"Now that you're blindfolded, you'll have to rely only on your ears!" Cole said to Lloyd, who was wearing a blindfold.
They were in the middle of training.
"Or use the other one," Moon added she had chosen to blindfold herself as well.
Of course, Lloyd wouldn't master the technique of seeing through aura on the first try it, was an advanced skill, but she knew he learned fast. The ninjas readied their weapons and slowly approached Lloyd.
"Hey, guys," Dareth said as he arrived, "I have to teach another class later, so please leave the dojo nice and tidy."
And with that, they charged — at least the boys did. Lloyd jumped and kicked the air, managing to disarm Zane. Then he caught Cole's scythe and blocked Kai's sword with it. Using the scythe as leverage, Lloyd spun and kicked the ninjas away, sending each of them flying in different directions. Cole, unfortunately, fell right on top of Dareth. Shaking his head, Cole ran toward Lloyd and lunged at him, but Lloyd quickly sidestepped.
At one point, Jay got launched outside because Dareth, desperate to avoid any more dojo destruction, opened a window — and that was that.
Lloyd smirked as he gathered energy in his fists, forming a kind of green flame. Moon took that as her cue to join the fight. Her own fists lit up with concentrated aura, forming a bluish flame.
She and Lloyd fought evenly.
Meanwhile... on the Bounty. Sensei Wu pulled a photograph from inside his hat — an old picture of four people: Misako, Garmadon, Sensei Wu, and Moon. Misako and Wu were younger, Moon was just a child, and Garmadon hadn't completely fallen to evil yet.
Misako approached quietly.
"I'd forgotten how pale Garmadon was before completing his change to evil," she said, almost giving the old sensei a heart attack with that comment "And how Moon used to smile at everything."
"Uh, Misako. Once again, you've breached my defenses," Sensei Wu said, calming himself and putting the photo away.
"I miss that little girl. I think she was around Lloyd's age in that picture," Misako said, picking up something she had brought. "Here—my latest research on the prophecy of the Green Ninja. I thought we could look through it together."
The lid came off, spilling several scrolls onto the floor.
"Goodness... That's a lot. This'll take days," Wu said, picking up a scroll to examine it.
He fixed his hat — the photo had slipped out earlier — and walked forward to check the scroll later.
"I should've chosen you," Misako said suddenly.
"The past is the past," Sensei Wu replied.
"True... but there's always a future," she said, taking his hands.
For a brief moment, they stared at each other with pure affection — until a tremor shook the room, breaking the moment.
"The sky is shifting... and I fear this isn't natural," Wu said, leaving the room and Misako behind.
o0o0o
The ninjas, Sensei Wu, and Misako watched the news. Moon was still fascinated by the technology.
(How did they fit tiny people inside that box?) she wondered innocently.
To summarize the broadcast: the reporter discussed an earthquake shaking Ninjago and the mystery behind it as scientists tried to determine the cause... and she only made things worse by adding that the tremors were getting stronger.
"What do you think it is?" Cole asked.
"Feels like Garmadon stuff. Haven't seen him in a while," Kai said.
"I could try aura scanning, but if it's too deep underground or if the tremors keep interfering, I won't pick up anything..." Moon crossed her arms, worried.
"No way. Garmadon is evil, but he'd never do something that puts his own son at risk," Misako explained.
"Misako is right. He only tried to stop his son from training. This is something else," Wu agreed.
"Then what is it?!" Jay demanded.
Zane whistled, and his falcon landed on his shoulder.
"My friend, be my eyes. Search the streets from above," Zane said, carrying him to the window.
They watched the falcon fly off to patrol.
o0o0o
Huge fissures opened across the city, causing small collapses. Ninjago City was in total chaos.
A puppy had been separated from its owner and was terrified. The owner spotted it and tried to reach it, but tripped — and the fissure collapsed. The dog barked frantically, calling for help. Moon arrived first, leaping down without fear and landing lightly.
"Ninja rescue!"
The others formed a human chain, but it wasn't long enough.
Moon supported the woman from below so she could reach Lloyd's hand, and they pulled her up. Once she was safe, Moon climbed up easily — not even using her hands, only aura-propelled steps.
"Thank you," the woman said, breathing hard.
"That was nothing," Lloyd said.
"Yeah, nothing. I did all the work—" Cole began, but the puppy jumped over him to reach its owner. "Ow—why does this stuff always happen to me?!"
"That was awesome," Lloyd said to Moon. "You gotta teach me that... someday."
Moon nodded — but it wasn't the time to teach him something as advanced as Aura Boost yet.
"The warning—" Misako interrupted Kai.
"Yes! The warning!" Misako said, holding a scroll. "The scrolls said the earthquakes were a warning — a warning for something much worse."
"WHAT?! Worse? What's worse?!" Jay yelled.
"Tell me something. The Stone Warrior we fought yesterday — the one who's, well, not indestructible if you use aura — where exactly did you find him?" Cole asked, as if an idea struck him.
"I dug him up from beneath the city," Moon explained.
Everything clicked.
"So that means... there are more," Moon said calmly.
"How can you say that so calmly?!" Jay shouted.
"And they're probably right under the city..." Moon added. (Is it the whole army? Just some? I need to get stronger.)
"Everyone, stay alert. We must be ready for whatever comes," Sensei Wu warned.
o0o0o
Moon felt a shiver crawl up her spine — like she'd heard a scream.
(Strange...)
"Sensei!" Zane said anxiously. "It's what we feared. Another Stone Samurai Warrior is loose in the streets!"
Suddenly, the ground beneath them shook and a hand burst out from below.
Then several more hands.
The ninjas stared in disbelief.
"We're under attack!" Sensei Wu grabbed his bamboo staff and shielded Misako.
Chaos ravaged the city. Stone Warriors were destroying everything and terrifying civilians; some people were even getting hurt as they ran.
Moon spotted a Stone Warrior grabbing the reporter and preparing to fling her into the air. Moon arrived just in time, kicking the creature away and catching the reporter in her arms.
"You should find somewhere safe," Moon said firmly.
"Thanks, Ninja," the reporter said with a shaky smile.
The Stone Warriors let out their war cries as they charged again.
Moon set the reporter down and drew her staff.
"Don't show fear! Stand your ground!" Cole encouraged.
Suddenly, a vehicle rammed through the warriors. Lloyd, Misako, and Sensei Wu were inside.
"We must protect the people! Gather as many as you can and take them to the evacuation point!" Wu ordered.
"I'm having trouble finding a safe landing zone!" Nya said over the communicator.
The reporter approached with a solution.
"Sensei, the NJTV building has a helipad."
"It does! A high place. Lloyd, tell Nya to head there."
Lloyd nodded.
"Citizens of Ninjago who need evacuation, head to the top of the NJTV building! The ninjas will evacuate you from there — but hurry! Time is running out!" the reporter announced on TV.
"And you—avoid trouble," Misako told Wu, smiling at him.
"That may not be possible..." he replied, as multiple Stone Warriors charged toward them.
"Oh boy..." Lloyd muttered.
Then the Ultra-Dragon swooped in, stomping all the Warriors flat. The Mega-Dragon blasted a group with aura breath, sending them crashing into the ground. The Ultra-Dragon joined it in the sky.
"Sprint!" Moon grinned, spotting her dragon companion.
But the Warriors quickly recovered and advanced again, even as the Ultra-Dragon growled at them.
"Lloyd, did you train the basics for earthquakes?" Sensei Wu asked.
"Why train? They just... happen for me," he said smugly, flipping off the vehicle and landing dramatically in front of the dragon.
When he hit the ground, the earth rose, forming a barrier. The ninjas entered the vehicle (with Cole and Kai running beside it due to lack of space).
"Thanks, guys. Now help Nya while I clear a path!" Lloyd said, flipping backward onto the vehicle.
The Ultra-Dragon froze the Warriors, creating a ramp for them.
"Perfect! Now go! Save yourselves!" Lloyd said to the dragons.
The Ultra-Dragon roared farewell and called the Mega-Dragon to follow. Sprint snorted before leaving with them.
o0o0o
The ninjas reached NJTV, where many civilians were rushing inside.
"Let's block the doors!" Cole said as they stacked whatever they could.
"Up the stairs!" Zane said.
Moon grew tense from the overwhelming panic in the auras around her — and honestly, just from being around so many people.
"The stairs? It's twenty floors! The elevator's easier," Dareth protested.
"Dareth, we don't have time, and the elevator is literally the worst idea right now. Take the stairs," Moon said bluntly.
"I'll take my chances—"
The elevator dinged. A Stone Warrior was inside.
"KYAA!" Dareth screamed.
"Go. NOW." Moon shoved him and kicked the Warrior back inside.
She slammed the doors shut, infused aura into her arms, and bent the metal enough to jam the elevator permanently.
"Okay! Stairs it is!" Dareth gulped and ran.
Moon chose to take the rear.
"Let me be the last one," Kai insisted, not wanting her exposed from behind.
"Look, sorry for being rude, but it'd be worse if you stayed behind. I can sense attacks from behind," she said, rolling her eyes.
Kai was stunned — he'd never seen her so sharp with him before.
But... he kind of liked it.
"We need to buy time!" Cole said when they reached the top floor.
"Ninja—GO!" they shouted, using Spinjitzu to blast Warriors back.
After pushing several down the stairs, Lloyd arrived and used his energy to blind them before using Spinjitzu to knock more over the railing. He and Jay shoved them off.
"Oh! They're not so tough!" Lloyd said — until the Warriors got back up.
"Okay! They ARE tough!"
The ninjas hurried up as the Warriors followed.
"Move! They're right behind us!" Lloyd yelled as the Bounty arrived.
Civilians were so desperate they were shoving and trampling each other. Sensei Wu got separated from Misako.
"My research!" Misako suddenly realized.
Moon stood in front of her.
"What exactly do you think you're doing?!" Moon asked, blocking her path.
"Mom, no! It's too dangerous to go back!" Lloyd protested.
"It's too important to leave behind," Misako said, holding Lloyd's cheeks and kissing his forehead.
"Misako." Moon grabbed her arm. "Go with them. I'll retrieve it."
"It's my research — my responsibility," Misako argued.
"I'll handle it. You have another responsibility now," Moon said, glancing at Lloyd.
Misako followed Moon's gaze and finally relented.
Moon went back inside and spotted the research: a single scroll. She glanced to the side — a Stone Warrior. She reacted instantly, kicking it with aura force, sending it tumbling down and knocking its companions over.
Moon jumped and grabbed the wires holding the ceiling lights. She swung toward the scroll, snatching it with ease — but Warriors began surrounding her, slashing upward. Moon swung out of reach and climbed.
One Warrior let out a guttural yell as it climbed the stairs.
Moon reached the next floor, swung onto the platform, and landed — surrounded. She placed the scroll on her back and spun her staff.
Too many to defeat — she knew it.
"You want me? Come get me!" she shouted boldly.
One charged, clashing its sword against her staff. Moon held her ground but knew brute force wouldn't work. She shifted her arms up, making the Warrior throw its sword upward. She jumped and kicked its torso — or what counted as a torso — sending it crashing into the others.
She had no escape left. She didn't have the power to destroy them all.
But then — someone arrived.
Sensei Wu.
"This brings back memories," Moon said, her back to his.
"Ah yes. Old memories," Wu replied, also back-to-back.
"Well, you weren't this old before," Moon said, blocking a strike.
"And you were much younger," Wu said, using Spinjitzu.
They dashed to another part of the building, fleeing the Warriors.
"Do you trust me?" Moon asked, eyeing the window.
"Of course. I know you, Moon. You always have a plan," Wu said confidently.
"Good. Because we're jumping," she said, grabbing him by the shoulder.
"Uh—what?!"
Moon dragged them both out the window.
The Warriors missed their strike as the two landed on the Bounty. Wu sighed in relief while Moon dusted herself off. He adjusted his hat — but a photo slipped out and blew away.
"Moon!" Lloyd hugged her tightly, catching her off guard. "I was so worried. Are you okay?"
"You know me. I'm always fine," she said, handing the scroll to Misako.
Misako stood beside Wu, who looked strangely sad. Moon glanced back at the building as people were evacuated. She frowned. Her senses told her one thing: A big battle was coming. And maybe... a loss.
_TO BE CONTINUED_