Author's Note: This takes place at the same time as parts of Betrayal. If you have not read Betrayal, I encourage you to read at least the first four chapters, as things will make a lot more sense.
This first part takes place immediately after the Battle of Birchwood.
Krux tried his best to ignore his brother's huffing and puffing, but the more Krux ignored it, the louder Acronix became.
"What?" Krux asked when he grew tired of Acronix's attitude.
"This is ridiculous! Why do we have to look for that worm?" Acronix complained.
"Because Wu wants us to find her. Personally, I don't care if she freezes to death."
"And why did Ice get paired up with Ray? He doesn't need the extra warmth."
"I think that's why Wu paired them up. Everyone else would be too busy using Ray as a personal heater," Krux said as he pulled on his coat.
"So not fair."
"Let's talk about something besides how cold it is."
"Okay. Why did Hermes betray us like that?" Acronix asked.
"How should I know?"
"I mean, I get that he hated the monastery, but I still don't know why he agreed to go there in the first place."
"I don't know either, and I don't feel like rewinding time to find out," Krux said.
"Why not? It would be just a quick trip."
"First of all, you don't know that. He was already grumpy when Garmadon recruited us. I could very easily have to go back years to figure him out. Second, it would be a waste of my powers since I can't change the past."
"Well, technically-"
"I can't change the past and you can't change the future."
"Yes, yes. Observation only, just like Mother taught us. That may be all fine and well for her psychology work, but this is the real world. If changing one thing about the past results in a better future, don't we have an obligation to change the past?" Acronix asked.
"A better future for who, brother?"
"For everyone."
"You don't know that. You can't know that! One person's misery could be linked to another person's happiness. Changing one thing could have huge consequences! There's no way to know for sure what all will happen if we- wait. Look." Krux pointed ahead where he saw two figures in the distance.
The two brothers nodded at each other and crept closer. One of the figures was Cara. As they approached, they recognized the second figure as Clouse. Clouse spotted them and waved his hand, making Cara disappear.
"Well, well. Time has come at last," Clouse said as he turned to face them.
"Where's Cara?" Acronix demanded.
"Why do you care?"
The twins looked at each other.
"If you cannot even give me a proper reason why you wish me to turn her over to you, then why should I?" Clouse asked.
"You don't know what she's like. In a few days, you'll be begging us to take her back," Krux said.
"Yeah. Save yourself a headache and just give her to us now," Acronix added.
"You want her back, yet she told me you all hated her," Clouse asked.
"We don't need to explain ourselves to you."
Krux threw his pause power at Clouse, but the sorcerer conjured up a reflective spell and threw Krux's power back at them. Once they were frozen, Clouse slowly approached them.
"It is a shame you two are working with Wu and Garmadon. They don't appreciate your element enough. After all, if you control time, you control everything." Clouse disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
Three days later, Krux and Acronix were in the kitchen preparing lunch for everyone. As they worked, they heard Wu and Garmadon come downstairs and talk in the living room. Krux motioned for Acronix to stay quiet.
"Earth is one of the Primal Elements," Wu said.
"That doesn't matter," Garmadon growled.
"He doesn't remember anything!"
"That's just what he claims. If we take him back, it's only a matter of time before he starts attacking us again!"
"We don't know that."
"The Master of Mind said his memories were erased. That means someone had to physically go in there and erase them. Chen could've easily gotten his lackey to put some sort of code word or something in his mind so that when we least expect it, boom, Chen gives the order and we're toast," Garmadon said.
"I highly doubt that will happen, brother."
"You don't know Chen, not like I do. You don't know how he works, how he thinks."
"Should we be worried about you?" Wu asked.
Garmadon was silent. Krux and Acronix looked at each other.
"I'm just saying, locking Hermes up like an animal for the rest of his life is not the answer," Wu said.
Garmadon huffed and stormed into the kitchen. The twins jumped and pretended to be busy with lunch. He looked at them, grabbed one of the sandwiches they had made, and stormed out the back door, slamming the door behind him. Wu, who had been standing in the doorway, sighed.
"I'm sorry you two had to hear that," Wu said.
"What's a Primal Element?" Acronix asked.
"A Primal Element is one of the four elements my father used when he created Ninjago," Wu said.
"Oh. So, earth… water, fire, and… wind?" Krux asked.
"The Master of Wind disappeared years ago, but that was not one of the Primal Elements. Earth, fire, lightning, and ice are the Primal Elements. Everything else is a Secondary Element."
"Ice, not water?" Acronix asked.
"Yes. I don't know why my father chose the elements he did."
"So where do time and all the other elements fit in?" Krux asked.
"Earth, fire, ice, and lightning are the core of the world. That's why they're slightly stronger than the other elements. Those are also the elements he used to defend his new world from those who sought to destroy it. He then created the rest of the elements to help the world flourish and remain habitable. To ensure his world remained a good place to live, my father trusted a select group of people to manage the elements and ensure they remained in balance," We explained. He took a sandwich, put it on a tray, and headed upstairs.
"Did you hear that? Not even the First Spinjitzu Master cared about our element," Acronix said.
"It did sound like time was an afterthought," Krux said.
"Yes. I can understand elements like shadow or speed being Secondary Elements, but time? Without time, days don't exist. No days, no season. Crops won't grow, heck, people might not age at all without us. There's no point in having a world if time does not exist."
"You're right. Time is one of the most important elements out there, maybe even the most important element."
"That would also explain why Wu is always so concerned about Ray. They have to make sure their precious Primal Elemental Masters are happy," Acronix said.
"Clouse was right. They don't care about us."
"No, they don't."
Their feelings were only confirmed the next day when it was discovered that Hermes had escaped and he had taken the bed frame with him. Wu made everyone help in the search. But no one in town had seen a tall, angry man carrying around a bed frame.
"Why are we doing this? He doesn't want to be found," Acronix grumbled.
"He controls a Primal Element, remember? Wu has to make sure he's under control," Krux said.
Over the next two years, Krux and Acronix noticed every single time Wu or Garmadon gave Ray, Ice, or Libby any attention or special treatment. Wu especially gave Ray extra attention. He always had. Krux especially hated how close Maya and Ray were.
"I don't get it. What does Ray have that I don't?" Krux asked. He glared at Ray and Maya, who were holding hands.
"Are you still on this?" Acronix asked.
"I'm older than him, I'm taller than him, I have more money than he does, I have ambition…"
"We're not taller than Ray."
"Yes, we are. You can't count his hair."
"We're still not taller than him. We might be the same height-"
"We're taller than Ray!"
"I don't know why Maya chose Ray over you," Acronix said.
"It has to be because he controls a Primal Element."
"Does she even know about Primal Elements and Secondary Elements?"
"She has to. It's the only explanation," Krux reasoned.
"Or, she just likes him better," Acronix said.
"I don't see how that's possible. No, it's because he's the Master of Fire. And Wu and Garmadon seem to approve. I mean, those two will do anything to keep their precious Primal Elemental Masters happy, especially after what Hermes did. They don't really care about us, even though our element is way more powerful than all the other elements combined."
"So what do you suggest? We go back and change the past?"
"No. We can't change the past, but maybe we can change our future."
"I don't follow." Acronix crossed his arms.
"We know we're more powerful than them. Wu and Garmadon need to be reminded of that. I say, when this little war is over, we show them just what the power of Time is capable of."
Acronix agreed and the two waited for just the right moment.
They thought the perfect time had come once. Everyone was back at the monastery, celebrating their victory. The group was smaller than it was two years ago. Poison and Smoke had defected to Chen's side while Form, Speed, and Shadow had decided to just leave. Krux and Acronix were getting ready to strike when a knock on the courtyard door interrupted them. When Hermes entered the courtyard, everyone stopped and stared at him.
"I just came for my things," Hermes said.
"Of course. Come in." Wu motioned for Hermes to enter.
Everyone was silent as Hermes entered the monastery.
"He has a lot of nerve showing up here," Maya whispered once Hermes was inside.
"I'm surprised he didn't come back here and rob the place a long time ago," Libby said.
"Be nice, everyone. He's not staying," Wu said.
Ray headed inside. A few minutes later, Hermes walked back across the courtyard, bag in hand. He glanced up at his former teammates and headed back down the mountain. Maya walked over to Ray, who was standing on the front porch. Everyone slowly made their way inside. Acronix pulled Krux into the kitchen.
"Should we…?" Acronix asked.
"No. Not today. Not with Hermes in the area. He's just crazy enough to come back and kick our butts if he senses anything. No, we'll do it tomorrow."