The sun was peeking over the horizon when the dense forest came into view. Cole tried to drive the driller through the trees, but he only got about fifty feet in before he became stuck.
"Looks like we're walking from here." Cole opened the hatch so they could climb out.
"Zane, which way is the compound?" Kai asked.
"I am unsure. It is not listed on any map," Zane replied.
"This forest is huge. How are we supposed to find it?" Jay asked.
"What if we split up? Kai and I go that way and you three go that way?" Nya suggested.
"Split up? Bad things always happen when people split up!"
"That's only in the movies."
"I don't know. I think Jay has a point. We don't have anything like this back home," Cole said.
"Actually, we do have the Jungle of Lost Souls back in our world," Zane said.
"I wouldn't want to split up there either," Jay said.
"We'll be fine." Kai and Nya started to walk away.
"No! We really shouldn't split up! Zane said no one has ever escaped from this place before!" Jay protested as he ran towards the siblings.
"Obviously someone did if they built a compound here," Nya argued.
Cole shrugged and went with Kai and Nya. Zane followed them.
"I still don't think this is a good idea," Jay said as he ran to catch up to the group.
As the group walked, the air became hot and humid. It wasn't long before everyone was sweating. After a while, they found a log to sit and rest on.
"What time is it?" Kai asked.
"Based on the position of the sun, it is about ten in the morning," Zane said.
"They're going to realize we're missing soon," Jay said.
"They've probably already realized that," Cole pointed out.
"We don't have a lot of time. We have to keep moving." Nya stood up and stretched.
The guys groaned as they stood up and followed her deeper into the forest. They had only gone a few feet when Jay cried out.
"Problem?" Kai asked.
"Yeah, my back just-OW! Oh, my back really hurts. I need to sit down." Jay leaned against a tree and sank to the ground.
"Jay, we don't have time for this," Nya said.
"Gah!" Zane yelled as he started to glitch.
"Zane?" Cole asked.
"I think something has hacked my system. I'm losing control of my-" Zane powered off and collapsed.
"Zane!" Nya yelled.
"What's going on?" Kai asked.
"Maybe it's the forest trying to tell us we shouldn't have come here," Jay said.
Cole groaned and shook his hands.
"Again with the hands?" Nya asked.
"They were fine, but now… I don't get it," Cole said.
"Ooh," Kai said as he rubbed his right arm.
"Now what?" Nya asked.
"I'm not sure." Kai moved his arm in a circular motion a few times.
"I can't be the only one who's fine. I can't get you all out of the forest by myself!"
"We shouldn't have come. Now something's going to eat us," Jay said.
"Nothing's going to eat us," Kai said.
They heard a loud roar in the distance. A moment later, they saw three things flying overhead, though through the canopy of trees they couldn't tell what was above them.
"We're going to die," Jay cried.
"We are not going to die. I will fight off whatever that is myself!" Nya pulled her hood up and went into ninja mode.
Whatever was flying overhead circled back around, except this time there was only one thing. It almost sounded like a plane.
"We're going to die," Jay whispered.
"Would you shut up?" Nya said.
Jay tried to pull his knees up to his chest, but he whimpered as he moved his legs.
"Stop being dramatic," Kai said.
"I'm sorry, but it feels like someone is driving a knife into my spine!" Jay argued.
"And it feels like someone is trying to yank my arm out, but you don't see me complaining."
"Shh!" Cole said as the thing circled overhead a third time.
They heard leaves rustling.
"Do I look like Cole? Or even Hermes?" Skylor said in the distance.
They didn't hear a reply.
"Aren't you just as capable of using their powers as I am?" Skylor asked.
"I mean, technically…" Lloyd said.
"What are they doing here?" Kai whispered.
"We snuck out in the middle of the night. What do you think they're doing here?" Cole whispered back.
"How did they find us?" Nya asked.
"Guys! Where are you?" Lloyd called.
"Over here!" Cole called back.
"What are you doing?" Nya hissed.
Lloyd and Skylor ran over. Lloyd chopped away at branches with his sword as he walked.
"What the heck are you guys doing out here?" Skylor demanded.
"Pix, we found them," Lloyd said into his comm.
A loud noise above them made everyone look up just as a large mech suit came crashing through the treetops. P.I.X.A.L. jumped out of the Samurai X suit.
"How did you find us?" Nya asked.
"Next time, don't take a vehicle we had to specifically make sure we could track six hundred feet below ground," Lloyd said.
"May I ask what happened to Zane?" P.I.X.A.L. asked.
"He started glitching and shut down," Kai explained.
"Also, my hands started burning again, Kai's arm hurts, and Jay's complaining of back problems now," Cole added.
"Did Nya get more headaches?" Lloyd asked.
"The only headache I have is from these guys' whining," Nya grumbled.
Lloyd and Skylor sighed while P.I.X.A.L. picked Zane up and slung him over her shoulder. She climbed back into the Samurai X suit and flew back over the forest.
"How are we supposed to get out of here?" Kai asked.
"P.I.X.A.L. will guide us," Skylor said. She tapped on her earpiece.
"What are you guys even doing out here?" Lloyd demanded as he led them back through the forest.
"We were trying to find the Realm Crystal," Cole admitted.
"Why?"
"Because we want to go home!" Nya said.
"Yeah, and if the Realm Crystal can get us home, why shouldn't we use it?" Kai asked.
"You guys have no idea what that crystal is capable of," Lloyd said.
"It can get us home, so where's the compound?"
Lloyd groaned.
"What?" Jay asked.
"The Realm Crystal isn't in Hiroshi's Labyrinth," Skylor explained.
"But the internet said-" Kai started.
"You can't believe everything you read on the internet," Lloyd interrupted.
"You didn't find it suspicious that the location of one of the most powerful relics in the world was just available to anyone with a computer?" Skylor asked.
The four looked at each other.
"How mad is Wu?" Cole asked.
"Pretty mad. Get ready for a lecture and some of the hardest training you've ever experienced," Lloyd said.
The group walked in silence for about fifteen minutes until they came to the edge of the forest. Lloyd sighed when he saw the Earth Driller smashed against the trees. He climbed into the driver's seat, moved the seat up so he could reach the pedals, and tried to back it out, but the machine was stuck. Skylor crossed her arms.
"P.I.X.A.L.? A little help please?" Lloyd asked.
P.I.X.A.L. flew the mech back down and started to move the Driller.
"You can really track that thing six hundred feet below ground?" Nya asked.
"Yep. If Cole had his way, we would be able to track it at least a mile below ground. Also, you guys should be grateful he's not here right now. He is really super possessive of this thing."
"As he should be," Skylor muttered.
Lloyd glared at her. P.I.X.A.L. finished freeing the Driller and set it down. Lloyd climbed into the driver's seat and turned the engine on.
"Skylor, do you want a ride?" Lloyd asked.
"No thanks. I have to get back to my restaurant." Skylor summoned her elemental dragon and took off towards Ninjago City.