The fluorescent sign for Chen's noodle shop flickers briefly, casting neon light into the well lit street of Ninjago City. It is late, on a weekday, with few passerbys. A sign in the window reads "Now open late!". Inside two staff are working, but the entire restaurant only has one couple eating noodles in the corner booth. The worker at the register has a name badge that reads "Chuck" and lets out a big yawn before looking at the clock on the wall and saying "finally, time to go home."
As Chuck gets ready to leave, there is a shadowy movement outside suggesting he is being watched. Chuck waves goodbye to his colleague then zips up his jacket and heads off turning the corner at the end of the street. He passes a shady looking kid who grins mischievously as they grow and shapeshift into the worker. The doppelganger enters the store and talks to the other worker.
"Back so soon?" She asks.
"Yeah, I just forgot something in the back."
After a minute "Chuck" comes back and says "Whooweee. Someone left a real mess in the bathroom. I can watch the front for a minute if you want to take care of it?"
"Gee thanks." The other worker says sarcastically before going to gather a mop.
Once the staff member is out of sight the doppelganger opens the till and starts shovelling cash into their bag.
"Gotcha" says Skylor while clutching her earpiece as she looks through binoculars from across the square. She turns invisible and footsteps can be seen heading towards the restaurant.
Once done with the till, the doppelganger slips out the front door and starts running. They turn down a side street and transform back into a kid before tripping and landing face first on the sidewalk.
"Whoops, I didn't see you there" says the nasally voice of Mr. Pale. "Or rather you didn't see me." His hat, glasses and clothes appear two steps behind the kid, one leg stuck out which caused the trip.
The kid stands back up and looks around the street checking if Mr. Pale is alone.
"What do you want?" They stammer.
"You can drop the act Chamille, we saw you transform." Says Mr. Pale
"We?" Asks the kid.
"Boo." Says Skylor as she appears directly behind the kid and places an arm on their shoulder. Some purple energy can be seen flowing into Skylor.
The kid whips out a kunai and slashes at Skylor who easily jumps out of the way.
"Get away from me!" Yells the kid who now stands weapon in hand between the two elemental masters.
Skylor looks at her hand as a small purple flame flashes for a split second. Her eyes briefly glow purple and she doubles over in pain.
"Skylor, are you ok?" Asks Mr. Pale.
Seeing an opportunity the kid pushes past Skylor and sprints down the alley.
Skylor starts to stand, eyes back to normal and says "that's not Chamille, go! We can't lose that Oni!"
"Right." Says Mr. Pale who goes invisible again and there is the sound of footsteps running off.
While Skylor leans against the wall, recovering from the dark magic she touches her earpiece and says "call Griffin."
There is a split screen showing the master of speed reclining on a couch watching a movie. He answers after the first ring. "You know it's meant to be my night off." He says.
"I know, but we could use a little backup. We found the shapeshifter, but it is not Chamille."
"What? But that means.." Griffin starts zipping around his apartment getting changed, and then racing out the door.
"Yup, I could use a boost, I'm still by the noodle shop. Mr. Pale is in pursuit. The target is currently in the form of a child wearing a grey hoodie and carrying a black backpack, they also have a kunai tucked in their belt."
Griffin Turner appears next to Skylor in a streak of speed. He clutches Skylors hand as a bit of white energy transfers. "Understood." He says giving her a wink before dashing after Mr. Pale.
Skylor shakes out her arm one last time before using her newly borrowed speed to catch up.
The kid is still running from Mr. Pale. They weave through some traffic, scale a small fence and are running down another alley when a white blur goes past and they trip over landing head first on the pavement once more. They cry out in surprise before saying "really, that again? Is that your only move?" They clutch around their belt.
"Looking for this?" Says Griffin holding up their kunai.
The kid stands up giving a disgruntled growl. They start to run away from Griffen when Skylor appears in a white blur blocking their path.
"Fine, just take it!" says the kid throwing the back pack on the ground before shrinking down to the form of a rat.
"Catch that rat!" says Skylor as she and Griffen dart around blocking the rat's path.
The rat starts to levitate, legs running on air when Mr. Pale appears holding onto its tail. He is panting from running all the way there without any super speed.
"Nice of you to join us." says Griffen.
"Nice of you to wait for me." pants Mr. Pale.
Skylor walks over to them to inspect the rat.
The rat then grows into a black skinned oni child who yells loudly and emits a dark purple energy shockwave knocking the three to the ground.
"Just leave me alone!" it screams before running onto the street.
Skylor props herself up onto one hand dizzily looking in the direction of the running child then uses her other hand to shoot a bit of ice trapping their feet.
"You think this will stop me!?" says the oni who starts bashing at the ice with bare hands.
Four police cars pull up into the street and a police helicopter shines a spotlight on the oni.
"About time." says Skylor as she helps the others to their feet. "No, but they might!" She yells to the kid.
Back at the station the police chief and Skylor are in an interrogation room with the kid who once again appears human. Now that her hood is down, a blonde ponytail can be seen.
The police chief clears his throat. "What's your name?" He asks.
The kid says nothing and doesn't even make eye contact.
"How long have you been in Ninjago city?" Asks Skylor sternly.
Still nothing from the kid.
"How old are you?" Asks the commissioner gently.
"How many other Oni are there in the city?" Demands Skylor.
"Do you have a parent we can contact?" Asks the chief.
"What are you planning!" Says Skylor while leaning over and slamming her hands on the table.
This at least gets the kid to look at her.
The commissioner puts a hand on Skylor's shoulder. "Skylor, we're grateful that you have been helping us out these past few months, but why don't you leave the questions to me? It's just a kid."
"That kid is an Oni!" She says.
"Isn't Lloyd part Oni? They can't be all bad."
The kid sighs. "Can I go now?" She says.
"What?" Says Skylor, "you've committed some pretty serious crimes."
"You would put a kid in kryptarium?" Asks the kid while looking at the commissioner.
"Um, no, you would need to be at least 14." He says.
"I'm 13, so can I go now?" Asks the kid.
"You're an Oni!" Says Skylor, "you could be shapeshifting to look younger."
"I wasn't asking you." Says the kid.
The chief clears his throat again. "Hmm, if you are 13 we would only release you into the custody of a parent or guardian. Is there anyone we can contact?"
"My mother was killed when the sons of Garmadon were in control of the city. I never knew my father, so I live on my own."
"You need to be at least 16 to live on your own." Says the chief.
The child visibly grows before saying "ok, I'm 16. So can I go now?"
"16 is old enough to go to kryptarium." Says Skylor smugly.
The child visibly shrinks. "Fine! I'm 13, but I don't have no one, so you should just let me go!".
"You don't have any living relatives? Cousins? Uncles? grandparents?" Asks the chief.
The kid pauses, "Well, I suppose Lloyd is my brother."
The commissioner and Skylor exchange a stunned look.
Skylor is chilling in the police station when Lloyd and Kai come in.
"Lloyd, Kai, thanks for coming!" She says walking to meet them.
"Of course." Says Lloyd "An Oni is an interesting find."
"Need a boost?" Asks Kai eagerly "I bet you used up all your fire while chasing the Oni doing like a pow pow!" He gestures, pretending to throw fireballs across the station.
"Not exactly," says Skylor, "but when you see Zane, maybe you could ask him to stop by?"
"Ice again?" Says Kai with disappointment
"Ice is better for catching people without hurting them, and without damaging any nearby buildings." Says Skylor.
"I suppose." Mumbles Kai.
"So it's a good thing you're cute." Says Skylor just before she lands a kiss on Kai's cheek.
Kai's mood visibly improves.
"I don't mean to interrupt." Says Lloyd, "but where is she?"
"Interrogation room 2. Just let the chief know before you go in."
Lloyd enters the room.
"You actually came." Says the kid in disbelief.
"Of course, it's not every day you find an Oni in Ninjago." Says Lloyd, she frowns after hearing the comment. "What's your name kid?"
"Ella." She says softly.
"Ok Ella, Skylor says you think we are related?"
"You don't?" She asks.
"If I had a sister, I would know about it. My parents would have told me."
"Are you sure? There aren't other secrets that they kept from you?"
Lloyd frowns.
"Isn't this proof enough?" She transforms into her black skinned Oni form. Two small horns stick out of her head and deep purple eyes glare at Lloyd.
"There were hundreds of Oni, not all of them are related to me." Says Lloyd. "How long have you lived in Ninjago?"
"My whole life because Garmadon is my father, which makes you my brother, or at least my half brother."
"How old are you?" Asks Lloyd, a slight frown of concern growing on his face.
"Almost as old as you are, or would be, if you didn't use tomorrow's tea."
"How do you know about that?" Asks Lloyd with mild surprise. She smirks in response. "That's not important now…" adds Lloyd trying not to get distracted. "But my parents were married years before they had me."
The kid scoffs, "Garmadon is lord of darkness and evil, you really think it is so surprising that he didn't stay loyal to his wife?"
"And your mother, who was she?"
Ella looks down. "It doesn't matter, she isn't here anymore."
"I'll have a much better chance figuring out if we are related if you let me know who she is."
Ella's eyes start to glow purple as she yells "I said it's not important!"
A wave of purple power pulses through the room knocking back Lloyd and his chair.
Outside the room Skylar clutches her stomach and bends over in pain.
"Skylor! What's wrong?" Says Kai.
Back inside the room Lloyd is back on his feet and faces Ella with a defensive stance.
"Get back" she yells, while still sitting in her chair.
Lloyd looks at her, trying to assess what exactly is going on. Was she trying to escape? Did she just lose control? What is she thinking… for a moment he feels a connection to a scared, panicked little girl. "Take a deep breath." He says, while taking half a step closer and holding his hands out in a calming manner.
Ella starts breathing more heavily, eyes still glowing.
"Yes, just like that, in and out, you can control it."
Her breathing becomes calmer, her eyes stop glowing, and she even manages to transform back into human form.
"There, see? That's better isn't it."
She nods. "I wasn't trying to hurt you." She says softly.
"I know." Says Lloyd giving her a half smile. "I have to go now, make a few calls."
"Don't leave me here." She begs, fear in her voice.
"I'll be back."
"You better."
In the hallway Skylor is sitting up, Kai is holding onto her looking worried. "What happened in there?" He asks.
"What happened out here?" Asks Lloyd back. "Skylor, are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine." Says Skylor, pushing Kai's hand away.
"You didn't look fine." Kai said.
"I absorbed some of her Oni powers, back when I thought she was Chamille." Says Skylor.
"Absorbing my father's powers almost killed you." Says Lloyd looking concerned.
"That is because I tried to use them." Says Skylor. "I only flared hers for a second. I'm hoping if I let them fade naturally, I'll be fine."
"How long does that take?" Asks Lloyd.
"A couple weeks at most." Says Skylor.
"Hmm, until then it is probably best if you keep your distance from her. She doesn't seem to have much control over her powers. She got angry and flared them, but wasn't trying to hurt me."
"So, did you learn anything?" Asks Kai. "Are you related?"
Lloyd frowns. "All I know for sure is that she is Oni, and I need to talk to my father. Which room is he in?"
"He was released on bail weeks ago." Says Skylor.
"What?" Says Lloyd, "why didn't he tell me?"
The commissioner walks up and hands a couple of bags to Lloyd. "If you are going to see your father, get him to suck on one of those."
"What?" Says Lloyd confused.
"DNA test, there is one for you as well. Once Borg industries analyses it, you will know for sure if she is related."
"What about the oni?" Asks Kai
"I'd be willing to grant you temporary guardianship until the tests come back." Says the commissioner.
Lloyd frowns, thinking.
"You aren't seriously buying her act are you Lloyd?" Asks Skylor. "She's dangerous."
"I know that." Says Lloyd, "which is why I am considering it. I am one of the only people in Ninjago who has a chance at teaching her to control those powers. And if she is playing us, well, we have a whole temple full of ninja ready to take her on."
Lloyd and the commissioner go into the room with Ella. "Ive agreed to become your temporary guardian." Says Lloyd.
"What, really?" Ella asks.
"Under three conditions. 1. You tell us why you were robbing the noodle shop, 2. You take this DNA test. 3. You wear this tracking bracelet."
"I was hungry." She says while reaching for the DNA test.
"You were hungry?" Says Lloyd with scepticism. "You weren't stealing noodles."
"Like I said, I don't have nobody, and I didn't know who would be willing to help an Oni, so I decided to help myself. Money is easier to transport than food. What do I do with this?"
Lloyd demonstrates with his kit and then they get labelled and handed to the commissioner.
"You really want a shape shifter to wear a tracking bracelet?" She asks as the commissioner fits it to her wrist.
"It monitors your heartbeat. If you remove it we will be notified immediately." Says the commissioner.
"Right. So can I go now?" Asks Ella for one final time.