Chapter Text
Flamo pov
He caught all the elements. General Bu was so proud of him, and now he is allowed to watch the elements suffer. That Golden Dragon was dead for good now, and they would finally have the word they hoped for.
The elements got drained of their powers, but this time, that didn't affect him. Neither does he care. They lied to him and tried to convince him that they needed him. Blah, blah, blah. General Bu is evil. He is going to get rid of them, bring chaos and all of that.
General Bu had a grand plan to make Master Yun reveal where the dragon's gate was. Something about torturing the elements till they talk. Grub wasn't invited to see it, but he was because he is General Bu's favourite.
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General Bu:I waited for this day for so long. Now, how do I kill them? Fire, push them off a cliff, kill them one by one or all together?
The general continued his rant without knowing the fire element was waiting patiently outside the room.
Getting rid of the elements was more cruel than Flamo ever imagined. He thought the general would be efficient and not get all mad scientists with it trying to find how to kill them slowly...He isn't sure if he wants to see that anymore.
When the general stopped talking for long enough Flamo entered the room and acted cheerful, like he didn't hear what he did.
Flamo:General, I locked the elements in a cage on the mountain as you requested. They stand no chance against us....you general.
General Bu:Good job, Flamo. I will require you're assistance in killing the elements for good, and I happen to find the most torturous way to do it.
Flamo heard all about it. General Bu wanted him to burn out a forest so Shao Yen could slowly get weakened by it and for Raindrop to die because he was so dried up. He is not sure of the other two.
It was their victory. The elements are all put in their respective cages. So close to each other but unable to touch. Raindrop was kept in a waterproof cage placed in the middle of the forest. Shao Yen was in a nearby cage, close to a tree, the bars were wide enough for her to touch it.
Niwa was harder to see, her cage was elevated enough to make the poor earth element dizzy and helpless. Jin Hou, on the other hand, is not sure whether General Bu's idea might work. Not much can torture the monkey, but the large vase of lava might be the last idea if all fails.
General Bu put a hand on his shoulder and pulled him closer. He was satisfied, proud even. He had never been so happy in his entire life.
General Bu:I am so glad to give you a grand lore at the end of the elements. Turn the forest ablaze.
Flamo wanted to hesitate. He wasn't above a lot of things, but torture and probably murder. Not a thing he is usually ok with. He felt the clawed hand of the general grip tighter onto his shoulder. He threw the fireball towards a tree and saw it slowly catch on fire. A grand display of chaos, warm and inviting, but one that makes his stomach turn.
General Bu:I am going to get the truth out of Master Yun. Come get me if the elements are close to dying. I want us to witness it together.
Jin Hou: My monkey paw is right over there. Maybe you could push it a little toward me.
Flamo picked the paw up. He can't betray General Bu, now. If he does all would be for nothing. General Bu will make the land of a thousand legends a better place, or will the Dragon?
Jin Hou:You know a monkey is better at following directions. So, please give me my monkey paw. I can find a banana for you or something.
Raindrop:Stop trying. We lost, and we can't do anything about it.
Niwa:At least we die, together. It's been nice knowing all of you.
There was a loud sound of something...better say someone falling, Shao Yen. He should tell the general but the paw...If the general is cruel enough to do this, there is no way he isn't next on the list.
Flamo ran back into the fortress to find Grub, but he left the monkey's paw right next to Jin Hou's cage, at just enough distance to grab.
Jin Hou:.My monkey paw. I missed you so much.
He kissed the monkey paw in a dramatic manner like it was the most precious thing in the land of a thousand legends.
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He had to get the other elements' powers back. He knows where the machine is, but he needs a distraction and he knows the perfect one, Grub.
Flamo:Grub, I need you to keep General Bu busy.
Grub:But, I thought he was busy.
Why does Grub have to ask questions? He doesn't have time for this. As much as this takes longer, the chance of the other elements dying is bigger.
Flamo:He is but you have to keep him extra busy. Right now he is taunting Master Yun. Make sure he doesn't enter his room.
Grub:Should the general know about this?
Flamo:The general did something very bad. Slowly he can't know. I am no longer on his side.
He and Grub weren't really friends, but neither was Grub too loyal to General Bu. He will miss him.
Grub:You're leaving? I will miss you, Flame.
Grub picked Flamo, being all dramatic about it, making too much noise and hugging him tight.
Flamo:Be quiet and listen closely. I want you to do...
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The general was predictable both the device that stole the element's powers and the keys should be in their room. Found it.
He gave the machine a good kick and threw a fireball at it for good measure. Now where are the keys? He checked under the bed, but found nothing. In the closet, also nothing. After multiple objects were checked, he found them in an urn. He put the urn back in its place only to hear the loud sound of terrors marching. He is so late. Trusting Grub to keep the general busy was a bad idea.
At least this will distract him. He may or may not have destroyed all the terrors General Bu sent outside. He doesn't have to know that. At least he wins some time till the general makes new ones.
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Flamo returns to the elements. They don't have too much time left. He almost got hit with the monkey paw.
Jin Hou:Maybe next time announce your entrance.
Does he need to save all the elements? Cause he wouldn't mind leaving behind a specific monkey. No time for grudges. He opened Jin Hou's cage and gave him one of the keys.
Jin Hou:Oh you're on our side now?
Flamo:Shut up and use your brain for once.
Niwa felt sick from being so high up but took a sigh of relief when her feet touched the ground. Most of the forest was ash by now, so Flamo opened Raindrop's cage. The water element was weakened, but not enough. He pushed Flamo out of the way and took the remaining key, the one to Shao Yen's cage from him.
Flamo:Expected at least a thanks, not being shoved out of the way.
Raindrop:You are the reason why we are in this situation in the first place. Don't expect gratitude. Why are you even helping us?
It makes sense for the elements not to trust him, but he is taking a huge risk for them. And he only gets hostility.
Flamo:I am done working for General Bu.
Raindrop:Why would we believe you?
Flamo:Because I saved all of you.
They weren't alone anymore, the army of terrors was approaching. The general must be close.
They can't outrun him. Shao Yen was still unconscious. The general is not that smart. He can lie that they escape. He will still have to deal with an angry general Bu, but he kind of owns it to them by now.
Flamo:I can buy you some time. I'll tell the general you escaped and went the other way.
Jin Hou: I thought you would be coming with us with the whole changing sides thing.
Flamo:Maybe next time. Good luck.
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The army of terrors finally arrives, and as expected, with General Bu.
General Bu:Flamo, where are all the elements? You were supposed to catch them.
Flamo: Grub, told me that an intruder was in the fortress...I told him to watch them but he got distracted.
General Bu:Never let Grub take over your duty again. Where do the elements even go?
Flamo:I saw them running in that direction
Flamo pointed to the opposite way the elements went and the general believed him. He isn't sure if he is in more trouble with the general or the elements when he sees them again.