"So.. Thirsty.."

The desert was a harsh, and unforgiving environment. Lloyd never liked how the city was essentially trapped in between it, and wished the forests weren't so far away. It's one of the reasons he liked Jamanakai so much, even if they were always a large target. At least it didn't get massive heat-waves.

Khanjikhan was faring much better all things considered. Djinn were indestructible freaks of nature. Hearty, durable, and low-maintenance workers and fighters. Their one weakness was Tiger Widow Venom, something that would be incredibly uncommon in this desert. But even the mighty Khanjikhan would fall victim to the greatest pitfall out here: Boredom.

"Bah.. I never understood how your kind could live so close to a harsh environment like this. There's nothing out here but sand and ravine. It's no wonder my son never bothered to make a name for himself on land, because this land is tainted with sand." He dragged his sword through it. While he took himself seriously for the most part, he still wished to enjoy his infinite wishes, a power that still hadn't returned to him.

"Does your realm have deserts?" Lloyd asked.

"No.. Back when Djinn ventured out of Djinjago regularly, they would always tell tales of the lush jungles and expansive snowy regions. But the one story we would all dread hearing was that of your deserts."

Lloyd shrugged. His fathers robe was fortunately fairly light, compared to his bulky Deepstone Chestplate. Regardless, the two wandered through the desert, making their way to another ravine. One of the last major ones before they reached the outskirts of Ninjago.

There was an odd sight in the distance though. Several red and orange figures were amassing in the near distance, towards the end of the ravine. A crimson, tall figure stood in front of them. Lloyd squinted his eyes, swearing they looked snakelike.

"Hey Khanjikhan.. You see those right?"

"The strange warriors in front of us? Yes. What do you wish to do about it?"

"Maybe they are from the city! We should ask them for help.. And water.. Let there be water.." Lloyd started jogging in their direction. Khanjikhan followed, not trusting the obvious threat the snake-like figures posed.

Lloyd stopped in front of the horde, as they all looked to see them. Not a single snake in the entire group knew who either of the two were. Let alone what Khanjikhan was supposed to be. Machia however knew what Khanjikhan was, and the power he could hold. She approached the two.

"Halt! What's your business out here in the middle of nowhere?"

Lloyd wasn't sure what to say. In fact, he wasn't even sure if the people in front of him were snakes, ghosts, or humans. His dehydration was rapidly taking control of his mind. He looked to Khanjikhan, who only nodded, and turned back to Machia.

"We are from the outer villages. We wanted to see what was going on with the city."

"Don't fool me Djinn. We know what you are. And I already have three wishes!"

Khanjikhan smiled. "I'm afraid my status dictates that I am no longer required to answer to your wishes, friend. But I'd be happy to grant you as many as you'd like. If you let us through that is."

Machia frowned. She would have wished for everything Krux had described to her to come true without issue, as it would have made things easier. No matter. She thought. I can deal with them.

"Fine then.. Have it your way!" She and the rest of the Vermillion drew their various weapons. Lloyds eyes opened, as he realized he was seeing no mirage.

"W- why do you wanna fight us?!"

"We seek Garmadon.. But we find only two desert wanderers."

"Dad?-" Lloyd said. He covered his mouth, but the damage had been done. This would complicate things. Machia smiled. Both the son of the man she was hunting, and a Djinn king stood before her. And she was about to destroy them both.

As Lloyd drew The Sword Of Sanctuary, and Khanjikhan drew The Djinn Blade, the fight commenced. Several Vermillion swarmed around them, trying to jab at their sides. Khanjikhan and Lloyd got back-to-back, fending off the hordes of Vermillion that attacked. However, no matter what they did, the Vermillion seemed to reform upon impact with their blades.

Lloyd backed off for a second, before peering into The Sword Of Sanctuaries bladed edges. He was surprised to see a future within it. Looking in, he knew what he had to do, yelling orders to Khanjikhan. "Khanjikhan! Your blade can trap the individual snakes! Get as many as you can!"

Khanjikhan realized Lloyd was right, and started cutting down Vermillion. The individual snakes entered his blade, preventing them from fully reforming, as the rest swarmed away in fear. Lloyd uses his energy blasts to dismantle as many as possible, for Khanjikhan to destroy.

Eventually, after an exhausting battle, Machia was the only Vermillion left. She lay defeated, as Khanjikhans blade glowed red and orange, with the energies of the Vermillion inside of the blade. His energy returned.

"So.. what will it be? Will you kill me? That blade of yours houses such power.. But it wouldn't take long for me to gather the Vermillion inside, and escape the crystal.."

"You fought well. But we will not kill you."

Lloyd looked at Khanjikhan in confusion, as Khanjikhans body glowed a bright orange. "I wish.. That every molecule of your being(s) pledge yourself to the side of justice and purity. And tell us all that you know about what went on here."

As the wish left Khanjikhans mouth, he again fell down. The newfound energy he possessed disappeared, and he once again felt pained and exhausted. But as he looked up, he saw Machia clutch her head.

"What.. What did you do to me? My snakes.. I feel different. I'm not connected to the hive mind anymore."

"Hive mind?" Lloyd asked.

While it took some massive amounts of explaining, Machia began to detail everything she knew. The Vermillion, Krux, Acronix, The Time Blades, however most importantly, the fact that Raggmunk and Blunk were in possession of Lloyds mother. Or were for a time, as she distinctly remembers feeling their presence leave the immediate area, knowing they no longer had her. It could be possible she managed to survive The Preeminent's seizing of the city, however how many people even remained in the city was anyone's guess at this point.

"If that's true.. We need to get into the city right now. Will you help us?"

Machia nodded. "I have to, after that wish." She got up, and helped Khanjikhan back up as well. The gang of three looked at the massive ruins of Ninjago before them, and knew that whatever awaited them inside the city may prove to be too much for them to handle.

(In Ninjago . . . )

Morro ran. Further and faster he did, as he knew The Preeminent and its forces would soon figure out that his disappearance signaled the end of his reign as their co-ruler. Disgusted by what he had done, he held back tears as he ran through the destroyed streets, before coming across an odd sight in front of him.

In the near distance, he saw not only Lloyd, the one he had banished to the strange orange realm, but an equally orange, floating thing, and a red haired and red skinned snake. Morro had no idea if they were allies or enemies of his. But if he knew one thing, it's that he was nowhere near ready to break the news about Misako to Lloyd, let alone defend himself if all 3 of them chose to attack him. The one thing he had was The Realm Crystal, but he knew it'd be a matter of time before The Preeminent found him, wherever he hid. But it was too late to hide, as the group of individuals stood in front of Morro.

"YOU! What did you do to the city!? Where did everyone go!?" Lloyd screamed.

"Lloyd!.. How did you get back without The Crystal-?"

"Wouldn't you like to know. Where are your ghost minions?"

Morro looked around. He felt more alone than ever. Even when he was first banished to The Cursed Realm. All of the allies he spent decades gathering were now loyal to his biggest enemy, The Preeminent. Even Bansha had chosen her side, despite allowing Morro an escape.

"You gonna speak? Or are we gonna have to break you first?" Lloyd readied his sword. Khanjikhan looked confused.

"This is the one you call "Morro?" He looks afraid."

"No.. I saw what he and The Preeminent did." Machia said. "He isn't one to be messed with. I wonder why he hasn't attacked us.."

Morro took a deep breath. He knew what he was about to say would be hard, and that it would likely result in nothing but his demise. "Lloyd.. And- other people.. It wasn't that long ago that I was fighting on the opposite side. I was so mad at Master Wu that I couldn't see the truth. That The Preeminent was using my hatred of him to manipulate me into freeing her. And because of my mistakes, the city is destroyed. Lloyd.. If your mother hadn't gotten me to realize that, I would have still been under The Preeminent's grasp."

"Mom-!? Where is she? And what does she have to do with any of this?"

Lie. Morro thought. Lie for the sake of all of Ninjago.

"She got.. Cursed.. And sent to The Cursed Realm. We can't get her, because she and your father are being guarded."

Lloyd glared into Morros eyes. "There isn't a we! I'll never trust you!"

Morro looked down at the ground. "I know you have no reason to forgive, or believe me.. But I want to make things right. If we don't organize and unite, The Preeminent may find a way to the citizens of Ninjago before any of us alone can stop it!"

"What do you mean? Where did the citizens go?"

"They evacuated them on large boats.. The only island out there I know about is The Dark Island.. But Master Wu told me that it was completely lost after his father split Ninjago apart. Could they have gone there?"

Lloyd wasn't sure if Morro was trying to bait him into revealing where they might have gone, or if he genuinely wasn't aware of the fact that Lloyd and the rest of The Ninja had spent a great deal of time on said dark island. Either way, he didn't know if they had actually evacuated to such a horrible place.

"I don't know. And even if I did, I wouldn't tell you!"

"Please! I just want to help!"

"Give us a chance to discuss." Lloyd brought Machia and Khanjikhan into a huddle. Though neither one of them really had much input.

"I'm sorry my boy.. I am no Cloud Kingdom Writer. But if I know one thing about predictions, it's that they seem to come true within the confines of that blade of yours."

"The Sword Of Sanctuary?"

"Hold it to Morro. If in the reflection you see his true nature, you'll know what to do."

Lloyd walked over to Morro, who had been waiting in the same spot while they discussed. Holding the blade to Morro, he saw in the blade that Morro wouldn't attack them. There was no lies in what Morro said. Lloyd didn't want to believe it, but the proof was right in front of it.

"Fine. You can help us. But on two conditions. One, you help me get my mother and father. Two, when this is all over, you answer for your crimes."

Morro nodded. It's what he wanted too after all. Though he knew it'd be difficult to explain Misako not being in The Cursed Realm.

"Then together, we will resist the tyranny of The Preeminent!"

Each of them held the blade of their respective weapons in the air. As unlikely as their group was, they had the power of artifact and skill alike. A resistance would be born, as hope would return to Lloyds spirit. The Preeminent would have a hard time getting rid of them, as long as they stood united.

Far away, off in the endless sea, dozens and dozens of boats followed the recognizable figure of The Destiny's Bounty. The Ninja, Wu, Ronin, and Dr, Tonya had jumped boats, and were now leading the boats to The Island Of Darkness. With miles of ocean between them and The Preeminent, they'd be safe, for a time. Wu had calmed down a bit, but was still saddened over Misakos death. Jay and Cole had since moved over to Nyas bed, while Kai and Zane stayed above with Ronin.

"So Ronin. Guy like you ever been to The Dark Island?" Kai asked.

"A couple times. Where do you think I got the hat?"

Zane knew it was most likely a fake, judging by how uncommon Stone Warrior memorabilia was, but he didn't want to annoy Ronin by telling him so, so he stayed quiet.

"Why aren't you down below with your sister?"

"Meh. Jay and Cole probably have everything covered. Actually, do you have a family at all?"

Ronin didn't want to respond to that. Maybe it was the guilt of running away from Misako, or the stress of his career, but he couldn't manage the words out. So he nodded instead.

Kai shrugged. He didn't really understand why Ronin was so upset. But when he looked out into the horizon, he saw the shoreline of The Dark Island, before standing up, and running to the front of the ship. While it may take years to settle the mass of land, The Dark Island would have to settle as their home.

Little did they know, but on another, more grand and larger ship, a singular passenger was unaccounted for. The Emperor and Empress of Ninjago were forced to watch their city be taken from their hands, they found the greatest loss of the day was that of their adoptive child. The question had to be asked.

Where was Harumi?

(To be continued.)

(Sorry if this part was a little more out-there than the others. Next chapter will be more of an intermission to show what happened to certain characters during The Preeminent's invasion, the part after that will continue the main story after a small you for taking the time to read this.)