Chapter Text
"My mother was the Master of Water." Nya repeated in shock.
"Yes, don't faint again!" Mistake said, pressing another handkerchief to her forehead.
"I..." Nya said with a sigh.
"I thought they told you." Mistake explained to her. "Because you are needed."
"I can be needed as Samurai X." Nya protested. She honestly understood little of what Mistake was saying.
"Samurai X cannot control water." Mistake stood up and looked at Nya. "Nor can she do the other things ninjas do. Remember Nya, you are needed."
"What does that mean?" Nya sighed again. "What do you know about what's happening?"
"I know everything, yet I know nothing." Mistake replied. "You are needed, Nya. Ninjago and beyond need a water ninja."
"But I'm not a water ninja," Nya said desperately. "And I don't want to be."
"You're not a ninja. But you will become one. Even if not here and not now." Mistake said, clenching her fists. "We have much to do."
"I have to go help Garmadon and Misako," Nya said, standing up decisively. "And the guys!"
"First, you have to listen to me." Mistake said, gesturing for her to follow.
~~~~~~
"I don't think this is a good idea," Cole repeated as they descended.
"We have no choice," Lloyd sighed.
"We really don't," Sanfungol confirmed. He didn't quite resemble Zane, but it was better than nothing. Certainly better than...
"Lightning! Lightning!" Dareth shouted, mimicking the sounds of thunder.
"Shh." Lloyd put a finger to his lips. "The less you two talk, the less chance there is of getting caught."
"Are you..." Cole began, but the guards interrupted him.
"STOP!" they shouted, quickly surrounding the ninjas.
"Here are my favorite guests!" Chen yelled as the guards carried him to the throne.
"You act like a king, Chen," Cole said glumly. "Where is Kai?"
"And what do you want with him and Skylor?" Lloyd added sternly.
"I want to have fun," Chen replied cheerfully, sinking deeper into the throne. "And why are these two silent?"
"Because they have no need to speak," Cole snapped before Dareth and Sanfungol could say anything.
"What are you trying to do, Chen?" Lloyd asked. "This time, you won't easily steal the elemental powers!"
"I've given up on my grand plans," Chen said unconvincingly. "I just want to have fun."
"How did you come back?" Cole clenched his fists.
"Blah blah blah," Chen rolled his eyes. "Questions are boring. Let the fun begin!"
"We're here for Kai and Skylor!" Cole shouted angrily. "Not for fun."
"But that's the point, earth ninja," Chen said with a slight smile. "Choose one among yourselves. And let him dare to pass through this room here! If he succeeds, you have Kai and Skylor."
"How can we trust you?" Lloyd frowned.
"I don't think you have a choice," Chen shrugged. "Did I mention that if you don't leave this room quickly enough, you will lose your sanity?"
"Who will go?" Cole snapped as all four of them huddled together in a circle.
"I'll go," Lloyd said decisively.
"No way!" Cole countered.
"I am a leader," Lloyd reminded him.
"Exactly." Cole pressed his lips together. "We need you, and I'll handle whatever is in there!"
"I'm going," Lloyd insisted. "I’m the green ninja."
"As you wish," Cole sighed reluctantly. "We’re behind you!"
"I know," Lloyd smiled and looked at Chen. "I'm going!"
~~~~~~
"How is this possible?" Nya asked when they entered a room full of maps.
"What?" Mistake absentmindedly asked as she searched for some things.
"Everything about Chen..." Nya peeked over Mistake's shoulder.
"There are possibilities of a spirit returning from the Cursed Realms." Mistake said.
"But Chen isn't..." Nya began, but Mistake interrupted her.
"But there is a way for both spirit and body to return!" Mistake took a map and showed it to Nya.
"I don't understand anything." Despite that, Nya admired the map.
"Listen. This is the Kingdom of the Six Duchies, or rather, it now has seven duchies, but it doesn’t matter. It is located across the sea."
"Why don't we know much about it if it's very close?" Nya asked curiously.
"We are in the same realm, but they, along with a few other kingdoms, keep to themselves, while we keep to ourselves. We aren’t quite alike, but we’re not that different either."
"Does Chen have anything to do with this?" Nya frowned.
"Yes, as I told you. Exactly two weeks after being exiled, a ritual can be performed that frees the exiled souls." Mistake pointed to a specific spot on the map.
"As you can see, it can only be done in a special place, which is located in the Six Duchies."
"Has anyone ever tried that?" Nya looked at the map in confusion. "And that means..."
"Yes, many have tried, but they failed. It is very difficult to carry out." Mistake said, putting the map away. "Not just anyone can do it.
Someone very powerful and cunning. Someone who needs Chen and his army."
"But who could that be?" Nya felt the pressure rising. The situation was serious.
"Anyone." Mistake exhaled. "And Chen has been free for some time, devising a plan..."
"And someone is with him." Nya finished.
"Probably." Mistake said as she exited the room.
"The Chen doesn't plan the same thing again, right?" Nya said while following Mistake.
"No." Mistake said decisively. "That’s why you need to bring us Skylor. And after that, probably Misako. Actually, for sure."
"But who first?" Nya quietly asked. "We know that Misako and Garmadon are captured."
"It will be difficult to do anything there." Mistake said sadly, looking firmly at Nya.
"But..." Nya protested.
"We need both of them. Garmadon to train you, and Misako for information." Mistake interrupted.
"And they are part of our family." Nya noted.
"Let’s hope for the best." Mistake said, looking sharply into Nya's eyes. "You have to bring us ninjas and Skylor."
"How do you know they are in trouble?" Nya asked worriedly.
"I just know." Mistake cut off Nya's questions and looked away. Nya did not waste another second.
~~~~~
"Green ninja, how cute!" Chen laughed. "Come on in."
Lloyd slowly walked to the room, with Cole, Dareth, and Sanfungol anxiously standing behind him.
As he entered the room, he felt a cold breeze envelop him. Soon, the dark room became bright.
Inside, Lloyd saw images. Images he didn’t remember—pictures from his childhood with his parents.
"Welcome to the room of your greatest regrets and desires," a voice said, and Lloyd turned around to find no one there.
"My greatest regrets and desires..." Lloyd whispered, continuing to gaze at the scenes of his childhood.
“Why…” Then he immediately realized. They were so happy—he and his parents—and he remembered nothing.
He watched the images of his mom and dad playing with him, tears welling in his eyes.
Simple little things. Cooking with his parents, drawing with them, going to the park. How they hugged him...
"That’s not a part of me. That’s not me... I don’t remember anything from before my fifth year... Before Darkly's." Lloyd said, distressed.
For a while, tears streamed down Lloyd's face, and then he felt himself slowly becoming part of those images...
He drowned in memories that weren't even his... How wonderful it would be to live in those days again.
To be a normal child once more. To be a kid. To grow up with parents.
"...if you don't leave this room quickly enough, you will lose your sanity.." He felt the voice echoing in his head.
"I have to go," Lloyd said, slowly passing through the room.
He wanted to stay so badly... He would give anything to remain. But he was stronger than that.
"Kai!" he shouted as he stepped out. He found himself in a cold dungeon. There were no guards.
"Lloyd?" he heard two voices at once.
"Wait," Lloyd said and grabbed the nearest torch. His eyes were still red.
It was frighteningly dark. To his relief, he found a key on the floor and unlocked Kai and Skylor.
Could it be that Chen kept his promise?
"Lloyd, how?" Kai looked at him in awe.
"Are you..." Skylor began, but Lloyd interrupted her.
"We have to go. Quickly! The question is how long Chen will pretend to keep his word."
~~~~~~
"Zane, Jay!" Nya shouted as she descended with her Samurai X to the guys.
"Nya!" Jay yelled, rushing to her.
"What’s going on?" Nya looked confused. "Where are they..."
"Down with Dareth and Sanfungol, who are pretending to be us," Zane tried to explain to her.
"Dareth and who?" Nya asked.
"We don’t have time!" Zane shouted. "I see Kai and Skylor with them, but Chen's soldiers won’t let them go."
"Let’s go!" Nya shouted, jumping into her Samurai X suit.
~~~~~~
"You’re not going anywhere!" the guards shouted.
"You promised," Lloyd said, grinding his teeth.
"And you weren’t supposed to pass through that room!" Chen pulled. "The guards..."
"It's over, Chen!" Nya yelled, diving down.
"Samurai X?" Chen looked at her confused. "Weren’t you in a monastery..."
"How do you know?" Kai asked.
"Run! I’ll hold them back!" Nya shouted. Everyone began to flee as Nya held off the guards.
Zane and Cole greeted them and helped them climb up without obstruction.
Once everyone got out, Sanfungol sealed the entrance to the underground passages.
"I’ll freeze it!" Zane stopped Sanfungol.
"No, this has a different mechanism!" Sanfungol replied, starting to fiddle with the entrance.
"There, that should do it. We should have some time..."
"Did you find any help, Nya?" Lloyd asked.
"Unfortunately, they’re all unavailable," Nya sighed.
"Who is unavailable?" Skylor asked.
"The elemental masters," Jay explained to her. "Do you think Chen..."
"Possible," Skylor sighed.
"Let's go to the Mystake tea shop," Nya said. "We can’t waste time."
"I’ve had enough ninja adventures for today," Dareth smiled. "I’m going!"
"Do I have your permission to go with you?" Sanfungol politely asked. Lloyd frowned slightly at this.
"You've proven yourself an ally," Cole said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"If you claim to be a friend, we trust you!" Zane added. "Let’s go!"
"Wait!" Lloyd said, and everyone froze. "Any information about Sensei Wu and my parents?"
"Wu has gone beyond the Ninjago," Nya said seriously. "Mystake assumes to a place where the ritual was performed to bring Chen and his army back."
"Where is that?" Zane asked.
"We don’t have time right now," Nya shook her head. "Mystake will explain everything."
"And where's Clouse?" Jay remembered. "We haven’t seen him."
"My parents, Nya?" Lloyd anxiously asked. He had a feeling something was wrong.
"Clouse has been spying on us with a mechanical spider," Nya began.
"What!" everyone exclaimed in surprise.
"He knew Misako and Garmadon were going to the docks and captured them..." Nya struggled to finish the last sentence as she watched Lloyd's expression change.
"We have to save them!" Lloyd said firmly.
"I'm sorry." Nya sighed sadly. "We need to go to Mystake first."
"Why?" Kai interrupted. "We go for them, then to Wu."
"Because we need to understand what my father is planning," Skylor interjected. "I know I'm not authorized to tell you this.
They’re all your family... but first, we must hear what Mystake has to say, and then we go for them!"
"That's right, Lloyd," Sanfungol said, placing a hand on Lloyd's shoulder. "Don't worry kid. We will go for them as soon as possible, and it will be quick."
"Thank you." Lloyd smiled slightly. His distrust of Sanfungol was somewhat fading.
When he looked closer at his face, he could see fine, well-hidden wrinkles. His face could be in its fifties.
"Then let's not waste any more time!" Kai said, and everyone followed him.
"Wait aren't you thinking this was a little too easy?" Zane asked as they ran.
"It won't be easy." Nya reminded him."
"But it feels like they leted us go," Zane explained.
"Actually, you're right." "Lloyd stopped in amazement." Who knows what Chen is planning.