Ninjago: Illusionary

Episode 4: Pain

Back at the monastery, Zane silently observes Mr. G, who sits tied to a chair, his expression unreadable. Leading the interrogation, Lloyd stands at the forefront, his friends positioned behind him in quiet support. Behind Mr. G, PIXAL works diligently, making final adjustments to their systems after the intense confrontation at Kryptarium Prison.

"All repairs are complete," PIXAL announces. "However, movement will be heavily restricted to prevent another incident—both here and at Kryptarium."

"You couldn't have done it without Jay and Nya," Kai remarks with a smirk.

PIXAL nods. "Indeed. This technology—while ancient in some ways—surpasses even the advancements of Borg Industries. Even with their help, repairing the damage took longer than expected."

"And that begs the question," Cole interjects, arms crossed. "Who could've possibly created them?"

Jay throws up his hands. "Uh, hello? The Nightmare Queen! Harumi got both Mr. E and Mr. F from her. Try to keep up, Cole!"

Lloyd refocuses the conversation. "How long until they're powered up?"

"Not long," PIXAL replies. "I've even installed a failsafe—a device that will force Mr. G to give us the answers we need."

Lloyd nods approvingly. "Thinking one step ahead. I like it."

"Shh," Harumi hushes. "They're waking up."

A sharp beeping sound emanates from Mr. G, signaling its reactivation. Its visor flickers to life as it lifts its head, the memory of its crushing defeat at Kryptarium still fresh in its systems. Perplexed, it scans the room—until its gaze locks onto Zane. Immediately, it lunges at him, only to be yanked back as the restraints hold firm, preventing even the slightest forward movement.

"Ha! Try all you want!" Jay boasts. "You're stuck with joint restraints!"

Then, a more sinister, childlike voice echoes—eerily reminiscent of a long-forgotten memory, yet distinctly different from before when it hailed its master's name.

"Hm. Such arrogance from an already fragile ego… like a shattered mirror desperately trying to piece together its broken shards to feign wholeness."

"Uh..." Cole tilts his head. "Mr. G sounds like that now?"

"When it hailed its master's name before, its voice was more digitalized," Nya explains. "This… this sounds like something straight out of a horror story."

"Really?" Jay asks, raising a brow.

"Yeah," Kai confirms.

Lloyd steps forward, his voice firm. "Mr. G, you have no choice but to confess what you know. Now, answer our questions. First off—who is your creator?"

Mr. G's visor flickers ominously as it responds. "I serve and was birthed by the Nightmare Queen—my Divine Creator and the Executioner of Judgment. Her sword is as mighty as her pen—mightier than all of you. I have no desires, no rights, only the duty to serve our gracious queen of the Hidden Isles, the Third Queen of the Year of the Peacock." Its head tilts slightly, its voice dripping with eerie conviction. "I suggest, Zane, that you surrender to her before you and your friends suffer greatly at her hands."

"Hah!" Kai scoffs. "We've faced demons, evil spirits, snakes, and more. What can this Nightmare Queen do that we haven't already dealt with?"

Mr. G lets out a low, knowing hum. "Hmph. Not physical suffering. Something far worse—true anguish. Mental torment. Like your worst memories clawing their way into reality, manifesting into the very enemies you fear most."

"What do you mean?" Jay asks, his voice laced with uncertainty.

"It means she'll give us nightmares," Cole replies flatly.

Jay squints. "And how do you know that?"

Cole throws up his hands. "It's in her name—Nightmare Queen! Duh! Try to keep up, Jay!"

"Why does the Nightmare Queen want Zane? Is it for his Heart Pieces?" Lloyd asks, his gaze sharp.

Mr. G's visor flickers. "She desires them more than anything," it answers. "She suffers for them. Craves them. But she would never share her secrets with me. Tear me apart, put me back together—it won't change a thing. She keeps her truths close to her chest."

"I'd call you a liar," Nya says, crossing her arms. "But with PIXAL's failsafe in place, I believe you."

Harumi steps forward. "Then tell us—what do you know?"

Mr. G's head tilts slightly before its voice sharpens like a blade. "Traitor." it spits.

Harumi doesn't flinch. She meets Mr. G's glowing visor with a cold stare. "Call me whatever you want. That doesn't answer my question."

Mr. G's restraints creak as it shifts. "I know that no matter what you do—no matter how hard you fight—she will come for him. And when she does, you will all break."

Kai crosses his arms. "Yeah, yeah. Enough with the ominous threats. Is that all you know?"

Mr. G's visor flickers ominously. "Just one other thing."

Lloyd narrows his eyes. "And what's that?"

Mr. G's voice lowers, almost taunting. "The location of the Hidden Isles."

The room falls silent for a beat before Zane steps forward, his tone turning icy. "Tell us. Now."

"Southwest of Ninjago's coast, approximately 45,000 miles out at a 34-degree angle from Metalonia's capital—right at the edge of the map," Mr. G replies.

Zane's expression hardens as the coordinates sink in. "That's... impossible," he mutters, more to himself than anyone else.

Lloyd raises an eyebrow. "Why's that?"

"Because if it's off the edge of the map... it doesn't even exist on modern charts," Zane explains, his mind racing. "It's practically unreachable."

"We'll find a way," Lloyd asserts, his voice unwavering. "Thank you, Mr. G. Now, tell us one last thing—what's the Nightmare Queen's next move?"

Mr. G's visor glows brighter, a hint of malice creeping into its tone. "She's already closer than you think."

Suddenly, the room feels colder, the weight of Mr. G's words hanging heavy in the air.

A chill sweeps through the room, the temperature dropping as a soft-spoken woman's voice echoes through the air—haunting, like the cold wind of the harshest winter. It feels like the very night itself is speaking.

"You cannot delay the inevitable. People who play with dark forces must pay a steep price for such actions. Now, return to me, Zane. You will come back."

The voice lingers in the room, sending shivers down their spines.

"Who is this?!" Kai demands, his fists clenched.

The voice responds, its tone almost mocking, a quiet rasp of finality. "An obvious answer to an obvious question."

Zane's eyes narrow, a sense of dread settling over him. "It's her," he mutters, barely audible, but the others hear it.

Lloyd steps forward, his expression grim. "The Nightmare Queen," he says as if testing the name in the air. "You're already here?"

"Physically, I am absent. But my eyes and ears are everywhere," she murmurs. "Zane, you must understand—our fates are intertwined. We are destined to settle a battle that has never truly ended. Of course, you don't yet grasp what I mean… but you will. In time, you will. And when you do, your only answer will be to come to me."

Lloyd steps forward, fists clenched. "We're going to—"

"Enough," the Nightmare Queen interrupts, her voice laced with amusement. "Spare me the tiresome clichés. Your idealism is so... naïve." A soft chuckle follows, like the whisper of wind through dead leaves. "Granted, your victories stem from experience. I can see how that justifies your confidence. And yet… your certainty is simply arrogance. You assume the future, as if success is assured. But tell me, do you have fail-safes to stop me? Strategies beyond empty words? All I see are children playing tag, oblivious to who will truly win."

Lloyd's gaze hardens. "It doesn't matter what you say. We will find you. And we will never let you take Zane's Heart Pieces!"

The Nightmare Queen hums in mock pity. "Again, the arrogance. The assumptions." Her voice darkens, turning razor-sharp. "That is humanity's greatest flaw. But good... the bigger the ego, the harder the fall."

A heavy silence lingers before she delivers her final words, dripping with contempt.

"You Ninja… despite your so-called heroics, you are just as fragile as the rest. Predictably vulnerable. You build your foundations, believing them unshakable… but every foundation crumbles, eventually. And in my eyes, no matter how much you grow, you will always be the same—"small, insignificant children.""

"Fine! You proved your point!" Zane snaps, his voice edged with frustration. "Then just tell me—who am I to you?"

The Nightmare Queen's response is soft, almost wistful. "A memory," she murmurs. "One I long to reclaim." A pause lingers, heavy with unspoken meaning. Then, with quiet finality, she adds, "If you truly wish to understand... come to me."

As her final words fade, the eerie presence begins to lift. The oppressive chill that had seeped into the room dissipates, replaced by a gradual warmth. It's as if the very air itself had been held captive by her presence—and now, with her departure, it is finally free.

The room remains deathly silent, the weight of the Nightmare Queen's words lingering like a ghostly echo. Zane's hands clench at his sides, his processors struggling to parse the implications of what she had said.

Lloyd is the first to break the silence. "That was her," he states grimly, as if confirming the obvious makes it easier to process.

"No kidding," Kai mutters, rubbing his arms. "I could feel her in the air. And I did not like it."

Harumi crosses her arms, her expression unreadable. "She got exactly what she wanted—to rattle us." She turns her gaze to Zane. "Are you okay?"

Zane doesn't answer immediately. His mind replays her words over and over—A memory. One I long to reclaim. What did she mean? How could he be someone she desired?

"I'm fine," he finally says, though even he isn't sure if that's true.

Jay huffs. "Well, I'm not! That was like a horror movie, but real life! And now we have to go straight to her? Yeah, great plan, love that for us."

"She gave us an invitation," Nya points out. "Which means she's expecting us."

"And probably has a trap waiting," Cole adds darkly.

Lloyd straightens, his determination solidifying. "It doesn't matter. We have to go. We need to find the Hidden Isles before she makes her next move." He looks to PIXAL. "Can we chart a course based on what Mr. G told us?"

PIXAL nods. "It will take some time, but I can begin calculations immediately."

"Good. Master Wu and Dad will need to hear about this," Lloyd says, his resolve unwavering.

"Speaking of which," Kai interjects, glancing around, "where are they?"

"They said they were going to discuss something," Lloyd replies, his brow furrowing slightly. "Didn't say what."

Zane straightens. "I'll inform them about this." Without waiting for a response, he turns and heads toward the monastery's inner chambers, his thoughts still clouded by the Nightmare Queen's words.

As the doors close behind him, the others exchange uneasy glances.

Jay shifts uncomfortably. "Anyone else getting the feeling that things are about to get way worse?"

Cole exhales. "Yeah. And I really hate being right about this kind of stuff."

Zane walks quietly down the corridor, the sound of soft murmurs reaching his ears as he nears the room where Master Wu and Garmadon are deep in conversation. He pauses outside the door, catching fragments of their exchange.

Wu's voice is steady but filled with the weight of revelation. "Avilin must be involved. It matches perfectly with the Year of the Peacock. Once someone taps into the power of Avilin, their spirit takes form into a bird-like manifestation, and only the current ruler can wield this power alongside their knights. But it's only during the Year of the ruler's respective spirit that this power reaches its peak."

Garmadon's tone shifts, skeptical but tinged with concern. "But how could this be? The Isles of Kanjō were wiped out by that tidal wave almost half a century ago. The Relics of Avilin would have decayed by now without care. And their civilization had vowed isolationism since the Serpentine War. The Isles weren't even on any official maps—no one should even know about their existence."

Wu sighs, the weight of his thoughts apparent in his voice. "Someone must have discovered the Isles before the Relics completely decayed. And Visora... Visora was lost around that area when the ship it was on sank. It is no coincidence."

Zane stands still, absorbing every word. His mind races, piecing together the fragments of a puzzle that grows ever more complex. As the words of Wu and Garmadon hang heavy in the air, the weight of the conversation still pressing on his mind, a sudden, sharp shout from Jay shatters the tense silence.

"We're under attack!" Jay's voice rings out, panic and urgency clear in his tone.

Without hesitation, Zane, Master Wu, and Garmadon spring into action, rushing toward the door. The others, already on alert, charge into the hallway, their senses heightened. The air is thick with the sounds of battle—metal clashing against metal, the hiss of weapons cutting through the air, and the guttural growl of monstrous forces—all combining to create an atmosphere of impending danger.

As they round the corner, the source of the chaos becomes clear: a barrage of knights, their heavy armor glinting ominously in the dim light, stand before them. Each knight is armed with weapons of destruction—swords, spears, shields—clutched tightly in their iron-clad hands. Their faces are concealed by darkened helmets, leaving only a sense of foreboding in their wake.

"Where did these guys come from!?" Kai yells, eyes wide with shock.

"Wherever they came from..." Lloyd responds, his voice filled with determination. "We're not going down without a fight!"

With a collective battle cry, the ninja spring into action. "NINJA GO!" they shout in unison, performing a flawless spinjitsu attack in an attempt to break through the line of knights. But as their energy spins into the fray, they find themselves repelled, the force of their assault unable to penetrate the knights' formidable defenses.

The ninja are sent flying backward, their momentum carrying them toward Master Wu and Garmadon. They crash into them, the impact forcing a brief pause in the battle as they regroup.

Kai groans, getting to his feet. "Okay, that didn't go as planned."

Lloyd scowls, rising with a sharp glare at the knights. "They're stronger than we thought. Stay sharp, everyone." The battle has only just begun.

As the ninja regain their footing, the knights stand motionless for a brief moment, their armored forms gleaming under the dim lights of the monastery. Their silence is eerie, not a single breath or sound escaping from beneath their helmets. The stillness stretches for just a heartbeat—then, all at once, they move.

Not like men in armor. Not like warriors. But like something else entirely.

Their motions are unnervingly synchronized, their steps precise and calculated. A soulless rhythm pulses through their ranks as if an unseen force is commanding them all at once.

Zane narrows his eyes, activating his scanning function. "Wait… something isn't right." His sensors sweep over the figures before him, processing the readings at lightning speed. His expression tightens as he comes to a startling realization. "They're empty."

"What!?" Jay exclaims.

"There's… nothing inside them," Zane clarifies. "No flesh, no bone—just hollow armor. And yet, they move as though they are alive."

Cole grips his weapon tighter. "Oh, great. Haunted armor. Just what I needed today."

One knight suddenly lunges, swinging its massive blade toward Lloyd. He dodges swiftly, but another knight moves in perfect unison, predicting his movement and cutting off his escape. Lloyd barely manages to block the strike with his sword, but the impact sends vibrations through his arms.

"They're adapting!" Nya shouts, blocking a strike from a knight that moves just as she anticipates her own counterattack.

"Their coordination is unnatural," PIXAL observes, calculating battle patterns. "It's as if they're all linked—one mind controlling multiple bodies."

Garmadon steps forward, his eyes narrowing. "Then we must break the mind."

With a commanding motion, he summons his power, dark energy crackling in his hands. He launches a concentrated blast of destruction toward the nearest knight. The blast hits its mark, shattering the knight into pieces—yet before the ninja can celebrate, something horrifying happens.

The shattered armor twitches… then the pieces slowly begin to rise, floating in the air as if held together by invisible strings.

"What the—?!" Kai blurts out, watching as the armor knits itself back together, the knight reforming right before their eyes.

"Okay, that is not normal," Jay stammers.

The knights take a collective step forward. Then another. The air hums with unseen magic, the force guiding them as one.

The battle rages on, the ninja trying everything they can to break through the knights' seemingly invincible coordination. Every move they make is anticipated, countered with eerie precision. No matter how many times they shatter a knight's armor, it simply reforms, rising once more to continue the relentless assault.

Kai growls in frustration as he hurls a fireball at an advancing knight. "Okay, this is ridiculous! How do you fight something that won't stay down!?"

"We need to find their controller!" Lloyd shouts, ducking under a swinging blade. "There has to be a source!"

Zane's analytical mind races as he scans the battlefield. "There is a consistent energy signature connecting them—some form of unified consciousness. If we disrupt the connection, they should collapse!"

"Great! And how do we do that!?" Jay asks, zipping between two knights with a burst of lightning.

Before Zane can answer, Cole lets out a fierce battle cry and leaps into the fray. He brings his Earth Driller down with all his strength, aiming to shatter one of the knights from the inside out. The moment of impact sends shockwaves through the ground, causing the knight to explode into scattered fragments.

But something goes wrong.

The knight doesn't just reform—it pulls itself back together faster than before, and its momentum twists unnaturally midair. Cole doesn't have time to react before the reformed knight slams a heavy gauntlet into his left arm.

A sickening crack echoes through the battlefield.

Cole lets out a pained yell as he stumbles backward, clutching his arm. The world around him seems to blur as pain overtakes his senses.

"Cole!" Nya shouts, rushing toward him, but another knight blocks her path, forcing her into combat.

"Cole, are you okay!?" Lloyd asks, barely dodging another attack.

Cole grits his teeth, sweat beading on his forehead. "Nope! Definitely not! My arm is—argh!" His breathing is ragged, his injured arm hanging limply at his side.

Kai slashes through another knight before spinning to face Lloyd. "Okay, new plan! We need to fall back—now!"

Zane's mind races. Something about this entire fight feels wrong. The knights' movements, their invulnerability, their endless reformation—it doesn't add up. And now Cole's injury…

His eyes widen. The energy signature—it's not just unifying the knights. It's distorting reality.

"Wait!" Zane shouts, stepping back. "Something isn't right!"

"We know something isn't right, Zane!" Jay yells, barely evading a sword swipe.

"No, I mean—this battle isn't real!" Zane insists. "These knights aren't real!"

The ninja freeze for just a moment, confusion flickering in their expressions.

Lloyd shakes his head. "Zane, we're fighting them! Cole just got hurt!"

"But have any of you noticed? The knights don't make sound when they move. Their blades don't scrape against the floor. And when they reassemble, it's instantaneous—no delay, no force, just… perfection," Zane explains, his voice urgent.

The words settle over the group like a chilling realization.

Nya blinks, glancing around. "Wait… now that you mention it, I haven't heard any metal clashing."

Jay slowly looks down at his hands. "But I felt the impact—"

"It's in our heads," Zane concludes. "It's an illusion!"

Lloyd tightens his grip on his sword, scanning the battlefield with new eyes. "If it's an illusion… then we need to break out of it."

Harumi steps forward, her expression unreadable. "How?"

Zane exhales. "We reject it. Focus on the truth. If this isn't real, then we don't have to let it control us."

The ninja exchange glances. Then, as one, they close their eyes and take deep breaths, willing their minds to reject the illusion.

The sounds of battle start to fade.

The cold presence in the air begins to dissolve.

And then, in an instant—

The knights vanish.

The battlefield is gone.

The monastery is silent.

Cole stumbles back, panting. He instinctively clutches his arm—only to realize it's completely fine.

He blinks. "Wait… what!?"

Jay checks himself, patting his body as if making sure he's still intact. "No way. We were just fighting for our lives, and—"

"It was never real," Nya mutters, her voice laced with disbelief.

Lloyd turns sharply toward where Mr. G had been restrained.

The chair is empty.

His stomach drops. "No… no, no, no—"

Zane's expression darkens. "It's gone."

Harumi clenches her fists. "That entire battle—it was a distraction!"

Kai groans, dragging a hand down his face. "Of course it was. Of course it was!"

PIXAL quickly scans the room, confirming their worst fears. "There is no trace of Mr. G. He escaped while we were trapped in the illusion."

Jay throws his hands in the air. "Great! Just great! So we got our brains messed with, and now the evil robot is loose again!"

Lloyd's jaw tightens as he processes everything. The Nightmare Queen's reach is greater than they realized. If she could manipulate their minds this easily, they were in more danger than they had thought.

Zane stares at the empty chair, Mr. G's last words ringing in his head.

"She's already closer than you think."

He exhales slowly.

They were running out of time. This whole situation is giving Zane an anxiety he never felt before, a headache he never felt before, and most surprisingly of all, an uncertainty he never felt before. This whole problem is one large thorn in the side. A pain that festers like a virus, feeding on the mind until it destroys him. And the worst part about this is that the pain was not done festering. Not done yet.