Then they opened their eyes and saw that they were in the same place at Aeroplane, and that it was early in the morning. The people were pretty active, although everything was peaceful. Lloyd and Raven started flying towards the temple, and they went inside. They saw that Akemi, Jetta, Garen, and Elder Vidur were in the temple, and that the wall that divided the room in a semi-circle was broken. The red curtain was spread around the walls in a semi-circle that was opposite to the door, while the rest of the wall was glowing platinum. The stand was still there but it was pushed back in front of the stairway that led to the top floor, which was covered by a Platinum stone wall. There were also eight glass cases that stood near the curtain walls; four evenly spaced on one side, and the other four evenly spaced on the other side. Within the glass cases were the eight Platinum weapons.
"-Gasp- The Platinum weapons!" Raven said, excitedly, as Lloyd's eyes widened.
"Thank you once again for creating the Platinum weapons for us Akemi. It was nice of you and Meir to make them for the Mountain leaders and Prince Lerato. They really need a regulator to assist them in using and controlling their elemental-linked powers," Elder Vidur said, gratefully.
"It's no trouble for us Elder Vidur. Besides, we feel a certain responsibility for the others since we kind of 'gave' them those powers," Akemi said, as she rubbed the back of her head.
"Thank you for your help," Elder Vidur said, and Akemi nodded.
"Now all we have to do is wait for them to arrive when they receive the invitations," Garen said.
"Yes. Akemi, I mean, Green Ninja, may you inform your husband of the news?" Elder Vidur asked.
"Sure. I'll let Meir know," Akemi said, and she saluted with a smile, as she turned and ran towards the exit of the temple.
"I'm happy for them. The Purple and Green Ninja... they're meant to be," Jetta said, and Geran and Elder Vidur agreed.
Lloyd and Raven then followed after Akemi.
"So they're married now, and the Platinum weapons we're forged by them... Seems like it's been a while since they first received their powers," Raven said.
"They actually created the Platinum weapons... no wonder Darkness couldn't lock the kunoichis' powers. He helped create the weapons in the first place," Lloyd said.
"That's right," Raven said.
Then Lloyd and Raven saw Akemi slowing down her pace, as she made it towards the edge of Aeroplane, where the ramp was but was removed. Meir stood sitting near the edge, as he looked around the land below and far.
"Meir darling~" Akemi called sweetly, as Meir turned and stood up from where he was sitting.
He smiled lovingly at his wife, as she blushed when he locked eyes with her.
"Hello my love~" Meir said, as he walked up to Akemi, and they stood before each other, while grasping each others' hands.
"I spoke with Elder Vidur and the others. They wanted to thank us again for making the Platinum weap-" Akemi stopped speaking when Meir gave her a quick kiss on the lips.
"Oh sorry love. I couldn't help it, your so cute when you speak," Meir said, as he blushed, which made Akemi smile.
"Well, the Mountain leaders should arrive here shortly after they receive their invitations," Akemi finished, and Meir nodded and said,
"That's good. They'll learn how to control their powers better."
Akemi nodded, but she felt as if Meir wanted to tell her something.
"Is there something wrong Meir?" Akemi asked, unsure if what she felt was right.
Meir looked towards the ground for a moment, and then he looked up at Akemi and replied,
"It's just... I've been sitting here thinking and well... I would like to explore the land below."
Akemi's eyes widened a bit, and she said,
"But Meir, you remember what happened the last time people went down. They weren't the same."
"I know Akemi, but with these powers I don't think I'll have to worry. If we were able to remove that corruption from our people, I'm sure it can't effect us," Meir replied confidently.
Akemi thought about it with skepticism, and Meir added,
"Also, if we could use our powers to change the land below, maybe people will be able to live there again, and we won't feel so..."
"Trapped," Akemi finished Meir's sentence, and he nodded.
"-Sign- Well..." Akemi said, as Meir tilted his head to the side with a quivering lower lip.
"Oh, not 'the Face' Meir," Akemi said, but Meir started to whine with puppy dog eyes.
Akemi couldn't help but smile as she slowly shook her head.
"Alright, go ahead. Just be careful and come home soon okay?" Akemi asked, and Meir returned his face to normal as he nodded.
Then they embraced, as Meir stroked Akemi's hair and said, "I'll be fine my dearest. I'll come home as soon as I can."
After giving each other a loving kiss, the two ninja parted ways, as Meir summoned his Silver dragon and descended from Aeroplane, while Akemi summoned her Golden dragon and flew back into the city.
Lloyd and Raven decided to follow Meir down from Aeroplane.
"It's best if we watch him. He does become our enemy later," Lloyd said, and Raven nodded.
"Maybe we'll be able to see why," Raven said, and added, "But Lloyd, they didn't have elemental powers until Meir and Akemi became the Platinum dragon... so..."
"So?" Lloyd asked since Raven trailed off.
"How are we going to unlock our powers?" Raven asked.
Lloyd took a moment to think about it, but he replied, "I-I don't know."
Lloyd and Raven turned their attention back to Meir when he jumped off of the Silver dragon, as it faded away. He landed on the ground floor in a forest, as he looked around.
"Whoa... they said there were hundreds of trees in groups, but I didn't realize how BIG the trees were," Meir said, as he observed his surroundings of the ten foot thick and almost 100 foot tall trees.
Then Meir started to travel around, occasionally on the Silver dragon, and he saw the land and creatures that lived there. There were forest that went on for miles, and certain areas were swamp-like with more ravenous animals living in them.
There was also a great lake that stretched for miles across a land that would one day be covered in scorching heat and sand. Many aquatic creatures lived in that vast lake, and some of them were large, monstrous beasts of the sea with plenty of teeth and tentacles.
There were high rocky terrains, and caverns that went deep below the surface. Certain dark caverns held creatures that only hunted at night, and some of them were large, red, lizard-like creatures that were known to never miss their targets.
This land was wild and free, full of vivid colors especially green. However, some parts of the land were darker than others, and the water around those areas was a mix of dark colors.
Meir didn't often walk through those dark areas, but he kept them in mind. Then at one point, Meir walked in a forest opening were a little lake was, as he looked at his reflection through the water.
"So clear," Meir commented, and he lifted his head to take in the whole view.
"M-Meir?" A familiar voice called, as the First Purple ninja quickly stood up and turned around.
"F-Father?" Meir asked, as he saw his father Yahto standing a couple of feet from him.
"Meir, y-you came down here?" Yahto asked his son, as he walked closer to him.
"Yeah. I wanted to explore the under-lands of Ninjago. I thought if there was a way to fix this land, then maybe the people won't have to be afraid to come down here anymore. It'll be safer," Meir replied.
Yahto looked towards the ground with a slanted frown, as Meir took notice of it.
"What's the matter dad?" Meir asked.
"-Sign- My son, this land here is wild and neutral. There is no light or darkness that solely rules over it, but in Aeroplane and the other Mountain villages, light is the sole proprietor, especially because of the Platinum orb..." Yahto took a minute to think before adding, "The people of the lands above cannot handle being in a land where there is no light or balance in general. That's why they became corrupt and dark. They adjusted to living in light, that the sudden unbalance was too great to bare."
"They're not used to the way it is down here, in other words," Meir said, and Yahto replied,
"It's like living in a dark cave for all of your life, and then running out into the daylight, although vice versa."
Meir nodded in understanding, but then a thought occurred to him that made him ask,
"Wait, but if people can't handle being down here, why am I perfectly fine and you too?"
Yahto signed, knowing that the day had finally come. So he replied,
"Meir, we are not normal like the people who live above us. You see, I am a person who has received the power of a creature that once lived down here who was immune to many things, which included the unbalance of this land. This power has been passed down to me, for being trustworthy and the most responsible in keeping it safe. I am... a Black Mambian."
Meir looked at his father in confusion and asked, "What is a Black Mambian?"
"Let me show you," Yahto said, as he moved his hands up and a blue flame engulfed his body.
Meir was worried at first, but then he gasped when he saw a large serpent-humanoid standing in his father's place. (Just know, Black Mambians usually look the same except the horns, eyes, and teeth. In this case, Yahto had four horns around the top of his head that point downward, his eyes glowed blue with larger pupils not like slits, and his teeth were longer but thinner than Terrin's)
"I know this may come as quite a shock to you, my son. I wanted to tell you earlier, but it was difficult since your life was getting together and I didn't want this truth to mess it up for you," Yahto said.
Meir didn't speak for a moment, and then he said, "But dad, this is extraordinary. Hold on, can I actually transform like that?"
Yahto chuckled and said, "No. Only I can transform."
Meir pouted, but then he looked at his hands in awe, and said, "I can't wait to tell Akemi, and our other friends."
"Meir, you can't tell anyone," Yahto said.
Meir raised an eyebrow and asked, "Why not?"
Yahto replied, "As I said, we're not normal. Look at me my son, and tell me... do I look any different than the creatures who live down here? The monsters that the people above are afraid of?"
"What? But dad, your not a monster, and I'm not a monster either. You proved that yourself by always helping the people of Aeroplane like Akeno, and I proved that by becoming the Purple ninja. There's no reason for anyone to believe that we're monsters," Meir said.
"Meir, I've learned many things in life living on Aeroplane and living down here. What I learned is that people and creatures share something in common: when they are afraid, and especially when they are backed up against a corner with no way out, their true selves emerge. I don't want you to get hurt my son. That's why I didn't tell you this whole time. I didn't want you to be treated different or to treat yourself different," Yahto said.
"Dad, if this is what I am, what I was born as, why should others be afraid of me? They know who I am, what does it matter if I'm a Black Mambian or a normal person? And even if i would have known what I was before, I don't think it would have mattered to me. I still would have jumped to save Aeroplane," Meir said.
"But would you have jumped alone? Or, would you have been trusted to do it in the first place?" Yahto asked, as Meir's eyes widened in surprise to those questions.
"What are you saying?" Meir asked, with a little tension in his voice.
"I'm just saying, if they all knew what you were, would Garen have trusted you? Would Akemi still be with you? Would you have been named the 'Purple ninja?'" Yahto asked, and Meir fell silent in shock and some anger to what his father was saying.
Yahto continued, "You need to understand Meir, it could be very dangerous for us to reveal ourselves to the others. The reason people live above is to escape the monsters below, and welcoming them may not be-"
"No!" Meir interrupted Yahto, as he stood quiet.
Meir continued, "How can you say that we will automatically be rejected by others? And how could you assume that Akemi would think otherwise of loving me because of what I am, something that you never told me?!"
"I'm sorry. Akemi is a special girl, I didn't mean to lower her standards," Yahto said, and continued, "And I was only protecting you."
"Did mom know?" Meir asked.
"Yes. I told her before I proposed to her," Yahto replied.
"So you can tell mom, but I can't tell Akemi?" Meir asked, with half closed eyes.
"I don't like your tone Meir, and I already told you why you shouldn't. You can't take such a risk like this so soon," Yahto said.
"I don't know dad, you say that they're afraid, but your the one who doesn't want to take the risk," Meir said as he folded his arms.
Yahto's expression turned to shock, and then it quickly changed to anger, with gritted teeth and shuttered eyes.
"Fine! You want them to know? You think it'll all be fine and dandy? Then go! Show them! Show them what you really are!" Yahto shouted, as his left hand was glowing white and blue, and he reached out towards Meir and pulled back.
With that movement, Meir's mouth started to glow blue and white, and the power infused in his mouth flew out and returned to his father's hand. Meir started to cough and choke, and then he started breathing again, but more heavily.
"F-Father, what wassss that?" Meir asked, and his eyes widened when he realized that he hissed.
Meir quickly moved towards the lake and looked into the water. He gasped when he saw his reflection, and that he had two sharp fangs and a serpent tongue.
"That's what a Black Mambian's child inherits from their parent. I used some of my power when you were just a youngling to hide it, even from you. Now go. Show them!" Yahto said, and then he turned and slithered away.
Meir was a little shaken from the sudden change, but he stood up and turned towards his father and said, "I will! I'll show you father! I'll show you!"
Yahto disappeared into the forest, and Meir turned around and jumped up as he summoned his Silver dragon.
"Where should I go... Aeroplane... no. I'll head to Lightning Mountain village. They're pretty close-by anyway," Meir said to himself, as he headed towards the village.
"This doesn't look good," Lloyd said, as Raven and he followed after Meir.
"I wonder... is this what he meant?" Raven said, as she remembered a former conversation she had with Darkness.
"What is?" Lloyd asked.
"Well, when Darkness captured me, he was telling me about how people are, and that I won't have to suffer anymore from rejection if I joined him," Raven replied.
"I heard him saying that when I was climbing the tower to save you," Lloyd said.
"I'm a little more worried now," Raven said.
"Me too. But we've come this far," Lloyd said, as he looked towards Raven and she looked at him.
"No turning back," Raven said, as Lloyd nodded, and then they looked forward again.