"Here we are, outsider."

Djinjago in all of its glory was a sight to behold. Several large islands of masterful architecture lined the orange skies. Several more of the apparent Djinn appeared around in the multiple allies and houses. Some appeared to be injured. In fact, several bits of the city looked like theyd been damaged.

"What happened here sir?" Asked Lloyd, who had taken note of the mass destruction that had taken hold of the realm.

"I should be asking you that. Our forecasters have seen no foreseeable cause to this great travesty on Djinn land. Our islands fall to the endless seas, the rest below the surface.. Buildings, plants, people.. They all suffer similar fates. I can only assume that our sister realm has been damaged."

"Sister realm?"

Khanjikhan stopped, aiming the tip of his sword at a mural on a wall in front of the grand palace. Depicting The Cursed Realm. "Every realm in existence has a parallel one. Yours for instance, parallels with the realm from which your kind descended from. Ours is parallel with the cursed realm."

"About that.." Lloyd held his hand behind his head. While his blade would still not reveal to him a future beyond the immediate events that led to him being stranded, he assumed The Preeminent was destroyed, or at least weakened, as it had predicted.

"So. The Cursed Realm is falling.. That is unfortunate. If it is completely destroyed, our people will fall."

"Don't worry. No matter what happens, we'll make sure your home doesn't fall." Lloyd gave an optimistic, perhaps misplaced smile. Khanjikhan couldn't help but be reminded of the determination wielded by his son. While he was a traitor, he still missed him dearly.

The two made their way to a dining hall in the middle of the floating city. Khanjikhan "sat" at one end, while Lloyd sat at the other.

"Now! Explain why you've arrived here. And what trouble has befallen The Cursed Realm."

"Well.." Lloyd settled in his seat. "A former student of my uncle used a crystal to bring The Cursed Realm to mine. It destroyed an entire city.. I guess we didn't know what sister realms were but- i'm not sure they'll be able to stop it from destroying anything else. But if they destroy it, then-.."

"We go down with the ship?

"Yea.. that."

Khanjikhan looked down. While he was by no means a saint, he was a fair king who wished to do right by his people, and Lloyds. "You need to return home. Unfortunately, there is only one way."

Lloyd turned his head. "Yea?"

"We Djinn grant wishes to everyone but our own. However, the only one who can grant them on Djinn land is the wielder of infinite wishes. The king of our people who has married within our city is bestowed with this power."

"So why can't you wish us out of here?"

Khanjikhan stroked his beard. Having felt the side effects of growing old. "I grow old. The full extent of my power has been wasted away keeping this island afloat, and my people safe from invading forces, who enter our realm in the hopes of capturing Djinn to use. I have enough power to get us to Ninjago.. But there's no telling where in Ninjago we'd end up. Let alone how much use I'd be down there, but I can do it. On one condition."

He got up. Looking at a large painting on the wall, not unlike the mural from before. It depicted him with a much younger Djinn with an eye patch, and a female Djinn with a white dress, with 4 sleeves for each of her arms. The young Djinn looked grumpy, unhappy, and bored.

"He's my condition.."

"Huh?" Lloyd looked confused.

"We find my son in Ninjago. That is my condition."

"If he's there, we'll find him!" Lloyds determined grin returned. Khanjikhans hope returned as well. He coughed, yelling for an advisor

"Caratakhan!"

A younger Djinn with a big beard and scarred eye floated over. He had two swords on his back, and a large chestplate, not unlike the one Khanjikhan had.

"This is Caratakhan. Co, Minister of Djinjago. He will watch over the city while we return to your realm."

Caratakhan nodded. "It is a shame I will not have the pleasure of sinking my teeth into the sinkhole they refer to as Ninjago.. It is a stain on our people's history. The realm that corrupted our future king. Why do you help this outsider?"

Khanjikhan sighed. Moving over to Lloyd and whispering to him. "This is one of the worst parts of the invasions." He turned to respond to Caratakhan.

"He is an innocent youth. And unless you want his and our realm to fall, you will do your job, Caratakhan."

He gave a half-hearted: "Yes sir." Turning away, and floating in the opposite direction.

"Are you ready?" Khanjikhan asked.

"Always ready!"

As the area around them glowed a bright orange, the two were transported through space and time. And into the literal and figurative gathering storms of Ninjago.

(In Ninjago . . .)

The rest of The Ninja waited aboard the boat, waiting for R.E.X to return with good or bad news. As Kai looked out into the horizon, he began to ponder a question he had been thinking ever since they got there. "Hey Zane. Why did Cole say anything last time we were all together?"

Zane, who had been performing a self diagnostic with P.I.X.A.L's help, in order to locate the rust that'd taken hold in one of his limbs. "I am unsure. I hadn't seen him when Nya fell unconscious."

"Oh! I wonder where I was!"

"Ahh!" Kai screamed as Cole appeared next to him. "Jeez Cole! Where'd you come from!?"

"Wouldn't you like to know? You know, I think I won't tell-"

"You used your status as a ghost to manipulate the opacity of your visible form, in order to appear invisible. Correct?" Zane asked.

"Yea! Something like that. Don't tell Jay and Ronin though. I want it to be a 'surprise' when they get back!"

"So you were invisible the whole time?" Kai inquired. Itd been a while since he had been seen on the deck, which had now been over-run by a large group of the Stix Refugees who had gotten bored.

"I was in the ship! You know, where I wouldn't get wet!? I'm a ghost now you blockhead! Even if Nya had succeeded, I would've died! I just so happened to find out I could even do that invisible stuff. So I guess it wasn't a total loss."

"You are correct. Though I believe elemental water would not have the same effect as regular water." Zane added onto Coles point. It was a flimsy argument to be sure, but all he could come up with.

"Hey! It's the rescue boats! And the red plane!" The ship's Captain said.

"More like a helicopter.. Or.. I'm not even sure what you'd call it. Did Ronin ever tell us what R.E.X stood for?" Zane asked.

The other two shrugged. R.E.X appeared over the horizon, along with 8 or 9 rescue boats. Once they had arrived, Jay and Ronin jumped out, as several officers loaded people onto the boats.

"Where's my sister?" Kai asked Jay.

"She's with a doctor! But we have to go now! If we don't get to the city soon enough, we might not be able to evacuate the entire city before Morro gets there!" Jay responded.

Misako, who had just walked up to join the conversation, knew there would be a great deal of people who would require more time to evacuate. The first person on the forefront of her mind was the old and ever-so stubborn Doctor Saunders, a colleague of hers.

"I'll fly with Ronin back in the city to help evacuate it. You take one of the nine boats back as well. Since we'll get there sooner, we'll be able to get more people out of there before The Preeminent arrives. When it does, you'd have gotten there already, and will be able to hold them off."

"A logical solution." Zane noted. Everyone nodded their heads, as nobody had any objections. Wu gave Misako a hug, wishing her farewell, as she and Ronin boarded R.E.X again, and The Ninja got onto a rescue boat. Everyone leaving the discarded boat in the endless sea.

While it took some time, Misako and Ronin ended up in Ninjago city. Looking down at the exodus of people lined up at the docks, slowly waiting for The Police and The Ninja to give the go-ahead to board them. Ronin turned to Misako. "So. What's the real reason you wanted to get here so soon?"

"Real reason? I've been fully honest. I want to help evacuate the people of Ninjago."

"First rule of lying?: never lie to a better liar. I've been doing it for years, and I've almost never been fooled. Almost.."

"There's a co-worker of mine who's a bit of a stubborn prick. Forgive my foul language, but I don't enjoy working with him much. He's too old fashioned. Even for my tastes. But that's all the more reason I'm afraid he wont leave the museum until every single artifact is taken with him."

"Reminds me of myself! I bet I'll like em."

The two landed in the museum's parking lot, entering through the front door.

Krux, one of two powerful yet forgotten brothers, and more formally known as the ever-stubborn Doctor Saunders, hauled around crate after crate of important items. While he could always hide out in the swamps of Ninjago, where ghosts would likely stray from, he knew the second he heard the alert outside that a ghost army would easily tear his to bits. Had he gave The Vermillion Deepstone armor, perhaps he wouldn't be in this predicament. He was about to turn a corner, before he heard the voices of two chatting people. One he didnt recognize, and one he sadly did. He quickly perfected his disguise, making his way to them.

"Ahh! Mrs. Misako! And you've brought a friend! Yes, but bad times! You should be helping me move the boxes!"

"I take back what I said. I hate him already." Ronin turned to leave.

"Wait!" Misako tried to get him to come back, but Ronin had his mind set. "I am incredibly sorry Doctor Saunders. But we have to leave regardless of how much we can take-"

"No no no! We have to get every single artifact!"

Misako looked around. Most of the artifacts and objects in the museum hadn't been put into the crates. An odd suspicion creeped into her mind. "If none of the artifacts are in the boxes, what's in there?"

Doctor Saunders quickly got in her way when she tried to look inside the boxes. "Don't worry! Just some stuff from my personal collection! Maybe you should go with your rude friend!"

Misako ignored him, reaching over his arms, pulling off the lid of one of them. Looking inside to see an odd egg canister of some kind. It was orange, and held several squirming lifeforms.

"What in all of Ninjago are these?"

"Uhh- some rare animals I picked up in the Toxic Bogs?"

"This looks way too future esc to be anything of your creation.."

"How dare you!" Krux's voice broke for a second. Sounding more like his original self than before. Misako had never met the time twins, however, Wu had warned her several times that he foresaw their return. Though there was no immediate evidence to prove such a theory.

"What are you hiding, Saunders? I want you tell me, or else we'll both get cursed when The Pree-"

Misakos head was hit with a large helmet, straight out of the Stone Era. A useless tool after the Overlords many defeats. But good for getting rid of suspicious co-workers. Misako was knocked out. And Krux had no intentions of killing her, but letting her live would be an incredible risk. But then, he had a horrible idea. An incredible kind of revenge, for all of the trouble she ever put him through. A fate that may be worse than death.

Krux reached into the crate that she had opened, releasing the specimen inside it, as they crawled out of the box, and squirmed over to the other crates, inhabiting three suits of armor. The three Vermillion generals, Raggmunk, Blunk, and Machia, stood before him.

"I'm curious to know why you have released us this early. Has your brother arrived ahead of schedule?" Machia asked.

"I'm afraid not. I have a special assignment for you two though.." Krux said. Not hiding his voice anymore. "An army is coming.. Far outnumbering us. I want you to take that unconscious woman, go out into the street, and stand. You will stand there until I say otherwise. Pin the woman down. Do not come back, or there will be much to pay. Do you two understand?"

"Yes sir!" The two lesser generals said. As they grabbed Misako, pulling her out into the streets. Machia looked confused.

"Was that an attempt to give them busywork, or are we performing fear tactics on the people?"

"That fool has been a pain in my side, much in the same way those two must've been for you. I will find better specimens among their brothers in the egg clutches. They will be cursed along with Misako, revenge for having to hide my past from the lover of one of my greatest rivals.. Garmadon.. If he lives out there in Ninjago, I order you to take a fourth of our army and search for him."

"And what if we are discovered?"

Krux put the Stone Warriors helmet back on the statue. Turning back to Machia with a menacing glare. "For your sake Machia, I hope that doesn't happen."

Machia was about to respond, before a large series of crashing could be heard outside. Krux and Machia, Ronin, the now arriving Ninja, and the people of the city, all in their respective locations, looked out into the city. A large, looming threat was overshadowing the dimly lit city. It was almost nightfall, as it had taken a while to get there. Too long for Morro to waste time. There he sat atop his master. The one they called The Preeminent. Who now stood inside the city limit. rampaging through the evacuated roads. The Cursed Realm was back with a vengeance. Ready to curse all who were foolish enough to stay put.