project sekai but the cross-unit events get songs and mvs. except they're actually just horrible.
please give me nene and toya rap battling about who's better. akito and emu are there for emotional support
give me rui's heart broken ballad about how dogshit awful toya's cooking is
give me tsukasa and mizuki dueting about chocolates and akito is just there. he is forced here but he has to sing too. no excuses you gay ginger
minori and kohane the voice knockouts style singing different songs mashed up about why their partner is better (eventually they turn around and just start making out with said partner)
pandemonium field trip memorial song except it's just rui being overly dramatic (shizuku fell into this hole as well, tsukasa and airi are devastated and mafuyu is just gone 💀)
A reason why I specifically like Dragons Rising is the fact that they use two main characters of the opposite gender, not because they're shown as platonic either, the fact that it's sending a message that the show is okay for anyone to watch, regardless of gender.
With the original show that was a bit harder, since 5/6 of the main ninja were all male. I feel like DR does a really good job at making sure not to have one gender prevail over the other, on both the good guys and villains.
In addition to being a terrific follow-up/sequel, it's also a genuinely good show in today's culture, no matter what anyone else says. The morals, ideas, concepts, and heavy topics it captures are genuinely so surprising for what's marketed as a kids show.
Dragons Rising is truly a show for everyone, and people who can't accept every representation in it don't deserve to have the show. <3
Kanade did not wake up thinking this would be anything but a normal day. Even if it was the Dragon Day celebration.
She had already commenced her daily search for her missing master, but nothing had come up. She had been in this apartment for an entire year.
The rest of her team had split, doing whatever they could, wherever they could.
Kanade remained.
Of course, she wasn't entirely alone. Mizuki kept her company from within the databases of the computer systems. They would speak to her; as that was the only way they could do so.
All Kanade thought about was how she couldn't fail someone else. She had to save them.
“I must keep searching,” was the phrase she repeated everyday to herself. Nightfall is when the topic finally drifted out of her mind, but not of acceptance. More so of distraction. Police officials had reported six suspicious individuals outside Akiyama Tower. Civilians hadn't noticed as they were partying in the streets.
Kanade’s head immediately shot up at this relay. A chance to do something, to contribute to something again, rather than endlessly searching for someone who might never be found.
“Perhaps this will give you something exciting to do! At least to take your mind off of… y'know,” Mizuki chimed through the speakers. Kanade smiled, even though they couldn't see it. Mizuki remotely opened the cabinet towards Kanade's right, and Kanade grinned at the sight of her uniform.
Six strange individuals working their way up Akiyama Tower. Six strange individuals. Six. The number was familiar to Kanade. But it couldn't be the rest of her friends; she was not with them. Peering over the edge of the top of the tower, she caught a glimpse of what they looked like. Six people wearing matching outfits, each had a differently colored biker helmet.
Not them, she thought to herself. As if there was any chance that they were. They hadn't contacted her in a long while, and she wasn't sure if they would respond if she reached out to them instead.
The one in green seemed to be the leader. Green like her. Whoever it was, he unsheathed the two red katanas on his back and sliced along the glass in the shape of a circle. The glass fell away.
Kanade couldn't see them after they went inside the building, but she waited above the glass windows until they came out.
After about a minute, the alarms sounded and the group ran out, holding a strange red mask.
Kanade smirked. Maybe today would be interesting for her after all.
Jumping down from the overhang, she took the group by surprise. “Nice masks,” she started. “You could almost pass for a ninja!” The six of them weren't amused, and they unsheathed their swords.
Kanade smiled and unsheathed a blade of her own. The ones in the white and gray helmets lunged at her first. She easily parried both of them, locking blades, before launching them into some of the glass windows.
The red one was the only other one to attack her, before the rest of them set up a zipline and rode away. Kanade powered up her spinjitzu and quickly disabled him.
She peered over the edge, along the zipline. Climbing up onto the ledge, she took a deep breath.
“Been a hot minute, huh?” she asked herself.
And she slid down the rope.
“Mizuki, lock onto my location. I'm going to need transportation,” she said through her earpiece.
Mizuki laughed. “Ah, you're actually getting exercise, huh?~”Kanade did not say anything.
The leader was now at the end of the rope. One of his followers was still riding, but it seemed to Kanade that he didn't care.
He cut the rope.
Kanade grabbed onto the end of it and swung around to catch the falling member. Smirking, she dropped the gray masked thief into the arms of a police officer before dropping to the ground herself.
“I could really do with that transportation right about now!” By now, Kanade felt a little annoyed.
Mizuki giggled in her earpiece. “Relax! Incoming transportation in three, two, one!~”
Kanade stopped right as headlights shone down the alley across from her. The cockpit of the car swung open as it came to a halt right in front of her.
Jumping in, Kanade immediately took control of the wheel, and the cockpit closed in on her. The systems fired up and the car swerved to chase the rest of the thieves.
She passed two more members in the custody of the police. Guess they actually did something for once, she thought to herself. The leader was the only one left.
“Locking on to whoever this guy is, now! You can thank me later,~” Mizuki chimed. Kanade groaned. “I'm tired already. My legs hurt. Who am I even chasing?”
Mizuki paused for a moment, presumably looking through files. “Well, he or she isn’t in any of our records, so I'm not exactly sure. You'll figure it out!”
Kanade sighed. “I hate you sometimes.”
The leader overlooked one of the freeway edges, the mask in hand. He had removed the green helmet, and now sported a black helmet with a red visor. In the street lighting, the bag on his back was more visible. Kanade opened the cockpit and dashed towards the mysterious individual.
He jumped.
The bag on his back turned out to be a parachute. Gliding down, he landed on a passing boat, and floated under a tunnel.
Kanade stopped. She didn't follow him.
“What's up? You had that guy right there!” Mizuki exclaimed.
Kanade stuttered. “There's… there's something wrong. That parachute…”
“You know I can't see, right?” Mizuki asked, annoyed.
Kanade paused for a few seconds. “That parachute. The words on it… it read…”
“The Sons of Yoisaki.”
Mizuki didn't laugh, didn't giggle, and they didn't even add a fufu~ into their response. “Shall I contact the others?”
Ena didn't realize just how hot it could get out in the countryside. The farmers must be exhausted everyday.
Recently, there’s been rumors of rogue warriors forcing the farmers to work for them. Ena was suspicious about these so-called rumors, and had decided to investigate the fields, mainly because of the abundance of water there.
That didn't stop Ena from complaining. Although she was right about the warriors, Ena complained all the time. It seemed her negativity was infectious, because the farmers she stayed with were starting to complain too. Mainly about Ena.
Today she decided to do something, for once.
The fields nearby were occupied by a few farmers and three warriors. Ena could easily get rid of them.
Picking up a long stick and two water buckets hanging from it, she hauled the load over her shoulders and set off towards the field.
“You, peasant! Fetch me some water!” The first thing she hears, and it's an order.
Ena doesn't really like following orders.
She smirks, and tilts her head up towards them. “Oh, what's that? Thirsty?” Ena asked, smiling.
They seemed to recognize her now. "That's the Master of Water!" The two other warriors backed up, and eventually ran from the hills, leaving their swords. The one who told Ena to bring him water stayed.
“I'll take you, ninja,” he proclaimed.
Ena dropped the buckets and swirled the two masses of water around her, pressing it into a vortex. Spraying it outwards was as simple as breathing to Ena. She was one with the water; and the water one with her. Feeling the force of the water, she pushed it towards the warrior, like expelling a sneeze.
The warrior didn't stand a chance. Flying into the watery rice fields, he splashed and knocked over a few stray weeds, before grimacing at Ena and leaving. The farmers cheered.
Ena smiled. Her enjoyment wasn't long-lived.
“Ena, we have a new task for you! I'm sure you'll enjoy the excitement, ehehe,~” Mizuki chimed through her earpiece, almost shouting.
Ena sighed. “Here we go again.”
Tsukasa didn't understand how Toya was possibly this dense. It was so simple! Even Akito could probably understand it. They had been talking about it all the way up the mountain, and they were now past the doors. The air was cold outside and Tsukasa wanted shelter.
“All I'm saying,” Tsukasa started, while pushing the temple doors closed, “is that if someone brought us to another universe when we were babies, no one would even know the difference!”
Toya sighed. “Really, Tsukasa. You need to get your brain checked out.” They heard that an old master who had lost their memory had been taken in by the temple on this mountain. They were hopeful in their search this time.
“Excuse me,” Toya started. “I'm Toya, the Master of Earth. This is Tsukasa, Master of blabber.”
“Lightning!” Tsukasa cut in.
Toya ignored him. “We're looking for a lost master who we heard wandered by. She's about yay tall with twin pigtails and blue hair?”
The monk frowned at them and pointed towards the other side of the hall.
“THANK YOU!!” Tsukasa yelled. The monk flinched.
Strolling into the room across the way, Tsukasa was excited. Not just because of the possibility their master might soon be found, but at the possibility that maybe the search would be over, and things would go back to normal.
That all shattered when they walked into the room.
The “master” they had been pointed to was a bulky, crude-looking, and metal version of their master. How it existed, Tsukasa had no idea. He didn't question it either.
Toya started the argument. “I told you she wasn't going to be here!”
“Well, if only you had been better at convincing me!” Tsukasa yelled back.
The fight between the two went on for a while until one of the monks butted in. “Will you both stop fighting??”
Tsukasa stopped, surprised at the monk's loud interjection. Toya did too, confused. The monk covered his mouth.
Another monk yelled “HA! I told you you wouldn't be able to keep your vow of silen-” He realized his mistake and cut himself off.
Soon the entire temple was filled with the shouts of the enraged and angry monks. How this happened, Tsukasa and Toya had forgotten.
Tsukasa's earpiece buzzed amidst the chaos. He moved his hand up to press the button.
“Tsukasa,” it started. It was Mizuki's voice. “We have a mission for you.” He looked up at Toya.
They both nodded and ran out of the temple.
Akito didn't really know why he had chosen to go on this mission with Rui. Rui, of all people.
Honestly, that was probably the worst of his concerns right now. Highest on the list, let him think about it for a second, might just be getting scorched by a beam of fire.
“Honestly, do you ever get tired of this?” Akito asked. It was a genuine question. He didn't know how the Mechanic found joy in scorching random objects and being arrested in a looping cycle.
She laughed. “Of course not! Specifically because of the fact that I get to annoy you!”
Rui cuts in. “Airi Momoi, you are under arrest for arson and vandalism. Please hold where you are until police gets here unless-”
“HA!” she cries. “Unless what? You two ‘ninja’ can hardly work together, so unless-”
Rui, annoyed, returned her favor by encasing her completely in ice.
Akito begrudgingly walked back over to Rui. “Well, at least I wasn't right behind her. Getting frozen by you is no fun,” Akito lamented. Rui chuckled.
Akito sighed. It could be worse. In all honesty, he'd rather be with Rui instead of Tsukasa. He couldn't stand being on a mission with him, despite being good friends.
His thoughts were interrupted by an incoming transmission from Mizuki. Rui answered it on his comm first, so Akito just listened to what they were saying.
“Rui, Akito,” they started. “We have a new mission for you.”
Rui glanced up at Akito. Akito rolled his eyes.
And they took off towards downtown.
Kanade walked into the designated meeting room last. Everyone else had already arrived.
“Well, well! If it isn't our little Miss Kanade!” Ena greeted her with a hug. “It's been a bit, hm?”
Kanade smiled. “I guess so.” A few seconds of awkward silence before Kanade realized they were all smiling and staring at her still.
“Erm,” she struggled to get the words out. “What is it?”
Akito spoke up first, with a smirk on his face. “Your voice. It's more…”
Tsukasa chimed in next. “Commanding! Loud? Maybe just a tad more confident!”
She blushed, not knowing when this had exactly happened. Ena chimed in first. “Any word from your mother?”
Kanade shook her head. “She's been missing for a while. I'm not sure where she is, or what happened.”
Toya put his hand on Kanade's shoulder. “She'll come back, Kanade. I'm certain of it. As will Miku.”
Kanade brushed his hand off of her. “Not everyone comes back, Toya.” The rest of them nodded silently. “However, that isn't the reason I've called you here. You're all here because of this. Amia?”
“Here. Pulling up the display,” Mizuki confirmed.
Kanade held her phone out as a projection emitted from the screen. It showed a picture of the parachute from the heist that Mizuki must've captured through the camera recordings in Kanade's mask.
“The Sons of Yoisaki?” Akito asked.
“A growing crime syndicate that's been more active and prominent in recent months,” Rui explained.
Kanade nodded. “About seventy-two hours ago, a group of criminals from the Sons of Yoisaki stole a powerful relic from Yuuki Akiyama. Some mask-”
A figure walked into the room and cut Kanade off. “Not ‘some’ mask. An Oni mask. There are only three in existence.”
“Wait,” Tsukasa started. “You just said there were three masks, but I thought you also said it was the ONLY mask??”
“Not only, dipshit! Oni Mask,” Ena corrected.
“The Oni are said to be extremely powerful beings of destruction that predate our realm itself,” Rui explained.
“Each mask wields different powers of the Oni. When united, they could unleash a terrible power upon the world.”
Kanade moved over to beside the newcomer. “Guys, this is Shiho Hinomori, the Master at Arms and Counsel to the Royal Family. I've personally asked her to be here.”
“Wait, we have a Royal Family?” Akito asked.
“Apologies if you aren't familiar,” Shiho started, in a rather condescending tone. “They like to keep their matters to themselves.”
“Let me guess,” Toya started. “They have an Oni Mask too.”
“NOW THERE'S TWO??” Tsukasa yelled. Ena covered his mouth.
Shiho continued. “The Emperor will be speaking out to the public tomorrow, and I'm worried that an advance on the Oni Mask may happen during the celebration. We could use your assistance, if…” She looked at Tsukasa. “You could keep a low profile.”
Rui smiled. “We're ninja. That's our job.”
Kanade nodded. “Just let us know the time and place.”
At the venue, the ninja could hardly focus on the speech. Not because they were actually doing their job, but mainly because it was so utterly boring. There were tons of decorations and loud noises all over, which Tsukasa took a liking to.
Ena groaned. “What's the point of making such a public speech if you're supposed to keep to yourself all the time?”
Tsukasa jumped in. “Obviously they want their words to reach the masses! JUST LIKE A WORLD FUTU-”
Mizuki cut off his earpiece per request of Akito.
“Why all the hate? Not like you really care about whether they're public or not.” Akito asked.
“Well, for starters, they don't even have any power to begin with. What's the point of all this show for nothing?” Ena retorted.
Rui stepped in. “Their purpose is to be sacred and protected, as like our other traditions we celebrate.”
“I guess,” Ena grumbled.
“A-ha! I think I finally turned it back on. CAN YOU HEAR M-” Tsukasa was once again shut off.
Looking up at Kanade, Rui chuckled to himself. “Looks like someone has eyes for the princess! Fufu~”
“Betting her favorite color is green!” Ena exclaimed. They all burst out laughing.
“You know I can hear literally everything you're saying,” Kanade finally replied.
“Finally defending yourself?” Rui asked.
Kanade sighed. “Let's just do our job, alright? The speech is almost over, so-” Kanade cut herself off, as she saw a balloon with the words Sons of Yoisaki on it. “Guys, I saw-”
Cracking sounds filled the venue as the crowd dived into a panicked frenzy.
Thinking quickly, Kanade turned her attention towards the Royal Family and tackled the Empress and the Princess to the ground. Shiho made sure to do the same for the Emperor.
“Is the threat all clear?” Kanade asked after the sounds resided. Ena searched around the area before her glance fell on used firecrackers. “It was a false alarm. They were firecrackers.”
Shiho got up, and brushed her shoulders off. “Well, you protected the Royal Family. You have their respect and gratitude. They have invited you to stay as guests in the Royal Palace.”
Tsukasa lit up. “Wow! No one ever gets to be invited into the Palace! Are you SUUREEE they meant us??”
“Eh,” Ena dismissed. “It's just a palace. I've definitely seen my first share already. Seen one, seen ‘em all.”
Kanade rolled her eyes. “We'd be honored.”
Walking up the stairs to the outer gates, they met with Shiho once again.
“Welcome to the Royal Palace, also known as the Palace of Secrets,” Shiho introduced.
“Wait, why do they call it the Palace of Secrets?” Akito asked.
“If I told you, it wouldn't be a secret now, would it?” Shiho responded.
The ninja, minus Ena, all gasped in astonishment at the sheer scale and glamor of the Palace.
“Would you look at that,” Akito said, surprisingly impressed.
“I already feel like I'm ROYAL!! AS A WORLD FUTURE STAR SHOULD!!” Tsukasa exclaimed.
“Mhm. I could really get used to living in a place like this,” Toya said.
Kanade shut them down. “Well, don't. We're only here as guests, and then we get to go back to protecting the rest of the city.”
They muttered to themselves in disappointment as Ena voiced her complaint. “Too much shine, in my opinion.”
Shiho opened the Palace doors. “I present to you, the revered Emperor and Empress of Ninjago, and their daughter, the Jade Princess, Princess Mafuyu Asahina.”
The Emperor stood from his throne. “It is our honor to be in your presence.”
“The honor is all ours, your majesty,” Kanade said.
The princess seemed excited, almost to the point where it seemed like over-the-top acting, like Tsukasa. “I've read all about you,” she said. “Your heroics are already legendary!”
She turned her attention to each of them, one by one, starting with Akito. “Akito Shinonome, the Master of Fire. Your drive and passion fuel your love for protecting innocent people.”
Akito smirked. “Sounds like me.”
“Toya Aoyagi, the Master of Earth. Your responsible and grounded mannerisms anchor the team, and act as their foundation.”
Toya smiled and nodded.
“Tsukasa Tenma, the Master of Lightning. The loud, imaginative one, your sense of humor adds life and depth to your team.”
Tsukasa took it upon himself to strike a pose.
“Rui Kamishiro, the quick and empathetic Master of Ice. You may be an android, but that doesn't stop you from helping wherever you can.”
Rui chuckled. “I was built to protect those who cannot protect themselves, after all, fufufu~”
She continued. “Ena Shinonome, the girl ninja,” she started. Ena scowled at her with disappointment before she continued. “The Master of Water, and the girl I've always looked up to. With her flowing mood, powerful voice, and skill that could rival any other master.”
Ena smiled at this. “I like this one,” she announced to the rest of them.
“And last but not least, Master Kanade Yoisaki. The legendary Green Ninja. The smallest of them all, but by far the most powerful. It's not just you who has parental issues… I lost my parents too,” Princess Asahina said.
“Erm, what?” Tsukasa asked. The Emperor cut in. “We adopted Mafuyu and raised her after her parents passed away.”
“Well, thank you for inviting into your home,” Kanade said, changing the subject.
“You have our daughter to thank for that. It was her idea,” the Empress said.
“And she said that she'd like you to stay until the threat is over,” the Emperor added. “These are most troubled times, and as long as we have an Oni Mask, we feel we may be in danger.”
Princess Asahina continued. “The masks must never be united. Please help us.”
Kanade nodded to confirm. “You can count on us.”
The Emperor nodded and waved Shiho off as she motioned for the ninja to follow her with her hand.
Shiho took them to a separate banquet hall, where she continued to explain. “While staying as honored guests, you'll have full service to the Palace's amenities, including the banquet buffet bar, and the large amount of information in the library.”
Rui beamed at the mention of the library. “I'll definitely be studying up, fufu.~ Never know what I might find, eh?”
Shiho nodded. “The buffet bar has a large selection of foods, with exotic fruits and vegetables, main courses upon request, and of course, all-you-can-eat cake.”
Toya laughed nervously. “I, uh… I gave up cake a while back. Bad cooking disaster,” he explained.
Ena burst out in laughter. “You mean that biohazardous excuse for a ‘cake’ that gave Akito food poisoning? I loved that thing!”
“I didn't,” Akito remarked. Toya motioned that he felt the same as well.
As they walked into the library foyer from the banquet hall, they started talking again. “Of course, a Palace of Secrets wouldn't be so without secret passages. Unfortunately, guests don't have high enough clearance to learn what those are, so banish the thought from your mind,” Shiho told them.
“Wait,” Tsukasa started, confused. “What was the point of bringing it up if you won't tell us? A-HAH! Doesn't matter! I'll find them all myself!”
Kanade flinched at his proposal. “Tsukasa, please don-”
She was cut off by maniacal laughter and Tsukasa pulling several books off of the shelf next to them.
Ena sighed. “You better clean up your mess afterwards,” she started. “Or I'm going to whoop your ass.”
“I thought you didn't care about being guests here,” Akito pointed out. She didn't have a good response to that, so she grumbled to herself.
Mizuki chimed in over their earpieces as Shiho left the library for the next room. “Anyone else getting a feeling she might not be entirely truthful…?”
Ena responded first. “The princess might've sold me, but she sure doesn't.” The rest of them mumbled in agreement. “There's definitely something she's hiding. But who's to say it's bad?” Kanade asked them.
“Are you coming?” Shiho asked from the other room.
They all followed Kanade and Shiho out of the library and into a secluded room with a singular glass case in the center.
“This is the reason you are here. To protect the Mask of Deception,” she explained.
Akito looked a bit closer, then made a face at it. “Jeez, could that thing be any uglier?”
“Guess you could call it a face only a mother could love. Hey, just like you!” Ena teased. Akito flicked her head, which shut her up.
“If this is the Mask of Deception, what was taken from Akiyama Tower?” Toya asked.
“The Mask of Vengeance. And although the third mask, the Mask of Hatred has yet to be found, it's hardly a comfort to the Royal Family. Which is why you are tasked with guarding this mask,” Shiho responded curtly.
During her explanation, Kanade wandered a bit off. Exploring the rooms and halls around the mask, making sure to note all possible entrances.
Curiously, she opened the door down the hall from the mask. It opened into a room, or rather what looked like a suite of some sort. Peering inside, she noticed a figure behind the folding wall. It was slim and tall, so she assumed it was the princess. She struggled to make out what she was doing until she saw a piece of clothing be draped over the top of the folding wall.
Embarrassed and flustered, she closed the door before Princess Asahina could notice.
Walking back into the conversation, she heard Shiho finish up her speech. “We are trusting you are capable of guarding the mask and the Royal Family,” Shiho told them.
“I assure you, we'll make sure to do our job as best we can,” Kanade confirmed.
“Eastern outside perimeter is all clear,” Akito reported.
“Same with the Western side,” Ena added. As she finished her sentence, she spotted Shiho looking around the courtyard suspiciously. She waved at Akito from the other side and pointed to her. He nodded in confirmation, but Shiho saw their exchange, and returned inside to the palace.
“Hm. Who's watching who?” Ena asked herself.
“Akito and Ena are on perimeter shift, so you're allowed to have dinner,” Kanade told Tsukasa.
“Finally! I was waiting to have a taste of that cake!” Tsukasa announced. Toya still shook his head and insisted for Tsukasa to take his portion.
Rui chuckled. “I'm not required to eat anything, but it's still nice to have dinner with you all.”
While the rest of them were occupied, Kanade was in the display case room, studying the mask. It seemed intricately designed and colored, the bright orange working well with the muted gray and black, and felt like a strange aura emitted from it, even through the display case. The face, ugly as it is, was brilliantly designed and seemed to give off an intimidating vibe.
“So you're the Mask of Deception, hm?” she asked herself. As she stepped back to get a better look, the sound of glass breaking filled her ears. It seemed like it came from the hallway that connected to the princess’ room. The princess!
Rushing towards the closed door, she tried to open it, but it was locked shut. She tried to see if she was perhaps in there. “Princess? Are you in there?” No response. Kanade pushed her body in the door to get it to open, and after the third try, it did. “Princess Asahina?”
No one was in there. Glancing around the room, she noticed the broken glass window, rummaged belongings, and torn curtains that hadn't been there earlier. She dashed up to the open window to see a hooded figure in green carrying a sack that seemed big enough to fit a person inside.
Not thinking twice about herself, Kanade jumped out the window.
She had to save her.
And that's the end of the first episode/chapter! J didn't expect for it to be this long, but here it is. It'll probably take me a while for the second one, but I promise it'll be out eventually
These three are part of an unfinished set of four, showcasing the main characters of each entire "Arc."
This one showcases the Collab series within the story I've done with my friends! Listed in it are all the main antagonists, names of each Collab, and once again the MCs from them. Some you might recognize from above, some won't appear at all in the Collab one because their story is set after it.
Top (MCs): Rift, Alex, Hollow, Neo, Rose, Keyfur, Charolette, Destiny, Sai
Antagonists
Left Side (Top to Bottom): Dikenya, Zero, Zen
Right Side (Top to Bottom): Aya, Licht, Fate
This last one is an unfinished lineup of the antagonist full-bodies.
