Ninjago: Illusionary

Episode 5: Journey to the Edge

As the first light of dawn spilled over the horizon, the Ninja stirred into action aboard the Bounty. The ship groaned and creaked under the weight of their preparations for the long journey ahead.

Kai, grinning with excitement, hoisted a heavy crate of supplies. "Cole, give me a hand with this! We'll need all the rations we can carry for the Hidden Isles. Who knows how long we'll be out there?"

Cole, already balancing a stack of gear on his shoulders, nodded. "Yeah, we don't know anything about these Hidden Isles. Better safe than sorry."

Nearby, Nya inspected the ship's engines, her focus unwavering. "PIXAL, double-check the circuitry. We can't afford any malfunctions out there."

PIXAL's mechanical voice responded crisply, "Understood, Nya. Initiating a full diagnostic scan now."

Jay, fiddling with some tools, chimed in, "I'll keep an eye on the horizon for storm clouds. Last thing we need is an unexpected surprise."

Lloyd and Harumi stood at the mast, adjusting the sails. Harumi worked the ropes with practiced ease while Lloyd ensured everything was set for a smooth sail. "Everything's secure," Lloyd said, his expression serious. "If the winds are in our favor, we should reach the Isles without any trouble."

"Good," Harumi replied with a brief nod. "Let's just hope we don't run into any more… distractions."

As the crew continued their preparations, Zane found himself summoned to Master Wu's quarters. The calm serenity of his walk down the ship's corridors contrasted sharply with the urgency of their mission. Upon entering, he found Master Wu and Garmadon waiting, their expressions grave.

Master Wu gave a small, thoughtful nod. "Zane, we have much to discuss."

Zane inclined his head. "What is it, Master Wu?"

"We may be facing an enemy that can manipulate perception itself," Wu said. "And this threat appears to have a particular interest in you."

Garmadon's tone was firm. "She will target you the most. Be cautious. Do not trust what you see—trust your memory. Never be overreliant on what you know. It is important to discern ally from foe."

Zane's eyes narrowed. "Is this because of Visora?"

Wu and Garmadon exchanged a glance, momentarily taken aback. Then, Wu sighed and nodded. "Yes. We believe so."

Garmadon's eyes narrowed. "Were you eavesdropping?"

Zane hesitated, then bowed his head slightly. "I apologize, Master Wu. Lord Garmadon. I was."

"Then we need to tell you something else," Garmadon said. "You must have overheard us mention Avilin, correct?"

"Yes, Lord Garmadon," Zane responded. "I overheard you twice—once when I woke from that nightmare, and again when I went to find you."

"I see. So tell us what you know," Garmadon prompted.

Zane straightened. "Visora was an artifact forged by the Lapidary, Soviel the Philosopher. It could create hallucinations and manipulate dreams. Soviel also crafted other artifacts, such as the Mirror of Dread, whose reflective surface was made from the same material as Visora. His research extended to various crystals, including the ones found on Chen's Island—many of which have been connected to villains we've faced."

Master Wu nodded. "Correct. But there's something even more significant—Avilin."

"Avilin? There was no record," Zane asked. "What is it?"

"It is a tradition in the Hidden Isles," Wu explained. "Every ruler and their knights can access its power in the year of their Avian Spirit."

Zane's mind processed the implications. "Like a Zodiac system?"

Wu smiled slightly. "Precisely. There are eight Avian Spirits: The Owl, The Hawk, The Raven, The Phoenix, The Hummingbird, The Heron, and…"

"The Falcon and the Peacock," Zane finished.

"Exactly," Garmadon confirmed.

"What happens when someone taps into Avilin's power?" Zane asked.

"Like dragons, these spirits can traverse realms," Wu said. "But unlike dragons, birds travel spiritually. They can access their Animascape—a mental plane beyond the mortal world tied to a living person's mind, where memory and thought are untainted by illusion or deception. There are thousands among billions of people today who possess this connection, but infinitely more existed before they vanished. The Animascape is often more revealing to our souls than we realize."

Zane processed this carefully. "So Avilin allows rulers and knights to access their Animascape? And through it, they can see beyond illusions?"

Wu nodded. "Yes, but it is more than just perception. The Animascape is a realm of truth—a place where one's purest thoughts and memories exist, untouched by outside influence. Those who master it can resist manipulation, detect deception, and even glimpse possibilities unseen by others."

Garmadon crossed his arms. "But it is also a dangerous path. If one is not prepared, they may lose themselves within their own mind. That is why few have ever truly mastered it."

"Then why target me?" Zane asked.

"We do not yet understand the Nightmare Queen's motivations," Wu responded.

Zane's mechanical fingers curled slightly as he considered the implications. "If the Nightmare Queen is truly targeting me, then she must believe I hold some connection to Avilin… or perhaps, to the Animascape itself."

Master Wu nodded gravely. "It is possible. You are not like the others, Zane. Your mind operates differently—structured, analytical, yet deeply human in ways even you may not fully comprehend. If the Nightmare Queen seeks to manipulate perception, then your mind is either her greatest weapon or her greatest threat."

Garmadon exhaled sharply. "And that is why you must be careful. If you falter, she will ensnare you in a reality of her choosing."

Zane took a slow breath, his mind racing with calculations and possibilities. "Then I must ensure that does not happen."

Master Wu placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "We will be here to help you, Zane. But remember—this is not a battle of strength or speed. This is a battle of the mind. You must be prepared to face illusions that feel more real than reality itself."

Garmadon's expression was grim. "Because this foe is going to feel real."

"Understood, Master Wu and Lord Garmadon," Zane responded.

"Now head back to the deck and help them take off," Wu instructed.

Zane bowed respectfully before turning on his heel and exiting the quarters. His processors whirred as he analyzed everything he had just learned. A battle of the mind… one I must not lose.

Back on the deck, the rest of the Ninja were making their final adjustments. The sun now hovered just above the ocean, casting golden streaks across the waves.

Lloyd turned as Zane approached. "Everything good with Master Wu?"

Zane gave a small nod. "Yes. He and Lord Garmadon have given me much to think about. But for now, our priority is reaching the Hidden Isles."

Jay stretched his arms and grinned. "Well, I hope your thinking doesn't take too long! Because once we get there, I'm betting we'll be dealing with some serious mind games!"

Cole adjusted his gloves. "Yeah, and if this Nightmare Queen is anything like the name suggests, she's not gonna make this easy for us."

As the ship set sail, the Bounty's sails caught the wind, and the ocean stretched endlessly ahead. The crew settled into their rhythm, but an unnatural mist soon began to creep across the water.

Nya frowned, eyeing the fog warily. "This wasn't in the forecast…"

Harumi squinted into the haze, her gaze sharp. "No, it wasn't."

Without warning, a shadow appeared ahead—an island, unfamiliar and uncharted. Its jagged cliffs loomed ominously, and dark forests stretched across its surface, exuding a strange, unnatural energy.

Lloyd's expression darkened, his tone heavy with suspicion. "Looks like we're not alone out here."

As the Bounty neared the island, the eerie silence was shattered by a soft, chilling whisper that echoed through the mist.

"Welcome, travelers... The Nightmare Queen awaits."

Zane's face paled as the voice rang in his ears, recognition flashing across his features.

Before anyone could react, knights fell from the sky, landing with precision. One knight carried a man in gleaming armor, and as he stepped off, the sight of his face—and the sinister smile stretching across it—sent a chill through the crew.

"VEX!" Zane shouted, his voice filled with fury.

The man's eyes gleamed with malevolent amusement. "Hello, Zane… It's been a while," Vex said, his smile dripping with sinister intent.

"How?! How did you escape the Neverrealm!? And how are you still alive?! Time runs faster in the Neverrealm than in Ninjago!" Lloyd shouted, his voice filled with disbelief and frustration.

"It must be an illusion!" Kai protested, his eyes darting around, trying to make sense of the situation.

"But how can we tell?" Nya responded, her brow furrowed in worry. "We can't just focus on our thoughts to undo the illusion. These knights… they're more agile, and with Vex involved, it's far too risky."

Vex grinned, his voice dripping with sadism. "Well, all you can do is fight," he taunted. "And see if your ship plummets into the sea and you all take your last breath!"

Cole sighed, glancing at his comrades before speaking reluctantly. "I hate to say this, but... Vex is right. We can't really do anything and risk getting destroyed by these knights."

Harumi's sharp eyes flickered as she considered their options. "One of us can test out that illusion theory while the rest protect that one."

Vex's laughter echoed across the mist. "Let's see if you can test that out long enough before we get the upper hand," he jeered, before signaling the knights to charge.

As the knights advanced, their armor glinting ominously in the fog, the crew braced for battle. Zane's processors whirred, calculating the most effective strategy while his mind reeled from the sight of Vex—alive, standing before them after all this time. The illusion of the situation weighed heavily on him, but the presence of his old enemy was too real to ignore.

"We need to focus!" Lloyd shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Zane, stay sharp! This could be part of the Nightmare Queen's manipulation!"

Zane nodded, steeling himself for what was to come. His mind raced with the knowledge that the enemy before him was not just a physical threat but a psychological one. Every step they took, every move they made, could be a trick, a manipulation. And yet, Vex was still Vex—his malevolent grin, his taunts, everything about him screamed familiarity.

Cole cracked his knuckles, stepping forward. "Alright, no more talk. These knights don't scare me!"

The first knight lunged, but Jay was quicker, using his speed to dodge the blow and retaliate with a burst of lightning. The knight staggered back, smoke rising from its armor. "Got one!" Jay shouted, grinning triumphantly.

But the victory was short-lived. More knights dropped from the mist, their movements fluid and coordinated. Harumi's eyes narrowed, and she deftly sliced through the air with her blades, fending off the advancing knights. "Keep fighting, but stay aware!" she commanded, her voice steady despite the chaos around them.

Kai and Cole were right behind her, unleashing a flurry of attacks, their weapons crashing against the armored knights with sparks flying. Yet, no matter how many they took down, more kept appearing, as if summoned by the very fog itself.

Nya, her brow furrowed with determination, manipulated the water around her, creating barriers to protect the crew as the knights pressed forward. "They're relentless!" she shouted. "We need a plan!"

Zane's mind raced as the scene unfolded around him. He could feel the presence of Vex like a shadow on his thoughts. His mechanical mind grasped the concept of illusions, but to dispel them, they needed to find the source. And with the Nightmare Queen's influence hanging over them, it was a race against time.

"Zane," Master Wu's voice echoed in his mind, calm but urgent. "Trust in your mind. Focus on what is real. Do not let the illusion cloud your thoughts."

Zane clenched his fists, his internal systems locking onto the one thing he knew to be true—the friends around him. They were not figments of his imagination. He could rely on them.

He scanned the battlefield quickly, his optics picking up patterns in the knights' movements. His mind worked with precision, deciphering the illusions with an eerie clarity. "There's a gap in their formation!" he shouted. "If we push them back towards the cliff, we might be able to break the illusion!"

Lloyd nodded. "You heard Zane! Let's move out!"

The Ninja quickly regrouped, with Zane directing them to the gap he'd spotted in the knights' formation. With synchronized precision, they fought their way toward the cliff's edge, the mist swirling around them like a living entity.

"Vex!" Zane called out, his voice cutting through the fog. "You can't fool me this time!"

Vex's sinister smile widened, and he chuckled darkly. "Fool you? I'm just here to watch you crumble."

As they approached the cliff, the fog seemed to grow thicker, and the air grew colder. But Zane pushed forward, his mind focused, keeping his senses alert to every detail. He couldn't afford to be distracted.

The knights closed in, but with each strike, the illusions began to falter. The fog swirled around them, but with every knight they defeated, the mist began to lift, revealing the true surroundings—rocky cliffs, a barren island, and the ominous castle that lay ahead.

"Keep pushing!" Zane shouted. "We're almost there!"

As the last of the knights fell, the fog began to dissipate, revealing the true nature of the island. Vex's grin faltered as he realized the illusion was breaking. His eyes flicked toward the towering castle on the horizon.

"This isn't over," Vex hissed. "The Nightmare Queen will have you, Zane. You won't escape her grasp that easily."

Zane stood tall, his mind finally clear of the fog that had clouded his thoughts. "We will face her together. And we'll stop you, Vex."

Vex's form flickered, his appearance warping as if even he couldn't maintain the illusion any longer. With a final, menacing laugh, he vanished into the mist, leaving behind only the sound of his voice echoing through the air.

The crew stood together, breathing heavily, their eyes scanning the island. But there was no time to rest.

"We need to move," Nya said, looking toward the castle. "The Nightmare Queen is waiting."

"Right," Lloyd responds, his mind out of thought for a moment, "Get ready to land the Bounty."

Harumi takes notice of Lloyd's loss of thought as she begins with the others. Zane gazes at the Isle and its ancient beauty. The town is at the bottom of a large hill and at the top of the hill that looks over a cliff is a magnificent palace of unknown architecture, like some sort of different culture. Instead of wood, it is made from stone, with more extravagant designs. But beneath the beauty is a darkness that Zane feels too familiar. Too familiar to be a coincidence. Like a dream from the future coming true. The Bounty touches down with a soft thud, the engines whirring down as the crew gathers their things in silence. The eerie landscape before them seems almost too perfect, the town nestled against the hill looking almost idyllic at first glance. But Zane's words echo in the quiet, his gaze fixed on the palace at the peak.

Lloyd, shaking off the unease that had crept over him, glances back at Harumi, who is already moving, her eyes scanning the area with careful intent. He wonders what's going on in her head—she's been more distant lately, almost as if she's hiding something. But with everything that's been happening, there's little time to question it now.

The air is thick with the weight of this place, the history woven into every stone. As the Ninja disembark from the ship, Zane steps forward, his sensors humming softly, analyzing the surroundings. He can't shake the feeling that they've stepped into a trap. The patterns in the stone of the palace remind him of something long forgotten, something that was supposed to stay buried. The dream, the one that haunted him—he's seeing it unfold before his eyes.

The group begins to make their way toward the town, but Zane holds back for a moment, his eyes locked on the distant cliffs. The wind whips through the trees, carrying with it the faintest whisper of something ancient.

"Lloyd," Zane calls out softly, his voice tinged with caution. "This place… it feels wrong. There's something in the air. We need to be careful."

Lloyd looks over his shoulder, concern flickering in his eyes. He trusts Zane's instincts—after all, they've saved them more times than he can count. But there's no turning back now.

"We've come this far," Lloyd says, his voice steady but carrying the weight of their mission. "We need to find answers."

Harumi, walking ahead, glances back at the group, her face unreadable. "Keep your eyes open," she mutters, her tone sharp. "This place is hiding something. And we need to find out what."

"Huh?" Lloyd responds, seeing the shadow of a fox.

"What is it?" Kai asks.

Rubbing his eyes, Lloyd looks back and the shadow is gone.

"I thought I saw..." Lloyd mutters, "Nevermind."

As they continue down the path, the sense of unease only deepens, and Zane's mind drifts to the prophecy he's been wrestling with. The future feels inevitable, but he can't yet see how it all fits together.

The town below, with its picturesque buildings and cobbled streets, seems like an illusion—a mask that hides the truth. And at the top of the hill, the palace watches over them, its shadow long and foreboding.

Zane couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking directly into the unknown—and the darkness that awaited them there.

Now, they are truly on the edge of the world.