2I have literally no excuse.
Clutch Powers had, as always and once again, uncovered a brand-new archeological site never before seen in the modern age! As he and his crew of explorers entered the, now not-so mythical, Sanctuary of the Vale, the heavy sound of falling water echoed off the stone walls. They were mottled green with moss and ivy, and when Clutch lifted a crumbling sheet of moss, he could see ancient writing engraved in the bricks. Already Clutch had a vague idea of what they meant: symbols of protection. He fingered the amulet in his pocket appreciatively.
"Look here, Dwayne," he gestured only a little boastfully to his young assistant. "This is when you know you have the real deal," Clutch traced the figure of a carved dragon. "These here are engravings you'll find nowhere else on Ninjago!"
Dwayne nodded rapidly, wide-eyed. "I still can't believe we're alive after that spike trap!" He whispered shakily, but smiling even as he watched the ceiling for movement.
"Ha!" Clutch laughed, slapping Dwayne on the back so hard the brown-haired teen stumbled forward. "That's basic 101, kid! There's way more you haven't seen." Clutch let his grin linger dramatically, knowing eyes watching Dwayne turn pale.
"Well, can't be so bad, can it?" Dwayne gulped bravely.
"That's the spirit!" Clutch ruffled the kid's hair. "Soon enough you'll be an explorer after my own heart. Enough of that though; here we are!" As he spoke, the corridor Clutch and Dwayne walked through opened up into a broad courtyard. Walled on all sides, cliffs hundreds of feet high made up it's borders. Grass and moss grew between cracks in the brick floor, and the the cliffs were covered in small trees that made a vertical forest into the sky. At the center of it all, mounted about fifteen feet off the ground, a gargoyle-esque carved head held a gleaming jewel in its jaws.
"Wow!" Dwayne gaped, his eyes lighting with excitement.
"Neat place, one of the better ones I've seen." Clutch mused, sounding like a stingy restaurant critic. Dwayne, his smile full of wonder, made to run off and start looking around.
"Ah ah, not too fast kid," Clutch warned, catching Dwayne by his shoulder and pulling him back. "You can never be too careful in these places. Watch," producing a quarter, Clutch flicked it out into the center of the yard. It rolled and bounced with a ping! drawing spirals on the rock before settling flat.
Clutch waited expectantly, Dwayne with bated breath, as silence enveloped the courtyard. It stayed, heavy with the sound of chattering insects, and settled. Then, as Clutch and Dwayne leaned forward, ...there was nothing.
"I guess it's okay then?" Dwayne asked nervously, taking a step forward, but Clutch held him back again.
"Wait…" Clutch said, his eyes fixated on the gleaming quarter. So, they waited. Five minutes. Ten. Fifteen.
"You sure we can't go out?" Dwayne whispered, shattering Clutch's intense concentration.
"Ach, fine." He grumbled, disappointed his omnipotent-mentor act had been broken. "Let's go. See that there, Dwayne?" He pointed to the brilliant blue jewel in the gargoyle's jaws. "That little beauty is our golden ticket."
Dwayne stared at the jewel in a mix of excitement and horror. "Are we going to take it?" He whispered as though someone unwanted might hear.
"Maybe." Clutch shrugged. "First, though, we're going to try something else." With a smirk, he produced a similar blue jewel, cut and polished flat, embedded in a silver disc. "Stand back, kid," Clutch warned. "These sorts of things are always booby-trapped."
Dwayne obediently backpedaled out of the center of the courtyard, while Clutch took up a position in the exact middle. Raising the jewel high above his head, he directed the reflected beam of sunlight into the gargoyle's treasure, his grin growing wider by the second. Suddenly the clearing was enveloped in blinding light, which radiated from both gemstones. Clutch shielded his eyes as Dwayne gave a little squeak of fear.
When the light faded, and Clutch was still blinking spots out of his vision, he could barely make out a figure standing at the base of the back wall under the gargoyle. Dwayne, on the other hand, could see just fine.
"Lloyd!" He shrieked in excitement and disbelief, and Clutch immediately did a double-take. Yup, that was the Green ninja, scratching his head while he patted down that famous gi.
"Lloyd!?" Clutch yelled, completely flabbergasted and a little angry that lightshow hadn't opened up a secret passage, or something.
"Clutch!" Lloyd cried in surprise. "What are you-how did I get here?" Taking a second look around, his eyes fell on the cliff-mounted statue behind him. Lloyd's face fell into a flat, somewhat annoyed look, though no longer confused. "Oh." He said knowingly, "so that's how that works."
"Um, care to fill the rest of us in?" Clutch snapped. "How, and why, did you get here!?" As he spoke he waved the jeweled disc furiously.
"Well, it's kind of-yes!" Lloyd exclaimed, cutting off his own explanation. His eyes were on the disc Clutch carried, and in a smooth motion he leaped, backflipped-showoff-and landed in front of Clutch, snatching the disc.
"Hey!" Clutch yelled, unsuccessfully trying to grab it back. "I found that fair and square!"
"You found this?" Lloyd's eyes lit up. "Thank you! I was so worried when I lost it."
"That's yours?" Dwayne gasped, having crept up to watch the exchange. "What is it, and what was that light!?"
"Right!" Lloyd smiled, pocketing the disc. Clutch gave up trying to take it back… for now. "I owe you an explanation-" suddenly, as if there hadn't been enough interruptions, the Weekend Whip started playing, accompanied by a mysterious buzzing. "Hold that thought," Lloyd said, whipping out his phone.
Dwayne leaned up to Professor Powers and whispered, "how does he have service way out here?" Lloyd, seeming to have heard this, just winked.
"Hey, Kai." Lloyd said into the phone. "Yes, I'm okay-oh my gosh, I said I'm okay, slow down!" Lloyd backed off from Clutch and Dwayne a little, starting to pace. The two explorers looked on in bewilderment. "Uhuh. Yeah. No, I'm in the Vale of Lost Souls. … Yeah, I know. I think it's that weird ritual thing Keel was talking about." Lloyd glanced over at Dwayne and Clutch. "It was Clutch. … No, no, don't worry! I can handle myself! … Yes, okay-I'll see you soon, bye." Lloyd all but stabbed the end call button, pocketing his phone and turning to his stunned onlookers. "Sorry about that," he smiled pleasantly. "Can we start over?"
That was how Clutch and Dwayne found themselves sitting at a cheap plastic table, surrounded by never-before-seen ancient architecture, being served stale chips by Lloyd. There was a roof over their heads now, dripping roots and cobwebs, in an out-of-the-way corner of the sanctuary Lloyd said he'd converted into a temporary base a while back.
"Sorry I don't have anything fresh," Lloyd smiled ruefully, "most stuff won't keep past a day in here." Taking a seat across from Clutch and Dwayne in a folding chair, there were several more stacked in a corner-presumably for the other ninja, he took some chips from a big popcorn bowl for himself, and leaned back. "Ask me any questions you want," he said with a grin.
"Well, I think I've got the gist of the situation," Clutch said brusquely, swapping his eyepatch to the other eye. "Ancient places like these, sanctuary, monastery, whatever," he said, "always have a guardian. Somehow, somehow, the guardian of the Sanctuary of the Vale of Lost Souls," Clutch pointed at Lloyd, "is you."
"Bingo." Lloyd smirked cheekily.
"And you're how old?" Clutch eyed him incredulously.
"Not as old as all this," Lloyd gestured to the carved stone brick boxing the room in. "The old guardian retired. More power to him, I suppose. He'd been at it for 700 years."
"I'd have so much trouble believing this if I hadn't worked with you before," Clutch grumbled, rubbing his temples.
"Where is the old guardian now?" Dwayne asked curiously, munching on a handful of chips.
"Beats me." Lloyd casually flicked a spider off his shoulder. "I'd wager he's made it halfway across the world by now, if his retirement plans were anything to go by."
"So, I take it there's no treasure." Clutch sighed in disappointment.
"Nothing you wouldn't have to fight me to get," Lloyd agreed nonchalantly. This earned him a look of shock from Dwayne, and one of contempt from Clutch.
"Naturally, if you're guarding the place." Clutch snorted. "I'm not about to work that hard."
"Good move," Lloyd praised with a laugh.
"So," Clutch eyed Lloyd interestedly, "what about that disc you've got in your pocket? I did find it fair and square."
"Hmm." Lloyd brought out the gleaming blue jewel again, passing it from palm to palm thoughtfully. "I'll think about it," he said while squinting shrewdly at Clutch.
"Pfah." Clutch scoffed, standing up. "What a waste of time."
"If you need a lift, the Bounty will be here in the morning," Lloyd offered.
Dwayne opened his mouth eagerly, but Clutch was faster. "No thanks, we're fine." He grumbled, making to leave the sanctuary. "Come on Dwayne," he said. His assistant looked back and forth between them for a moment, before sighing and following Clutch into the larger sanctuary. Lloyd, however, didn't miss Clutch palming a few of the little carved pebbles the ninja had once found and stacked on a shelf in the wall. With a chuckle, he shook his head and put his feet up, drawing the bowl of chips into his lap.