After winning the Ninjaball Run race to save Dareth's Mojo Dojo, the Ninja regained the Destiny's Bounty from Garmadon and with less than a week, restored to its original state and the Ninja used it again as their headquarters.
In Jamadakai Village, a ball was kicked around by a young boy and his friends as they played a game ball together. Hovering above them on the main deck of a familiar flying ship, Lloyd was looking down at them playing, enviously watching them fun that he could be having.
"Lloyd? Lloyd!" Kai called out that and snapped Lloyd out of it. "Concentrate!"
"Now that the Bounty is in our possession again, we can train you more effectively. But you'll have to focus," Kai told him. "One more time."
"Ah, but we've been training all day," Lloyd complained.
"I know bro. But it's all to get you ready to face father." Lydie told him. "Now, in position." She instructed.
Lloyd let out a sigh as the Ninja put up their hoods and he stood in front of them. Lloyd let out a yawn as the Ninja took a battle stance.
"Whatever," Lloyd sighed as he gestured for them to come at him.
Kai charged at Lloyd first, trying to catch him with a diving kick but the boy punches him in the chest, knocking him back. The Ninja were surprised as Lloyd yawned again, like it was nothing. Both Zane and Jay leaped into the air as they were attempting to attack Lloyd.
"NINJA, GO!" Lloyd shouted as he did Spinjitzu before jumping in the air and knocking the two down.
When Cole charged at him while he was in the air, Lloyd did a kick to her and knocked him down. Lydie then charged at Lloyd from behind, catching him off guard as he was flung in the air before crashing onto the deck. The Ninja stood up and took off their hoods as Lloyd looked up at them.
"That was fun! Are we done?" Lloyd asked.
"Oh, come on. You're better than this," Jay pointed out. "What's on your mind?"
Lloyd gets up and explains. "Well...The latest issue of Starfarer just came in at Doomsday Comix and it's a limited run, so if I don't go out and get it, it's going to sell out," he told them as He paced across the deck. "Last they left off, intergalactic rogue Fritz Donnegan was surrounded by the Imperial Sludge, and if I don't find out if he gets out alright, I think I might have my own doomsday!"
"The fate of Ninjago rest on your and your sister's shoulders," Kai reminded Lloyd. "As the Green Ninja of Yang, you have a giant responsibility along with your sister to hold. I'm sorry, but you don't have time for such childish things."
"Other kids get to play and have fun," Lloyd pointed out as he looked back down at the foals playing. "All I ever do is train. And the only friend I have is too busy being a princess in a palace to even hang out with me."
Lydie felt sorry for her brother, it was bad enough he and herself was destined to fight their father but also the fact that Lloyd could not enjoy his childhood.
Just then Nya rushed up on deck. "Guys! There's been a break-in at the Ninjago City Museum of History, and witnesses outside saw you-know-who going in!" Nya alerted the Ninja, who pretty much knew who was behind this.
"Father." Lydie said seriously.
"We have to stop him before he uses the Mega Weapon to start another one of his diabolical plots!" Lydie exclaimed.
Lloyd walked over to them and was about to ask something before they gave him a look that told him he knew the answer already.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah!" Lloyd complained, holding up a hand. "I can't go, and it's safer if I stay here and train."
"Mm-hm!" All five Ninja agreed before the Bounty made its way outside of Ninjago City and the Ninja were in the Ultra Sonic Raider, ready to head out.
"We'll meet up at the Bounty as soon as we're done," Kai told his sister.
"We'll be waiting for your save return," Nya remarked before they drove off to the museum.
Lloyd sighed. "Too old for comic books and too young to fight," he complained. "When are they gonna make up their minds?"
"Come on, pint-size," Nya spoke up with a grin. "Show us what you got."
Lloyd let out a yawn as he knew he was not going to enjoy more training.
Night falls on Ninjago City as the Ninja were sneaking their way into the museum where Garmadon is. They used a rope to sneak in and hid on the higher levels. "Sshh." Lydie quietly said to her team.
They stood on the upper level as they watched the Serpentine slithering around, looking at painting and artifacts related to them
Skales was holding a flashlight and looking around until he shined the flashlight on a Serpentine painting that looked nothing like any of the tribes. "Boy, did they get that wrong," He said as they continued to look around.
"Why would we come to a mussseum if we weren't going to steal anything from it?" Acidius questioned as Skales's eyes landed on a golden sarcophagus.
"Becaussse, Massster Garmadon hasss another plan to dessstroy the Ninja." Fangtom reminded him.
"'Massster' Garmadon? Huh!" Skales scoffed. "He's no master of mine! Sssince hisss so-called Mega Weapon hasss failed every time, I don't sssee why we don't call our own ssshots."
"Because this time, I will not fail!" Garmadon shouted, causing Skales to jump and drop his flashlight and staff, as the light shined on Garmadon and a large skeleton behind him.
"Yes, Lord Garmadon," the Serpentine Generals, minus Skales, said as they bowed to him.
"Yesss, Lord Garmadon." Skales said in an unhappy tone as he bowed as well.
The Generals slithered towards Garmadon as the dark lord turned to the Skeleton, "Behold, Dromaeosaurid Theropod Grundalicus. Otherwise known as the Grundal." He explained as he continued. "Although now extinct, in its time, it was the most feared and dangerous creature in all of Ninjago, with claws that could slice through steel, heightened senses that could detect its prey from miles away. It could track the stealthiest of Ninja, and once it had picked up your scent, there was no hiding from it." He said as the Serpentine listened in awe.
"Huh? The Grundal?" Lydie asked in confusion as she turned to the others, "Does any of that ring a bell with you boys?" She whispered.
"I heard about them." Jay said in slight fear. "Boy, am I glad we live in an age when we don't have to deal with those." He said with a slight chuckle.
Lydie then widened her eyes as she realized her father's plan. "Uh, I'm not sure about that, Jay." She said nervously as they all looked back to Garmadon and the Serpentine.
"Thanksss for the history lesson, but what are we going to do with a pile of bonesss?" Skales questioned boredly, slithering up to Garmadon.
"I am going to make it so the great beast shall walk again!" Garmadon told him.
Skales looked unconvinced however. "Yeah right. Well show us then!" he challenged as Garmadon turned to the skeleton.
"Rise, Grundal, and feel the strength of the Mega Weapon," Garmadon declared as he raised the Weapon up. "I wish to create the power to make you young." Both his and the Weapon's power merged as a purple smog coiled around the skeleton, causing it to rattle and jerk about. "Turn back the clock so that you are no longer extinct… but hungry… Hungry for the Ninja!"
"Yeah, saw that coming." Lydie commented with a brow.
Jay turned to her in worry, "Oh no, he's bringing it back?!" He said in worry.
"Not if we have anything to say in the matter!" Zane declared as they all nodded, pulled out their weapons and revealed themselves.
Garmadon turned as he saw them. "The Ninja! Stop them!" He ordered as the Serpentine threw their spears at the Ninja as they ran along the side
"Rise, Grundal! Rise!" Garmadon shouted as the Ninja were coming close and the skeleton shook even harder.
"We can't let him finish!" Lydie shouted as they ran above the skeleton.
"Go!" Cole told them as they leapt onto the skeleton.
"Stop them!" Garmadon ordered as the Serpentine ran next to the skeleton and thrusted their spears right at the Ninja.
"This is not a solid plan, Cole!" Zane warned.
The Ninja were so occupied with stopping Garmadon, they failed to notice the Weapon's magic was absorbing into them as well. Zane, Jay, Kai and Cole were knocked off the skeleton leaving only Lydie to stop Garmadon.
"It feels pretty alone up here!" Lydie shouted as they tried to stay on.
Lydie then jumped and throwed her staff at the right moment right towards the Mega Weapon before she fell on top of the others. The staff managed to get a direct hit on the Mega Weapon, knocking it out of Garmadon's grasp, stopping the Grundal from being revived.
Garmadon trembled with rage. "Not again. NOT AGAIN!" he yelled in anger.
"And you said it wouldn't fail," Skales mocked.
"Retreat!" Garmadon ordered as the Serpentine made their way out and he quickly picked up his Mega Weapon.
The Ninja stood back up as Lydie grabbed her staff. "Ha-ha! We stop them! It didn't work!" Jay boasted as Garmadon grabbed his Mega Weapon.
"Curse you, Ninja!" Garmadon cursed as he ran to the exit.
"Ha, ha. Well, I thought we handled that well," Jay bragged before he saw Skales and the other Serpentine Generals pick up one of the artifacts. "Hey, hey! They're trying to steal the golden sarcophagus!"
The four realized they were spotted and slithered as fast their tails could go. The Ninja chased after them as they burst out of the doors and saw them slithering down the streets.
"After them!" Lydie shouted.
Surprisingly, the four Serpentine Generals were faster than them as they slithered down a street and saw a manhole when they turn a corner.
"That'sss our way out of here!" Skales told them.
Skalidor opened the cover and they tried to push the sarcophagus in but were unsuccessful, "It won't fit!" he told the other three.
"Forget it!" Skales told him, "Let'sss get out of here!" He said as he move the sarcophagus out of the way. "There'sss no way I'm going back to prissson!"
As the Ninja ran after them, they did not notice that their legs were becoming shorter. Skales then closed the manhole cover and disappeared into the sewers. The Ninja then peeked around the corner, only to find the Generals were gone and the sarcophagus was left behind.
"Ah. I can't believe we couldn't catch up to them," Jay complained, but his voice sounded different. Almost… higher. "I'm usually faster than that. It's as if my legs were half the size."
"I don't remember that thing being so big," Kai said, also sounding different. "Did it grow?"
"Or did we shrink?" Zane asked as he sounded different as well.
"What's wrong with your voices? Wait, what's wrong with my voice" Lydie asked before she looked to the window and her eyes widened. "Uh, guys?" She said as she pointed to the window.
They looked to the window, noticing in the reflection that they were now half their original size.
Jay gasped as he flipped up his hood. "WE SHRUUUUNNNKKK!" he screamed as they looked down at their bodies too.
"No, we're... we're kids!" Lydie corrected as they took off their hoods before all five of them screamed in shock and fear at what they are now.
"Oh, oh, oh, this is bad! This is so bad on so many levels!" Jay yelled in panic.
"Oh, it's impossible!" Cole tried to deny as he turned to Frost. "We must be dreaming, Zane! TELL ME WE'RE DREAMING!"
"Nindroids don't dream!" Zane pointed out. "Perhaps Garmadon succeeded in turning back the clock, but instead of reviving the Grundal, it only affected us!" He theorized.
"Yeah, but you're a Nindroid!" Kai pointed out. "And Nindroids don't turn into kids! Explain that one, genius!"
"I've extended my logic parameters, but nothing is coming up!" Zane explained as he looked at himself. "This does not compute!" Sparks fly as his eye twitched.
Lydie then walked over to them, "Okay, everyone stay calm, remember we're all in this together." She said before starting to panic herself. "But I can't be a kid again. I may love kids. But I hated being a kid! You can't drive! Bigger people always pick on you! Nobody listens to you!" She then gasped as she have a realization. "Oh no. You know what's even worse? EARLY BEDTIMES!" He called out as she waved her arms.
The others approach as Lydie calmed down after her panic state. "I told Nya we meet back at the Bounty." Jay told them. "I'm sure Sensei knows what to do."
"Well, at least things can't get any worse." Kai said before they heard sirens.
A police car in front of them and blinded them with their bright lights before two cups stood in front of them.
"Way to jinks us, Kai." Cole grumbled
"Well, well, what do we got here? Looks like we've caught our culprits to the museum heist. Who would have thought it was just a bunch of brats?" One of the officers joked as he noticed their outfits, "What have you got on, Apple Dumbling Gang? Pajamas?" he and his partner laughed.
"These aren't pajamas! We're Ninja!" Jay told the officers.
"Yeah, yeah, and I'm Santa Claus," the second officer joked as the two laughed again.
"NINJA-GO!" Kai said trying to do Spinjitzu, but instead of sucking the police in, he only succeeded in flipping, Jay, Cole and Zane on to the Police Car, "Oh no! Our Spinjitzu doesn't work right! We're too small!"
"Let me try!" Lydie said as she then tried to use her powers, but the minute she shoot at the police car, it just left a small scorch mark on it. "What?! My powers are young too! They're too weak!" She called out as she looked at her hands.
"Easy, kiddos," One of the officers said as he grabbed Cole and Kai. "You five are coming with us to the precinct."
"Look, officers, this has been a great misunderstanding," Lydie spoke up. "We were trying to catch the ones who really stole it."
"Hey, you can tell all the stories you want when we return to the museum tomorrow to explain why you stole this," the second officer interrupted him.
"B-But we didn't steal-" Kai tried to explained
"Zip it," the second officer cut him off as the Ninja were tossed into the chariot. "You have the right to remain silent."
The first officer then snorted, "Heh, kids." He said.
He and his partner then hooked up to the police car and galloped off as no one noticed a strange creature walking out from the alley ways, growling in hunger.
The next morning, Lloyd was reading a comic book while Wu and Nya t looked out into the city, waiting for the Ninja to come back. "Oh, they should be back by now," Nya said worryingly.
"Oh, I fear something horrible has happened to them," Wu hypothesized as he walked over to Lloyd who was still reading his comic book. "Lloyd, Burmesia?" Lloyd flinched as he and Burmesia turned around to face Wu while he switching his comic for a textbook, "You're both in charge of the Bounty while Nya, and I have a look around town." He instructed.
"Uh... Yeah, sure thing." Lloyd responded.
"You got it!" Burmesia said with a nod.
As soon as they left, she pulled out the comic book. "Alright, Lloyd, looks it's just you, me Fritz Donnegan and the Imperial Sludge." Burmesia said with an interest smile.
"Oh, you read my mind, Burmesia." Lloyd said with a smile. "What they don't know, won't hurt them." He added as they each read a comic book.
At the Museum the Ninja, minus Zane, were kneeling in front of the curator. "We're sorry for stealing," They apologized.
"But we didn't," Zane pointed out. "I don't understand."
"Shh. The quicker we get out of here, the faster we can figure out how to return our bodies back to normal," Lydie whispered to him.
"I'm sorry for stealing too," Zane quickly said as he kneeled as well.
Lydie then explained, "Some bullies had some embarrassing secrets about us and promised they wouldn't say anything if we stole from the Museum. That's why we did it." She lied.
"Thank you, children, for returning the sarcophagus, You did the right thing. But next time your in trouble like that, tell your parents and let them handle the situation. " The curator told them with a smile, seeing this was just a typical Children blackmail stunt. "And once returns, I'll be sure to let him know, but what about the bones?"
Jay then stood up in confusion. "Eh, what bones? We didn't steal any bones." He told him.
"The Grundal bones," The curator explained as he pointed to where the Grundal skeleton was.
"The Grundal bones?" Jay repeated as they turned to see all that was left were the metal beams that kept the skeleton up. "It's gone!" The Ninja then huddled together. "You don't think..."
"It just walked out of here?" Kai finished what Jay was going to ask.
"Theoretically, it is possible that if Garmadon successfully reversed the years on us, he reversed the years on the Grundal and brought it back to life," Zane theorized.
"Which also means it's looking for it's favorite food, us!" Lydiei added in worry as the boys gasped in realization.
They turned to the adults. "You guys have to believe us! The Grundal's been brought back to life and it's on the loose. Its sole existence is to hunt Ninja and as long as we're here, everyone's at risk!" Jay exclaimed, to which the three men laughed.
"I take it you don't think they believe us?" Lydie said dully, which she got her answer as she and the boys were thrown into a bench.
"Well, we'll keep a good look out for anything that goes bump in the night, okay?" One of the officers said. "Now, you five sit still until we call your parents to come pick you up," He instructed as he and his partner turned around.
Lydie turns to her friends, "If they call my dad and he sees us like this, he's gonna laugh his head off." She said in annoyance.
"Really? You're thinking about being a laughing stock to Garmadon when we have a prehistoric beast hunting us?!" Kai questioned in annoyance before thinking for a moment. "Actually that might be a whole lot worse."
"We gotta get out of here," Cole whispered to the others. "Like, now."
"But how?" Jay asked.
Lydie soon noticed a group of school-aged foals walking behind them, likely on a field trip. An idea struck him.
"I got it! Ditch the Gi's and follow my lead," Lydie told them as they quickly took off their uniforms.
They carefully snuck up behind the children before taking some of their extra clothing to blend in with them before they hid in the bathroom to change. Kai wore a red hoodie, Jay wore a baseball cap and a blue t-shirt with a butterfly, Lydie wore a purple frilly dress and white jacket, Zane wore a white shirt with a number 13 on it, and Cole wore a violet shirt a star pattern.
When the Officers turned around, they were surprised to see the Ninja were gone, "Hey, where'd they go?" The first officer asked.
The Ninja quickly changed in the bathrooms and rushed to join the class tour. "Oh, this is so humiliating." Jay complained.
"I'm afraid if we can't use our Spinjitzu, we'll be no match for the Grundal," Zane reminded them.
"And I can't use my powers when I'm this small." Lydie added since her powers aren't strong enough while she was this age, "We have to get back to the Bounty and get Uncle Wu's help," she told them as they were exiting the museum.
Once they were out, the five of them ran away and had to find a way back to the Destiny's Bounty.
However, their escape had not gone unnoticed. "Huh, hey where are you going?" the teacher, Noble, leading the students called out before he heard something above him. "What was that?" He and the students all looked up on the roof as they heard a growl. "Hello? Is anyone there?" They then saw the Grundal with blood red scales, cold dead white eyes, and green saliva coming out of its maw. "A monster!"
Everyone ran for their lives as the Grundal jumped down from the roof and started running.
Once they got away from the school group, they headed back to the Ultra Sonic Raider to head back to the Bounty… except there was one little problem.
"Aww man! We're too small to drive!" Kai said as none of them could reach the controls or gas pedals.
"Okay, Plan B: we take the bus!" Cole declared as they climbed out and rushed to the bus stop where a bus was taking in passengers, "Um, excuse me sir, but we need a lift." He asked.
"Sorry Kid, no rides without your parents to supervise." The driver said as he closed the door and drove off.
"I really hate being a kid." Lydie commented dully.
"Any other ideas?" Kai asked before Jay noticed a phone booth.
"I got one!" Jay said heading to the booth. "Come on!"
They went over to the phone booth and Jay got a boost up from Cole and Kai. Jay put in a quarter and took the phone after pushing a few buttons. "Collect call, please." Feeling his support to be a little imbalanced, he looked down at the two boys. "Hold me steady."
Back on the Destiny's Bounty, Lloyd and Burmesia were playing a game together as they tried to beat one another.
"I'm gonna beat you this time, Lloyd!" Burmesia challenged playfully.
"In your dreams, Burmesia!" Lloyd retorted before he heard the phone call
"Ssseriously? Now?" Burmesia asked in annoyance.
"Bad timing." Lloyd said as he tried to reach for the phone next to him while focusing on the game as he manage to pick it up, but it's now leaning on the edge, but at least they answered it. "Destiny's Bounty." He said through the phone.
"Lloyd, it's Thunder! Let me talk to Wu!" Jay shouted on the other end.
"Jay?" Lloyd asked as he heard his voice,. "Where are you guys? Why haven't you returned? Sensei Wu is out looking for you."
"And why doesss your voice sssound different?" Burmesia added.
"Ah! The voice is complicated! And apparently, you need parental permission to take the bus and we can't seem to get out of the city!" Jay complained, leaving them confused by what he just said.
"Uh, what?" Both Lloyd and Burmesia asked in confusion.
Jay groaned again "Oh, never mind, like I said, it's a bit complicated. Just meet us at Buddy's Pizza in ten minutes. And bring our spare weapons," he instructed them.
"Weapons?" Lloyd asked again as he tried to reach for the phone again, but he fell to the floor with a yelp while Burmesia flinched from that as she chuckled in amusement.
"Maybe work on your balance firssst, Lloyd." Burmesia commented. "Better go and get them their weaponsss, I'll ssstay here and keep an eye on the Bounty." She said.
"Got it." Lloyd said from the floor and gave a thumbs up.
Lloyd then walked into Buddy's Pizza, with the Ninja's extra weapons and looked around for his sister and her team, "Really, of all places to meet you pick this place?" A boy asked.
"What? I like their pizza." Another boy said innocently.
"Psst. Lloyd." A girl asked as Lloyd turned to her and four other boys around her age.
"Not now, girl. I'm boy on a mission." Lloyd said as he was about to walk off again before the girl grabbed him again and turned to her.
"It's me. Lydie. Your sister." Lydie said while Lloyd didn't believe her at first, but one quick look at her and the boys, he realizes that they're his friends.
Lloyd was so shocked that he dropped the weapons. "Whoa! What happened!? You're, uh, uh, SMALL!" He yelled out loud, pointing to the five of them.
The people pizza place heard Lloyd as they looked at them when he said that.
"Keep it down!" Lydie whispered to him. "We're trying to lay low."
"Look, this was your dad's handwork," Kai explained. "His Mega Weapon not only turned us into foals, but unleashed a creature whose sole purpose is to hunt down Ninja."
"Typical Garmadon," Cole rolled his eyes.
"And now, every time we try to tell a grownup what's happening, they won't believe us, 'cause we're kids!" Jay finished, slamming his fist on the table as Lloyd picked up the weapons and started laughing.
"Care to tell us what's so funny, little bro?" Lydie questioned with a brow.
"Well, I guess you now you know what it feels like to be treated differently." Lloyd said amusingly as he place their weapons on the table.
"Look, this is serious," Zane spoke up. "If we don't turn big so we can use our Spinjitzu, we don't stand a chance against the Grundal."
"But what about me?" Lloyd spoke up gesturing to himself. "I know Spinjitzu."
"Yeah, but we don't know the Grundal," Lydie pointed out. "And at this size, my powers are too weak to do anything. We all need to be at full strength. What we need to do first is find someone who might know more about how to defeat one of these things."
Lloyd noticed a boy on another table reading a comic book. Soon, an idea just popped into his head.
"Lloyd, focus!" Cole chided him.
Lloyd just chuckled and smiled. "Heh, I am," he said as turned to them with a confident look. "I think I know just the guy."
The group followed Lloyd to a building with a large neon sign that says 'Ninjago's Doomsday Comix' and they entered to find some kids reading comics.
"You brought us to a comic book store?!" Cole asked in disbelief.
Lloyd looked pretty determined though. "Trust me. If there's anyone who knows how to defeat a monster that doesn't exist, I know just the pony to talk to," He explained as they walked around the store.
"We're not going to pick up your stupid comic, Lloyd!" Lydie told him as they stopped. "This is serious business!"
Jay saw a comic book on one of the shelves and picked it up. "Oh, look. A first edition "Daffy Dale." I used to love that nut growing up," Jay laughed before he noticed his friends looking at him strangely. He soon cleared his throat. "So juvenile." He said professionally.
The other ninja looked at him in disbelief while Lloyd smirked at his sister, "Serious business huh?" He asked smugly.
"Jay is always a child even as a grown up. Don't push it." Lydie said in annoyance. "And just because we're around the same age as you, doesn't mean I'm still not the oldest." She added quickly.
"Yeah, yeah. But for now, you know how I feel when you guys hardly listens to me. And this is pretty fun for me." Lloyd said with a chuckle as he continued to lead on while Lydie groaned as she and the boys followed Lloyd.
"Everyone, meet Rufus McCallister…" Lloyd introduced the man behind the counter, a light-red bearded with his hair done in a ponytail and wearing a T-shirt that read on the front… "…aka, 'Mother Doomsday'."
The man smiled at the boy. "Well, if it isn't Lloyd 'Hemorrhoid' Garmadon," he greeted before he frowned sympathetically, "Sorry if you came looking for the latest Starfarer, I'm all sold out."
Lloyd looked horrified, "Wha-?! SOLD OUT?!" He asked as he began panicking before Lydie bonked him on the head, "OW! Hey!" He retorted, while rubbing his head.
Lydie gave him a hard look, "Not, why, we're, here." She said firmly as she gave her best disapproving big sister glare at Lloyd.
Lloyd flinched, knowing that even at this age, Lydie could still scold him as he calmed down and look at Rufus. "Actually, Mother Doomsday, we need help." He said.
"Well, color me intrigued,"Rufus smiled in interest.
"We have a problem." Lloyd started. "There's a Grundal on the loose, and we need to know how to deal with it." He explained.
"Ah, a theoretical question," Comic remarked, intrigued by the 'hypothetical' query.
"Uh, yeah, theoretical!" Lloyd confirmed, "Can you help?"
Rufus then walked towards to section of the store that held info about the Grundal. "Dromaeosaurid Theropod Grundalicus." He took a breath before continuing. "Although extinct, there has been a plethora of film, television and comics exploring the mythology around the primordial predator." He then grabbed a nearby comic, showing the Grundal. "Supposedly, they always get their prey," he explained.
"Sounds like he knows his stuff." Kai complimented with a small smile.
Lydie stepped forward, "Can it be stop?" She asked, getting to the important question.
"First thing you need to know is its thick shell-like hide is invincible to swords, scythes, nunchucks, bo staffs, and throwing stars." Rufus listed as the Ninja realized that those were their weapons that he said were useless against the Grundal. "So your cheap imitations will do nothing to slow him down."
"Swell," Cole said sarcastically.
"Second of all, it's nocturnal and will only hunt at night," Rufus told them.
Jay wiped his brow. "Oh, good, it's still daylight, so we can just relax for a bit." He said as Rufus looked at him in confusion before he realized what he said and cleared his throat. "I mean, uhh, theoretically."
"But what about having like, uh, superpowers?" Lydie asked. "Will it do anything to the Grundal?"
"Well like I said, it's shell-like hide is pretty tough, meaning super powers like eye lasers, energy blasts or power beams could work, but only if they were strong enough." Rufus explained.
Lydie facepalm herself, since her powers aren't at their strongest and she didn't have much against the Grundal either, "Great." She muttered before looking at Rufus again, "Then how do we beat this thing?" She asked.
"The only way to defeat one is with light," Rufus answered as he put the comic down. "Like a vampire, with enough of it, it could potentially destroy it." He then guided them to a cabinet. "If I had my weapons of choice, may I recommend the Illuma-Sword?" He opened the cabinet to show five toy swords, each in a different color.
"Aren't these toys?" Lydie asked again. "If a real sword work, how are these replicas suppose to be any better?" She pointed out.
"These are authentic replicas that would come in handy, were you to live long enough to actually face a Grundal." Rufus explained before turning to them again, "Well, if swords are your thing, maybe I can interest you in an authentic Ninja Gi, signed by the very Ninja that saved the city," he offered as he pointed to a glass cabinet with mannequins of the Ninja color Gi's.
The Ninja felt a wave of awkwardness as those were suits that they wanted to get rid of after they shrunk in the wash.
"Uh, thanks but we'll just take the toys," Kai said as he reached for the Illuma-Swords.
"Not so fast," Rufus said as he stopped him. "This Starfarer combo pack can only be won in the Galactic Ranger Trivia Battle Royale," he pointed to some boys and girls wearing costumes in a corner. "Do you have what it takes to be the best?"
"Well, we might not be able to, but I know who does," Cole said before turning to Lloyd.
Lloyd looked nervous before Jay slapped his back. "You can do it Lloyd!" He said.
"Nopony knows Starfarer better than you!" Lydie encouraged.
"Sign me up!" Lloyd declared as the others cheered.
Wu and Nya returned to the Bounty and find only Burmesia here. "Great, now Lloyd is missing," Nya complained. "Where'd he go?"
Burmesia twiddled her thumbs nervously, "Do you want the long or the ssshort version?" She asked.
"Short, please." Wu said with his arms behind his back.
"Well…" Burmesia slowly said before she spoke before the phone ring while giving a message as Burmesia answered it.
"Sensei! We're at Doomsday Comix. Dad's turned Lydie and the guysinto kids, and we're about to face a real life Grundal!" Lloyd said in the message. "If you get this message, this isn't a prank. Come quick!" He quickly said as the two look at Burmesia as she gave a sheepish shrug.
"So, yeah. That's it." Burmesia sheepishly said as Nya and Wu looked in shock by what happened to the others.
Wu hummed in concern. "Oh, dear, there is only one creature who can help turn the Ninja back to normal." he told them.
While Burmesia kept watch at the Bounty, Nya and Wu then came the same tea shop where Wu first got the Traveler's Tea, they walking in to see the old woman here. "Hello, Mystake, we need a special tea."
"They're all special, you old fool." Mystake told him.
"Well, the tea we're looking for is one that can make someone," Nya started before glancing at Wu and then clearing her throat, "older."
Mystake smiled. "Oh, you seek Tomorrow's Tea. I only have one in stock in back," she said before walking into the storage room. "Follow me." They followed her into the back room as she started to look on each shelf. "It should be here."
"It's gone?!" Nya asked with concerned.
"Just misplaced," Mystake assured her. "I know it's here somewhere."
"We need to find that tea before it's too late!" Wu told them as they searched the shelves for the tea.
Back at Doomsday Comix, it was turning to night as Lloyd was now facing off against a colt cosplaying as Fritz Donnegan for the last two questions, "It's down to the final two. This question is for Lloyd!" Rufus said, gesturing to Lloyd.
"Lloyd, Lloyd, Lloyd!" The crowd cheered.
"What is Frits Donnagen's famous catchphrase?" Rufus asked.
"'Fear'? 'Fear' is not a word from where I come from.'" Lloyd answered with confidence.
"Correct!" Rufus declared. "We're all tied up."
The crowd cheers as the cosplay boy looks at Lloyd unimpressed, while Lloyd smirks at him. As they keep celebrating, Zane looks out the window and saw the day was turning to night. "It's getting dark," he noted to the others. "The Grundal will be on the prowl soon."
Lydie looked confident. "Don't worry. I got faith Lloyd can win those Illuma-Swords," She assured before they heard slurping and turn to Jay, who was eating some cotton candy. "Really? Again with the cotton candy?" She asked in annoyance.
"It's makes me feel young. Deal with it." Jay said as he continued eating.
Then Rufus spoke, "Final question, The first person to answer this will win." He then turns to Lloyd and the Cosplay boy. "In the latest issue of Starfarer, how did Fritz Donnegan escape the Imperial Sludge?"
"Uh… it… uh… But I haven't read the latest issue!" Lloyd said before his opponents spoke up.
"By reversing the polarity of the ship's gravity transducer," he answered.
"We have a winner!" Rufus declared as the crowd cheered but the Ninja as they slouched in defeat.
"Okay, maybe we should've let Lloyd by that comic after all." Lydie said in defeat as she shook her head, knowing that this was one of those time where they should've let Lloyd have his fun instead of training.
And then suddenly, the lights went out. "Who shut off the power?" Rufus asked before they heard a rumbling sound as the front sign fell off.
"Oh, no, it's here," Kai said as they heard a muffled growl.
"What's here?" Rufus asked in worry.
"You know that theoretical discussion we had earlier?" Jay asked with a nervous laugh.
Rufus shook his head, "Not the…" he said before The Grundal steps on the glass, cracking it as looked down.
"GRUNDAL!" They all screamed as the Grundal ran across the roof.
"We've got to get out of here!" Zane shouted as he and the group made their way towards the exit.
Cole tried to open it, but the sign was blocking it. "The door's jammed. We can't get out!" He told the others.
"Look it coming!" Jay pointed up as the Grundal stomped towards them before the room broke under it's weight and it crashed into the store, "AHH! We're doomed!" He screamed.
"Doomed as Britt Sarsovski in Phoenix War, page 15!" Rufus shouted as everyone screamed and ducked when the Grundal swung it's tail and destroys the glass cabinet with the Ninja suits. The Grundal turn its attention to the frightened people when it heard them.
"This way! We can't let it eat the others!" Lydie told the other Ninja as they ran over to the suits and took them before grabbing the Illuma-Swords.
"Hey McNasty Face! I thought Ninja were on your menu!" Cole taunted as the Grundal turned to the Ninja as they waved the glowing swords at it. The light hurt its eyes as they pushed it back.
"It's working, keep it up!" Lyide called out as they kept waving their swords at it. Jay then leaped over and hit the Grundal, only to break his toy sword. Just as Kai and Zane did when they tried and the only ones who had their own intact are Lydie and Cole.
"Stupid toy!" Cole complained as they regroup with the others.
"Uh, we gota problem, guys." Jay said nervously.
The Grundal knocked all five against the front counter. It then opened its jaws, dripping with green saliva as the Ninja screamed.
"Not to worry, I'll take care of this!" Lloyd said as he jumped up from behind the counter.
"Lloyd!" the other Ninja shouted.
Lloyd powered up his hands in a bright light that hurt the Grundal. It was working very well before it swung its tail and knocked Lloyd down. It then opened its jaw again and was ready to devour its prey.
"Lloyd!" Lydie cried out to her brother as she then tried use her powers, but so far, it only made the Grundal more annoying as he just felt an ich. "Oh crud." She muttered before the Grundal drew closer to them.
"Oh, gross!" Cole shouted. "This is the end, isn't it?!"
Suddenly, the door burst opened as Nya and Wu came through, just in time. Nya turned to the young Ninja, "Guys?" She asked in surprise.
"Nya?" The Ninja said in surprise.
Nya then cooed at the sight of them, "Aww! You guys look so cute." She said with her hands together.
"Uh, Nya, now's not the time for cuteness!" Kai reminded his sister as he pointed to the Grundal.
"Oh, right." Nya said as she shook out of her trance before she turned to the crowd. "Everyone out! Now!" she ordered as the kids rushed out.
Burmesia then appeared and rushed over to them, "Ussse thisss!" she shouted handing Jay the Tomorrow's Tea.
"What is it?" Jay asked as the Grundal snapped at them.
"It'll turn forward the hands of time, turning you old, and reducing the Grundal back to dust and bones!" Wu told them as they jumped back from the Grundal. "But be careful. There's no turning back!"
"Grundal, prepare to be extinct!" Jay shouted as he was prepared to throw it at it before Lydie quickly stopped him.
"Wait!" Lydie said as she and Cole held up their Illuma-Swords and made the Grundal move back a bit. "What about Lloyd and Burmesia? They'll get older too!" She pointed out
"You're right! You both gotta move now!" Cole said as they turned to them.
"There'sss no time for that!" Burmesia told them.
"Just do it!" Lloyd added in agreement.
"You both will miss out on the rest of your childhood dudes!" Jay argued.
"And if you do grow older, Lloyd, then that means the day we'll have to fight our father will come sooner than we thought!" Lydie added.
"They're right!" Kai said, "We can't do that to you guys! It's not fair!"
The Grundal growled before knocking the swords away and knocking the Ninja back. The tea fell out of Thunder's grasp and landed on Lloyd.
"'Fair? Fair isn't a word from where I come'!" Lloyd declared, channeling his inner Fritz Donnegan before turning to Burmesia. "You ready, Burmesia?"
"Ready asss I'll ever be." Bumerisa said with a determined tone.
Lloyd nodded, then stood up and threw the tea at the Grundal, causing a vapor to burst out.
Wu and Nya gasped in shock. "He used it!" Wu exclaimed as they watched the Grundal spin around, its scales and flesh blowing right off, revealing its skeleton.
"And it's working!" Nya said before the skeleton exploded in a blast of light and fell to the ground. Then the Ninja emerged from the scattered bones, now finally aged back to normal.
"What happened?" Kai asked.
We're not kids anymore." Cole answered in shock.
"We're back to normal age and size!" Lydie cheered happily.
"It worked!" Nya cheered happily.
Rufus looked shocked to say the least. "They are the real Ninja," He breathed out.
Wu looked around in a worried expression. "But what about Lloyd and Burmesia?" He asked in concern.
Burmesia then stood up, only as an adult Anacondrai, "Well, thisss isss interesssting." She said as she looked at her older form
And then Lloyd stood up next, only he look more around his sister and friend's age as his hair is like his father's when he was young. "I'm… older." He said slowly as he looked himself over, speaking in a deeper voice after having skipped puberty.
Lydie gave Lloyd a sympathy look. "Oh, Lloyd. We're so sorry." She said solemnly as she gave her brother a supporting hug, since he and Burmesia sacrifice their childhoods to save them and destroy the Grundal.
"The time for the Ninjas of Yin and Yang to face their destiny has grown nearer." Wu said as Lloyd felt concerned about it at first before the other Ninja, his sister and Burmesia stood by him and gave confidence smiles.
"I'm ready," Lloyd said.
They all walked out of the store and headed back to the Bounty but not before Rufus stopped Lloyd for a moment. "Here you go, Lloyd," He said, feeling bad that Lloyd gave up his childhood for his friends, passing him a comic. "You can have my copy of Starfarer. You deserve it."
Lloyd just smiled and took it. "Well, I already know how it ends, but thanks Rufus." He said as he walked out of the comic store while Rufus watched on with a proud smile.
Then Lloyd's face turned to one of realization, "Uh guys?" He called to his friends, "You go on back without me, there's someone I need to visit." He explained while rubbing the back of his head.
The others were confused but Lydie smiled, already knowing who he was talking about, "Go ahead, we'll meet you back home, Little bro."
Lloyd smiled, "Thanks, but you do know I'm bigger now, right?" He reminded.
"Not up here." Lydie shot back with a smirk, tapping on his head. "You maybe taller and a bit older, but you will always be my little brother from the inside." She said.
"Okay, okay. Stop that." Lloyd said with a slight chuckle as he pushed his sister's finger away from his head. "Anyway, see you guys back at the Bounty." He said as he ran off to another direction.
A little bit later, Lloyd then saw the Palace of Secrets in the distance and saw Harumi's window open, meaning she was in her room. He took a breath, knowing the girl might not recognize him at first but as his friend, she needed to know what happened to him.
He then flipped over the roofs of the balconies until he landed on Harumi's, silently but was off balance for minute. "Whoa, okay gotta get use to the new body." He said to himself before jumping off the railing and onto the floor and walking into the room, "Rumi? Are you in here? It's me L-Whoa!" Lloyd halted himself as he passed over the curtains and immediately reeled back with a massive blush.
Standing in front of him was a teenage girl, around his own new age, with long snow white hair and above all…completely naked.
The teenage girl shrieked as she covered her chest and groin with a blanket and glared at Lloyd. "W-What are you doing here, you peeper!?" She questioned as she her face was completely red.
"I-I'm sorry, I-I was just-" Lloyd stammered before he noticed the girl's jade green eyes, and immediately recognized them, "W-Wait, Rumi?"
Harumi then grabbed what ever she could and started throwing them at Lloyd, "Get out! Get out! Get out!" She demanded while still holding onto her blanket.
"W-Wait! Rumi, stop!" Lloyd called out as he blocked the objects Harumi was throwing at him before he was knocked over and Harumi stood over him with a flower pot over her head in her free hand, ready to strike him, "Nononono, wait Harumi, it's me!" Lloyd said quickly waving his hands.
Harumi stopped as she then saw the Green Gi as she took a breath of surprise and stepped back, "L-Lloyd?" She gasped. "Is that you?"
"Yes. It's me, Rumi. It's Lloyd." Lloyd said as he stood up while making sure he look at Harumi's face and not at her almost nude body.
"W-What happened to you?" Harumi asked in surprise as she place the flower pot down.
Lloyd raised a brow, "Me? What happened to you?" He asked gesturing to her older form.
Harumi looked confused, "What are you talking about? I'm always like this." She said in confusion.
"Oh, so you've always been a teenager?" Lloyd asked rhetorically.
"A teenager? What are you..?" Harumi trailed off as she just now realized everything in her room looked smaller."Wait, now that I think about it, my room is a bit smaller than I remember." She noted.
Lloyd then point behind her, "Did you look at yourself in the mirror?" He asked.
Harumi turned to the mirror behind her and she gasped at what she saw. Her bare reflection as a teenager. So awestruck by her new form that she didn't even react as she walked towards the mirror that made her dropped her blanket, and left herself completely exposed.
She delicately placed her hands on her reflection, and then on herself, "Is, is that really me?" She asked breathlessly.
Lloyd looked at Harumi's bare backside when she dropped her blanket as he blushed at her bareness. "Uh, well, I, uh, you," He struggled to answer.
Harumi turned to him, "H-How do I look?" She asked with a hopeful smile.
"Like, like well, a pretty teenaged girl," Lloyd answered with a blush a smile, before frowning, "Except for those horns starting to poke out of your head."
Harumi gasped, "Huh, what?!" She asked and felt through her hair to feel anything.
Lloyd chuckled, "Gotcha." He said giving her a friendly bump and laughed.
Harumi looked at Lloyd for a moment before she gave a small smile. "Oh, you prankster." She said as she gave a chuckle before she gave a confuse look. "But, how did I grow into a teenager so quickly?" She asked in wonder.
"I guess the same reason I grew up quickly." Lloyd guessed with a shrug. "But you weren't with us when I use Tomorrow's Tea when it happened." He pointed out.
"Tomorrow's Tea?" Harumi asked in confusion. "What are you talking about, Lloyd?" She asked.
"Heh, you got time?" Lloyd asked as they sat down on Harumi's bed.
"Well, my parents are asleep, so yeah. I got time." Harumi answered, completely unaware that she is still bare.
"Great, but uh, one more thing, can you, um," Lloyd trailed off as he pointed to Harumi's body sheepishly.
Harumi raised a brow as she looked down and realize that she completely forgotten that she is still naked as she blinked and blushed as she covered her chest and groin, "Oh, right. Uh just uh, g-give me a sec." She said before walking to her closest but stopped for a second and glancing at Lloyd, "D-Do I, really look good?" She asked.
"Gotta be honest, you look amazing, Rumi." Lloyd said with a small smile and slight blush.
Harumi smiled and blushed harder in return. "T-Thanks, Lloyd." She said as she entered her closet and grab some clothes as she quickly put them on and walked out of the closet as she walked back to her bed and sat next to Lloyd as she gave a sheepish smile. "C-Can we not talk about that, please?" She said sheepishly as she rubbed her head.
"S-Sure, this will be our secret." Lloyd agreed as they looked away from each other, awkwardly.
"Though, I, I think I feel some relief that it was just you that saw me, naked." Harumi said slowly as a slight blush formed.
"Y-Yeah. If it was a complete stranger or the others, then it would be even more embarrassing." Lloyd commented as the two gave a slight chuckle.
It was silence for a moment before Harumi spoke, "So, what was it about this tomorrow's tea and how it made you older and me as well somehow?" She asked, wanting to change the topic on what Lloyd meant earlier.
Lloyd cleared his throat as he cleared his mind a bit as he turned to Harumi. "Well, it all started when my friends went to Ninjago's Museum to stop my father and his Mega Weapon plot…" He started as he explained to Harumi on what he been throw today.
After much explaining a few minutes later, Lloyd finished what happened and why he's older. "...And that's why I've have this sudden Growth Spurt." He finished.
Harumi was shocked by this as she looked at Lloyd stunned, "You, gave up your childhood to save your friends?" She asked.
Lloyd then shrugged, "Yeah, I guess I did." He said with a smile.
"Lloyd, that's, that's very brave of you." Harumi said with a proud smile. "But, how is it that I'm around the same teenage age as you? I wasn't there when you use Tomorrow's Tea." She pointed out in confusion.
Lloyd started thinking but just shrugged, "I have no idea. I might need to ask my uncle about this."
"And this might take some explaining for the Emperor and Empress." Harumi said as she gestured to her now teenage body. "Because this might be complicated to explain." She added.
"We might have to tell the others when we do, because they all need to hear this." Lloyd suggested.
Harumi nodded before turning to Lloyd in concern, "But Lloyd, you being older means you're gonna have to fight your father sooner than you thought and that means I'll be crowned Princess of Ninjago sooner too." She pointed out.
"I know. But whatever happens, Harumi, we'll face it together." Lloyd said with a small smile. "Even if we have to face our own destinies, we could at least prepare for it."
Harumi smiled at Lloyd before frowning in a bit shamefully, "Lloyd, I…there's something you should know." She said.
"Really?" Lloyd asked in surprise.
"Lloyd, when… when we first met after the Devourer attacked, I was starting to hate you and the other ninja for taking away my birth family." Harumi admitted as she looked away shamefully.
"Wait? Really?!" Lloyd asked in shock.
"Lloyd, you said it yourself. You've unleashed the Serpentines when you unlocked their tombs, they were able to unite and unleash the Great Devourer." Harumi explained softly. "When the Devourer destroyed my old home and killed my parents, the Ninja couldn't do anything while it was your father who stopped it. My hope for you and your friends was diminishing before you and Lydie found and helped me. Your kindness and devotion to others made me realize even with your powers, you can't save everyone." She said as tears began to form in her eyes.
Lloyd felt bad for Harumi as he didn't realize she felt this way, "Harumi, why didn't you me sooner?" He asked softly.
"How can I tell you guys this? You were the first friend I had after that day, if I did tell, I knew for sure you'd turn away from me." Harumi reasoned sadly. "To be honest, I felt like getting back at you for not saving my parents, but you had my back and acted like my best friend that I just couldn't, I couldn't lose another person I cared about. But now, that we're older, I'm just scared." She said worriedly.
"Scared? Of what?" Lloyd asked.
Harumi closed her eyes and clenched her hands against her pants, "Scared that when I become princess I-I might never see you again and when you do face your father with your sister that day, that you might, y-you might, might…" She trailed off as she started sobbing as she covered her eyes to block the tears.
Lloyd got what Harumi is trying to say as he was afraid when that day come as he move closer and gave Harumi a comforting hug, which she gladly accepted, bracing her hands on his chest.
"It won't come to that, Harumi." Lloyd assured softly. "I may have to face my father one day, but I won't fall because of that. But no matter where I am or where I go, just know that I'll always be with you." He said as he rubbed Harumi's back to give her some comfort.
"J-Just, when the time comes, try to come back. Please. I don't wanna lose my best friends." Harumi said softly.
"Can't make promises, but I'll try." Lloyd chuckled a bit as he kept hugging Harumi, knowing that she needed this as they sat like this for some time. He then broke away while holding her arms, "Well I better get back, I've got training to do tomorrow." He said as walked back to the window, "Goodnight Harumi."
Harumi then stood and moved towards Lloyd, "Lloyd?" She called as Lloyd turned to her and she smiled, "Thank you, and please call me Rumi." She requested.
Lloyd smiled back and nodded, "Alright, see you round, Rumi." He said he then leapt off the Balcony and back out into the city.
Harumi stood at the balcony and smiled as she watched Lloyd disappear into the night, "I'll always be cheering for you, Lloyd." She said softly, happy that she still had her best friend while also thinking of how explain her sudden growth spurt to her adoptive parents.
The picture soon became like an illustrated comic page, specifically the end page that would leave the story on a cliffhanger, revealing the now of-age Lloyd with his sister, each holding up an Illuma-Sword and wearing their Ninja Gis as they stood before Lord Garmadon, as Wu's voiceover came.
There comes a time when we all must grow up. When that time comes, it's important not to forget the lessons of our childhood because our childhood is the greatest training one can ever have. Yes, the time until the final battle has grown shorter, but the Ninja of Yin and Yang, has grown stronger.