Nicki's Story

111

It was if the world had frozen as the shock of what they had just witnessed set in. Jay didn't realize he was falling until his father caught him.

"Jay!" Nya yelled. She had just watched one friend disappear…was Jay next?! But she realized as she reached him that he had just been on the verge of passing out. He was trembling, his shock mixing with the pain in his shoulder and the physical and mental exhaustion from trying to keep Cole awake. Even as Ed lowered him to the ground and Nya put a hand to his face, he couldn't stop looking over to the now empty spot by the pillar.

Lou leaned heavily against the stone column, eyes closed as he silently wept. His son was gone…and he hadn't done anything to help him. He couldn't stop it, any more than he could stop Cole from turning himself in to Garmadon in the first place.

The numb silence finally seemed to wear off, as everyone suddenly was reminded of the swirling storm of aura around them.

Garmadon turned to his brother, expression grave.

"We have to get out of here…." he said, but the Dragon Master's gaze had shifted from the empty pillar to the figure in the eye of the growing tempest.

Keyda's arms were still wrapped around herself as she fell to her knees. Internally there was so much turmoil as all the emotions that had been inside for so long battled against each other and fought to be freed as glorious destruction. All except the flame of hope, which had finally gone out.

Her scream snapped everyone else out of spell they had seemingly been under.

"What do we do now!?" Skylor yelled over the chaos. Kai pulled his gaze away from the scene in front of them, looking over at the redhead. She was scared…

"We…" he trailed off and then shook himself back to the present, and the crisis at hand. "We need to get everyone out of here,"

P.I.X.A.L landed next to them in her Samauri X suit, having run over to get it when the storm began.

"Summon your elemental dragons…everyone else needs to get to REX."

Dareth started running towards the airship, but the ninja still seemed frozen, watching the storm get larger.

"But what about Keyda?" Jay asked, finally speaking.

"We are not going to be able to calm her down now…" Zane said dully. "The Oni power is getting exponentially stronger…P.I.X.A.L is right, we must evacuate."

"Then get moving already!" Ronin said gruffly, and the ninja seemed to finally be snapped back to urgency of the situation.

Kai tried to summon his elemental dragon, but he found that he couldn't.

"I can't…" he started, but Nya interrupted him from a few feet away.

"We're too freaked…we aren't going to be able to fly our dragons out of here…"

"Then we will have to pile in!" Misako said, pulling Kai and Skylor towards REX. Ed and Enda helped Jay to his feet, his good arm around his father's shoulders. He allowed them to lead him to the ship as he silently stared at the ground.

Garmadon shook Wu, trying to get him to snap out of his thoughts.

"Wu…when the overdrive is completed…"

His brother looked over at him with a haunted expression.

"I understand…but I still have to try…" He pushed himself to his feet and began making his way over to Keyda. Garmadon frowned but didn't try to stop his brother. Instead, he turned to his son, still kneeling a few yards away.

"Lloyd! We need to leave!" he said. The green ninja looked over as Garmadon came towards him.

"Dad…I...I couldn't…" He swallowed hard as Garmadon helped him to his feet.

"This was not your fault son," Garmadon said, pulling him away from the storm. He heard the Ultra-Dragon roar and tried to find its location.

"Where's Wu?" Lloyd asked, turning back. "What about Keyda?"

"Lloyd, that storm is only going to get worse….Wu's gone to talk to her, but for now we need to get out of here," Garmadon said, locating the Ultra-Dragon as it struggled to fly into the storm.

Lloyd stopped, a thought suddenly hitting home.

"Harumi….we left her over by the tunnel entrance…"

Garmadon nodded his understanding as he finally managed to get the dragon's attention.

Wu found himself in the eye of the storm, but he was unsure what he could possibly say that would have any effect on the broken-hearted Oni curled up in the middle of it.

"I know that you're hurting, Keyda…" he started, and she looked up at him with a tear-streaked face.

"I should never have come…" she said, voice trembling. The tears began to fall again and her face contorted. "I just wanted to keep him safe…"

Wu reached out and put a hand on her shoulder, but she lurched away from his touch. He swallowed before speaking again.

"You have to control this…you have to stop…"

"I CAN'T!" She screamed. Her arms tightened around herself. "There's too much…"

"You can do this…" he said, reaching out towards her again.

"Just like I could make the connection with Garmadon?!" she spat, the storm reeling around them. "Just like I could help you save Cole from Limbo?!"

Hatred flashed through the clouds, making a sound like thunder, and Wu looked around in alarm.

"JUST LEAVE!" She screamed at him, and more thunder resounded.

"I can't just leave you here," he said firmly. "I…"

He didn't get to finish his sentence, because right then Keyda yelled and another wave of power exploded out of her, throwing the Dragon Master out of the eye and nearly out of the storm. His armor clanked as he bounced off the ground and he sat up, dazed. A moment later the Ultra-Dragon snatched him off the ground and he looked up at his brother and nephew.

"She needs help!" Wu yelled up, but Garmadon's face was grim.

"She's past the point of no return." Garmadon looked down at his brother. "The heart of an Oni is a powerful thing, Wu…and I'm not sure what magnitude of desolation will be released now that that heart is broken. We need to get everyone out of here…"

Ninja

Everyone had reached REX. Ronin barely waited for everyone to be onboard before his airship was off the ground.

"Are we going to make it?" Skylor asked, feeling sick as she looked down at the surges of power. A few were hitting as far away as the ship, causing it to rattle.

"Elemental Overdrives are hard to predict…" Zane said, trying to analyze the storm.

"Garmadon mentioned that term….what the heck is an elemental overdrive?" Nya asked sharply from her seat next to Jay.

"It is an extremely powerful release of elemental power." Zane answered. "And I have no idea what the destructive force behind one of Oni power would be. It could easily stretch well beyond the limits of this temple ground and even the entire fallen palace…."

"People are going to get hurt if that happens." Skylor pointed out grimly. "What can we do?"

"We need to warn them…evacuate who we can…" Kai said. He looked out the window and spotted P.I.X.A.L flying off ahead of them, as well as the Ultra-Dragon. "It seems like the others had the same thought."

Ronin dodged another surge, nearly out of the temple grounds. Suddenly, he turned around and faced those in the back of his airship, and then looked back towards the swirling storm. His brow furrowed as he realized there was someone missing.

"Nya!" he yelled, and she looked up in alarm. "I need you to steer REX out of this; these surges are too sporadic for her to dodge them all on her own…"

She ran to the cockpit, shocked as the thief pushed himself to the door of the airship.

"Where are you going?" she asked, grabbing the controls he had just abandoned. She turned to see him lower the ladder and then begin to descend it.

"Hey, you're the one who said we don't leave anybody behind…and there's a certain performer that I'm afraid we forgot in the chaos." he said. "Lower me down as far as you can, and be ready to pick us up…"

Nya blinked as the rest of the crew realized who he was talking about. She turned back to the worsening storm and swallowed.

"Be careful." she said. When REX was as close to the ground as she could get it, Ronin leapt off the ladder. A few moments later he was taking off towards the storm.

Lou

Lou opened his eyes, suddenly realizing how bad the storm had gotten around him. He couldn't see anything in its opaque darkness; he swallowed and leaned his head back against the pillar. He felt empty, and not as distressed by the deadly clouds around him as he probably should have been. In fact, he probably would have just stayed there if he hadn't heard the crying. He looked around and pushed himself off of the pillar. A surge flashed out and he winced as it struck him in the side, but he kept heading towards the distressed sound.

There was the young lady…the one from the other realm. He found himself in a small pocket of stillness as he faced her, unsure of what to do. Logic suggested that he should get as far away as possible…the chaotic mass around him was surely only going to get worse…but as he looked at her he knew she was only battling against what he was also feeling. He sat down, not sure what to say but feeling as though he needed to say something.

"You know…his mother and I had a bet going." He finally started. She shuddered, looking up to see who had come to torment her this time. Lou wasn't looking at her though; he was looking at the ground and smiling sadly, as if reliving a memory. Tears glinted in his eyes.

"I always said that he was going to have scores of women chasing after him…how could he not? I figured in the end he would choose someone who was especially talented, or had a lot of great connections. His mother was adamant, however, that he'd end up with someone headstrong and fiercely loyal. I should have known she'd be right…she always was…"

Keyda shook her head.

"Have you come to tell me that you can help me?! That you can make it all go away…that everything will be fine!?" she spat, trembling against the emotions inside. He sighed sadly and looked up at her.

"I can't tell you that…because the pain doesn't really go away. Not when you love someone…sometimes you can distract yourself from it, and I suppose you get used to a new way of living without them…but it never doesn't hurt." he pressed a hand against his chest, face contorting.

She let out a sob and another surge escaped. Lou winced as it passed through him.

"If you can't stop it…then why are you here!?" She asked, tears still streaming.

Lou looked at her for a few moments, trying to think of his answer.

"I know I'm useless…heck, I'm just a dancer at the end of the day. A dancer and a sub-par father." His face contorted once again as he struggled to keep his emotions in check. "But…when I heard you…I had to come…."

"Why?" she whispered, shaking. He moved a little closer to her, meeting her eyes.

"Because this is where he would be if he were still here. He'd be with you…trying to help…trying to do the…the right thing…" He paused for a moment before continuing.

"I know I can't do anything; I have no skills, no way to save you…just like there was nothing I could do to save him." The tears were falling now. "But I can be here, with you…for you, at least. It was something I was never very good at with him."

"I just wish it would stop…" she cried. He reached out a tentative hand and touched her shoulder. She didn't pull away as she cried harder. "I just wish I could forget…"

"I tried that too…" he said softly. "Immersing myself in distractions…pretending that everything was fine…" a sob escaped. "Acting like nothing had even happened…."

Another shudder, another surge. He didn't pull his hand away.

"It works for a while…but grief is a funny thing; it will find you eventually, in one way or another…"

He looked at the frail soul in front of him, struggling against the forces of crushing grief. He moved closer, and wrapped his arms around her. She didn't pull away, and he held her as she cried.

"I already lost him once…" she was sobbing openly now. He took a shaky breath of his own.

"Me too." he said softly. "Me too…"

Ronin

Ronin burst into the storm, heading to where he was pretty sure the pillar was. No doubt Lou was still there, too heavy-hearted to think about escape. He pulled his neckscarf around his face as dust and darkness swirled around him. The cloud-like storm had become obscure and dense, and he couldn't see the performer anywhere.

"Lou!?" he shouted, but the wind whipped his words away. He reached the pillar, but there was nothing there. He looked around; could he have already escaped? He turned on the thermal function on his armored eye and found two figures in the center of the mass. He couldn't be sure if one of them was Lou, but he pushed towards it. As he drew closer, he could make out a sound amid the thunder and wind. Was that…singing? He would have thought he was going crazy, but he had been stuck with the performer for enough days to recognize his voice.

He burst into the eye of the storm, and was struck speechless by what he saw. Lou was holding the pale girl—the one causing all the strife. And he appeared to be singing some quiet song to her…was that a lullaby?

"Lou?!" Ronin finally said, and the performer looked up. "What are you doing? This thing is about to blow…we have to get out of here!"

Lou sighed. "I'm…I'm doing all I know how to do, Ronin…"

Keyda had closed her eyes as Lou held her, and her crying grew quieter as she listened. The storm around them seemed less dark and less violent, all of a sudden. She let out another shuddery breath and finally relaxed; Lou wasn't sure if she was asleep or if she had passed out, but whichever the case she had apparently worn herself out. Ronin and Lou looked up as the swirling chaos seemed to dissipate, rays of sunlight breaking their way in. The thief looked back down at the performer and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Well spotlight, it looks like today it was more than enough."

112

Nya had flown REX in as close as was safe with the storm, ready to pick Ronin and Lou up in a quick rescue. But as they ninja watched, the storm actually began to slow…in fact, it seemed to be dissipating.

"What did Ronin do?" Kai said, voicing what everyone was thinking. "You don't think he killed her…do you?"

No one knew what to say; they watched as the storm grow lighter and smaller until it had faded completely. Nya landed the ship and everyone began to tentatively exit.

The ninja looked at the three figures in amazement; was that Lou, holding Keyda?

"What happened?" Zane asked as the group approached those who had been in the eye of the storm.

"Wasn't me." Ronin said. "Twinkle-toes here sang her a lullaby and she calmed right down…"

This only served to baffle the ninja more.

"A lullaby? Seriously? Is that really all it took?" Kai asked. Everyone stared at Lou for an explanation, and the performer blinked up at everyone, as if just realizing how many people had suddenly gathered. He cleared his throat.

"She just needed something to help deal with the grief, I think. And…music has always helped me."

"But what do we do with her now?" Dareth asked. "Is she gonna explode again when she wakes up? Maybe we could just send her home, you know, before that happens…"

"She will be going back…technically," Zane noted. "But we should wait and see what Master Wu's plan is."

"His plan is for what?" Misako asked. "Sending the Oni home?"

The Ultra-Dragon landed a few moments later.

"You calmed her down." Wu stated as he dismounted. He had a strange expression as he studied Lou and Keyda. "How?"

"Can we catch you up later? Cuz I'm starting to get the real heebie-jeebies thinking about her waking up." Dareth interceded. Wu looked at the Oni for a few moments more and sighed.

"She's been through a lot…much more than I should have ever asked of her."

"Master Wu…"

The Dragon Master turned at the sound of Jay's voice. He caught sight of the blue ninja standing with his parents, looking conflicted.

"Do you…do you think there's still a way to find Cole? And bring him back?"

Everyone grew quiet at his question, turning to look at the Dragon Master. Wu wanted to say yes…that there was a possibility that Cole was still in the Limbo world, and that once Keyda woke up and he had recovered his energy they could search for him. That they should never give up hope. But as he glanced back at the exhausted girl in a mourning father's arms, he realized that even though hope was priceless, there were costs when it was given falsely.

"Wu?"

He looked up and realized that everyone was looking at him, waiting for his answer. He sighed heavily.

"I…don't know. Considering everything that's happened…" he trailed off and looked down. "No. I don't think so."

Jay's face crumpled. He looked back at the ground, and after a few moments he turned to walk away from the group. His mother called his name and started following him, but Ed gently stopped her.

"I think Jay needs a few minutes to himself, Edna…"

Wu looked at the others. It seemed that the emotions lost in the chaos of the last few hours were catching up with everybody. He could feel the weariness and sorrow sinking into his own soul…but he also knew he didn't have time to entertain those feelings.

"I know that right now, we're all in need of some rest and…" he trailed off, deciding that he didn't have the energy for a rallying speech after all. "The point is, we still have a bit of work to do. The S.O.G need to be rounded up and secured by law enforcement."

"But what about Kedya?" Kai asked quietly.

Wu didn't really know what to do with the Oni…it was impossible to know what would happen when she woke up. He considered just leaving right away to the First Realm with her…but he didn't want to leave yet. He looked around at his comrades and realized he wanted a bit more time with them, before heading back to the first realm alone. He also didn't know how Keyda would respond to waking up back in that realm in a role that she had never wanted anyways.

"Wu…it would probably be best for her to go home," Misako urged after a few minutes. He nodded absently.

"When she wakes up and proves to be stable, we will head back to the first realm."

The Historian frowned, confused. "What do you mean by we?"

Wu remembered that half the group didn't even know about the promises he had made. He put a hand to his temple and sighed

"It seems now would be a good time to catch everyone up on a few more details…"

Jay

Jay walked across the courtyard, numbly taking in all the destruction that had gone down. Pillars sat in piles of rubble, the altar was gone….he kicked a piece of rock and it shot off and plunked down in the piranha-invested water at the edge of the temple ground. Eventually he grew tired of even walking and sat heavily on a chunk of fallen pillar. He was silent for a few minutes, staring at the ground with his hands on his knees.

"Jay?"

He turned to see Nya coming after him, looking concerned. She opened her mouth to say something, but she seemed to think better of it and sat down next to him instead. She reached over and took his hand and he gave it a small squeeze, but he didn't look at her. After a few more minutes he started talking.

"Back in the first realm, there was this…this villain guy. Called himself Iron Baron. Cole had gotten himself caught, and we had gone in to save him…" he cleared his throat as she looked over at him.

"But what we didn't realize was that he was waiting for us… and he had this mind-control staff…"

"Jay." she said, interrupting as she realized where he was headed. "You don't have to…"

"We woke up in this arena and he was just lying there, and we had no idea what had happened or if he was even alive, and…" his voice broke as he continued. "…We just wanted to know what happened, and Zane had his playback function," he was shaking slightly as tears started to fall.

"Really, if it's…"

"I hurt him, Nya!" here he turned to face her. "…We all did. And the whole time, we were saying the worst things to him…things we never would have said." His fists clenched. "I didn't want to tell you…I didn't want anyone to ever know. I…I wish I didn't know…"

"I'm sorry, Jay," she whispered. "…I shouldn't have pushed so hard…"

"He turned out to be fine…well, alive… but there were so many other complications when we tried to escape that realm. It seemed like we would never get home….but we finally did." He swallowed. "I didn't want him to turn himself in, but deep down I guess I just knew he'd be ok because he's always ok. He'd make it, cuz he had made it this far, you know?" his voice cracked and Nya released his hand so she could wrap her arm around his waist.

"It's not your fault Jay…it's…it's not anybody's fault…"

Jay shook his head. "I told him he'd be ok….that everything was going to be fine…" he trembled harder. "I didn't even let him say goodbye…"

Nya hugged him tighter as they cried. Eventually she looked over at his other shoulder and sighed.

"Jay…you were shot…you need to go to the hospital."

He let out a shaky breath and tried to shrug.

"I don't even feel it," he mumbled, but she had already stood and reached out a hand to help him up.

"C'mon…it's not gonna do anyone any good if that gets infected."

He looked up dully and finally took her hand, letting her help him to his feet.

Ninja

"Just got off the phone with the Commish…he said that they've been rounding S.O.G up ever since they heard the ninja were back." Ronin said, coming out of REX. "They've got most of 'em; they picked up the crazy purple one over by where we left Killow all tied up. Guess she was the rescue mission. And they got that creepy red robot guy from Borg tower too. All they're missing is the girl who started it all." He gave Harumi a pointed look where she was sitting fuming on the back of the Ultra-Dragon, Lloyd close by. She had been whispering threats and insults to him ever since he had picked her up; it hadn't taken him long to gag her.

Wu nodded his understanding.

"Uncle Wu…isn't there some way you could stay here? The Dragons could just pick a different leader." Lloyd said.

"We've only just been reunited." Garmadon agreed. "Is the situation in our father's birth realm really so bad that you must return so soon?"

"I'm afraid that it is…and there is no alternative. Besides…" Wu said, turning to look at Keyda again. "I made a promise. I'll stay here long enough to make sure that Ninjago really is out of danger, but then we will have to leave." He turned and gave his brother a small smile. "Ninjago will be in good hands without me…there's still the ninja, and you…"

"No one's going to want me protecting them," Garmadon pointed out bitterly. "Not after everything I've been up to the last few weeks…"

"But they do trust your son." Wu said, looking over at Lloyd. "It's his leadership that will help the most in this time…but he will need you and your support." He cleared the emotion out of his voice. "Especially….especially after everything that's happened…"

Garmadon sighed heavily. "I am sorry about Cole, Wu…I had no idea that by…"

"If you hadn't, you would have faded and your anti-self would be destroying our father's realm with a legion of Oni." Wu said matter of factly. "I just wish I had caught on to the warning signs sooner. Looking back, they were all there…but I was too distracted to notice."

"It is pointless putting the blame on anyone," Zane pointed out from nearby. He looked at his sensei sadly. "It was Cole's choice, in the end…and even the right choices have unexpected consequences." He was silent for a few moments. "But I suppose we are all going to feel like there is more we could have done."

A few feet away, Lou cleared his throat and everyone looked over.

"I…I think that they young lady might be more comfortable sleeping in a bed of some kind…" he said sheepishly. "It's just…she really wore herself out, and I have no idea how long she'll be out…"

"I can probably fix something up in REX…" Ronin said grudgingly after no one said anything for a few minutes. "But if she wakes up and starts destroying stuff again, I'm dumping her outta my ship." he added as he headed over to his airship. A few minutes later the thief returned and carried Keyda over to the make-shift bed. He had to admit, she looked a whole lot less like Armageddon when she was sleeping.

The performer looked over at Wu and Garmadon.

"Do you think it would be alright for me to return home now?"

Wu nodded. "The S.O.G should no longer pose a threat…"

Lou shakily pushed himself to his feet. "Then, I must take my leave….I'm headed home. I left it in quite a state, you understand…" Lou's tone had become very businesslike, but his body language was haggard.

"Can I give you a ride home?" Zane offered, but the performer shook his head.

"No, I…I think I'll walk." He headed towards one of the entrances to the temple, though Kai ran over to help him get through the barriers.

"Poor Lou…" Dareth murmured, watching him go. He turned back to Wu and saluted. "Whatever you need, you can count on me to help out!"

Wu turned to Lloyd, as if awaiting instruction. The Green Ninja seemed surprised at the sudden handing-over of the reigns, but after a few moments he cleared his throat.

"We should help the authorities clean up the rest of the biking gang…and after that, I think it's probably time for us all to get some much needed rest."

Lou

It was dusk when Lou reached his house. He looked at the door, feeling a sense of déjà vu as he remembered coming home just a week or so earlier to a villain on his couch. He pushed it open, and took in the mess that he and Dareth had left behind. The Lou of a few weeks ago would have gotten right to work tidying the house, making it look like nothing had happened, and then probably would have called his quartet members to set up a few practices. But after everything that had gone down, Lou wasn't the same man he had been. He walked past the fallen trophies and broken glass, heading back into his bedroom. He sat on his bed wearily, his back aching. The light continued to fade from the windows and he turned and flicked a lamp on. In the warm glow he went to pull out his small songbook out of habit, but then he remembered that he had left it in that cave where they had been hiding out. He wondered briefly if it had been destroyed and felt a small ache for it. He shook his head at himself; songs, after all, could be rewritten. He fished something out from his chest pocket. The edges of the picture that had stuck up out of the pocket were worn, and there was even a small tear. For the most part, however, the picture was still in pretty good shape and Lou looked at it sadly for a few minutes before putting it on his side table and turning out the light.

113

A dragon roar echoed and the boy opened his eyes to total darkness. He felt a jolt of fear, and for some reason felt the need to pat himself over to make sure that there were no pieces missing. Whatever the cause of his moment of panic, it passed as soon as he was sure that all of him was still there. He sat up in the darkness, not sure where he was. He realized with a start that he didn't even know who he was.

"Hello?"

His voice echoed in the emptiness and he realized that he was floating. Was that normal? Who was he expecting to find here?

No wonder you were afraid of messing things up… you seem to land yourself in precarious situations quite a lot…

His heart thudded at the voice that echoed back to him, but he couldn't make sense of anything in the darkness.

"I…I don't know what you're talking about…who are you?"

Have you forgotten already, Cole?

He blinked at the name; it felt familiar.

"Is…that my name?"

Indeed.

"Where am I? Where are you?"

You've fallen deep into the void…your friends will not be able to reach you here.

Cole looked down towards his hands, though he couldn't see anything in the darkness.

"Are you not a friend then? How are you able to reach me?" he paused a second. "Who are you?

I'm part of you, technically

"What?" he subconsciously ran his hand through his hair. "What are you talking about?"

Master of Earth, if you are to escape Limbo, you must focus on remembering what you have lost.

Cole was getting irritated that the voice wasn't answering his questions very clearly.

"What have I lost?"

At the moment, everything…

Jay

Jay woke up as the first rays of sunlight came through the window. He blinked wearily and sat up, wincing as the pain in his shoulder suddenly reminded him of everything he had been through in the past few days. After the sharp pain wore off, he felt the solid rock of sorrow settle back in his chest and he sighed.

"How ya feeling, son?"

He looked over to see his Dad looking at him, his expression both concerned and comforting.

"The doctors said your wound should heal up nicely…they wanna keep you another day, just so they can rewrap the bandaging, but after that you'll be free to leave." The junkyard owner continued.

Jay looked over at his shoulder, which was sporting brand new white bandages and smelled like something clinical.

"Where's Mom?"

"She was under the impression you'd feel a bit better after some crumb cake, so she's off looking for somewhere to get some baking done. But she made this for ya…" Ed held up a scarf that was far too long and Jay couldn't help but smile as he took it.

"Orange…" he noted. "I'll have to tell her thanks when she gets back…"

There was a knock at the door and Ed and Jay looked over to see Nya and Kai poking their heads in.

"Hey…how are ya feeling?" Kai asked. Ed smiled and said something about checking with the doctors about breakfast and left Jay with his friends.

"Oh you know... I'll be sporting a pretty heroic scar, and…" he trailed off mid joke, his small smile fading. "…I'm…I'm fine. Doing fine."

Kai and Nya shared a worried look and came in. Kai sat in Ed's abandoned chair as Nya took a seat on the edge of the hospital bed.

"I…brought you some of your video games. You know, in case you get bored sitting here all day," Kai said, holding up a bag.

Jay looked over at the bag and tried to give his friend a smile.

"Ah, thanks Kai. I don't know how good I'll be with just the one arm, but…I appreciate the thought…"

Kai glanced at Jay's arm and flushed.

"Right…right. Sorry."

"You were at the floating temple then?" Jay asked, changing the subject. It was where he kept his video games, and he guessed it made sense that with the bounty gone the team would have set up camp in their old base.

"Yeah…it was so weird to be there," Nya said. "I mean, the floating aspect made it so that it was safe from looters, but it still felt so odd, like we had taken a step back in time. Even before all this S.O.G business, we were on different missions for a while and I guess it's just been so long since we've all been under that roof together."

Jay's expression changed to something unreadable and she chastised herself for wording.

"Have Wu and Keyda left?" he asked, trying to keep his voice light.

"Not yet." Kai said. "Keyda's still passed out cold…Wu's pretty sick about the whole thing, really. No one knows what to expect when she does wake up."

A silence descended and Nya and Kai made eye contact again, trying to think of what else to say…especially with the elephant in the room.

"Did you know you've got Cyrus Borg next door?" Nya asked. "He got hit with a crossbow bolt a few days ago… so now you're in the same ward and everything."

"Zane and Pix are over there now," Kai explained. "They're gonna pop by to say hello when they're done."

Jay nodded absently. "Ok." He was looking back down at his hands, not making eye contact with them. Nya sighed and reached over to take his hand.

"We miss him too, Jay…" she said.

"Going back to the temple…seeing his stuff everywhere…" Kai trailed off. "It was hard. We just wanted you to know that if you wanna talk about it, we're here for you."

"Thanks guys," Jay mumbled, still not looking up. "…I'm actually feeling a little tired…"

Nya gave his hand a squeeze. "Ok." she said, giving him a sad smile as she leaned in to kiss him on the cheek. "We'll come see you later, ok?"

The siblings left, and Nya glanced back to see Jay's shoulders shaking before she shut the door.

Lloyd

Lloyd looked out the temple window in time to see the Ultra Dragon landing outside. He ran downstairs to let the Dragon Master inside.

"Wu!"

"Hello, Lloyd." The Dragon Master sounded tired.

"You were at the temple, weren't you? The temple of resurrection?" Lloyd asked. Wu sighed.

"Yes."

Lloyd swallowed as Wu sat heavily on a chair near the front door.

"Did you find him?" Lloyd's voice was low, as if he already knew the answer. Wu didn't answer and Lloyd pressed a bit more. "That is why you went back there, right?"

Wu finally shook his head. "No. There was no trace of him."

Lloyd sighed and sat down on the bottom stair. He looked at his sensei as Wu took off his helmet. He had aged again; he looked to be in his late 30s now.

"Where are the others?" Wu asked.

"I believe Kai and Nya are on their way to help out with repairs near the east entrance of Ninjago. A lot of fighting went down there…I sent them to see if they could help out. Pix and Zane will be headed to Borg Tower after they finish up at the Hospital."

"How's Jay?"

Lloyd shrugged. "Physically, he's on the mend. He can leave the hospital tomorrow." he paused for a moment. "Nya and Kai said he's struggling though…emotionally."

Wu nodded. "I expected as much."

"I'm worried that the team's going to fall apart now." Lloyd finally confided. "Just like it did when we lost Zane. I…I need your help, Wu. I don't know if I can keep everyone together on my own."

Wu looked over at his nephew and smiled sadly. "I'm sorry that I have to leave…if there had been another way, I would have taken it. But you don't need me here—you have become a great leader and you have a team you can trust, as well as parents you can lean on."

"When are you leaving?"

Wu looked at his reflection in his golden helmet.

"We've already stayed here too long, I'm afraid. We left the realm in a precarious state." He dry-washed his face. "As soon as Keyda is able, we will head back to the first realm."

Cole

Cole tried to remember something….anything. He caught flashes of faces, whispers of promises, but he couldn't lock down on anything. He groaned in frustration.

"It's not working!"

It will not come all at once… just try reaching back to the last thing that happened and go from there.

Cole frowned, closing his eyes. He worked to remember what had happened last…before he had come here…

He cried out and his eyes opened.

What did you find?

"Pain." He shuddered. "A lot of pain…"

Indeed.

Cole blinked in the darkness, wishing he knew who the mystery voice belonged to.

"What happened to me? Why was I in so much pain?"

The voice was silent and Cole felt his anger grow.

"How did I get here?!"

You were connected to the void…and you chose the path of least resistance.

Cole blinked. "What does that mean? Are….are you saying I chose to come here?!"

It will all make more sense once you remember everything….

"I'm trying! But what aren't you telling me?"

You must try harder. If you do not remember, then you will never have the motivation to return.

"Return WHERE?"

He waited a few minutes but there was no answer. He groaned again.

"Hello?!"

His voice echoed and he sank back, his anger melting away as fear inched in. The voice was irritatingly cryptic…but he'd rather be talking with it than floating in the darkness all alone. He closed his eyes, trying to remember.

114

Keyda wasn't sure how long she had been staring at the floor. She wasn't even sure where she was, but after she had woken up and no one had come to find her she had decided that she didn't want to move. She was still under the blanket on the couch she had found herself on with a pounding headache and various aches from the many battles fought these last few days.

For the first time in more than a week, she had recovered some of the numbness of her past. It was different now than it had been…back then she was numb because of lack of caring. Now she was numb because she had cared too much.

"You're awake, then."

Keyda finally moved her gaze away from the floor. A lady stood in the doorway with a tray of steaming tea. Keyda didn't say anything, but the lady came in anyways and set the tray down on a side-table near the couch before sitting down in a chair.

"I…wondered if you would like something hot to drink, after everything you've been through…"

Keyda just narrowed her eyes. This woman could hardly even guess at everything she had 'been through.' She made no move to accept the offered cup. The lady sighed, placing the tea cup back onto the table before giving her another sad smile.

"I'll just go tell Wu that you're awake." And then she was gone.

Keyda finally sat up, the blanket falling off. She hugged her knees to her chest, waiting for Wu to show up and tell her it was time to go back home. She realized with a stir of surprise that she almost welcomed the idea. The thought of leading the Oni still filled her with dread but she had no love for this realm and the memories made here.

Footsteps echoed from outside the door and pulled her from her haunted thoughts.

"Keyda."

The Dragon Master had aged again, she could see. He came into the room slowly, as if not sure how she would react to seeing him. When she didn't move, he sat in the chair that the lady from before had abandoned and looked over at her, expression full of sadness and regret.

"I should have never asked you to come," he finally said. She just stared at him, arms still around her knees. He cleared his throat and continued.

"I'm…I'm going back to the first realm. As promised. But I won't press you into anything, Keyda…"

"Of course I'm going back."

Her voice was hoarse from the screaming from the day before and from going so long without using it. Wu looked at her carefully as she continued.

"I don't belong here…and you're right. You should have never asked me to come."

He nodded and looked down, as if trying to decide whether to tell her something else. His hand was in a pocket where he fiddled with something. He finally sighed, coming to a decision.

"I…want you to know that I didn't give up on him. I went back to the temple grounds and meditated for hours…but there was no sign of him."

Of course there wasn't. Wu was a fool for even holding out hope.

"I did find this…" Wu pulled his hand out of his pocket to reveal a scrap of black cloth. He held it out to her and she finally moved, reaching out to take it. It was the same scrap Garmadon had thrown at her…the numbness inside was subsiding into a dull and painful ache.

"We were all hit hard by his loss…" Wu continued, and she looked up to find his eyes misty. "You…you don't have to mourn alone...or feel like you have to keep it bottled up, or hidden away…"

She looked away, her fingers rubbing the dark fabric as emotion got stuck in her throat. She cleared it away.

"Who was that man? The one who was with Cole…who came to talk to me?"

"That was Lou…he's Cole's father."

She nodded, remembering suddenly that Cole had called him Dad.

"I want to go talk to him…before we go."

Cyrus Borg

"You'd think I'd be used to it by now," Borg said, shaking his head. "Every time the city comes under attack, I have to work to rebuild the company. Though I've never really had a 'leg' to stand on, so to speak, I'm generally in better health to oversee my own reconstruction efforts."

P.I.X.A.L smiled and patted his arm.

"Zane and I will be headed over to Borg tower soon to make sure everything is on track for setting things back the way they were before. You just focus on getting better,"

The inventor nodded. "Ah, yes…I certainly can trust everything in your capable hands. After all, if it wasn't for the two of you, I wouldn't even be here," his demeanor sobered somewhat and he became pensive. "You've always been willing to sacrifice so much, the lot of you. It makes me wonder what more I could be doing to protect our realm. Surely I have more to offer than just highly advanced Borg watches or Borg pads…"

"Of course you do," P.I.X.A.L smiled again. "But do not spend too much time worrying about it; for now your main goal should be to get back to full health."

The inventor smiled back, and then his gaze drifted over to where a titanium nindroid sat, seemingly lost in thought.

"Are you alright, Zane?"

Zane looked up at his name.

"Sorry?"

"I was just asking if you were alright," the inventor explained. "Though…I suppose I know what's troubling you." He struggled to sit up, and was able to do so with some help from P.I.X.A.L. "I'd like to once again offer my condolences for your loss. If there's anything I could do to be of assistance during this time…"

Zane sighed and looked back down.

"It bothers me that so much was asked of him, when comparably little was asked of the rest of us." He explained. "It…it was not fair."

Borg nodded his understanding as P.I.X.A.L moved to be closer to her nindroid.

"You know, your friends felt the same after they lost you, Zane." the inventor said softly. "We like to view the world logically…but sometimes pain and loss don't make sense…"

"Pain and loss are a part of life," Zane replied simply, not looking up. Borg smiled sadly.

"Yes…but knowing that doesn't make dealing with them any easier."

P.I.X.A.L put an arm around Zane's shoulders and the nindroid sighed again.

"I just wished there was something more I could have done…something more I could have given up. I was recently reminded that I can't do everything on my own…that sacrifices will be required of those around me as well. I just didn't think it would go this far."

"We did what we could, Zane…you cannot expect more from yourself than that." P.I.X.A.L said gently.

"How is the rest of your team holding up?" Borg asked. "You mentioned that Jay is next door with a bolt-wound of his own…"

"He and Cole were very close," Zane explained. "I think the loss is going to be the hardest on him…"

"Especially with nothing to do but sit and heal," Borg mused. "The rest of you have things you can be doing, places to fix and rebuild…" he seemed to be lost in thought. After a few minutes he turned back to the two androids.

"Perhaps what Jay needs is a sense of purpose to distract him. And I think I know just the thing,"

P.I.X.A.L and Zane looked up at Borg, intrigued by his determined tone.

"Jay's an inventor, yes?" Borg asked. "As am I…and I'm going to need all the help I can get to get my company back on its feet. Do you think that he would find an intern position to be a helpful distraction?"

Zane blinked in surprise. He knew how much Jay admired the inventor, and under normal circumstances he would be ecstatic at the chance to work alongside him.

"It is hard to predict how he would feel given the circumstances, but I definitely think it would be worth making the offer."

Borg smiled, looking a little relieved to have finally found some way he could help.

Cole

At first the memories came back in a trickle; a name, a face, an instance out of context. Cole just wanted to give up, but having been left by even the strange voice he knew his options were either to sit alone in the dark forever or try to remember everything else.

He thought about what the voice had said—to go back to the last memory he had. He swallowed, not sure he wanted to revisit the pain he had found there last time he had tried. After a few more minutes in the dark he sighed and geared himself up.

Cold. Pain. Fear. A face…it was so familiar but he was frustrated that couldn't place it or name it…

You're a fighter Cole…

The man in his memory was speaking. "But who are you?" Cole wondered, teeth grinding as he tried to remember.

Just…just hang on, son…

Son…Dad…Pop! The face…it was his father! His Dad was with him…and…and…

More faces; one, worried and freckled…. another dressed in golden armor….a blonde in green…a pale face with a tears and a scar…

He gasped as the memories continued to flow in and he actually could remember what they were. The fight at the temple…the first realm…Ninjago. His friends, his family, Keyda… how could he have forgotten?

He sat in the darkness, shivering as he realized everything he had almost lost forever.

"I have to get back…" he murmured. He realized with a shock that the voice had said that he was lost to the deepest parts of limbo. How on earth would he ever get out of here, where not even Kedya and Wu could reach him? If only the voice hadn't…

He blinked as he suddenly realized who the voice was; he had heard it speak in his head before.

"You're my Elemental Dragon." He called out, his voice echoing in the dark abyss. "Is that why you said you were part of me? Because you're connected to my element?"

You have finally remembered.

Cole felt both relieved and annoyed to hear the Dragon's voice again.

"Have you been here the whole time, ignoring me?" he asked sharply.

You needed motivation to remember, because you never would have had the motivation to return if you weren't spurred on by your memories.

"So…there's a way back? How? And how is it you are able to reach me here, if no one else can?"

Like you said, we are connected. And yes, there is a way for you to return…but it is something you must do on your own.

Cole sighed in frustration. "Remember how I told you all I do is mess things up? I tried to make the right decisions but all I did was destroy myself. How on earth do you expect me to get out of this on my own?"

I do remember you mentioning that… the dragon sounded amused, which only deepened Cole's frustrations. But you'll remember that I said it is only when earth is broken that things can grow within it. And Master of Earth…I'm not sure you can get any more broken at this point.

115

Lloyd watched Wu walk up the stairs, having been summoned by Misako. The Green Ninja sighed; if Keyda was awake, it wouldn't be long before they left. The thought of losing Wu all over again cut deep. Ninjago was in shambles, and Lloyd needed help picking up the pieces.

"Son?"

Lloyd looked up to see Garamdon standing in the front doorway, looking troubled. The Green Ninja stood.

"Dad! Where have you been?"

"I've been around, Lloyd. In all the chaos of yesterday I was left with quite the headache…but I think I'm finally beginning to sort everything out." He sighed, and looked back at his son.

"Would you take a walk around the grounds with me?"

Lloyd followed his father out the door, feeling puzzled. As they started their walk he turned to the older man.

"What did you mean by 'sorting everything out'?"

Garmadon was silent, his brow furrowed while he walked. He finally turned to explain.

"When you pulled me free of limbo, it didn't destroy the part of me that had been wreaking havoc here. We were merely rejoined. It was hard to sort through the confusion and added memories yesterday, given everything that was going on…but since then…"

"Memories?" Lloyd's pace slowed. "You mean, everything that he did…"

Garmadon stopped.

"Yes. I remember everything." His voice sounded dull as Lloyd stopped walking as well. He knew which memories were haunting his father.

"Dad…that wasn't you…"

"It was the darkest part of me, son. But I never would have thought that even the darkest part of me would have been capable of hurting you."

Lloyd didn't look at his father. He wanted to tell his father that it was ok, that he shouldn't feel guilty about something that was in the past…he was fine after all. He even had his powers back. But the truth was that the memory of their fight in Kryptarium still hurt and haunted him anytime he found himself thinking about it.

Garmadon put a hand on his shoulder and Lloyd looked up at his father.

"Son…you are the most important thing in the world to me. The thought of you was the only thing that helped me survive weeks in limbo…" he trailed off, his voice getting caught with emotion. Lloyd clenched his jaw, trying to control his own as his father continued.

"What that part of me did to you…to Ninjago…it's unforgivable. But…I still wanted to say that I'm sorry. You never should have had to…"

Lloyd's fierce hug cut him off mid-apology, and he sighed in relief as he hugged him back.

"I missed you so much, Dad…" Lloyd mumbled through his tears.

"Oh Lloyd…I missed you too." He whispered into his son's hair. They stood for a few minutes by the koi pond.

"If I could take it all back somehow…" Garmadon said, but Lloyd shook his head.

"It's not your fault, Dad…you didn't ask to be brought back. You didn't ask to be ripped apart and sent to limbo…"

"But the things that you've had to go through…the destruction that's occurred in this realm…" Garmadon's face contorted. "And I've cost you a friend…"

"You can't blame yourself for what…"

"I tethered him to the limbo world, son. I can't even blame my evilest part for that."

"You didn't know…you couldn't have known this is how it would end up. I don't blame you Dad." Lloyd pulled back so he could look his father in the eyes. "I was the one who couldn't break the tether…but you told me that I couldn't blame myself for that. I wish you wouldn't blame yourself either." He sighed, looking back at the temple.

"Keyda woke up…she and Wu will be leaving soon. I need you Dad…I can't do this on my own…"

"Lloyd, I will always be here for you…on your side. You have to know that by now," his father replied. He smiled as he looked at his son with pride. "You have grown so much, and you have become a capable leader. Wu trusts you to lead your team…to be a leader to the realm…and I trust you as well."

Lloyd looked back at his father with a shaky smile.

"Thanks, Dad."

Cole

"So what do I have to do?"

The dragon didn't reply right away and Cole's heart beat faster. He couldn't imagine being stuck here, alone…especially now that he remembered what he had left behind.

"Hello?!"

The tether between this place and the real world still exists.

Cole sagged in relief at the dragon's voice, but then frowned as he thought about what it had said. "How is that possible? I thought the tether was connected to me…"

It is something you used, but it is more of a pathway than a rein…"

"A pathway…" Cole repeated. "So…I can use it again?"

In theory.

Cole scoffed. "That's really reassuring, you know that?"

It won't be easy to do; the energy in the pathway is exceptionally strong, pushing in this direction…"

"Lloyd couldn't even break it…" Cole said, remembering the snippets of conversation he had overheard while disappearing.

That is because you were fighting against him.

Cole blinked in surprise.

"Me? What is that even supposed to mean?"

The dragon didn't answer right away as Cole glared into the abyss.

"Are you saying that I sent myself here?!"

It's not something you did consciously… the dragon admitted. But a part of you longed to be free from the pain and the fear and fought to escape to a place where…

"I did this?!" Cole was yelling now. "Did…did I make the tether in the first place?!"

You did not send yourself to limbo to begin with…nor did you create the tether. But as you became more injured your subconscious became more dedicated to withdrawing. In a way, it was a survival mechanism.

"Survival?!" Cole gestured around him. "This is survival?!"

The dragon ignored his outbursts, continuing his explanation.

The more you travelled the tether, the stronger the energy became to take you to this place. Eventually the strain became great enough that it took all of you.

Cole just shook his head. "When Lloyd tried to break the tether…"

The built up energy and even a part of your own subconscious fought against him. He wasn't strong enough to keep you there…but with your own relationship with the tether, it could be possible to reverse the flow of energy to take you back to your world.

The ninja didn't say anything. All he could think about was how he had let everybody down. It was bad enough that his risks had backfired…but to know that the reason he was here now was because some part of him couldn't help but run away? How could he have done that to his friends…or his own father? They had told him to fight and he thought that he had been, but apparently he wasn't strong enough. All at once he thought of Keyda…he had promised her he would be ok…he had kissed her. And then he had disappeared—literally. He wondered how long he had been in limbo. No doubt Wu and Keyda had already left to get back to the first realm…the thought made him feel so empty.

What is past is past, Master of Earth. You must reverse the flow of energy in the tether, and use the pathway to get back home.

"I don't think I can…"

And you won't, if you aren't even willing to try.

Cole sighed again, this time in frustration. This dragon was definitely starting to get on his nerves, but the unseen reptile had a point. No good was going to come from a pity-party, and no one was coming to save him.

"How do I do it?"

Picture home, Cole. Picture home and fight for it.

He stared into the dark, think about his home in Ninjago. About his friends, his memories…the times they had laughed together, stressed together, fought with and for each other. He thought of his father, and of how far he had come, of all the ways they had both grown over the years. He thought of Wu; the sensei who had taught Cole how to be a man, and what responsibility really meant. He thought of Keyda, willing to risk everything for a glimmer of hope and who stuck by him after his risks backfired time and time again.

He thought of the hard times…the pain, the arguments, the seemingly constant threats to the safety of their home. But it was worth it…the good times outweighed the bad. The gains outweighed the losses…and home was worth fighting for.

He wasn't sure at what point he sensed the path, but he could feel its energy coursing towards him, like a river that had deposited him in this dark and gloomy bay. He swallowed, trying to figure out how to reverse the flow. At the end of this path was his home, his friends, his life…and he longed to be there. He began walking forward against the flow of energy. At first it wasn't too difficult, but after a bit the force pushing him backwards became intense. He frowned, pushing himself forward inch by inch.

"I'm getting home…" he muttered to the opposing force. "I'm getting home!"

His arms lit up as he used his earth punch to push through the force, gaining a bit more ground.

"Stop…fighting…me…" he said, feeling both frustrated and foolish as he argued with an energy flow. "I…don't…want…to be here!"

The energy didn't seem to be listening, continuing to push him back towards the place he was fighting to escape.

"I have to tell my friends that I'm ok!" he yelled. His feet slipped backwards, but he regained his footing and managed to gain a few steps. "I have to tell my Dad that I'm sorry…" He shoved back against the flow, his arms lighting up the strange pathway he was travelling down. "I have to tell Keyda how I really feel!"

A few more steps, a few more slips…how would he ever reach home at this rate?

"I'm done distancing myself…with things get hard…I'm tired.. of being on my own…"

He struggled for every step, not noticing that the glow in his arms was spreading through the rest of his body.

"I'm going back!" he yelled, and his steps became more solid. The elemental glow pulsed through his body as the flow of energy seemed to slow around him.

"I am strong enough….and I'm going HOME!"

The energy had stilled completely, and Cole stopped moving, taken aback but the sudden lack of opposition. Suddenly the energy began trickling again, but in the opposite direction. Cole began walking, then running. Soon he couldn't even keep up with the force at his back as it flew him back towards a memory…towards home.

29