At the bottom of the Endless Sea, R.E.X was piloting through the water with the Ninja inside. "We're almost to the Tomb of the First Spinjitzu Master." Zane informed them while looking at the coordinates.
"Yeah." Cole said with a smile. "Can't believe we're almost there, after all we've been through." He said while Kai looked nervous.
"I can't believe I'm underwater." Kai said as he looked out to the ocean in fear.
"You? What about me?" Cole questioned, reminding Kai that he's a ghost surrounded by their one weakness. "Just how thick is this glass?"
"Don't know, let me check," Lydie teased as she raised an aero blade to the glass as Kai and Cole gave high pitched screams and got to cover. But Lydie lowered the blade as she gave a hysterical laugh. "Fooled you~!" She sang with a smirk. "Come on. Do you really think I'd be stupid enough to make us drown or go poof?" She questioned in amusement at the frightened Ninja.
Kai was in Zane's arms while Jay was hunkered down in fear, but once they realized Lydie was just playing they calmed down, "Oh, hehe, yeah, I knew that," Kai said in embarrassment before looking to Zane, "Have you been pumping titanium?" He quipped to the Nindroid who just blinked in confusion.
Jay then stood up and sighed in relief before glaring, "Okay, your safe. Now get out!" He ordered.
Just then, Cole exited Jay's body as he sighed in relief. "Good one, Captain. But please, no more scaring us to death pranks." He said with a look as they already experience one of Lydie's pranks at the Caves of Despair while Lydie giggled.
"Remind me again how men are supposed to be the braver gender?" Lydie teased them.
"Hey!" The boys all exclaimed in insult before the monitors turned on to reveal Wu and Misako on the Bounty.
"We're heading to your location now." Wu told them. "With Morro already ahead of you, and able to foresee the traps protecting the tomb with the Sword of Sanctuary, it's going to be up to you five to find the Realm Crystal before he does." He instructed.
"Heh, Cole's a ghost, Kai can't swim, we have no magical sword, our powers are unstable without Lloyd to balance them with Lydie's powers." Jay sarcastically said with a chuckle. "What can go wrong?"
"Well according to Murphy's law, possibly losing power, the engine exploding, drowning or being crushed by the pressure," Zane commented casually.
"We really need to work on your small talk functions, Zane." Jay muttered as they moved past a squid like creature who opened it's eyes when it spotted them.
"I still can't believe we're actually going to my grandfather's final resting." Lydie said with an exciting smile. "And aside from Lloyd, who is possessed by Morro, I will be the second of his family to actually see it!"
"If we survive the Three tests that stand between us and him," Kai commented.
"Right, right," Lydie said, remembering the situation before turning to the monitor, "So mom, did you find anything about what we're gonna face aside from Morro?" She asked.
"No. I may not know the three tests you're about to face, sweetie." Misako said to her before she held up a scroll. "But I discovered a riddle that makes reference to it that may help." She said as she opened up the scroll and read it. "'A Spinjitzu Master can. A Spinjitzu Master can not. To move forward, don't look ahead to find his resting spot'." She read.
"Huh, that's food for thought." Cole commented before Jay saw something that made him gave a nervous gulp.
"Uh, speaking of food," Jay started before the others saw the squid swimming towards them. "We're about to be some!" He exclaimed.
"A Leviathan! We have to go faster! Much faster!" Kai called out as Cole went full speed as the Leviathan used one of its tentacles to make a crack on the glass screen. "Why did the tomb have to be underwater?!"
"Hold on!" Cole called as he controlled R.E.X. as they moved around to avoid he Leviathan while it swam after them.
"Ugh! What kind of weapons is this thing equipped with?" Jay cried out in a panic.
"We don't need weapons." Lydie said with a glare as she pointed ahead. "Aim for that rock, Cole!" She ordered.
"You got it!" Cole said as he steered R.E.X towards the cave as the Leviathan tried to follow but it got stuck.
The five Ninia cheered in victory, "Thatta boy, R.E.X! Thatta Boy!" Jay complimented.
"Glad that's over with." Lydie said in relief. "Let's hope that even with the Sword, Morro is slowing down a bit after going through that."
Meanwhile within the tomb, Morro opened a door to an open chamber where a golden staff rests on a pedestal far ahead. He looks around before looking at the blade of the Sword of Sanctuary as it shows him multiple traps coming from everywhere, giving him an idea on what he needed to do to advance.
Below the water, R.E.X. steered itself upward until it resurfaced. Upon breaching the cave, the Ninja could see a statue with candles close to an entrance as they exited the ship, after Lydie put Morro's emblem and picture in her gi, and hopped on solid ground. "If you wanna hide a tomb, this looks like a good place." Cole commented. "We're here." He said.
Lydie then saw a piece of green/golden cloth on a branch, next to them. "Yep. This is a piece of Lloyd's Gi. Morro definitely got here first." She said as she inspected the cloth.
"Well, there goes any hope that Leviathan ate Morro," Jay complained.
"If he did, it would've eaten my brother, Jay." Lydie said with a look, which made Jay flinched.
"Hey, stay positive," Kai told the two, "We're about to go through traps we know nothing about and all we have to rely on is each other. At least feel lucky we got this far." He said optimistically.
"Oh I'm sorry, you're right. What was I thinking?" Jay said sarcastically, "There goes any hope Morro couldn't find the tomb! We're not alone! Yay! Now we're gonna have to fight him again! Sure we got our tails handed to us last time, but you never know in the future, because ninja never quit." He ranted before giving a look. "Better?"
"Eh. I'll take it." Kai said with a shrug.
"Jay, be grateful I didn't slap you out of your rants that time." Lydie said with a brow. "At least you guys have powers that can throw Morro off balance. Mine are still weaker with Morro possessed Lloyd."
"Not that it helps since our powers will still go haywire," Cole reminded.
"Still, it's a pain." Lydie said with a sigh before Zane stepped forward.
"Look." Zane said as he pointed to the statue with the candles behind them as they turned and saw the statue that looked like Wu and Garmadon.
"The First Spinjitzu Master." Cole said in awe, as were the others. "Creator of all Ninjago."
"Whoa." Kai muttered in breath.
Lydie was especially in awe, though she had heard many tales about her grandfather she had dreamed of meeting him and now she would finally get the chance to see his final resting spot.
They heard beeping coming from R.E.X. "Destination reached. Auto return initiated," they heard a computerized voice say.
"Auto return?" Jay questioned before they all turned and saw R.E.X. going back into the water. "No, no, no. Bad R.E.X.! Bad!" He called out as they rushed towards it, but R.E.X. was already out of reach.
"Our Aeroblades were in there!" Zane exclaimed as the ship dived out of sight.
"Not to mention our only way back!" Kai added before Jay turned to him with a smile.
"Hey, stay positive! Who needs a way back when we gotta go that way?" Jay said as he pointed to the tunnel.
"Jay's right." Lydie said in agreement. "We might not have any weapons, no sword, we can't use our powers effectively, so no problems. We can do this, guys." She encouraged.
"As Iron Sharpens Iron," Kai started with a grin.
"Brother and Sister sharpen each other." Cole finished as they headed down the corridor.
They continued down the tunnel before they entered a room with sixteen doors with different symbols with the FSM holding a crystal in different formations as the door they walked through in closed behind them.
"This could be the first test." Cole said to them.
"With the doors and symbols, seems like it." Lydie said as she looked around.
"Ooh! Why did it have to be test?s" Jay asked nervously. "Why can't the tomb just be protected by dragons? We're good with dragons."
"Not me." Lydie said with her arms crossed. "Everytime we meet one at first sight, they attack me first and want to make me their new chew toy."
"Oh, right. Sorry, captain." Jay said with a sheepish look as they all looked at the doors.
"I think we're supposed to pick a door," Kai said, but felt this was too simple. "But which one?"
"Uh, what was it Misako said?" Jay asked.
"A Spinjitzu Master can. A Spinjitzu Master can not. To move forward, don't look ahead to find his resting spot." Zane recited as they looked around.
"A Spinjitzu Master can. Can what, exactly?" Lydie muttered before she noticed something, "Wait, count the doors. There's sixteen of them."
"Sixteen doors, for sixteen realms?" Jay theorized.
"Makes sense, remember this place is not only my Grandfather's tomb but also the resting place of the artifact that can travel between realms." Lydie shrugged before rubbing her chin, "Maybe the test is to choose the door that represents Ninjago,"
"But we don't even know which realms these doors represent," Cole said to her. "And if we pick the wrong door we'll be in a realm of hurt."
"Oh, I wish we had the sword right about now." Jay complained.
"We can figure this out." Kai assured. "A Spinjitzu Master can. Can." He muttered.
"What can grandfather can do?" Lydie muttered while rubbing her chin before Jay turned to the door with a tornado symbol.
"The symbol above this door, it's a tornado," Jay said to them. "This could be the one, right?" He suggested.
"You could be right," Kai said as Jay walked up to the door to open it.
But then Zane steps in. "Jay, wait!" He called out, stopping Jay from opening it as Pixal scanned the carving on the door.
"Picture recognition analyzing. Pattern discovered." Pixal informed as Zane saw a pattern from the three figures on the doors moving the crystal around.
"Step away from that door, Jay." Zane said as he moved Jay away from the door he was gonna open.
"What is it?" Jay asked in concern.
"We're inside a zoetrope," Zane answered.
"A zoe-what?" Kai asked in confusion.
"A zoetrope," Zane repeated. "The engravings in rapid succession creates a moving image." He explained.
"Uh, I don't get it." Cole said in confusion.
Lydie then thought, "Wait, if these carvings create an image," She started before realizing it, "A Spinjitzu Master can, of course. Guys, remember how my Grandfather created Ninjago."
"Spinjitzu," The four said in realization.
"Exactly, this test must represent how my grandfather first created Ninjago and why only Spinjitzu Master can solve it," Lydie explained.
"You have to do Spinjitzu." Kai answered with a smile.
"If you spin fast enough you should see the shape the image make," Zane added.
"Which might be the shape to help us find the right door," Cole continued.
"And lead us to the Realm Crystal!" Jay finished.
"Exactly, now give me some room," Lydie said as the four boys backed away. "NINJA, GO!" She called as she then did Spinjitzu as she saw the engravings on the wall as the crystal started moving in formation as it created a Yin-Yang symbol. "He's creating some sort of Yin-Yang shape!" She called as she got out of her Spinjitzu and pointed to the Yin-Yang door. "That one! That's the door out of here."
The boys looked confused though, "Uh, Captain? That's the exact same door we came in from," Cole told Lydie.
"No, don't you remember?" Lydie asked, "During the days when my Grandfather fought against the Overlord, Ninjago and the Dark Island were one and the same island. The Yin and Yang must represent what it looked like before the split." She told them.
"She is correct." Zane said in agreement. "I believe she is 99.9 percent correct."
"Are you sure?" Cole asked.
"Are you sure you want to doubt a nindroid?" Zane retorted with a brow.
"Open the door. Let's find out." Lydie said as they walked up to the door and opened it, but instead of showing their way in, it revealed the room Morro was in earlier. "I knew it." She said with a smirk.
"But… that wasn't there before." Cole said in shock as they entered the room. "How can it be the way in, if that's the way we came in?"
"Welcome to the Tomb of the First Spinjitzu Master, Cole. Members of my family are always full of surprises." Lydie said with a smirk.
"Hey, hey! Nice one, Zane." Jay complimented. "Who needs a Sword of Sanctuary when you've got a nindroid?" He questioned with a smirk as they looked at the new room.
The Destiny's Bounty flew then flew over the ocean where the tomb is below as it landed on the water while the others looked out, "These are the coordinates Ronin's ship had directed them too," Misako said as she and Wu stepped out from the bridge.
"Then the tomb is right below here." Wu said while pointing down to the water.
"That's not all that's here," Demir spoke up as he looked across the sea to see Bansha and Soul Archer on the Ghost Ship, "Looks like Morro's goons are keeping watch, but there's only two of 'em." He noted.
"Who are there?" Nya asked.
"I only see Bansha and Soul Archer on their boat," Demir informed them. "I don't see Ghoul Tar with them." He said as he passed the spyglass to Rose.
"Perhaps this implies the Ninja have already-" Rose stopped when she saw Soul Archer looking directly at her with his own spyglass, "They've seen us!" She exclaimed in worry.
Nya gasped, "Should we fire up the weapons?" She asked, already rushing to a cannon.
"No, getting into unnecessary battles only distracts us from preparing for the necessary ones that lay ahead," Wu advised. "We wait."
"Plus, they know if we sink their ship, they're sunk," Demir added, reminding them that they were surrounded by water. "Gotta love places the bad guys hate."
"But just in case, how's your elemental training coming?" Wu asked the three.
Rose smiled and held her hand up as some kelp rose up from the water, "I have been improving, Sensei," She said confidently. "I can grow plants but not quite control them,"
"And I can do this," Demir said as focused on a metal pole and twisted into different shapes, "Still working on making and controlling my own metal but at least I can bend it." He explained.
"Eh, who knows?" Nya shrugged off. "I can move water, but it's not like I can control it. Whatever." She said as the three walked off.
"Whatever?" Wu asked in surprise while Misako smiled. "Demir and Rose are improving. But Ronin's indifference is rubbing off on Nya."
"Nya has always put too much pressure on herself," Misako stated before she smiled. "If she's moving water, perhaps it's working." She said with a smile as they looked at the three keeping watch.
Over on the ghost ship, Soul Archer continued to stare at the Destiny's Bounty through his periscope as Banshee was getting a little impatient. "Why don't we attack?!" Banshee asked Soul Archer.
"Look where we are," Soul Archer told her as he gestured to the water below them. "We can't risk losing our boat. So, let's see who flinches first," he said as they kept their eyes on the Bounty.
Back in the tomb, the five Ninja looked at the golden staff. "The staff of the First Spinjitzu Master." Kai said in awed.
"Heh, that staff would definitely suit my brother," Lydie commented as she stepped forward before Cole stopped her.
"Wait! This is the second test, remember?" Cole reminded her as he turned to Zane. "Zane, what do you think?"
Zane then let Pixal scan the room for any clues but got nothing. "Pixal can see no pattern. For this riddle room, I'm at a loss." He said with a frown.
"Think about it. The first test was 'A Spinjitzu Master can.'" Jay reminded them. "So this one's 'A Spinjitzu Master can not.' Though saying it out loud, I don't like the sound of that."
"Maybe the point of this test is to get to the staff," Lydie said in thought as she took a step forward and suddenly, the stone she stepped on sunk into the ground, "Uh-Oh." She muttered before stone arrows shot out from the wall and the Ninja barely dodged them.
"Is everyone okay?" Cole asked, covering his head.
"Phew, that was a close one," Zane commented as he got out of the pose he took to avoid the arrows.
"Every step, uh, a trap," Jay gulped in fear.
"How does one reach the staff if it becomes more difficult with every step to get there?" Zane questioned, "If correct, this riddle room poses quite the conundrum,"
"So if a Spinjitzu Master can't do it, then how are we supposed to reach the staff?" Kai questioned.
"Maybe by using something other than Spinjitzu?" Lydie suggested as she did Spinjitzu and was in reach of the staff but missed and held onto to a stone as more spikes appeared from the walls, "Uh, oh no," She nervously as she let go and avoided the flying spikes and dropped to the floor, setting off more traps.
"Uh, no wait!" Cole called.
"Not that one!" Jay told their leader.
"Watch out behind you!" Kai called as Lydie ducked under another trap.
"Just stop!" Zane called as the four boys dodged a swinging wrecking ball and Jay accidentally set off another trap.
"Aw no!" Kai called as the floor started breaking up and the boys backed away as a large stone appeared and rolled towards them as they, minus Cole, jumped towards Lydie.
Another wrecking ball swung into Cole but it phased right through him, "Wait, I'm a ghost. What am I worried about?" Cole asked as he got his answer as the wrecking ball cracked the wall and water started spilling in. Cole yelped and barely dodged the water, "Okay, that! That I can worry about!" he said in worry as they looked at the staff.
"Okay, let's try this again," Lydie said, narrowing her eyes before rushing towards the Staff, dodging the traps she set off with her every step.
"Captain!" Zane called as Lydie avoided some poison gas.
"No!" Cole shouted as Lydie ran across the falling floor.
"Lydie, hold on!" Kai told the Purple Ninja as she had the staff in reach but was stopped by more spikes and forced to jump back and she gasped when she realized what she did.
"Oh no," Lydie said, as she and the boys had only a single stone to stand on.
"WILL EVERYONE PLEASE STOP MOVING?!" Jay yelled out in anxiety.
Back on the surface, Soul Archer and Bansha are still spying on the Bounty while waiting for either side to strike. "Still no movement?" Bansha questioned.
"They are waiting, like we are." Soul Archer answered while still looking through the spyglass.
"Why are we waiting? It's bad enough we leave the fate of our plans to a spirit a fraction of our age but now we must protect him from his enemies?" Bansha questioned impatiently. "We should be attacking when they least expect it. I thought we weren't afraid of anything."
Soul Archer realizes that Bansha was right. "Very well, but now is not the time," He said to her as he turned to her. "We need to be strategic about it. Patience." He said as they got back watching the Bounty.
Back in the tomb, Lydie sighed as she eyed the staff. "I can make it. It's just a hop, skip, and a jump." She said to the boys as she tried to do Airjitzu again, but she lost her footing and fell on the ground as the remaining floors began to fall as Lydie quickly crawled back to her remaining pillar.
"But what else comes with a hop, skip, and a jump?" Kai asked with concern. "You trigger one more trap, I don't know how much more we can take."
"The clue clearly said this is a test a Spinjitzu Master can not do." Jay reminded them with a look. "So why are we not listening to the clue?!" He exclaimed in anxiety.
"Trust me. I can make it." Lydie said stubbornly before Cole realized something.
"Wait! What if it's a trick?" Cole asked with realization. "What if the reason we can't do it is because we were never meant to reach the staff? What is the first rule of being a Ninja?"
"A ninja never quits." Zane answered.
"Exactly, and that's why we can't do it," Cole told them. "Because a Ninja would never give up,"
"What? Wait? Are you saying we just quit?" Lyide questioned in shock. "Are you insane, Cole?!"
Cole said nothing as looked down into the abyss. "This time, trust me." He said before he jumped over and fell into the abyss with a yell.
"Cole!" The others all screamed as Cole stopped screaming, which made them concerned.
"Whoo-hoo! Ha, ha!" Cole cheered from the abyss below them. "Come on down, and enjoy the ride!"
"He's alive!" Zane said in relief before he jumped down with a yell as Jay and Kai followed, leaving Lydie alone.
Lydie turned back to her grandfather's staff as she looked at it for a moment before she sighed, knowing finding the Realm Crystal was more important, and then jumped down after the others. She found herself sliding down an ice slope. "Really? An ice slope?" She questioned in disbelief before she saw the others ahead. "Try to stay together, boys!"
But they each flung around onto different slopes. "Stay together?! I'm just trying to stay in one piece! Aah!" Jay screamed in panic as they all kept going in twisty-turning slides and each going in different sections.
"No!" Cole shouted as they kept sliding down.
Kai slid upside down before he stopped. "Oh, great!" He called as he fell and landed on Zne. "Sorry!" He apologized before Cole landed on Kai next, then Lydie before Jay came up from behind and collided into them, knocking them down before they saw they were heading for an edge.
"Captain! Iceberg ahead!" Jay warned before they quickly grabbed hold of the icicle.
"No! No!" Zane cried out in panic before he crashed into Kai, causing the two to fall with screams while Lydie, Cole, and Jay tried to hold onto the icicle, but they were slipping.
"Uh, oh." Jay muttered before they lost their grip and continued to slide down as they saw many icicles poking out ahead of them.
"Aw, come on!" Lydie yelled out as they went through the icicles as she realized she was holding a couple in her hands. "Huh." She said in thought.
"Whoo-hoo!" Jay cheered loudly with a smile while riding the two icicles from his foot like skates. "I love skiing! Haha!" He exclaimed.
Soon, Lydie followed Jay's example as she stepped on her icicles. "Whoo-hoo! Now this is fun!" She called out as she skated ahead.
"Yeah!" Jay cheered as he skated forward while Kai, Cole, and Zane were ahead while enjoying the slide.
"Alright!" Cole said with a smile.
Kai then looked ahead and gasped, "Wall!" He shouted, as pointed ahead.
They turned as they all screamed when they saw the ice wall ahead. First Kai, Zane, and Cole went in through the ice wall first, followed by Jay, who tripped and went through the wall upside down, and finally Lydie as ice figures of themselves were on the wall.
Soon, the Ninja were on the ground, groaning from the impact as they got their bearings and realized they were in some sort of ice maze. "Is everyone okay?" Zane asked.
"Define okay, Zane," Lydie muttered with a brow as she rubbed her head. "But at least the ride is over."
"What did we get ourselves into?" Kai asked as they walked into the maze.
Jay climbed up an ice pillar and looked around, "Jay, what do you see up there?" Lydie asked.
"Heh, it's a maze! I'm great at mazes!" Jay cheered with a smile, seeing a huge ice maze around them.
"Okay, first doors to other realms, then the traps to prevent us from getting my grandfather's staff, and now an ice maze?" Lydie questioned with a brow. "Well, at least this is the third test, meaning the only thing that stands between us and the crystal is this maze," She said as they walked deeper inside.
Kai looked around before he saw his reflection, but he saw himself as an middle age man wearing a different elemental attire as he gasped. "Huh! Whoa!" He said in surprise as he looked at his reflection. "If my reflection means anything, I'm starting to think we won't be breaking out of this maze anytime at all."
"My reflection," Zane spoke up as he looked at his own reflection and saw that his model looked older while wearing robes with each elemental symbol down both sides. "Is this…me? I look older, but our attire is different. I don't believe these reflections reveal our inability to escape, but a mere glimpse of our future selves."
"Misako said to move forward, don't look ahead, is that what it means?" Cole questioned as he went next to the ice but noticed that he didn't have a reflection, "Wait a minute, why is it I can't see my reflection? Where is my reflection?!" He asked in worry.
"It's probably because you're a ghost!" Kai told him as Zane brought Cole over and they saw in their reflection nothing where Cole should be.
"Ghosts cast reflects, Kai. He's probably just looking in the wrong place," Zane told them.
"I am looking in the same place you are!" Cole stated in frustration.
"Maybe these reflections are just here to distract us from where the tomb is," Lydie suggested as she saw herself in the same robes as Kai and Zane but she didn't show any signs of being older as she wore a black rice hat, "Though I don't seem any older than I am already," She noted.
"Hey guys, guess what? I get an awesome eye patch!" Jay said excitedly as he saw himself having a goatee, mustache, and eye patch along with robes like the others, "And there's something else," He said before he saw an older Nya walking up to him and snuggling close to him as he smiled happily.
"What, Jay?" Cole asked irritably, "What is so great that you see that I clearly cannot?" He questioned.
"I end up with Nya," Jay whispered happily before shaking his head, "Nothing just an Eye patch," He told them.
The Ninja spread out as Kai focused on his reflection, "Wait, I think I see something too," He said before he saw Skylor, who looked older too, walk up to him and held his reflection lovingly. "Whoa! I end up with Skylor?" He asked in surprise before he smiled. "Oh, Sweet!"
"Seriously?!" Cole questioned in disbelief. "Even Skylor is there when she's really not?!"
"I see something too," Zane said as next to his reflection was Pixal wearing a purple business outfit as she held Zane from behind as he gasped, "Pixal," He said in awe.
"It's, me," Pixal said, just as amazed.
"Okay, seriously?! Pixal is in your head, Zane! How can she be there?!" Cole questioned in frustration as he groaned and walked off from them.
"Hey, come on, Cole, don't be like that," Lydie said to him as she looked at her reflection. "I'm guessing these reflections show us not only our futures but who we spend those futures with,"
"Uh, yeah. But apparently, I'm just a Bachelor." Jay said with a nervous chuckle while keeping his reflection of him and Nya being together a secret.
Cole looked to where his reflection should be with a sigh before he noticed something, "Huh?" He said before he saw an older Seliel, cuddling something that wasn't there, "Hey, I can see Seliel in my reflection but how is she touching nothing?" He said in confusion.
"Perhaps it's to show that while your future is unknown, what is certain is that Seliel will be a part of it," Zane theorized.
"Really?" Cole asked before smiling at Seliel, "Huh, well knowing that Seliel's in my future is enough for me," He said satisfied.
"Heh, what about you captain?" Kai asked Lydie.
"Yeah, who's the lucky guy in your future?" Jay teased as well.
Lydie chuckled, "Very funny guys, but I don't think there's a guy in my future because I don't need a man in my future," She boasted before turning to her reflection, "I'm an unattached woman I prefer to keep it that…" Lydie trailed off when she saw an older man with black hair with a green streak in it, wearing green robes and a rice hat, standing close to her reflection.
Lydie gasped, recognizing the man from photos her uncle showed her, "Uh-oh, trailing off means someone just ate her words," Cole teased as none of them saw what Lydie was seeing.
"It would seem you will have a significant other, Lydie," Zane said amusedly.
"So, who is it?" Kai asked with a grin.
Lydie still looked at the man, having recognized the features. "Morro…" She whispered quietly as she quickly shook her head and turned to the others. "Uh, I don't know! I have no idea who that guy is! I have never seen him before in my life!" She said with a blush and a look at the boys, who are giving teasing looks at them. "Stop looking at me!"
"Come on, Captain, you gotta tell us," Jay egged her on. "And don't bother denying it, we all know when you're lying."
"But I'm serious!" Lydie said with her arms raised. "I mean, how can I know someone who I don't even know about fell in love with me!? This is the future reflections! I can't tell who that is."
"Oh, yeah, she's totally lying," Cole said, crossing his arms.
Lydie groaned in frustration before sighing, "Fine, if you really want to know who's in my future, brace yourself because," She said before turning to her reflection before she noticed something coming towards her and gasped, "It's Morro!" She exclaimed.
"Wait, What?!" Kai exclaimed.
"You're kidding!" Jay stated.
"Morro is your significant other?!" Zane questioned.
"Seriously, that guy?!" Cole demanded.
"No! I mean really! It's Morro!" Lydie pointed out as they saw a figure raising a sword for the others to see. "He's in the maze too!" She called out as Morro slashed the ice wall apart, separating the Ninja as Jay had to face Morro.
"All you ninja do is talk. Blah, blah, blah." Morro said in annoyance as he raised the sword at Jay while backing him into a wall. "I'll stop you from talking!"
"Aah!" Jay screamed as he dodged a swipe from Morro as he ran off with him chasing him, "He's attacking an unarmed man!" He cried as he dodged the swings from the sword.
"Hang on Jay! We're coming!" Kai called as he and Zane rushed off.
As they ran however, Pixal noted the direction they were going in, "This is not the way!" Pixal told Zane as he stopped.
"Not that way?" Zane asked in surprise before he turned around and went into another direction as Kai followed after.
With Jay, he came to a dead end as he panted before he duck to avoid another swipe as Morro cut two icicles, causing a few more to grow in their place as Jay screamed. But then Zane came in and tackled Morro on the back while Kai joined him as Jay pulled out an icicle and used it as a weapon as he and Morro clashed weapons.
"Zane and Kai are here, but Cole, where are you?!" Jay called out.
Cole was rushing around the maze trying to find the others but wasn't having much luck, "I don't really know, but I'm coming!" Cole said before ran through a wall and crashed into Morro, "Huh, why didn't do that sooner?" He asked, forgetting he could go through walls.
The four then started fighting Morro with the icicles but against the Sword of Sancutary, they didn't have a chance, and the slippery ice and Morro foreseeing their every attack wasn't helping.
Lydie was watching the fighting, seeing that the boys were outmatched against Morro because of the sword. But then she noticed that everytime Morro breaks icicles, more grow in place while being doubled every time he cuts an icicle. "Huh." She said with a smirk, getting a plan before Morro used his wind power to push the four boys back.
Lydie then broke off a large icicle and held it like her staff and charged at Morro, clashing with him, "You know, I think you already found out that this ice showing a reflection of your future," Lydie told Morro with a smirk.
"Yeah, so what?" Morro asked while narrowing his eyes.
"Well, it also shows the person that your destiny to spend that future with," Lydie said coyly before looking to Morro, "And I think I know who you saw in your future?" She with a smirk and half-lidded eyes.
Morro gave a light blush that he was thankful was hidden under the mask as he growled, "I-I don't know what you're talking about!" He shouted and pushed Lydie back as she gave a chuckle.
"Oh, I do. Face it, you might defy destiny, but you can't escape it. And this destiny, one you can't escape from." Lydie said with a smirk while gesturing to herself as she and Morro clashed again.
"W-Will you shut up?!" Morro questioned as he clashed harder on Lydie, who kept blocking it as she backed away close to some of the icicles.
"You're in my brother's body. You should know that." Lydie said with a smirk before she blocked the sword again with a standstill. "But if you wanna try and defy this destiny, you should know I love to play hard to get."
Morro growled as he did a huge swipe, which Lydie dodged as she jumped away as Morro cut the icicles. Just then, some icicles grew around Morro, trapping him as he tried to cut himself free, but with each swipe, more icicles grew, trapping him completely. "No! NO!" He screamed as he was now stuck and the boys regrouped with Lydie, who all smiled at Morro trapped in a cage of his own making.
"The woman's charm, a man's greatest weakness," Lydie taunted as leaned close to Morro's face, "Why don't you cool off in there while we get the Crystal?" She suggested as Morro glared at her.
"You can't trap me! I'll find a way out, Garmadon! Just wait! You'll see!" Morro yelled out.
"Yeah good luck with that, Blowhard," Lydie taunted and gave a wink.
"Heheh, Blowhard. Nice one, Captain." Kai said with a chuckle as they all walked off to find a way out.
"Quick. How do we get out of here?" Jay questioned as they all looked around.
"To move forward, don't look ahead." Cole recites as they all thought of what the clue is before Jay tripped on a crack, which made him look down.
"Don't look ahead. Look below!" Jay called, seeing light in the cracks, which the others took notice.
"There's light!" Lydie said in shock. "Everyone, dig!" She called out as the five then started digging on the cracks before they fell through the floor into a new chamber with a river flowing by. Lydie looked down and gasped, "Boys, look," She pointed down and rushed down the stone steps.
"What? What is it?" Jay asked as the boys followed after Lydie.
They all walked down before they stopped at a skeleton's remains wearing a broken-down rice hat while its hands were holding a large blue crystal. Lydie gasped as she realized who this was. "It's him. My Grandfather. The First Spinjitzu Master." She said in shock as she and the boys all kneeled down in respect for the creator of all Ninjago.
Kai then noticed the crystal in the skeleton's hands, "There's the Realm Crystal," he said as Lydie slowly reached out to the crystal and plucked it from her Grandfather's hands.
"I'll make sure the Preeminent never gets this," Lydie softly told her grandfather as they all looked at the Realm Crystal.
"How does it work?" Kai asked in wonder.
"How it works is you'll hand over the crystal, or say goodbye to your friend!" Morro's voice called out, which made them all turn to see Morro had exited Lloyd's body while holding the weakened Golden Ninja while holding the Sword of Sanctuary.
"I'm sorry. I couldn't stop him." Lloyd said weakly to his sister and friends.
"So what will it be?" Morro questioned with a glare as the Ninja looked conflicted.
"If we hand him the Crystal, he'll use the reign of his master, cursing Ninjago and every realm." Zane whispered to Lydie.
"But if we don't, when has he never made good on a threat?" Cole questioned.
"Hate to say it but he's right. Look at Lloyd, he's too weak to defend himself," Kai added as they saw Lloyd was too weak.
"Aargh! Either option totally stinks." Jay groaned before turning to Lydie. "What do you think, Lydie? What do we do?"
Lydie stood silent as she looked between the Realm Crystal and Lloyd. "Looks like the decision is up to you, Captain. So choose." Morro said sarcastically as he raised the sword up while Lydie was conflicted between saving Ninjago and all the realms or her own brother from Morro's wrath.
Back on the surface, Rose was eyeing a sea stack in concern, "What is it?" Wu asked as he came to her.
"Their ship went behind that sea stack five minutes ago but has yet to pass." Rose explained, which made Wu give a serious look.
"Raise the sails. Now!" Wu called as he turned to the sea stack and saw the ghost's ship boosting towards them as he saw the Soul Archer firing a ghost arrow at them.
"Nya!" Demir called out as Nya then raised her arms as she focused her powers. "If that arrow ghosts the Bounty, there's not gonna be a lot to stand on."
Nya focused hard as she created a water wall beside them to block the ghost arrow as Nya then lowered it after she blocked it. "That was close." Nya said with a concerned look.
"Indeed, but we may not be so fortunate a second." Wu said before he turned to Misako. "Hurry, Misako, I said raise the sails." He said to her as Misako had her back turned before she turned to him with her eyes glowing green.
"Not Misako, only Bansha!" Misako yelled while her voice mixed with Bansha's, which shocked them while on the ghost boat, Bansha was using her powers to control Misako from her end.
Back in the Tomb, Lydie was still struggling to make a decision and Morro was getting impatient, "Stop stalling! Give me the Realm Crystal or else!" He shouted.
"We're not stalling, we're thinking!" Lydie shouted back before she and the boys huddled together. "He's totally right, I'm stalling. What are we gonna do? I'm open to suggestions here." She said quietly to them.
"It's either we save the 16 realms or we save Lloyd," Kai stated.
"This guy really chaps my hide." Cole said before he slammed his fists together. "I swear when this is all over…" He started before he felt the earth moving a bit on his feet with just a hint of purple energy but still in somewhat control.
"Guys, your powers," Lydie said with a smile, "Now that Morro is no longer possessing Lloyd, they're returning to normal, and mine are returning to full strength," She said as she held up a fist flowing with dark power.
Jay focused his lightning power in his hand just to give a spark as he sighed. "Yeah, but like Lloyd, they're weak and a bit unpredictable. And we're in no position to fight back." He said to them.
"Maybe not." Lydie said before turning to Kai, "Kai, think you can warm things up for us?" She asked, holding out the realm crystal.
"Leave that to me. Be ready." Kai said with a smirk as he then held the Realm Crystal.
"Time's up!" Morro shouted, having lost his patience completely. "You leave me no choice-!"
"Wait! Don't hurt him!" Lydie shouted while Kai heated up the Realm Crystal. "We'll give you the Realm Crystal!" She said as she turned to Kai with a nod.
Kai nodded as he tossed the Realm Crystal to Morro, who cackled as he tossed Lloyd aside and caught the crystal, but felt the heat coming off it as he screamed in pain and let go of the Realm Crystal as it fell into a river flow. "The Crystal! What have you done!?" He yelled as Lloyd found the strength to kick the Sword of Sanctuary out of Morro's hand before he blew Lloyd over the edge and into the water.
"Lloyd!" The others yelled in panic as Lloyd resurfaced and tried to stay afloat.
Lydie furrowed her brow before she saw the Sword of Sanctuary and picked it up, "Kai, Cole, Save Lloyd! Jay, Zane you're with me!" She ordered as Kai and Cole rushed after Lloyd leaving their three friends to face the ghost ninja.
Back on the Surface, Nya was still blocking the ghost arrows while Wu, and Rose fought against the mind-controlled Misako. Demir narrowed his eyes before climbing up the mast, "I can't keep this up for much longer!" Nya struggled to hold up the wall.
"Just a few more seconds, I'll take care of the ship," Demir said as made it to the Crowsnest and focused his powers to create a metal projectile.
"What is happening to her?" Rose asked Wu as she blocked Misako's punch.
"Bansha is controlling her, but I can't remember how to reverse the spell!" Wu explained as Misako had him on the defensive.
"How's this for a refresher!?" Nya called as she focused her powers into her hand and shot out a water beam, splashing onto Misako as she was soaked and wet, but when she opened her eyes, they were normal.
Misako looked around in confusion. "What just happened?" She asked as Wu placed a hand on her shoulder.
"And now for just good measure!" Rose said as she focused her powers and long seaweed tendrils wrapped around the Ghost Ship Immobilizing them, "Now, Demir! Take the shot!" She called.
"Chew on this, you undead freaks!" Demir shouted as he launched the metal projectile right at the boat, causing it to break and releasing a big splash that poofed Bansha and Soul Archer, "Bullseye!" He declared.
Nya then lowered the water wall as she sighed in relief and took a breath as she got her hands on her knees. "Phew. At least that's over." She said as Demir slid down and joined her along with Rose, "Heh, looks like we make a good team," She said with a smile.
"We certainly do," Rose said with a smile. "Perhaps we are destined to be heroes in our own right."
"Heh, our predecessors were heroes, so no surprise we might be one day." Demir said with a chuckle.
"Everyone, I think I spotted the exit to the Tomb!" Misako called as they turned to see her looking towards a cluster of rock spires, "There's a cave just on those rocks, it must lead to the tomb!"
"Then we must hurry, full speed ahead!" Wu ordered as the Bounty sailed towards the rock.
Back in the tomb, Kai and Cole are trying to get to Lloyd, who was struggling to stay afloat. "I can't get to him. I can't swim!" Kai called as he tried to reach Lloyd, but he was a bit far to reach.
"You can't swim?" Cole questioned. "I can't touch the water! I'm a ghost, remember? You at least had a reflection! What happens to me?!" He questioned as they didn't see the Realm Crystal floating by the current underneath the water.
With Lydie, Zane and Jay, Morro had taken a broken sharp rock and used it as a makeshift sword as he clashed Lydie while she had the Sword of Sanctuary. He then knocked Lydie over and was about to stab her until Zane freezed his makeshift weapon with his powers, "Haha! Nice one, Zane!" Jay called.
"Not so easy when we all have powers, huh?" Lydie taunted Morro with a smirk as he growled and continued to fight the three.
Lloyd was still trying to stay afloat, but he was slowly drowning in the water. "He's gonna drown!" Cole shouted in worry.
"Aw, this is crazy! What am I doing?!" Kai questioned himself before he did a crazy move, he jumped into the water and grabbed Lloyd as he swam back up to the surface.
Jay sent a lightning attack to Morro, who quickly avoided the attack as Zane was then shocked, short circuiting him a bit as he fell down. "Oh, no!" Jay called in concern as he ran up to Zane while Morro made a quick escape before Lydie blocked him off.
Morro tried to blow her back but Lydie held firm as she was pushed back a couple of feet, "Heh, I'll admit that was pretty cute," Lydie quipped Morro's words from their first fight, "But let me show you something better!" She finished before launching her powers at Morro, causing him to flip backwards, "Looks like you're not as strong as you were when you were in Lloyd," She taunted.
"The Golden Ninja strength is what gave me power." Morro said before he and Lydie clashed again as he managed to deliver a punch to her guts, sending her back a bit. "But even without him, I'm still the best."
"If you are, then how come your powers are at the level then guys were before," Lydie trailed off as Morro gave a slightly nervous look making her realize, "You, you never unlocked True Potential," She gasped.
Morro growled as he blew Lydie back, but she dodged the wind blast. "So what?! My powers were already as strong when I first found them!" He exclaimed. "I don't need to overcome some ridiculous obstacle to be stronger!"
"Now it all makes sense. That ghost dragon you summoned, that wasn't you. You used Lloyd's power to summon it. You never unlocked your true power after you left Uncle Wu!" Lydie stated, pointing the sword at him. "You call yourself the best, but running away from your mentor and not even overcoming your fear, you're just a joke!"
Morro was now furious. "I am not a joke! I am the best! The best ninja that ever was!" He yelled as he summoned enough wind power that blew on Lydie, who stabbed the Sword of Sanctuary down to keep herself from being blown back, but she couldn't as Morro put in more pressure as Lydie was forced out of the sword and was blown against the wall. Morro quickly grabbed the sword and rushed away.
"Kai's got Lloyd, but who got Kai!?" Jay called out at seeing Kai keeping Lloyd afloat, but he was struggling to sleep.
"Oh, come on!" Cole exclaimed at the issue they're having.
"You have to grab them, Cole! Before they both go over!" Lyide shouted in concern.
Cole rushed to the edge, staying clear of the water and just as Kai and Lloyd were about to fall, and grabbed Kai's hand before pulling them up as he saw the Realm Crystal going over, "No!" Cole called as the Realm crystal fell into the abyss below before Morro caught with his power and made a run for it.
"Morro stop! This won't give you what you want!" Lydie called Morro out as he stopped for a moment, "You think the Preeminent will let there be a hero in Realms that are cursed? You give her that crystal, the name Green Ninja won't be the title of a hero, but a monster, a terror!" She called out. "Is that meant to be your destiny?!" She questioned.
Morro looked at the Realm Crystal for a moment in confliction from hearing what Lydie said before he narrowed his eyes. "You do what you have to do and I'll do what I have to do!" He yelled as he rushed off.
"Everyone, run!" Cole shouted, going to chase after Morro.
"No!" They all called as Cole turned and saw them huddled around the weakened Golden Ninja.
"I'm sorry." Lloyd said weakly while Lydie held her brother.
Back on the surface, Morro exited the tomb through the cave before he saw his ghost boat in pieces while not seeing signs of Bansha or Soul Archer as he groaned. "Must I do everything?!" He questioned in frustration.
He then thought back to what Lydie said about his destiny, how he never unlocked his true potential and how in the maze he saw her next to his reflection, and with earlier admiration for the Daughter of Garmadon, he was left feeling conflicted, "What if she's right? Is Cursing Ninjago really what I want?" Morro asked himself as he looked at the crystal in thought. After a moment of himself, he shook his head. "No, Sensei would never take me back, serving the Preeminent is all I have left." He said as he held the Realm Crystal high.
The Realm Crystal then got a beam of light as it shot down on the ground before shooting up into the sky, creating a portal that the Bounty saw from the distance as Morro flew right up to the portal and back into the Cursed Realm before it closed.
On the Bounty, the group saw this as Nya looked through the spyglass as she frowned. "He took the Realm Crystal." She said to them.
"Morro did it. That airhead actually did." Demir said in dread.
"But, what about the others?" Misako asks in concern as they all look on in worry for the Ninja.
They turned to the cave and held their breath in hope before the Ninjago walked out, with Kai and Lydie carrying Lloyd on their shoulders, "They made it!" Nya called as they all cheered as the Ninja saw the Bounty and their friends just a bit away from them as they smiled while Lydie and Kai put Lloyd down.
"My son! They've saved him!" Misako said with tears of joy at seeing Lloyd okay and finally free from Morro.
"Yes. Yes, they did." Wu said in huge relief.
"Well, at least some good came out of this venture." Rose said with a smile as they sailed closer to the cave.
"You all sacrificed so much to save me." Lloyd said to his friends with a grateful smile.
"Heh, I promised I'd look after you, didn't I?" Kai asked with a smile.
"You know I would never leave you behind, little bro." Lydie said with a smile.
"But now Ninjago's gonna be cursed." Lloyd said with a frown.
"Yes, but now we have you." Zane said with a smile, seeing the brightside.
"And now, our powers are back to normal." Jay said as he summoned some electricity as he had more control.
"As you get stronger, so will we." Cole said as he and the others summoned their powers. "And they haven't even seen us at full strength." He added as they fired their elemental powers into the air as they combined and created a flash of light.
As soon as they boarded the bounty, Misako rushed to her children, giving them a hug before peppering Lloyd's face with kisses. "Mom, I thought we talked about this," Lloyd said in embarrassment as the others laughed in amusement, though after what he went through, his mom's kisses were a breath of fresh air.
"After getting you back, you will let your mother do this for you, young man." Misako said in joy as she gave her son a hug.
"Better let her have it, Lloyd. She was worried sick about you." Lydie said with a chuckle.
"I can see that." Lloyd said with a weak laugh as Kai stepped forward.
"Okay, Misako, take it easy. Lloyd had a rough time after his body was taken over by Morro." Kai said with a chuckle as she separated the mother and son from the hug.
"Now that Lloyd has been freed from Morro's control, we must now focus all our efforts to stopping the Preeminent from cursing the sixteen realms," Wu told the group, returning to the task at hand, "Let us return to the Monastery and prepare for the battle," He instructed.
"Yes Sensei," The Ninja all said.
"Lydie, perhaps you should take your brother below deck to recover." Misako suggested to her daughter.
"Sure thing, mom." Lydie said as she helped her brother up. "Come on, brother. Let's get you some proper rest. It's gonna be a long flight." She said as she led Lloyd below deck as the Bounty took to the air and flew off.
Below deck, Lydie guided Lloyd into the barracks as they entered the room while Lloyd flopped onto his bed with a sigh. "Finally. Some rest." Lloyd muttered.
"I take it Morro used your body more times than your average ghost, huh?" Lydie asked with an amusing smile with her hands on her hip.
"Definitely," Lloyd breathed out and stayed quiet for a few moments. Before Lydie could ask him what was wrong he spoke, "I saw it all." He said.
"What?" Lydie question.
"Morro's life. I saw all his memories. Guess that's what happens when you focus solely on controlling a person," Lloyd explained as thought about the memories he saw, "I saw how he grew up at the Monastery. At first, he was happy to have a home and the time he spent with Wu, he became more than his sensei, Morro began to see him like…"
"A father," Lydie finished for him, holding up the picture of Morro with their family.
"Yeah." Lloyd nodded before frowning. "But, after being told that he could be the Green Ninja of Yang, he trained harder and became obsessed with becoming better, to prove to Wu that he was everything he believed in. But when the Golden Weapons didn't react and he wasn't the Green Ninja, he became angry and upset that all that training was for nothing. So, he tried to prove to Wu that he was the one, but it didn't work or please him, which is why he left to find the tomb, so that he can prove to Wu that he was the one and to make him proud."
"But it only led him to his death," Lydie said solemnly, remembering how they found Morro's remains in the Cave of Despair.
Lloyd looked just as solemn, "That was probably the only time where Morro actually felt…weak, scared, like he was before Uncle Wu found him," He said while looking away. "And seeing his memories, it almost felt like I was living them."
"That must have been so terrible," Lydie said, feeling bad for her brother and for Morro.
"Seeing and experiencing his life like that, I actually saw a lot of myself in Morro." Lloyd muttered. "But unlike me, when I lost everything I knew and found you guys, Morro had nothing."
Both Lydie and Lloyd didn't make any noise as they couldn't help but feel sympathy for Morro. "I felt the same way when I was an orphan before Wu found me." She said with a frown. "Wanting to prove I was more than people saw me."
"Morro would go to extremes just to prove himself," Lloyd said with a frown. "But even with all that obsession and rage, I felt conflict in him. He felt what he was doing was wrong but that he didn't have a choice."
"I saw it too, back in the tomb," Lydie said, remembering before Morro ran off there was a flash of conflict in his eyes.
"Do you really think Morro can be reasoned with?" Lloyd asked his sister.
"We got through to you and to Father, didn't we?" Lydie joked with a smile, which made the two siblings share a laugh.
"I guess that's true," Lloyd said with a small laugh. "But, will Morro even listen?"
"I think so, after hearing what you said, he doesn't really sound evil to me just, lost," Lydie said looking away in thought, "He doesn't feel like he has any other choice."
"Well, I was in his head, so if we could find a way to get him to turn on his master, we might be able to help him." Lloyd said to her.
"When we get the chance, we might." Lydie said as Lloyd groaned. "But for now, you rest up, brother. You need the strength you need for an upcoming invasion."
"I hope so. Because if we don't stop them, Ninjago and all the realms are gonna be cursed." Lloyd said as Lydie rubbed his head.
"Not if we have anything to say in that matter. They're gonna regret messing with us." Lydie said with a smile, which Lloyd returned as the two siblings shared a hug. "Good to have you back brother." She said happily.
"Good to be back," Lloyd said before pulling away and giving a look, "And by the way, that kick at the Wailing Alps really hurt." He told her as Lydie rubbed the back of her head.
"Sorry, that was for Morro not you," Lydie said with a laugh, and eventually Lloyd laughed too.
Morro may have the realm crystal, but now the Ninja are whole once more and they will prepare for an upcoming ghost invasion to save their home.