Once leaving Kryptarium, the boys and girls were on the Bounty as it sputtered a bit as it made it's way to Ninjago City.
"How far, Nya?" Jay asked his girlfriend.
"Yeah, at this speed we'll never make it to Ninjago City in time before the Oni turns Ninjago into the new Dark Island." Lydie points out.
"We're going as fast as we can." Nya said to them. "But this ship needs some fine tuning for sure." She commented.
"You think they would at least read the blueprints right to the gear." Demir said, leaning on the table.
The rest of the team were walking around the bridge, making sure the ship remained stable.
Jay looked to his right and jumped when he saw Garmadon looking at him, "Hm." Garmadon hummed as he looked at Jay at the consol as the lightning ninja screamed before Garmadon just walked off.
Jay slowly walked towards the others as he gave a frightful look. "Am I the only one freaking out about this?" He asked his friends.
"Why freak out?" Seliel asked rhetorically. "Our most deranged, psychotic arch-nemesis is now our house guest!" She sarcastically said.
"I find the term 'freak out' inadequate and imprecise." Zane corrected. "I prefer to say I am 'deeply troubled.'" He said.
"I share the sentiment." Pixal agreed.
"Well I got two words for this plan: Bad Idea." Skylor stated.
Nya then turned to the Garma-Twins. "Lloyd, Lydie, are you both sure he can be trusted?" She asked them.
"Not really." Lydie answered casually.
"Yeah. Of course not." Lloyd said in agreement.
"'Of course not'? 'Not really'? That's not what you're suppose to say!" Rose called out. "You're both supposed to say absolutely yes!"
"Hey, even if we said it, you guys wouldn't believe us!" Lydie said in defense.
"She's not wrong." Kai commented.
"And what choice do we have?" Lloyd questioned them with a shrug. "If Uncle Wu is right, and we're under attack by the Oni, then our father may be our best chance."
Lydie then gave a reassuring smile, "Plus, you forgetting father still doesn't have his powers," she reminded with her hands to her hips, "So how much harm can he cause?"
As soon as she said that however, Garmadon casually pressed a button and the engines suddenly turned off and the sails close.
The Ninja were alarmed as Garmadon walked off like he did nothing wrong, "Did, did he just turn off the…?" Harumi trailed off in dread.
"Oh no," Morro muttered as they felt the ship tilting and then started falling from the sky.
They all started screaming as they held onto the Bounty as they were falling from the sky. "He shut off the engines! We're gonna crash!" Jay cried out.
"Zane, the ignition switch! Hit the ignition switch!" Pixal shouted.
"And please hurry before we're pancakes!" Demir cried out.
Zane turned and saw the ignition switch and moved to reach it. But Kai let go of the ledge as he crashed into Zane as the two hit the back of the bridge but they all held on.
Seilel looked up as she gasped. "Aah! We're getting closer to the ground! Hurry!" She yelled in panic.
Zane manage to climbed onto the consol and just at the last second, he press the button as the Bounty took off into the sky again as the group sighed in relief while Garmadon just stood there casually, not having felt the fall one bit.
"Hmm. That button should be labeled." He said casually before walking away.
Rose gave a gasp of disbelief, "It is labeled!" She retorted as Garmadon left the bridge, "And it's labeled: Don't push while airborne!" She exclaimed but Garmadon either didn't hear or ignored her.
The others looked at Garmadon in agitation for nearly killing them, "He so did that on purpose." Jay accused the Dark Lord.
"Then perhaps it would be wise to accompany your father, you two." Zane said logically to the Garma-Twins.
"To prevent any further, mishaps." Pixal added.
Lydie and Lloyd gave their friends a glare. "Are you two just saying that because he's our father and that we're the ones who brought him along?" Lydie questioned with a glare.
The others looked at them sheepishly as they grew nervous. "Uh… no?" Kai said nervously.
"Not at all." Cole said with a nervous look.
"Sorta." Jay blurted out before Lydie glared at them with her eyes purple as Jay flinched. "Ah! I-I mean…"
Lydie then felt a hand on her shoulder as she turned and saw Lloyd giving her a calm look as he shook his head as Lydie sigh and calmed down. "Sorry, my temper been on edge ever since this morning." She apologized before turning to her brother, "Let's go before Father causes us to crash again." She grumbled as she walked out of the bridge.
Lloyd nodded as he gave an annoying look. "Argh! I can't believe we have to babysit our own father!" He grumbled, following after his sister.
The Garma-Twins followed Garmadon below deck as they followed their father as he stopped to a door.
"Where does this go?" Garmadon asked them.
"Nowhere." Lloyd answered.
"That's just a closet." Lydie pointed out.
Garmadon just opened the closet as a couple of brooms fell out as he walked off leaving his children go clean up.
Garmadon then turned to the next door. "And this one?" He asked again as he opened the door as he entered.
"That's our sleeping quarters." Lloyd answered.
"This is where you two sleep? In this tiny… compartment?" Garmadon asked in confusion.
"IT's not a 'compartment.' It's a cabin." Lloyd answered. "We're on a ship, remember?" He reminded before Lydie nudge her brother as he turned to her.
'Lloyd, I don't think dad has any memories of the Bounty.' Lydie said through their physic link. 'Even with the upgrades and remodeling, I don't think he even remembered his old life for that matter.'
'Gee, I never thought about that.' Lloyd replied while looking down in thought.
'Looks like Hutchins resurrection did more than just brought dad back and reverting him to his evil self, it must've removed his memories in the process.' Lydie theorized.
Garmadon then saw the photos, "And what are these?" He asked, walking to the wall of the pictures and memories the Ninja had together.
"They're just pictures." Lydie answered as she and her brother walked up to him.
"Do they celebrate some conquest? Or victory?" Garmadon asked in curiosity.
"Not really. They're just pictures." Lloyd answered with a small smile. "You know… memories? Good times?"
Garmadon then noticed one picture to the side, which was of himself and the Garma-Twins, "Who is that?" He asked, taking the photo in his hand.
"That's you, Dad." Lydie answered as he held the picture of him and his children spending time together. "Don't you remember yourself?"
Garmadon looked hard at the photo before he noticed something else, an old locket. He tossed the photo away as Lydie quickly caught it.
"Hey! What do you think your…" Lloyd trailed off when he saw the look of wonder on Garmadon's face as he opened the locket and stared at the photo of his younger self and Misako.
Garmadon raised a finger to Misako, gingerly brushing on her face, "Who is this woman?" He asked.
The Garma-Twins looked in surprise by that as Lloyd spoke. "That's our mother, you're wife, Misako. Don't you remember her?" He asked.
"My, my wife?" Garmadon asked slowly as he studied her, "She is, the most beautiful creature I have ever laid my eyes on." He said in awe.
Lloyd and Lydie were surprised to hear their father say that as turned to each other. "Did he just…?" Lloyd started quietly in disbelief.
"Shockingly, he did." Lydie answered with a nod and small smile.
Garmadon turned to his children. "Where is she?" He asked.
"She's back at the Monastery of Spinjitzu with Uncle Wu while keeping the people we rescued safe." Lydie answered.
"The Monastery… with my brother?" Garmadon muttered before he shook his head and toss the locket back to Lydie, who caught it by surprise. "We can't afford to have sentimentality right now. We must hurry and defeat the Oni! I refuse to allow those two only with each other longer than is necessary!" He declared as he marched out of the room.
Lloyd and Lydie blinked in surprise before turning to each other, "Did he just sound like he was…" Lloyd trailed off.
"Jealous that our uncle would try and snatch our mother's heart while his back was turned?" Lydie answered with cheeky smile, "Yes."
"Looks like looking at the pictures must've brought back some of father's memories." Lloyd said while giving a chuckle as he place the picture of them and their father back into place. "Maybe he's not that far gone after all."
"Meaning that the father we know is still in there." Lydie said with a hopeful smile. "Looks like he wasn't purged of all light like Hutchins thought." She added.
"Well, he may not show it for us, but it's at least he's showing for mom, that's a start." Lloyd said with a smile.
Lydie smiled before she remembered something. "We should keep an eye on him so that he doesn't cause any more damage." She said with a sheepish smile.
"Agreed." Lloyd nodded as he and his sister followed after their father.
Above deck, Kai and Jay are mopping the floors as Kai turned to Jay. "So? Did you pop the question yet?" Kai asked Jay.
"No." Jay answered as he shook his head. "I'm waiting for the right time."
"There might not be a right time, Jay." Kai said as they kept mopping. "You gotta just do it."
Just then, Cole and Morro appeared behind the pole. "Do what?" Cole asked in interest.
"Yeah, because we are wondering what you two are talking about." Morro said.
"Jay's going to ask Nya to be his yang." Kai answered with a smile.
"Wow!" Morro asked in awed. "Amazing!"
"What? Seriously? That's great!" Cole exclaimed in excitement as he and Morro flipped over them before he realize something. "Why are we always the last person to know these things?" He questioned in confusion.
"Don't know. I guess it was at the last minute?" Morro guessed with a shrug.
Jay then shushed at them. "Will you two keep your voices down, please?" He asked them.
"He's been planning it for weeks." Kai continued with a smirk.
"Weeks? Haha!" Morro laughed. "That's a long time to plan a simple life long promise, Jay." He said in amusement.
"Yeah, you just gotta do it!" Cole added in agreement as he grabbed Kai and Jay by the shoulders as Morro walked up to them. "It's like ripping off an old bandage. The sooner you get it over with, the better." He said with a wide smile.
Morro just looked at Cole strangely while Kai facepalmed himself while Jay gave a thought. "Um. Did you just compare Nya to an old bandage?" Jay asked in confusion.
Cole then realizes what he saw as they gave him dull looks. "Nice. Way to go, Cole." Kai said sarcastically.
"Way to take the romance out of it." Morro sarcastically said. "If this is how you plan on popping the question to Seliel in the future, try to think on that." He said while Cole gave a sheepish smile at them.
"All hands to the bridge." Zane announced through the speaker as the four boys rushed up to the bridge.
The four boys walked pass Garmadon as he just look at them as they gave suspicious looks while Kai gave 'I'm watching you' gesture as they met up with the group.
Garmadon cleared his throat as they all turned to them as they took battle-ready stances, thinking he was about to fight, but he just spoke. "The Oni entered this realm through a portal or rift between our world and theirs." He started as he walked up to them as the Ninja listens. "There are only one or two ways this is possible, and I'm willing to wager, it would have been through the Realm Crystal." He theorize. "In order for this darkness from spreading, the crystal must be destroyed."
"Which is apparently underneath Borg Industries in the middle Ninjago City." Harumi said slowly in realization.
Zane type quickly on the monitors as he check the stats with Pixal. "She's right. It is there."
Rose looked at Garmadon in disbelief, "We just barely escaped there and now you're asking us to go back to that giant black death trap?" He asked.
"I ask nothing, Master of Nature." Garmadon said firmly with his arms behind his back. "I am telling you that if you wish to stop the darkness from spreading across the rest of Ninjago, the crystal must be destroyed." He said with a serious look.
"And we're telling you, forget it." Cole said with a wave of his arms with a look. "Just one of those black clouds tentacle things touched my foot for a second and nearly froze me solid." He stated, while still having chills from that experience. "We wouldn't last a minute inside the darkness."
"That is correct." Garmadon said as he continued. "Because you are merely human. The darkness is made by the Oni themselves. But I, however, am Oni too. I can entered the darkness freely, make my way to the crystal and destroy it." He explained as he punched his fists together as he look at his children. "I will, of course, require a weapon."
"Hah! Fat chance." Skylor scoffed.
"Do you really expect us to just hand you a sword and let you go?" Lloyd asked his father with a raised brow.
"If you wish to live, yes." Garmadon said simply
"Well, forget it! No way!" Lydie said as she crossed her arms, "I wouldn't trust you with a, a, a…" She trailed off trying to think of a harmless weapon.
"A Feather!" Demir suggested with a smile, which earned him weirded-out looks from the others, "It's the most harmless thing I could think of." he said in defense while feeling a bit embarrassed.
"Sorry, father. But it's not going to happen!" Lloyd called out. "You're not going anywhere."
"At least not without me." Lydie spoke next. "I'm your daughter, remember? The one who inherited your power? Which means I'm Oni too." She said as she bravely marched to her father and looked him in the eye.
Garmadon then leaned in closer while narrowing his eyes, "No. You are half Oni, daughter." he corrected and gently shoved Lydie back, which made the others get into stances again. "That means you might survive. But I don't know what would happen to your human side should you enter the darkness. You could end up trapped like all others consumed by it." He stated as leaned close to Lydie, "Are you willing to take that risk?"
Lydie narrowed her eyes in determination, "I guess we'll find out." She said as Garmadon narrowed his eyes back walked out of the bridge as the Bounty continued its course to Ninjago City.
Near sunset, the Bounty arrive at Ninjago City, which is filled with darkness as it begins to rise even more as Jay was with Nya in the bridge.
"Wow. Ha. Will you look at that?" Jay said to Nya while feeling nervous.
"Yeah, pretty creepy, huh?" Nya asked at the sight of what Ninjago City is right now.
"Yeah." Jay said as they kept looking on. "But also kind of beautiful, in a weird way, isn't it?" He asked his girlfriend.
"What are you talking about?" Nya asked in confusion as she kept her eyes on the city. "No, it's just creepy."
"Oh, I just meant the colors in the clouds… or not. Never mind." Jay said as he secretly hid the yin-yang medallion behind his back as his hand shook a bit as he gulped nervously and walked up Nya with a smile. "It's time like these you realize what's really important in life." He said to her with a smile.
"I guess." Nya said with a smile.
Jay looked at his medallion behind his back before turning to Nya, "So uh, Nya?" He with a slight clearing of his throat as Nya smiles at him, "I've been wanting to ask you something for, a long while now." He started.
"Okay." Nya said with a smile as Jay cleared his throat a couple of times. "Are you okay?" She asked in confusion.
"Yeah. Ahem. Yeah." Jay assured but just when he was about to ask his question Garmadon appeared next to Nya and he yelled in surprise and fell on his back.
Nya looked behind her and saw Garmadon smirking, "What do you want?" She questioned with a frown and stepping back a bit.
"Absolutely nothing." Garmadon said with a smirk as he walked off.
"That guy gives me the creeps!" Nya said in annoyance before she sigh and look at Jay. "What were you saying?" She asked.
Jay stood back up but after that scare from Garmadon, he lost his confidence, "Um, it can wait." He said sheepishly.
Nya smiled and walked over to him, wrapping her hands around his neck, "Tell me whenever your ready, okay?" She asked with a sweet smile.
Jay gave a blush as he smiled sheepishly. "Hehehe, s-sure thing." He said as Nya kissed him as he happily returned it.
The Bounty flew over close to Borg's Tower as it dodge a tentacle and flew up a bit more above the ground.
"Jeeze, the more darkness that spreads the higher it gets," Morro commented after seeing the darkness rising even more. "Nearly all the buildings in Ninjago City are consumed." He noted.
"And if this continues, the Bounty will not be able to keep out of reach forever," Rose added in concern. "If we run out of fuel or that cloud gets any higher..."
Cole shivered, "Game over." He said in fear.
Zane then fitted a camera on Lydie's head as it beeped once it turned on. "This will allow us to see what's happening inside the cloud." He explained to her.
"You sure you wanna do this, sis?" Lloyd asked his sister in concern.
"Not exactly, but it has to be me since I'll be in my element down there." Lydie stated. "I'll be fine. Don't worry."
"That assumption is still unfounded." Garmadon said from across the deck. "You are mostly human. That side of you is still unknown what would happen once you enter the darkness."
"I also got my mother's stubbornness. Let's go." Lydie said with a determined look. "Give him a sword, Cole."
Cole drew a sword and looked at Garmadon in hesitation, "Are you sure about that?" He asked nervously as Lydie gave him a nod as Cole hesitantly toss the sword to Garmadon as it fell to the ground.
Cole got his back turned as Garmadon grabbed the sword and jump over to Cole as he drew the blade. "Hyah!" He called out.
"Cole, Look out!" Seliel called out as she drew her Glaive.
Cole gave a startled scream as he and Garmadon clashed weapons before Seliel jumped in and kicked him back. Garmadon then blocked her next strike as he tossed her into Cole.
"Oh, I knew this was gonna happen!" Morro griped as he drew his claws and jumped at Garmadon before he grabbed him the arm and spun him away.
Lloyd and Lydie then powered up their fists and did Spinjitzu but Garmadon jumped over them as the twins crashed into each other, and Garmadon started bouncing over the other Ninja's heads of the others before he landed in front of Pixal and clashed with her.
Jay and Nya saw this and jumped down to help Pixal as Nya stopped Garmadon's next strike as Jay followed her lead with his own strike but Garmadon caught his chucks and threw him away and kicked Nya off him.
Zane and Skylor both aimed and fired arrows at Garmadon but he deflected them as Kai and Demir charged at him but he blocked and kicked the fire and Metal Ninja into their respective girlfriends. He then turned around, grabbed Pixal by the chest plate and threw her into Zane.
The Ninja regrouped as they all face Garmadon with Cole in front of him. "Try that again… Now that I'm ready!" He challenge.
Garmadon just gave them a look as his left hands started glowing with purple flames as the Ninja looked at in shock as Garmadon lifted his hands to his face, feeling his power returned, "That's better." He said to himself before jumping off the deck and into the Darkness below.
The Ninja then tried to register what just happened, "Okay, what in heaven's name was that about?!" Rose asked.
"Conflict fules him…" Lloyd said in realization.
"He was fighting us to power himself up," Lydie added in the same reaction.
Skylor looked at them in disbelief, "He attacked us out of nowhere just to get his powers back?!" She exclaimed.
Morro tightened his fists and looked to Lloyd and Lydie, "I. Do. Not. Trust. Him!" He said firmly, puncturing every word with a step.
"Lydie, are you sure you want to go through with this?" Harumi asked as she grabbed Lydie by the arm.
Lydie looked around at her friends as saw their concerns look before she sigh. "No… but I don't really have a choice." She said as she then rushed to the edge as she jump off he Bounty as she grabbed a parachute as she followed after her father.
"Lydie!" Morro cried out.
Lydie freefall from the Bounty as she held her breath as she flew straight into he darkness with a determined look.
The Ninja then watched as Lydie disappeared beneath the sea of shadows, "Where'd she go?" Jay asked in worry.
"The camera feed." Zane said as he lead them back to the bridge.
They entered the bridge as Zane did some typing and press enter as it showed the camera feed as it falls for a bit before it suddenly stopped and slow down. "She opened her parachute." He informed
They saw Lydie moving her head as she turned to a building that is wrapped in a tentacle while seeing more and more around the buildings.
"What are those?" Nya asked.
"They look like… tentacles." Demir noted.
"Argh!" Cole shivered in fright. "That's one of the things that grabbed my foot. Aah…. It was terrible."
Lydie is gliding down to the city as she held onto the parachute as she look around at the darken city as she was about to draw her kamayari before she started chocking and gasping as she felt something inside her…change.
She then fell to her knees, gasping like she was struggling for air as she saw her father charging out his powers.
On the Bridge of the Bounty the others saw Lydie gasping for air and started panicking, "Oh no! Lyd!" Lloyd called in worry.
"The Cloud, it's hurting her!" Rose shouted.
"We gotta get her out of there!" Seliel said in worry.
Morro then looked at the screen and saw something happening, "Wait, something's going on, look!" He pointed.
Lydie tried to stand as her gasps turned into grunts of pain as she held her hand, like there was some going on down there. She removed her glove and saw her skin hand turned black with claws on the end. She gasped and then saw her other hand was the same.
"What, what's happening to me?!" She asked in pain and slight fear as her teeth turned sharp as well as silver markings appeared on her face. "I feel, I feel!" She growled as her hair turned bone white, her face turned black as she finally stopped grunting in pain and sighed in relief before she opened her now blood-red eyes.
Lydie took in relief, leaning against a car before she saw her reflection in the window, "AHH! Father, it's an Oni!" She called out and looked behind her where she thought the Oni was but saw nothing. Then understanding started to come to her, "N-no. it, it can't be. It's impossible." She denied as she turned back to the window and saw the oni that copied every movement she did, "Is that… Me?!" She asked in shock.
"Did Lydie just became an Oni the second she entered the darkness?!" Morro cried out in shock as the others were shock by this as well when they saw Lydie's reflection as well.
"How is that possible?!" Jay questioned in shock.
"Remember what Garmadon told us? The Oni were the ones who created the dark cloud, it must've somehow brought out her Oni side once she breathed in enough." Harumi explained as they all understood.
"At least she's okay." Nya said in relief as they turned back to the screen before they heard Lydie scream in terror.
"Uh, more or less." Demir added sheepishly.
Once Lydie registered that she looked like an Oni, she did the only thing her mind could do: Scream. After a few seconds she covered her mouth and looked at her hands again and started freaking out over her claws, even waving them frantically around hoping they'd go away.
Garmadon was in front of her with his back turned as he tested out his powers while giving a brow while Lydie picked at her claws, then wiggled them around then look at her legs to see some different but mostly tearings from the transformation.
Garmadon then finished with his powers and turned to his hyperventilating daughter, "If you're done taking in the result of your foolishness, pull yourself together." He told her bluntly.
"Well excuse me for jumping into the darkness after you and just finding out I've turned into an Oni!" Lydie yelled out before sighing and looking to her father pleadingly, "Just give it to me straight, what does the rest of me look like?" She asked.
Garmadon inspected his daughter's Oni appearance. "Hmm. Well, you look exactly like yourself, and absolutely not like yourself." He stated while tilting his head and rubbing his chin, "Oh, and your horns are quite sharp." He pointed out.
"My what!?" Lydie cried out as she felt around her white hair as she felt two curved, sharp horns sticking out. She started hyperventilating again, looking ready to scream again before her father covered her mouth with one of his hands.
"Are you going to scream again and alert the Oni of our presence?" Garmadon asked with a brow as Lydie shook her head as Garmadon let go of her mouth as she still gave an anxious look.
Lydie then looked around at the darkened state of Ninjago City. "Whoa, is this really Ninjago City?" She asked while standing back up.
"Yes, this is what all Ninjago will be once the darkness consumes all." Garmadon said as he began to walked off. "Although, your transformation was unexpected, you are fortunate to have survived in such a place like this." He stated before walking off.
Lydie looked at herself as she gave a sigh. "At least it's better than being frozen." She muttered as she followed her father.
The two walked through the streets of Ninjago City to Borg's Tower as some lights flickered for a moment. As they walked Lydie stared in horror as the people who were unable to escape were as pale as stone with black veins around their bodies, ending close to their faces.
She then saw a familiar frozen face, "Oh no. Doctor Borg!" She called as she ran over to Cyrus Borg, who was unable to escape, his face etched in horror, "Can you hear me?! Cyrus!" She called checking him over.
On the bridge the others looked at Borg in horror as well, "Oh Pix." Seliel started, looking to the female Nindroid.
Pixal gasped and rushed to the screen, "Father! No!" She called out in despair.
"He has fallen into darkness." Garmadon told his daughter.
Lydie turned to her father in worry, "Is he, is he dead?" She asked in dread, waving her hand in front of Cyrus's face.
"No. He's merely in a deep slumber. The Oni cloud just froze his body, think of it as a comatose." Garmadon explained, "Nothing you do will wake him up." He stated.
"Well, there's has to be something to wake him up!" Lydie desperately said as her father walked by. "He's my friend and Pixal's father!" She added as she gave a thought. "Grab his legs."
"What?" Garmadon asked in confusion as he stopped.
"Grab his legs! I'll take his arms!" She repeated looking at him, "If we can get him back to the Bounty and get to Uncle Wu, maybe we can find a cure!" She explained.
Garmadon shook his head, "There is no time for that. Only the Destruction of the Realm Crystal can save Dr. Borg now." He said and continued walking.
Lydie turned to her father appalled, "Hey, hey!" She said running up to him, "We can't leave him here! Ninja never leave friends behind!" She said firmly.
Garmadon looked at his daughter with a strict and final expression, "First: It's Ninja never quit, Second: I am not a Ninja, Third: I am not a fool either, and Fourth: There other less peaceful Oni out there," He said in a hushed tone in case there were any Oni close by, "And we two won't stand a chance against them if we're dragging your friend around like a human suitcase! And why should he alone be cured while we leave all the others to be condemned to darkness?"
Lydie shifted her eyes around, trying to find an answer for that, "I, I…." She struggled.
Garmadon narrowed his eyes, "It's time you realize that even if you save one friend, all of Ninjago will still suffer with just that single good deed." He said strictly, "So, you better decide which is more important: Protecting the Realm and all that you love, or clinging to your ideals of only saving the things you are closest to and perishing with them." He said before walking off.
Lydie looked at her father go as she gave a thought as she realized that he was right as she walked up to Borg. "Cyrus, if you can hear me, we're going to fix this. I promise." She promised and started backing away with a guilty expression.
On the Bounty, the other Ninja heard and saw everything and though they hated it, they knew Garmadon was right. They then watched as Lydie backed away from the frozen Cyrus, as it looked like he was actually desperately reaching out for her to save him.
Pixal gave a sad expression as she gave a small sob and reached for her father before she pulled back and buried her face in her hands as she turned to Zane as he held her for comfort.
Lydie walked off from Borg as she followed her father deeper into the city to Borg Tower as some lights flickered again.
Inside the NGTV news building, the news crew inside are running around as Vinny was at the radio station.
"Mayday, Mayday… Anyone out there? Anyone?" Vinny asked desperately as the screens flicked as he held his earphones and smack the screen again as static was weird. "We're stuck on the twenty-third floor of the NGTV news building. If anyone can hear me, please respond. Anyone…? Anyone at all?" He desperately called out through the radio as all he got was static.
Gayle Gossip then came up to Vinny while holding a folder and a cup of coffee. "Vinny, are you still messing with that radio? We got a broadcast in 10 minutes." She reminded him.
"Uh, boss… I don't think anyone else is out there." Vinny said to Gayle as some of the news crew were nervous. "I think we might be the last people in the whole city."
"The news never sleeps, Vinny." Gayle said to him naturally. "Come on." She said as she walked on stage.
"You're right, Miss Gossip. Be right there." Vinny said as he went back to the radio again. "If anyone is out there…"
"If anyone can hear me…" On the Bounty, the Ninja are receiving a signal as Vinny's signal was broadcasting to the bridge as the Ninja heard it. "Vinny Folson of NGTV news. Signing off."
"Come in. We hear you. Come in!" Zane called out before the signal went off.
"What was that?" Kai asked in wonder.
"I believe it was a distress call." Zane said as he press on the consol. "But we have lost the audio." He stated.
"There must still be people that weren't able to evacuate in time," Rose deduced.
"Can you trace the signal?" Lloyd asked hopefully.
Zane press on the consol. "I will attempt to triangulate the source." He said as he then type rapidly fast as the location was then brought up on the screen. "There. Several miles of us. It appears to be a television station in the outskirts of NInjago City." He informed.
"Maybe some people who didn't evacuate in time." Cole theorized.
"We gotta help them!" Skylor called out.
"What about Lydie? We can't just abandon her." Morro reminded them.
"If someone's in trouble, my sister would be the first people to help." Lloyd stated.
"That may be. But sometimes it would be incorrect." Zane said to them. "There's literally nothing more imperative than the success of Lydie's mission. If she fails, all of NInjago is lost." He said to them seriously.
"Perhaps…" Pixal then spoke out as they turned to her. "Perhaps there is a way to be in more places than one. I can remain behind in the Samurai X mech while you take the Bounty and investigate the distress call." She instructed.
"What if you run out of fuel?" Nya pointed out in concern.
"That would not be good." Pixal admitted. "Let us hope you are back before that happens." She said as Zane took her hands as he gave her a warm smile.
"We will be back." Zane promised as Pixal smiled back and kissed him before she called in her mech as it flew to them.
Pixal gave one last look to her friends as she hopped into the mech as she took off as Zane and the others watched her go as Pixal looked down at them longingly as Nya turned to Zane.
"She'll be okay." Nya assured as she steer the bounty to the source of the distress signal.
Pixal then landed on one of the buildings before she flew back up when she saw a tentacle coming at her as she flew out of range and stayed in the air, seeing that there's no place to land for her to conserve fuel and hope the others returned soon.
Below in Ninjago City, Lydie walked up a bit before she stopped and gasped as she stood back behind the wall. "Oh boy." She muttered as she looked to her father. "We got a problem."
Garmadon walked up to her as he peek through the wall and gave a chuckle as he see black horned figured guarding the entrance to Borg Tower, "Oni." He said almost excitedly.
"What do we do?" Lydie asked as tried to think of a plan."Maybe we can sneak around from behind them? Or find a manhole or something?" She suggested.
"I have a plan. Follow me." Garmadon whispered to her as he got out of the open. "Greetings… brother Oni! How are you? Love what you've done with the place." He said to them.
The Oni then groaned as they slammed their staffs down as tentacles came out of them.
"Now!" Garmadon yelled out as Lydie jumped out from behind him with a spin and the blasted at the Oni pushing them back as Garmadon charged and attacked them.
Garmadon swipe at the tentacles as Lydie did Spinjitzu as to try and knock it back before she tripped and saw them advancing towards her. "Aah!" She called out as she swipe at them.
Garmadon kept fighting off the Oni as he dodge and block their attacks as he used his powers to blast one back as Lydie came up to him as the two stood back to back as the Onis advanced towards before the oni swipe Lydie's weapon out of her hands as it fell to the floor as the tentacles dragged it away as she tried to grab it as she fell to the stairs.
Garmadon blasted the Oni away and turned to see the Oni about to strike Lydie, "No!" He said before pouncing at the Oni and knocking it away.
Lydie stared at her father in shock, "You, you saved my life?" She asked in shock before she smiled, "Thanks Dad."
Garmadon scoffed and walked past her as Lydie kept smiling, "Come on, don't give me that tough bad guy stuff," She said teasingly. "If there wasn't some good left in you, you would've let me get chopped in half."
"Again, we don't have time for sentiments. The Realm Crystal is near." Garmadon stated as he marched up the stairs, "Two of us stands a better chance of victory than one." He added.
"Suuure." Lydie said coyly with a smirk, "Lord Garmadon's a softy~! Lord Garmadon's a softy~!" She sang teasingly.
Garmadon growled in irritation at her as she raised her hands with an innocent look. "Must you keep doing that?" He asked.
"Doing what?" Lydie asked with a smirk.
"That mocking tone you've been giving me this whole time." Garmadon points out.
Lydie shrugged, "I'm a teenager, what's your excuse?" She asked.
"And not only that, but even after you overthrow me of my throne in Ninjago, you've been smiling at me for the brief moments when we're alone," Garmadon added with a brow.
"Maybe I'm happy." Lydie said as she kept her smile.
"That's is not an 'I am happy' smile, that is a typical 'hero-undermining-their-worst-enemy' smile." Garmadon pointed out with a look as Lydie kept smiling.
"Really? How's this?" Lydie asked as she did the same smile.
"That's exactly the same." Garmadon said dully.
"No it isn't." Lydie said.
"Yes it is." Garmadon argued.
"No it isn't." Lydie looked away with her arms crossed.
"Yes it is!" Garmadon said frustratedly.
"Yes it is." Lydie smirked.
"No it isn't!" Garmadon yelled before he realized what he said.
"Have it your way." Lydie teased with her arms crossed as she gave a victorious smirk.
Garmadon growled and powered up his fists and for a moment Lydie thought he was going to attack her before he blasted an incoming Oni behind her as it flew back as Lydie looked back at her father with a smirk, "Okay, it's official: You really do care about me, daddy." She said in a victorious tone.
Garmadon realized what he did as he gripped the air and growled in frustration before marching inside, he then turned to a frozen person, glaring, "Ancestors forbid, you shouldn't have any daughters!" He said in a huff before marching on.
Lydie gave a chuckle as she followed after her dad. "He really is like how dad used to be." She said to herself as they entered Borg Tower.
They entered the main room as they saw the Borg logo flickering as the lights on the side are red and tentacles are around as Lydie look around and caught up with her father at the elevator shaft.
The two looked down at the shaft before Garmadon turned to his daughter, "Please, ladies first." He said in gentlemen-like tone.
Lydie raised her hands, "No, no. Age before beauty." She said with smile.
"No pain, no gain." Garmadon shot back.
Lydie was confused and turned away from her father, "Wait, what pain?" She asked.
"This." Garmadon answered as he pushed Lydie into the shaft as she fell with a scream as Garmadon gave a chuckle.
"Not funny, dad!" Lydie yelled from the shaft.
Garmadon continued laughing before Lydie shot her grappling hook to wrap around his neck as he choked and she pulled him down too. "ACK!" Garmadon yelled as he fell.
Garmadon hit the floor next to Lydie as she gave a smirk as Garmadon coughed a bit before he got up and took the line off as he glared at his daughter from that. "You enjoyed that, didn't you?" Garmadon accused.
"Maybe." Lydie said before she pried the doors open, "Now come on we got a realm crystal to destroy and invasion to stop!" She declared walking down the hall.
Garmadon scowled at his daughter, "I just decided, she's next on my destruction list." He grumbled to himself as he followed after her.
"I heard that!" Lydie yelled out from the halls as Garmadon grumbled as he caught up to his daughter.
"Follow the darkness." Garmadon said as they followed further into the darken with some of the doors red.
"I'm still trying to remember why did Borg place all the ancient and power relics here in Ninjago if they were highly dangerous." Lydie said in wondered. "I mean, his previous hiding spot wasn't compromise and doesn't he know that Ninjago City is just a beacon for bad guys to attack?" She questioned.
"You're asking me?" Garmadon asked with a brow. "I was in the departed realm before all this." He pointed out dully.
"Okay, fair." Lydie said with a shrug.
On the Bounty, the others were watching and had a few laughs when Lydie teased Garmadon.
"Wow, Lydie sure got under Garmadon's skin." Kai said in amusement.
"Please tell me this is recording." Jay pleaded with a smirk.
"Yes Jay, I am. And I am making copies," Rose assured with a smile, "Lots and lots of copies!"
"Ssshh." Zane shushed them as they continued to watch the camera feed. "She's must be nearing the source of the darkness. The Realm Crystal seems to be interfering with the signal." He informed them as they tried to keep watch but static started to show as they grew worried.
Lydie and Garmadon kept walking through the hall as Garmadon saw a door opened and glowing red as he turned to his daughter. "This is it." He said to her as they entered the room and saw the Realm Crystal dark and puffing out dark smoke.
"There it is! Destroy it! Quick!" Jay called out as he grab Zane and shook him.
"She cannot hear you." Zane told him, since they could see to the camera, she can't hear them.
"No way. Is that really the Realm Crystal?" Lydie asked in shock as they approached the blacken crystal. "What happened to it?"
"The Oni have corrupted the Realm Crystal, and our using to open their gate," Garmadon said as he drew his sword, "And now, to destroy it." He said as he walked up to the crystal as he was about to strike it, but a staff appeared from out of nowhere and blocked it as Garmadon was flung back with the sword broken.
"What the what?!" Lydie said in shock before turning back to the Crystal as more black smog poured out of it.
The two Garmadons held their breath as a horned figure rose up from the blackness.
On the Bridge the others saw this two and step back in worry, "W-what is that?" Harumi asked in worry.
The horned figure cleared out as it stood tall and revealed to be a big Oni with a staff a sit slammed it down as Lyide look in shock.
The Ninja on the Bounty looked in shock at what they saw.
"Who is that?" Jat quivered slightly.
"Uh, Dad? What's that?" Lydie asked in a little fightful as the Oni stared at the two in deep malice.
"The Leader." Both Garmadon and Lloyd answered seriously.
The Oni merely let a deep, rasping breath, "No. I am only the Commander. I am the Omega." It answered.
"Well whatever you are, you're about to experience my full wrath!" Garmadon yelled out as he used his powers to make dark energy daggers as he charged at the Omega as the two Oni clashed weapons before the Omega knocked Garmadon back to a wall.
"Father!" Lydie called out as she then did Spinjitzu at the Omega, knocking it down but before She could strike again, a large axe swung out of nowhere and knocked her into the wall next her father as her camera fell and broke.
The others watched as the Omega stood back up while in the smog another figure began to form, "Another one?!" Skylor exclaimed as the screen started glitching as they were losing the signal.
"Zane! How do I get the signal back!" Lloyd cried out as he pressed buttons on the consol.
"The signal is lost, Lloyd." Zane said dreadfully as they all turned to the Screen, knowing Lydie was on her own.
Lydie groaned as she watched a much larger, four armed Oni in armor and holding a large Halberd Ax. "Who, are you?" She asked weakly and in slight fear.
"I am the Alpha." The Large Oni answered in a low malevolent voice, as Lydie felt his aura was almost as powerful as the Overlord's himself, "The Destructor. The Bringer of Doom. Are you the protectors of this hideous Realm?" He questioned with his axe pointing at them.
"Yes. I am." Lydie answered bravely as she stood up.
"And you?" The Alpha then pointed to Garmadon.
"Usually, no…well I've been told that once I did, so today," Garmadon started before glaring at the Alpha, "Yes."
The Omega and Alpha studied the two, "You are, both Oni?" The Omega questioned as Lydie and Garmadon stood up. "Yet you fight to preserve this realm, why?" He asked while pointing his staff at them.
Lydie took a step forward, "I'm not just Oni, I'm also dragon," She revealed, "So if you think I'm just gonna stand by and let you mask faced goons snuff out all the light in Ninjago, you can forget it!" She declared.
Garmadon sighs as he stands up next. "And if anyone is going to destroy Ninjago, it'll be me. Not some Oni usurper with a walking stick." He glared as he pushed away the halberd of the Alpha, knocking him out.
The Alpha growled angrily at them. "Then perish with them as you all drown in darkness!" He roared as it was about to strike them as the two took stances.