"I should have known you were behind this." Garmadon seethed as he sized up the little old woman.

"Perhaps so." Mystaké replied. "But ignorance is a trait you've chosen to whole heartedly embrace."

"And the dark ways of your kind is one you've chosen to embrace." Garmadon huffed. 'At least I didn't just slaughter innocents like your followers."

Mystaké chuckled, a dark look on her face. "It got your attention... and we harmed no one."

"How could you possibly know that?"

"I have my ways."

Mystaké gripped her staff in calloused hands, leaning forward and smiling. Her gaze had landed on Lloyd.

"I had hoped you would bring your son... I wanted to see him, to know if the prophecy has been fulfilled."

Garmadon stiffened. How the heck could Mystaké know about the prophecy? Well come to think of it, she may have helped write it. That made him beyond angry. His own father had prophesied Garmadon's fall, and at the hands of his son no less.

"Well you're wasting your time. There's no way destiny will be the end of me."

"But we both know you are merely playing off a truth we both believe in. Your son will end this war..."

Ronin watched the thick plumules of smoke drift through the sky. People were scared, and he felt for them. Everything they had was gone, up in flames and smoldering away.

As he patrolled the outskirts of the crowds, he spotted Nya all by herself on a distant hill. Skylor was keeping an eye on the tree line, and Kai consoling a few kids.

Skylor had been out of line. Nya didn't have any sort of grip on her abilities, any sort of way to prevent this. He knew that, but Skylor had been desperate. Now Nya was beating herself up about it.

"Hey." He stood behind her. He watched her stiffen arms crossed and fingers digging into her side.

"What do you want?" Ronin wasn't surprised at the hatred lacing Nya's voice. She had every right to hate him after what he did.

"There was nothing you could have done."

"How do you know that?! How could you possibly understand?"

"I may not be an elemental like the other elites... but I've been around them. I know how they work, and I know for sure that you couldn't have done anything today. There's something holding you back... I'm not sure what it is, but that's for you to find out. You did a good job today... I don't think we had many casualties. So pick yourself up, and move on. There's nothing else you can do."

As Ronin walked away, Nya stared at the flames far below.

"I can try harder." She whispered to no one but herself.

"The village burned." Ronin explained as Garmadon shoved a chained chief to his knees. Mystaké sat next to him, vengestone chains clamped around her wrists.

"I can see that." Garmadon growled, clenching his fists angrily.

Lloyd and the others had been left in charge of getting the captured warriors back to the main group. Since they had more to watch over, the recruits were still in the woods.

Lloyd felt... watched... almost as if he was being shadowed. Could their have been more in the woods?

He spun around, getting hit with a cross breeze that rustled the trees. Jay, Zane, and Cole stopped, as did the rest of them. One began muttering under his breath.

"That breeze isn't normal... it felt oddly cold."

"I know, Zane." Cole shuddered. "It's kinda impossible to miss."

"Do any of you guys feel watched?" Lloyd asked.

"Nah. It's probably just weather."

"Ghost!' One of the warriors in their parade whispered.

"Ghosts?" Lloyd asked, frowning.

"Oh don't tell me you're one of the superstitious ones! There's no such thing, Lloyd. Ghosts are old wise tales, don't exist and never will. Now Come on." Jay huffed, shooting the green ninja a massive eye roll. "I wanna get my arm fixed up and grab something to eat."

Cole and Zane quietly voiced their agreements, and the chain gang moved forwards.

Lloyd frowned, glancing over his shoulder... He could have sworn that bush was waving at him... could have sworn the leaves morphed into an evil sneer.

Boo!
FireWriter316: Yeah, Nya figuring out her powers might just be useful. As for Skylor, she desperately wanted Nya to save the village. Her desire for that seriously clouded her judgement and rationale. Guess we'll see how she changes for the better!
Bookkeeper2004: Mystaké is pretty awesome
Northern Goshawk: Thanks! Nya is definitely beating herself up, and I just introduced a plot twist today. Hope you enjoyed!