Chapter 1: The Green Shade of Envy

"Can someone tell me why we needed to use our elemental dragons to get some supplies again?" Jay asked.

The ninja's dragons flew over the sea, the colors rippling over the waves. Past the water and the score of ships the ninja could see the coast of Ninjago and faintly, the outlines of Steep Wisdom, the tea shop Wu had purchased after the Tournament.

Recalling Wu's solemn demeanor after Garmadon's sacrifice Zane spoke carefully. "Sensei wishes to settle down. He is more than ready to prepare for retirement at his age." Besides Lloyd, Zane had the most ease with his dragon, and he easily steered his alongside Jay.

"In that case," Cole said, swooping down on his dragon, "Let's place a little bet. Last one to the harbor has to do most of the unpacking!"

"Too bad for you since my dragon has the best element. Fire!" Kai said. His dragon roared and spat fire at the three, causing Jay to fall off his dragon. With a laugh Kai shot forward as Jay scrambled back onto his dragon.

Jay hacked out a chunk of seaweed and wiped his mouth. "Hey, no fair! You shouldn't be able to use your powers!"

Cole and Zane sped ahead of him to trail Kai. Cole yelled after him. "Then you better hurry up motormouth!"

"Let's see if you'll be saying the same thing when I'm the first one there dirt for brains!"

The three dragons narrowed in one another until Zane managed to pull past them.

Kai looked back, seeing that Zane was closing in on him. "That doesn't look good." Turning back Kai spotted a large fishing boat and smirked. "Let's see how you like this!"

Kai steered his dragon narrowly above the ship, grazing the sails before zooming past it.

The fisherman grumbled and raised his fist. "You nearly blew my sails clean off! I'll get you-hey, you better watch where you're going!"

Zane yelled as his dragon slid over the deck before disappearing. He spun a few times and groaned, grabbing his head. The fisherman was above him and was holding his pole out, his face curled in anger.

Zane managed a weak smile. "Perhaps we can work this out?"

Above them Cole and Jay sped past.

Cole turned to Jay. "Want to team up to take down hot-head?"

Jay swooped his dragon to Kai's left. "Hey Kai, I'm not getting too close, am I?"

"If that's the best plan you can come up with-Hey, you can't both team up!" Kai shouted as Cole appeared to the right, pinning Kai between them.

"I thought you made it clear that there are no rules in racing when you had your dragon shoot fire at us," Cole said before knocking Kai's dragons and speeding ahead with Jay.

Kai groaned, turning back. "They're not the only two who can team up, right…Lloyd?"

Kai squinted, and in the distance, he could see the faint outline of the green dragon. Before he could call out Zane flew above him.

"Dare I say that this is payback?"

Groaning Kai patted his dragon. "Come on boy, we've got this."

With a small nod, the dragon went after Zane. Once the four reached the harbor they circled above it, dropping down supplies and laughing.

The dragons dissipated as the ninja jumped down, Jay screaming as he fell into some of the packages.

"Need a hand?" Nya asked, moving the boxes aside so that Jay could stand up, laughing awkwardly. "For all the times, you've used your dragon I'm surprised that you still have a hard time landing."

Above them Lloyd's dragon finally circled over and dissipated as Lloyd jumped down. Kai thumped his back.

"Looks like we know who's stuck packing."

Lloyd laughed weakly, rubbing his neck. "Yea."

"That's enough."

The six turned to see the tea shop's bell ringing as Wu and Misako exited. Wu used his staff to tap the boxes they had dropped off.

"There is much work to be done."

Kai turned to Lloyd. "Are you sure you don't need help? You seem…out of it."

"No, it's fine," Lloyd said, picking up one of the boxes. "I need to help my mom anyway. I can't leave her here to do it all by herself."

"Lloyd, it's okay to be honest with me."

"Huh?"

Kai sighed, looking at the harbor. The sun was setting in the sky, orange and pink brushing the horizon. "I know that it's hard to lose your father. I felt the same way when Nya and I lost dad. But you don't have to feel like you're on your own. We're all here for you." Kai ruffled Lloyd's hair and smirked. "From now I'll watch over you green machine. If you need anything I'll be inside. I need to get my stuff into our room."

Grabbing his boxes Kai walked into the shop while Lloyd focused on the horizon. Misako walked up to him, placing her hand on her son's shoulder.

"He's right Lloyd," Misako said softly. "You need to spend time with your friends. I'm not going anywhere."

Misako gave Lloyd a hug and they stayed there for a few moments before Lloyd released her.

"I'm sorry mom. I guess I was nervous that I'd lose you too after what happened to dad."

"Your father was a noble man. I'm glad that you're trying to follow in his footsteps, but even your father knew when to let go and have fun." Misako turned to look at Wu and sighed.

"Is something wrong?"

"Nothing dear. Why don't you spend time with your friends? I'll try to convince Wu to pack later."

Lloyd beamed. "Thanks mom. Tell me if you need anything."

As Lloyd ran into the shop Misako walked to Wu as he set down a box.

"We might as well pack later."

Wu sighed and Misako stepped forward.

"Is everything all right?"

"I am…unsure of what to do," Wu said softly. "Now with my brother gone I realized that I don't have much time left. I hoped to surround myself with what I love for that time. Besides, I have nothing more to teach my students. My role as a sensei has been fulfilled."

"I think that you are making the same mistake that I did," Misako said. "Wu, do not run away from your problems. You need to be there for your students and be honest with them about how you feel. I'll be inside if you need me."

Wu sighed, leaning against the boxes and looking up at the sky. For a flicker of a moment he saw the clouds curl into the face of his brother before it faded into the darkening sky. Giving the sky one final look Wu grabbed his staff and walked to the tea shop's entrance.


"And another win," Cole said, reclining back on the couch. "That's two to nothing."

Kai threw down the controller. "Yea, well that's because you have Zane on your team. He's probably using some cheats or something to win."

"Correction," Zane said calmly, leaning past Cole. "I have just memorized all of your moves. Kai, I do not believe that pressing the attack button repeatedly will be more successful than it has been the last time."

"What's the point of shielding?" Kai asked, shrugging. "I like button mashing."

Nya walked into the room and rose her brow, seeing the boxes on the floor around the TV. "So, you guys couldn't help unbox more than just the TV?" Sitting next to Jay she looked at the screen. "Don't you guys get sick of this game anyway?"

"Ooh, we could get that new Prince Donegan game!" Jay said. "It's about the invading space turtles trying to take over all of the planets in the Multiverse!"

"I don't know if you've forgotten, but we're kind of in a pinch for money right now," Cole said. "Nearly all of our savings went to the tea shop."

Jay deflated. "Ugh, I forgot. Why couldn't Sensei get something cooler, like tech for the Bounty?"

"Sensei has reasons that he is probably uncomfortable sharing," Zane said. "We should just support him through this now until he wishes to speak to us about it."

While the ninja thought this over the tea shop door opened and Lloyd walked in, smiling.

"Hey guys, what did I miss?"

Kai smiled and invited Lloyd to sit next to him. "Did you really get all of that packing done already?"

Lloyd smirked. "Mom said that she would talk to Uncle about doing it later. It's supposed to rain at night though so we'll have to take the stuff in before then."

"Since we're all here why don't we have a three on three match?" Nya suggested. "I think it'll be fun."

Jay looked at the arrangement on the couch: Kai, Lloyd, himself, then Nya, Cole, and Zane. Now that his quarrel with Cole was over he had been trying to subtly get himself closer to Nya. Not wanting to have to fight against Nya he stood on the couch and pointed dramatically to Zane.

"Why don't we make sure that Zane isn't cheating? New round-all of us against Zane!"

"I'm up for it," Nya said. "Although I'll warn you advance-I have seen you enough times to know how this game works."

"That will prove to be no challenge," Zane said, tapping his head. "After all, I will not be alone."

Pixal nodded, appearing in Zane's vision. "I will help you, but I question the purpose of this Zane. Is it really necessary to put so much energy into a game?"

Cole leaned forward, hovering his hand over the start button. "In one, two, three…go!"

The six were playing when the door opened. Lloyd looked up to see his Uncle slip inside, and walk silently past them without any sort of acknowledgement.

Lloyd frowned, but before he knew it the game flashed VICTORY in bold letters across the screen.

"Hah!" Jay exclaimed, throwing his arms up. "We won!"

Zane frowned, studying the game's screen before turning to the others. "The game flashed irregularly for one moment, and I was unable to control my character before the round ended. Someone definitely used a cheat."

Cole smirked. "Seems like someone's a sore loser."

"Well," Nya said quickly, getting up. "I better get my Samurai X stuff out. I'll see you guys later."

"I-I better go too," Lloyd said.

Kai raised his brow. "Why, so you can do more unpacking? Aren't we doing it later anyway?"

Lloyd jumped and rubbed his neck. "Well, not exactly. I just have to go find my toothbrush. You know what the dentist said about eating too many sweets last time."

"Your…toothbrush?" Kai asked.

"Hah, well see you later!"

Lloyd left the four with incredulous stares before slowing down when he reached the hallway. Slowly, he followed the path that his Uncle had taken earlier and leaned to the door that led to his Uncle's room.

"Uncle, are you in here?" Lloyd froze, seeing his Uncle quickly put the book he was holding in one of the boxes he had earlier.

"I was just unpacking," Wu said, using his staff to stand up. "Which is something that the rest of you should be doing instead of playing games. In fact, you should be training."

"Of course, Uncle." Lloyd paused, and walked forward. "Um, if you don't mind me asking, what were you looking at? I never saw that book before."

Wu looked stern, but slowly his face fell. Setting his staff down Wu opened the box again to reveal a set of photo albums.

"My brother," Wu said softly, taking one of the albums. "And your father was a great man. We took pictures of ourselves that I have come to collect over the years. It wasn't easy recovering them when the monastery burned down, but I have done my best to preserve them."

Wu opened the album and Lloyd recognized the picture. It had his father, his mother, and his Uncle standing next to each other, with his father having an evil glint in his eyes. Wu flipped the page and it showed a younger version of his father with his grandfather. The red was gone from his eyes.

Both were silent as Wu flipped the pages, each going back to when they were younger. Lloyd silently sat next to his Uncle, absorbed in the pictures that went by.

Wu laughed. "Isn't it strange how I organized it? I wanted to capture moments of when things seemed easier, but instead all it reminds me of is how old I am getting."

"You're not old Uncle," Lloyd said quickly. "You're just…getting sort of up there."

"Like your father I will leave this world eventually," Wu said, shutting the book. "I have grown selfish, trying to make the most of my years, believing that my students didn't need me. Your mother cleared my mind of those thoughts." Wu reached for his staff and stood up. "If you wish, you can look through them. I will meanwhile join the others, as I should have done earlier. Don't be afraid to let your emotions go Lloyd, but don't get caught up in the past."

With his staff tapping, Wu left the room, leaving Lloyd with the albums.

Lloyd silently reached for one of them, and opened it to a random page. It showed his father and himself when he was younger. Lloyd's breath hitched and some tears fell, but he caught himself and wiped his eyes.

"I have to be strong for the team. I'm not a little kid anymore."

After he collected himself he went through the rest of the album and went to put it back in the box when one of the books caught his eye.

The cover was green, and after looking back to make sure that his Uncle was gone, Lloyd opened the book.

"I guess Uncle would have had students before," Lloyd said, seeing a much younger Wu standing next to a series of children in front of the monastery. He flipped the page, and found his Uncle standing next to one student, who was about the same age Lloyd was when he discovered that he was the green ninja.

The boy was smiling, but the emotion in his eyes made Lloyd feel uneasy. In his green eyes he saw pain, happiness, and a glint of pride all at once. Turning the next page, he found more pictures of Wu's students, but no matter how much he looked he couldn't find the same boy again.

Lloyd put the album back with shaking hands. Was it just a coincidence that the boy was wearing a green belt? And why was the album green?

Lloyd suddenly felt unsure of himself. He forced himself to grab the album again, and studied the picture of the boy. He put the book closer.

"The monastery," He whispered.


"Um, Kai, can I ask you something?" Lloyd asked.

They were all carrying the packages into Steep Wisdom's storeroom. Even though the sky had been clear earlier, the stars weren't visible as a dark mass of clouds had settled over them.

Most of their personal possessions were going to be placed into Steep Wisdom, as Destiny's Bounty was commonly targeted by villains.

Kai leaned against the boxes he put down. "What's up?"

"Well, I'm not exactly sure how to word this," Lloyd said, swallowing. "I found an album in Sensei's room, and it had a picture of one of Uncle's students. But he was wearing a green belt and the album was green. I don't know if it was just a coincidence, but just from the way that Uncle looked at him it seemed like he was supposed to be the green ninja."

"The green ninja? Isn't the prophecy already fulfilled at this point?"

"I don't think that it meant something for the future. It looked like there was a green ninja in the past, before me."

"So, like how I thought that I was the green ninja?"

Lloyd looked down. "Sorry for mentioning it."

Kai sighed, and ran his hand through his hair. "No, it's fine. I know that I probably alarmed you when I took Chen's staff and said all those things. There is some part of me that feels that way, but I'm not going to let it take control. It's just part of me. So, I'm not letting up on my promise on helping you." Kai threw his arm around Lloyd's shoulder. "I'm here for you green machine. So, what are we planning on doing?"

"There was a single picture in the album I found," Lloyd explained. "In the background, I could tell that it was the monastery. I'd like to go just with you. I don't want to bother everyone about it or let Uncle know. Besides, it feels more like a green ninja issue." Lloyd watched his Uncle laughing with the others as they carried boxes in and a faint smile grew on his face. "I haven't seen him so happy since…you know."

Kai frowned. He could tell that it had taken Lloyd a lot of effort to ask him for help. Lloyd didn't like letting the others know that he was weak-if Kai hadn't talked to him earlier he probably would have gone off on his own. But Kai was glad that he made this step. If Lloyd was at least admitting that he needed help Kai wasn't going to refuse him and make Lloyd even more hesitant about taking the initiative.

"Well, we'll have to go later tonight then. How about ten? I can grab the keys before we go to bed so we can sneak out."

Lloyd beamed. "Thanks Kai. I really appreciate it."


It was rather jarring to see that the dojo that had once looked over Ninjago was now only a skeleton of its former glory. With the clouds rolling in as it settled into night it seemed even more sinister, less homely than Kai remembered.

"So, you guys lived here before the Bounty?" Lloyd asked. They were making their way up the long series of steps carved into the side of the mountain to reach the top. Lloyd looked up at the monastery with a frown. "I never did see it up close when, well, you know. All I have known is the Bounty."

Kai shrugged, but he did feel a moment of sadness at seeing the monastery like this. "Well, it was a lot better before the fire. It really does bring back memories though. This was the first place that I started to train to become a ninja with Sensei."

The wind picked up and Kai pulled up his hood.

Lloyd smiled teasingly. "Are you afraid of getting your hair wet?"

Kai lightly punched his shoulder. "I've just always hated water. Seems to put a damper on my powers. Although, my hair is always a priority."

Finally reaching the top the two made their way through the remains of the archway. The wind blew fiercely and Kai swore, pulling his hood tighter.

Lloyd tried to imagine what the dojo had looked like from Kai had told him as he felt his chest tighten. Turning to Kai he chuckled nervously.

"So, do you want to split up and look?"

Kai looked at the sky and frowned. "Something about this place seems off. We should stay close. Kay?"

Normally Lloyd would have protested but when the wind howled and he saw lightening flash from the corner of his eyes he just nodded weakly.

They had just started to sift through the rubble when more lightening flashed down and thunder boomed through the ground.

Kai started to run. "C'mon, we need to get out of here before it-Wow…" Kai slid to a stop, almost falling through a green teenage boy that had just flashed in front of him. The boy smiled and flicked his wrist and before Kai knew it he was several inches off the ground.

"Um…hi?"

The boy snapped his wrist again and Kai swung forward onto the ground.

Kai wiped his mouth, getting up into a fighting position. "Okay, that was not the welcome I was expecting. Although I don't know what a glowing person would do otherwise."

The boy chuckled and with a snap, disappeared. Kai looked around wildly before the boy reappeared above them.

"Is this really the threat that the green ninja poses? Not even fighting his own battles? Wu must have let down on his standards."

"What do you know about Wu?" Kai growled. Using a pillar from the monastery Kai jumped up and tried to hit him. But instead of hitting the boy he fell through him and landed in the rubble.

"There's no point in trying to hurt a ghost. Thankfully, the opposite is true for me."

The boy swept down and landed hits on Kai; Kai tried to hit back, but all his punches went through the boy.

Lloyd jumped down and sent a blast of energy at the ghost.

The ghost smirked. "Ah, now this is what I wanted to see. The 'green ninja.'"

Lloyd's eyes widened and he turned to Kai. "It-It's the same boy from Uncle's photo!"

The ghost appeared between them. "I heard your voice shake. What are you…afraid of ghosts? Nenagh!"

The wind gathered in his fists and it blasted down onto Kai.

Kai fell back, but he managed to flip over and run with Lloyd. Both of their hands lighted with their elemental powers.

"How are we supposed to hurt him?" Kai asked, frustrated as his fireball went through the ghost cleanly. "All of our attacks go through him!"

Lloyd leapt down from a strike and breathed heavily. "I-I don't know. I'm trying to think of a weakness for ghosts or wind but nothing comes to mind."

Kai yelled, running at the ghost, ready to land a punch before the ghost growled and grabbed him.

Kai struggled as the ghost swiftly flew across the monastery and peered over the mountain's side.

"Why don't you just get out of my way?!" The ghost seethed. "I don't need you to distract me from my goal!"

"Kai!" Lloyd ran forward and energy pulsed in his hands, but the ghost raised his other hand.

Seemingly gaining his composure the ghost continued. "If you want your friend back you will do as I say. Otherwise, he falls to his doom."

"Lloyd, don't do it!" Kai shook, trying to get free. "He's up to something bigger. Don't give in!"

As thunder rumbled in the distance Lloyd trembled. "I can't lose you Kai. Not after what happened to my father…"

The ghost smirked. "Did you think that I would actually let one of your Sensei's beloved students go?"

The ghost let go of Kai, and as Kai fell rain started to fall. The ghost's face tightened.

"No! I will not give up so easily!"

Lloyd, who watched Kai fall, went on his knees. Tears started to fall. As he looked up he saw the terrified face of the ghost that matched his own before everything faded into nothingness.