The Last Voyage
After barely escaping the Stone Army, the people of Ninjago City and the Ninja set up a shelter along the western coast of Ninjago to recover and prepare for the next assault.
Currently, Wu and Zane were keeping watch as Wu peered through a spyglass to see a dark landmass across the ocean.
"Hmm, most peculiar," Zane said as his falcon perched on his shoulder while Wu continued looking at the island, squinting his eyes with a hand over them at the horizon. "Yesterday there was nothing but open water, and now there is an island."
"The Dark Island, Zane," Wu told him. "And what I find more peculiar is after Ninjago City was attacked by the Stone Army, today, they have vanished."
"Do you think they are on this Dark Island?" Zane asked him. "Garmadon might be responsible."
"I fear that, too, but what's most important is that we find out what is on that island," Wu said to them.
Zane then turned to his falcon. "Perhaps my falcon can scout ahead for us," he said as his falcon flew off in the direction of the Island of Darkness.
After escaping Ninjago City, the people the Ninja helped escape managed to make refuge near the coast outside of the city as they made small huts and did some activities to keep their spirits up.
Meanwhile, the Ninjas were trying to repair the rocket boosters on the Destiny's Bounty when oil leaked out and sprayed Jay in the face while he was trying to screw in something.
"Ugh, useless pile of junk!" Jay complained as Nya let out a sigh.
"Oh, it's worse than I feared," Nya said in a worried tone. "The rotors on the starboard booster are completely destroyed. The port boosters are shorted from the strain." She then turned to the others who were working on the other boosters. "Oh, sorry, guys. She's not getting airborne any time soon."
"So, if the Stone Army attacks again, we're sitting ducks!" Cole complained.
"Uh, ducks can fly, Cole." Jay corrected. "Weren't you listening?"
"We just got our tails handed to us, and we couldn't even stop one of them," Kai complained as Wu and Zane walked up to them. "Ugh, I hate feeling helpless."
"We mustn't give up hope, Kai," Wu told him.
"But the Stone Army is indestructible," Lloyd reminded him. "You saw it. At best all my and Melissa's powers can do is slow them down."
"Well not all of my powers, some of those things almost look like they were… harmed by my powers," Melissa noted looking at her hands.
"Well, at least she can do some sort of harm to those walking bricks," Kai said.
"But even with harming those warriors, it's not enough to stop them completely," Melissa said with a frown. "And I'm still wondering how my powers can harm them while Lloyd's powers can't since he got all four of your powers in him."
"Yeah, you have a point, Melissa, something is up," Lloyd said in thought.
"But either way, neither you nor Lloyd are strong enough to even stop those guys." Cole said.
"That's not entirely true," Misako said when she, Rachel, and Luci walked up to them. "There is a way to defeat them. And it is told within the scrolls." This piqued their interest as they joined her on the bridge.
On the bridge, Misako, Rachel, and Luci unraveled one of the scrolls she had and it was a picture of the four Ninja, giving power to the Green Ninja with a Golden Dragon while the Purple Ninja stood alone, concentrating her own energy as a Silver Dragon appeared behind her.
"The prophecy reveals that the power to defeat the Stone Army lies within the Ninjas of Yin and Yang." Misako started.
"We tried. We've given them everything we had." Lloyd said to his mother.
"They were just too strong," Melissa stated.
"Yes. But you two are stronger than you think." Rachel said with a smile as she gestured to the scroll. "Look. The true power of the Green Ninja of Yang can only be unlocked when his four protectors find their own pure elemental powers."
"Are we the protectors?" Cole asked as Jay gave a scoff.
"Pfft, silly question. Of course we are, ha, ha. Right?" Jay asked while looking at the three women.
"If we are the protectors, then we are doomed. Our Elemental Golden Weapons no longer exist," Zane stated, reminding them how they sacrificed the Golden Weapons to destroy Garmadon's Mega Weapon, "We cannot tap into our elemental powers without them."
"But the powers do exist within each of you," Misako said, which got their attention. "And there is a way to unlock your powers on your own. We must go to the Temple of Light." She declared.
"The Temple of Light?" Nya asked in wonder. "What's that?"
Rachel then brought out another scroll. "Well, as you know, the gold from the Golden Weapons was from the Golden Peaks." She said as she unraveled the scroll to reveal five of the Ninjas' elemental dragon symbols in a formation with a mountain peak above them. "But they were forged in the Temple of Light. It's where the First Spinjitzu Master put his powers into the Golden Weapons when he first forged them."
"And it's a place we thought only existed in legend," Luci said with a smile.
"Is it on the Dark Island?" Wu asked in interest.
"I think our only choice is to find out," Misako said with a smile.
"So we get our powers back? Alright!" Cole cheered in excitement to finally have their powers back.
"But what about me?" Melissa asked, seeing there's no mention of herself.
"It doesn't say, but we did find this," Luci said, showing them a scroll with a purple ninja in a meditative stance, with shadowy claws between them and glowing purple eyes Behind them, "The Scroll says that the Purple Ninja of Yin's true power shall only awaken when she returns to the Cradle of Darkness."
"Cradle of Darkness?" Melissa repeated. "How the heck am I supposed to find that?"
"I believe it must be referring to the Dark Island," Zane stated.
"But there's still one big problem: The Bounty can't fly." Nya reminded them.
"It's a ship right?" Misako asked with a smirk. "Can't it sail?"
"Silly question. Of course it can, ha, ha. Right?" Jay asked them.
"The Destiny's Bounty is a ship, Man!" Melissa stated in annoyance.
After getting the Destiny's Bounty onto the water of the Endless Sea, Everyone gathered to say goodbye to their heroes.
Jay was saying his goodbyes to his parents.
"Now, promise me you'll eat your vegetables," Edna told Jay.
"Mom!" Jay grunted as his cheeks blushed red.
"Oh, I mean it! You get sluggish when you don't get enough vitamins," Edna told him before she turned to Ed. "Ed, tell him if he's going to save the world, he has to eat his vegetables!"
Ed just sighed and smiled, "Errr… just listen to your mother, son," he said.
Cole was saying goodbye to his dad.
"I don't know what to say," Lou said as he hugged his son.
"You don't have to say anything," Cole told him before he pulled back.
"You're right. I don't have to say anything. But I do have to sing!" Lou declared as he turned to his Royal Blacksmiths. They started to hum and scat acapella as Cole's father began to sing.
Lou:
Who's gonna save Ninjago's hide?
Who's gonna to make his old man swell with pride?
Cole is!
Cole does!
Cole, Cole, Cole!
Everyone gave an applause when they were finished and Cole had a big smile on his face. "That's the sweetest thing I've ever heard, pop," he said emotionally as he and his dad hugged again.
"Now, go and make me and your mother proud, son," Lou told Cole.
Meanwhile, Kai and Nya were talking to Dareth.
"Now Dareth, as the honorary 'Brown Ninja', we're entrusting you to protect Ninjago and tending to the Ultra Dragon to keep everyone safe in case Garmadon launches a sneak attack while we're gone," Kai told Dareth. "Are you up to the task?"
"I won't let you guys down," Dareth told him before turning to the crowd. "Did you hear that?! I'm officially the Brown Ninja!" They all cheered before he turned back to Kai and Nya. "Hey, what's my elemental power?"
"Um, Brown Power?" Nya answered humorously.
Dareth however took it seriously, "A power unique to me alone, sweet." He said.
Lloyd was riding on the back of Ultra Dragon looking down at the others.
"You need to stay here, big guy," Lloyd told Ultra. "These people need you for protection." He added as he hopped down
Melissa was walking to the Bounty with Rachel and Luci behind her and then she turned to them. "Moms, are you two sure that you wanna come along? It could get dangerous." She said in concern.
"Dear, we have been traveling with Misako from time to time when she needed help," Luci said with a smile. "We can handle ourselves."
"But I don't want you two to get hurt, and what about the animal hospital?" Melissa asked in concern.
"We already have our trusted friends to look after the animal hospital while we're gone," Rachel assured her with a smile. "And from having to avoid Serpentine, the Devourer, pirates, and Ninjaball Run, I think we can handle anything."
Melissa still looked a bit concerned about them coming. "I just don't want anything bad to happen to you, moms, you two are the closest that I've ever gotten to having parents and… I don't wanna lose you."
"You won't," Luci said as she and Rachel gave her an assuring smile. "It will never happen."
"We promise," Rachel said as the two women gave Melissa a comforting hug, which she returned as she gave a small smile, feeling a bit better.
Up on the Bounty, Zane was watching his friends saying their goodbyes with envy, as he silently wished he was down there as well.
"Is there anyone you would like to say goodbye to?" Wu asked Zane when he walked up to him.
"My only family is my falcon, and my only memory of my father was nearly erased," Zane told his sensei. "I will miss Ninjago, for it is all I know. But I am excited to see what the future has in store."
"Well, my Nindroid friend, there are a few who would like to say goodbye to you," Wu told him as he pointed out a bunch of girls from a fan club of his.
They cheered for him until Rufus pushed through the cheering crowd. "I love you, you stupid Nindroid!"
Zane chuckled as he nodded at Wu as they turned to the crowd. "Pupils, it's time we set sail!" Wu declared.
Soon the Ninja entered the Bounty as they all waved to their friends and family goodbye as the Bounty raised anchor and sailed off towards the Island of Darkness.
Everyone waved them off as they sailed away.
"Jay, did you remember to bring an extra pair of clean underwear?!" Edna called out.
"Yes, Mom!" Jay yelled in embarrassment as his friends laughed at him about what his mom said.
The sun was beginning to set over the ocean. The Ninja were looking at the Dark Island at the bow of the ship as they wondered what was to come when they arrived.
"We still have a long journey ahead of us," Wu told them as Misako, Rachel, and Luci nodded.
Zane then walked up on deck while giving a worried look as he joined the others as they turned to him.
"Still no word from the falcon?" Cole guessed.
"Not yet." Zane shook his head as his expression hadn't changed while the others looked off at the endless ocean.
Kai decided to lighten the mood with some casual conversation, "I wonder what's on the island?"
"An entirely new ecosystem?" Zane guessed.
"Never before seen creatures?" Cole asked next.
"Oh, vegetables that taste like dessert?" Jay asked excitedly.
Misako, Rachel, and Luci then noticed Melissa leaning on the Bounty and looking at Lloyd with a blush on her face as the three women looked at each other with a knowing smirk.
"Looks like our daughter has a thing for your boy," Rachel said with a smirk.
"Heh, kinda reminds me of how you stare at Garmadon, Misako." Luci teased as Misako gave a slight chuckle and an embarrassing blush.
"I better go talk to her," Misako said as she made her way towards Melissa.
Melissa was looking at Lloyd talking to the others about their trip, and she was overhearing what they were saying.
"I hope the Stone Army is there," Kai said, resolve unwavering, "They may have gotten the better of us once, but once we've powered up, never again"
"You said it," Cole said determinedly.
"Here, here." Jay cheered.
"I wonder if this is the end of our destiny." Lloyd wondered worryingly.
The others could tell he was worried about facing Garmadon as Kai smiled and grabbed Lloyd's shoulder.
"If it is, there are no other brothers or sisters I'd rather have at my side." He gestured to all of them.
"Here, here," Jay repeated again with a smile.
"You said it," Cole said again.
Melissa gave a long sigh as she kept her eyes on Lloyd not knowing that Misako was right behind her.
"I recognize that look," Misako teased as Melissa yelped, startled by her voice.
"O-Oh. Misako." Melissa said as she gave a sheepish smile. "Well, it's just, the ocean is beautiful out here." She said while gesturing to the Endless Sea.
Misako just gave her a smile. "Melissa, I can tell that you are in love with my son." She said, which caused Melissa to blush heavily.
"Heh, what? No! Th-That's crazy!" Melissa tried to deny it while being fully red in the face. "Lloyd is just my best friend. I mean, sure he's brave, strong, has gorgeous blonde hair and a really cute smile and..." She started to trail off with a lovestruck look
"Handsome?" Misako finished, which made Melissa give a loving smile.
"Yeah," Melissa said, still lovestruck but then she realized what she said. "Uhh, I mean, uhh…" She started nervously
Misako gave amusing chuckles. "Melissa, you can't fool me. I was like that when I first fell in love with Garmadon." She said with a smile. "You have a crush on my son."
Melissa was now as red as a tomato and she tried to block her face to cover her embarrassment. "Oh, OK, you got me." She conceded as she turned and looked out to the ocean. "I had a crush on Lloyd for a while. It didn't come up at first, but after the Great Devourer thing, it just sorta happened, oh why is this so difficult?!" She asked in frustration as she rested her head on the Bounty's side.
Misako giggled as she walked up and placed a hand on her back. "Love can be a complicated thing. When you first develop feelings for someone, it's hard to turn back." She said,
"I just wanna go back to how Lloyd and I used to be, just the two of us against the world," Melissa said in an upset tone. "I don't even remember when I started falling for him… at least I don't think so." She said uncertainty.
"Well, think back," Misako told her. "When was the moment where you started to like my son more than a friend?"
Melissa thought long and hard about it trying to pinpoint when she started feeling this way around him. She remembered the times when she and Lloyd started training together, which ended up with them falling down because of their lack of training as they shared a laugh, and then to when Melissa put on the purple gi to go save Lloyd herself at the fire temple when he was captured by Pythor and the Serpentine, when they traveled around Ninjago while unleashing the Serpentine from the three tombs, and then to the point where they first met at Darkley's where they first became friends as they always had each others backs.
"Oh, my God, I have always had a crush on him from the beginning!" Melissa said in shock and realization. "But I don't even believe in Love at First Sight."
"Well, sometimes that can be true and can be revealed without you knowing," Misako said with a smile. "Once you've been friends with someone you care for, that feeling blossoms into something new. I should know." She added.
"B-But, I don't know if Lloyd feels the same about me," Melissa said in concern while still recovering from the realization. "W-What if he doesn't? It could ruin our friendship!"
"Melissa, Lloyd wouldn't think of you like that," Misako assured with a smile. "You've been by my son's side since the beginning, you have always been there for him and you saved him from the Serpentine with my husband's help. You even train yourself to save him. I believe he cares about you in so many ways."
Melissa looked down in thought at Misako's words as she gave a smile. "Yeah, I guess you're right, Misako." She said as she turned to her. "You really know feelings."
"Learned from experience," Misako said with a smirk.
Just then, Zane's eyes turned bright blue and he could see what his falcon was seeing. "The Falcon has arrived at the Dark Island!" He told them all.
Soon, they all entered the bridge as Zane was wearing a special set of goggles and he hooked them up to the main monitor. "There, now we can all see," Zane told them as the screen turned on.
They all saw the falcon flying near the beach of the Dark Island. Zane had the falcon looking down when a Stone Warrior seemed to spot it and threw a glaive at it, losing visual contact.
The impact shocked them all and knocked Zane off his feet. "He's… he's gone," he only said, a little shook up by what he had just seen.
"We don't know that," Wu said as they all stood up.
Kai and Nya then helped Zane up.
"Oh, Zane, I'm so sorry." Nya apologized in sympathy.
"He was our friend too, so we aren't going to let him go in vain," Kai promised. "If Garmadon wants a fight, then we'll bring him one."
"But right now, that's gonna have to wait," Misako said as she pointed ahead, "Because, right now, we're sailing right for a storm! All hands on deck!" She called as they saw they were sailing straight into a thunderstorm in front of them.
Meanwhile, on the Dark Island, the Stone Army had created a fortress and they were digging and scooping up an odd dark purple substance from within a pit.
As some of the warriors were working, Garmadon came down on the lift and walked over to them.
"This is foolish. I have an unbeatable army to conquer Ninjago!" Garmadon remarked a little displeased at the recent work effort. "And yet we waste time playing in the mud?" He questioned.
"What you call 'mud' is concentrated evil," the Overlord told them as a lift was carrying up a huge load of it. "A Dark Matter that with one drop could make a man's heart turn as black as night. Have patience, Garmadon. The Celestial Clock ticks backward to doomsday and cannot be stopped." A drop of the Dark Matter fell out of the load and back into the pit where the Overlord emerged from it. "Your time will come, but we must prepare. We must build the Ultimate Weapon the likes of which has never before been seen." This has reached Garmadon's interest.
"Hmm," Garmadon said in thought. "The Ultimate Weapon? I like the sound of that!" He excitedly said as he gave his evil laughter.
Meanwhile, the Ninja were helping the crew keep the sails up while the hurricane winds were kicking up. The only one who's not helping was Jay, as he was holding onto the rails and staying out of the rain.
"Hold the line!" Zane told the others.
"The winds are too strong!" Lloyd shouted.
"And the waves are too high!" Melissa cried.
"Just keep your eyes on the horizon!" Cole told them.
"I can't find the horizon!" Kai responded as the rain beat down on his eyes.
"We need everyone's help, Jay!" Zane called out to the Blue Ninja behind them.
"But I don't wanna get wet!" Jay protested. "I only have one pair of underwear!"
"Jay, this is no time to be making jokes!" Melissa shouted. "The Bounty can only take so much!"
"You think I'm trying to be funny?!" Jay shouted before they all heard laughter coming from everywhere. "OK, laugh all you want, but we'll see who laughs last when I have to go commando!"
Cole looked around in confusion, "Who's laughing?!" He questioned.
Meanwhile, Nya, Misako, Rachel, Luci, and Wu were on the bridge as they heard the laughter too.
"Ugh, sounds like some of us are getting a real kick out of all this!" Nya retorted.
"That's not laughter!" Misako retorted grimly.
"We know the other's laughter, and those are not the others," Luci said in worry.
"What is that sound, then?!" Wu asked before they saw a bunch of starfish with teeth on the window.
"Starteeth!" Rachel responded.
Outside, more of the Starteeth landed on the Bounty and started making chewing noises as the Ninja heard their laughter.
"Uh, guys, why is the sea laughing at us?!" Kai asked as he was getting concerned about the laughter.
"And why do I have a feeling we're not gonna get the joke?!" Jay added before some Starteeth jumped on board.
"Hey, what's that?" Cole asked as he accidentally let go of the rope. The others screamed as they were losing their grip.
"I'm coming!" Jay cried as he grabbed the rope.
"About time, Jay!" Kai retorted as a huge wave crashed onto the deck washing over them.
"Oh, perfect!" Jay grumbled as Cole picked up one of the Starteeth.
"It looks like some kind of… starfish?" Cole said as he saw the urchin-like maw of the Starteeth.
"Wait!" Rachel shouted as she ran over to him, "We must not let the Starteeth on board! They devour any ships that sail into their waters, and they won't stop munching until we sink!"
The Starteeth then bit Cole as he screamed and threw it away. "It bit me!" He shouted. More of them then jumped onto the rope holding onto the sails and bit it in half. With the sails loose, the ship started to rock as more Starteeth came aboard.
"That's not good!" Melissa said worriedly.
"Get these things off the ship!" Kai shouted as they grabbed as many Starteeth as possible. They then quickly tossed them overboard. Some of the Starteeth jumped onto Kai, startling him. "Argh! I'm starstruck!" He shouted before he quickly got them off him and threw them back into the ocean. "Unh! Good riddance, water vampires!"
"Faster! Or we'll sink!" Lloyd shouted as he tossed more overboard.
"Back to the ocean you go, starfish rejects!" Melissa yelled as she threw another Starteeth off the ship.
Jay was then throwing some off the sail pole. "Get off of there!" He ordered before he felt some "Oh, my! Aah! Get them off! Get them off!" He panicked.
"Use your Spinjitzu!" Kai called out to Jay.
"NINJA, GO!" Jay shouted as he did Spinjitzu, tossing the Starteeth off him only to land them onto the sails. "OK, that was a bad idea," He said after he stopped spinning and saw the Starteeth eat off the sails.
"NINJA, GO!" The rest of the Ninja shouted as they did Spinjitzu and got the rest of the Starteeth overboard.
"Sink your teeth into that!" Kai shouted as Jay saw some Starteeth chewing their way on the chains of the anchor.
"They eat through metal too?!" Jay asked in surprise.
"Uh, guys!" Lloyd shouted as he looked to the side. "I think we have a bigger problem!" He pointed as they saw the front port side of the Bounty having a hole where the Starteeth chewed through.
"Are you kidding me?!" Melissa complained.
"Oh, I should've brought an extra pair of underwear!" Jay complained.
In the morning, the Destiny's Bounty was still floating but was slowly filling up with water from the hole and the sails had been badly damaged. The group, with Melissa not with them right now, was currently trying to get the water out of the ship but with little success. Jay used a bucket to scoop up some of the water then tossed it out of the same hole that was made by the Starteeth. Everyone on board was helping with the water and there was a bit of tension in the air.
"Ah, this is hopeless!" Kai complained. "Now that we have no rudder, we've been drifting aimlessly and will never get to the Dark Island."
"Not only that, but we can't even sail back to Ninjago to get there, so we're pretty much stuck," Cole added.
"We only know what is foretold will happen. Not when it happens." Misako assured them as she, Rachel, and Luci held up some scrolls they managed to save from the chaos.
Zane then dropped his bucket and looked out the hole.
"What is it, Zane?" Wu asked when they noticed him acting odd.
"I sense something," Zane told them.
"Is it the falcon? Is he all right?" Nya asked.
"No, it's, uh…" Zane started before he saw the Bounty sailing towards an island with a stone tower up ahead. "Something else. Brace yourselves!"
The Bounty then crashed into the island and everyone was flipped off their feet
Everyone groaned and stood up, as they stepped outside and looked at the tower.
"Who would build a lighthouse way out here?" Lloyd wondered, looking at the lighthouse.
"It's not a lighthouse. It's a prison," Zane corrected.
"I better let Melissa know, I'll be right back," Lloyd said as he began to walk to Melissa's room.
Rachel then looked at Misako and Luci. "Uhh, didn't Melissa say that she was gonna change into some dry clothes?" She quietly asked them.
"I don't think Lloyd heard her during bucketing the water off the Bounty," Misako said with a cringe look.
"Oh dear," Luci said with a cringe look.
Lloyd walked through the hallway of the bounty before he reached Melissa's room and was about to open the door.
"Hey, Melissa, I just wanna let you know that...!" Lloyd stopped himself as he walked in just in time to see Melissa taking off her shirt while her pants were off already, leaving her wearing only her light lavender and black patterned bra and underwear.
Luckily Melissa still had her back turned so she didn't realize she was semi-naked in front of her best friend as she flipped her arm around and tossed her shirt away.
"Thank goodness those Starteeth didn't eat into the rooms. And that my clothes were still dry. That storm was really something." Melissa said as she looked through her drawers, bending over and unintentionally showing her butt to Lloyd standing behind her.
Lloyd gave a huge blush as he saw his own best friend's behind as he looked away while still being red in the face. Once Melissa got out a shirt and turned around, her eyes widened when she saw Lloyd standing by the door her face turned red as well.
"Uh… H-Hi, Melissa?" Lloyd said awkwardly.
"AAAAHHH!" Melissa screamed as she covered herself. "L-Lloyd! Wh-What are you doing here?! Haven't you heard of knocking?!"
"S-Sorry, sorry! I, I-I didn't know you were changing! A-A-And I just was, was um..." Lloyd tried to say as he looked away a bit.
Melissa then took a breath and a firm look and grabbed Lloyd by the collar of his shirt, "We're talking about this, now." Melissa told him firmly as Lloyd gulped and was pulled in and Melissa put him on her bed and locked the door, "How long?" She asked, with her hands on her hips and she stood right in front of Lloyd.
"N-Not long," Lloyd answered nervously, trying to keep his eye from going below Melissa's neck. "I-I came in when you uhh… took off your shirt and saw you… bend over?" He said nervously.
"Oh, Lloyd! Have you ever heard of knocking!" Melissa said while rubbing her head. "I told you and the others I would change into dry clothes after that storm and Starteeth attack!"
"I didn't hear you! I swear! Jay was blabbering about him not packing any spare underwear in my ear that I couldn't hear anyone else!" Lloyd said in defense.
"Oh, Jay always kept making noises," Melissa muttered as she gave a huge blush. "But, Lloyd, you can't just waltz into a girl's room. You have to knock first!" She stated. "It's a matter of privacy you know."
"Lesson learned." Lloyd nodded while trying to look down at Melissa's body.
"Now, what was so important that you walked in on me while I was like this?" Melissa asked, gesturing to her underwear.
"O-Oh well, it's just that, uhh, we've reached some type of land like a lighthouse prison," Lloyd said while briefly looking at Melissa's underwear before looking away. "I-I just thought I'd let you know."
Melissa rolled her eyes, seeing what Lloyd was doing, "Lloyd, just stop. You've already seen everything, so there's no point trying to look away." She said with a sigh as Lloyd looked at her completely.
"Sorry, I-I tried to at least not to make you uncomfortable." Lloyd apologized while rubbing his head.
"Thanks, but honestly, this isn't as uncomfortable as I thought it would be," Melissa told him honestly.
"R-Really?" Lloyd said in surprise.
"It could've been worse, it could've been one of the others who walked in instead of you," Melissa said with a small smile. "At least my best friend saw me. Because if there's one boy I trust to see my body." She said sitting next to Lloyd. "That's you, Lloyd."
Lloyd gave a small smile and a light blush from that. "Uh, th-thanks for saying that, Melissa. That makes me a bit better." He said.
"Anytime," Melissa said with a smile before she gave a look. "But never tell anyone about this, ever. This is just between us, OK?"
"Got it! Understand! My lips are sealed!" Lloyd nodded instantly before standing. "I better get back with the others. They're waiting for us. I'll tell them you're getting dressed."
"OK, just let me finish getting dressed and I'll be out shortly," Melissa told him.
"Got it," Lloyd said with a nod as he walked out of the room.
When Lloyd left, Melissa's face turned red and she let out rapid deep breaths she didn't know that she was holding.
"That was so embarrassing," Melissa said as she gave a thought. "But… at least he saw me. I hoped he liked my body though." She said with a small smile.
A short bit later, after Melissa got dressed, the Ninja began their walk up to the lighthouse before they heard a large growl coming from the ocean.
"Oh, I should've brought an extra pair of underwear," Jay said nervously.
"Stop complaining about your underwear, Jay," Melissa said to him with an annoyed look.
"Mysterious," Wu commented. "We better keep going." He advised.
They then continued up the steps until they reached the door and saw a camera on top of the door looking down on them.
"Uh, should we smile?" Jay joked a bit.
The camera looked at Zane before they heard locks being unlocked and a familiar man that Zane was shocked to see open the door: an elderly man, bespectacled, with grayish hair, a scientist's coat, and a pair of ice blue eyes who looked joyously at Zane.
"Zane!" The man cheered. "Is it really you?! You finally found me!" He then hugged him tightly.
"Um, do you know him?" Lloyd asked in confusion.
"Of course, I know him!" The man smiled and adjusted his glasses. "I built the boy, for heaven's sake!"
"But my memory tells me that you passed away," Zane told his father with disbelief at the sight of him.
"Ahh, you found your memory switch," Zane's father said before they heard the growls again which made the man concerned. "Hurry, he can't know that you are here, or else there'll be dues to pay," He whispered to them.
Jay gulped nervously. "he?" he asked frighteningly.
"I'll explain everything inside," Zane's father told them before he turned to Zane, "Including why it is that you thought I was dead."
They all walked inside before Nya gave one last look towards the Destiny's Bounty.
"Well, the Bounty's sailing days are over," Nya said with a sigh.
"Come, Nya," Wu said before she joined everyone inside.
Zane's father then quickly closed the door and used a key to lock it. "Locking, barricading, hand checking," He said as he checked the cameras and sighed in relief, "I think we're safe. This way." He led them upstairs and into a room with a bunch of machinery around and a few blueprints as well. "Please, please have a seat. You must be thirsty."
"Seat, where?" Zane asked his father as he scratched his head.
Zane's father pulled a lever, the giant light bulb flipping over to be replaced with a table. "There, of course," He said.
"Wow! That's clever." Rachel commented with a smile as they all took a seat.
"A technical wizard," Cole commented.
With the others and Zane's father not looking, Jay snagged blue boxers with yin and yang symbols on them as he looked around to see if the close was clear as he sat with the others.
Soon, as they were all seated, Zane's father pressed a button. A tiny robot came up, hopping onto the table and placing several cups for everyone. The robot then returned to the man, who gave it a teapot before it returned to the guests. It began to pour them all some tea, but Jay decided to mess around, deliberately moving his cup around and preventing the robot from pouring until it accidentally poured the hot liquid into his lap. Yelping in pain, he started jumping around in pain while everyone laughed.
Zane then noticed his blueprints on a board, oddly the same ones that showed his being a Nindroid, as his father walked over to him.
"But, father, I don't understand. I saw you pass," Zane said as he turned to him.
"Yes, you did, and believe me when I tell you, I thought I was kaput!" Zane's father said, "But as you know in Ninjago, the past is the past," He told him.
"And the future." Misako continued.
"Is the future." Wu finished.
"But, uhh, no offense, sir but how are you alive?" Melissa asked.
"Yes. You are a bit older than old Mr…?" Luci asked a bit politely.
"Julien. Dr. Julien." Julien introduced himself with a smile. "As for how I'm still alive, after I turned off your memory switch, Zane, while your memories were still resetting, bonehead Samukai came into my lab and revived me with a special elixir."
"Samukai brought you back?! But why?" Kai asked as they wondered the same thing.
"Who's Samukai?" Melissa asked.
"Oh, right, you and Lloyd weren't there at the time, Melissa," Jay said since Lloyd and Melissa were never part of their first adventure to find the Golden Weapons.
"Samukai was the ruler of the Underworld before Lord Garmadon was banished there and took charge," Kai explained with a frown. "He even kidnapped Nya to use as leverage for me."
"Well if he was the ruler of the Skulkin before my dad took over, then how come I haven't seen him when we took the Fang Blades from Pythor?" Lloyd asked.
"Because when Samukai had the Golden Weapons, all that power was too much for anyone to use at that time, even a four-armed skeleton like Samukai," Cole said to him. "Which resulted in him going poof and opening a portal for Garmadon to leave the Underworld to get stronger for the Golden Weapons."
"So in other words, this Samukai is dead, dead?" Melissa asked in surprise.
"Yeah, he's dead, dead," Kai confirmed before turning to Dr. Julien. "But what did Samukai want from you?"
"He wanted me to build state-of-the-art war machines for his army, but I refused," Dr. Julien said before he looked down with a sad look. "After that, he brought me here and told me that if I didn't, then I would never be able to see my son again. And to make sure I didn't escape, he chained a Leviathan to keep guard."
"A Leviathan?" Lloyd asked in confusion. "That's what we heard in the ocean?"
"That also explains where the Skulkin got those vehicles." Cole realized.
"Yes," Dr. Julien spoke up as he turned to Zane. "When Samukai didn't return, I thought I would never see you again." He then had a sad look on his face. "But as so much time has passed, I started to question if you would ever want to see me again. I was afraid if you found out what horrible things I've created, you would think I was a... a monster."
"We will get you out of here, Father," Zane assured him. "Now that we are together, perhaps we can invent a way off this rock."
"Could you repair the rocket boosters on our ship?" Jay asked as he pointed to the Bounty out the window.
"That pirate ship has rocket boosters?!" Dr. Julien said excitedly.
Nya then approached him. "Yes, but the rotors and boosters are shot..." She tried to explain.
"Oh, pish-posh!" Dr. Julien assured her. "No problem at all! I'll have your ship airworthy by dawn!"
The growling from the Leviathan was even louder than before and Dr. Julien knew what it meant as the whole place began to rumble.
"It's an earthquake!" Cole shouted as they all tried to keep their balance.
"No. It's much worse!" Dr. Julien told them as a blue tentacle rose out of the sea. "He's here. Everyone, hide!"
Everybody hid in the corners as the tentacle looped around the lighthouse and three orange eyes on the end peered inside.
"No one make a sound," Dr. Julien warned in a light hush, as he turned to the Leviathan with a smile. "Aha, if it isn't my old chum!" He said nervously as the Leviathan eyed the cups He forgot about. He quickly rearranged them into a makeshift drum set and started playing with them using spoons. "Hehe, just marching to the beat of my own drum." He scat a bit before continuing. "You know, doing whatever I can to pass the time. Since I'm so, you know, heh, alone," he said.
The Leviathan then turned its attention to the Bounty and turned back to him. "Ehehe, oh my, how in the world did that get here?" He said nervously. "Oh, don't worry, I'm not going anywhere. Even if I could, that old ship's in too terrible a shape to sail anywhere."
The Leviathan then lowered its tentacle back under the ocean and once it was gone, the others came out of hiding.
"If we're gonna make something to get out of here, we're gonna have to hurry before that thing comes back," Kai suggested.
They all then spent the rest of the day restoring the Bounty's flight. They got to work replacing the sails, repairing the boosters, patching up the hole in the bow, and sewing together several fabrics for the sails. As they were sewing, Lloyd and Melissa looked at Cole, who was whistling 'The Weekend Whip' and he turned to them.
"Are you whistling the song I sang at that Talent Show?" Melissa asked in amusement.
"What? It's catchy." Cole said with a shrug. "You did sing pretty well back then."
"Did any of you guys get the recording of Melissa singing?" Lloyd asked.
"Oh, record it? It's a hit on Ninjago's greatest songs." Cole answered, much to Melissa's embarrassment. "We even kept a CD of it." He said as he held up the CD of when they were on the talent show.
"Cole," Melissa said in embarrassment as Lloyd gave a chuckle.
"Don't be embarrassed, Melissa. I always told you that you are a great singer and I'm glad that you got over your stage fright." Lloyd said with a smile as Melissa gave a blush.
"Thanks, Lloyd. And trust me, it was a bit easy with fighting snakes." Melissa said as Lloyd gave a chuckle.
Meanwhile, back in the lighthouse, Dr. Julien let out a burp as the little robot helper took his bowl.
"Excuse me, but I must say, I never had such a meal in all my life," Juilen told Zane, quite satisfied, as Zane took the bowl from the little robot. "Where did you learn to cook such a delicacy? I never programmed that into you."
"I guess I just picked it up," Zane told him before he had a look on his face that said that he wanted to ask him something. "Father, if I wanted you to make a change in me, would you?"
"A change?" Dr. Julien raised a brow.
"An alteration," Zane elaborated.
Dr. Julien chuckled. "But, Zane, you're perfect. I could never make you any better than you already are," He assured.
"But I see no reason for me to have a memory switch," Zane told him. "I happen to like my life and don't want to ever forget you again." He then walked over and looked out the window as his father placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry, my son," Dr. Julien said. "We will both never forget." Zane then looked at him as he was smiling and gave a nod. "I'm glad you found me." The two of them then shared a hug.
"I'm glad you made me," Zane told him before they heard the Leviathan's growl and rushed to the others.
"Everyone aboard! It's coming!" Dr. Julien yelled as giant blue tentacles rose from the ocean.
"It's here!" Kai shouted.
"That thing is huge!" Rachel yelled as the Leviathan gave a roar.
"Get us out of here, Nya!" Jay shouted as they all boarded the Bounty and Nya entered the bridge.
"I hope she's ready!" Nya shouted as the rocket boosters turned on and lifted off from the ground. Everyone on board tried to keep their balance as the tentacles of the Leviathan tried to grab the ship. "Come on!" She shouted as she gave it everything she got.
Wu then turned to Lloyd and Melissa. "Lloyd! Melissa! Use your powers!"
"As you wish, Sensei!" Melissa said as she and Lloyd stood up and charged up their powers.
"Release us, you monster!" Lloyd shouted as he and Melissa shot blasts over them as it expanded and surrounded the Bounty and the Leviathan roared in pain and let go of the Bounty as they took off.
"Well done, you two!" Wu said to them as the Bounty tried to fly away. But the Leviathan regained its senses and latched onto the Bounty again.
"Now what do we do?!" Jay panicked.
Zane then looked over as he saw the chain in one of the Leviathan tentacles. "It's chained!" He called out as he then had an idea as he stood on the railing with his father seeing it.
"Zane, what are you doing?!" Julien asked his son.
"The Leviathan won't let us leave!" Zane told him. "I think I know a way I can help!" He added.
"But you can't!" Dr. Julien argued. "These oceans are filled with Starteeth!" He warned.
"I know," Zane said as he dove into the water.
"Zane! NO!" Dr. Julien cried out as he saw his son dive into the ocean.
When Zane was in the water, he saw the body of the Leviathan. There, they saw the base of where the Leviathan was chained before he spotted a few Starteeth nearby.
"Do not worry, you shall be free soon," Zane promised as he grabbed as many Starteetch as he could and placed them on the chain and they started eating the metal as Zane swam back up to the surface.
Above the water, the Leviathan was dragging the Bounty closer and closer towards the water.
"Oh, man! This is the end!" Kai cried as the Starteeth were close to eating through the chain and Zane saw the Bounty beginning to be submerged while the others screamed.
"HELP!" Lloyd cried.
Then at the very last second, the Starteeth managed to cut through the chain. The Leviathan roared in elation when it realized it was finally free and then released its grip from the Bounty.
"It let us go," Melissa said in surprise as they stood up.
"What happened?" Dr. Julien asked as Lloyd helped him up.
"Zane released the Leviathan and now it's letting us go," Lloyd explained as Zane began to climb back up on deck.
"But where's my son?" Julien asked worried as he saw Lloyd smile and turned to see his son.
"I'm here, father," Zane answered with a smile as he stepped on deck.
"Zane!" Julien said as he rushed up to his son and hugged him in relief
"How did you know if you freed it from captivity, it would let us go?" Wu asked Zane.
"Because no one deserves to be held against their will," Zane answered. "Not even a monster."
They then turned and saw the Leviathan raising its eyed tentacle out of the ocean, releasing a happy growl as it started swimming away.
"Farewell, creature from the sea. Enjoy your freedom," Zane waved to the Leviathan.
Nya then started the engines again and the Bounty blasted away. "Next stop, the Island of Darkness!" She declared as the flying ship flew towards their greatest battle yet.
The Bounty continued flying as the Ninja maintained the ship to make sure it stayed afloat. Cole was at the bow, looking out for trouble before he saw land up ahead.
"Guys, land ho!" Cole shouted, getting their attention.
The others looked at where Cole was pointing as they saw the black-sanded beach up ahead,
"We're here!" Jay cheered.
"The Island of Darkness," Misako said in awe.
"It really does exist," Rachel said in awe as well.
"Even from this angel, it doesn't seem that evil," Luci commented.
The Bounty soon landed on the beach, hiding among the trees, as one by one the Ninja and their allies jumped off.
"So this is where we're gonna get our powers back?" Kai asked as he looked around.
"But do not forget, Garmadon and the Stone Army may also be lurking around." Zane reminded him as he helped his father down, "We must proceed with caution."
"Well, we can't just leave the bounty out in the open." Cole pointed out.
"Cole's right," Nya said in agreement. "The old girl sticks out like a sore thumb that will be easy to spot. We need to hide it." She stated.
"Then we better get started at hiding the Bounty before any Stone Warriors show up," Lloyd said to them.
When Melissa stepped foot on the island she felt her head in pain as she held her face, which the others noticed as Lloyd rushed up to her.
"Melissa, are you OK?" Luci asked as Lloyd held her shoulder in concern.
"I, I don't know," Melissa said as she clutched her head from the pain before it vanished. "I-It's OK. I'm fine, now. Just a little headache."
"These headaches have been happening ever since we've faced that giant Stone Warrior, Melissa." Lloyd pointed out in concern. "Are you sure there's nothing wrong?"
"I'm sure," Melissa assured him. "We're on the Dark Island. This place is full of dark energy. I am the Ninja of Yin after all. I probably just felt it somehow."
"She got a point. From those clouds in the distance, this place is called the 'Dark' Island after all." Kai said with a shrug.
"Well, if something is wrong, it's OK to tell us, dear," Rachel said to her in concern.
"I know. Don't worry. I'll be fine." Melissa assured them. "Now, how about we hide the Bounty before we're spotted?" She suggested.
"Let's get to work." Dr. Julien said as they all then started working on the Bounty while Lloyd looked at his best friend in concern before looking at the island and then back to her, fearing that this island might have some effect on Melissa.
Somewhere on the Dark Island over Garmadon's camp, the Overlord was floating around before he felt a familiar presence that he hadn't felt in a long time as he gave a sinister sigh.
"So, she's finally here. She has returned home." The Overlord said with glee as he gave a sinister laugh.
To be continued...
A/N: And that was The Last Voyage and this was a nice one with Zane reuniting with his father there was a little awkward moment between Lloyd and Melissa and it appears that something is going on with Melissa as well but the question is what? I hope you all enjoyed the chapter, leave a review and tell us what you think.
Up Next: The Ninja have to locate the Temple of Light without being caught by The Stone Army.
Here's the Cast List
Jillian Michaels as Lloyd and Edna; Tara Strong as Melissa; Vincent Tong as Kai and Starteeth; Michael Adamthwaite as Jay; Brent Miller as Zane; Andrew Francis as Cole and Lou; Paul Dobson as Wu and Rufus McCallister; Kelly Metzger as Nya; Mark Oliver as Garmadon and Dr. Julien; Scott McNeil as The Overlord; Kathleen Barr as Misako; Veronica Taylor as Rachel; Alyson Court as Luci; Alan Marriott as Dareth; and Colin Murdock as Ed.