Moon saw two Stone Warriors, one carrying the Helmet of Shadows and the other dragging a prisoner — the Red Ninja's sister.
"We retrieved your helmet and a prisoner, Overlord," the Stone Warrior said calmly.
"You'll never get away with this!" Nya shouted, struggling. "My friends are going to put an end to you!"
That only made Garmadon laugh.
He approached her with malicious intent.
"Red doesn't suit you," he said, lifting her chin. "I think it's time you tried a darker shade."
Garmadon placed a gag in her mouth. "Bring me the dark matter. I think we've found our first test subject."
When the Stone Warrior approached holding a tray with the dark matter, Lord Garmadon began forcing her face into it. The black substance started corrupting the girl. Her skin turned pale, becoming gray, as did her clothes, and her eyes glowed bright red — somewhat like Moon's.
The Purple Ninja watched silently and felt a brief connection the moment Nya was exposed to the substance.
(That entity exposed me to that matter too... but in a smaller amount... Wait? Was I supposed to have thoughts?)
Moon began to feel mentally confused.
What was happening? She couldn't remember ever being ordered to think. Was she even allowed to think? Moon couldn't understand what was happening to her. Something was wrong.
Deep inside, in the depths of her heart, she knew she had to keep fighting the mind-control of the dark entity, but her mind wasn't cooperating.
The entity's influence was too strong. Suddenly Nya screamed, seeming thirsty for blood and battle.
"Perfect," Lord Garmadon smiled. "You will stay here and stop the ninjas, understood?" he commanded.
"Yes, Lord Garmadon," corrupted Nya bowed.
"Good. You—" he pointed at one of the Stone Warriors "—get her a heavy weapon so she can massacre those ninjas." The warrior nodded. "And the rest of you, prepare the Garmatron. We have to leave now if we want to reshape Ninjago in my image by today."
Everyone spread out to make the proper preparations. Moon stood by Lord Garmadon's side, awaiting new orders from him or the dark entity.
o0o0o
They stopped in front of the sea, facing Ninjago.
Ninjago is within reach now. Activate the Ultimate Weapon so everyone knows who rules here.
Lord Garmadon smiled at the idea.
"Yes. Load the cannon!" he ordered.
The Stone General immediately went to do so. Moon watched silently.
"Finally, my darkest dream will become reality," Lord Garmadon approached a large red button — but then—
"Dad, no!" Lloyd's shout echoed in the distance.
Moon instantly turned and leapt from the vehicle, landing between Lloyd, Sensei Wu, and Misako. She took a fighting stance but stayed defensive.
"Lloyd?!" Lord Garmadon was completely shocked.
What are you doing?! Press the button!
The dark entity grew furious because Garmadon preferred to talk to his enemies instead of completing the mission.
"So the balance sent my son, my brother, and my wife to stop me?! Looks like my little surprise kept the ninjas busy," Garmadon growled.
"Don't do this. If you alter the balance, it will allow the Overlord to cross over," Misako pleaded.
"The balance will be destroyed, and all will pay dearly," Sensei Wu warned.
Do not listen to them. They betrayed you!
"I don't want to fight you, but I will if I must. This is bigger than both of us — it's about what's right," Lloyd said firmly.
"Don't you see?! I will never do what is right. Evil is in my blood and will never leave. It corrupted every gram of my being, every bone in my body. I am Lord Garmadon!" He struck his chest. "Destiny took my family from me, and the only way for us to be together is to reshape this world in my image. Then everyone will see what I see, feel what I feel!"
"It's not too late. We can—" Misako tried, but he cut her off.
"You made your choice, and I made mine!" he exclaimed, turning to press the button.
"No!" Misako, Wu, and Lloyd shouted, trying to reach him — but Moon blocked them.
A voice message suddenly announced the weapon needed to warm up before firing the missile.
"Warming up?!" Garmadon snapped. "You could've told me it needed to warm up!"
How could I? You were monologuing!
"We have to get up there and shut it down!" Lloyd cried and tried to rush forward, but Moon blocked him. "I didn't want to hurt you, but now I have no choice."
"Get them!" Lord Garmadon ordered his Stone Army — and Moon.
They fought: Green Ninja vs Purple Ninja. They were evenly matched — surprisingly, since Moon was far more experienced and mind-control should've prevented any hesitation. Yet Lloyd noticed her reflexes were slower, and she wasn't giving her all. Whatever was controlling her was weakening her and keeping her from reaching her full potential.
Misako jumped in — Moon still respected the command not to harm her, so she held back.
"Go!" Misako yelled, trying to restrain Moon.
Moon saw Lloyd running toward Garmadon and kicked Misako aside — not enough to hurt her seriously, but enough to slow her down.
Moon chased Lloyd and tried to stop him from climbing the vehicle but failed. Sensei Wu stood before her and struck her with his staff.
"This is not you, Moon!" Wu shouted, taking a fighting stance. "I know you're in there and can fight this — fight it. Your aura is not an object for someone to use. It is yours, as free as your spirit."
His words seemed to reach her.
"Your aura is not an object for someone to use... it is yours, as free as your spirit," Aaron had said with a smile.
"Sensei... Aaron..." she murmured, seeming to regain control.
Wu was stunned — it was the first time she said his name like that, as if deep down she still longed for him.
Moon had been raised by Aaron not just as a student, but as a daughter.
Moon! What do you think you're doing?! Destroy him at once!
Suddenly her eyes glowed intensely. Moon charged her fist with aura and sent Wu flying with inhuman force. She turned just in time to see the missile launch toward Ninjago.
"Hahaha! I won!" Garmadon cheered triumphantly.
Again!
the Overlord ordered with delight.
"Again!" Garmadon echoed in euphoria.
Misako rushed to Wu and held him, terror in her eyes.
"The balance is shifting," she whispered fearfully.
"Lloyd, you must focus and end this!" Wu urged.
Lloyd concentrated, energy radiating from him, preparing for a final attack — but Garmadon pulled a lever, dropping him and the Stone General into a trapdoor. Lloyd hit the ground face-first.
"You think you can stop me?!" Garmadon barked, reaching for the button.
"Maybe not alone. But with help? Absolutely."
A hand reached out to help Lloyd up.
"Moon!" Lloyd gasped. "You're back to normal!"
"And that will never happen again," she said softly before turning serious toward Garmadon and the Overlord. "I have a few things to settle with them." She pointed her weapon at them.
Moon's eyes glowed light blue as aura surged through her body.
How did you break free from my control?!
"As if I'd accept being controlled. I'm a free spirit — I won't be a tool for someone who wants to use my power for their own goals." She smirked beneath her mask. "But I should thank you. Thanks to what you did, I see some things clearly now — one of them being that I must protect and help the Green Ninja. My mission is to be a guardian."
Lloyd remembered the prophecy: "The Master of Aura will accept the arduous task of Guardian, thus finding balance for the grand power passed on by her predecessor."
It seemed Moon had accepted it — and found her balance.
It's too late anyway!
The Overlord began to laugh. Moon remained steady, but Garmadon looked confused.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
Thanks to all of you, I can finally cross into your world! I am free at last!
"Wait a minute! You stole that from my book! Forget it — Ninjago is mine!" Garmadon snapped.
No. It was never going to be yours. It... it is mine!
A blinding light struck Garmadon. Moon shielded herself with her arms. She heard his screams and saw his aura twisting at alarming speed.
The ninjas arrived.
"What did we miss?" Jay asked, leaning forward.
"A lot," Moon replied, watching what was about to happen.
"Moon! You're back!" Jay said happily.
Kai and Cole were thrilled to see her back — and herself again.
"What's happening to me?!" Garmadon yelled in agony.
"Are you guys scared?! Because I'm scared!" Jay whimpered, watching the scene.
"Something's really wrong!" he added as Garmadon continued transforming.
The metamorphosis... has begun!
"Metamorphosis?! What does that mean?!" Kai asked Zane.
"Metamorphosis is a biological process in which someone or something transforms into something new," Zane explained simply.
"Into something ugly. Look at him," Cole pointed at Garmadon.
Moon thought his appearance resembled... a cockroach?
To be honest, it did look a bit like one.
"Dad..." Lloyd wanted to run to him, but Sensei Wu held him back.
"That is no longer your father," Wu said.
"But the prophecy? It said I had to face my dad," Lloyd said, confused.
"And you still do. But now the Overlord has possessed him. Unlike your father, he will show no mercy," Misako explained.
"Or maybe we misunderstood the prophecy. After all, it's the battle between good and evil. It never specified who was good or who was evil," Moon suggested. "Maybe your father is just a vessel."
That could be a valid interpretation, but who knew for sure. Seeing Lloyd's hesitation, the ninjas voiced their support.
"You got this, Lloyd!" Kai shouted.
"We're right here by your side!" Jay encouraged.
"He's tough, but you're tougher," Cole added.
"We must act before his evil power grows stronger!" Zane warned.
Moon placed a comforting hand on Lloyd's shoulder.
"It's like that old saying: good always wins, and evil always loses," she said, giving his shoulder a final squeeze before letting go.
Lloyd looked down for a moment, thinking — then he raised his head, determined.
"Let's do this!" he said as he pulled down his ninja mask.
The ninjas charged with their Spinjitzu.
Lloyd stopped and fired a beam of energy that created green flames — dangerous to enemies, but harmless to allies.
Zane rushed forward and released a blast of ice, trapping several Stone Warriors.
Cole then hurled rocks that shattered the ice and sent the Stone Warriors crashing to the ground.
Kai dashed toward one of the vehicles, dodging sawblades and slicing it in half with his fire sword.
Jay faced another machine, vaulted over it, and landed behind it to electrify its engines.
Moon closed her eyes, bringing her staff in front of her. When she opened them, the staff was charged with aura. She spun it skillfully, then struck the ground — unleashing a literal wave of aura that swept through the Stone Warriors. At first, it looked like nothing had happened. Cole and Kai almost rushed to her aid — but then the warriors crumbled and turned into ordinary stones.
"She'll definitely be fine," they both said at the same time, then glanced at each other.
"I need more darkness... but where should I strike next? Ninjago City," the Overlord muttered, answering his own question.
He reached for the button, but it didn't work — it needed to recharge. He went to check what was wrong and was shocked by what he found. They had even dropped one of the missiles into the ocean.
"Check personally and make sure the cannon is charged!" the Overlord ordered the Stone General.
The Stone General was promptly humiliated and defeated by Sensei Wu, who accidentally launched him into the cannon. The Overlord didn't hesitate to fire it toward Ninjago.
"Finally! I'll do this myself!" he roared.
Kai managed to take control of one of the enemy vehicles and fired at them, destroying several machines.
Moon fought off multiple Stone Warriors alone, shattering them back into stones. She looked up just in time to see Lloyd preparing to face the Overlord.
(I hope he's ready...) she thought as she punched a Stone Warrior attacking her from behind.
At first, the fight seemed balanced — until Lloyd landed a blow so strong it sent the Overlord flying into the forest. Suddenly, the Overlord began to hover, using bursts of energy from his hands as propulsion.
He lunged toward Lloyd with everything he had. Moon felt her heart spike when she saw Lloyd crash into the ground. The Overlord advanced.
"The battle of good versus evil. I could do this for eternity — but can you? Your friends cannot help you now. You are alone!" the Overlord taunted.
"No!" Lloyd removed his mask. "I'm not! My dad is still inside you — and he's going to fight with me!"
"Lloyd! Be strong!" Lord Garmadon's voice flickered as he struggled for control. "Fool! You cannot defeat me!" the Overlord snarled through him.
Lloyd fired a beam of energy that stunned the Overlord long enough for him to rush forward and land several strikes. Then their powers clashed — a beam struggle of raw elemental force.
"Lloyd..." Lord Garmadon gasped, trying to regain control.
"Dad, fight it!" Lloyd urged.
"You will not... kill..." Lord Garmadon strained painfully.
"Fight, Dad!" Lloyd shouted louder.
"My son...!"
But it wasn't enough.
"Your father... is... DEAD!" the Overlord bellowed triumphantly as he seized control.
"Lloyd!" Moon cried as she saw, in slow motion, the Overlord's power overpowering Lloyd's.
Something inside her snapped awake. Aura burst from her entire body, her eyes glowing brightly. A massive figure of pure aura manifested — a great tiger.
The aura tiger let out a fierce roar and leapt in front of Lloyd, taking the full force of the Overlord's attack and triggering a flash explosion.
"You exist only to get in my way, Master of Aura!" the Overlord growled.
When the light faded, Lloyd was unharmed — the aura tiger had taken the hit.
"Moon?" Lloyd whispered, barely audible.
The tiger's ears were lowered, clearly pained, but a fierce determination returned as it stomped its paw and turned toward the Overlord. It roared, challenging him.
"I don't have time for this!" he snapped, firing another beam.
The tiger didn't dodge. It took the attack head-on and began advancing, step by step, pushing through with sheer will.
"Oh no..." the Overlord muttered as the tiger stood directly before him.
The tiger snarled, baring its fangs, and struck him with its paw, sending him crashing to the side. The Overlord growled as he hit the ground. The tiger circled him, daring him to continue. He stood and met the tiger's gaze.
The tiger paused, growled, and Overlord's eyes flashed as he charged energy in his palms. The tiger leapt — and the Overlord fired, blasting it away.
"No!" everyone shouted together.
The aura tiger's form dissipated — revealing Moon, soot smudged on one cheek, unconscious.
"Finally!" the Overlord hissed, taking advantage of Lloyd's distraction and attacking him.
Lloyd cried out in pain as he was lifted into the air, then hurled toward the ground near Moon. Sensei Wu and Misako rushed to them, terrified.
"You two are such insignificant, irritating pests!" the Overlord roared as he pressed a button and fired a missile toward them.
It seemed all hope was lost — but Zane's father arrived at the last moment, blocking the missile with the Bounty. He escaped just in time before the ship crashed.
"Enough! We've wasted too much time with this torment! We're going to Ninjago City to finish this once and for all!"
A portal opened, leading directly to Ninjago.
They began advancing into the portal.
"If they leave, we won't be able to get out of here! To the vortex!" Kai shouted, sprinting forward.
Nya, corrupted, waved at them.
"Bye bye!" She climbed on top of the vehicle. "Forever!"
"I'm going! I'm going!" Kai even tried to jump to reach her, but it was too late; the portal closed. "NO!" Kai shouted in frustration.
o0o0o
Lloyd slowly opened his eyes and groaned in pain. He saw everyone looking at him worried. Moon was already awake, with some bandages wrapped around her arm and a band-aid on her cheek.
"Did... did I win?" Moon looked away when Lloyd asked that question.
"No. But you're alive," said Sensei Wu.
Lloyd stood up.
"But what about the prophecy?" He nearly fell, but Moon caught him just in time.
"Easy there, kid, you've been through a lot," Jay said, helping Moon lift him up.
"My leg..." Lloyd muttered as he limped toward the shore. "...Did we lose the final battle?"
"What matters is that we didn't lose you," Sensei Wu tried to reassure him, even if only a little.
Lloyd limped over to a piece of wood and saw that it was the Bounty's symbol.
"The symbol of the Bounty. Fate showed us who was stronger today. But fate also wanted us to live to fight another day." Everyone approached Lloyd. "We didn't lose the battle. Today... we only lost a fight..."
The wind blew softly, as if trying to ease the pain of their wounds. Moon glanced at Lloyd for a moment before looking ahead. She could feel the terrible pain in her arm; it felt like she had almost broken it, but it was only dislocated.
She clenched the fist of her uninjured hand tightly. She had been weak and had been controlled—
that would never happen again, she promised.
_TO BE CONTINUED_