I do not own Ninjago, it belongs to Lego and Cartoon Network.


Chapter Twenty-Eight

Lloyd was making excellent progress with his recovery. Wu and Misako were suspecting that the reason he was healing so fast was not only because of the forced bedrest by the doctor and them, but that the Oni and Dragon blood that flowed through his veins played a part as well. The ancient blood was probably forcing his body to heal at a higher speed than a normal human, so his wounds were healing well and to the doctor's and surgeon's standards. His wrist, however, was a different story. They weren't quite sure if it was because of the trauma it sustained, or because Alyx's strength was on a different level than they originally thought because the bones weren't healing as they thought they would, and upon his most recent scan, the pins weren't holding anymore. The surgeons were creating a surgical plan to figure out a better way to help his wrist, but all in all, it would probably result in another surgery. That was something they hadn't told Lloyd yet.

Other than that, after Lloyd's little escape, (he got such an earful, from not only his mother, but from Kai and Nya as well), Wu and the doctor agreed that he was finally well enough to return socializing again. The ninja were absolutely ecstatic about the news, and decided to make his favorite dinner and dessert for the night. They had no idea when Alyx and Morro would contact them, or come back for that matter, so they had to focus on something positive, and Lloyd was just that.


Things on Alyx's and Morro's end, however, weren't as great.

Morro leaned heavily against the tree, his breaths coming out in short, pained pants. Of course he was so short of breath; he wasn't fully recovered from captivity. His health wasn't fully back, not to mention his powers were still quite weak and not up to par with how they were before his capture. Or before he was mortal again at that.

Alyx was in no better shape. She collapsed against the trunk, her face pale from running and the power she used to extract the energy from the temple. Morro's eyes drifted to the bottle clutched in her hands. It was the size of maybe a glass spice bottle, so it was small, but the energy that Alyx had used to extract just even a little bit was going to render her useless for quite a while, so there was that. But the golden matter that swirled inside the bottle caused Morro to have a little bit of hope. So maybe that wasn't for nothing after all.

Still, though, they had to get back to the village before any of the Oni managed to catch up to them, yet Alyx looked in no position to run.

"Are you okay?" Alyx looked up at him, blinking almost as if she hadn't heard his question, but she nodded a bit.

"Just tired." She replied, her voice hoarse. "We've gotta get to the village."

"Yeah. Here." Morro kneeled down, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her other arm around his neck. She gripped his shoulder with her hand, holding the bottle close to her chest with her other hand. All they had to do was get back to the village...

..Safely.


Okay, they were being a little paranoid since they managed to get back to their hut in one piece. A village medic came in shortly after their arrival was announced and she quickly checked them over, treated a few cuts and bruises they had and left. Then a villager brought them some food to eat and some relaxant tea so they weren't so on edge.

As they shed their armor and uniforms to settle in for the night, Morro looked over at the bottle, sitting perfectly fine on the table by Alyx's cot. The little wisps of gold seemed to dance in the bottle, swirling around the circumference and walls.

"So... I have a plan." He winced, looking over at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Is it a good plan?"

"...It's a plan."

"Oh, First..."

"Hey! Let me finish before you say anything." Morro let out a resigned sigh, but he gestured for her to go on, reaching down to untie his boots. Alyx inhaled, a moment of silence hanging in the air before she spoke.

"I want to put a shield over the temple."

The boot came flying off, landing a few feet away from him as he lost control of his hands once the sentence settled in his brain. Alyx stared at the boot, rather unamused, but looked over at him as he stared at her with wide eyes.

"You want to do what on the what?"

"I want to put a shield over the temple. A magic shield." Morro simply stared at her, opening and closing his mouth several times before he groaned.

"Okay, please tell me there's more to that plan."

"There is!"

"Then continue." Alyx huffed, crossing her arms and sitting up straight, watching him stand and cross the room to retrieve his boot.

"Alright, here it is. We get there early in the morning before the Oni scouts begin their rounds. You keep a lookout while I begin the spell. A lot of my energy will deplete, so I'll need you to be fully charged and ready to make your power dragon right away. Once the spell is complete, we'll hop on your dragon, do several rounds around the area to make sure it worked, and once the Oni realize the power has vanished, they'll leave and the curse will be lifted off the village. How's that?"

"I can't believe I'm about to say this..." Alyx perked up. "Fine, we'll try it. How do you know it'll work?"

"Oh, I don't. I just have the spell, that's all. I've never actually done it before." Morro slid down his bed, covering his face.

"In the words of Jay... We. Are. So. Hooped."


They kept the plan going, though, even with Morro's insecurities. But he was sure Alyx was having some insecurities too, since she kept mumbling to herself all morning as they ate breakfast and got ready for the day. It had been too late last night to contact Wu and the others, as it had been a lot the past few nights, so they could only hope they were being trusted enough about this.

Morro still knew they would get a harsh scolding when they got back though.

They arrived at the temple about thirty minutes later, and after a quick scout to make sure there weren't any hiding Oni out there, Alyx stood in front of the temple, taking place. Morro stood nearby, clutching his staff in his hands tightly, keeping a close eye on the trees, but he couldn't help looking over at her as she kneeled and shut her eyes.

The slight breeze that was in the air halted as a gentle warmth cascaded through his body.

Alyx's hands lit up in a dark purple aura, before the aura expanded into smoke, and she begin to chant in a language he did not recognize. Probably some weird ass magical language. As he watched longer, the purple lightened to a bright white color, and identical color swirling ribbons begin to dance around the temple. Alyx clasped her hands together, her eyes opening and sending shivers down his spine.

They were completely white, glowing like Lloyd's does when he uses his power. But this... This was different.

Alyx let out a final chant, unclasped her hands and slammed them down on the ground, sending a ripple through the ground. A gold shield begin to cascade over the temple before touching on the ground, sending a shimmer through the dome. Unlike when they first found it, the temple's energy had completely vanished, leaving no one else to find it.

That was the hope anyway.

Alyx collapsed and Morro bolted over as she panted for breath, the light having diminished from her hands and eyes, and now she was too weak to move.

"You okay?"

"Y-Yeah..." She coughed. "We need to get out of here."

"Agreed." Morro immediately summoned his power dragon, wrapping his arm around her waist, and she managed to weakly drape her arm around his neck. He jumped, letting the wind carry them and land on his dragon. With that, they lifted into the air, and travelled back to the village.


The moment they landed and Morro got Alyx on a bench to sit, they immediately noticed something changed within the time they put up the shield and got back.

People were laughing, mingling, and kids were running around... Being kids again. Unlike when they had first arrived and the people were depressed, the village was alive and happy once more. The market that had the vendor stalls was bustling. Baked goods that smelled amazing. Flowers that were so bright and perky. Handmade jewelry and clothing looked so perfect and finely crafted either hung on displays, or on mannequins to show them off.

For the first time in many, many years, Morro found himself...

Appreciative.

"Well, this is a change from when we first got here." Alyx coughed out. Morro snapped himself out of his daze, and turned around to look at her. She was in a poor state, pale and sickly looking at that. He kneeled in front of her, looking up at her.

"Do you want to rest before we head back home?"

"No." She replied instantly, making him frown. "We'll talk to the elder of the village quickly, and then leave. We've been here for a week, so we shouldn't delay return any longer." Morro pursed his lips in disdain.

"I don't like that."

"Morro..."

"Hey, not either of us are fully well enough, so..." Alyx huffed, crossing her arms. "Pout all you want."

"I will." She went silent, shutting her eyes for a second before sighing.

"Fine, we'll rest up, but we leave before sundown."

"Deal."

"There you are!" Morro turned as the elder of the village walked up, flanked by his two guards. He, too, looked happier than when they first sat down with him. Morro bowed his head in greeting and Alyx gave a weak wave.

"Oh my. Are you alright?" The elder asked.

"I'm alright. Weak. We managed to clear all the... Demons that were lurking around the village. You all are safe." The elder smiled, bowing in appreciation.

"We appreciate everything you have done for us. You need to rest, Miss Alyx. Guards, please take her to her hut." As the guards walked up to help her up, she couldn't do much to complain. The elder turned to Morro, who was watching her slowly stand, his hands shyly tucked to his stomach. Well, all of him was shyly tucked to himself.

"And you. How about a walk through the market while she rests?"

"Um... Yeah, sure."

The market was bustling, kids running through and laughing with bright, cheerful smiles on their faces. Morro couldn't help but smile himself. The smells of the goods were on par with Zane and Pixal's cooking. He was curious to look at the vendor selling some books, maybe get a gift for Wu or something.

"You remind me of someone I knew many years ago." Morro turned his head back at the elder, who was walking with his arms behind his back, his line of vision looking straight ahead.

"I do?"

"Yes." The elders sighed. "She used to be a villager here, when I was a teenager. She was young, about my age. When she was about fifteen, we cast her out, along with her partner, once we learned she had a strange sorcery over the wind."

Morro froze, stopping short in his walk.

"...What?" The elder stopped, letting out a sigh.

"It was only after we discovered she was pregnant that we regretted it. But when I, the former elder's son, went to search for her, but soon found her with others that held powers over other elements as well. And... By the time I found her, she had the child." The elder gave him a onceover. "My, how you've grown."

"You... You knew my mother?" The elder smiled.

"A kindred spirit. Smart, funny, could put you in your place very quickly. I didn't know her all that well, just... Of her. When I heard of her death, well..."

"How... How did she die?"

"I believe she passed during the Serpentine Wars." Morro stumbled, leaning against the side of a hut. The elder quickly went to go stable him, but paused, looking at him, unsure of what to do.

"Oh." Was all Morro said. "Um... Thank you... I... Appreciate it." The elder nodded, looking ashamed of what he just said. But Morro shook it off, mentally noting the information and hoping he could ask Wu about it when they got... Home.

Huh. That was a new term.


Alyx sat behind him as he rode them home on his dragon, sitting back to back. She munched on an energy bar as he steered, looking at the bottle of energy she extracted.

Morro, on the other hand, was quiet as he mulled over the elder's words. He was too stunned afterwards that he didn't have time to look at any of the stalls, but the villagers were kind enough to send them some gifts as thanks for saving their village. So, at least there was that.

"You doing okay, dude?" Morro lifted his head at Alyx's voice, shaking his head out of his stupor.

"Yeah, I'm... Okay."

"You sure?"

"...My mother was a former villager at Yuki Village."

"Madeleine?"

"Mhm. She and my father, apparently."

"How do you know?"

"The elder told me. After you went to go rest, we took a walk. He told me that I reminded him of a former villager, someone who held a power over the wind." He sighed. "I guess she joined the elemental masters before the Serpentine War, and passed during it... That's why I never knew her. I was just a baby."

"And all this time... You were thinking she abandoned you."

"Yeah... Exactly..."

"Are you gonna talk to Wu when we get home?"

"Yeah. I think so."

"'Ight. Do you need backup?"

"I'll be alright. Go be with your brother and sister. They probably wanna know more about you." Alyx shifted behind him, going quiet all of a sudden. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"You sure?"

"I just... I dunno… They say they want to know me, but I just..."

"You're unsure."

"Yeah."

"Okay... Um... I guess just take things slow? Let them show that they want to know you?"

"I... Guess I could. Hey, why are you giving me family advice?" She turned, pinching his side.

"Ow! Hey!" He batted her hand away, laughing. "I was just giving you a little bit of advice."

"Fine, fine. I'll take it, weirdo."

"You're the weirdo." Morro mumbled under his breath, before they fell into a comfortable silence. A little later, he felt Alyx slump against him, her breathing slow and gentle.

Oh well. She just performed a giant spell. Might as well let her sleep.


"Our scouts have returned from the north, my Emperor."

Garmadon let out a small hum, before gesturing to let them in. The sorceress nodded to the guard, and the door opened, the lead scout walking in nervously before falling to his knees in a deep bow.

"My Emperor." He greeted.

"How did it go? Did you find the cause of the energy?"

"We... Did."

"And? What is it?"

"It seems to be a temple of some sort. However, any time that one of our own got near it... It evaporated them."

"A temple, you say?"

"Yes." The scout hesitated. "The ninja know of it too, and seem to have cast some sort of shield around it." The sorceress hissed.

"That little brat must've recovered." The scout nodded.

"It seemed to be the one Milady took as her vessel, and one of the former prisoners. The Master of Wind, I believe."

Garmadon was silent as he mulled it over, his lower two arms crossed behind his back, and his upper two crossed in his front. He let out a hum, before waving his left lower hand.

"That's fine. Return to the army. Leave that area alone, but keep an eye on it. The ninja may return to it. On the other hand, prepare for the next phase." The scout stood, glancing at the sorceress before bowing once more and leaving, closing the door behind him. The sorceress growled lowly.

"I want to teach that little brat a few lessons."

"And you will get that chance. Have you made any headway on your investigation?"

"I have." The sorceress licked her lips as Garmadon turned to her.

"And?"

"It is possible... To turn the beloved Green Ninja into one of us... The Green Master."