Heroes POV
Kai stood motionless, his eyes fixed on Noah's slowly decaying body. A toxic mixture of anger, discomfort, and guilt churned in his gut. Sure, he'd been mad at Noah before, but seeing him like this felt wrong on so many levels. The sight before him was a stark reminder of how quickly things could change, how fragile life could be – even for a ninja.
They had finally managed to save Noah and stop Morro and the Preeminent from cursing the planet. It should have been a moment of triumph, a time to celebrate their victory. Instead, they found themselves facing a new, insidious enemy – one they couldn't fight with fists or elemental powers.
Noah lay on the infirmary bed, his skin a patchwork of decay and strange, black veins patchwork. The smell of rot hung in the air, mixed with the sharp scent of disinfectant. Machines beeped steadily, monitoring vital signs that seemed to defy logic. This was no ordinary Dream Coma.
Kai's mind flashed back to Noah's previous episodes. Those had been unsettling enough – Noah unconscious, bleeding from his leg and head, trapped in a dream world they couldn't reach. But this? This was something else entirely. Something far more terrifying.
"It's been five days," Nya whispered, breaking the heavy silence. She stood at the foot of Noah's bed, her usual confidence replaced by a look of helpless worry. "Last time, he was only out for a day. What if he doesn't-"
"Don't," Cole cut her off, his voice sharp but tinged with fear. "Don't even think it. Noah's tough. He'll pull through."
Kai wished he could share Cole's optimism, but the reality before him made it difficult. He glanced around the room, taking in the grim faces of his teammates. Jay paced, his usual quips silenced by the gravity of the situation. Zane stood perfectly still, his robotic eyes constantly scanning Noah's body, probably running countless analyses and coming up empty each time.
Sensei Wu and Misako huddled near the window, their faces etched with extreme worry. They had seen much in their long lives and faced countless dangers, but this – this seemed to shake even them to their core.
The door creaked open, and everyone's heads snapped up as Victor entered the infirmary. The doctor looked exhausted, dark circles under his eyes betraying countless sleepless nights spent trying to unravel this mystery.
"Do you have any idea what's going on?" Sensei Wu asked, straightening up from his chair. The hope in his voice was palpable, desperate.
Victor's shoulders sagged as he shook his head silently. "I've never seen anything like this before," he said, his voice heavy with defeat. He passed a clipboard to Misako, his hands trembling slightly. "It seems he's slowly rotting away while his system is transforming into something else. It's like... like his body is at war with itself."
A heavy silence fell over the room as they processed Victor's words. This sounded far worse than any of them had expected, and they had already been preparing for the worst.
Kai's fists clenched at his sides, frustration and helplessness washing over him like a tidal wave. "Isn't there anything we can try?" he asked, his voice tight with barely contained emotion. "Some kind of treatment or... I don't know, ancient remedy? There has to be something in all of Ninjago's history that can help!"
Victor shook his head again, his eyes filled with regret. "We're in uncharted territory here, Kai. Whatever's happening to Noah, it's beyond anything in medical science or even Ninjago's mystical lore. It's as if... as if he's being rewritten on a fundamental level."
Misako studied the clipboard, her brow furrowed in concentration. "This transformation you mentioned, Victor... can you elaborate?"
Victor ran a hand through his hair, sighing heavily. "It's as if his cellular structure is being rewritten. Some of his tissues are decaying, yes, but others are... changing. Evolving, even. I can't explain it. It's like watching millions of years of evolution happening in real-time, but twisted, corrupted somehow."
The implications of Victor's words hung in the air, adding another layer of dread to the already tense atmosphere. Whatever was happening to Noah, it was clear that they were facing something entirely new and potentially catastrophic.
"Could it be related to his powers?" Jay spoke up, his voice uncharacteristically quiet. "I mean, he's always been different, right? With the whole Creation thing?"
Zane nodded slowly, his processors whirring as he considered the possibility. "It's conceivable. Noah's unique genetic makeup, combined with the trauma of his recent experiences, could have triggered some sort of... metamorphosis."
"Metamorphosis into what?" Cole asked, voicing the question they were all afraid to consider.
Before anyone could respond, a low, guttural moan emanated from Noah's bed. Everyone froze, their eyes locked on their friend's prone form. Noah's body began to twitch and convulse, the machines around him beeping frantically.
"He's seizing!" Victor shouted, rushing to Noah's side. "Everyone, step back!"
The team watched in horror as Noah's back arched off the bed, his mouth open in a silent scream. The rot on his skin seemed to pulse and writhe, spreading further across his body with alarming speed. Black veins spider-webbed across the areas of unaffected flesh, creating a grotesque contrast.
Victor moved with practiced efficiency, his face a mask of professional calm despite the bizarre nature of the situation. He quickly turned Noah onto his side, ensuring his airway remained clear. "Zane, I need 10mg of diazepam, stat!" he called out, his voice steady but urgent.
As Zane rushed to retrieve the medication, Victor continued his assessment, checking Noah's pulse and respiration. "His heart rate is dangerously high," he muttered, more to himself than the others. "We need to get this under control or we risk organ failure."
Zane returned with the medication, which Victor swiftly administered. The others watched, helpless, as the doctor worked to stabilize their friend.
"Come on, Noah," Kai muttered, his fists clenched at his sides. "Fight this."
For several tense moments, Noah's body continued to convulse. Then, gradually, the seizure began to subside. His breathing, while still labored, started to even out.
Victor let out a shaky breath, wiping sweat from his brow. "He's stabilizing, but we're not out of the woods yet. This... condition, whatever it is, it's progressing faster than I anticipated."
The team exchanged worried glances as Victor continued his examination. The gravity of the situation was painfully clear - Noah was fighting for his life, and they had no idea how to help him.
"What do we do now?" Nya asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Sensei Wu stepped forward, his eyes fixed on Noah. "We prepare," he said solemnly. "And we hope. For when Noah wakes up, I fear our real challenges will begin."
As the team settled in for a long vigil, Kai couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something much bigger. Whatever lay ahead, he knew one thing for certain – they would face it together, as a team, as a family.
…
Noah lay on the cold examination table, acutely aware of the decay ravaging his body. The rot had consumed almost every inch of him, far worse than what had happened to Dream Nya when she was infected. The stench of putrefaction filled his nostrils, a constant reminder of his dire situation. Black veins spider-webbed across what little unmarred skin remained, pulsing with otherworldly energy that both repulsed and fascinated him.
He struggled to lift his head, muscles protesting with every movement. The scene before him was one of chaos and devastation. Dr. Alexander's lifeless body lay crumpled in the corner, his pristine lab coat now stained crimson. The sight sent a pang of guilt through Noah's heart; the doctor had been so close to a breakthrough, so close to saving him.
N, his future self, was locked in a fierce battle with the Four Generals. They moved with inhuman speed and precision, their attacks a blur of motion. N fought with the desperation of a man who knew the fate of multiple realms hung in the balance. His face was a mask of determination, but Noah could see the fatigue setting in, the slight hesitation in his movements.
And there, lurking in the shadows, was the Shadowy Being. It watched the battle unfold with an air of detached amusement as if this were all some grand spectacle for its entertainment. Its presence sent chills down Noah's spine, a reminder of the ominous words it had spoken to him.
Noah's mind raced back to just hours ago when hope had still burned bright. Dr. Alexander had been hunched over his workbench, his eyes alight with the fervor of scientific discovery. Vials of multicolored liquids bubbled and fizzed, complex equations scrawled across whiteboards in a language only the doctor seemed to understand.
"I think I'm onto something," Dr. Alexander had muttered, more to himself than to Noah. "The infection's genetic structure is unlike anything I've ever seen, but there's a pattern here. If I can just isolate this sequence..."
Noah had watched, a mix of hope and trepidation swirling in his gut. He'd seen the doctor work tirelessly, pouring over data from the infected tissue samples, cross-referencing them with Noah's unique genetic makeup. The complexity of it all was mind-boggling, but Dr. Alexander had approached the challenge with a determination that was almost contagious.
Noah had watched, a mix of hope and trepidation swirling in his gut. He'd seen the doctor work tirelessly, pouring over data from the infected tissue samples, cross-referencing them with Noah's unique genetic makeup. The complexity of it all was mind-boggling, but Dr. Alexander had approached the challenge with a determination that was almost contagious.
"Your Creation ability," the doctor had explained, excitement creeping into his voice, "it's not just about manifesting objects. It's altering your genetic code on a fundamental level. And this infection... it's like it's trying to hijack that process, to rewrite you entirely."
Noah had felt a chill at those words. "Rewrite me into what?" he'd asked, dreading the answer.
Dr. Alexander had paused his expression grave. "I'm not sure. But whatever it is, it's not human. Not anymore. The infection seems to be feeding off your Creation energy, twisting it into something... else. If we can't stop it, you'll continue to rot before eventually turning into a mindless Shadow Wraith."
Noah's blood ran cold at the mention of Shadow Wraiths. He'd seen what those creatures could do, their hollow eyes and decaying forms haunting his nightmares. The thought of becoming one of them made his stomach churn.
"How long do I have?" Noah asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Dr. Alexander shook his head. "It's hard to say. Your Creation ability seems to be slowing the process, but it's also making the infection more unpredictable. We're in uncharted territory here."
Noah nodded, his mind racing. He knew his Creation ability was powerful, but his imagination had always been limited by his internal conflicts and insecurities. Now, it seemed those very limitations might be the only thing holding back a complete transformation into a Shadow Wraith.
"Is there any way to stop it?" Noah had asked, trying to keep the fear out of his voice.
The doctor sighed, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "I'm working on it. But your Creation ability is unlike anything I've ever seen. It's as if it's constantly reshaping your very essence. The infection is using that flux state to its advantage, accelerating the rot in some areas while mutating others."
Noah glanced down at his arm, where the skin had taken on a sickly, mottled appearance. Black veins pulsed beneath the surface, a visible reminder of the infection's progress. He could feel it spreading, a cold, creeping sensation that seemed to be consuming him from the inside out.
"What about my mind?" Noah asked, voicing the fear that had been gnawing at him. "Will I... will I still be me when this is over?"
Dr. Alexander's expression softened, a mix of sympathy and determination in his eyes. "That's what we're fighting for, Noah. Your Creation ability gives you a unique advantage. If we can find a way to harness it, to direct it against the infection, we might be able to prevent the final transformation into a Shadow Wraith. But it's a race against time."
Noah felt a chill run down his spine. "And if we lose that race?"
The doctor hesitated, his gaze dropping momentarily. "If the infection completes its course... you'll become a Shadow Wraith, a servant to the Shadowy Being. Your consciousness, your free will - everything that makes you who you are - will be subsumed by its control."
Those words echoed in Noah's mind now as he watched the battle rage around him. He felt like a spectator in his own body, trapped and helpless as the infection continued its relentless advance, twisting his Creation ability into something unrecognizable.
He could feel the rot spreading, his flesh decaying even as his mind struggled to remain intact. The conflict within him intensified – his human consciousness fighting against the encroaching darkness that threatened to turn him into a mindless Shadow Wraith, a puppet of the Shadowy Being.
Noah's thoughts raced, panic threatening to overwhelm him. The idea of losing himself, of becoming a slave to the very entity they were fighting against, was almost too much to bear. He thought of his friends, his family, and all the people counting on him. Would he forget them? Would he turn against them?
N walked into the room, a glass of water in hand, his eyes immediately scanning Noah's condition. The decay had spread further, black veins now visible across most of Noah's exposed skin. N's face tightened with concern as he helped Noah sit up, careful not to aggravate any of the rotting areas.
"Here, drink some water," N said, his voice gentle but strained. "We need to keep you hydrated. It might help slow the infection's progress."
Noah glared at the glass, then at his future self. "Yeah, like that's going to save the future," he scoffed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Despite his protest, he took the water, wincing as he swallowed.
N studied Noah for a long moment, noting the hostility in his younger self's eyes. The tension in the room was palpable, thick enough to cut with a knife. Finally, N broke the silence, voicing the question that had been gnawing at him.
"What's your problem?" N asked, his patience wearing thin. "You've been acting moody for the last few hours. It's not just the infection, is it? There's something else going on."
Noah's eyes flashed with anger. "Me? Moody? Why would I be moody?" he spat, his voice rising. "Oh, I don't know, maybe because I was told that you fucked someone over so badly they turned into our worst enemy? Instead of warning me, instead of telling me that we ruined someone's life, you've been playing dumb this whole time!"
N's eyebrows shot up, genuine surprise etched across his face. "Excuse me? What on earth are you talking about?" He leaned forward, his voice urgent. "Noah, you need to tell me exactly what's going on."
Noah sat up straighter, ignoring the pain that shot through his decaying body. "The Shadowy Being talked to me," he said, his voice low and intense. "He told me he was a villain that we screwed over, and now he's out for revenge. He's pissed."
N's face twisted with a sudden swirl of emotions - shock, fear, and something that looked almost like guilt. "You talked to the Shadowy Being and you didn't even tell me?!" he exclaimed, running a hand through his hair in frustration.
"Well, considering how you didn't tell me shit," Noah retorted, his eyes narrowing with disgust. "The Shadowy Being revealed things about himself, but the fact that you screwed up so badly is worse than him contacting me. How could you keep this from me?"
N paced the room, his mind racing. "Noah, you don't understand. The situation is far more complicated than you realize. The Shadowy Being... he's manipulating you, twisting the truth to suit his agenda."
"Oh?" Noah challenged, his voice dripping with skepticism. "Then enlighten me. What's the real story? Who is he, and what did we do to him?"
N stopped pacing, turning to face Noah with a pained expression. "It's not that simple. The choices we made... they seemed right at the time. We were trying to save lives, to prevent a catastrophe."
"But it backfired, didn't it?" Noah pressed, his anger giving way to a mix of disappointment and fear. "We created something even worse."
N nodded slowly, the weight of his actions visible in the slump of his shoulders. "We did. But Noah, you have to understand, the Shadowy Being isn't just some wronged villain seeking justice. He's become something far more dangerous, something that threatens not just our world, but all of reality."
Noah absorbed this information, his mind reeling. "So what do we do now? How do we fix this mess?"
N sat down heavily, looking more vulnerable than Noah had ever seen him. "I don't know," he admitted. "That's why I came back. To try and change things, to find a way to prevent all of this from happening."
"But you're still keeping secrets," Noah pointed out, his voice softer now but still edged with frustration. "How can we hope to change anything if we're not honest with each other?"
N's mouth snapped shut, the words he desperately wanted to say dying on his lips. The truth about the Shadowy Being burned within him, but an invisible force seemed to choke off his voice every time he tried to speak of it. Even if he could tell Noah, a nagging doubt gnawed at him. What if revealing the truth made things worse? What if it set in motion events even more catastrophic than what they were already facing?
"I can't, Noah. You know that," N explained, trying to keep his voice calm despite the frustration building inside him. He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture of helplessness. "Let's focus on saving the world instead of trying to change something that might be inevitable. Some things... some things are better left unknown."
Noah's eyes flashed with anger and disappointment. He opened his mouth, ready to unleash a tirade of accusations and demands, but before he could speak, Dr. Alexander's voice cut through the tension.
"I don't care about whatever issues you two have with each other," the doctor interjected, his tone sharp with urgency. "But I think I've made a breakthrough. I believe I've created a cure."
Both Noah and N froze, their argument forgotten in an instant. They turned to face the doctor, hope and disbelief warring on their faces. Noah sat up fully on the examination table, wincing as the movement aggravated his decaying flesh.
"You have a cure?" Noah asked, his voice cracking with a mixture of excitement and desperation. "Finally! Please, cure me now!"
Dr. Alexander nodded a tired but triumphant smile on his face. He held up a vial filled with an iridescent liquid that seemed to shimmer and shift colors as it caught the light. "It's untested, but based on all my research, this should counteract the infection and stabilize your Creation ability."
As the doctor moved to pass the cure to Noah, the air suddenly grew heavy, charged with an otherworldly energy. A low rumble shook the building, dust raining down from the ceiling. Before anyone could react, there was a deafening crack, and the roof above them gave way.
Noah felt the impact as debris rained down around him. Chunks of concrete and twisted metal pinned him to the examination table, trapping him in place. He struggled against the weight, panic rising in his chest as he realized he was completely immobilized.
Through the settling dust and debris, Noah caught glimpses of the others. N was on his feet, having narrowly avoided being crushed. Dr. Alexander lay motionless nearby, the precious vial of the cure having rolled just out of reach. Noah's heart sank as he saw a growing pool of blood beneath the doctor's still form.
"This is such a small, cozy place," a chillingly familiar voice mused, cutting through the chaos. "But it's too bad that it's in this state."
Noah's blood ran cold as he recognized the speaker. He looked up, straining to see through the dust-filled air. Five figures emerged from the haze, their silhouettes becoming clearer with each step. Noah's breath caught in his throat as he realized who they were.
The Shadowy Being glided forward, its form seeming to absorb the light around it. It moved with an unnatural grace as if it were more vapor than solid matter. Behind it, the Four Generals fanned out, their eyes glowing with an eerie light that cut through the gloom.
The Shadowy Being came to a stop beside Noah's trapped form, its featureless face somehow conveying a sense of cruel amusement. "Hello, my pet," it purred, its voice sending shivers down Noah's spine.