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01 – Wasted True Potential
As the ninja faced the lightning chicken in the living room, Wu and Garmadon stood outside the room. Wu was unfazed, Garmadon looked a little concerned.
“I know they have let themselves go, but don’t you think this is a little harsh?”
“No, they need to learn their lesson. This happens every time.”
Garmadon sighs and said in a whisper: “And people say I’m the evil one.”
“I heard that.”
“Good.”
Soon after the door bursts open and the Ninja fell on the floor. They really were worse then ever.
Down in the base, which the Ninja had yet to notice, Wu, Garmadon, Echo, Pixal and Morro were standing together. It was surprising as they never hid the fact that they were working on this. They all had decided to let the Ninja find out themselves, rather than telling them.
Wu had a plan and he needed a little help.
“Why exactly did you call us here, Sensei?”, asked Morro.
“I called you here because the ninja have gone soft. I want you all to help me bobby trap the whole monastery.”
“The whole place?”, asked Echo.
“Sensei Wu, is it really the most… senseful thing to do?”, asked Pixal.
“It would seem excessive, but Wu has a point. They’ll learn their lesson quicker this way.”, said Garmadon.
“You know, I’m in. This should be fun.”, said Morro. It had been rather boring lately.
“It’s like setting up pranks, right?”, wondered Echo.
“Yes. You should have no issue with this.”, said Pixal.
Echo laughed and said: “Let’s go! Let’s go! Let’s go!!”
Morro, Pixal and Echo ran off, ready to make the ninja suffer.
“These three seem to enjoy this idea more then I like.”, said Wu.
“Let them have their fun. They also have been bored.”, said Garmadon.
The brothers soon joined the other three in setting up the traps for their students.
02 – Questing for Quests
Morro was meditating with Wu when Lloyd walked into the room. At first he wanted to wait, then he did a horrible attempt at mediating. First Master, Lloyd was bad at this.
Wu lost his patience and talked to Lloyd, Morro kept meditating, well from what Lloyd could tell. He was listening to the conversation. It was quite enjoyable.
After Lloyd left Wu let out a sigh. Morro on the other hand opened his eyes and laughed. He quickly received a glare from Wu. Morro tried to stop laughing, it didn’t do much. Instead, he stood up.
“I’m sorry Sensei. I’ll get you some calming tea.”
“Thank you Morro.”
If Wu’s hair wasn’t already white, the Ninja would certainly help with giving him gray hairs.
After the Ninja had been gone the whole day the finally returned to the monastery. They looked rather beaten up. Morro and Wu were outside. Wu was sweeping the leaves, while Morro was sitting on the ground, petting the lightning chicken. Had the Ninja paid attention, they would have been surprised by how tame the chicken was with Morro.
They heard the Ninja complain about what had happened. Apparently they lost to a filing cabinet.
“They what?”, wondered Morro.
How does one lose to a filing cabinet?
03 – A Rocky Start
Much to the Ninjas surprise as they reached their new secret base they saw Garmadon, Echo and Morro already there. Did they know about this? Kai was the one to voice everyone’s confusion.
“You guys knew about this?”
“We helped built it.”, answered Echo.
Before Pixal could finish talking to them, the Ninja had already left.
“Did they even bring the luggage?”, said Pixal.
Garmadon sighs and said: “No…”
Morro looked at Pixal disappointed and said: “We really are dating idiots.”
“You knew that already.”
“Touché”
06 – The News Never Sleeps
Those fire snakes were attacking Ninjago City and since they could reach the Ninja, Morro, Pixal and Echo went to defend the city. Pixal, being in a huge mech, drew more attention to herself. Echo and Morro went more unnoticed but helped where they could.
Morro couldn’t help but notice these two kids. They just kept riding their bikes and delivering the newspapers. They were definitely detected.
“What’s up with these kids?”, wondered Morro.
Echo said over his communicator: “That’s quite dangerous.”
“Agreed.”, Pixal chimed in.
The three kept fighting the snakes.
12 – Under Siege
After Wu finished telling the story everyone was a little on edge. They had thought Garmadon had been the one to device Ashperaa, not Wu.
All of them voiced their opinion, even Echo.
“Even I know that’s a bad idea!”
“Was that why you always told me ‘Never trust a snake’?”, asked Morro.
Wu said: “I thought all of this was in the past.”
“Sensei, you never know who can come back and cause problems. I mean look at Sensei Garmadon and me. We came back.”
“I have to agree with Morro. Neither of us should have kept any of this from you.”, said Garmadon. He may not have been the one at fault but keeping this from the ninja, left a bitter taste in his mouth as well.
When they were inside their base Kai kept getting angry at Wu. Morro was fed up with it. Sure, it was Wu’s fault but getting angry at him now doesn’t help their problem.
“Kai! We can do this later! We have a bigger issue at hand!”
“Like you’re one to talk!”
Before the two could get into a fight Cole stepped in.
“Kai, uh, maybe it’s time to back off a little.”
13 – The Explorers Club
As Lloyd, Nya and Zane were looking for the second scroll, they found a mirror, one that shows one’s greatest fears.
Lloyd looked at it. He jumped as he saw an Oni. He was afraid that he Oni part of him would eventually take over and make him into a monster, that wants nothing but to destroy.
14 – Vengeance is Mine
Ashperaa had found them. Luckily Pixal stopped her. But that didn’t last long. As everyone fought the serpentine, Pixals mech fell over.
“Pix!”, Echo exclaimed. He ran over to her to make sure she was fine.
Unfortunately, all of them were bested by Aspheraa and quite literally forced to their knees, until A helicopter arrived, Zane.
Soon after the Land Bounty was back too, Lloyd and Nya were back too.
Lloyd instantly began fighting Aspheraa with the scroll in his hands. He was knocked away and dropped the scroll. Morro jumped to the scroll and took his turn fighting her. It didn’t take long for Morro to also be knocked over and drop the scroll. Jay took the scroll and began fighting her too. After him Cole took the chance. Next the scroll landed in front of Kai. He took it but the scroll didn’t react to him.
Zane took the scroll next and made short process of the serpentine and Asheraa.
He had done it! HE defeated her. Or so they thought, Ashperaa shot one final blast at Wu and Zane pushed Wu away. With that Zane was gone.
He was truly gone.
15 – A Cold Goodbye
Pixal woke up. Another nightmare.
The others ran into her room, worried about her.
“I’m fine.”, she said.
Echo put a hand on her shoulder and said: “No, you’re not. None of us are.”
Echo had refused to leave her side since his brother was gone. She didn’t know why, but she appreciated it nonetheless.
Then Wu came in, Zane was alive.
Wu wanted to go alone, he wanted to go to the Never Realm on his own.
“Brother, going alone is too dangerous, at least let me join.”, Garmadon suggested.
“No! I have to go alone.“, said Wu.
The Ninja began arguing with Wu, they convinced him to think about it before jumping into it. Garmadon knew his son was up to something, but what.
“Lloyd. What are you up to?”
“Nothing, Dad.”
“I know you are. Don’t do anything rash and think through it carefully, Lloyd.”
“I will Dad.”
Lloyd left to talk to the others. Garmadon knew they were up to something, but he also knew that he wouldn’t be able to change his mind. Maybe he could try talking to Wu instead.
“Wu, I don’t know what father has told you about the Never Realm, but please, think this through.”
“I won’t drag anyone else with me. I have to do this alone.”
“You don’t. You have to rely on everyone. We can help. Please, brother.”
“I have made my decision.”
“Stop being stubborn!”
This was going nowhere. Why did his brother have to be so stubborn, not that Garmadon was any better.
“Please, thing this trough.” With that Garmadon left the room. He didn’t know what else to do.
Garmadon came down to the base to find everyone fighting, Wu was holding the scroll and the ninja were fighting him. Garmadon went next to Wu. They could talk this out, right?
“What is going on?”
Before Garmadon could do more, he and Wu were tied up. At least the Ninja were back in shape. They wanted to go to the Never Realm.
“Lloyd! Let me go, please. This isn’t what I meant by thinking things through!”
“Sorry, Dad. We have a better chance of finding Zane. We’ll be back soon.”
Next to Pixal stood Echo and Morro. They had decided to stay behind, just in case something does happen while they get Zane.
Then they were gone.
Morro untied the two Sensei only for them to find out that the whole thing was basically a one-way ticket.
“Noe they’re lost, just like Zane.”
“WHAT?!”, screamed Garmadon and Morro.
Pixal and Echo just looked shocked and sad.
Wu left the base, Garmadon broke his staff in half, Morro stomped of, leaving the monastery in anger. Pixal just put an arm around Echo.
Meanwhile in Ninjago
When the Ninja were in the Never Realm and the others had started to try and find their way to them a few things happened.
Morro was mad, he hadn’t been this angry in a while. He knew he had to do something about that. He left the monastery. He had to find something to destroy, something to let his anger lose.
He went deep into the forest. He began destroying the trees left and right, not caring how this place would look after. At some point he also began to cry.
Why? Why did fate hate him? Just when he was actually happy, all that was ripped from him! Why wasn’t he allowed to be happy!
After a few hours Morro was exhausted, he made his way back. There had to be a ways to get them all back, right?
In the monastery he was greeted by Wu, he had been obviously been worried about his son.
“Morro, where were you?”
“Zip it!”
Morro was mad at him for not telling them the whole truth and just walked past the man, leaving him looking after Morro.
Echo hadn’t said a thing since the others left to the Never Realm. Just as before he did not leave Pixals side. He was practically glued to her side, not that she wanted let him out of her eyes. She already didn’t like that she didn’t knew where Morro was. She felt awful, it was her fault that their family was lost. All she could do for now was making sure the remainder of her family was safe.
Echo took Pixals hand as she prepared more of the tea they needed to at least try and get the others back. HE talked for the first time in a while.
“Pix, we’ll get everyone back, right?”
“We- we will.”
She wasn’t certain of that. She wanted to give him a little hope at least.
“I- I don’t want to be alone again.”
“You’ll never be alone again. They’ll come back and until then you have me.”
Echo smiled a little and leaned into Pixal a little, she put her hand on his head, petting it. They would get their family back!
Garmadon had locked himself in his room, he knew getting this angry would only unleash his Oni side. Parts of his room were set ablaze with purple fire; others were broken and a few had turned to dust. Somehow Wu had gotten into his room.
“Brother you need to calm down!”
“Calm down! My son is gone and I don’t know how to reach him!”
“I know, we- Pixal is making travelers tea. We’ll try to get to them.”
“You yourself said it’s impossible! Why didn’t you tell me? Why would father tell you that but not me?”
“You would have tried to stop me if I told you.”
“Of course, I would have! You’re my brother!”
“What would you have done to get Zane back?”
“I- I don’t know.”
“There was never a good option.”
“I hate this. Why can’t we just stay together for once.”
“I don’t know. I don’t know.”
Garmadon put out the fires around the room.
“Let’s help Pixal.”
Pixal had managed to convince Echo to sleep a little. He did like taking naps and she really wanted to talk to Morro. He had just come back from wherever he was.
She found Morro; he was sitting on the porch outside. She sat down next to him.
“You need to eat something.”
Morro didn’t say anything. It was as if he was shutting everyone out. To be fair that’s probably what he’s doing.
“Please, Sensei says we’ll start using the tea afterwards. You need your strength.”
Pixal nudged a little closer to him. She now had a better look of his face. He was been crying. She knew that he had been angry because of what happened but to see him cry was just something unsettleing. She moved her hand up slowly and rested it on his schoulder, trying to confort him.
“I miss them too. We’ll get them back.”
“What if we don’t?”
Morro’s voice sounded so weak and broken, as if he had lost all his will to live.
“We will. They always come back.”
They sat there for a little while longer before Morro finally stood up to eat something. He really needed it. Cole would be worried if when he returns and finds out Morro hadn’t been eating.
It’s been a rough day. They tried to find a way to get to the others but there was nothing. Just one failure after another.
Pixal had convinced Morro to talk to Wu. Morro had been harsh to him and blown up on him more than once over the last few days. While Morro hated talking about this, he knew it would be for the best.
Morro stood in front of Wu’s room, took a deep breath and knocked.
“Sensei? Can we- can we talk?”
The door opened faster than Morro had expected, as if Wu was just waiting to talk things out.
They sat down together and Morro looked at his Sensei.
“Sensei, I- I’m sorry. I blew up on you a lot over these past few days. I shouldn’t have taken out on you. I just- I never knew how much it would hurt to lose Cole. I never had that before.”
“Don’t apologize. You have every right to be upset with me. I just hope that you never run off again.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“When you ran off, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the first time you ran away. I was afraid I’d lose you again.”
“I wouldn’t run away, not anymore. I was angry and needed to let that anger out but I also knew that I couldn’t do that here. I was just in the forest nearby.”
“Morro, promise me to never disappear again, at least let someone know. I can’t lose you again. You’re like a son to me.”
“I promise Sensei. You’re like my dad, I guess…”
Wu moved closer and hugged Morro. Everything would be fine, he hoped.
26 – The Kaiju Protocol
There were beavers everywhere. So many beavers, chanting ‘Fix it!’
Pixal broke broom and threw it back into the portal. The beavers ran right after it.
“Aww, Bye little friends.”, said Echo.
Morro had a different thought about them: “Not friends, pests that’s what they are!”
“No need to be harsh.”, said Garmadon.
Pixal and Wu began blaming themselves again. They kept doing that ever since. Morro had enough of it.
“We all messed up! Arguing who’s to blame won’t help us!”
“Morro is right. Let’s try again.”, said Garmadon.
The tried again.
“No, that’s the Underworld.”, said Garmadon.”
Again.
“Nah, Cloud Kingdom.”, commented Morro.
Again.
“It’s the First Realm.”, said Wu.
Again.
A dark place was visible behind the portal. A growl came out of it. Morro knew that sound all too well. Wu however believed it was the Land Bounty.
“Close it! Close it”
“It has to be! Listen.”
“Sensei!”
“Brother, close it!”
Wu didn’t listen to his son or brother and then it was too late.
“Something is coming through!”, exclaimed Pixal.
“No! Not just something! It’s the Preeminent!”, said Morro.
The Preeminent was in Ninjago once again.
As the Preeminent exited the portal, Morro heard it again, that voice. The Preeminent. They were still connected to each other. The voice was just as horrid and loud as he remembered. He can’t hear his own thoughts anymore. He couldn’t focus on anything else. But as the Preeminent left, the voice got quieter. Morro came back to his senses. He saw the other leave to the base; he followed closely behind them.
Pixal left in her mech, to capture the Preeminent. Echo instantly sat down at the computer. Morro was next to him. Morro preferred fighting in the front lines but he would only cause issues for Pixal if he couldn’t even think. At least here the voice was quite enough to ignore.
As Pixal fought the Preeminent the four could do nothing but watch. She wasn’t holding up too well. Wu noticed something unsettling.
“Pixal, am I reading this right? You’re hemorrhaging power.”
“She’s what?!”, yelled Echo.
“You’ve got to get out of there!”, said Wu.
Pixal said: “At this moment that is impossible.”
“But your power reserves.”, said Garmadon worried.
They could lose her too! There had to be a way.
Pixal managed to free herself and had plan. A horrible plan.
“Pixal? What are you doing?”, asked Wu.
“Attempting to replenish energy reserves.”
“You’ll overload! That could destroy you!”, said Morro.
“That is a risk I’m willing to take.”
“No! Pix, please don’t!”, Echo said, his voice made it clear he was close to crying, if he wasn’t already, “Don’t do this!”
“If this doesn’t work, please tell Zane… I love him.”
“Come back here and tell him yourself!”, yelled Echo.
She had done it the Preeminent was down, but at what cost? Was Pixal fine? They all called for her. Hoping she’d answer.
“Pixal?”
“Are you there?”
“Pixal?”
“Pix?”
A moment of silence and then…
“Did it work?”
“It did. You are amazing.”
With that Pixal made her way to return to the monastery, Preeminent in tow.
Once the Preeminent was back in the Departed Realm and everything was safe again, Echo launched himself at Pixal.
“Please, never do that again. I already lost my big brother; I don’t want to lose my big sister too.”
Pixal returns the hug: “I’ll try my best.”
Morro walked over to them, putting a hand on each one of them.
“Don’t talk like that kid. We’ll get them back somehow, even without the tea.”
“I don’t know what else to do.”, said Wu, he was truly disappointed in himself.
“Don’t you always say ‘Ninja never quit’?”, said Garmadon.
“Yes, trust your own words. They’ll get home, somehow.”, said Pixal.
The ninja will return to their family, eventually. They couldn’t lose hope yet. The ninja had a way of surviving everything after all.
30 – Awakenings
A portal began opening int center of the yard. Pixal rushed in to get Wu and Garmadon. As soon as they had reached the yard people came out of it.
The ninja were back.
One by one they were greeted with hugs. Happy to be finally home again.
Then Zane came out. Pixal jumped in his arms and they hugged for a little. The second he let go of her he was assaulted by Echo.
“Where are Lloyd and-“, Garmadon was cut off by Morro.
“Where’s Cole?”
As if on cue, Cole walked out of the portal. Before he could greet his friends Morro had already engulfed him in a hug. As Cole was about to return the hug, Morro let go a little. He grabbed Cole by the collar and pulled him down into a kiss. Cole was surprised for a second but returned the kiss nonetheless.
When they broke the kiss Morro said: “I’m never letting you go to another Realm again!”
Cole only laughed.
Not even a second later Lloyd walked out. Garmadon walked over to his son and hugged him.
“Welcome home, son.”
Finally, that scare was over, hopefully they would be separated for a long while.