AN: *URGENT; PLEASE READ* All right, normally I don't have much to say on my chapters, but I would like to draw attention to something very important. For anyone who has looked at the reviews for the last chapter, you might know what this is about. If not, then please take the time to read this.

This last week, a good friend of mine on this site, 2240713356, received an ominous review on one of her fics. Not only did the anonymous reviewer completely trash her fic, but they also blackmailed her, threatening to have her account deleted if she didn't comply with their demands. We have since then determined that this was nothing more than a troll, but it scared 22 half-to-death. Both of us only joined the site in January, so this was our first experience with anything like this. 22 has since then deleted the threatening review, but she left a copy of it along with a few words of her own on the fic. For anyone who would like to look at the review, the fic is called "Bloodlust: Grievance and Denial." After doing some investigating, I discovered that this anonymous reviewer, who calls themselves Abandoned 001, has attacked SEVERAL other fics, all in different fandoms and genres.

I only mention this because I feel the word needs to be spread. If this was somebody's idea of a sick joke, then it is NOT OKAY. To put down and threaten someone even in bluff is BULLYING. It is not funny, and it is not a joke. If anything like this has happened to you or someone you know, report it or find a way to get support. I recently found a forum called Troll Busters that not only offers advice on how to deal with trolls, but it also has a place where you can report hateful reviews or PMs. I will personally do my best to help anyone who has received any kind of message of this sort, so do not be afraid to PM me. People come on this site to have fun, and it is not fair for them to have that experience ruined by fear or abuse.

Sometimes, you will encounter mean and selfish people who don't care about you or your feelings, and there is little you can do to change them. But there are also people who will be willing to come alongside you and stand with you if you are ever in a bad situation. My point with this isn't to harp on bullies or try to threaten or guilt them. I can't control them, and I shouldn't try. My only point is to bring awareness to this situation so that those who DO care can come together when it is needed. The internet is a crazy thing; it opens doors for all kinds of malicious and cruel people. But it also offers us a faster and greater connection to the world. For those of us who want good, wholesome connections, let us fight for it. But let us do so with dignity and respect, and remember that we are not fighting to attack an enemy, but to protect a community.

Review Replies
phetiamwantip: *ominous cackling*

2240713356: Look, there is absolutely no need to apologize. I know the situation was scary for you, and there is nothing wrong with you using my fic to draw attention to it.
As for who time-traveled, well... you'll have to wait till after season 5 to find out. ;)

Tomura-chan: Aww, Kai doesn't mean it. He's just... processing.


Over the next couple of days, there were several attempts to find out more about Ray and Maya's second disappearance, but we uncovered nothing. The only clue we had to go off of was the energy traces Zane found. This meant someone had traveled through time to loot the camp, so it wasn't likely that we would find any more evidence. Not at our current time.

Finally, one morning at breakfast, Sensei Wu deemed it necessary to call the search off.

"What, so we're just giving up?!" Kai exploded, shooting to his feet. Lloyd and Jay, who were sitting on either side of the brunet, slowly slid away as Wu returned Kai's glare calmly.

"That is not what I am saying," the old man said, his voice quiet and level in the face of Kai's wrath, "We have gleaned all the information we can from searching the camp. Now we must explore other options. At the same time, we must also turn our attention to another search; the search for the First Spinjitzu Master's tomb."

"Is that really necessary?" Jay piped up, "I mean, Morro's locked up. We won, didn't we?"

"That is true," Garmadon answered, "However, Wu and I have been discussing the matter, and we agree it would be safer to move the Realm Crystal to a new location. If Morro ever escaped, it would only be a matter of time before he found the tomb. Not only that, but if he knew how to find it when not even Wu and I did, then there is no telling who else might discover its location."

"And," I added, "There's a possibility it might be my way home, sooo…"

"Oh, gosh," Lloyd said, giving me a startled look, "I hadn't even thought of that. I forgot you, like, have a home and stuff."

I smiled wanly, "Yeah, I know. I kinda haven't thought about it much either, to be honest. I don't think… I'll leave immediately. There's still so much to do here. But I will have to eventually, and I just… it'll be nice to at least let my family know I'm all right."

As though that settled the matter, Wu gave a sharp nod, "Then I suggest we move immediately. Misako has offered to research more on time travel to aid the search for the Smiths."

"I'll come too," Nya volunteered, standing up, "Two heads are better than one, right?"

Misako smiled at the girl, "Your help would be much appreciated. Thank you, Nya."

"If Nya leaves, it might be best for Lloyd to stay here and help guard Morro," I suggested, "Since he's the only other one who can kill ghosts."

Wu nodded, "I agree. Garmadon and I will stay here as well, and the rest of you will accompany Abby to retrieve the first clue."

"The Scroll of Airjitzu," I blurted out instinctively, "It's in Ronin's pawn shop on Stiix. How long will it take to get there with the dragons?"

Zane's eyes flashed briefly with lines of code before he chirped, "By my calculations, we will be able to fly to Stiix and back within the day, provided there are no complications."

"I want to go with Nya and Mrs. G," Kai said, crossing his arms stubbornly, "I want to help look for our parents."

Nya gave a slightly strained chuckle, "No offense, big brother, but you're not exactly the best at libraries."

"Nya is right," Garmadon added before Kai could retort, "Your skills would be best put to use retrieving the Scroll of Airjitzu."

"But—!"

"Enough, Kai," Wu reprimanded sharply, and the boy shut his mouth, glowering at the tabletop. Wu looked at the Fire Ninja sternly for a moment before his gaze softened, "I understand you are concerned for your parents. We all are. But you must accept that there is no more you can do at the moment. Trust that we are doing everything in our power just as you are."

For a moment, the brunet stared at his teacher, looking like he wanted to argue. Finally, however, he let out a huff and fell into his seat, slouching grumpily. Wu seemed to accept this for what it was, and he turned to address the whole table.

"Ninja, I would suggest you prepare to leave as soon as possible. The journey to Stiix is long, and with your dragons, it will tax your strength. Abby," I whipped my head up as Wu's eyes turned to me, "Would you be willing to help me brew a strengthening tea for the Ninja?"

"Of course, Sensei," I responded, pushing myself out of my seat. The group worked together to clear the table before splitting off to their various tasks. The boys returned to their room to ready their gear, and Garmadon went to relieve Cole of guard duty. I brought Morro some breakfast (though he still wasn't eating) before I hurried to meet Wu in the back room of the tea shop. Since capturing Morro, Wu didn't feel comfortable opening Steep Wisdom while we held the ghost, so the shop had been in something of a stagnant state. I had heard Misako trying to convince him to open it soon, which I hoped he did. Though I didn't know much about the economics in Ninjago, I knew from watching season five that Wu had made quite the investment on the shop, and I would hate to see him lose it.

In the back room, I found Sensei Wu already sorting through boxes of tea bags. I wasn't quite sure what he wanted my help with, but this concern was quickly resolved. As soon as I walked in, Wu asked, "Abby, can you please put a pot of water to boil on the stove?"

"Sure," I said, hurrying to where he kept the teapots. One of the perks of helping the Ninja set up the shop was that I knew where everything was. After filling the pot with water, I set it on the stove to boil and turned to Wu.

"Anything else?" I asked.

"Yes," he replied as he lifted a tea bag to the light and squinted at it, "On the far shelf there, you will find jars of herbs. I need the maroon and dark indigo ones."

"Maroon and dark indigo," I echoed as I hurried to the shelf he indicated, "Got it."

I located the jars easily and began sifting through them. Meanwhile, Wu pulled two tea bags out of a box and set them next to the stove. For a while, we worked in relative quiet, with only the occasional direction from Wu or affirmation from me. As the water was brought to a boil and Wu began brewing the concoction, he abruptly asked, "How is Morro?"

"Oh… Morro?" I repeated, casting the man a startled look. He nodded without looking up from what he was doing.

"Yes," he said shortly. I waited for him to say more, but he didn't.

"Um… He's good," I answered, turning back to my task of putting away the tea bags, "I mean, he still won't eat, and he's… cold, to say the least. He's the worst when Lloyd's in the room. But he likes playing card games." I gave a soft chuckle, "He loosens up a lot when he's playing. He's less menacing and more… grouchy. Sometimes he's arrogant. But he doesn't threaten us too much anymore."

"Good," Wu murmured, still not turning around, "That's good…"

Something in his tone struck me, and I stopped what I was doing as I turned my eyes to the man. He still hadn't ceased his task, though his silence seemed considerably heavier. A note of suspicion bubbled up, followed by a sick feeling in my stomach.

"Sensei," I ventured hesitantly, "Have you talked to Morro since he got here?"

There was a short clatter as he fumbled the lid of the teapot, and my nausea became cemented.

"You haven't, have you?"

The man's shoulders slumped, and his hands finally went still. He sighed heavily and leaned forward, bracing himself against the counter.

"I… do not think he wishes to see me," he said quietly. I frowned and looked away, tapping my fingers thoughtfully against the tabletop. Ever since that first disastrous morning when I told the Ninja everything, I had been careful with how I spoke to them; Sensei Wu especially. I knew my words had rocked him hard, and Morro's return hadn't made things any easier. I worried if I tried to talk with him again, it might make things worse. And yet… no one else knew what Morro meant to Wu. Sure, the Ninja got some idea of the situation, and I thought Wu might have shared with Misako, though it was only a hunch. I didn't think Garmadon was around at the time Wu took Morro in. No one else knew what the man was going through, but… someone had to help.

Swallowing my apprehension, I turned back to sorting the tea bags as I spoke, "You know, I don't know everything that went on between you and Morro; just the basics. But I do know he meant—means—a lot to you, and I'm sure you meant a lot to him. And I understand if you have some guilt associated with him leaving, but…"

I stopped, biting my lip as I glanced up at Wu. He hadn't turned or relaxed his stance while I had been talking, but I pushed on anyway, "Look, one thing I know for sure is that Morro's choices are not your responsibility. You couldn't make him do or not do anything. Even if I don't know all the details of what happened… I know that in the end, it was his choice to leave."

I paused again. There was still no response from Wu, but after a second, he stirred, turning to face me with troubled eyes. I offered him a small smile.

"Maybe he won't want to see you," I admitted, "Maybe he might pretend not to. But one way or another, I think it's important that you get some kind of closure. Not only that, but if we're going to have any chance of steering him back toward the light, he needs to know that you still care. It's not good for either of you to keep avoiding it."

Wu stared at me, his eyes oddly searching. He didn't move or speak for a long time as I returned his gaze as calmly as I could, despite the butterflies in my stomach. Eventually, he was the first to break the standoff, turning away with another sigh.

"You are right," He confessed, "For too long now, I have been putting off for tomorrow what should have been done yesterday. I should have known this confrontation was inevitable, and more importantly, necessary."

He looked up, and his beard twitched as he gave me a faint smile, "Thank you, Abby. I will take your advice to heart."

I smiled back and nodded, "You're welcome."

The butterflies didn't go away, but now they felt elated instead of nervous. I hadn't screwed up. Maybe things would turn out all right after all.


AN: Time to accept that this shop is never opening. It's doomed to die.

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