At dawn the next morning, Cole and Zane march down the stairs of Chen's Noodle Shop, still tired from their late-night stakeout at Laughy's. They grab a lowly-lit table in the back corner, then eat the breakfast prepared by Ronin. Ronin soon joins them, brushing the flour off his shoulders.
"Ready for the day," Ronin asked.
"Not really," Cole yawned. "Why'd you wake us so early?"
"Cole, it's 10 am," Ronin laughed. "If that's early, then you've slacked off a lot since you defeated the Oni."
"Who else was there to fight," Cole replied. "Besides, Jay broke our only alarm clock, and it's impossible to find an analog clock these days."
"Actually Cole, it was you who broke it," Zane interrupted. "You threw a rock at it."
"Zane, not helpful right now," Cole hushed.
"Look you guys," Ronin stated, sitting down next to Cole. "I understand you mastered everything Master Wu's thrown at you and more. If I were you, though, I wouldn't let your guard down for an instant. Go retro for once and dig into that treasure vault of wisdom; I'm sure there's a wisecrack you haven't fully discovered yet."
"Thanks, Ronin," Cole sighed. "But let's on with business, shall we?"
"Ronin, who tipped you on where Kuriam and Mr. X were going to be," Zane asked. "If it is an insider, then he may be crucial in nailing down who is behind this."
"Not an insider, unfortunately," Ronin sighed. "But she's a sure bolt of lightning nevertheless."
"She," Cole asked.
"Why don't you see for yourself," Ronin chuckled.
He gave a light, high-pitched whistle, one which screeched through the air and pierced the ears of the few visitors in the restaurant. Cole closed his ears, while the other customers cringed and muttered angrily at Ronin. Ronin stopped whistling. A few seconds later, a gentle, soft-pitched whistle echoed back.
"She's here," Ronin nodded. "Brace yourself, ninja."
"Brace for what," Cole asked.
Before Ronin could reply, the lead entered the restaurant and approached their table. Their lead, Cole realized, was a young blonde, whose blue and white attire immediately registered in his mind. He gasped. Standing before them was none than the elemental master of lightning, or in more familiar terms, Jay's mother.
"You shouldn't whistle so harshly," Jay's mother rebuked Ronin. "I swear that it'll turn the dogs against you someday, Ronin."
"You're…you're Jay's mother," Cole stuttered. "I…I thought you were dead."
"Me? Dead," Jay's mother laughed. "You sure are a coarse fellow, as coarse as the earth which you control."
"Cole is only shocked, as am I," Zane answered. "We have heard much about you from Master Wu, but it is the first time you appear to us in person."
"You are Master Wu's famed ninja," Jay's mother smiled. "And how is my dear old friend and ally? I have heard terrible things transpire here in my absence."
"He is well," Cole nodded. "He has returned to the monastery."
"What a pity," Jay's mother sighed. "I shall like to be reacquainted with him soon. We have much to catch up on."
"Catching up will have to wait, Uloe," Ronin nodded.
"Of course, Ronin," Uloe nodded back. "Come with me, ninja. I have much to show you upstairs in my room."
A few minutes later, Cole and Zane were in Uloe's bedroom, a guest room refurnished for her by Ronin. Like Skylor's room down the hall, it had a bed, a wardrobe, and a table, but there were other items about that caught Zane's attention. Particularly, he noticed an ancient map of Ninjago on the table, an inscribed katana inside the wardrobe, and several symbols drawn on the walls. Uloe then pointed to the symbol of a temple atop a mountain.
"Do you recognize this temple," Uloe asked.
"Is that the Temple of Light," Cole replied. "If I recall, that's where Lloyd received his golden powers."
"You are correct," Uloe smiled. "This is the fabled Temple of Light, created as a sanctuary of the First Spinjitzu Master whenever he sought rest from his war with the Overlord. It is also where, as you mentioned Cole, Lloyd received the golden power of his grandfather. There is more to the story of the temple, however, that Wu does not know.
"When the First Spinjitzu Master gifted the elements, he used the Temple of Light to channel the elements through a special prism, one which can direct elemental powers into other beings. And for many generations, those powers have passed down from father to son, either by blood or by gift, but the prism has long since been lost…until now.
"Years ago, when Jay was a newborn, I had a vision and in that vision, I witnessed the recreation of two crystals, both coated in the orange fires of amber. And through that vision, I learned of the present danger you now faced. The Prism of Elements, if used for evil, will grant entire armies elemental powers, which once bestowed are all not impossible to remove. Up until now, the prism has remained hidden, but the enemy is seeking to summon it again."
"How can one rebuild the Prism of Elements," Zane asked.
"Through the elements of Time and Amber," Uloe sighed. "If a master of amber were to retrieve the four Time Blades, he would possess the means to create a portal to the Departed Realm. And if he possesses the Sword of Sanctuary and the Scroll of Resurrection when he enters, no power will be able to stop him. That is why you must fight."
"But how can we fight if we cannot find the master," Cole asked.
"Yes, the master's base still eludes us," Zane added.
"I cannot say with certainty where their base lies," Uloe answered. "Even I do not possess the information to confirm anything. But I advise you to be wary, for your conversation with Kuriam was too easy-going to be without suspicion."
"Should we still meet them tonight," Cole asked.
"Go ahead," Ronin nodded. "Uloe approved the plan already. Just make sure you guys don't get too confident. Those two could pull a fast one on you."
"Don't worry," Cole laughed. "What could they possibly do with me and Zane there?"
The Master paces back and forth, thinking hard over his current dilemma. He paces in front of his throne, positioned in the center of the Temple of Light. Then he plops down upon his cushion, gazing with discontent into the shadows. A young lady enters into the room, bowing low then straightening up again.
"You summoned," she asks.
"Yes, Laisha," the Master answers. "Any word from our agents?"
"Pythar is still searching for the forward time claw," Laisha reported. "And Kuriam and Mr. X are still preparing for their meeting with this Rocky Dangerbuff fellow."
"Rocky Dangerbuff?"
"Yes, your master. All reports indicate that he's trustworthy."
"Mr. X is a fool," the Master laughed. "I should have expected at least some level of discernment from him. But I guess his naivety is still fully-functioned, a terrible pity considering Garmadon damaged his memory cores years ago."
"What do you suggest?"
"Play along with this Dangerbuff gambit. I enjoy a game of chance every now and again. In the meantime, order Pythar to up his game on Chen's Island. We cannot order to lose the forward time blade, not when it is the key to the other blades in Ninjago."
"Yes, master."
"And Laisha, one other thing. I have heard rumors from intelligence concerning the reemergence of a supposed ninja named Morro. Will you see to it personally that he and Master Yang do not interfere?"
"As you wish."
"As you wish," the Master repeated. Laisha strolled out of the room, grabbing an amber ninja suit on her way out. The Master smiled, then reached for a nearby scroll, written by the First Spinjitzu Master eons ago.
Time turns the altar stones, amber seals the portal below, Sanctuary assures protection from death, and resurrection fuels return to life. If stolen, the Prism unlocks the door of the departed and shrivels the key that alone can shut the door.