Kai is asking everyone else's big question.
Just fluff. :D
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*The ninja and Okino head into the Maze of the Red Dragon.*
Okino narrates. "I am Okino. Samurai of Terra Karana. My entire existence, I have sought to fulfill my duty, guiding my masters across the dangers of Terra Karana. I have failed many times." He remembers the times he failed his masters and honored them. "But now, I have masters truly worthy of my honorable efforts. I will not fail them!"
"We must stay together. The Maze of the Red Dragon has many twists and turns." said Okino.
"Pfft! No problem. I'm great at mazes." said Jay.
"This might be harder than the ones you're used to on the backs of cereal boxes." said Cole, making Jay scowl at him.
"I hate mazes." Nova groans as she remembered the ice maze where they saw their future selves.
"How many mazes have you been in, to hate them?" Lloyd asked.
"One, and that was more than enough for me." said Nova with a huff.
Lloyd raised an eyebrow. "What kind of maze was that?"
"The one where we had to find the realm crystal." said Nova, glancing at him. "I don't even wanna talk about, you know who."
Lloyd narrowed his eyes at her, knowing who she was talking about. "Okay."
*The ninja and Okino arrive, walk to a path of statues that look similar to the ones from Dyer Island.*
"Huh. Those statues look familiar." said Cole.
"Yeah. He's right. Those are just like the statues we saw at Dyer Island!" said Nya.
"Oh, yeah! The ones that shot lasers at us-" The statue next to Cole shoots lasers.
"Woah!"
*The ninja summon their prime controllers.*
"Go! Quickly!" shouted Okino.
The ninja and Okino run across the statues, deflecting the lasers and destroying the statues along the way. The final statue shoots its laser at Jay.
Jay dodges the laser and destroys the statue. "Gotcha!"
"They are many traps here. You must always be aware of your surroundings." said Okino.
"Good safety tip. Right, guys?" The ninja nod in agreement. Lloyd takes a step but Okino and Nova stop him, then Okino pulls out his sword and presses a floor panel. Spikes appear. "Thanks, Okino, and Ocea."
"Don't tell me you are getting rusty, green ninja." Nova teased, with a big smile.
"Me, rusty? Please, I was just caught off guard." Lloyd rolled his eyes.
"That... was close." said Nya as the ninja and Okino slowly avoided the floor panels. Jay jumps over the others and reaches the other side. "Jay..."
"Heheh." Jay looks at both sides of the maze. "Which way now?"
"Uh, Okino. Any ideas? Left or right-" All of Prime Empire except Okino pauses.
Okino gasps. "Master Lloyd? Nova? Nya? Jay? What is wrong? What has happened?" A flash of light appears and he covers his eyes. He sees his creator.
"Okino, my son." said a voice.
"Unagami!" Okino kneels to Unagami.
"You may rise." said Unagami.
"It is an honor to be in your presence." said Okino.
"Yet I sense something's troubles you." said Unagami.
"The ninja. They have told me things. About Terra Karana. Things that are difficult to believe." said Okino.
"They have told you that this world is not real? That you are not real?" Okino responds to Unagami's questions by nodding. "This is true. You were born in this realm. A place of illusion, a shadow of the real world. But you are not bound to this place. I am building a machine. A wondrous device that will allow you to enter the real world. Would you like to go there?"
"Hai." said Okino.
"Then I shall bring you with me. But you must help me." said Unagami.
"How?" Okino asked.
Unagami teleports himself to Okino and walks over to him. "The ninja seek to stop me and destroy the machine. Instead, they must be destroyed."
"But, they are my friends. They trusted me." said Okino.
Unagami's face turns red, and he teleports himself closer to Okino. "If you help the ninja, you will never see the real world. You will remain trapped here in this illusion forever!"
"But I, I am a guide. It would be dishonorable to betray my masters!" said Okino.
Unagami transforms into the Empire Dragon and roars in anger. Okino kneels as the Empire Dragon walks to him.
"You chose strangers over me?! Your creator?! Do your duties, Samurai! You will hear from me again... when the time is near!" shouted the Empire Dragon.
*The Empire Dragon leaves and all of Prime Empire unfreezes.*
"Right?" said Cole.
"Okino? Are you okay?" Lloyd puts his hand on Okino's shoulder.
"I... I... I am okay." said Okino.
"So, which way? Left or right?" Cole asked.
Nova looks over at Okino with a raised eyebrow, but doesn't say anything, as she already knew what had happened. Even though she hadn't heard them talking in person, she knew what had been said, and it made her question what would happen when the Overlord returns.
So far, she hasn't heard anything from him since they returned from the Never-Realm, which for her was a good thing so he wouldn't ruin her moments with Lloyd. But this also worried her, as he was probably more focus on his plans, so didn't want to waste his time with her for the time being.
".....What are his plans for me? The only reason I'm still around is that I'm still useful to him." Nova frowned at the thought of it.
"Moonie, you're making that face again." said Lloyd.
"What face?" Nova looked over at him.
Lloyd poked her forehead. "The one you make, when you are having bad thoughts." He gently took her hand in his. "What's bothering you, Ocea?"
"....I'll tell you later, when we are done here." said Nova.
Lloyd raised an eyebrow at her, giving her the 'really' look, as she always seemed to keep something from him.
"I mean it, greenbean, I will." said Nova, giving him a small smile as she squeezed his hand.
"Fine." Lloyd sighs, pulling up her hand and kissing it.
A small blush grew on Nova's face, but her smile grew a bit wider
*Okino looks at both directions and points right. The ninja and Okino head right.*
"As we near the heart of the maze, the danger will grow." said Okino.
"We trust you, Okino." said Lloyd.
"Down. All of you!" shouted Okino, They duck to avoid obstacles.
"Thanks again, Okino." said Nya.
"It is my duty. Run!" The walls close in on them. "Leap!" They leap over a gap. "Roll, quick!" They roll, but Cole isn't fast enough and is pinned down.
"Cole!" shouted Jay.
"Get this thing off of me!" Jay frees him. "It's okay, it's not that bad. But I could use a booby trap break." said Cole.
"We can rest for a moment. It is safe here." said Okino.
Nova let out a sigh as she went on to site down next to Lloyd, and rested her head on his shoulder. Since she really did need some rest, even though she was max level and her stats were fully maxed out. She hadn't really rested this much for a good while when the others joined.
"Are we getting close to the Key-Tana yet?" Nya asked.
"Hai. The heart of the maze is near. May I ask something?" said Okino.
"Of course, Okino." Lloyd wrapped an arm around Nova, holding her close so she could rest comfortable.
"Why do you seek the Key-Tana?" Okino asked.
"We need it to stop Unagami, to free everyone who's been trapped inside the game." said Lloyd, while Nova had gone on to fidget with her necklace as she rested.
"They are your friends?" Okino asked.
"Well, not really. But they're innocent people, and they're in danger. We have a duty to help them, right?" said Lloyd before glancing at Nova, who was fidgeting with her necklace. Finding it cute that she was wearing it, even though those kinds of accessories weren't her thing, but she had gone on to wear it since he gave it to her.
The ninja had watched the two interacting a few times on their way here, and found it kind of sweet and a relief that Nova seemed more cheerful and less aggressive to start any arguments.
"Looks like that date was a bigger success, than we thought." Jay whispered to the others.
"Yeah, for once, it's actually more peaceful at the monastery. Now that she isn't screaming and fighting with Lloyd." whispered Kai.
"I was starting to worry their relationship would become toxic if they kept going like that." Cole whispered.
"Would you guys, shut it. Don't ruin this moment for them." Nya whispered.
"What are you guys whispering about?" Lloyd asked.
"Nothing!" shouted the ninja in a panic.
Lloyd gave them a confused look as he raised an eyebrow.
"So, when's the second date?" Kai smirked as he wiggled his eyebrows.
Nova's face started turning all red by Kai's questions and tried hiding her face in Lloyd's arm.
Lloyd took a look at Nova, who was getting all flustered and was trying to hide her face. "Haven't decided yet."
"Well, if you want, I can maybe help setting it up." Kai suggested.
Lloyd seemed to think for a minute on his offer before shaking his head. "Thanks, Kai. But I think, we can figure something out ourselves."
"Okay, but should you ever change your mind. You know where to find me." said Kai.
"Can we please drop this topic, already." said Nova, still hiding her red face.
*Some time later, they approach the Key-Tana, which is guarded by the Red Dragon.*
"There it is! The Key-Tana!" said Jay.
"Shh! Speak softly!" said Okino.
"Could've been worse." said Nya.
"How?" Kai asked.
"Don't jinx it." said Nova.
"It could've been awake. If we're quiet, we can sneak by, grab the Key-Tana, and get out of here before it wakes up." said Nya.
"That is a wise plan. But one of you must retrieve the Key-Tana. I can only guide a quest, not complete one." said Okino.
"I'll go." said Nya.
"No, it should be the one with the highest Stealth rating." said Lloyd.
Everyone turned to Nova, who was just sitting and watching, until she noticed the others looking at her.
"Fine, it shouldn't be that hard." Nova got up and approached the Key-Tana slowly, watching the movement of the dragon. She quickly dodges its tail as she jumps over it, but just as she is about to grab the Key-Tana, the dragon moved one of its wings in a way that hit her and sent her flying into a rock.
"Fuck, what is it with me and getting thrown into things." Nova growled a little too loud, causing the dragon to wake up. "Fuck my life."
Seeing that the dragon was now away, the ninja didn't see any other choice but come out from where they were hiding.
"Uh oh."
"Hit it!" shouted Jay.
"We gotta knock its hind forces down!" shouted Cole.
"Our hits aren't working!" shouted Kai as they were hitting it, but nothing was happening.
"There has to be a way to bring it down!" shouted Nya.
"The Red Dragon's weak point is -" The game freezes again.
"It is time. All you must do is remain silent. Let them perish. Do not help them." said Unagami.
"But, they trust me." said Okino.
"Remember what I offered. Escape, freedom, a place in the real world." said Unagami.
"In the real world?" The game unfreezes.
"Okino! There's gotta be a way to defeat him!" shouted Lloyd.
"Okino, help us!" shouted Nya.
"Okino! Please!" shouted Nova.
"I choose my own path!" Okino leaps onto the dragon and hits the dragon's weak spot, and it loses a life.
"The scale! That's the dragon's weak point! Hit the scale in the middle of his back!" shouted Lloyd.
"I see it!" shouted Nya
"Yeah! We can do this!" shouted Cole
*The ninja repeatedly hit the scale until it loses all 16 lives and turns into an amulet.*
"You have defeated the dragon. The amulet is yours." Jay takes the amulet. "You are empowered to call upon the dragon in a future battle, but once, and only once." said Okino.
"We did it!" cheered Lloyd as he pulled Nova into a kiss, catching her off guard.
Nova's face started turning red as she didn't think he would do this right after they defeated the dragon.
"We did it with your help, Okino." The game freezes again.
"You have betrayed me, Okino, but you have only doomed yourself. The gate will still be built, but you will never see it. Never!" The game unfreezes.
Nova avoided Lloyd's gaze for a bit, as she didn't like being caught off guard by him.
"Thanks, Okino." said Jay.
"You were great." said Cole.
"Yeah, you should come with us, Okino. You were a big help." said Lloyd while wrapping an arm around Nova.
"I thank you, but I must go my own way." Okino narrates. "For too long, I have followed the ways of others." He sticks his sword into the ground. "I am Okino, Ronin of Terra Karana. No longer do I guide others on their adventures. Now, I seek my own adventure."
"So, you gonna tell me what you thought about earlier that was making you upset?" Lloyd looked at Nova.
Nova bit her lower lip, thinking about her answer to him. "I....my old world..... I wanna tell you, but..... it's not the right time."
Lloyd raised a questionable eyebrow at her. "Then tell me, when it's the right time, moonie." He placed a kiss on her forehead.