Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It's been a month since Chen's attack on the city.
With the help of Pythor Sensei Garmadon cursed Chen and his army to cursed relam.
Ninjago City is back to normal, everyone almost forgot about Chen and that he existed at all.
The ninjas train together under sensei Wu, although there were no serious threats but they still have to deal with criminals .
They often went together to Lloyd who lives in a monastery with his parents, Garmadon and Misako.
Garmadon and Misako managed to repair their relationship and clear up everything with letter¹, and now they live as a normal family. Lloyd likes to spend time with them as well as the ninjas.
Sensei Garmadon has become very close to the ninjas who respect him and often turn to him for advice.
Nya also become close to Misako.
The other elemental masters scattered around.
Skylor, master of amber, continued her father's business and often likes to spend time with Kai.
Everything seems good, but what will happen when an old enemy returns?
When someone unknown brings Chen, Clous and Chen's army back to ninjago.
Chen will use various schemes to drive our heroes to madness. In this fan season you will see how everyone will fight not only to save ninjago, but to save love, family and friendships.
In this fan season you will see many relationships between ninjas, Garmadon family, Kai x Skylor, Jay x Nya, Many relationships will be explored and many old wounds will be dug up. You will also see many flashbacks about Garmadon in the time he was under Chen.
Don't miss to tell me if you have any wishes or expectations for this fan season!

PS!
What would you rather want to see:
a.This format:
"I love Ice cream!"Jay said and turned to Cole"Do you love Ice cream?"
"Yes, I love ice cream!"Cole said and smiles./p>

OR

b.This format:
Jay:"I love ice cream!"(He turns to Cole)"Do you love ice cream?"
Cole:(smiles)"I love ice cream!"

Chapter Text

"I won!' Kai said.

Kai,Jay,Zane,Cole and Lloyd were playing video games on the Bounty.

"You cheated."Jay yelled.

"Actually, he followed all the rules of the game."Zane said.

"Oh, and is it according to the rules that he's taking advantage of us and lying to us?" Cole asked angrily. "I don't think that's fair."

"I want a rematch." Jay said.

"Just accept who's the winner here." Kai said and looked at Jay full confidence.

"Oh come on guys."Lloyd interrupted Kai with a furious reply "We can do better than fighting over games."

"I totally agree, thank you Lloyd."They were startled by Sensi wu who just appeared at the door.

"Today unfortunately I will not be able to give you the morning training." He continued after a while "I have work to do."

"Yea, baby" Kai said.

"Nya, please point the bounty towards Garmadon's monastery."

"Ay,ay sensei." Nya replied as she turned Bounty around.

"We are going to my parents?"Lloyd asked.Wu nodded"But why?"

"I have something to do."He said and looked thoughtfully into the distance"And I'm going to need Bounty for that."

" Come on Lloyd don't complain about a free morning" Kai told him.

"I'm free morning sounds good to me, too." Zane said.

"Yeah we have time for a rematch." Jay said and glared at Kai.

"I'm sorry but I think I have others plans."Sensei Wu said"I won't be able to hold it. But,I'm sure my brother will be willing to hold it instead of me."

The room was filled with disappointed sighs from all the ninja.

~~~~~~With Garmadon and Misako~~~~~

"Tea?" Misako asked her husband who was sitting at the table.

"yes, thank you." He answered her and she poured tea into their cups and sat down next to him.

"I wanted to talk to you about something." Misako said after a long time.Garmadon raised an eyebrow curiously. "They offered me a new job. It's quite good and I could work at home for half a month."

"That's good," Garmadon muttered.

"But I would have to go away every couple of months for two weeks or more. I don't really like that, but still the job is much more convenient when I can spend half the working time at home. I don't know what to do, I have to answer them tomorrow."

Garmadon just shrugged and looked off into the distance."Take your time."

"Time? I don't have time, are you even listening to me, I have to tell them tomorrow!" she said in an angry tone.

"I'm lisening to you, of course I do," Garmadon told her and took her hand. "But leave your work, I also wanted to ask you something."

She looked at him. "Would you like to go somewhere with me today?" She thought for a moment.

"I think I would..." She started to answer but Garmadon already let go of her hand and looked into the yard.

"I think someone is coming," he said and went out into the yard. Misako didn't follow him. She just got up from her seat and looked hurt into the distance.

~~~~~~~

"But, sensei Wu why don't you want to tell us where you are going?" Zane asked him as the ninjas got off the Boutny outside Garmadon's monastery.

"I'm going to the docks."

"But why, sensei?"Cole asked another question.

"I have some doubts, I need to see what's going on."

"Whats going where, and what doubts?" This time Kai asked a question.

Wu shook his head sadly. "Unfortunately, I can't tell you that, yet." He looked at them with a sharp look. "Don't forget to tell Garmadon to give you a morning training. Lloyd, I'm counting on you."

"Alright, sensei." Lloyd nodded in return. Then Wu turned and disappeared with Bounty.

"Well, "Kai said and created an elemental dragon. "I'm going. I have an meeting"

"But what about the morning training?" Lloyd protested.

"Nah," Kai replied. "Just pretend that Sensei gave us a free morning, that's all." Lloyd skeptically looked at Kai.

"I don't think that's the smartest idea." Nya said. "If they find out, they'll kill us."

"Oh, relax." Jay said. "They won't find out. I like the idea of Cole, Zane, Lloyd, and I practicing a bit before the rematch with Kai, to show who the real gaming king is."

"I agree." Cole said. "I just want to eat something first. I'm really hungry."

"I suppose I agree ,too." Zane said.

"Do whatever you want, guys, just remember that it won't be me who will be in trouble if they find out, it'll be all of you. And it'll be bad." Nya said and started walkingtowards the monastery.

"I still don't like the idea." Lloyd said.

"Majority rules." Kai happily exclaimed. "See you later."

He disappeared from sight a second later.

"I wonder where he's going." Cole said.

"Who's going where?" They were startled by Sensei Garmadon's voice, who was now standing next to them. "And where is Wu?"

"He went to the docks." Cole said. "To check some doubts."

"What doubts?" Sensei Garmadon asked.

"We don't know." Jay said. "But he gave us a free morning." Sensei Garmadon looked at him suspiciously.

"Is that true?" He said, turning to the rest of the three ninjas. They all nodded, some more willingly than others.

"Alright then." Sensei Garmadon said. "Have fun. Although, unfortunately, I assume that Wu wouldn't want you to be alone when he already brought you here...So I'll have to postpone some plans. Where's Kai?" It was now the first time he noticed the absence of the fire ninja.

"He went to meet someone." Zane replied."Probably Skylor."

"Alright then." Garmadon said. "You're free. Enjoy yourselves before the afternoon training."

"Afternoon training?!" Jay exclaimed.

"Well, yeah. My brother did tell you that you have a free morning, but not a free afternoon."

"Oh, come on, man." Cole muttered as he and the rest of the team headed towards the monastery.

Garmadon smiled, as if he didn't realize they had lied to him about the free morning. He went towards the monastery himself and found a small package on the entrance door.

"Who could've left this?" He asked himself. He went inside and opened it.

"What?" He said as he looked at the empty package. "Someone is definitely messing with me." Angrily, he huffed.

What he didn't notice was a small mechanical beetle with a camera that had come out of the box to spy on them.

~~With the Nya and Misako~~~~

The mechanical bug arrived in the kitchen just as Nya was entering.

"Hey, Misako. You're here?" Misako, who had been staring out the window a moment earlier, weakly smiled at her.

"Looks like I am. Come, sit." Nya sat at the table. "Would you like some tea?"

"No, thank you. I already had some," Nya replied, and Misako sat across from her.

"So," Misako said," What happend that you came?"

"Sensei Wu said he needed to check something. He left us here, beacouse he want you and Garmadon to look over us." Nya explained.

"Did he give you a free morning?" Misako looked confused.

"Oh, no," Nya smiled. "He told us to tell Sensei Garmadon to give them a morning training, but they decided to keep it quiet and say they had a free morning.Lloyd wasn't happy."

Misako laughed softly."Oh,Lloyd.He is never going to learn that he needs to be bad sometimes."

"You're not going to tell Senseis, are you?"

"Of course not. But you know they'll have serious problems when they find out..."

"Yeah, I can imagine how that will look," they both started laughing. "Misako," Nya finally said, "I wanted to ask you something."

"Go ahead, ask."

"Well... It's about Jay," Nya started to get nervous. "Have you ever felt like Garmadon doesn't take you seriously?"

Misako nodded, looking serious. "We talk and everything is fine. But sometimes, there are just those days when it feels like he doesn't listen or take me seriously."

She took a deep breath. "When I tell him something important or ask for his opinion, he just shrugs and looks at something else. And then when he asks me something, he doesn't even wait for me to answer and just starts paying attention to something else!"

She lowered her voice, realizing she was almost yelling. She took another deep breath. "That hurts me, really, really hurts me. When I think he doesn't care, it hurts me like nothing." She continued in a quieter tone,

"With Jay, it's a bit different. He almost never takes me seriously, not because he doesn't care or doesn't listen, but because that's just how he is..."Nya said

"You said it yourself, that's how he is," Misako replied. "Don't worry, he will understand you, just let him develop his own way."

Nya smiled at her. "Maybe you're right. I just need to let him figure things out in his own way. And don't worry, if there's one thing I'm sure of, it's that Garmadon cares."

"I know," Misako weakly smiled. "I know, I just wish sometimes he would pay more attention when I'm talking."

~~~~With Kai and Skylor~~~~

"Thank you!" Kai said as he left the flower shop. He had a few options in mind, but in the end, he concluded that flowers were the safest choice.

He continued on his way to Mr. Chen's Noodle House, feeling excited. In the past month, he had seen Skylor, but she never invited him to come see her! He was so excited.

He reread the message he found on his bed when he returned from evening training. He fixed his hair. It clearly stated that she was asking him to come to her tomorrow (which would be today) at Mr.Chen's Noodle House where she worked.

He was really excited. He walked inside, but at first, he couldn't find her amidst the crowd. He continued looking, searching for her red hair that had to stand out in the crowd.

"Ha!" He finally found her serving guests. "Hey, Skylor!" he said and tapped her on the shoulder.

"Kai!" She looked surprised. "You came?!"

"Of course I did!" he said, wondering if she thought he wouldn't come. "I would never miss a meeting with such a beauty." She blushed, driving him crazy.

"Wait," she said and turned to a customer. "I'll be done in a minute, then we can go out." Some of her confidence returned to her voice. "If you want?" she teased.

"Of course," he said, watching her maneuver to serve a guest. After a while, she waved at him, and he followed her, enchanted by the sway of her slender hips and her beautiful red hair.

"Well, I'm glad you came," she said when they reached the back entrance, the same place where he and his friends received the message that Zane was still alive.

"Me too," he said. "I brought us here because this is the only place where we can have some peace." She spoke as if she could read his thoughts. "Not now, really. What made you decide to drop by? Especially during my shift. You know I'm short-staffed and I love serving people."

Now he felt confused. "But that message..."

"What message?"

No! Now he realized what was strange about that message, not that Skylor invited him, but that it wasn't her handwriting...

"STOP!" An irritating voice cut through the air. Before they could react, a large net fell on them, pinning them to the ground.

"Wait, I'll free us," Kai said as he struggled beneath the net.

"No, I will!" Skylor protested. "I have just the trick for this."

"Oh, I'm sorry," the voice said and put a bracelet for the leg on them. "No powers for you!"

"Chen!" They both looked surprised. Chen stood before them in his human form.

Someone must have brought him back from the Cursed Realm.

"You'll pay for this, father!" Skylor hissed as her father's warriors lifted her and Kai off the ground and put chains around their wrists.

"Don't worry, my daughter," he said. "You'll still be useful, and now, into my secret tunnels!"

Saying that, he tapped out a rhythm on the courtyard floor, and the doors opened.

"I didn't know about this!" Skylor gasped.

"There's still so much you and your friends need to learn from me, my daughter. People like me aren't born every day. NOW, TAKE THEM AWAY BEFORE SOMEONE FINDS YOU!"

The warriors dragged Skylor into the tunnel and began pulling Kai.

"But how?" Kai asked Chen, confused by the fact that Chen was there.

"That's not your concern, fire ninja," Chen replied. "Everything in due time. I still need you. Soon, you and your friends will find yourselves in a trap."

"The Ninjas and Sensei Garmadon and Wu will take care of you!" Kai growled.

"Hahaha," Chen laughed. "This will be fun, very fun!"

~~~~With others~~~~

I'm hungry," Cole said while he, Jay, Zane, and Lloyd were playing games.

"Go get something to eat," Lloyd told him.

"You know, I could go too," Jay added. "The morning was really tiring." Everyone laughed.

"I'll join you guys," Zane said.

"Then I'll go stretch my legs a bit," Lloyd said.

Soon, all four of them left the room.

DING!

The doorbell rang.

"I'll get it," Garmadon said.

"Good morning," the mailman said at the door. "Are the ninjas here?"

"Yes," Lloyd replied. "Why?"

"I have a package for you," the mailman said and pulled out a box of fortune cookies.

"From whom?" Cole asked.

"Mr.Chen's Noodle House."

"What...?!" Garmadon asked as Lloyd took the package from the mailman.

"Maybe it's for Skylor?" Zane asked as Lloyd placed the box on the table.

"Four fortune cookies!" Cole exclaimed happily.

"Wait!" Garmadon told him and hit him on the head with his staff when he reached for the cookies. "Maybe it's something important."

"Yes," Jay said. "Remember when Chen sent us those cookies?"

"I don't remember," Zane said.

"You were on the island, Zane." Lloyd told him. "But let's see what's written in them. Cole, don't eat your message this time."

"Okay," Cole said. "Can I have your cookie later, Lloyd? I'm really hungry."

"Oh well!" Jay said. "Just let's see what's written in those messages."

"I'm back,"Lloyd read his message.

"I have your friends," Zane read his.

"If you ever want to see them again," Cole read.

"Come to the backyard of the Noodle House. ALONE!" Jay said. "It's signed with the letter C."

"C, like cake," Cole said. "I could eat a cake right now."

"It's not cake!" Jay said. "It's definitely not cake!"

"Cake is always the answer!"

"No, it's not!"

"Enough, you two!" Nya intervened. "C could mean Chen..." Everyone looked at her in astonishment.

"That makes sense," Misako said. "He probably captured Kai and now he's asking you to come to a specific place."

"But how could he return from the cursed realm?" Lloyd asked.

"It's not impossible," Garmadon said. "Someone must have brought him back."

"But what now? It's probably a trap," Misako said.

"I know, but we have to go," Lloyd said. Everyone nodded. "The four of us will go get Kai then."

"But what about Sensei Wu?" Zane asked. "He should have returned already. He went to check on some suspicions."

"He probably suspected this," Garmadon said and made eye contact with Misako, who nodded at him. "Me and Misako will go look for him."

"Alright. I'll try to contact the other elemental masters in the meantime," Nya said. "If we're going to fight Chen again, we'll need their help."

"Very smart, Nya," Zane said. "But now we have to hurry."

"Zane is right," Lloyd said. "Good luck, everyone. "

"Now,GO ,NINJA ,GO!"

The mechanical bug lit up again, transmitting images to its master.

Chapter Text

"What do you think, is Wu okay?" Misako asked Garmadon as they walked along the docks.

"I hope so," Garmadon sighed.

"And are you okay?" Misako gently asked him. "All this with Chen.."

"I'll survive," Garmadon snapped at her. "Now we just need to get rid of him once and for all."

"If that's possible," Misako muttered to herself.

They walked in silence for a long time.

"I'm sorry we're not going anywhere after all," Garmadon sighed.

"Me too," Misako agreed. "Where did you want to go?"

"That's a surprise," Garmadon smiled at her.

"Oh come on," Misako encouraged him. "You know I hate surprises."

"I know you don't hate them, you're just afraid you won't react well to them."

"You know me well," Misako smiled back, though deep down she was still worried.

It was a good way for both of them to get their minds off the situation.

"And psst!" She put a finger to her lips and pointed towards the docks. "Someone is there."

"Who..." Garmadon asked but then immediately recognized the face and voice.

"Oh, isn't that Sensei Garmadon," the voice taunted. "And surely that's Misako, nice to meet you."

"Clouse!" Garmadon hissed and started to move forward as if to attack, but Misako grabbed his hand.

"You? How? I will.."

"I don't think now is the time to throw threats, Garmadon," Clouse continued in a mocking tone. "You're not in a position to do so."

"And I also think that fighting is not the best solution right now," Misako said, pulling Garmadon's hand again.

"But..." he started, then stopped when he looked around.

They were surrounded by Chen's soldiers, there were at least a dozen of them, no, more than a dozen, three dozen?

"At least they're not Anacondrai anymore," Misako offered poor consolation.

~~~With the ninja:~~~

"We need to come up with a plan," Zane said when the ninjas stopped in front of the noodle house with their vehicles.

"I agree," Cole replied. "We shouldn't underestimate Kai if we fall into a trap with him."

"But we can't just leave him," Lloyd complained.

"No one said we would abandon him."Jay patted Lloyd on the shoulder.

"I know he's your best friend, he's family to all of us, but that doesn't change the fact that we need a plan."Cole insisted

"But Chen said we have to all go," Lloyd lamented.

"Maybe I have a plan," Jay smiled.

~~~With the Kai and Skylor:~~~

"What do you want from us, father?!"

Skylor yelled as she and Kai were forcefully dragged through secret hallways by soldiers.

"And what did you mean by saying we are useful?"

"Stop!" Chen raised his hand as they halted in front of the dungeons.

"This is your new residence, fear not, there is also space for your friends when they enter my castle."

"They're not that dumb!" Kai objected. "They'll find a way to deal with you." "

They may not be dumb, but they are loyal," Chen sighed, feigning sympathy. "And that's just as good as being dumb."

"You still haven't answered me, father," Sklor interjected. "What do you want from us?"

"If you want to steal all the elemental powers again, I'm afraid it won't be so easy for you this time," Kai sneered.

"Don't worry, this time I have completely different plans," Chen looked at them, for the first time appearing serious.

"No matter what is it, you will not succeed!" Skylor shouted at him.

"We'll see about that," Chen motioned to his soldiers to take Kai and Skylor to the dungeons.

~~~With the ninja:~~~~

"No, no, and no!" Lloyd shouted. "That is out of the question."

"I agree with Lloyd, we can't put innocent people in danger,"

Cole said, pulling out his weapon. "We will fight."

"I don't like it either, but my sensors tell me we have no choice," Zane sighed.

"We won't send just anyone, but someone with the necessary skills."

"But it's still too risky," Lloyd groaned. "What if something goes wrong..."

"That's what Kai would do," Jay entered the noodle house. "So the majority wins."

"No..." Cole and Lloyd shouted at the same time, but they couldn't respond Jay from going into the Noodle House.

"Who wants to go on a ninja mission?!"

Soon, a considerable number of people gathered around them.

"Everyone, calm down," Lloyd shouted, and everyone fell silent.

"It will be very dangerous and risky. Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Those who are sure and think they are capable, stand on my right side!" Jay shouted, and a few people stood on his right side, while the others dispersed.

"Hello, fellas!" Dareth stepped forward. "Going on another mission with the brown ninja?"

"Oh no," Cole groaned.

"People, you need to be aware of what's happening. We are fighting Chen."

Lloyd interrupted again. "He wants us all to come to the backyard of this building.Jay's plan is for you to pretend to be us until we find a way into Chen's tunnels."

"It will be very dangerous, can you handle it?" Cole added.

After a few mumbles, people dispersed, leaving only Dareth and one man in his thirties with a bandage on his forehead and black hair streaked with gray. He was tall and slender.

"So, the two of you go with Dareth... And sorry, who are you?" Lloyd asked.

"Sorry for not introducing myself earlier. I am Sangfugol. I usually play the harp somewhere else, but I have a mission here."

"What kind of mission and where are you from?" Jay asked, confused.

"And why are you telling us this now?" Zane inquired.

"Because it concerns all of you," Sangfugol looked at Lloyd. "But enough about that, I just want to say that I am a friend."

"Alright then, I suppose we continue with the plan," Lloyd, who seemed uncomfortable, said.

"Which two will go with Dareth and Sangfugol?"

"rock, paper, clamp?"Cole suggested.

"It's not like we have any other choice," Lloyd sighed.

"No!" Jay exclaimed. "I wanted to go!"

"So, it's Cole, Dareth, Sangolfun, and me," Lloyd repeated. "Zane and Cole, you stay behind and follow us later."

"Affirmative," Zane confirmed.

"Now, who will play whom?" Jay asked, looking at Sangolfun and Dareth.

"None of them really resemble any of us..."

~~~With Misako and Garmadon:~~~

"How did you know we would be here?" Garmadon angrily asked Clouse, who was smiling in front of them.

"Everything in due time, Garmadon. It is best for you to come with us," Clouse replied.

"Never," Garmadon said.

"I believe we don't really have a choice," Misako said, pointing to more soldiers disembarking from the ship.

"Oh yes, how could I forget to mention that?" Clouse gloated. "If you cause any trouble, she gets hurt, and vice versa. Now let my soldiers escort you to our ship."

"You'll get yours, you..." Garmadon pushed away a soldier who approached him. "I'd rather die than go into your captivity."

"Such a shame," Clouse sighed. "But like I said before, you won't die. Throw her into the sea."

"No!" Garmadon shouted, and the soldiers stopped trying to pull Misako away.

"Leave her alone, coward. This is between us."

"I'm afraid this is much more than just between us, Garmadon,"

Clouse began walking towards the ship, and Garmadon and Misako were finally allowed to be taken with them.

"Furthermore, I'm afraid your wife plays a significant role in all of this."

"Which one?" Misako asked.

"I'm afraid I can't speak of it just yet," Clouse pretended to sigh. "But I am certain that my master won't spare any words when I deliver you to him."

They let themselves be tied to a pole. Garmadon could no longer feel anger, all that was left was exhaustion.

He felt Misako testing how tightly their hands were tied on the other side.

At least she didn't give up.At least they were together, even though they couldn't see each other, he could at least feel her hand and hear her breathing.

He grabbed her hand and squeezed it before letting go again. More for his own comfort than hers.

She didn't know what kind of person Chen was.

"So, we're going to Chen," Misako said. "Great."

"You'll like it even less when you get there," Clouse gloated. "Especially your husband."

"You still haven't told us how you knew where to find us," Garmadon said indifferently. "And where is my brother?"

From his expression, they could conclude that Clouse failed to capture Wu. He didn't know he would be there. He only knew about them.

"Wu and the ninjas will come after you again," Misako told him just as indifferently.

"Not if your son and his friends stumble into a trap," Clouse replied.

"They'll figure it out," Garmadon responded.

"We'll see about that," Clouse's mood clearly improved. "And what about your samurai, isn't her name Mya?"

"Nya, you idiot," Garmadon told him.

"Oh, right, Nya, of course. Watch this now."

Misako and Garmadon gasped when they saw the image that appeared on the screen.

"No, I need..." Nya was speaking on the screen while talking to someone.

"How?" Misako asked in disbelief.

"I think I know," Garmadon said, recalling the empty box he received that morning.

"Anyway," Clouse interrupted the recording. "Soon our army will capture your precious little monastery and capture the samurai."

With those words, he left the room where Garmadon and Misako were standing.

"Quick!" Misako said when everyone left. "We won't be alone for long."

"You don't think we can escape, do you?" Garmadon asked in disbelief.

"No," Misako admitted. "But I think we can try to send a message to Nya to flee."

"How?"

"If we can hear her..."

"You mean she might somehow be able to hear us," Garmadon slowly began to understand.

"There must be a button..." Misako looked towards the panel.

"Maybe the one with something drawn on it?" Garmadon suggested.

"I think so, but how do I get to it?" Misako tried to free herself but without success.

"We need to throw something at it," she mumbled.

"Wait here," Garmadon said as he grabbed a nearby box with his feet.

"It's not like I'm going anywhere" Misako replied.

With a few swings, he managed to launch the box and hit the right button.

"You did it!" Misako exclaimed.

"Shh, Misako, be quiet," Garmadon said, unable to hide his smile.

"Nya, if you can hear us," Misako said, "run away from the monastery. Clouse has captured us, he's listening you."

"Go to Mystake's tea shop," Garmadon added.

"She..." he began, but stopped when he noticed someone approaching.

"What's going on here?" Clouse angrily asked, fortunately not appearing to know anything,but even they didn't know if it worked.

~~~With the Nya:~~~

"Where can I find them?" Nya talked to herself while trying to figure out a way to contact the other elemental masters.

She dialed a number, but before she could start speaking, someone interrupted her.

"This doesn't make sense." Angrily, she hung up the phone, but then heard some whispering.

"Misako?"

"....hear us," Misako said, "run away from the monastery. Clouse has captured us, he's listening to you."

"Go to Mystake's tea shop," Garmadon's voice said. "She..." he began, but stopped.

"What's going on here?" A voice. She assumed it was Clouse's.

She bent down a few times, trying to locate where the voice was coming from.

"There you are," she said and caught a mechanical spider.

"Now you're mine!" she said and turned it off. She didn't want to completely shut it down in case she might need it later.

After some hesitation, she turned the spider back on.

"Obviously, the best solution now is to go get the other ninjas," she said and turned off the spider again.

"Quickly," she told herself because she didn't know how long she would be alone.

She picked up some scrolls she had found earlier and considered them relevant to the situation.

She put on her samurai X suit and flew towards Mystake's tea shop.

"I'm here," she said and stepped inside uncertainly.

"Hello!" she shouted at the entrance. "I am Nya, and I..."

"Welcome, Nya, master of water," an older voice interrupted her. Mystake turned towards her.

"Master of what?"

"I was expecting..."

Mystake started but had to stop when she saw Nya faint.

Chapter Text

Skylor was dreaming. How did she know she was dreaming?

In front of her was her old home, and at the window stood a silhouette she hadn't seen in a long time.

A silhouette she missed dearly. Hair as red as hers.

Former master of amber.

"Mom!" Skylor said, full of tears, and she rushed into her mother's embrace.

"Oh, my dear, you are already a big girl," Skylor's mother said, hugging her tightly.

"Why are you here, Mom?" Skylor asked, pulling back a little from her. "And how?"

"When the need is great, impossible things become possible, my dear," Skylor's mother said. "Your father..."

"Do you know what he is planning now?" Skylor asked angrily.

"I can't tell you much..." Skylor's mother shook her head sadly. "But remember your roots."

"My roots?"

"Yes, where you came from, where I came from..."

"What exactly should I remember, Mom?" Skylor asked, feeling disheartened.

"Let me show you." Skylor's mother smiled, and suddenly the whole dream turned around.

Suddenly, images from her childhood came to her, then images she did not recognize...

Butch...

Farser...

Chivary's bastard...

They were images etched into her memory.

~~~~~~

"What is happening here?" Clouse stormed in angrily. Fortunately, he didn't look like he knew anything.

Garmadon squeezed Misako's hand as a sign not to say anything. The less they talked to Clouse, the better.

"Hmm..." Clouse thought as he paced around the cabin.

"Aha!" he said when he looked at the large screen. "So that's how it is..."

"Master Clouse?" The guard confusedly addressed Clouse, who was fuming with anger.

"You contacted your little Samurai X, didn't you?" Clouse asked as he turned towards Garmadon and Misako.

They glared back at him defiantly.

"Immediately go to Garmadon’s monastery," Clouse commanded the guards through the screen. "And capture the girl."

"Do you think Nya will manage to escape?" Misako whispered worriedly to Garmadon.

"It depends on how close the guards are..." Garmadon frowned.

"Oh, they're very close, don't worry, Sensei Garmadon," Clouse cruelly smirked.

"He's getting crazier ..." Misako noted, which made Garmadon smirk a little.

But fortunately for her, she didn't know Clouse well. She hoped she wouldn’t have to get to know him.

Although it seemed she would...

"And now for your punishment." Clouse turned toward them. "My Master wants both of you. But he wants her less, and it’s more important that she dies. Tie her up and throw her into the sea!"

"No!" Garmadon shouted and slammed his back against the mast.

He couldn’t allow that.

"Why not, though?" Clouse laughed amusedly. "Does a lying husband who never listens suddenly care?"

Misako blushed at this. She immediately regretted saying that to Nya; the camera must have recorded it.

"Shut up," Misako interrupted him.

"I’m afraid you’ll be the one who will soon be eternally silent." Clouse said, calling the guards over. "Tie her up and throw her into the sea."

"But Master Clouse..." One guard nervously scratched behind his ear. "She's already tied up..."

"Fools, untie her and tie her hands and feet again!"

"Yes, Master!" The guards shouted and began to untie the ropes that bound Misako and Garmadon to the mast.

As they untied and captured Misako, Garmadon managed to break free.

"Fools!" Clouse facepalmed.

"Guard..." he began to say, but Garmadon hit him with a box.

"Enough!" Misako managed to kick one of the guards, while Garmadon put a barrel over another's head.

"Guards!" Clouse yelled after he regained some awareness.

"Hurry!" Garmadon shouted and grabbed Misako by the hand.

When they entered the nearest storage room, Garmadon locked the door and leaned against it.

"I know all of Chen's ships and positions. Misako, climb through the ventilation to the deck and escape in a boat, or..."

"I'm not leaving without you!" Misako shook her head.

"You have to..." Garmadon groaned as he tried to hold the door so Chen's guards wouldn't open it. "I can't let them hurt you, Misako."

His gaze was so vulnerable that Misako just wanted to hug him.

"Nor should I let them hurt you." She said, leaning against the door with him. "We escape together, or no one escapes!"

"Misako..." Garmadon tried to grab her hand.

"BOOM!"

~~~~~~

"Ahh!" Skylor sighed loudly as she felt herself waking from a dream.

"Skylor?" Kai called out to her from the cell opposite hers. "Are you alright?"

"I was just dreaming," Skylor whispered, trying to gather herself so that all the details wouldn't escape her.

"What did you dream about?" Kai asked to start the conversation.

It was eerie and dark in the cold dungeons cells.

Only two distant torches provided any light in a space that stretched on who knows how far.

It was also very uncomfortable with steel chains constraining their hands and feet.

"I saw my mother," Skylor decided to tell him everything. If her mother said it was important, then it was truly important, even though she didn't see the sense in it.

"If you don't want to..." Kai said to her, interpreting her silence as indecision.

"I have to tell you," Skylor sighed. "My mother said it's important. Maybe together we can find a solution."

"A solution for what?" Kai was getting more and more confused.

"For Chen's plan, I suppose," Skylor said and sighed again. "Do you want to hear what my mother showed me?"

Kai nodded silently and then remembered that she probably couldn't see him. "Of course."

"On the other side of the sea..." Skylor began.

"Hey, please don't tell me a legend right now," Kai interrupted her.

"It's not a legend!" Skylor insisted. "Listen. Not so far across the sea lies a kingdom known as the Six Duchies."

"I've heard of that, maybe..." Kai said, puzzled. "But I never heard anything more about it."

"Because they came from far away from the Ninjago. They came from the other side and act like they are not part of our world," Skylor explained.

"That makes sense," Kai admitted.

"From the duchies, Buck, a family known as Farser rules.The people there are tall and dark, with black eyes and dark hair, brave and proud!"

"You speak so passionately about them," Kai began to guess something.

"That’s why you need to listen further!" Skylor said mysteriously.

Soon, Kai found himself immersed in the story.

"Long ago, there was a king named Scherd who ruled there. He had three sons. The first, Chivarlity, abdicated the throne when it was discovered he had fathered an illegitimate child.

A bastard. That was seen as a mortal sin at the time, especially for a future king.

The second son, Verity, fought to save the kingdom during its greatest trouble while his young half-brother Regal attempted to steal the crown from him.

In the end, Verity, with the help of allies, one of whom was Chivarlity's illegitimate child, a daughter, managed to find a way to protect the kingdom from barbarian enemies across the sea.

Verity left his wife pregnant with twins. The older was a son and took over the rule when he grew up enough.

The younger was a daughter; she fell in love with a man..." Skylor said that with a sad and quiet tone.

"Are you okay, Skylor?" Kai asked worriedly.

He would give anything to see her right now.

"She fell in love with a man who probably pretended to love her to gain power and inherit her abilities for their child..."

"Who is such a man?" Kai asked, confused. Although he had an inkling.

~~~~~~

"You're done now!" Clouse shouted as his guards broke through.

"Together." Misako reminded Garmadon and looked into his eyes.

Her eyes were always so beautiful and sincere that Garmadon was at peace with the fact that they might fall together.

Misako and Garmadon tried to resist, but it took the guards a little time to overpower Misako and tie her hands.

"Hey!" She shouted and kicked one of them. She looked over and saw Garmadon fighting fiercely on the other side.

"Let me go!" Misako shouted and tried to resist again, but it was in vain since they had tied her legs.

"Tell him to stop fighting!" Clouse yelled at Misako. “He’s hurting the people Master Chen needs!"

"Never." Misako said, looking at Clouse with a glint of determination and courage.

"Guards! You can now freely hurt him!" Clouse shouted, to which the guards nodded and began throwing things at Garmadon, who was resisting their attempts to tie him up.

"Garmadon stop!They are hurting you!" Misako shouted worriedly!

Garmadon looked at her. His eyes widened when he saw she was tied up, and he decided to fight harder.

"Stop, please, they will kill you!" Misako cried out desperately.

Tears were clearly close to spilling. Garmadon couldn't stand the tone of her voice, so he stopped resisting and let them tie him up again to the mast.

"You will pay for this, Clouse," he hissed. Misako watched in agony as bruises formed on his face.

"You really hurt yourself..." she said quietly, watching him with nausea in her stomach.

Garmadon opened his mouth to speak, but Clouse interrupted.

"Say goodbye to each other."

"You coward!." Garmadon hissed again and tried to break free. "Drown me if you have that face, she hasn't done anything to you!"

"I'm sorry,Sensei Garmadon," Clouse said gruffly, seemingly completely indifferent. "I already told you that she will more than likely have to die anyway."

"What does Chen say about that?" Garmadon tried to buy time in a panic. "He always likes to play with prisoners."

"Garmadon..." Misako tried to say something, but the guards had already taken her and pushed her towards the deck.

She heard Garmadon desperately pleading, saying he would do anything they wanted, just to spare her.

She looked back to see him one last time. His eyes were wide as he watched her being led along the plank.

She sent him a last goodbye look. She wanted to tell him something, that she loved him and to tell Lloyd...

She didn’t get the chance because the guards already pushed her off the deck.

Afterwards, she felt the cold water enveloping her.

She tried to resist to reach the surface. Fortunately, her bindings were loosely tied, so she managed to kick off a rock nearby.

She made it to the surface and gasped for air. Then pushed off again and gasped.

And so several times, which felt like an eternity.

"No..." Misako tried to scream when she felt her legs slip off the stone and that she was sinking deeper into the sea.

How could she have messed up so badly?

Her lungs filled with water as she kicked her legs to reach the surface.

She was so close, but her vision started to darken, and she felt herself losing control.

Her lungs were burning.

Death was clearly coming for her, and her life flashed before her eyes.

Palace…

Butch...

Father...

Burrich...

Assassin…

Verity…

torment...

But most vivid of all before her eyes was Garmadon. The man she loved. The one she still loved, him and their son, with the little breath she had left.

She felt the peace that every person feels when the end finally approaches.

Images and life slipped through her fingers as she watched the surface she longed for slowly fade away...

Then a hand grabbed her and pulled her to the life-saving surface.

~~~~~~

"He is Chen, my father. And my mother moved to Ninjago because of him and gave birth to me there.She also renounced all her rights to the throne..."

Kai was silent for a few moments." So you are..."

"Yes." Skylor nodded and sighed. "She told me something else."

"What?" Kia listened intently.

"We need to find Chivarly's daughter, his illegitimate child,bastard.She is supposedly dead, but she actually isn't. We will find her."

Skylor struck her fist against her palm.

"As soon as we free ourselves. She will know the answers to many questions about the Farser and will surely be useful."

"And how are we going to find her?" Kai desperately asked. "It could almost be anyone..."

"She resembles the people from the Duchy of Butch, but she has bright eyes.

She should also be a bit older," Skylor said decisively. "And she told me her scars that I need to recognize..."

"If you say so." Kai shrugged.

He did not like the thought of endlessly searching for some daughter of a long-dead prince.

And he had no idea how this would disrupt Chen's plans.

Chapter Text

"My mother was the Master of Water." Nya repeated in shock.

"Yes, don't faint again!" Mistake said, pressing another handkerchief to her forehead.

"I..." Nya said with a sigh.

"I thought they told you." Mistake explained to her. "Because you are needed."

"I can be needed as Samurai X." Nya protested. She honestly understood little of what Mistake was saying.

"Samurai X cannot control water." Mistake stood up and looked at Nya. "Nor can she do the other things ninjas do. Remember Nya, you are needed."

"What does that mean?" Nya sighed again. "What do you know about what's happening?"

"I know everything, yet I know nothing." Mistake replied. "You are needed, Nya. Ninjago and beyond need a water ninja."

"But I'm not a water ninja," Nya said desperately. "And I don't want to be."

"You're not a ninja. But you will become one. Even if not here and not now." Mistake said, clenching her fists. "We have much to do."

"I have to go help Garmadon and Misako," Nya said, standing up decisively. "And the guys!"

"First, you have to listen to me." Mistake said, gesturing for her to follow.

~~~~~~

"I don't think this is a good idea," Cole repeated as they descended.

"We have no choice," Lloyd sighed.

"We really don't," Sanfungol confirmed. He didn't quite resemble Zane, but it was better than nothing. Certainly better than...

"Lightning! Lightning!" Dareth shouted, mimicking the sounds of thunder.

"Shh." Lloyd put a finger to his lips. "The less you two talk, the less chance there is of getting caught."

"Are you..." Cole began, but the guards interrupted him.

"STOP!" they shouted, quickly surrounding the ninjas.

"Here are my favorite guests!" Chen yelled as the guards carried him to the throne.

"You act like a king, Chen," Cole said glumly. "Where is Kai?"

"And what do you want with him and Skylor?" Lloyd added sternly.

"I want to have fun," Chen replied cheerfully, sinking deeper into the throne. "And why are these two silent?"

"Because they have no need to speak," Cole snapped before Dareth and Sanfungol could say anything.

"What are you trying to do, Chen?" Lloyd asked. "This time, you won't easily steal the elemental powers!"

"I've given up on my grand plans," Chen said unconvincingly. "I just want to have fun."

"How did you come back?" Cole clenched his fists.

"Blah blah blah," Chen rolled his eyes. "Questions are boring. Let the fun begin!"

"We're here for Kai and Skylor!" Cole shouted angrily. "Not for fun."

"But that's the point, earth ninja," Chen said with a slight smile. "Choose one among yourselves. And let him dare to pass through this room here! If he succeeds, you have Kai and Skylor."

"How can we trust you?" Lloyd frowned.

"I don't think you have a choice," Chen shrugged. "Did I mention that if you don't leave this room quickly enough, you will lose your sanity?"

"Who will go?" Cole snapped as all four of them huddled together in a circle.

"I'll go," Lloyd said decisively.

"No way!" Cole countered.

"I am a leader," Lloyd reminded him.

"Exactly." Cole pressed his lips together. "We need you, and I'll handle whatever is in there!"

"I'm going," Lloyd insisted. "I’m the green ninja."

"As you wish," Cole sighed reluctantly. "We’re behind you!"

"I know," Lloyd smiled and looked at Chen. "I'm going!"

~~~~~~

"How is this possible?" Nya asked when they entered a room full of maps.

"What?" Mistake absentmindedly asked as she searched for some things.

"Everything about Chen..." Nya peeked over Mistake's shoulder.

"There are possibilities of a spirit returning from the Cursed Realms." Mistake said.

"But Chen isn't..." Nya began, but Mistake interrupted her.

"But there is a way for both spirit and body to return!" Mistake took a map and showed it to Nya.

"I don't understand anything." Despite that, Nya admired the map.

"Listen. This is the Kingdom of the Six Duchies, or rather, it now has seven duchies, but it doesn’t matter. It is located across the sea."

"Why don't we know much about it if it's very close?" Nya asked curiously.

"We are in the same realm, but they, along with a few other kingdoms, keep to themselves, while we keep to ourselves. We aren’t quite alike, but we’re not that different either."

"Does Chen have anything to do with this?" Nya frowned.

"Yes, as I told you. Exactly two weeks after being exiled, a ritual can be performed that frees the exiled souls." Mistake pointed to a specific spot on the map.

"As you can see, it can only be done in a special place, which is located in the Six Duchies."

"Has anyone ever tried that?" Nya looked at the map in confusion. "And that means..."

"Yes, many have tried, but they failed. It is very difficult to carry out." Mistake said, putting the map away. "Not just anyone can do it.

Someone very powerful and cunning. Someone who needs Chen and his army."

"But who could that be?" Nya felt the pressure rising. The situation was serious.

"Anyone." Mistake exhaled. "And Chen has been free for some time, devising a plan..."

"And someone is with him." Nya finished.

"Probably." Mistake said as she exited the room.

"The Chen doesn't plan the same thing again, right?" Nya said while following Mistake.

"No." Mistake said decisively. "That’s why you need to bring us Skylor. And after that, probably Misako. Actually, for sure."

"But who first?" Nya quietly asked. "We know that Misako and Garmadon are captured."

"It will be difficult to do anything there." Mistake said sadly, looking firmly at Nya.

"But..." Nya protested.

"We need both of them. Garmadon to train you, and Misako for information." Mistake interrupted.

"And they are part of our family." Nya noted.

"Let’s hope for the best." Mistake said, looking sharply into Nya's eyes. "You have to bring us ninjas and Skylor."

"How do you know they are in trouble?" Nya asked worriedly.

"I just know." Mistake cut off Nya's questions and looked away. Nya did not waste another second.

~~~~~

"Green ninja, how cute!" Chen laughed. "Come on in."

Lloyd slowly walked to the room, with Cole, Dareth, and Sanfungol anxiously standing behind him.

As he entered the room, he felt a cold breeze envelop him. Soon, the dark room became bright.

Inside, Lloyd saw images. Images he didn’t remember—pictures from his childhood with his parents.

"Welcome to the room of your greatest regrets and desires," a voice said, and Lloyd turned around to find no one there.

"My greatest regrets and desires..." Lloyd whispered, continuing to gaze at the scenes of his childhood.

“Why…” Then he immediately realized. They were so happy—he and his parents—and he remembered nothing.

He watched the images of his mom and dad playing with him, tears welling in his eyes.

Simple little things. Cooking with his parents, drawing with them, going to the park. How they hugged him...

"That’s not a part of me. That’s not me... I don’t remember anything from before my fifth year... Before Darkly's." Lloyd said, distressed.

For a while, tears streamed down Lloyd's face, and then he felt himself slowly becoming part of those images...

He drowned in memories that weren't even his... How wonderful it would be to live in those days again.

To be a normal child once more. To be a kid. To grow up with parents.

"...if you don't leave this room quickly enough, you will lose your sanity.." He felt the voice echoing in his head.

"I have to go," Lloyd said, slowly passing through the room.

He wanted to stay so badly... He would give anything to remain. But he was stronger than that.

"Kai!" he shouted as he stepped out. He found himself in a cold dungeon. There were no guards.

"Lloyd?" he heard two voices at once.

"Wait," Lloyd said and grabbed the nearest torch. His eyes were still red.

It was frighteningly dark. To his relief, he found a key on the floor and unlocked Kai and Skylor.

Could it be that Chen kept his promise?

"Lloyd, how?" Kai looked at him in awe.

"Are you..." Skylor began, but Lloyd interrupted her.

"We have to go. Quickly! The question is how long Chen will pretend to keep his word."

~~~~~~

"Zane, Jay!" Nya shouted as she descended with her Samurai X to the guys.

"Nya!" Jay yelled, rushing to her.

"What’s going on?" Nya looked confused. "Where are they..."

"Down with Dareth and Sanfungol, who are pretending to be us," Zane tried to explain to her.

"Dareth and who?" Nya asked.

"We don’t have time!" Zane shouted. "I see Kai and Skylor with them, but Chen's soldiers won’t let them go."

"Let’s go!" Nya shouted, jumping into her Samurai X suit.

~~~~~~

"You’re not going anywhere!" the guards shouted.

"You promised," Lloyd said, grinding his teeth.

"And you weren’t supposed to pass through that room!" Chen pulled. "The guards..."

"It's over, Chen!" Nya yelled, diving down.

"Samurai X?" Chen looked at her confused. "Weren’t you in a monastery..."

"How do you know?" Kai asked.

"Run! I’ll hold them back!" Nya shouted. Everyone began to flee as Nya held off the guards.

Zane and Cole greeted them and helped them climb up without obstruction.

Once everyone got out, Sanfungol sealed the entrance to the underground passages.

"I’ll freeze it!" Zane stopped Sanfungol.

"No, this has a different mechanism!" Sanfungol replied, starting to fiddle with the entrance.

"There, that should do it. We should have some time..."

"Did you find any help, Nya?" Lloyd asked.

"Unfortunately, they’re all unavailable," Nya sighed.

"Who is unavailable?" Skylor asked.

"The elemental masters," Jay explained to her. "Do you think Chen..."

"Possible," Skylor sighed.

"Let's go to the Mystake tea shop," Nya said. "We can’t waste time."

"I’ve had enough ninja adventures for today," Dareth smiled. "I’m going!"

"Do I have your permission to go with you?" Sanfungol politely asked. Lloyd frowned slightly at this.

"You've proven yourself an ally," Cole said, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"If you claim to be a friend, we trust you!" Zane added. "Let’s go!"

"Wait!" Lloyd said, and everyone froze. "Any information about Sensei Wu and my parents?"

"Wu has gone beyond the Ninjago," Nya said seriously. "Mystake assumes to a place where the ritual was performed to bring Chen and his army back."

"Where is that?" Zane asked.

"We don’t have time right now," Nya shook her head. "Mystake will explain everything."

"And where's Clouse?" Jay remembered. "We haven’t seen him."

"My parents, Nya?" Lloyd anxiously asked. He had a feeling something was wrong.

"Clouse has been spying on us with a mechanical spider," Nya began.

"What!" everyone exclaimed in surprise.

"He knew Misako and Garmadon were going to the docks and captured them..." Nya struggled to finish the last sentence as she watched Lloyd's expression change.

"We have to save them!" Lloyd said firmly.

"I'm sorry." Nya sighed sadly. "We need to go to Mystake first."

"Why?" Kai interrupted. "We go for them, then to Wu."

"Because we need to understand what my father is planning," Skylor interjected. "I know I'm not authorized to tell you this.

They’re all your family... but first, we must hear what Mystake has to say, and then we go for them!"

"That's right, Lloyd," Sanfungol said, placing a hand on Lloyd's shoulder. "Don't worry kid. We will go for them as soon as possible, and it will be quick."

"Thank you." Lloyd smiled slightly. His distrust of Sanfungol was somewhat fading.

When he looked closer at his face, he could see fine, well-hidden wrinkles. His face could be in its fifties.

"Then let's not waste any more time!" Kai said, and everyone followed him.

"Wait aren't you thinking this was a little too easy?" Zane asked as they ran.

"It won't be easy." Nya reminded him."

"But it feels like they leted us go," Zane explained.

"Actually, you're right." "Lloyd stopped in amazement." Who knows what Chen is planning.