RISE OF THE GUARDIANS
Part One: Changes
Chapter V
Residence of the Ninja, Ninjago City
Ninjago
Friday April 27, 2018…
"Let us begin."
The Green Ninja stood in the larger of two sparring rings before Kai, Lloyd, Morro, Jay, Cole, Nya, and Zane who were sat cross-legged on pillows on the floor. Wu, Garmadon, and Misako stood in a corner of the training room watching.
"What is elemental power?" Mack asked. "How do we define it?"
"It's what we have inside of us that we use to control our elements," Lloyd answered.
"Yes… and no," Mack cryptically responded. "Let me offer another way of viewing it."
Mack went on to give his perspective:
"I don't like to think of my relationship with the elements in terms of me trying to control them. I have an intimate connection with each element, and these connections result in an energy inside me.
"To tap this energy, I reach out and prod the elements in a direction I'd like to move; then, the elements prod me back with their own intentions. Once we're in agreement, the elements and I move as one.
"The elements resisted me for a while, as I'm sure they have resisted—and will resist—you; but my connection with each element grew stronger over time, and the elements and I learned to read each other's intentions and respond accordingly.
"My will now flows so freely with the elemental energy around and inside me that I now use the Coosa River to practice moving water and Mount Cheaha to practice moving Earth."
"Coosa River?" Jay asked.
Cole raised his own question: "Mount Cheaha?"
"A river and mountain near my home on Earth," Mack confirmed. "The point is this: strengthen your connection with your element, and the energy inside you will be great enough to bend rivers, move mountains, and challenge our enemy."
Lloyd wanted to make sure he understood. "So," he said, "it's not about being stronger and taking hold of the elements to control them. It's about balance—growing together with the elemental energy around us."
"Exactly," Mack beamed. "And elemental power is the result of the balance between the wills of an elemental master and his or her element which allows the elemental master to expend the elemental energy inside himself or herself."
"Before," he continued, "in the case of Kai, Cole, Jay, and Zane; you drew your power from the Golden Weapons of Spinjitzu, and later from Lloyd himself. Our first lessons will focus on finding the energy within yourselves.
"Nya, Morro, and Lloyd: although you have already accomplished this, I think it will still be helpful for you to also take part in these lessons. You might loose some knots you didn't realize were slowing you down and become stronger from it."
"I'm all in," Nya nodded.
Morro and Lloyd voiced their agreement with "Me too" and "Let's do this," respectively.
"Good," Mack smiled. "Now that we're all on the same page, we will start with a series of one-on-one sessions. You will each have one of these per day. On Mondays and Wednesdays, we will focus on your physical connection with your elements. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we will focus on the mental side with meditation.
"And on Fridays," Mack smirked, "I hope you will include me in your sparring rotation."
"As long as you don't do the pillar of light thing again," Cole snickered. "It freaked Jay out."
"Not true!" Jay cried defensively. "But… yeah, maybe don't do that."
Mack chuckled. "Noted."
The ninja began to exit the sparring ring one at a time.
"I'll add Mack's name to the hat," Wu spoke up for the first time.
"The drawing will finally be even," Misako said. "No one will have to spar twice in a day now."
"What do you mean?" Mack asked.
"Before you came, there were seven of us," Kai explained. "So, it was either one of us would have to spar twice, or—"
"Or someone had to spar withSensei Wu," Morro shuddered.
"Ah," Mack snickered. "I can see how that would be a problem."
"And, to think," Wu said, "I was taking it easy on them."
A few of the ninja grumbled that they couldn't even beat their sensei three-on-one.
"I know we usually draw names," Lloyd brought the discussion back to the matter at hand, "but right now some of us have elemental powers and some of us don't, so that might not be fair this time."
"You're right," Garmadon agreed. "How's this for today: Lloyd vs. Nya, Jay vs. Kai, Cole vs. Zane, and Mack vs. Morro?"
Each ninja exchanged a smirk with their opponent and nodded.
"Perfect," Wu beamed. "Let the matches begin."
Wu then clanged a small gong that he seemingly pulled out of nowhere.
Monday April 30, 2018…
It was decided that the one-on-one sessions would go in the order of the elemental cycle: Wind, Water, Earth, Fire, Ice, Lightning; and Lloyd would be the last session of each day.
Morro met Mack in the on the front lawn, where he was waiting with a large kite.
"Good morning, Morro," Mack greeted.
"'Morning. What's with the kite?"
"Sometimes it's helpful to go back to square one," Mack shrugged. "My parents got me a big kite like this one so I could practice connecting with the wind."
"When I was little, Sensei Wu caught me flying a kite without any string. That's how he discovered my power."
"I'm not surprised," Mack smiled. "There's some force around us that has a way of putting the right thing in your hands at the right time. Some call it destiny, some believe in a living deity that guides them."
Morro thought on this for a moment, "I don't know if I necessarily believe in a 'living deity,' as you put it, even though I don't entirely reject the idea. But I have to believe in destiny…
"I used to think destiny was cruel," Morro sighed. "Until I realized that my 'destiny' isn't my predetermined and unescapable fate. It's the result of the choices I make every day."
There was a moment of meaningful silence and understanding between the two.
"Well," Mack cleared his throat. "Shall we do some flying?"
The rest of the physical training sessions went in similar fashion. They were simple enough: all one had to do was follow Mack's instructions in exercises that strengthened one's physical connection to their element.
The mental training sessions, however, were significantly more of a challenge for all parties.
Tuesday May 1, 2018…
"Hello, Morro."
Mack had set up an impromptu meditation chamber in a spare bedroom. He sat on one of two pillows on the floor surrounded by candles in a circle all around, breaking at the door to allow a person to enter the room. The bed had been removed from the room as part of setting up the chamber.
"Hey," Morro entered and shut the door behind him. He then took his seat across from Mack.
"So, how exactly are these things going to go?" Morro asked.
"It will depend on each of you—what stands in the way of forming a deep connection with your element. But I sense you have recently moved past such an obstacle."
Morro sighed. "For a few months, I thought I'd never forgive myself for the things I'd done."
Mack nodded as Morro continued.
"Then it hit me. Sensei Wu and everyone else here helped me realize there's nothing I can do toearnforgiveness or family. Those things are only given in love."
"And that's when you stopped trying to earn their forgiveness," Mack ventured. "That's when you could start to heal."
"Yes. We could start to heal together."
"Hmm," Mack pondered. "Family is a tricky thing.
"My father didn't want me to come here, especially not knowing how long I could be gone. Ever since Garmadon began to train me three years ago, my father has feared that my destiny would greatly endanger me.
"When I told him I was going to another world to find allies and prepare for a war with an enemy I don't know how to defeat…"
"He knew he was right," Morro finished Mack's story.
Mack nodded. "I think one day he'll understand that I had no choice but to leave. That's what families do—we try to understand each other, even when we disagree or wrong each other."
Morro considered this and replied, "I've come to understand that in the past few months, and I've never felt closer to the Wind."
Monday May 14, 2018…
Kai was experiencing intense déjà vu, as all the other ninja seemed to have unlocked the secret to their powers, but Kai was still struggling.
"Why is it always me?" the red ninja huffed after trying and failing for the umpteenth time to manipulate the flames of a lit torch before him in the yard.
"What do you mean?" Mack asked.
"Zane, Cole, and Jay all found their true potential before I did," Kai ranted. "And now, they've all unlocked their inner power and here I am, again, the last one to figure it out."
Mack waved his hand over the torch, putting out the flame. He then put his hand on Kai's shoulder.
"Kai," he said, "you're thinking about this the wrong way. You don't need to 'figure it out,' you must clear your mind and let 'it' find you."
Kai rolled his eyes. "I still don't get it."
Mack took a few steps back from Kai. "The day before you met Sensei Wu, did you think you had the power to do Spinjitzu?"
"No," Kai replied. "I thought that was fairytale stuff."
"It was impossible in your mind, but today you can do Spinjitzu at the drop of a hat."
"Of course I can!" Kai puffed out his chest, whipping up a Spinjitzu tornado and relighting the torch.
Mack chuckled. "You have learned to do the 'impossible.'"
"Now," the Green Ninja summoned some water to wet his hand and douse the torch. "Do it again; light the torch."
"But," Kai gaped, exasperated, "you just put water on it!"
"I made it impossible, yes? You've done the impossible before, haven't you?"
"Uggghh," Kai groaned.
"Clear your mind of whatyoucan and cannot do, find the fire inside you, bring forth that fire—let it fill you to the brim, evaporate the water…" Mack took several steps back. "And light the torch."
Kai sighed deeply, closed his eyes, held out a hand…
And lit the waterlogged torch.
Thursday May 17, 2018…
Lloyd walked into the "meditation chamber" with doubts on his mind. If the power within him—the power of the First Spinjitzu Master, no less—was not enough to challenge Rikayla, then what did Mack hope to accomplish with all this training?
Lloyd figured that Mack would probably sense his stress, and he was proven right when Mack said as much in as many words.
"I sense a great deal of stress, Lloyd," Mack said with a concerned tone. "Everything alright?"
"There's a thing or two I was hoping we could talk about," Lloyd responded.
"Sure, let's talk," Mack invited.
"I feel overwhelmed," Lloyd began, sitting on the pillow on the floor across from Mack.
"When I unlocked my grandfather's powers, I thought I had achieved the highest I ever could. But now we have an enemy whose power makes even the First Spinjitzu Master's power look insignificant, from what you and my father have been saying about her.
"So, I guess what I'm saying is, I'm worried that no amount of training or preparing will be enough to stand up to her."
Mack took a moment to form his response.
"Rikayla is immensely powerful. Our power cannot overwhelm hers, but through strengthening our connection with our inner elemental energies, we can equal her power and make it a fair fight.
"Even the thickest shadow will dissolve when exposed to the brightest light. You proved this by defeating the Overlord in his true form."
Lloyd nodded. "I see…"
"Trust me," Mack leaned in close. "I know we can defeat her together—only together."
"I trust you," Lloyd smiled. "And I believe you."
After around a minute of silence, Lloyd spoke again.
"I think…" he hesitated.
"Go on," Mack prodded gently.
Lloyd took a deep breath.
"I think you should take the mantle of leading this team. You know our enemy, and you know the steps to defeating her."
Mack did not respond; he only looked at the floor and pondered.
"So," Lloyd repeated, "I think you should be the one leading us."
"Lloyd," Mack sighed, "I am honored, but I think this is something that everyone should have a word in."
"They do," Lloyd replied quickly. "I've talked with everyone, including Morro, Uncle Wu, and my parents.
"You're already guiding us in the preparations for this war, and we want you to lead us in the war itself."
Mack closed his eyes and replied, "I will accept this request and take on this responsibility with the utmost humility and respect."
"Thank you, Mack," Lloyd smiled. "We believe in you."
"Believe in each other before you believe in me; as I said earlier, only together can we hope to win this war. But together, united, we will win it indeed."
Residence of the Ninja, Ninjago City
Ninjago
Saturday May 19, 2018…
Mack may have refused to "interfere with the matters of the heart," as he put it, but Kai was not inclined to take the same stance. He was tired of watching Jay pine after Nya without any move to rekindle their relationship.
Cole and Zane thought Kai was right to do something to push the issue, while Mack and Lloyd thought he should leave it alone. Morro refused to reveal on which side of the question he fell.
Kai had a Plan A and a Plan B: Plan A was to talk some sense into Jay, and Plan B… well, he would figure that out if Plan A didn't work.
Jay's birthday fell on a Saturday, so Kai decided he would take Jay out for breakfast to get him one-on-one.
While they were walking to Jay's favorite café in the city, Kai broke the small talk they had traded until well out of earshot of the house.
"Jay," Kai said, "I don't like to beat around the bush, so I'll get right to it."
Jay sighed. "If you're gonna talk to me about your sister, let me go first."
This mildly shocked Kai, but he let Jay speak.
"Listen, I love Nya—still. Never stopped. But what am I supposed to do? I had my chance to be with her and it didn't work out."
"That was then, Jay." Kai grabbed Jay's wrist and stopped the walk. "You need to realize that just because it didn't work out then doesn't mean you can't try again today."
Jay looked at the ground. Kai released his wrist and sighed, and the two continued walking.
Not ready to give up just yet, Kai had one round left in the chamber.
"You know, she's waiting for you," Kai said, nonchalant.
Jay stopped walking. "What do you mean?" he asked.
"I've seen the way she looks at you, or doesn't look at you. She never moved on either."
Jay sighed and Kai took him by the shoulders.
"I want my sister to be happy, and I know you can make her happy. So you better not let me down, got it?"
Jay half-smirked and nodded.
"Good," Kai clapped Jay on the back. "Now let's get to some breakfast."
The day was full of celebration. Zane crafted a masterful feast that evening to cap off a day of festivities that left Jay with no doubt that he was loved in his home. Even Morro went out of his way to express his appreciation for Jay's friendship.
Jay's parents were in attendance for the birthday feast, and they much enjoyed meeting the newest additions to the team, namely the Green Ninja and a formidable former enemy.
There was much laughter around the table, and it was a grand time, indeed.
However, all while enjoying the festivities, Jay had something on his mind that was to take place after all the celebration was done.
After the feast, Ed and Edna started their trip home (the ninja offered them a room so they would not have to drive in the dark, but Ed refused to be away from the junkyard for a whole night) and the house calmed down.
Zane would not allow any help from Jay with cleaning up the kitchen, asserting that "I will in no way have you cleaning up after a feast in your honor." Jay thought the loveable nindroid was being a bit over-the-top, but he could in no way complain—it meant he could accomplish the final task of the evening that much sooner.
Jay approached the garage, where, without fail, Nya could be found every evening tinkering. It helped to calm her after a long day.
His confidence bolstered by the kindness shown to him throughout the day, Jay took a deep breath and pushed the garage door open.
"Hey, Jay," Nya greeted with a warm smile. "I hope you've had a great birthday."
Jay smiled and nodded. "You all made it very special. What are you getting into tonight?"
"Well, the van has been making a noise I don't like, so I was gonna take a look…"
Nya hesitated. "Unless you wanted to talk—I don't think it's an urgent issue."
"Actually, I was hoping we could talk." Jay suppressed the nervous feeling rising within him.
"Cool," Nya smiled. She stood up from what she called her "tinkering chair" (which was a milk crate with a cushion on top), glad she had not started working on anything yet.
"Want to take a walk?" she asked, holding the garage door open.
Jay grinned. "Great idea," he said.
As the moon rose, Jay and Nya returned to the house from their long walk and talk in town.
"I'm glad we talked," Nya said as they walked up the steps to the porch.
"Me too," Jay replied. "I've been wanting to say some of that for a long time."
"Yeah," Nya sighed.
Both froze as their eyes met at the top of the steps. Jay huffed out a small nervous laugh.
"What?" Nya snickered.
"I had the craziest thought, for just a second, that—that I…"
"That what?" Nya asked, their faces moving closer.
"I had the craziest thought that you might let me—"
"Kiss me?" Nya interrupted.
Jay closed the distance, his lips connecting with Nya's in a moment that was magical for both of them.
It only lasted a second, but neither could have asked for a more blissful second.
They embraced, and Nya whispered, "Happy birthday, Jay."
The pair separated without another word said and Nya went into the house, but Jay wanted a few minutes to reflect on the day and stayed on the porch. As he turned to sit in one of the rocking chairs, he jumped and yelped when he saw Mack occupying one.
"How long have you been out here?" Jay hissed.
"I was sitting here when you left," Mack replied.
Jay facepalmed and groaned, then he sat down in the rocking chair beside Mack.
"I'm sorry, I should've announced myself," Mack said.
Jay sighed but waved Mack's apology away. "No, it's okay. We had a nice moment there."
Mack nodded, "Yeah, you did."
"I should tell you something, but please don't tell Nya I told you."
"Alright," Mack replied, tilting his head expectantly.
Jay took a deep breath. "Nya doesn't want to be a ninja. She only took on the way of the ninja because she felt an obligation at the time, and now she wants to return to the way of the samurai."
"What's stopping her?" Mack asked.
"She feels like she would be letting everyone down by 'quitting' being a ninja."
"It's not 'quitting,'" Mack quickly responded. "It's recognizing that you have a path, and that it might be a different path than everyone expects for you. Her destiny is her own, just as is the case for the rest of us."
Jay considered this.
Mack followed up, "Maybe you should remind her that only she can choose her path."
Jay nodded. "Maybe I should."
The two ninja stood up and headed toward the door.
"By the way," Mack stopped Jay by putting a hand on his arm. "Are you and Nya an 'official' thing now?"
Jay blushed. "Pretty much. We're gonna tell everyone tomorrow."
Mack smiled. "I'm happy for you two."
"Do you have a girlfriend back home?" Jay asked.
"I do," Mack replied simply.
"You must really miss her, huh?"
Mack sighed. "Yeah, I do. But I have a duty to be here right now, and I made sure she understood this before I left Earth."
"Do you know how much longer you'll have to be here—away from her and your family?" Jay asked.
Mack thought for a moment and replied, "I have no idea."
As they went through the door and into the house, Jay thought he saw a sadness pass over Mack's face, but it was quickly replaced by determination. The Green Ninja was fighting for more than the glory of defeating his enemy, it would seem.
Residence of the Ninja, Ninjago City
Ninjago
Thursday May 31, 2018…
There was no sunrise exercise that morning, as there was a thunderstorm raging outside.
That suited the ninja just fine, as they had been training hard lately, especially as they progressed in unlocking more of their elemental powers. Their enemy was powerful, but the ninja were getting stronger every day.
Mack was too concerned (and exhausted) to fully appreciate the morning off. He had been experiencing nightly frightening dreams with unclear meaning.
While introspective, Mack was generally talkative. So it was concerning that he was completely silent at the table as the family enjoyed a hearty breakfast of eggs and sausage with fresh-squeezed orange juice.
Misako spoke up.
"Mack, you're awfully quiet this morning," she observed. "Is everything alright?"
Mack put down his fork. "We have to leave," he said, plainly.
Everyone stared at the Green Ninja, who had yet to look up and meet anyone's eyes.
Cole broke the deafening silence. "Leave?"
Mack finally looked up. "Rikayla is on the move… and last night, I had a vision."
"A vision?" Wu asked from one end of the long table.
"What did you see?" Garmadon asked from the other end.
Mack described his vision: "I saw a great shadow coming forth from the Realm of Madness. It mobilized and took root in the Sea of Sand, from which point it expanded and consumed all the realms.
"But many warriors rose up bearing power they gained in another world to challenge the shadow. They were the only ones who could face the darkness, and they could only do it after gaining the foreign power."
While Garmadon's face paled, others responded with blank stares and frowns of confusion.
"I hope you're planning to explain that," Jay cracked.
Mack replied, "I woke up from the dream around 2:00 in the morning and meditated without pause until I came out for breakfast. I came to comprehend the meaning of the vision—it was revealed to me. I'll tell you all what this means, but you have to understand something.
"This vision did not provide advice or suggestions, but rigid facts about the nature of this fight; if we don't heed the information from this vision, Rikayla will destroy everything we love. You all must trust me here."
Each ninja met the eyes of the others and nodded. At the end of this silent communication, Lloyd voiced the verdict.
"We trust you."
Mack responded with a small smile, "Okay, let me explain.
"The darkness is naturally more powerful than the light because of one simple difference between the two: shadows can reach forever while a light can only reach as long as it has energy to sustain it. The First Spinjitzu Master knew this, so he established a balance that would put a cap on the potential power of darkness so that the power of light would be able to keep it in check.
"The sustenance of the balance was his very life; so, when he passed away, it became complicated. His power lived on in the Golden Weapons, but it was incomplete without his spirit living among them. On the night of his passing, the cap broke, and the powers of darkness were once again unlimited.
"This phenomenon, this Apex of the shadows and their powers, lasted from sunset that evening until sunrise the next morning and has occurred annually on November 21 ever since."
"No freaking way," Kai interrupted.
Lloyd gasped, "That's the date that I fought the Overlord two years ago…"
After a moment to let this sink in, Mack continued.
"The Apex has a focal point in every realm which cycles every year. The cycle is random and not easily predicted, but if one were to figure out this focal point and overwhelm it with the full power of darkness during the Apex, one could then sustain the Apex indefinitely, instating a permanent dominance of the darkness over the light.
"Rikayla has discovered that the focal point of this year's Apex will be the Sea of Sand here in Ninjago. She intends to use the Apex to strengthen her power such that she will be able to dissolve the borders between the realms and rule the universe unchallenged."
Wu stroked his beard. "This queen of the shadows poses quite a potent threat."
"She always said she would do it," Garmadon recalled. "Unite the Realms, rule it all… I didn't believe her; I didn't think that kind of power was possible. She must possess strength on an order never before seen."
Jay gulped audibly.
"But there is hope," Mack's tone brightened. "The warriors who challenged her were using the Golden Weapons of Spinjitzu."
"But the Golden Weapons are gone," Zane said.
Mack hesitated. "Turn on the news," he said.
Nya was closest to the small kitchen TV, so she turned it on. The TV showed Kat Felina of Ninjago Cable News reporting in the pouring rain; behind her was Borg Tower.
"For those of you just tuning in, we have an interesting story unfolding as rumors continue to emerge from anonymous Borg employees that the remnant of the infamous Golden Armor used in the Overlord's attack on New Ninjago City has disappeared without a trace and without any signs of forced entry to Borg's extremely secure storage facility.
"The lack of any sign of forced entry has led to speculation that this could be an inside job. There has been no move to contact the Ninja, but this reporter has to suggest that such a call will probably be forthcoming very soon. That's all we have for now; we'll be back to update you as soon as we know more. Back to you in the studio, Pat—"
Nya turned off the TV, and Kai quickly stood up. "We gotta get down there!"
Mack also stood but appealed for calm. "Wait, Kai. We'll go in a few minutes, but let me finish telling you what all this means for us."
Kai slowly sat back down, not keen on waiting to respond to a call to action.
Mack began to wrap up his explanation. "The Golden Weapons have reformed in my home world of Earth, and now there are seven of them."
Everyone at the table made a face. "Seven?" Wu exclaimed.
"I don't know how that happened—I'm just telling you what I saw. We have to go to Earth and retrieve them.
"We require the Weapons to oppose Rikayla, because the day of the final battle against her army will be the day of the Apex; with her power at its peak, we won't stand a chance without those weapons—the Golden Weapons are the vessels by which we will grow our power to challenge hers.
"They are the Daggers of Wind, the Spear of Water, the Scythe of Quakes, the Sword of Fire, the Shuriken of Ice, the Nunchucks of Lightning, and the Super Bolt—most mysterious and elusive of them all.
"It has the power to draw power from every element and cross the Ethereal Divide at the whim of the one who holds it. It can only be revealed by all the Golden Weapons combined, and it is entrusted to my care."
"You listed a Golden Weapon for each element," Lloyd observed. "Do I get one?"
"There is no need," Mack replied. "The weapons are the physical manifestations of elemental power, and you are the physical manifestation of the First Spinjitzu Master's power. You channel elemental power through your very body as effectively as the weapons do."
Lloyd nodded; the room went quiet. A dark expression came over Mack's face.
"What's the matter?" Garmadon asked.
Mack's response was grave. "I saw her face in my dream last night. Darkness issues from her eyes.
"And she wears a golden crown with two large spikes at front center and three smaller spikes to either side, each of the smaller spikes inlaid with a blue jewel and the front of the crown inlaid with a large red jewel."
Morro frowned. "Why so specific about the crown?"
"I've seen it before," Mack replied. "In my dreams, every single night since we went to the Temple of Light. Now I know what it means.
"She wants me to understand that I can't escape her, even in my dreams."
The ninja got on the move quickly; they had to get to Borg Tower and speak with Dr. Borg before mass panic ensued. Rumors were already flying around that the Overlord had returned and had inside help to steal what remained of the Golden Armor.
It was decided that the ninja should fly in on their elemental dragons instead of using their teleportation powers (which each ninja had mastered by now) as a way to assure the public that they were on the case.
The public was aware of Mack's presence, as there had been a press release a few weeks prior to clear up any Green Ninja/Golden Ninja confusion.
When the elemental dragons arrived (a skill that the ninja were pleased to teach to Mack), they were met by cheers from the people who had gathered outside the police perimeter around Borg Tower. The ninja quickly went inside where Borg was waiting for them in his office at the top of the tower.
After the ninja explained Mack's vision and their mission, Borg suggested that a public explanation was in order, but that today was not the day. Instead, the ninja used their teleportation powers to quietly leave the scene and return home to prepare.
Borg later issued a statement that the Golden Armor remnant was moved to another location, there was no theft, and that more details would emerge at a later time. This was enough for the people of Ninjago, as they had seen their heroes at the scene.
If there was a danger, the people knew the ninja would take care of it.
Friday June 1, 2018…
The ninja spent the rest of the day preparing for their departure, feeling it would be better to leave first thing in the morning Friday rather than halfway through the day Thursday.
It was decided that Sensei Wu would stay behind, as would Nya with her Samurai suit and skills (when Jay and Nya announced their renewed relationship to the others, Nya also announced that she would resume the way of the samurai. She was thrilled to have the unwavering support of her family on the matter).
Misako would also stay behind. The three of them would watch over the house and keep Ninjago safe should any threats arise. Garmadon would go with the ninja and help Mack guide the team, since he had been to Earth before.
Each ninja had a short sword at their hip and a weapon of choice on their back. Kai and Lloyd both brought a katana, Jay had his nunchucks, Zane concealed a pair of shuriken, Cole carried his scythe, Morro sported a spear with a blade on both ends, and Mack had his black katana adorned with green symbols.
In addition, each wore a pack filled with training equipment they would use during their stay in the other world. Mack assured them that they would not need food or other such supplies, as there would be a place for them to stay once they arrived.
Wu prepared enough Traveler's Tea to get eight people to Earth (a real challenge, as it turned out), and before anyone knew what was happening, it was nearly time to depart. Wu stood by, ready to activate the brew.
Kai and Jay both said their goodbyes to Nya, and Garmadon bid goodbye to Misako.
"I still think you should have let me send you with enough Traveler's Tea to return," Wu said, concern showing on his face.
"We only need the one-way trip," Mack insisted. "The Super Bolt has the power to return us here."
Mack's appearance in Ninjago back in April was an example of cross-realm travel that takes an extraordinary amount of energy to accomplish—and he was only transporting himself. Transporting himself and the seven others embarking on this mission would be impossible.
But with the Super Bolt in his hand, Mack would be able to transport the entire team back to Ninjago by relying on its power and not drawing on his own.
"What if you don't find it?" Misako asked. She shared Wu's concern.
"Then our mission will fail, and Rikayla will destroy everything, and there will be nothing for us to return to," Mack replied bluntly.
That darkened the mood.
"So," Lloyd addressed the team, "we understand what's at stake here, right?"
The ninja nodded; Zane spoke up, "We can neither win this war, nor return home, if we do not find the Golden Weapons."
"Are we ready for this?" Lloyd made eye contact with each ninja.
"Hell yeah," Kai smirked. "Rikayla won't know what hit her."
Morro snorted. "Hopefully, you can hit her," he teased, referring to Kai's inability to land any contact on him during the skirmish after the ghost's arrival months ago.
"Shut up, Morro," Kai snapped, though not without betraying his suppression of a laugh.
With the mood a bit lighter, the group decided it was time.
Wu activated the brew, creating a portal. Without looking back, the ninja stepped one after the other into a world unknown to most of them. Garmadon was the last one through the rift. Less than a second after he stepped through, the portal snapped shut with a crack.
[line]
The Plains of Insanity
Realm of Madness…
Rikayla was sparring with one of her allies, a four-armed swordswoman named Ferra who had a similar appearance to Scio and Dubito, but with bright orange eyes and light armor on her torso. She wielded a katana in each of her four hands; Rikayla blocked her furious attacks with the Hammer of Night.
Tenebris was also there, watching. While Rikayla's army continued to grow, he was growing restless of waiting to hear of what their next move would be.
The Queen of Darkness suddenly froze, and Ferra stopped attacking.
"Why did we stop—are you trying to trick me again?" Ferra asked in a snarly voice.
"Our enemy…" Rikayla trailed off.
Ferra squinted her eyes.
"He has just crossed the Ethereal Divide—into Earth."
"Earth?" Ferra repeated. "What could he be doing there?"
"He knows something that we do not," Rikayla growled. "Perhaps I have underestimated his intonement with the elements—it seems they are revealing things to him."
"So," Tenebris spoke up. "What's our play, my queen?"
"Call up the twins," Rikayla ordered. "Scio and Dubito are fine scouts; they'll get to the bottom of this."
Unknown Location
Earth…
The ninja gracelessly tumbled out of the portal and looked around to see that they were in the thick of an unfamiliar wood. They were surrounded by trees, and a stream ran by the spot they were spat out. It was hot and humid, and the sun high in the cloudless sky was blinding.
"Where are we?" Morro asked.
"Earth," Garmadon answered, barely above a whisper.
As the ninja took in their surroundings, Mack bent down to one knee by the nearby stream.
"Swift Creek," he muttered.
"What's that?" Lloyd asked.
"It's a creek that runs through the woods behind my home," Mack replied. "If we follow its flow, it'll lead us there."
The group walked with the creek's flow for about half an hour, at which point the woods began to get thinner.
"Come on, this way," Mack said. "We're here."
Mack broke away from following Swift Creek and walked quickly in another direction; the group followed him.
They broke the wood line into the clear, where atop a hill they could see an old country home.
"It looks exactly as I remember it," Garmadon said, a hand on Mack's shoulder.
"That's your home, Mack?" Kai asked.
"I like it—it's quaint," Zane added.
"Yes, that's it." Mack replied. "We're here," he repeated at a whisper.
"Where exactly ishere?" Cole asked.
"And don't say 'Earth,'" Jay said. "We already know that."
"We'll talk geography later," Mack answered, "but we're in Alabama, one of the United States of America."
This information meant nothing to the others (except for Garmadon), but they took it in regardless. The foreign name of the place in which they stood reminded them that they were in a new world.
As the band made their way up the hill and approached the house, three figures emerged from the house; they were a burly looking red-headed man with a rather impressive beard, a dirty-blonde woman, and a boy with curly brown hair. The man and woman appeared to be middle-aged.
When the group reached the house's porch, Mack held his hand out toward the others.
"Just a second," Mack said.
"Mack, you're home," the woman got choked up and moved to embrace Mack.
"Yeah, mom," Mack replied. "I'm here."
Mack's mother let him go and he likewise embraced the bearded man, whom the ninja assumed was his father.
"Looks like you brought work home," Mack's father quipped, seeing the ninja and their weapons.
He and Mack separated, and Mack was nearly tackled by the boy hugging him around the waist.
"I missed y'all," Mack said. "But I made some good friends."
Mack went on to introduce the ninja to his family. They knew Garmadon from the days of Mack's training (it turned out that Garmadon trained Mack right in their backyard; more details were promised to come at a later time).
Mack's parents were Ronnie and Sharon, and the boy was his younger brother Jack, who was almost ten years old.
As they were talking, Morro noticed that Mack and his family had an odd accent he had yet to hear before (Mack's accent seemed to come out more now that he was around others who spoke in that same dialect).
Morro asked about it, to which Mack answered simply, "That's the talk of the South." Morro hoped to follow up on this later.
After a bit more chatting, Ronnie changed the mood.
"So," he said, "why did you bring all these folks home?"
Mack took a deep breath. "We have a mission—an enemy. We can only defeat this enemy with weapons located in this world."
"That's all well and good," Sharon replied, "but we don't have room for everyone in the house."
Mack nodded. "Will everyone follow me?"
Mack led everyone to the large shed behind the house. Calling it a shed is really quite unfair, as it had running water and was air-conditioned, and it featured a common area with enough furniture to accommodate ten or twelve people.
"We call it 'the Hut,'" Mack explained as the group entered.
"What's it got to do with your mission?" Ronnie asked.
"We've been saying for years we don't use the Hut enough," Mack replied. "Well, we're gonna need a headquarters as we carry out our mission."
After another moment, Mack added, "and… we need a place to access the Temple from."
"Temple?" Lloyd asked.
Mack held up his hands and the room changed. The walls moved outward, increasing the size of the room. The walls then bent and warped, changing the shape of the room to a circle. The ceiling became a grand dome.
A blinding light filled the room, and when it dissipated, suddenly the room appeared to be made of gold and marble. There was an ornate fountain in the middle of the room, and there were eight pedestals around it, each large enough for a person to stand on it and have room to hold their arms out to their sides.
There were four doors on the wall, one at each cardinal direction. One of them was larger and more elaborate than the others.
When the room was finished forming, all mouths were agape.
"This," Mack announced, "is the Elemental Temple. It defies explanation; it's a physical place in which we can stand, but it takes up no space. It will suit our needs for quarters and sustenance."
"I guess we don't need to do that renovation," Sharon said, directed at Ronnie.
"Nothing changed about the Hut," Mack said. "Except one thing: there's an extra door in there now, through which we will access this room."
"Is that the big door?" Jay pointed to the larger of the four doors.
"Yes," Mack replied. "When we exit through that door, we will find the Hut exactly as it was before.
"The door to the right of that leads to a training area, to the left leads to a meditation chamber, and the door across from the big door leads to a hallway of living quarters, one private room with a bathroom for each of us."
"Mack," Lloyd said, "did you…createthis place?"
"No," Mack replied. "I read about it in an old text; no one knows who created it, but it is widely theorized that it was the First Spinjitzu Master. I only summoned it."
"So…" Sharon hesitated.
"You're not gonna live at home?" Ronnie read his wife's mind.
Mack sighed. "Listen; we have a mission of utmost importance. These warriors have asked me to lead them as we prepare to face our enemy. I'm only just behind the house—I'm not 'going off to war'… yet.
"But the point is: I have a duty that Imustfulfil. Part of it is training in this temple, combing the Earth for the weapons we need, and going back to Ninjago to fight. If I am to do my duty—if we are to complete our mission… you have to let me go."
Mack's parents had a hard time accepting this, especially after he explained exactly what they were up against; the name "Rikayla" was one that would haunt them for quite a while. But they ultimately understood that the task set to their son was one that required him to make difficult choices—including being away from his family home.
Eternal Gorge
Realm of Madness…
Scio and Dubito bowed on one knee before Rikayla. As was common for her, she stood atop a cliff overlooking the Eternal Gorge. Tenebris was standing beside her.
The scouts had followed the ninja through the woods and, when unable to spy on them effectively due to them moving indoors, did a survey of the area in which the ninja were staying.
"Dark one," Scio addressed, "the ninja and Garmadon are in a community called Billingsley, Alabama with the Green Ninja's family. It is a rural area, sparsely populated."
Dubito continued the report. "We were unable to discover what business they have there, as they did much of their talking indoors and there was no way to spy on them inconspicuously."
"It appears that the water ninja and Garmadon's brother and wife did not go to Earth with the group," Scio finished.
Rikayla turned around to face her scouts, frustration easy to see on her face. "It is a good thing that the darkness can teleport more easily than the light—you will need to continue trailing them and reporting back to me. That isn't nearly enough information to be valuable."
"Forgive us, dark one," Scio lowered his head.
"Don't apologize, make up for it," Rikayla spat. "Go back to 'Billingsley' and do not return until you have something of better substance."
Scio and Dubito stood, gave a small bow of their heads, and teleported away.
"Reliable soldiers," Rikayla said of her scouts, "but sometimes quick to panic when things don't go according to plan."
"With respect, my queen," Tenebris said cautiously, "I thought you could look across the Ethereal Divide and watch our enemies."
"I can," Rikayla snapped. "But it is like looking from a distance. I can find anyone I please at any time, but I cannot see great detail or hear more than indistinct chatter. And I cannot read minds."
"I see," Tenebris fought the condescending tone threatening to rise in his voice. "As you said, the twins are reliable. They will keep a vigilant watch over the ninja."
"Yes," Rikayla nodded, her temper cooling. "In the meantime, I am preparing to create a group of much stronger soldiers that will serve as the vanguard of our army."
"Strong enough to counter the power that the ninja have amassed?"
"Strong enough for that, and much more," Rikayla grinned. "They will take time to create and endow with enough energy to make them as powerful as I have envisioned; but once they are complete, our enemies will shudder at the prospect of fighting them."
Rikayla turned back toward the Eternal Gorge and snarled, "Run around your home world while you can, Green Ninja. When I unleash my power, you will beg on your knees for my mercy."
Billingsley, Alabama
Earth…
As the sun set on the hills of central Alabama, Mack sat on one of those hills facing the vivid evening sky.
Garmadon quietly came up behind Mack and stood there for a moment.
"Sensei," Mack acknowledged his teacher's presence.
"Your parents will be fine, Mack," Garmadon said, sitting down on the hill beside his pupil.
"I know," Mack nodded. "They understand what's at stake."
"They always did—even when I first began training you."
Mack let out a small laugh.
"What is it?" Garmadon asked.
"Did you ever think your path would bring you back here?"
"To the very hill upon which we stood when you grasped command of your elemental powers?" Garmadon responded. "No, I never would have guessed it.
"In fact, I doubted our paths wouldevercross again. I had no idea that redemption of any kind would be possible after the Devourer's venom truly took hold."
"I suppose we never know where we'll end up," Mack said as the sun sunk below the horizon.
Garmadon was about to respond when the pair sensed a presence behind them. They turned around to see the rest of the ninja walking up to them from behind.
The ninja joined Mack and Garmadon in sitting on the hill, facing where the sun set a few minutes ago. There was not much said between them; there was nothing that needed to be said at that time.
No one had any idea how to locate the Golden Weapons; no one knew their next step.
Though uncertain, each of the warriors was hopeful. Each of them knew that together, they would be able to uncover the next step on the path to shedding the light that would pierce the shadow of the Queen of Darkness.
