In Ninjago City, lanterns were all around the city as fireworks were going off and people move along the streets, some carrying a dragon costume as they pass by Chen's Noodle House.
Inside, Ronin was the only one there as the restaurant was no longer filled with customers when they heard Chen was responsible for the Second Serpentine War. Skylor, who took over the business, didn't mind as it was some peace and quiet for her. "The season of change is almost to an end, and residents of Ninjago eagerly await to celebrate tonight's New Year Festival." A news reporter on a nearby TV said as some people wave at the camera as they were in Stiix.
"Hard to believe you don't have any friends to usher in the new year." Skylor said as she came up to him and holding a pot of tea.
"Let's just say I'm good at making friends, just not keeping 'em." Ronin replied.
"Even a friend who spoils the party every once in a while is still a better friend than someone who stays away." Skylor fills a cup for him before looking at his Aeroblade and he takes it off the table. "It's ok. I've been around enough weapons in my day. In fact, kinda reminds me of some old friends."
"How much do I owe ya?"
"It's on the house. Friend."
"Appreciate it. Mind if I smoke in here?"
"Go right ahead."
Ronin soon got out a cigarette, lights it and takes a puff before holding it in his hand as he looks at the TV. "The festival celebration is going on all over Ninjago." The news reporter said on the TV.
"Hey, mind turning that up?" Ronin asked.
"But not only in Ninjago. Other cities in every corner-"
"You know that sewer swamp?" Skylor asked as she turned the volume up.
"Yeah." Ronin replied as he took a puff. "I used to call it home." He soon held the cigarette packet out. "Want one?"
"No thanks. I don't smoke."
"And no other town likes to celebrate more than the residents in Stiix County." The news reporter said on the TV.
In Stiix, among the lanterns around the town, the citizens were moving about, several moving dragon costumes about as they cheer, followed by drums playing and fireworks. "Wow!" A kid said.
"Awesome!" Another kid said.
Nearby, Morro lands and enters Ronin's shop as he held the Realm Crystal. "Now let's shed some light." He said as he placed the crystal onto a trophy.
The crystal shines as a portal appears underneath it and ghosts start pooling out. "Ah, it's good to be back." The ghost that the Ninja encountered on their way to Stiix said.
"How long until the Preeminent is ready?"
"Her energy is still too strong to cross the ethereal divide." Soul Archer said.
"The longer the gateway stays open, the stronger it becomes." Bansha said. "We must prepare for her arrival."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Morro asked. "Let the festivities begin!" He soon raises his hands into the air as the portal soon moved up and more ghosts start coming out.
The ghosts start to move along Stiix as the lanterns they pass by turn from red to green as the citizens are shocked by the ghosts' presence. Sylvester sees a ghost coming at him as he held a water balloon. "Go away!" He yelled, throwing the water balloon at it, but the ghost avoids it, causing him to run.
One ghost comes up to two couples and roars, causing them to scream and run away as he laughs before moving on. One ghost moves along a line of light bulbs that shine red before the one he touches turns green before her crushes it in his hand before continuing with the next light. The citizens run around in fear as the ghost laughs. It soon moves along the street before possessing a ghost costume and moves up. "Hey, my dragon!" A boy yelled.
Up in the skies, Morro, on his Power Dragon, looks on as it soon roared before he starts groaning. "What is going on with me?" He asked himself.
At Steep Wisdom, the Destiny's Bounty lands as everyone starts to get off. "Shouldn't we be going to Stiix?" Kai asked Dragon. "The longer we wait, the worse it'll get."
"We need to stock up." Dragon replied.
"On what?" Gewuji asked. "Magic tea that will make us invincible? Give us special powers?"
"Is it gonna give us four arms?!" Jay asked.
They come up to the front of the shop. "Sadly, no magical tea today." Dragon replied, pointing to the shop, which has a sign on the front of the door. "I had to sell the rest of the merchandise, along with everything else."
"'Under new management'?" Geoff asked.
"You sold your business?" Zane asked. "But that was for your retirement."
The doors soon open, revealing Cyrus Borg. "Ah, hello again, Ninja!" He said.
"Dad." Blake said.
"While we were away, I had Borg use the money from the tea farm to create us some new toys to balance the scales. They are expensive, you know."
"It's been so long, I hardly recognise any of you. Lloyd looks older. I see a Water Ninja. This girl with the black hair, I don't know."
"This is Gewuji, my sister." Geoff said. "And the Crystal Ninja."
"And there's another girl with red hair that I don't know."
"Maggie, Tan Ninja." Maggie said.
"Ok. A Titanium Nindroid." He chuckles. "Cole is...a-a ghost." He chuckles again. "Blake, you've become a Ninja as well and I see you have grown some muscle."
"Did I, dad?" Blake asked as he soon flexed his left arm to feel some muscle.
"Jay looks shorter, Geoff, well, nothing's changed, and...And then there's Kai."
"Hey!" Jay yelled. "What do you mean, I look shorter?"
"I'm sorry, Mr. Borg, but cut to the chase." Kai said. "We don't have much time."
"As always, the impatient one." Cyrus replied as he wheels into the shop to head over to a button. "Come, let me show you." He soon pressed it.
The symbol on the ground behind soon descends before it opens up and a floor rises, revealing mechs and vehicles. "Now, if you want a little muscle with that hustle, I've made Jay a lightning-fast Ghost Taker GT. Front spectral intake, rear incorporeal storage."
Jay soon laughs. "Why did the ghost cross the street?" He asked as he went up to it. "I don't know, maybe 'cause he saw me coming in THAT!" He soon jumps into a blue one seater vehicle and started it.
"Blake, I redesigned one of your samurai vehicles and turned it into the S/N Tank, with Deepstone armour and a cannon filled with water."
"Oh, thanks, dad." Blake said as he went up to a four seater vehicle that looks like a tank with a giant water cannon on the roof. "Looks like Christmas is early this year." He soon got in and started it, before he and Jay do some practise laps.
"Zane's Ice Mech. Sure, it appears to be the same, but I've equipped the underarms with Deepstone particle shooters, allowing you to freeze the competition."
"Super cool." Zane said as he ran up to the mech. "And I mean quite literally."
"Geoff, your Sand Driller has new arms which can fire bolts made of Deepstone and is infinite."
"Now that is my type of toy." Geoff said as he soon went over to it and jumped into it.
"Cole, I've made you a Ghost Cycle. Twin carbine blasters, auto-evasive handling. Made entirely of Deepstone, perfectly moulded to fit the, uh...body-less. And I've set all the radio presets to your favourite: soft rock.
Cole soon got on a big motorbike. "I do love a slow jam." He said as he starts it and soft rock starts playing. "Whoa-ho!"
"And for you, Kai." Cyrus throws something at him and he catches it.
"A headband." He said.
"A personal embroidered headband. 32 thread count, easy tie capabilities. I apologise. I lost track of the time building the other vehicles. Same goes for the girls and you, Lloyd. To be honest, I wasn't entirely sure you'd be making it back."
"Hey, I'm just happy to be here." Lloyd said. "We'll take any help we can get."
Blake soon stopped his S/N Tank. "And I can share my ride with the girls." He said. "I do need a co-driver and someone to handle the water thing."
"I hear Morro has opened a bridge between our two realms." Cyrus said. "It'll take time for the Preeminent to cross."
"Which is why we need Lloyd to use his powers to destroy the Realm Crystal before that happens." Dragon replied. "If Ninjago is cursed, the other realms are sure to follow."
"But they'll be expecting us." Nya said.
"And Morro still has the Sword of Sanctuary." Cirrus said. "Even with all those fancy new vehicles, how are they supposed to get close?" Jay soon stopped.
"Yeah, we're supposed to take on an army of ghosts?" He asked.
"Maybe Lloyd can lure him out." Tania replied. "He said he always wanted to be the Green Ninja."
"No." Dragon replied. "He will not leave the Realm Crystal unguarded until his master is freed."
"But even with our powers back, he's seen all of our moves." Cole said.
"Then we'll show him something he hasn't, a Water Ninja." Kai replied as he started dragging Nya between the vehicles.
"But...but I'm still in training." She replied. "I don't know if it will be enough to stop them."
"Nya, when our parents passed and James was killed, you were there for me. Now I'm here for you."
"He's right." Geoff said. "She's our greatest weapon."
"And as brother sharpens brother, the same should always go for a sister." Zane replied. "Just like back in the tomb."
"Our greatest weapon isn't what we can throw at him, it's what we have right here." Lloyd said. "A united team."
"So what do you think, Nya?" Dragon asked. "Are you ready to lead them into battle?"
"I'm in." Nya replied. "But if they know we're coming straight for 'em, how about we show them not every path is a straight line?"
"Intrigued." Zane said. "Do you have a plan?"
"I'll explain on the way."