"Lloyd!" Raya cried.

"Lloyd." Arin whispered. "The Green Ninja!" Out loud and in excitement, he added. "Yes! I knew you were all still out there!"

"Raya?" Lloyd carefully leaned forward to look at the now teenage Raya Smith. "Is that really you?" He asked.

"Yes! It's me!" She beamed up at him, as Wu tried to hide behind her.

"Was that you doing Spinjitzu I saw?" Lloyd asked. "Or your dad?"

Raya shook her head. "That was me! I finally got it nailed down!"

A Claw Hunter snuck up on Lloyd and shoved him into the train car, the Green Ninja stumbled but remained his composure. "Where's the Ninja that was with you?" He asked, turning to Raya. "The one doing Spinjitzu on the bridge."

"That was Arin." Sora points at him.

Arin beamed. "And even though I might pass out right now, cause you thought I was a real Ninja, I'm not even close."

The Imperium Claw Hunter charged at Lloyd, who started to fight him off.

"Lloyd, where's my mom?" Raya eagerly asked, watching as he fought the Hunter.

"A little busy here." The blonde told her.

"Why can't you just answer me?"

"Cause I'm busy here." Lloyd leaned backwards to avoid a hard swing of a sword.

"Lloyd, you promised!" Raya huffed.

"Raya, I'm trying to beat the crap out of this guy!" Lloyd turns to his side, kicking the Hunter to the floor of the train car.

"Lloyyyyd!" Raya complained, he turns to her.

"Hold out your cuffs."

She does so, Lloyd held up a hand with his powers flowing, he used his powers to break her handcuffs, then did the same to Wu.

"Look out!" Sora cried, seeing the Claw Hunter charging at Lloyd again, who turned and redirected the laser sword to destroy the other handcuffs.

"LLOYD!" Raya squealed, lunging into his arms making him stumble backwards. "You're ok, you're alive!" Tears slid down her cheeks.

"Yeah." Lloyd smiled, returning the tight hug.

Raya quickly pulled away. "Where's my mom?" Her brown eyes landed on the grate on the ceiling. "Mom!" She called, quickly moving and jumping on some crates and disappears.

Lloyd sighed heavily. He turns to Arin. "That is my mask, right?"

"I, I, I found it." Arin stuttered, holding it out for Lloyd. "When you disappeared, I was there when the Merge happened. You rescued me and I kept it."

"Whoa!" Lloyd cried after sniffing his mask and quickly recoils. "When did you last wash this?"

Young Wu walked up to Lloyd. "Dad?"

Lloyd looked down at him. "Dad? Me?" He asked. "I mean I am a dad, but."-

"My mom is Chantal Noble."

Lloyd's green eyes nearly bugged out. "What!?" He squeaked. He leaned down to study the young blonde. "You."-

Raya pokes her head through the ceiling grate. "Lloyd! We got evil company!" She disappears again.

Lloyd turns to the three still with him. "Come on, I'll give you a boost."

Arin smiled. "No need." He pulls out a grappling hook and glides up to the ceiling.

"Show off." Sora sighed.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Chantal stood in the Monastery kitchen, she had just mopped, a loud bang is heard.

"Mom!" Raya's desperate calls filled the Monastery, She runs passed the doorway to look inside. "Mom?" She blinks when she only finds Chantal.

"You find her?" Wu asked, coming up to his friend, who slouched.

"No. Just yours." In defeat she walks down the hallway and disappears around a corner.

Wu turns his attention back to his mother. "Mom!" He beamed. "I've got great news! Stay right there!"

Chantal frowns as she watches him disappear, a moment later Wu returns - pulling his father by the hand into the kitchen.

Chantal gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. "Lloyd." She whispered.

Lloyd nervously smiled. "Honey, I'm home."

That did it, Chantal faints.

"Mom!" Young Wu cried as he and Lloyd rush up to her. Lloyd gently gathers Chantal in his arms.

"Chantal?" He gentle tapped her cheek. "Sweetheart? Honey, wake up."

"Should I grab a cup of water?" Wu asks.

"What?" Lloyd looked up at him. "No!" He turns his attention back on Chantal. Arin and Sora walked up behind Lloyd.

"Baby, please wake up." Lloyd gently shook Chantal. Her eyes started to flutter open, she blinked a few times and her blurry eyes focused on Lloyd.

"Lloyd?" She whispered, causing him to smile.

"Hi baby." He smiled softly at her.

She choked on a sob and reached to touch his face. "You … you're alive?"

"I am."

She reached up, grabbing his neck and the two hugged tightly. "Lloyd." She sobbed.

"Mrs. G, are you ok?" Arin asked.

Chantal took a few deep breaths as Lloyd helped her stand and his arm wrapped around her waist, holding her close.

"Yes Arin." She smiled at him. "I think so."

"Wu, get your mother a cup of water." Lloyd told his son, who nodded and hurried up to the sink. Lloyd kept his arm around his wife as he lead her to the table, and Sora helped him set Chantal down.

"Lloyd." Chantal turns to him, grabbing fists full of his sleeve. "Where have you been? Where's Skylor? Where are the others?"

"After the Merge, Kai."-

"Dad!?" Raya cried, cutting Lloyd off when she raced into the kitchen. She paused as she looked around. "Lloyd." She turns to him.

"I told you I was sorry." Lloyd told her. "I don't know where he or - or where Skylor is."

"And you promised!" She yelled hotly.

"Raya, please." Chantal scolded. "Stop!"

"Honey, it's ok." Lloyd told her, taking her hand and squeezing it gently. "She is Kai's daughter."

Young Wu walked over to the table and set a glass of water in front of his mother, then slid down in a chair. "Dad. What happened to Kai?"

"Kai sent notes about the places he'd seen." Lloyd began. "I'm pretty sure I saw those mountains in here somewhere."

The baby dragon comes up to them, a scroll in his mouth.

"What did you find?" Sora asked, gently taking the scroll and opening it, then smoothing it out on the table.

"The Land Of The Three Mountains." Lloyd said as he peers at the scroll. "But it's far away, and the only airship I still have, is the new Destiny's Bounty."

XxXxXxXxXxXx

Everyone arrives walks into the Hanger Bay. "Whoa!" Arin gasped, looking around.

"Wow! The Bounty!" Raya smiles brightly.

"But it isn't finished." Lloyd said as they all walked up to the ship, his hand held Chantal's hand. "Raya, your aunt, Eleanor, Jay, Zane, or PIXAL aren't around to complete work on the engine."

Sora smirks. "I might know someone who does." She holds out a hand towards the Bounty, trying to use her powers, but again fails. "Ugh, really?" She looks at the baby dragon, who's looking up at her. "Back me up, buddy." She turns to Lloyd. "Do elemental powers come and go?"

"No. Well, sometimes. Elemental powers can be complicated. It can take a lot of work to achieve one's True Potential."

Sora sighs as she turns back to the Destiny's Bounty. "Ok, then. I'll get this thing going the old fashioned way."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXx

While they wait, Sora hums while working. Lloyd smiles as he walks up to Arin.

"Does she always hum while she works?"

Arin shook his head. "No, sometimes she sings. Loudly. Trust me, the humming is better."

"You've been friends for a long time."

"We met after the Merge." Arin explained. "I'm the kid you saved, and I was standing right there, when you brought Raya over. We got to the city. Raya was devastated when found her family's restaurant. That's when we met Sora, then Wu, then Mrs. G." He explained with a smile. "She let us stay with her and that's when the Crossroads started to build up with folks from all the newly merged lands. Sora came from Imperium."

"I've seen that place." Lloyd smiled. "Looks impressive."

Arin frowns. "She doesn't think so. She ran away, and won't tell us why. I only followed Raya cause she refused to stay put, she didn't want me tagging along, I think she thought that I'd only hold her back."

Lloyd laughed. "She is definitely Kai's daughter. She is the perfect blend of her parents."

Arin smiled sadly, looking down at his lap. "Well, she finally let me come with her. My parents disappeared in the Merge. Like a lot of people." He lifted his head to look at Lloyd. "Like I thought you Ninja did. But you didn't."

Lloyd shook his head. "Not all of us."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

That night. Chantal stood in the bedroom she use to share with Lloyd before the Merge. It looked the same as she remembered. Suddenly a pair of hands rested on her shoulders, making her jump and spin around.

Only to find Lloyd.

"Where have you been this whole time?" She couldn't help but whisper the question. "Where was my husband when I needed him?"

"I did try to find you." He told her, closing the door gently and leading her to the bed, where they sat down together. "I looked everywhere."

"So you stayed here this whole time?"

"Yes. I was trying to keep the world from destroying itself."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Flashback

"As you know, the day was a normal day. Uncle sent me to find as many scrolls as I could on something he called 'Coalescence'. I couldn't make sense of it."

Past Master Wu stood at a table inside the study in front of a window, looking through scrolls. "No. That can't be right. It's been centuries. Oh, I don't understand!"

Lloyd nervously walked up to his uncle with an arm full of scrolls. "I'll just leave these here." He said, setting down the scrolls next to the elder. "Cool? Ok, good talk." He took a few steps backwards. "Call me if you need anything else." He turns to leave the room.

"Lloyd!" Master Wu turns sharply around, gaining his nephew's attention. "I hope you do a better job then I have when you become master of this monastery." He walked up to a surprised and confused Lloyd. "Remember, family is key."

"Huh? You've been here for almost a thousand years. I could never."- He's interrupted by a violent quake, making them stumble around and grab a table to steady themselves.

"It's happening." Master Wu said, realization dawning on his face as he turns to look out the window to look outside. "I don't know how, but it's happening. I needed more time to prepare!"

Uncle and Nephew run outside into the courtyard with Raya in between them, finding the others staring up at the sky.

"What's going on here!?" Lloyd exclaimed.

A rift opens in the sky.

"What's happening!?" Raya cried.

Lloyd grabs her. "Get to the Bounty!" He pushes her to the ship. "Hurry!"

"Then, I saw the beginning of the Merge." Present Lloyd continued. "I guess that's when I first met Arin. It was the most chaotic thing I'd ever experienced. And then." He trails off.

"A white light erupts in the sky." Present Chantal guessed. "And an aftershock."

"I woke up alone in the Monastery. I went to the city to look for you. And I tried to find Raya, if she was hurt, Kai was going to take his anger out on someone. I looked for her in her favorite places, and at the sometime I looked for you. But I couldn't find either of you."

"Oh, honey."

"I learned whatever that chaos was, it resulted in the Merge. All 16 realms coming together, expanding our world greatly. But for those that got caught up in it. The Ninja, Arin's parents." Present Lloyd paused. "I still don't know what happened. I think the Merge was what my uncle was researching. But his scrolls were destroyed, and I couldn't make any sense of his work. Except that it was somehow tied to something called 'Source Dragons'. But I've never heard of any dragons having that kind of power. I couldn't figure out how I made it back here. Or how the Bounty did. For weeks, I thought I was the only survivor. I was wrong."

"Who came back?"

Past Lloyd climbs onto the Bounty, a figure suddenly drops down on him, Lloyd grabs him and flings the figure off him and conjures his powers as the figure falls on his back on the deck.

Past Kai grunts as he pushes himself up, his mask falling off his face.

"Kai!" Past Lloyd cried, running up to the fire Ninja and the two hug. "Sorry. I haven't seen anyone in weeks."

"So good to see you, buddy." Kai smiled.

"You too."

"After the Merge, Kai woke up on an island that didn't exist before. He worked his way through some strange kingdoms to get back home." Present Lloyd continued. "He didn't know where the others were, but we quickly learned we had bigger problems. MergeQuakes."

"That's what's been happening after the Merge." Present Chantal said with realization.

"Yeah, they're like aftershocks. Places where realms are unstable, trying to share the same area, like cracks in reality. And we learned that, for some reason, elemental powers can close them. But the MergeQuakes were getting more frequent and stronger. If they continue like this, it's only a matter of time before they rip the world apart. Kai and I realized we needed help to stop them. Master Wu's scrolls had been destroyed, but there had to be answers out there somewhere. Or someone who could help us. Kai was devastated when he went to look for Skylor, and he found the Noodle House in ruins. It took me two weeks to get Kai back into his A-game. So, he took the Bounty to search the combined realms for answers, and I stayed to keep everyone safe. And the MergeQuakes were getting worse."

Past Lloyd slides down a building to see Arin, Sora and Raya's fight against Rapton, then he sees a red tornado, followed by a blurred one. "Spinjitzu?" He gasped. "Raya."

End Of Flashback

"You were here this whole time." Chantal sobbed, and Lloyd pulled her into his arms, she sat sideways in his lap as she clung to him.

"I'm so sorry." He held her tightly, gently rocking her sideways. "It's been years now. Surely you've moved on by now."

Chantal quickly leaned away from him, looking him in the eye. "Lloyd Montgomery Garmadon, how and why would you think that!?" She demanded, her tears drying.

Lloyd blinked, surprised. "Well, I just thought." He trails off with a lazy shrug.

"Lloyd!"

"After all the hell I caused you?" He asked.

"Lloyd." Chantal said firmly, placing her hands on his shoulders. "I stayed because I wanted to. I stayed because I love you. Deeply. Together we created a caring, handsome young man that you wanted named after your favorite uncle."

Lloyd smirked, his arms pulling her close. "He's my only uncle."

Chantal leaned on his chest, kissing him. "If you think I want a boring husband replacing you. Then you, are fooling yourself."

"Then I'm a fool." He said before he kissed her and leaned back, pulling with him.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

The following morning, the Destiny's Bounty flew through the sky. Arin and Sora stood on the deck as they play catch with the baby dragon. While Lloyd stood at the helm, Raya stood next to him.

"It feels so good to be back on the Destiny's Bounty again." Raya smiled.

"Yeah." Lloyd nods, his smile fades as he took a glance at her. "Are you still sore at me?"

"The three peaks!" Raya cried, pretending to not hear him, as she points in the distance. "We're almost there!"

Suddenly Rapton's forces are in the distance.

"Oh no." Lloyd said, spotting the enemy.

"It's those dragon hunters." Sora said. "It's the Claws Of The Imperium!"

"They must've followed us!" Arin added, before and Sora dodge the blasts, but the Bounty is hit, and Lloyd struggles with the helm.

"I can't steady it!"

They scream as they speed towards a mountain, but suddenly the ship stops with a jerk. "Whoa!" Raya cried when they all stumble around to keep balance.

"We're dead, right?" Arin asks.

The baby dragon squeals happily, pronouncing around happily, and the team looks up to see a giant dragon carrying them.

"Whoa!" Raya gasped. "Uh, Lloyd?" She turns to him. "Is that dragon bigger then Firstborn?"

"I can't tell from this angle." He shook his head. "So, I think the little guy's family is found!"

The giant dragon carries the Bounty to a safe place, gently setting the ship down, and the team walk off, with the baby dragon happily prancing around them.

Sora looks at the Destiny's Bounty. "Hey, I just fixed that!" She complained, then turned to see the size of the dragon. "And I do not mind fixing it again." She said nervously as she took a step backwards. "Ah, it'll be good practice, actually."

"What have you done to Riyu?" The giant dragon demands. "Have you injured one of our own?"

"Riyu?" Arin asks, he turns to the baby next to him. "Is your name Riyu, buddy?"

"We didn't hurt him!" Raya insisted, stepping forward. "We rescued him the Claws Of the Imperium."

"You expect me to believe that while you assault our land?" Riyu squawks. "Riyu, you are a young dragon. You do not understand how the world works. These beings cannot be trusted."

"Can came to help, to warn you about the Claws Of The Imperium." Sora warned.

"But somehow they followed us." Arin added.

Lloyd walked up to stand next to Raya. "Let us prove we're allies."

XxXxXxXxXxXx

Arin does Spinjitzu, but crashes into a tree.

Raya does Spinjitzu, coming up to Lloyd's side. "That's embarrassing." She said. "Lloyd, you should do what my dad did to you when you first learned Spinjitzu."

"Huh?" Lloyd turns to her. "Shh! Not so loud. And how do you know?"

"Jay!" She said cheeky, and Lloyd groaned.

"He is the king of blabber after all."

Not that far away. Sora and Riyu free a dragon.

"You're free!" Sora told the dragon. "Get out of - ah!" She grabbed by Rapton.

"You're done ruining my plans, you … plan ruiner!"

Suddenly the Dragon Matriarch emerges behind them, sending them flying.

Lloyd does Airjitzu, and catches Sora, and comes down. Once on the ground, he sets her down.

"Thank you."

"Not a problem."

The team's attention is soon drawn to the Dragon Matriarch, bringing her down.

"We have to help her!" Arin said.

"We can't rush in without a plan!" Sora told him.

"No." Lloyd said. "But you two have given me one."

XxXxXxXxX

Rapton contacts Ras with a communicator. "Ras, we got the big one." He turns the communicator to show the Dragon Matriarch.

"No. Just be prepared to watch what happens next."

XxXxXxXxXxXxX

Lloyd moves in to defend the dragon, fighting off several Claws. The Green Ninja turns to look up at her. "Your Majesty. Riyu appears to have the ability to somehow connect and supercharge elemental powers."

"I know nothing of this."

"If you can power me up the way Riyu powers Sora, we might have a chance here." Lloyd turns to Rapton. "This is your last chance, Rapton!" Leave, or be destroyed!" Rapton just laughs. "Your mistake!"

The Dragon Matriarch places a claw on Lloyd's back, powering him up and he screams.

"Get him!" Rapton orders. "What are you waiting for? Attack!"

Lloyd's Spinjitzu turns to what looks like the Spinjitzu Burst, blowing the all the enemies away. After defeating the rest of the enemy, Lloyd's power returns to normal. And he breaths heavily, sweat coming off him from all that power. "Wow. That … was something. Guess mt theory was right." He said, while kneeling down.

"It appears there is a connection between us. I felt it as well. When the Merge occurred, I struggled to keep isolated. Hidden. But there are mysteries between us we clearly do not fully understand." The Dragon Matriarch told him.

"I agree." Lloyd pushed himself to stand, turning to her. "The world has changed. And it's time to build a new future." He pulled off his hood. "My son is growing up in this new future. Where there's more chaos and danger. I don't want him or my wife in any more danger. My wife already lost her uncle, I lost my own uncle. If we don't chance our ways, then everybody loses."

"You are a wise master."

"Us Ninja have protected Ninjago for years. We've been a symbol of hope for so many. But now, Raya's father, and her aunt, along with the other Ninja are missing. That hope has been lost. Now I see there is a reason to hope again, because I can't do it alone." He turns to Sora and Arin. "I need your help saving the world."

"Alright! Yes!" Arin cheers.

"Hmm. These dragon hunters will not remain unconscious for long." The Dragon Matriarch said, looking around at all the knock out Hunters. "Our herd will have to move locations so they cannot find us."

"And we better get back to Ninjago." Lloyd said. "I have to let my wife know that we'll be having company." He turns his attention to Raya. "Raya?"

"How can I go back to the Monastery?" She questioned. "To many memories of dad, and Aunty Nya, and, and Master Wu, and the others." She stalks up to Lloyd. "You promised!"

"I never broke it!" Lloyd defended.

"Yes, you did!" She grabs the front of his gi.

"Raya!" Lloyd grabs her arms. "Calm down!" He told her firmly. "Blaming me is not going to help." He then added more calmly. "Now, let's all go home, and you and I will calmly talk. Ok?"

Tears had started to stream down her cheeks. "I just want the way things use to be. I, I want to see dad and Jay arguing over that dumb video game, Cole pigging out over cake or following Eleanor around, and Aunty Nya chewing dad out cause he had one of his weird crazy ideas. What happened to normal?"

"Honey, this is the new normal now." Lloyd told her gently, gently squeezing her arms. "If I have learned anything over the years of being a Ninja. We cannot run from this. This is our destiny."

Raya sniffs, wiping her tears. "You're right." She nods. "Let, let's go home."

Arin turns to Riyu. "I guess this is it, buddy." He knelt down to the baby. "But at least your home now."

"We'll miss you so much." Sora added.

The two teens hug the baby dragon, before turning and walked up to Lloyd and Raya. Suddenly Arin is by in the back of the head by a nunchuck.

"Ow!" He cried, stumbling forward, he and the others turn back around.

"It appears Riyu is not ready to leave your little group." The Dragon Matriarch told them.

Lloyd looks up at her. "He would be safe with us, if you allow it."

"I think his decision is foolish. But, if there is to be a connection between our kinds, it has to begin somewhere. If he ever needs us, he will be able to find us." With the all the dragons take to the sky, leaving Riyu with the Ninja.

XxXxXxXxXxXx

I had fun with this! I don't know how I'll be doing Skylor, since there is no mention of her at all. And I'm not going to bring in Lily until part 2. That's when Cole and Jay are suppose to show