Within Ninjago City, the streets were lined with lanterns as they were celebrating the anniversary of all over coming together. Inside Chen's Noodle House was none other than Ronin, sitting alone in the shop with his Areoblade at the table while watching the news. "Season of change is almost to an end. And residents of Ninjago eagerly await to celebrate tonight's New Year Festival," the news reporter said.
"Hard to believe you don't have friends to usher in the New Year," Skylor said as she came up to Ronin and refilled his cup.
"Let's just say I'm good at making friends, not keeping them," Ronin stated with a smile.
"Huh. Even a friend who spoils the party on occasion, is still a better friend than some creature who stays away," Skylor said with a small smile as she eyed Ronin's Areoblade as Ronin took it back. "It's okay. I've been around enough weapons in my day," he assured him as she walked off a bit before she stopped. "In fact, it kind of reminds me of some old friends."
"How much do I owe you?" Ronin asked.
"It's on the house, friend," Skylor answered with a smile.
"Huh. Appreciate it," Ronin commented before turning to the TV again.
"The festival celebrations are going on all over Ninjago," Gayle said, which got Ronin's attention.
"Hey, mind turning that up?" Ronin asked Skylor as she reached up to the TV and turned up the volume.
"But not only in Ninjago. Other cities in every corner in the land are celebrating this festival," Gayel continued.
"You know that sewer swamp?" Skylor asked in wonder.
"Yeah. I used to call it home," Ronin answered with a smile as he watched the news.
"And no other town likes to celebrate more than the residents in Stiix," the newspony said as a video of Stiix was shown setting off fireworks.
Meanwhile in Stiix, the citizens there were celebrating the new years as they looked up at the fireworks going off. In an alley, a portal appeared as Morro exited from it and then entered Ronin's old pawn shop as he walked up to a trophy in the middle of the shop. "It's time to continue the Master's will. Let's shed a little light." He said as he placed the Realm Crystal upside down on the trophy, which caused the Realm Crystal to glow as it opened a portal underneath as his ghost comrades exited.
"Ahh it's good to be back." Wrayth said with glee.
"How long until the Preeminent is ready?" Morro questioned.
"Her energy is still too strong to cross the ethereal divide," Soul Archer answered.
"The longer the gateway stays open, the stronger it becomes," Bansha explained. "So we prepare for her arrival."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Morro asked with a serious look. "Let the festivities begin!" With that, the portal opened high above them as multiple ghosts started to pour out through it and out the pawn shop.
The ghosts then swarmed the village of Stiix as the villagers screamed in terror, while the lanterns they put up glowed green as each ghost passed them. A few ghosts took out a few light bulbs just for fun while a few of them possessed a paper dragon to make it come to life and wreak havoc on the village. "Hey, my dragon!" a kid yelled as the ghost dragon gave a terrifying roar.
Back at Steep Wisdom, the Destiny's Bounty landed in front of the shop as the others jumped off it. "Shouldn't we be heading for Stiix?" Kai asked Wu. "The longer we wait, the worse it will get."
"We need to stock up," Sensei Wu simply replied as they all jumped off the bounty.
"On what? Magic tea that will give us invincibility?" Jay questioned before he let out a gasp of excitement. "Give us special powers? Is it gonna give us four arms?!"
"Jay, don't." Lydie said with a look at the four arms thing, reminding her and Lloyd of their father as they walked up to the shop.
"Sadly, no magical tea today," Wu answered, which surprised the others. "I had to sell the rest of the merchandise along with everything else." He pointed to the door to show a large 'X' sign on the shop's door.
"What? You sold your business?!" Zane asked him in shock. "But that was for your retirement." He said before a familiar wheelchair man came in from the shop.
"Ah! Hello again, Ninja." Borg greeted with a smile.
"Cyrus Borg?" Demir asked in surprise. "What's he here for?"
"While we were away, I had Borg use the money from the Tea Farm to create us some new toys, to balance the scales," Sensei Wu explained to them as he stood next to Borg. "They are expensive, you know."
"It's been so long, I hardly recognize any of you." Borg said with a smile as he looked at each of the Ninja. "Lloyd looks older. Lydie seems to have grown a bit, I see a Water, Metal, and Nature ninja. A titanium nindroid, taking good care of my daughter I hope. Cole is…" He Kaied off when he saw Cole's ghostly form. "... a ghost. Heh." He said awkwardly as Cole looked down sadly. "Jay looks shorter. And then there's Kai." He finished with a smile.
"Hey. What do you mean I look shorter?" Jay questioned with a brow.
"I'm sorry, Dr. Borg, but cut to the chase. We don't have much time," Kai pointed out.
"Yes, always the impatient one. Come, let me show you," Borg said with a smile as he went up to the entrance and pressed a button. Then the center of the courtyard opened from the floor, as four new vehicles came up. "If you want a little muscle with that hustle, I made Jay a lightning-fast Ghost Tanker GT." He first gestured towards the blue tank. "Zane spectral intake, rear incorporeal storage." Jay looked in excitement as he rushed up to it.
"Why did the ghost cross the street? Oh, I don't know, maybe 'cause he saw me coming in that!"Jay called in excitement as he entered his tank.
Borg then gestured to Zane's mech. "Zane's Ice Mech. Sure they may appear to be identical in every way, but not so! I've equipped the underarms with Deepstone particle shooters, allowing you to freeze the competition.
Zane smiled as they rushed up to their mechs. "Super cool. And I mean quite literally," He said.
Borg then turned to the earth-like cycle with blades and cannons. "Cole, I've made you a Ghost Cycle. Twin carbine blasters, auto-evasive handling. Made entirely of Deepstone, perfectly molded to fit the, uh… bodiless," he explained sheepishly since Coleis a ghost. Cole smiled happily at his new ride as Borg continued. "And I've set all the radio presets to your favorite: soft rock."
Cole walked up to his bike and hopped on it. "I do love a slow jam," he commented as he turned on the radio as the music started playing while he moved to the music. "Whoa!"
Borg then turned to Kai. "And for you, Kai," he said as he brought out a red headband and tossed it to him as he looked at it in confusion.
"A headband," Kai said slowly.
"A personal embroidered headband," Borg corrected. "Thirty-two thread count, easy tie capabilities." Kai frowned at the headband as Borg looked rather apologetic to the Fire Ninja. "I apologize. I lost track of time building the other vehicles. Same goes for you, Lloyd. To be honest, I wasn't entirely sure you'd be making it back," He added as he looked at the Golden Ninja.
"Hey, I'm just happy to be here," Lloyd assured him with a smile. "We'll take any help we can get."
"Hey, wait, how come Lydie didn't get a new ride?" Nya questioned in confusion. "Did you make another small item like my brother's for her?"
"Hey!" Kai said in an offended tone.
"Oh, no. Lydie actually declined the offer." Borg said, which they all turned to her in surprise.
"Hey, if I wanted a new toy, I would've asked for it. Besides, I would rather face the ghosts head on now that my powers are back at full strength and I am not letting my brother out of my sight." Lydie said as she gestured to Lloyd, who smiled at that.
"I hear Morro has opened a bridge between our two realms," Borg said grimly. "It'll take time for the Preeminent to cross."
"Which is why, Lloyd and I have to get to Morro and get him to shut the portal down and destroy the crystal," Lydie said seriously.
"Are you certain Morro can be reasoned with?" Wu asked his niece.
"I think so, he doesn't really seem evil, just lost and confused," Lydie said, looking away in thought.
"I was in his head when he was controlling me, so yeah, even I have a feeling that Morro can be turned." Lloyd spoke up. "He spent years trying to prove himself to you uncle, just to make you proud."
Wu sighed and closed his eyes, "I was already proud of him," He said solemnly.
"But when he left, you didn't show it." Lydie said to him. "I mean, no offense, Uncle, but when it comes to emotions, you did a good job hiding it. All that training, all that time he tried to prove he's the Ninja of Yang, you were disappointed that he wasn't the one, and it hurt him so badly he thought finding the tomb would fix it all which resulted in his demise."
Wu sighed sadly. "I should've told him." He said as Misako placed a hand on his shoulder in comfort. "If Ninjago is cursed, the other realms would follow."
"But they'll be expecting us." Nya spoke up. "And Morro still has the Sword of Sanctuary."
"She's right." Demir said in agreement. "Even with all these fancy new vehicles, how are we supposed to get close to Morro while fighting off a bunch of ghosts?"
"Yeah, we're supposed to take on an army of ghosts?" Jay questioned with a shrug.
"Maybe I can lure him out." Lloyd suggested. "He said he always wanted to be the Ninja of Yang."
"I doubt he'll leave the Realm Crystal alone, even with the chance to become the Ninja of Yang," Lydie told her brother.
"That is correct. He will not leave the Realm Crystal unguarded until his master is free." Wu said to them.
"But even with our powers back, he's seen all of our moves." Cole pointed out.
"Then we'll show him something he hasn't…" Kai said as he pushed Nya, Demir, and Rose ahead, surprising the three. "A Water, Metal, and Nature Ninja." He said with a smile.
"But we've just started our training." Rose said uncertainty.
"And we've only gotten control of our powers to a point." Demir added.
"We haven't even found our true potential." Nya finished.
"Nya, when our parents disappeared, you were there for me." Kai said with a smile, which made Nya a little better. "Now I'm here for you."
"And Demir, Rose, you two helped us through much of this journey, now it's our turn to help you." Lydie added, which made the two smile.
"They're right." Cole said with a smile. "They're our secret weapons."
"And as family sharpens family, the same should go for friends." Zane added.
"Our greatest power isn't what we can throw at him." Lloyd said to them. "It's what we have right here. A united team." He said as he gestured to the others.
"So, what do you three think?" Wu asked. "Are you ready to lead them into battle?" He asked, which made the three feel determined.
"We're in." Demir answered.
"But if they know we're coming straight for them, how about we show them not every path is a straight line?" Nya suggested with a smirk.
"Intrigued." Zane spoke up. "Do you have a plan?"
"I'll explain on the way." Nya answered.
At Stiix, as more ghosts emerged from the portal, a captain onboard a steamship looked at the village while a bunch of chefs carried some food on some carts. "Captain, dinner is ready," one of the chefs said while wheeling a bunch of food.
"Just keep the food coming!" The captain ordered as the chefs rushed into town. "These ghosts' appetites are like nothing I've seen. Go!"
The chefs looked around cautiously as he turned a corner, seeing a ghost relaxing on a roof as he gave nervous whimpers. They slowly walked towards the ghost, but the ghost turned and exclaimed when he saw the food and started eating a few of it very fast.
"No!" The chefs screamed as more ghosts then started flying towards them. "No, no, no!" They screamed as they tried to run away, but the ghosts then grabbed a couple of the food as the chefs then ran into a corner and took their breaths. They then heard gasps when they turned and saw the villagers of Stiix locked up in cages.
"Oh, you poor people," a female chef said as they were about to hand out some food, but then a couple of ghosts flew over them and grabbed a handful of them as the chefs screamed.
"Bon appetit," one of the chefs fearfully said as the ghosts enjoyed their meals.
At Ronin's old pawn shop, Morro and his ghost generals are on the tower keeping watch. "The gateway is becoming more stable," Soul Archer informed. "Soon."
"Any sign of the Ninja?" Bansha questioned.
"No, but we have two spooks for every nook and cranny in this watering hole," Wrayth answered. "And even if they do show, any one of us they strike down can simply return to the portal. We are invincible."
"Soon our master will arrive, and the Sixteen Realms will be ours," Soul Archer assured as Morro looked off into the town, seeing the ghosts wreaking havoc while also feeling a slight guilt in his ghostly guts. "This is the moment you've been working towards Morro, why so sad?"
"Me? Sad? Ha, please! I couldn't be happier." Morro told them with a smile before he looked down at the sword. "It's just…"
"Wu?" Bansha guessed.
"I wanted so badly for his approval. That I was everything he believed I was but in the end..." Morro said, remembering the disappointed look in Wu's eyes vividly, "Once the Preeminent has conquered Ninjago, she will make me the Ninja of Yang, right?"
"The Preeminent has never broken her vow," Wrayth assured.
"And, the Purple Ninja, Lydie?" Morro questioned carefully.
"Whether she chooses to stand with the true Ninja of Yang or not is up to her." Bansha told him.
Morro sighed before frowning seriously, "Fine, let's just keep our eyes peeled." Morro said as he leapt towards another rooftop.
Once he was out of earshot the Ghost Generals turned to each other, "The Preeminent was right. Morro faith is beginning to fray," Bansha told her comrades.
"And it seems he's gained an interesting factuation for the Purple Ninja," Wrayth noted.
"We have our orders, once The Preeminent is free, we must dispose of him before he attempts anything." Soul Archer told them.
"Agreed. Morro has served us well, but I believe it's time we cut loose ends." Bansha added as the other ghosts all muttered with small chuckles.
Soon a few noodle trucks drove up to the village before a bunch of ghosts with Bansha stopped them, when one of the ghost dragons roared out and pointed to the last truck, flying in front of them and saw Wu and Misako. "Master Wu. A special delivery I presume?" Bansha questioned as the ghosts flew back and opened the trucks, revealing nothing inside as Wu exited the truck.
"Let me talk to my pupil. It doesn't have to end this way." Wu said to Bansha.
"You want to talk to him, here he is." Bansha said as her face was replaced with Morro's.
"Sensei. I was wondering when you were gonna show up." Morro spoke up through Bansha.
"Morro." Wu muttered.
"You think I would just let you stroll right in?" Morro questioned. "Your age messes with your wisdom."
"Last chance, Morro." Wu spoke up. "You may no longer be my pupil, but I still can teach you a lesson. My Ninja are well-trained, and they will defeat every last one of you. Give up now, or forever rest in peace."
"I can never rest in peace, knowing that no matter what I did, how skilled I was, you could never be proud of me," Morro spat at him with a glare before turning to the ghosts, "Take them." He ordered as the ghosts grabbed hold of Misako and Wu. "You think I'd ever let the Ninja in my town? You taught me to be prepared for the worse." He added with a glare.
Within the village, Kai was disguised as one of the chef's servants as he grabbed some food for a group of ghosts having a feast. "I'm starving."
"I'm deadly hungry!" another complained as Kai quickly passed some food to the ghosts nervously.
"Give me food!" The ghosts then started sloppily eating.
"I want burgers!" another said. "So good."
Kai walked away in disgust as he pressed on her comms. "Anyone have eyes on the Realm Crystal?"
Zane, with the same disguise, looked up from a roof as he saw a glowing blue in Ronin's pawn shop. "It appears to be inside what used to be Ronin's pawn shop at the center of town. Morro's there, and it's highly guarded." He informed while seeing a ghost dragon flying by.
Jay, in disguise, was at the docks as they saw a crane lowing and he quickly grabbed onto the crate, letting him be lifted by it. "Do you think we can get Lloyd and Captain in there to destroy it?" Jay asked in wonder. "And I'm still not sold that we can get Morro on our side."
"Yeah, well, that's the plan while also going to try and pull Morro away from the crystal if he's not willing to listen." Cole said as he hid in an alley. "Everyone in position?"
"Just remember, as long as that Portal's opened, every ghost we defeated will just come back out from it." Rose reminded them in front behind a house.
"We got that a hundred times from Wu." Demir said while hiding from the side of a house as well. "Okay, I say we get this party started."
"Let's do this," Kai agreed as she looked down and saw the Ninja were below the ducks as they nodded as Kai grabbed a tea kettle and walked up to the ghosts. "Tea, anyone?"
"Yes, please," a ghost answered as Kai poured the tea on the ghost, which caused him to scream in pain as he went poof. This caused the other ghosts to angrily leer at the tea server with hateful hisses.
"You fool!" another ghost yelled as they chased after Kai, who was running around the table. The Golden Ninja sneakiest ran off and rushed to a corner before they stopped and saw a couple of ghosts in front of him before they heard a crane and looked up as they saw Jay on a crate.
"Hey, move back!" Jay called as the ghosts moved aside. "Thanks!" He called as he was lowered down as the Golden Ninja took the chance to move forward, but stopped when he saw a couple of ghosts about to walk by, but luckily, a bucket of water fell as the ghosts stopped and looked up, and saw Zane on the roof.
"Oh!" Zane gasped.
"Watch it" one of the ghosts yelled while the two shook their arms in anger.
"Sorry! It slipped!" Zane sheepishly said with a smile as the Golden Ninja stealthily went past the ghosts and continued onward.
Then around the corner, the ghosts turned on a record player as they all danced to familiar music as the Golden Ninja was behind them as he quickly stopped at the corner as he then saw Cole hiding behind the crates as Wu and Misako watched from in a cage with the other villagers.
"Get ready. It's almost time," Cole said to them.
Cole quickly possessed the record player, which was now playing soft rock at a faster phonograph as the ghosts then started dancing faster as the Golden Ninja quickly rushed past them.
Roars of one of the ghost dragons can be heard, which brings the ghost's attention as the Golden Ninja looks up and sees the ghost dragons flying above him as the Soul Archer appears in front of him and aims his arrow at him. "Look what we have here," he said as Morro and a couple of other ghosts walked up from behind him.
"The Golden Ninja. So rude," Morro said in amusement as the ghosts held the Golden Ninja down before he began to taunt him with a smirk. "Hasn't anyone told you it's not polite to be late to the party?" The ghosts gathered around them as they laughed and pushed the Golden Ninja down.
"Now that we've got him, what do you want us to do with him?" Bansha asked Morro.
"Surely, it's not just you, Lloyd, I know that big sister of yours is never far, as well as your friends." Morro told the Golden Ninja who glared at him, "Lydie, come out, come out wherever you are, I have your precious baby brother again." He called out tauntingly.
All the ghosts laughed while Demir and Rose peeked out from their hiding spots with glares. "You think you can come into my home and steal the crystal I worked my back off to find and earn?" Morro questioned the Golden Ninja. "You think I'll just hand it to you, just like the Green Gi was handed to you? Tell me. Tell all of us that I'm better than you, and I'll let you go." He said as the ghosts laughed in amusement. "What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?" He teased as he removed the mask, revealing to be Nya underneath it, which shocked him and the ghosts from that.
"Sorry, I couldn't hear you." Nya said with a smirk. "I'm still a little wet behind my ears." She quipped as she held out a hand as a water sphere was formed, which made every ghost back away from her.
"You're a water ninja! You're-" Morro stammered in fear as he looked at the ghosts. "Make a break for it!" He ordered as the ghosts were about to attack Nya but she used her powers on them, causing them to go poof while Morro backed away from her.
Nya then focused her powers and created a huge water ball, which she threw at Morro, but he quickly used his wind to block it as it splashed into the floor and then tried to push Nya away but then, a metal wall appeared from her, shielding her against his wind.
"Whoops, sorry man," Demir's voice called as Morro turned to him, "Wind ain't no good against something that won't be bent!" Demir said with a smirk.
"You again?!" Morro questioned as he was about to stand back up, but after looking at the sword, he avoided some strangleweed that grew below deck as he jumped back.
"Yes. Us." Rose said with a smirk as she and Demir then came to Nya side as the three took ready positions.
"Metal and Nature?!" Morro said in shock, "How many Ninja are in Ninjago?!" He questioned.
"Enough to kick your butt." Nya said with a smirk as she sent a water beam at Morro, who quickly avoided it.
Behind a fence, Kai saw the fight as he turned to the Garma-Twins, while Lloyd was wearing casual clothes. "Plan to get him away from the Realm Crystal worked." Kai whispered to them. "We'll clear a path for you two, then you can do the rest."
"Let's do this." Lloyd said with a smirk. "You ready, sis?"
"Born ready, bro." Lydie added as she and Lloyd shared a fist bump as the three rushed up to the pawn shop.
Inside the pawn shop, the ghost that Nya took out emerged from the portal as they looked at themselves with shocked looks. "Look at that, we're back," one of them said to the others.
"Let's get them!" another ghost yelled as they floated out of the pawn shop and saw that Morro was still fighting Demir, Nya, and Rose as they exchanged blows and used their abilities to try and hit him, but he deflected each and every blow. Morro then smirked as he used his powers to blow them away as they crashed into a wall.
"Okay, he's got." Demir groaned as the ghosts advanced towards them. "Nya!"
"I'm on it!" Nya said as she used her powers to make them go poof away as they saw the ghost dragons flying towards them.
"Uh, I don't suppose your powers are strong enough on dragon size ghosts, wouldn't they?" Rose asked Nya nervously.
"Chill out!" Zane called out from his mech he stepped onto a nearby rooftop and gave a laugh. "Ha, ha! It feels good to have our powers back." He aimed his shooters at the ghost dragons. "Ice!" he called, shooting at the ghosts to freeze them solid.
From the cage, Wu, Misako, and the other prisoners in their cage saw the fight. "It's time we get these people out of here. Everyone, stand back." Wu instructed as he went to the cage and focused his powers as he summoned his energy dragon as it broke the cage apart and they all rushed to the boat.
Meanwhile, Jay was in his tank as he drove down the docks, honking his horn as he drove by the villagers who quickly moved out of the way. "Even better to have a new ride," Jay said as he steered his vehicle around the village before he hit a ghost, which caught him stuck on the hood as the ghost slashed its sword on his tank. "Hey, you scratched my brand-new car!" Angry, he pressed a button, using a suction cannon to trap the ghost inside the tank. "Ha, ha! Sucker!" He laughed.
With Kai and the Garma-Twins, they were cornered by ghosts as Jay drove by behind them. "Uh, Jay, a little help?" Lydie asked.
"On my way!" Jay called as he drove up to them and sucked all the ghosts into his tank. "Whoo-hoo!" he cheered as he skidded to a stop.
"Thanks! Great job, Jay" Lloyd called out.
"Keep sucking those ghosts!" Lydie added as the Garma-Twins ran off before seeing some ghosts at a table.
"Oh, this is good. So good." A ghost said.
"Hey, look, two Ninja," Another ghost said as they all turned and saw Lloyd and Lydie before Cole drove by on his bike and circled them as he stopped at the side.
"Dinner is served!" Cole called as he drove his bike on the table, causing the food to spill and the bike's Deepstone to take out the ghosts as he skidded to a stop.
"Cole! On the roof!" Lydie called out as Cole looked up and saw an archer aiming his arrow at him, but Cole used his cannons to blast him away.
Back at the pawn shop, Morro saw the fighting and explosions as he gritted his teeth. "The Ninja are winning! Get out there and stop them!" He ordered his ghost generals as they flew off while the other ghosts kept fighting Nya, Rose, and Demir.
But every time they took out one ghost, they returned to the portal and came back out as Morro used his powers to knock them back again.
Lloyd and Lydie were then running past the docks where the others were by the ship getting the villagers onboard. "Keep going, kids! You're almost there!" Wu called as the Garma-Twins nodded and continued onward.
Bansha saw Lloyd and Lydie as she gave a growl and flew down to him as the Garma-Twins gasped when they saw her. "Ice!" Zane called out as he came up from the roof and his mech fired an ice beam at Bansha, freezing her as the Garma-Twins escaped. But then Zane looked at the ice and gave a concerned look.
"Particle shooters disabled," Pixal informed as the ice broke and Bansha broke free and flew up to Zane.
"My ice can't stop them!" Zane called as Bansha started hitting her weapon on Frost's mech.
On the ground, Cole is driving towards the two mech Ninja. "I'm coming to help!" he called, but then he saw Wrayth on his own bike as the two glared at each other, then Wrayth let go of his chains and drove over Cole. "Hey!" he called, but then his bike tripped over the chain, sending Cole flying.
Kai is climbing up a building, wearing his headband, as he looks down and sees Nya, Demir, and Rose still fighting the ghosts. "He's too strong! And the ghosts just keep coming!" Demir exclaimed as he bashed a ghost away.
"For every one we defeat, four more take his place!" Rose added as she whipped vines at the ghosts.
"We can't keep this up!" Nya called out as she kept blasting her water blasts.
"You have to, guy! You can do it!" Kai encouraged before he saw the Soul Archer on the roof, aiming his arrow at Kai and firing it. Kai took off his headband and onto a line cord as he slid down with the arrow following him as he quickly ducked behind a pillar as the arrow hit it instead and Kai went down to the ground. "Ha! Thirty-two thread count!" he cheered as he put his headband back on, but then he was surrounded by other ghosts.
On the other side of town, Jay is still sucking in more ghosts with his tank. But then, just as Ghoul-Tar was about to get sucked as well, he used his scythe to keep himself from going completely in. "You monster!" Jay yelled in rage as he quickly stopped his tank, but then the vacuum system shut down as Ghoul-Tar and the other ghosts exited the tank as they surrounded Jay. "No!"
Back with Nya, Demir, Rose and Morro, the former three were still fighting the latter as the Garma-Twins rushed to them, Nya kept blasting water at Morro but he kept dodging them, "Let's see if this blowhard likes a taste of tornadoes." Demir suggested, to the girls.
"I agree." Nya said with a smirk. "Been wanting to try this."
"Then let's do it!" Rose added.
"NINJA, GO!" The three shouted as they did Spinjitzu as they advanced their tornado towards Morro.
"Heh, nice idea, don't mind if I try it myself," Morro taunted as he took a stance, "NINJA, GO!" he then did Spinjitzu as well, the color is mostly ghostly green as the four tornadoes collided with each other before Morro managed to knock the three off the roof as they fell to the ground as four ghosts surrounded them. "You thought that I, Master Wu's first pupil, wouldn't know how to do Spinjitzu? It's not that hard to understand: Over the Planks, dodge the swords-"
"Here comes the dummy!" Lydie and Lloyd called out as they blasted the ghosts away from the three and jumped onto Morro, kicking him back as they got into a ready stance.
"I'm pretty sure everyone who was taught by Wu knows that, Morro." Lydie said as she and Lloyd charged up their powers.
"Looks like it's just between us." Lloyd said as Morro picked up Lloyd's mask.
"The Golden Gi belongs to me now." Morro said to them as he gave an amusing laugh. "You two think I'm gonna make this easy? Let's see how you two are good when you're together." He challenged as he drew the Sword of Sanctuary.
"If that's what you want, Morro, then gladly." Lydie said with a serious look as she and Lloyd blasted their powers at him, who avoided them as Morro released a big breeze, which pushed them back as Lloyd sent a blast at him, but Morro blocked it with the Sword that knocked the Ninja of Yin and Yang to the ground.
"Stay strong, guys!" Nya called out as Morro then focused his powers as it circled around the building.
"I'm stronger, Lydie and Lloyd! Especially you, Lloyd! I have always been Wu's greatest student!" Morro yelled as the pawn shop was being lifted up. "And I've been inside your head. I know what you're afraid of, Lloyd. You could never do it alone, could you? That's weak! You always had others to lean on, but I, I need no one because I had no one!" He yelled as the shop was being lifted up further.
At the docks, Misako and Wu saw the pawn shop being lifted up. "The Preeminent is about to arrive! Lloyd and Lydie are running out of time!" Wu exclaimed in worry.
Lydie and Lloyd covered their faces from the debris that was flying around as Morro looked down at them. "What are you two waiting for? An invitation?" Morro taunted. "If you two want the Realm Crystal, earn it!"
Lloyd and Lydie then started jumping onto some of the floating planks to climb to the top. "You're not the only one who's learned things from the other, Morro!" Lloyd stated as he and Lydie did Airjitzu upwards but Morro used his powers to blow them back.
"Whoa! Whoa!" Lydie called as she grabbed a flying plank and held onto Lloyd's hand.
"Lloyd! Lydie!" Nya said in worry while Demir and Rose watched on in worry.
"W-What do we do?" Rose asked Demir.
"I, I don't know! We're not strong enough!" Demir stated as Lydie and Lloyd floated back up towards Morro.
"Watch your step, that first step's a doozy," Morro taunted as the Garma-Twins saw the vortex getting bigger.
"Stop this, Morro!" Lydie told Morro as she and Lloyd flipped onto their feet, "This isn't what being the Ninja of Yang is about."
"But this is what I want! To prove that I am everything they believed I was!" Morro yelled out.
"No! Listen to us, you don't have to do this!" Lloyd told him as they jumped from wooden piece to piece, "The Preeminent is using you as a pawn!"
"I am no pawn! I am her greatest weapon! Without me, she'd never be able to do any of this!" Morro yelled as he released a blast of wind that the two jumped away to avoid.
"You know that Wu didn't train you to be like this!" Lydie shouted as she and Lloyd avoided the blasts. "We know that you searched all over Ninjago looking for our Grandfather's tomb, the boys and I saw where you died!"
"And I saw your memories, Morro! I know how scared you felt then, how you wished to see Wu just one last time!" Lloyd called, pointing at Morro.
"S-Stop it! You're not fooling me!" Morro yelled as he used the Sword to predict their next move and shot the plank they were gonna land on, which made the Garma-Twins fall as they screamed before they landed on another plank. The two then Airjitzu backed up and grabbed onto the edge of the shop and Morro over them. "This is the end of the line. No matter the cost, A Ninja always sees it through to the end!" He said as he was about to use his powers on them.
But then coming from above is none other than R.E.X. with Ronin inside. "Metal Boy, Flower girl. It's now or never!" Ronin called to Demir and Rose, "I saved up a lot for this moment so you better take it."
Demir and Rose looked at each other as they nodded and then closed their eyes as they focused. They remembered what Wu told them about finding their true potential as Rose stepped forward. "I may not have made my own choices before and let others make them for me, but I will stand for myself and make my own decisions in life! I will not be told off by others! I won't let it hold me back from being what I want to be!" Rose yelled as she raised her hands up, which glowed green as her eyes glowed as well before leaves were circling around her as the ground shook and bursting out from the ground were piles and piles of strangleweed that quickly wrapped itself around the shop.
"W-What?!" Morro yelled in shock and panic while Lloyd and Lydie were surprised by this as they were being pulled down by the strangleweeds. "W-What is happening?!"
"Time to cash in!" Ronin called as he pressed a button, which opened up the hatch of his ship that unleashed a ton of money coins he saved up.
Demir then stepped forward as he gave a serious look as he looked up at the falling coins. "I may not believe that I would live up to the title of a Ninja, but that doesn't matter. I don't have to compare myself to others to prove myself. I'm gonna keep trying and become better with each day that passes! I won't give up! Ever!" He called as he then coated himself in metal as his eyes glowed sliver as he then focused his powers into his hands as they started glowing, and then the coins that were falling then stopped in midair.
"Whoa." Nya said in awed as Demir then used his hands to reshape the coins into blades, which made Nya realize what was happening. "You two have unlocked your true potential!" She said in awed before she groaned. "Oh, I wanted to be the first." She complained.
Demir didn't say anything as he sent the daggers towards Morro, which made him screamed in panic as the coins hit him as he took cover while Lydie and Lloyd quickly entered the pawn shop to avoid them while the combined powers of Rose and Demir brought the pawn shop down as Nya and Kai looked in awed before the shop was completely down, releasing a small wind burst that knocked them back as the Sword of Sanctuary and Lloyd's mask fell in front of them.
Rose and Demir cease using their powers as they look at what they've done in shock. "Whoa." Demir said as he looked at his hands.
"Did… we just do that?" Rose asked in surprise as she looked at her hands as well.
"Nice job you two," Nya congratulated.
"Yeah, now that was great teamwork." Kai added as he picked up Lloyd's mask and the Sword of Sanctuary, "And we got the Sword away from Morro."
Ronin looked over the roof to notice Morro wasn't there. "Where's Morro?! He's gone!" He exclaimed, which made them worried.
Inside the pawn shop, Lloyd and Lydie quickly went up to the crystal as Lydie held it as they looked over the portal above them. "Okay, Lydie, destroy it!" Lloyd urged.
"On it." Lydie nodded. She then used her powers around the Realm Crystal, causing it to shake and on the verge of shattering.
"Stop!" Morro called out, which made Lydie stop as she and Lloyd turned and saw him giving a pleading look. "Please, don't."
"I'm sorry, Morro. But we can't let the Preeminent into our world." Lydie said as she and Lloyd backed away from him.
"You had your chance." Lloyd added. "The Realm Crystal must be destroyed."
"Grandfather never wanted anyone to have it!" Lydie said as she powered herself up again.
"B-But if you destroy it, you destroy any chance of ever saving your father." Morro told them urgently as Lydie stopped.
"Wh-What did you say?" Lydie asked in shock.
"There they are!" Nya said through the windows, "Lloyd! Lydie! Get out of there!" She called.
The Garma-Twins looked at Morro in shock at his suggestion as they circled the room. "Yes. Yes. I've seen him. He longs to be with you both again…" Morro started.
"The windows are blocked!" Kai shouted while a pile of junk blocked the windows.
"...But is locked up in the Cursed Realm." Morro continued. "Destroy the crystal, and the gateway will forever be wiped out."
"Use your Spinjitzu!" Kai told them.
"Don't listen to him!" Demir told them.
"You'll never get a chance to see your father again," Morro told them as he held his hand, "Give me the crystal and I'll use it to bring Garmadon back to you," He promised.
"Lloyd! Captain! Get out of there!" Rose called.
Lloyd and Lydie look at the Realm Crystal and the portal. "Uh… You… You've seen him?" Lloyd asked.
"You'll…save him?" Lydie asked, a bit tempted before she and Lloyd snapped out of it. "No, Morro. Our father would give everything to save Ninjago, and the Preeminent would do everything to destroy it!" She stated as she surrounded the crystal in her power again.
"The Realm Crystal must be destroy-" Lloyd tried to finish, but then two tentacles shot out from the portal, catching the Garma-Twins hands while stopping Lydie from using her powers.
"Lloyd! Lydie!" Kai shouted.
"What is that?!" Nya shouted in horror as more tentacles came out from the portal. "It's taking them! No!" She cried out.
"You're too late. The gateway is strong enough," Morro said seriously, "My master has arrived," He added as the Garma-Twins were restrained.
"No! Morro please, You can still stop this!" Lydie pleaded as one of the tentacles plucked the crystal from her hand as more tentacles wrapped around her and Lloyd as the others screamed from the outside.
"I'm sorry. But it has already been done." Morro said with a frown. "Ninjago belongs to the Cursed Realm now. Give my regards to Garmadon." He said as he turned away as Lloyd and Lydie were pulled into the portal.
"NOOOO!" They others screamed as Lloyd and Lydie gave off screams while being pulled into the portal.
The Pawn Shop then started shaking as something big was coming through, "Um, I'm going to suggest we all get to cover!" Rose said in panic.
"Run for it!" Kai said as they all ran away before the Pawnshop exploded.
In the distance, Zane, Cole, and Jay watched in horrified shock as a large tentacle mass rose up, breaking the wooden platforms around it while the people ran away in panic.
At the docks, Wu and Misako were helping the civilians to the steam boat. "Lloyd and Lydie couldn't destroy the Realm Crystal. THe Preeminent has arrived." Wu said in dread.
"But where are my children?" Misako asked in worry as they looked up at where the tentacles were showing.
"We need to evacuate everyone out of this town! Like now!" Ronin called as he rushed towards them with the Sword of Sanctuary before they saw Ghoul-Tar and some other ghosts laughing at them.
Back with the Ninja, they saw the Preeminent coming out of the portal as she looked like a giant eyeball with tentacles as she spawned more ghosts out of her eye as the others looked in shock.
"Whoa!" Jay muttered in shock.
"What is that thing?!" Kai asked in shock.
"She's the Preeminent, the physical manifestation of the entire Cursed Realm," Zane answered.
"I know one thing, she ain't pretty," Cole commented in disgust at the sight.
"Ew! Gross! I'm about to lose my lunch." Demir said in disgust.
"Join the club." Rose agreed.
"If we can't stop that, we might lose Equestria!" Ninja called as she blasted a water beam at one of the Preeminent's tentacles, which caused her to shake it in pain and moan as she attacked the group as they quickly dodged it as the Ninja used their powers on the tentacles.
"Fire!"
"Lightning!"
"Ice!"
"Earth!"
"Nature!"
"Metal!"
Each of the Ninja used their powers onto the Preeminent, but nothing works while the Preeminent remain unfazed by the attacks. "She didn't even notice that." Zane said.
"Oh, I hate unbeatable creatures!" Jay exclaimed as he drove around to avoid the tentacle chasing him.
"Hurry! On board!" Ronin called to the crowd as they got on the steam boat.
"This way!" Wu ordered the people.
Misako then noticed Morro riding on one of the tentacles, "Wu, Ronin! Look!" She pointed.
"Morro." Wu said as Morro said nothing as the tentacles lowered him down while he's holding the Realm Crystal.
"So, we finally meet face to face, Master," Morro mocked, "Destiny believed I wasn't worthy to be the Ninja of Yang but I proved my worth! The Preeminent is now unleashed!"
"Unleashing chaos and destruction doesn't take special talent, Morro," Wu stated with a glare, "If this is your definition of worthy, I am not impressed." He said as Morro clenched his fists.
"No, nothing I do could ever impress you, could it, 'father'," Morro said with venom, "In your eyes, I'll always be nothing but your failed student, your shame. "
"My only shame is that I've been unable to help you," Wu said with a firm look. "I will not let you hurt anyone, not when your only battle is with me alone."
"So that's how it is going to be?" Morro questioned with a disappointed look as he turned his back away from him.
"That is how it must be." Wu said as he spun his staff and got into a stance.
Morro did nothing for a moment before he jumped up with a yell and unleashed a blast of wind, which Wu backed away from as they faced each other as Morro glared at him. "I've rotted in the Cursed Realm for 40 years because of your weakness!" Morro yelled as he advanced towards Wu.
"Obeying your Master is not weakness!" Wu snapped back.
"You knew I was The Green Ninja of Yang! You always knew but when the Golden Weapons didn't react, what did you do?" Morro questioned as Wu stood silent. "What did you do?!" He repeated as Wu closed his eyes shut. "Nothing!"
"You were not meant to be The Green Ninja of Yang! That was not my fault!" Wu shouted, which only angered Morro further.
"'Not your fault'?! Who filled my head with dreams?!" Morro questioned as he kicked a barrel at Wu, who dodged them. "Who drove me to train until my bones cracked?!" Morro then grabbed a metal cylinder as he threw it at Wu, who dodge it. "Who denied me my destiny!?" He yelled as he sent out multiple wind blasts at Wu, who dodged each one as Morro then grabbed a broken pipe, which he spun his staff as it bounced back.
"It was never my decision to make!" Wu yelled as Morro growled. "You've unleashed this scourge, and it won't stop until it has cursed all Sixteen Realms! I've trained you to be a Ninja who protects, not one who destroys!"
"You made me believe I was to become the Green Ninja of Yang!" Morro yelled back. "And now, I finally am!" He yelled as Misako was then caught by the tentacles.
"Wu!" Misako cried out as she was pulled away.
"Misako!" Wu cried out.
"The more souls the Preeminent takes, the bigger she gets!" Morro stated as he moved beside Misako as Wu jumped onto the tentacles as he gave chase after them. "I never wanted it to be like this, but I did what I had to do! So say goodbye to your loved ones, and say goodbye to Ninjago!" He yelled as he and Wu started fighting each other while Wu tried to get to Misako.
"Warm up that paddle!" Ronin said to the captain as he used the Sword to cut a tentacle. "We're leaving when they get back!"
Back with the other Ninja, they are still trying to fight the Preeminent as they were rescuing civilians as Zane used his powers to stun a tentacle as he quickly caught a woman. "Thank you." She said to the Nindroid as Zane put her down as she rushed off.
"Get to the ship! Hurry!" Nya called as she kept using her powers to keep the tentacles away while they kept rescuing the people.
"I don't know how to stop this thing! It just keeps coming!" Zane called as he used his mech's blades to cut a tentacle as Kai threw his Areoblade at another, but one end caused it to grow two more tentacles.
"Ah! You stop one, two more grow in its place!" Kai called as he caught his weapon as the tentacles grabbed hold of Jay's Ghost Tanker, which the Lightning Ninja quickly got off before his ride was tossed across the city. "If there ever was a time to unlock your True Potential as well, sis, it's now!" He called out to Nya as she came up to him.
"Let me just flip the switch." Nya said sarcastically. "Oh, yeah, I'm not a Nindroid! I DON'T HAVE A SWITCH!" She screamed in rage.
"Wait, if the Preeminent is like a ghost and ruler of the Cursed Realm, Shouldn't she have the same weakness as the other ghosts?" Demir asked as he punched a tentacle away while holding a metal dagger he made.
"Demir is correct." Zane spoke up. "If ghosts can't withstand Deepstone, perhaps the same goes for the Preeminent. But we'll need a larger dose."
"My bike's made of Deepstone," Cole reminded them. "How about I jam it down her gullet! Cover me!" He called out as he drove off while the others distracted the Preeminent.
Misako was taken further and further away as Wu tried to reach her but just when he had her hand he was grabbed from behind, "What?!" Wu said, turning to see Morro grabbing him.
"Where do you think you're going, Old Man?" Morro mocked as he pulled Wu away.
"Wu!" Misako called as she was carried away by the tentacles.
With Cole, he drove into a great distance as he saw the Preeminent straight ahead. "Like cake? How's this for your pie hole?!" he called as he revved up his bike and up a ramp, which caused him to destroy a ghost as he sped over the roof and dodged the tentacles as he stood up on his bike. "NINJA, GO!" He jumped off while his bike entered the mouth of the Preeminent, which caused her to roar in pain as she dropped Misako, causing her to fall before Wu, who managed to get away from Morro Spinjitzu as Wu quickly caught her with his arms.
"Got you," Wu said to her as Misako sighed in relief.
The Ninja regrouped as they looked up at the Preeminent, who was now roaring in rage. "Thanks, Cole. You only made her madder!" Jay sarcastically said.
"And there goes a perfectly good bike." Cole complained as more tentacles came up to them.
"How are we supposed to stop her now?" Rose questioned as they fought off the tentacles.
"If Lloyd and Lydie are inside that thing, we have to get closer." Kai said to them.
"Yeah, easier said than done!" Jay exclaimed while gesturing to the tentacles around them.
Lloyd and Lydie groaned as they managed to regain consciousness as he stood up and saw that they were in what looked like a ribcage tunnel before they turned to their left and saw multiple ghosts regenerating from what looked like pods and exiting out of the mouth as they gasped and rushed off to their right as they ran past some cages.
Within one of the cages was Chen, who was back to his normal self as he saw where Lloyd and Lydie ran off too. "Who was that? Was that Lloyd and Lydie?" He asked.
"You're seeing things again, Master Chen," Clouse said as he was sawing his way out.
The Garma-Twins then rushed down the path before they saw a familiar man shackled to two bones, "Dad!" They cried in joy as Garmadon, returned to his human form, perked up.
"Lloyd? Lydie?" Garmadon asked in shock and joy as his children rushed up to him and gave him a joyful hug for a long moment before the Garma-Twins separated. "My children." He said with a smile.
"Hang on, Dad. We're gonna get you out of here." Lydie said as she went to one end of her father's chains. "Lloyd, help me."
"On it." Lloyd said as he went to the other chains as they began to pull as Garmadon looked down in sadness.
"It's no use. These chains will not break." Garmadon said sadly to them, which made his children stop as they looked at him hopelessly.
"Where are we?" Lloyd asked as he looked around.
"The Cursed Realm is the Preeminent, and the Preeminent is the Cursed Realm," Garmadon told his children as he looked around. "Kids, you're in the belly of the beast. But if you're in here…"
"Morro is the Ninja of Yang," Lloyd told their father as he and Lydie with solemn looks. "And he's stolen the Realm Crystal."
"We're sorry. Dad. We tried…" Lydie started but could not finish her sentence as she and Lloyd looked away in defeat.
"You both must not give," Garmadon said to them. "If he has the Crystal, all is in danger."
"But how?" Lloyd asked. "Lydie might have a chance, but me, I'm not the Ninja of Yang anymore." He said hopelessly.
"It was never the color of the Gi that made you who you are, son." Garmadon said encouragingly. "It was the color of your heart. Don't give up." His words gave Lloyd an encouraging smile.
"We won't, father," Lydie said with a smile.
"You two must leave here and destroy the Preeminent," Garmadon said to him, which shocked the Garma-Twins. "Save Ninjago. Save the Realms."
"But if we destroy it, it could destroy you," Lloyd pointed out sadly, since their father would be gone for good if he destroyed the Preeminent.
"We can't do that to you, Dad." Lydie said sadly, "We can't lose you again."
Garmadon gave Lloyd and Lydie a calm and encouraging look. "Whatever happens to me, wherever I am, I will always be with you both." He said to his children as they listened to their father's words, sharing their final moments together. "There comes a time when every boy and girl must become a man and woman. What sort of man and woman? Is up to them."
Back outside, the Ninja are still fighting off the ghosts and the tentacles while having no luck at getting closer to the Preeminent." I thought you were gonna get closer?!" Nya exclaimed.
"You don't think I'm trying?!" Kai retorted as he sliced off a tentacle before Wu and Misako came to them
"It's too late, we have to get to the ship and protect the people!" Wu exclaimed to them as they fought off some more tentacles and ghosts.
"But what about Lloyd and Lydie?!" Jay asked.
"Ugh! This is what Lloyd and Lydie would've wanted!" Misako said as she pushed back a tentacle.
"To the ship, but we're not leaving anyone else behind!" Kai called Zane's mechs' legs were caught, which caused Zane to trip with a yell and fall to the floor before he got up and saw a mother and daughter.
"Follow me!" Wu said to them as they rushed off with the tentacle following while Ronin was fighting off the tentacles as they boarded the ship. "That's all of them! We need to get this ship to sea to put as much water between us as possible." He said while he's looking at the Preeminent and the ghosts at a distance.
"No problem." Ronin said as he cut the rope and the boat started moving before he looked up and saw Morro gliding towards him. "Maybe one problem!" He said in worry as Morro gave a serious look.
"The Sword. Now." Morro said firmly.
"It's Morro!" Demir yelled.
"Look out, Ronin!" Jay exclaimed.
"I'll get him!" Kai called as he summoned his fire, but Morro turned to him.
"Stay out of this!" Morro told him as he used his powers to blow them back. "Now it's just you and me, Thief," He told Ronin.
"Go Ninja, go! I got this!" Ronin told the Ninja as he saw in the blade Ronin using his powers before he dodged his attacks as Morro destroyed the dock while the boat floated away.
Nya then rushed up to the captain. "Is this as fast as it goes?!" She asked in disbelief as the captain had his drink.
"It's a paddle steamer, not a rocket ship." The captain said naturally.
Morro then forced Ronin back before he unleashed a strong wind. Ronin stabbed the Sword down to keep himself from blowing away, but he lost his grip on the sword as he was sent flying. Morro gave a victorious laugh as Soul Archer, Bansha, Ghoul-Tar and Wrayth floated up to him, "About time you showed up," Morro told them, "Take care of the boat, it's time for us to end this."
But the four ghosts just kept laughing. "Oh, we couldn't agree more, Morro." Soul Archer said with a smirk.
"But first, there's still one last problem the Preeminent wants dealt with," Bansha added sinisterly.
"And that would be?" Morro questioned in confusion as the four Ghost Generals brought out their weapons.
"You." The ghost generals all said before Ghoul-Tar whacked Morro away, sending him flying as he hit a wall while.
On the Boat, the Ninja were alarmed by this, "What the?" Jay said in surprise.
"Did those ghosts just attack Morro?" Cole asked in shock.
"I think someone just got back stabbed." Demir said in complete shock.
Morro groaned as he flipped himself onto his back and looked at the ghost generals in shock. "W-What?! But Why?!" He exclaimed.
"Your services are no longer required, Morro." Wrayth said with a chuckle.
"What are you saying?! I freed you all from the Cursed Realm! I went against my own master to get you the Realm Crystal!" Morro reminded them. "So why are you doing this?!"
"The Preeminent ordered us to remove any seeds that could sprout into trouble," Soul Archer told him.
"Trouble?" Morro said in confusion.
"When you returned, our Master sensed the confliction and doubt in your mind, she knew it would only be a matter of time before you would betray us," Bansha explained to him, "Once she arrived, we were authorized to dispose of you."
"Now hold still," Ghoul-Tar called as he and the others raised their weapons. "We make this quick and painful."
Morro looked in total horror at his former comrades betraying him as he backed away from them as the ghost generals gave laughs, but then two combined blasts of golden and dark energy flew out as the ghost generals were sent flying as they crashed into the ground and then two familiar figures appeared in front of Morro and the Sword of Sanctuary..
"You two?!" Morro asked in surprise.
"Yeah, we're back." Lloyd said with a smirk, picking up the sword while wearing their father's robe.
"And we believe you might need some help after seeing the deception, Morro." Lydie said with a smirk with her Areoblade ready.
"T-They, they turned on me because of you!" Morro yelled in both rage and betrayal, "You always take everything from me!"
"What? Morro. Calm down, just-" Lydie tried to say but Morro charged and sent a blast of wind at them, which Lloyd and Lydie dodged many times.
"Try this!" Lloyd shouted as he sent a blast at Morro, knocking him to a building through the window.
"Well, he's mad." Lydie said before they heard cheering as they turned and saw their friends on the boat, cheering them on.
"Look. Lloyd has their father's robe." Wu said, seeing his nephew wearing his brother's robe.
"Ronin, get to the ship and protect the people." Lloyd instructed as Ronin nodded.
"Ninja, take out the stilts." Lydie continued as she turned to the others. "We need to drop the Preeminent into the sea."
"Ugh. Why didn't we think of that earlier?"Jay questioned.
"That's why she's the Captain," Cole answered.
"NINJA, GO!" they all exclaimed as they did Airjitzu as they jumped from building to building.
Morro came out of the building as the Garma-Twins turned to him, "We'll deal with the Blowhard." Lloyd said, holding out the sword.
"You think you're both better than me?" Morro questioned as his powers swirled. "No one is better than me!" Morro and the Garma-Twins clashed with each other, exchanging blows as they seemed evenly matched.
With the Ninja, they quickly went under the Preeminent while holding onto the support beams as the Ninja ready their Aeroblades. "Let's give this slime ball a bath!" Kai quipped as they sliced the support beams, causing the boardwalk to tilt and the Preeminent to lean back as it groaned.
With the Garma-Twins, Lloyd slashed away a tentacle as Morro used his power to get behind them before Lydie tried to blast him. Morro dodged the blast before he felt the deck beneath him shaking as he knew what they were doing. "No, they're taking out the supports!"
"And you should be happy! That giant ball of Slime tried to take you out!" Lydie reminded him.
The Preeminent then started tilting as its tentacles touched the water, which it retracted painfully as the Ninja were underneath it as they climbed back out and saw the Preeminent sinking.
"NINJA, GO!" They all exclaimed as they Airjitzued away.
"NOOO!" Morro yelled as he used the Realm Crystal to open a portal and jumped through it as he appeared behind the Garma-Twins and blasted them back, and then did the same as he gave a laugh before one of the Preemient's tentacles grabbed him and was dragging him towards the water, "No! No!" He said in panic.
"Protect the Preeminent! Protect the Realm!" Soul Archer called out as he and the other ghosts circled around the Preeminent, covering her in pieces of the town.
Morro tried to grab onto the floor boards to try to stop his descent into the water but it was futile. Suddenly he flashbacks to when he was in the Caves of Despair, trapped and helpless, "No! No! Help! Someone, help! Master Wu, Dad, please! I'm sorry!" He heard his younger self call out as he panicked, knowing that if he touched the water the Cursed Realm wouldn't bring him back.
"Morro!" Lydie called as she and Lloyd rushed up to him as they grabbed onto him, but having trouble pulling him up. "Morro! The crystal! Use the Crystal!" She called.
"W-What?!" Morro asked in shock before he looked at the Realm Crystal in his hand. "O-Okay!" He said as he opened a portal beneath them, cutting the tentacle as he and the Garma-Twins fell in.
They then appeared in the Underworld as they fell through the portal and onto the ground. "Well, that works." Lydie groaned as she got up and saw their surroundings. "The Underworld?" She asked in surprise before she saw the ferris wheel. "Huh, they kept it? They must really love ferris wheels."
Suddenly, the Underworld Spiders started crawling into view, "Uh oh," Lloyd said in worry.
"Spiders. Why did it have to be spiders." Lydie said in slight fear as she shuddered.
Back in Stiix, the ghosts are then moving buildings and attaching them to the tentacles of The Preeminent as they glow. One by one, the Preeminent stood up as it now had legs and four arms made from pieces of the village Stiix while the others looked in shock by this.
"Just when you thought you've seen it all." Jay said in fear.
On the boat, the creatures were screaming when they saw the Preeminent as it slowly stomped towards them as she gave loud groans and steps on buildings. "Let's hope it can't swim." Wu hoped.
"We need more speed." Ronin said as he rushed up to the wheel.
"We gotta help the Ninja." Nya said as she, Demir, and Rose put on their masks.
"Let's go." Demir said as they jumped onto some pillars and to where the fight was as Ronin pushed the captain away.
"Let me." Ronin said as he pulled a lever at high speed as the boat went a bit faster.
Back on shore, the Preeminent continued its way to the ship as the Ninja followed after it. "We have to destroy that thing before it reaches the ship!" Kai exclaimed as they ran on buildings to follow it.
"Lift!" Wrayth yelled as he and the other ghosts were controlling the limbs to move the Preeminent as they moved its legs.
"Throw!" Spectral yelled as they moved one of the arms to grab a building and toss it at the boat, causing it to push the boat further as the creatures all screamed in fear.
"It's okay. The Ninja will stop it." Misako assured a boy.
Zane then scanned the Preeminent. "Pixal has detected over 500 ghosts aboard this walking fortress, and the number is climbing." He told his team seriously.
"If we have to destroy this thing one ghost at a time, so be it." Cole said with determination as Kai grabbed hold of one of its legs.
"Then I want a front row ticket. NINJA, GO!" Kai called as he free fell into another leg as the others Airjitzued towards him as they held onto the leg.
A ghost was gonna get them, but it went poof by a water beam. "Hey, guys. Need a hand?" Nya quipped as she blasted at more ghosts while Demir and Rose used their powers to keep the ghosts back.
"Perfecting time, guys!" Jay told them.
"Thanks, guys!" Cole said as they started climbing before Wrayth caught Zane in his chains.
"Got you." Wrayth gave a chuckle and then drew ghost energy as it made its way to Zane.
Jay saw this as he shot a lightning beam. "Lightning!" he called as he intersected the light from the chain, freeing Zane but also electrocuting Wrayth as he fell into the water.
The others then climbed up to the door of a house. "Knock-knock," Rose quipped as Kai opened the door.
"Come on in. Let's rock this house," Kai said as they entered the house.
"Doctor Nindroid, it appears our patient needs to have her knee put on ice," Jay said with a playful smirk under his hood.
"I'm happy to help," Zane joked as he used his powers to freeze the entire house. The Preeminent roared when it felt its knees frozen as it lifted its leg, which caused the others to trip as it shook it free and the ice broke.
But the second the Preeminent dropped its foot into the water, it roared in pain as he retracted it as the ship moved further away. "Yes! She's unable to follow us to sea!" Wu cheered as the crowd gasped in relief.
The Preeminent roared angrily as she stepped into the water, after a few attempts, she managed to walk into the water and walked further to the boat.
"I thought Ghosts can't stand water. How come it's still after us?!" Misako said in shock.
"Have enough ghosts at your disposal, I guess you can pretty much do anything." Wu said as everyone screamed in panic. "Throw anything we don't need off the ship! We need to go faster! Much faster!" He called as everyone started throwing anything they didn't need off the ship as they went a bit faster with the Preeminent followed behind.
Back in the Underworld, The Garma-Twins were fighting off the Spiders before Morro blew wind at them, blowing them over the edge, "I don't want a bunch of overgrown bugs cheating me at my right to destroy you two!" Morro told the Garma-Twins.
"Are you kidding?! You're still trying to prove your worth?!" Lloyd asked in disbelief.
"We just saved your butt, twice!" Lydie reminded him.
"That doesn't mean I want your sympathy!" Morro yelled as he glared at them. "You two and I could go on fighting forever…" He stopped before he gave a smirk as he opened the portal. "Or I could just take the Realm Crystal and leave you behind forever!"
"You're not leaving without us, pal!" Lloyd shouted as he and Lydie did Airjitzu as they chased Morro through the portal.
A portal soon opened into the Madness Realm as the three tussled before they crashed onto the Mountain of Madness. Morro dropped the Crystal near the edge of the mountain's portal as they rushed to it. Lydie quickly caught it and pushed Morro back as she opened another portal as she and Lloyd jumped in as Morro followed from behind.
Suddenly Morro and the Garma-Twins were falling straight towards Cloud Kingdom as Nobu and Euphrasia watched in shock before a monk walked up to them, knowing what they were thinking. "No, we must not dabble in their affairs anymore. This is for them to resolve." The young monks nodded in solemn agreement as they watched Morro and Garma-Twins fight before another portal opened below them, through which they fell straight into.
Soon, the three exited the portal as they were now falling from the sky again as the sun was setting while over a very big forest where a piece of a mountain floated in the sky and seemed to be flowing out multiple waterfalls of glowing orbs.
A group of anthro creatures: a lion, alligator, bear, wolf, skunk, gorilla, raven, rhino, peacock, beaver, and eagle resting as they enjoyed the peace, but then Morro and the Garma-Twins crashed behind them as they wrestled for the Crystal, which got the creatures' attention as they turned to them.
"Hey, where did you guys come from?" the lion asked in shock as Morro, Lydie and Lloyd saw them as they were surprised by this as well before Morro grabbed the Crystal and opened another portal as he and the Garma-Twins went through it together.
The three then soon portaled into a realm with a yellow sky, a black sun and desert landscape and crashed onto the ground. Lloyd groaned as he sat up and looked around, "Where are we?" He wondered as Lydie sat up as well.
"I, I have no idea," Lydie said as she looked around, "Although, I know this is our first time in this realm, but, there's something about it that feels…familiar." She said in thought, as she felt an unknown connection.
"Grr! I'm not gonna stand around and-" Morro was cut off when Lydie did an air kick, which knocked the Realm Crystal out of his hand as Lloyd caught it.
"Sorry, Morro, but I've had enough Realm hopping for a while." Lloyd said firmly.
"No, no, NO! I won't let you take anymore from-"
Morro didn't finish as Lydie pounced on him and put her Aeroblade and the Sword to his neck as she looked him dead in the eye, "Morro just, stop okay? You can't win this," She said simply, "The Cursed Realm betrayed you, we have the Sword of Sanctuary and the Realm Crystal, you are done." She said in finality as Morro growled.
"So you expect me to just sit back and listen to destiny choose for me again!" Morro questioned, his voice sounding desperate, while Lydie saw in the Blade's reflection what was to come next while her eyes widened, "It always works out for you two! Having everything handed to you! The Gis, your team, being your Uncle's prized Pupil?!" He demanded.
"We're all Uncle's prized pupils! But you were right, Lydie and I could never do it alone, because our friends are our greatest strength! You think you're stronger because you're alone but it takes others to make us truly stronger, that's why we're the Chosen Ones," Lloyd told him before his face turned more sympathetic, "But we also understand better than anyone how valuable approval is."
Morro tried to push the weapons away but he was weak from the constant fighting as Lydie's glare turned to a pleading look, "Morro please, I can see it in your eyes. You're a good person but you're making all the wrong decisions to get what you want," She said to him.
"Shut up!" Morro yelled in fury.
"Do you really think this will make Wu proud of you?!" Lydie asked him.
"I don't know what else to do!" Morro screamed out as the Garma-Twins watched Morro's furious expression melted into sorrow. "I-I, I don't know what else to do," He repeated in despair and defeat. "I-I spent years searching for the First Spinjitzu Master's tomb, trying to prove to Wu that I have what it takes to be the Ninja of Yang. I searched through every corner of Ninjago looking for it, even the most dangerous ones, but all of that was for nothing when I was banished to the Cursed Realm without even unlocking my True Potenial." He said as he turned away from the Garma-Twins as Lydie got off him.
"Master Wu was like the father I never had, All I ever wanted was to make him proud of me. But when the Golden Weapons said I wasn't one of the Chosen Ones, Wu was so disappointed that I felt like he only kept me around because of that. That he…he never wanted me. He didn't love me." Morro said in a voice that sounded close to crying as he sat up. "And after everything I've done, unleashing the Cursed Realm onto Ninjago, I know for sure Wu doesn't love me."
Lloyd and Lydie looked at Morro in sympathy as they walked up to him. "That's not what Uncle told us, Morro." Lloyd said softly to him.
"Losing you hurt him more than you realized," Lydie said sympathetically as Morro looked at her, "Even after you left, Uncle Wu never forgot about you. He always hoped one day he could see you again, to tell you how sorry he was and make amends with you."
"He even left the Monastery's doors open for your return." Lloyd added. "But you never came back. And he was sad when he learned you were sent to the Cursed Realm. You were in my head, I saw your memories of how much you still think about him, and not all of them are the hate or vengeful ones."
"You even kept a picture of you and our family together." Lydie added as she took out Morro's picture as she showed it to him, which made Morro look at it longly. "This shows that you still loved them and just wanted to see them one last time."
Morro took the picture as he looked at it as he gently caressed Wu's face on it as he gave a sad look. "I just… wanted his approval, that I could be better." He said as he closed his eyes. "That I was what he believed I was."
"Morro, not everything can turn out the way you want to." Lloyd said to him. "I mean, sure, you didn't become the Green Ninja sooner, but that doesn't mean you can't be who you want to be on your own. Sure, destiny has other plans, but destiny isn't set in stone. I mean, take us for example."
"Yeah." Lydie nodded. "The prophecy said that the Ninja of Yin and Yang can defeat the dark lord, but instead of destroying our father, we purge that evil out of him to return him to the light after we first defeated the Overlord."
"And I wasn't always great either." Lloyd said with a shrug. "I was a bad kid, nothing but trouble until my sister and the others took me in."
"It's true. He was a troublemaker." Lydie said with giggles.
"I know. I was in his head." Morro said with a chuckle.
"But I changed, because they showed me an important lesson," Lloyd said with a smile, "The Best way to defeat your enemy,"
"Is to make them your friend," Lydie said, giving her brother a side hug. "And that's what we want to be to you," She added with a smile.
Morro looked at them in surprise. "Y-You wanted me to be your friend? Even after all I've done?"
"Everyone deserves a second chance," Lloyd said as he used the Realm Crystal to open another portal next to them but didn't enter it, "Which is why we're giving a chance to make things right." He added as he handed him the Realm Crystal.
"W-Wait, what, what are you doing?" Morro said in confusion.
"We're giving you a chance to go back to Ninjago, and choose which side you think is right," Lydie said, seeing her brother's plan. "And once it's all said and done, you bring us back to see what choice you made."
Morro was shocked beyond words, "You're, you're letting me go back? But, how can you just blindly trust me? For all you know, I could destroy your friends and Wu for the Preeminent!" He told them.
"Even still, we want you to choose for yourself what you want to do next," Lydie said without hesitation, "Someone once told us there comes a time where every boy and girl must become a man and woman," She started, reciting their father's wisdom.
"What sort of man or woman, is up to them." Lloyd finished with a smile as Morro looked at them before turning to the Realm Crystal in thought.
Back in Ninjago, the Preeminent was still stomping her way to the ship while the Ninja were climbing the leg. "Can we go any faster?" Wu asked Ronin.
"It's on full power." Ronin said to them.
Misako saw something ahead. "Head for that fog bank for cover!" Ronin nodded and moved its way to the fog bank.
Bansha saw this as she flew straight to Nya, but she blasted her with water as she went poof. Then an arrow was fired between her and Kai as they turned and saw the Soul Archer firing at them. "Kai, watch out!" Nya called as she blasted at the arrow, but Kai lost his grip as he started falling.
"I've got you!" Cole called as he raised his hands, but Kai went right through him, causing him to go dumbstruck as he forgot that he was still transparent. "Huh? I guess not!"
Kai managed to grab hold of a piece of a building as he was dangling over the water. "I can't swim!"
"I can't get wet!" Cole added as Kai lost his grip and fell into the water as he screamed.
Kai quickly swam back up as he took a breath and held onto the piece of the leg before he saw the Soul Archer aiming his arrow at him. Kai quickly ducked under the water after he took a breath. "You have to come up for air at some time, Fire Ninja," the archer ghost taunted as he laughed while Zane saw this as he gasped.
Kai tried to stay low as long as he could, but he was losing oxygen as he then resurfaced and caught his breath as the Soul Archer was about to fire. "Kai! Shoot fire now!" Zane exclaimed.
Kai nodded as he shot his hoof forward. "Fire!" A fire blast was shot out.
"Ice!" Zane called as he shot an ice beam. The two elemental beams collided to make water as they moved towards the Soul Archer as he was hit by the combined elements and went poofed.
"Nice job guys!" Demir cheered while Kai climbed up to him, "Fire plus Ice equals water!" He said as he and Kai fistbumped.
"As Iron sharpens Iron," Zane said as he slid down.
"Family sharpens family." Kai finished.
"And two more ghosts are toast." Jay added.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that." Rose said as they looked up and saw the ghosts they took out, including Bansha and the Soul Archer, coming out of the Preeminent mouth as they gave sinister laughs.
"Ugh, are you kidding me?" Kai said tiredly, "Even our coolest moves aren't helping anything," He said as the Preeminent stomped, knocking the boat forward.
"We obviously aren't doing any good here! We need to protect the ship!" Nya told them.
"In that case, Ladies first," Cole quipped to the two girls.
Rose and Nya then jumped off, "NINJA, GO!" They exclaimed as Nya used her water powers as boosters while Rose created seaweed platforms to jump across as they landed on deck and the Ninja followed by Airjitzu as they landed on the ship and went up to the others as they entered the fog bank.
"What are we supposed to do now!?" Demir exclaimed in frustration.
"If we're gonna destroy the Preeminent, we're gonna have to do more," Wu said seriously.
"Speaking of more, we need more fuel," Ronin spoke up as he looked at the fuel gauge. "If we turn back now, we'll have just enough to get us to shore. Otherwise, if we reach Hollow's Trench, we'll be sitting ducks out there."
"Hollow's Trench? You think it's deep enough to drown that giant thing?" Kai asked in thought.
"Only one way to find out," Wu said seriously, "Full steam ahead!" He exclaimed and pressed down on the speed gauge again to make the ship go faster as they exited the fog bank.
The Preeminent saw the ship as it used its claws to grab the steam wheel, knocking it off the ship as it sank into the water. "Oh no!" Cole cried out.
"We lost the wheel! We're sitting ducks!" Jay said in panic.
"Oh, what else can go wrong?!" Rose asked in frustration.
Then a portal opened right above the Steam boat as Morro exited and landed on the upper deck as he looked up and saw the portal closed. "You just had to say it, didn't you?" Kai questioned Rose.
Morro looked to the people panicking and then turned to the monster he unleashed with a frown, not noticing Nya walking next to him, looking just as helpless as him, "This isn't what I wanted." He said, while Nya didn't turn to him.
"Isn't freeing your master is what you always wanted?" Nya asked, still not facing him.
"I just want to prove I was good enough. That I was everything my true master believed I was," Morro answered, "I always thought it was destiny that ruined life for me but maybe, it was never that at all."
"So, you finally figured it out, huh?" Nya asked.
"Yeah. I guess I was too dense and stubborn to even see what truly held me back." Morro said as the Preeminent came closer to them. "It was never the Golden Weapons, what destiny said, or what I've been through, it was my refusal to accept it. And because of my pride, I never realized there was another way."
Hearing Morro's words, Nya began to think back to what Wu told her, "Until you all discover what holds you back, you will never discover your True Potential." As Wu's words echoed in her mind, Nya recalled certain moments in her life where she gave up when things got tough and stuck to what was easy for her since she was afraid to fail, "Your weakness is that you give up too easily, you only like what comes easy." Wu's words continued.
Then in her mind, outside her family's blacksmith shop, Nya saw a woman dressed in blue with long black hair and a warm motherly smile, "Don't be afraid to fail, Nya." The woman told her.
"Mom," Nya muttered quietly before she opened her eyes as she and Morro faced the Preeminent while everyone was still screaming in terror as she turned to Morro, "Then let's accept that even if we fail, we'll still use our power to do what's right." Nya said determinedly while reaching out her hand, "Are you with me?" She asked Morro.
Morro looked at her for a moment before he closed his eyes as the markings around his eyes disappeared and he opened them to show his eyes turned white, "I'm with you." Morro told Nya as the two stood on either side of the deck, focusing their powers as wind and water swirled around them.
Everyone watched in awe as the Ninja were facing the Preeminent when they noticed the wind and droplets. "Morro?" Jay asked.
"Not just Morro. Morro and Nya!" Cole shouted as he pointed behind them as they rushed towards them before the two, turned into pure forms and were in tornadoes of their respective elements as they began to float up as the Ninja watched in awe.
"They've unlocked their True Potential," Kai said in awed as they turned to where the Preeminent was.
The combined powers of Wind and water, stirred up the sea around the preeminent before it transformed into a massive hurricane that forced the embodiment of the cursed realm into the air, spinning her around in a before condensing into ball of wind and water that glowed green before exploding, destroying the Preeminent and all of her ghostly forces and scattering the pieces of her body.
The Ninja and Villagers all cheered in victory as Nya and Morro dropped down in exhaustion, "Haha! Way to go, Nya!" Kai cheered for his sister.
"That was totally awesome!" Jay added in amazement.
"Now that was an elemental boost!" Cole cheered as Nya and Morro stood up.
Nya turned to Morro with a smile before raising her fist up to him, "Good job," She complimented as Morro was surprised at first before he smiled.
"Yeah, you too," He said, returning the fistbump before he turned and saw Master Wu walking up to him with an unreadable look. Morro was a bit worried, knowing that Wu was upset with him but he sighed and walked forward, "Master Wu, I understand that when I left, I was reckless, entitled and very selfish. I blamed you for when I was not chosen to be the Ninja of Yang but now I understand I was angry at you for something you could not control, and I allowed that anger to control me and it led me down a path to my own destruction and the destruction of the realm you trained me to protect." He said kneeling down before Wu, "I know that what I did was wrong and I have no excuse for it. I understand if you cannot forgive me for what I've done and I'll accept whatever punishment you feel is fair and-"
Morro was cut off when Wu put his hand on Morro's chin, tilting his head up to meet his eyes as his unreadable expression turned into a soft smile, "I'm proud of you, my son." Wu said proudly.
Morro was caught off guard by that as he looked at Wu in confusion and surprise before he looked down regretfully, "I… I'm so sorry I left," He said remorsefully.
Wu just smiled and pulled Morro into a heartfelt hug which Morro gladly returned while the Ninja, Ronin and Misako watched with smiles.
Sometime later, the Villagers on the boat are using paddles to paddle the ship back to Stiix. Then the heroes huddled together as Morro held up the Realm Crystal. A portal opened in front of them as Lloyd and Lydie came through it and they all cheered in huge relief.
"Children, you made it!" Misako called as she rushed up to her children and hugged them tightly.
"And so did you," Lloyd said with a smile.
"Good to have you both back," Zane said with a smile. "You've just missed-"
"Oh, I know what I missed," Lloyd said with a smile as he looked at the Sword of Sanctuary. "We caught a glimpse of what would happen next, and new Morro has to return alone." He put the sword away.
"Just 'cause we're the Ninja of Yin and Yang, doesn't mean we have to save the day." Lydie added with a smile, "Especially when I have friends to rely on."
"And that's why destiny chose you both," Misako said with a proud smile.
"It appears your father's robe has imparted wisdom on you both, but you two still have a lot to master to earn the title of Sensei," Wu said with a small smile.
"If that's the path we're on, we'll take it one step at a time," Lloyd said with a warm smile as he and Lydie walked up to the edge of the ship and looked at the sunrise.
"The Cursed Realm is gone… and so is our father. But I know we're all in a better place." Lydie said with a smile she and Lloyd shared, knowing that their father is now free from the Cursed Realm and can finally rest in peace.
"Some of us may look a little different:" Cole started gesturing to himself, Morro and Zane.
"But like our team, some things never change," Demir continued..
"And if they do, that's okay," Rose said with a smile.
"Sometimes we just need to go with the flow," Nya said as they all huddled together.
"Cause even if the path isn't always straight, we go forward with confidence, because we trust where we're headed," Kai said as the others smiled.
"Yeah, and speaking of where we're headed, I've been dying to know. What are the other realms like, guys?" Jay asked in excitement to Morro, Lloyd, and Lydie. "C'mon, spill it! We have to know what we're saving, right?"
Lloyd just gave them a smile. "Let's just say, the future looks bright. For us and for Ninjago."
"As for what happens next, we'll face together," Lydie said before turning to Morro, "And we would be honored if you would face it with us, as our tenth Ninja." She offered.
"Wait, you want me to join you?" Morro said in surprise.
"Well, you did save our bacon earlier," Cole told him with a smile.
"Despite trying to kill us and possessing Lloyd while chasing us all over Ninjago and unleashing a giant green meatball into the realm-" Jay listed before Nya elbowed him. "Oof! Just saying." He said in defense.
"It would be advantageous to have one more element at our disposal," Zane pointed out.
"Plus, since I became the Gold Ninja, the Color green's been waiting for a new holder," Lloyd said walking up to Morro, "So how about it Morro? Up for being the new Green Ninja?" he asked.
Morro looked at Lloyd in shock at what he just said. "Y-You really mean that?" He asked.
"Yeah." Lloyd said with a smile. "I've grown out of my green color a couple of years back, but I still kept it with me if it was needed." He said as he took out a green gi that looked similar to their current ones, but in green. "So, I think it's time to pass on the Green Ninja mantle to a new one." He said as he handed the Gi to Morro.
Morro was stunned into silence as he looked at the gi before looking to Lydie and Wu who nodded in encouragement. Morro took a breath and then grinned, "Well, I suppose someone's gotta help you and your sister, to keep these four bozos in line," He joked, gesturing to Kai, Cole, Zane, and Jay.
"Hey!" The four boys said in offense.
"You're right on that bet, windbag." Lydie jokes, which made them all laugh as the others joined in as well as they all sailed back to Stiix as a new day had begun for them and for all of Ninjago.