Ninjago: Illusionary

Episode 6: Paw of the NeverRealm.

The Bounty came to a smooth halt against the rugged stone dock of the Isle of Kanjō. Thick, eerie mist rolled in heavier than before, smothering the daylight as it crept across the shore. The sky, once bright and clear, had decayed into a sickly orange hue, the last remnants of the sun bleeding out beyond the jagged horizon. This was a place trapped between night and day, reality and illusion—its very air heavy with an unnatural weight.

The Ninja disembarked in silence, their footsteps muffled against the damp cobblestone. Ahead, a town loomed untouched by time. Its quaint, old-world architecture stood in stark contrast to the unsettling aura that surrounded it. Dim torchlight flickered weakly through the fog, casting restless shadows along the empty streets.

Zane stood at the edge of the Bounty's ramp, his sensors scanning the surroundings. He processed every detail—the ancient symbols carved into the stone, the distant silhouette of a palace on the hill, and a creeping sense of déjà vu clawing at the edges of his mind. Everything about this place felt… wrong. Too familiar.

"This is where the Nightmare Queen lives?" Jay asked, shivering as he wrapped his arms around himself. "Looks more like a ghost town."

"We need to keep moving," Lloyd responded, stepping ahead. "If the Nightmare Queen is here, then we should be able to—"

A deep, guttural voice suddenly echoed through the mist.

"Who are you?"

A single red eye flared to life in the haze.

The Ninja turned as an enormous figure emerged from the fog—a towering, skeletal beast with goat-like legs, jagged horns, and a grotesque slit running down its face. In the center of that slit, a single, burning red eye pulsed with unholy light. The air around it seemed to warp and tremble, as if the mist itself was part of its being.

Instinctively, the Ninja braced themselves, hands gripping their weapons. But Zane took a step forward, scanning the creature with a precise, calculating gaze. No heartbeat. No organic tissue. Yet it moved with eerie intent. The energy radiating from it was unlike anything he had encountered before.

"We mean no harm," Lloyd said carefully, keeping a steady grip on his sword. "We're searching for the Nightmare Queen."

The beast regarded them for a long moment before its voice rumbled once more.

"The Queen is expecting you. General Vex ensured you would stay on the right path."

"By attacking us, you giant—?!" Kai snapped, but before he could finish, Nya yanked him by the hair.

"Ow-ow-ow! Hey!" he protested.

"Maybe don't provoke the literal nightmare beast," Nya muttered under her breath, shooting him a sharp glare. "We have an easier way to get answers."

The creature loomed closer, its hulking frame shifting unnaturally as if it were both there and not. The mist swirled around it like ghostly tendrils, whispering indecipherable words as it stretched out a clawed hand.

"Follow," it commanded, voice reverberating through the thick air.

The Ninja exchanged wary glances, but Lloyd gave a firm nod, taking the lead. They had no other choice. The Nightmare Queen was their target to stop these nightmares, and if this monster was their guide, so be it.

As they walked through the abandoned town, the eerie silence pressed down on them. Shadows stretched unnaturally long, twisting and flickering in ways that defied the firelight. Every so often, Jay swore he saw figures darting just beyond the mist—watching, waiting.

"Are we just going to ignore the fact that this place feels like a haunted painting?" he whispered, glancing around nervously.

"Focus. This place will mess with our-" Lloyd begins before a howl roars through the mist.

"FOR THE NEVERREALM!"

A battle cry pierced through the mist as warriors surged forward, weapons raised, their voices blending into a thunderous roar.

The skeletal beast let out a guttural snarl, its hollow eyes glowing with eerie malice. It tightened its grip on its massive club, the weapon scraping against the cobblestone as it prepared for battle.

"NeverRealm warriors?! Here?!" Nya instinctively raised her weapon, eyes darting between the advancing figures.

"Is it an illusion?" Cole asked, his stance tensing.

"No," Zane's voice remained steady. "They are real."

The NeverRealm warriors charged, their ice-coated blades slicing through the unnatural fog. They did not waver as the beast swung its club in a devastating arc, shattering the ground beneath them. Shards of stone flew in all directions, yet the warriors danced between the destruction with practiced precision.

The Ninja braced for an attack—but the warriors rushed past them, their focus solely on the beast.

Swords and spears struck the creature's spectral form, yet it did not falter. It retaliated with another earth-shaking blow, scattering warriors like autumn leaves. The mist curled unnaturally around them, snaking through the air as though alive, grasping, constricting.

"What the—" Kai blinked. "They're fighting it?! I thought they were after us!"

Lloyd kept his stance firm, though uncertainty flickered in his gaze. "Something's off. Why would NeverRealm warriors be here… and fighting that thing?"

"Maybe because Vex is here?" Nya suggested.

Harumi narrowed her eyes. "This Vex… he's from the NeverRealm?"

Lloyd let out a sharp exhale. "Yep. And he's a massive pain."

Zane's sensors flared. "The energy signature of these warriors matches those from the NeverRealm, but it is… distorted. As if they have been displaced."

Jay paled. "Displaced? Like—teleported? Kidnapped? Time travel?! Oh no, I'm not dealing with time shenanigans again—"

Before Jay could spiral further, a figure burst through the fog, skidding to a halt before them.

Lloyd's breath caught. "Akita?!"

"Lloyd?!"

They stood frozen, recognition flickering between them. But something was wrong. Akita's once-agile, wolf-like grace had been replaced by a heavy, almost foreboding presence. Her once-simple, practical attire was now worn and stained with dirt, imbued with the same unnatural energy that thickened the air around them.

Lloyd took a cautious step forward. "Akita, what's going on?! Why are you fighting that thing? And… what happened to you?"

Zane's voice was measured but urgent. "And how are you here?"

Akita's expression darkened. "The Nightmare Queen invaded the NeverRealm. She slaughtered us with her illusions and immortal knights. Many of us were captured, turned into her slaves. Those who escaped found refuge here. We're planning to take her down—along with Vex. But we don't have much time."

A massive bear lumbered forward from the mist, shifting as it reached them.

"Come on! Let's go!" Kataru urged, his voice firm.

Lloyd hesitated only a moment before nodding. Then, offering a small, genuine smile, he said, "Hey, Akita. It's good to see you again."

Akita returned the smile, though exhaustion weighed it down. "Good to see you too, Lloyd. Just wish it were under better circumstances."

With that, they followed Kataru into the mist, uncertainty ahead—but their resolve had never been stronger.

Through the shifting fog, the ruins of a once-thriving settlement emerged. Broken rooftops jutted from collapsed homes, their wooden frames gnawed by time and decay. The land bore the scars of past battles—charred earth, splintered stone, and the skeletal remains of structures long abandoned. Yet, amid the wreckage, one building stood resilient.

A tavern.

Though worn by age, rot, and the wrath of nature, it remained standing. Its wooden beams sagged, the sign above the entrance hung crookedly, and ivy clawed at its walls. Yet, unlike the other buildings, which had surrendered to ruin, this place still clung to life. Light flickered through its windows, and faint voices murmured within.

Kataru stopped just outside and glanced back at them. "It's not much, but it's safe."

Lloyd took in the sight before them, exhaling. "Safe is more than we could ask for right now."

With that, he pushed open the tavern door, stepping inside to whatever awaited them within.

Inside the tavern, the weight of suffering hung thick in the air. The room was filled with survivors—warriors, elders, even children—all bearing the scars of the Nightmare Queen's invasion.

Many sat huddled in clusters, their clothing tattered and worn thin by time and hardship. Some bore fresh wounds, hastily wrapped in bandages, while others nursed broken limbs, their expressions hollow with exhaustion. The air carried the scent of damp wood, old smoke, and the faint metallic tang of blood.

Murmurs of quiet conversation wove through the space, but there was no laughter, no warmth—only the heavy silence of loss. Eyes filled with grief flickered toward the newcomers, yet few held hope in their gazes.

Lloyd clenched his fists. He had seen war. He had seen destruction. But this… this was different. This was suffering with no end in sight.

Nya exhaled softly. "This isn't just a resistance. It's a last stand."

Zane's gaze swept across the room, his sensors analyzing every weary face. "Many of these people have lost loved ones. Some may have nowhere left to return to."

"This is all that remains of our people. The Nightmare Queen took everything from us. Our homes. Our families. Our peace." Kataru crossed his arms. "And we refuse to let her take what little we have left."

"And we will never give up until we take her down."

A deep, resolute voice cut through the heavy silence. The gathered survivors turned as a figure stepped forward from the shadows of the tavern. His presence commanded attention—not just from his stature, but from the unmistakable air of authority he carried.

Lloyd's breath hitched as recognition struck. "King Grimfax."

The man let out a bitter chuckle. "'King'… I lost that title twice. Once to a pathetic usurper… now to a ruthless foreign tyrant." His gaze darkened. "It is all too familiar."

His once-proud armor was dulled with wear, the royal insignia barely visible beneath the dents and scratches, a symbol of his troubles and conflict. Yet despite it all, his eyes still burned with defiance.

"Welcome to the Paw of the NeverRealm." He gestured around the room. "This is what remains of my people. Of my kingdom."

Harumi's voice was steady but edged with disbelief. "How many are left?"

Grimfax's expression hardened. "Forty-six."

A stunned silence fell over the group.

"Out of an entire realm?!" Kai's fists clenched at his sides, his voice rising in shock and anger.

Jay ran a hand through his hair, his breath coming in short, uneven bursts. "How can one person manage to decimate an entire realm's population like that?!"

Master Wu's gaze darkened. "Visora can be a dangerous tool for one to control."

The room seemed to grow colder at the mention of the name.

Garmadon crossed his arms, his voice as unreadable as ever. "That crystal ball was meant to be destroyed. But on its way to the proper destruction site, it got caught in a storm."

"A power of perception. One most evil," Lloyd muttered, piecing it together. "And now in the hand of the post powerful illusionist in the world."

A sharp, rhythmic knocking echoed through the tavern, a sequence that was unmistakably deliberate—a secret code, a signal. Everyone turned toward the door as Kataru moved quickly to open it. The mist outside parted just enough for Akita and several soldiers to rush in, their faces etched with urgency. They carried a wounded comrade between them, his limp form weighing heavily on their shoulders.

"We need some help here!" Akita's voice cut through the tension, her words sharp and urgent.

"Watch the door!" One of the soldiers barked, positioning himself as a lookout, keeping his eyes on the shifting mist outside.

Kataru immediately shut the door behind them, ensuring that no one else could follow. Inside, the atmosphere shifted. The tension grew palpable, thickened by the gravity of the situation. Everyone instinctively turned their attention to the injured soldier.

"What happened?!" Lloyd was the first to step forward, his eyes scanning the injured man, trying to make sense of the chaos that had brought him here.

Akita's face tightened with worry as she crouched beside the soldier, placing a hand on his shoulder. "We were trying to get away from Gashora, but he managed to get the upper hand!"

The soldier let out a strained groan, his voice pained. "Shh… It's okay…"

"Okay!? Look at me! I'm broken!" The soldier grimaced, his breath coming in ragged gasps, struggling to remain conscious. His injuries were severe—his arm hung limp at his side, and his face was pale from blood loss.

Nya was already on the move, turning to Zane and Pixal for their input. "Zane, Pixal, what do you make of this?"

Zane knelt beside the soldier, his sensors flashing as he scanned the injuries. After a brief pause, he gave his assessment. "Not too bad. He'll live."

Pixal, ever the calm presence, nodded. "The injuries are serious, but with proper care, recovery is possible."

Akita exhaled a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Her expression softened with gratitude. "Good. We can't afford to lose anyone else."

"Is Gashora that beast?" Kai asked, his voice laced with frustration.

"Duh! Who else would we be fighting right there?" One of the soldiers shot back, clearly exhausted but still ready for a fight.

"What even is Gashora?" Cole asked, scratching his head in confusion.

Master Wu stepped forward, his voice steady but filled with the weight of history. "It was the guardian of the Isles, loyal only to the ruler—regardless of who sits on the throne." He glanced at the group, letting the words sink in. "It was a safety measure, created by the civilization to defend their home from intruders. But since no one has claimed the throne, Gashora has slept. That is, until the Nightmare Queen arrived. Now, Gashora awakens under the servitude of this Nightmare Queen."

A stunned silence followed Wu's words, until Kai broke it with disbelief. "That is the biggest piece of crap I have ever heard!" He threw his hands up, clearly frustrated. "There's no way the Nightmare Queen would gain servitude over this beast!"

Harumi raised an eyebrow, her voice cool but sharp. "What makes you say that?"

Kai stood his ground, his face hardening with determination. "You've seen the way she manipulates people. Why wouldn't she try to control a beast like that? But there's no way a creature that powerful would just bow to her—she's not the real ruler here!"

Wu nodded gravely. "Gashora has a mind of its own. But the Nightmare Queen's power is dangerous. She might have found a way to corrupt or bend it to her will. If she controls Gashora, the Isles—and everything around them—will be in danger."

Jay rubbed the back of his head, his voice hopeful yet uncertain. "Could there be a survivor in the lineage? That way—"

Before he could finish, Garmadon cut in, his voice firm and absolute. "Impossible. The tidal wave wiped out every mortal being on this Isle."

"Welp, I got nothing then," Jay responds in defeat.

The weight of Jay's words lingered in the air. The idea of a survivor in the ruling lineage had been their one flickering hope—one that Garmadon swiftly extinguished.

A heavy silence fell over the room, the dim torchlight casting restless shadows on the worn wooden walls. The tension among the survivors was palpable. It was clear that Gashora, the once-loyal guardian of the Isles, had been twisted into a monster of the Nightmare Queen's design. But how? And, more importantly, why?

Lloyd exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "If Gashora was bound to protect the rightful ruler, then maybe the Nightmare Queen found some kind of loophole. A way to trick the guardian into serving her."

Cole frowned, arms crossed. "Then we need to figure out how she did it. If we can break her hold over Gashora, we can turn the tide of this fight."

Grimfax stepped forward, his imposing figure casting a long shadow across the room. "We've tried. Many times." His voice was laced with bitterness. "But the Nightmare Queen's illusions are more than tricks of the mind. She warps reality itself. You see what she wants you to see, hear what she wants you to hear."

Zane's eyes flickered as he processed the information. "Then our mission must be twofold. We need to uncover the truth behind her deception… and find a way to resist it."

Harumi leaned against a pillar, arms crossed. "Easier said than done. If she's manipulating Gashora the way she manipulates people, then we're dealing with something far more dangerous than just illusions."

A sudden, distant rumble sent a shudder through the tavern's floorboards. The room tensed, hands instinctively reaching for weapons. The noise was distant but unmistakable—the sound of something massive moving through the mist.

"Speak of the devil…" Kai muttered under his breath.

The tavern door burst open as a breathless scout rushed inside, his face pale. "They're coming! The Queen's forces! They must've tracked us from the battle!"

A cold wind howled through the open door, carrying with it the oppressive weight of the encroaching darkness. The mist outside thickened, swirling unnaturally as shapes moved within its depths—tall, armored figures with glowing eyes and twisted weapons, marching in eerie unison. And behind them, a towering shadow loomed, its monstrous presence sending a chill through even the bravest of warriors.

Grimfax turned sharply to the gathered warriors. "Defensive positions! Now!"

Lloyd gritted his teeth, gripping the hilt of his sword. "We hold the line. We don't let them take this place."

Akita transformed in a flash of blue light, her wolf form landing gracefully beside Kataru, who readied his blade. "We've fought worse," she said, her voice low. "We fight until the end."

Outside, the first of the Nightmare Queen's soldiers stepped into the firelight, their twisted armor reflecting the flickering glow. Their lifeless eyes locked onto the tavern.

And then they charged.