." Lloyd shook his head, taking a breath. "Just because Mia isn't with the shadows doesn't mean she isn't in trouble. And she hates us right now!"

"Your girlfriend's mad at you, so what? She'll come running back eventually," Cole said, attempting to calm him down.

But that only fueled the green ninja's anger. "Cole, she's upset. Upset at us, and it didn't sound like she wanted to come back. God, what was so important that we couldn't hear them outside?"

"They just said they were staying on deck... but from inside, we should've been able to hear them. I doubt they were staying quiet the entire time." Nya put a finger on her chin in thought.

Zane seemed to catch on to what she was saying. "Nya, do you believe the shadows had something to do with our inability to help them?"

"I mean, it's the only logical answer, right? I know for a fact I would've heard some type of scream. And I'm sure you all would've, too."

"Those fuckers." Kai clenched his fist, scowling. "Of course they'd do something like that."

"It's not that we were busy or anything, it was the shadows who purposely made it so we couldn't hear them," Lloyd said, his expression lighting up a bit. "If we can let Mia know that, then she'll understand that it wasn't our faults."

"Let's try and get her back. We need the Purple Ninja, after all!" Jay announced. "And those shadows will pay even more hell for taking Scarlett!"

Cole seemed a bit distant, lost in thought. "But my question is... was it even worth it?"

Everyone turned to him, giving him confused looks and he continued. "I mean, Scarlett hasn't unlocked her powers. What was the point of coming here to kidnap her, when she can't even give them what they want?"

"Maybe... maybe it's a good thing she hasn't unlocked them yet. If she can't give the shadows what they want, then their attempt at taking her powers was for nothing—we'll be able to get her back easy, right?" Nya crossed her arms, a bit hopeful.

"Hmm, I'm not so sure about that." Zane shook his head. "Those shadows may take drastic measures to get her powers."

Jay gulped. "And by dramatic measures, you mean..."

"If it is possible to force her powers out of her, they most certainly will do so."

"Force her powers out..." Kai repeated this in his head. "No one has ever had to force their powers. Wouldn't that hurt her both physically and mentally?"

"So we're rushed to get her back either way." Cole frowned, putting a hand on Lloyd's shoulder, who had frowned at Kai's words. "I'm sorry Lloyd, but Mia has to wait. We can't afford the shadows getting Scarlett's powers—and they might hurt her really bad."

"Yeah, I get it." Lloyd sighed, his eyes dropping to the ground. "I just wish there was something we could do about Mia."

"Maybe we can," Nya spoke up. "But we have to be fast, Scarlett is on the line."

Lloyd was willing to do anything at this point to get her back. "Alright, then. Tell us what to do."

* * *

Mia looked at herself in the mirror, her red hair falling in her face. She put a hand to her head, still hurting a bit from the shadow attack.

She looked down at the purple ninja garment she wore. "God, I can't wear this thing anymore."

She wanted to go change, to wear something, anything that didn't remind her of the ninja. They were the cost of her losing a close friend, and she was willing to go get her back without their help.

"And when I do, neither of us have to go back there ever again," Mia told herself, determined.

She was glad to be back at her apartment. She could finally go back to being normal, and for once, going back to work was a pleasure.

But she missed Lloyd.

A lot.

Shaking her head, she brought herself back to reality. "No, he wasn't there when you and Scarlett needed it. This is what I need."

Before she could bask in the wonders of a normal life and take off her gi, a knock was heard at the door. "Are you kidding me?"

Mia was a bit hesitant at answering it, but who cares? It was probably the manager or someone like that coming to ask where the hell she's been.

So when she opened the door, she was very surprised to see Lloyd, Jay, and Nya standing there.

Before Mia could open her mouth to speak, Lloyd cut her off. "Mia, please. Hear us out."

"No."

"We didn't purposely stay inside, you know!" Nya tried starting the reason why they couldn't hear them, but the redhead didn't bother to listen.

"I sure wouldn't be talking to you right now if you did." Mia shook her head. "Why are you guys even here? You see, this is my point! The fact that you're here, instead of attempting to save Scarlett, who you just let get kidnapped—"

"Mia, would you just shut up for ten seconds and let us tell you what happened?!" Jay blurted.

The three looked at him, Mia feeling the anger rise. "No, Jay, you shut up! Maybe that's what you were busy doing that you couldn't hear—talking for hours! Leave me alone."

Just as she was about to shut the door, Lloyd put his hand on it to keep it open. "The shadows made it so we couldn't hear you out on deck."

Mia was a bit shocked for a few seconds, but then scoffed. "Yeah, right. Trying to find an excuse?"

"What reason would we not try and help you guys?" Nya questioned frantically. "The entire point of us getting you on board in the first place was to protect you from those things—that's why you were being trained all this time!"

"And you're our friends for hell's sake. Why would we purposely let you get hurt and kidnapped?" Jay crossed his arms.

Mia stayed quiet, taking in their reasoning. They all had good points—and the shadows were diabolical, they'd do anything to get what they want.

"Do you think I'd just let them hurt you like that, Red?" Lloyd asked, stepping closer to her. "They're already getting hell—but for hurting you, they'll get worse."

"We were going to get Scarlett back, and we wanted you on board," Jay added, him and Nya staying where they were. "Because you're one of us, Mia."

Mia took in a sharp breath, holding onto the doorknob tightly. "If what you say is true, then fine. And... as much as I want to say no to going with you, I can't. Because I want to get Scarlett back."

"Then let's get out of here, we don't have much time!" Jay said, he and Nya running off down the hall and toward the stairs—much quicker than taking the elevator at this point.

Mia looked back at her apartment, to which she just returned to overnight, and sighed. She shut the door and looked up at Lloyd.

He wanted to just lean down and kiss her, be glad she was back, but knew she was still angry, even if the truth was out. He'd have to wait if he wanted her back.

So the two ran off in the same direction as Jay and Nya and onto the Bounty, where the others waited for them.

"Welcome back, Mia—even though it was only a night you were gone." Cole waved, earning a scowl from the redhead.

"Don't even say anything, rockhead. After what you did—or rather, what you didn't do, I don't feel like speaking to any of you," Mia retorted.

"Well, you're going to have to to deal with it for a bit, because we want the same thing you do. To get Scarlett back." Kai stepped up to her, not the least bit afraid, and his determination surprised her.

Mia only crossed her arms, looking away from him.

"Unfortunately, we've moved very far from the shadow cave since Mia's kidnapping," Zane informed the group, him and Nya staring at the screen in the Bridge.

"How long until we get there?" Jay asked.

"A long while," Nya answered, a small sigh following after.

"We don't have a long while. They could've hurt her by now!" Mia huffed, glaring at the ninja. "I knew I should've gone and taken her back myself."

Lloyd grabbed onto his girlfriend's arm, pulling her back into reality. "I hate to tell you this, I really do, because you're strong. But on your own, you won't stand a single chance in there."

"That's what you think," she snapped back, trying to pull her arm away.

But he kept a strong grip, at least until she'd understand. "Mia, that's what I know. And I'm not letting you go down there without our support—without my support."

Mia said nothing, only took a deep breath. "Fine. You win, Lloyd."

He finally released the redhead, allowing her to move to the table and sit on it, looking at everyone in the room. "So, explain to me one more time. You all were blocked off of all hearing by the shadows?"

* * *

"Wake up."

Am I... in a dream?

"You must wake up."

Scarlett's eyes groggily opened only to find darkness in front of her. She realized that she was still in the shadow cave and the voices in her head still weren't leaving.

"I really need to see a therapist or something..." She shook her head, standing up.

She looked around the cage and took a few steps forward, grabbing onto the bars. "Maybe... no, I never needed them to save me in the first place. I don't exactly have powers right now, but that doesn't mean I can't find my own way out."

Scarlett looked at her surroundings, hoping to find something she could do to get herself out. Her eyes then found a rock that was oval-shaped at the top and she got an idea.

She picked up the rock, scratching it against the cave wall. She knew this wouldn't be quick, and she needed a lot of patience. She just hoped that the shadows wouldn't take her out of her cage before her plan was complete.

And an hour or two later, two shadows arrived to her cage to get her out and attempt to get her powers—but it was empty.

"She's gone?" one shadow asked. "But where did she go?"

"She couldn't have escaped, or gone far for the matter. Send everyone you can to find her!" the second one ordered, the first immediately running off.

The shadow that remained clenched his fist, looking at the cage. He noticed one of the bars between two of them in the middle, them bent slightly.

"Where did she get this immense strength from?" he asked himself. Just as he was about to leave the cage, he told himself, "She may be weak... but she's very clever. This may take more work than we thought."

The shadow then left, not hearing a small rustle from the far left corner of the cage. Scarlett then stepped out, holding the pointed rock in her hand tightly and whispered, "Thanks for the compliment. Now I'm getting out of here."

She found out that the bars were easy to break off, with the right object. Luckily for her, the rock was both heavy and strong enough for it, and she used it to bend them apart and keep it as her weapon, if needed.

She pulled the bar out, carefully placing it on the ground, and jumped out of the cage. Looking both ways, Scarlett ran forward and hoped to find an exit somewhere without being caught.

But as she was running, she stopped when she heard the voices of shadows down the hall.

"Did she really manage to escape?"

"Maybe she's not as weak as we thought."

"Being smart and weak are two different things."

I'm not even sad about being called weak, anymore—it's getting annoying, she told herself.

Without thinking, Scarlett jumped into the first room she saw, avoiding the shadows in the hall. She thought that this would be her end, that the shadows in this room would see her, but the room was empty.

"What the...?" Her eyes finally scanned the room, and after processing everything, her eyes widened.