"Hahaha! Got you again, Sensei!" – A younger version of Moon laughed proudly.
"Ah! Caught by the great Aura Master! Moon!" – The so-called sensei struck a dramatic pose before "dying."
"Haha! Sensei!" – She opened her eyes and called him – "Sensei?" – She began to poke him – "Sensei! That's not funny! Sensei!"
She poked him harder and faster. Suddenly, Sensei jumped and screamed, making her scream and punch him in the face. This time, Sensei genuinely groaned in pain.
"Ah! Don't scare me like that!" – The little girl frowned angrily.
"Ow, ow, ow! You got me this time," – Sensei gave a small smile while holding his sore cheek.
"Don't scare me like that again, Sensei Aaron!"
While the scene unfolded, an older, current version of Moon watched in silence. Her gaze was lifeless, even in such a happy memory.
All she could feel was emptiness.
"Tsk."
Moon opened her eyes. She stared at the ceiling.
"That's why..." – She got up – "... I hate sleeping... Damn memories."
She was wearing a hoodie with a fire theme – guess whose? Exactly, the Red Ninja and Master of Fire: Kai. Why was she wearing it? Simple. All her clean clothes were drying, and only Kai's clothes fit her well.
The ninja reluctantly lent it to her.
She left the room after her brief nap to take a walk.
(Wu's aura is very agitated... Did something happen?) – Just to be safe, she went to check on him.
As she was about to knock, she stopped.
(Why am I worrying? I don't care about him.) – She glanced at the door and hesitated – (I need to find Lloyd now.)
She was going to follow his aura, but Cole's strange, agitated aura drew more of her attention. Without noticing, she went to check what was going on.
"Cole?" – Moon's voice got his attention.
"H-Hey," – He was holding back vomit – "N-No... I-I'm fine..."
Moon winced at the sounds he made. His face was completely green.
"That sound is too disgusting... Come here," – She ordered in a tone that left no choice.
Cole approached, dizzy and nauseous. Moon placed her hands on his stomach, leaving him confused and a bit flustered.
"What are you... Uh" – He put his hand over his mouth.
"Stay still," – She said as she emitted aura from her palms.
The aura transferred to Cole, and he started to feel much better – he wasn't green anymore. Seeing everything was fine, Moon pulled her hands back and turned to leave.
"Hey! Thanks! That was amazing," – Cole extended his hand toward her – "I didn't know aura could do that."
"There's a lot you don't know about the world," – That was all she said before walking away.
o0o0o
Moon had heard Nya say they had arrived at the Flaming Mountain to destroy the Fang Blades, but she wasn't there for that – she was looking for Lloyd. Suddenly, the ship tilted, and Moon had to grab the wall to avoid falling.
"What's going on?!" – She looked around and ran to find Lloyd.
When she opened the door, she saw Lloyd tied up and with tape over his mouth.
"Lloyd!" – Moon ran to him, gently removed the tape, and untied him – "What happened here?!"
"It was Pythor! He snuck in!" – Lloyd warned as he pressed a button.
"I need to go now. Stay here – it's safer." – Moon rushed off.
"Wait for me!" – Lloyd's voice echoed faintly in the distance.
o0o0o
Just as Pythor was about to escape, Moon appeared with her Golden Staff and stopped him.
"Ugh. Purple Ninja," – He hissed – "Long time no see... Unfortunately, I have no time for tea," – he mocked, sticking out his tongue.
"Neither do I, shoe-face," – Moon wasn't sure where that insult came from.
"Shoe-face?!" – But at least Pythor was very offended.
Pythor slithered away, but Lloyd got in his path.
"Stop right now!" – Lloyd ordered, pointing his staff.
"Lloyd! Be careful," – Moon warned as Pythor growled.
"This is so cliché," – He complained.
"Cliché?" – Lloyd blinked, confused.
"Kids don't get it," – He shook his head.
"Hey! I'm grown up!" – Lloyd said as he put on his mask and rushed at Pythor.
"Weak force, no foundation, poor footwork..." – Pythor dodged everything easily – "You think you can defeat me?!"
"I'm not trying to beat you. I'm just stalling you long enough for backup!" – Lloyd grinned as Pythor flinched upon seeing the Samurai.
Lloyd managed to land a kick on Pythor's face.
"Did you see that?! I hit shoe-face!" – Lloyd said proudly.
"Yeah, we saw," – Moon gave a small smile as she gripped her staff.
She stood beside Lloyd now. Pythor trembled in fear and dodged the Samurai's claws.
"I'd love to play with your toys, but I've got better things to do," – He dodged Moon's attacks too.
Pythor jumped off the ship. He then caught a ride on a snake helicopter.
"See ya, losers," – He waved.
Moon furrowed her brows.
"I'll change in two seconds," – She ran off to put on her ninja suit.
Fighting in casual clothes would be difficult. Her ninja suit offered more defense, resistance, and flexibility.
Nya rescued the ninjas and Sensei Wu, who had nearly fallen into the lava of the volcano.
"If Pythor takes the Fang Blades to Ouroboros City, he'll awaken the Great Devourer!" – Sensei Wu exclaimed.
"But we won't let that happen," – Nya said determinedly.
Moon tracked his aura to get a more precise location. A suitcase was thrown in front of Wu.
"I'm going too!" – Lloyd exclaimed.
"Like heck you are," – Moon interrupted him.
"Yeah, what she said. You have to stay here and take care of everything," – Kai said.
"Did you see the kick I gave shoe-face? I'm awesome! I kick butts and faces!" – Little Lloyd was getting cocky.
"Patience, boy. You're too important now that you're the Green Ninja," – Kai said seriously.
"Patience, huh? The student has become the master," – Sensei Wu said proudly.
"What do you say we go hunting?" – Jay suggested.
"My favorite game!" – Cole exclaimed, grabbing his weapon.
"Do you guys always turn everything into a competition?" – Moon raised an eyebrow.
"It's more fun that way. And why not?" – Jay exclaimed.
"Because I'm going to win. Ninja Go!" – She did her Spinjitzu and took off.
"Did she really just say that, or am I hallucinating?" – Kai asked, blinking.
"No. She really said that," – Zane replied.
They activated their vehicles to begin the chase. It was complicated, especially dodging gunfire and snakes sent to interfere.
Eventually, Moon managed to break into the snake vehicle.
"Don't dare get in my way," – Moon said, attacking them with aura-charged palms.
She looked to the side and saw Kai hanging on.
"Don't look at me like that! You'd do the same in my place!" – His voice was muffled, but still audible.
They caused enough chaos that the snake train lost a few cars – only one more to reach the end.
"Great! Just one more car! Pythor's there with all four Fang Blades! Who goes first?" – Kai asked, just as a white blur passed him – "Sensei Wu?"
Moon's eyes widened. The scene was so familiar it made her nauseous.
"Sensei Aaron!" – Moon shouted for her sensei before getting trapped in Wu's staff.
Wu was doing exactly what Aaron had done, though the situations were different... and for different reasons. Aaron had faked it – Wu was truly going alone.
"My destiny is to face Pythor alone. Yours is to protect Lloyd," – Wu said, pointing at them.
"He's making a habit of this! How do we get out?!" – Kai asked.
Suddenly, Moon jumped from the car, surprising the ninjas since even slowing down, it was still at high speed.
"Moon!"
"What are you doing?!"
They were even more shocked to see her run effortlessly. Her shoe soles were slightly damaged, but she didn't care and kept going toward the final car.
Her arms were behind her back as she ran – she kept pace incredibly well. The others just wondered if she was even human.
"No, Moon," – Wu pleaded as she kept following.
"If I let you... you'll leave me just like he did!" – She said angrily.
"Stop! I don't want to put you in danger!" – Wu pleaded.
He didn't know how to stop her, but realized she seemed more tired, distracted – lost in her memories.
"Wu! Garmadon! This isn't funny!" – Little Moon said angrily to the brothers, both much older than her.
Wu didn't know what to say and scratched his head.
"Quit whining, crybaby," – Garmadon rolled his eyes.
Aaron and another unknown man watched while sipping tea.
"The kids seem to get along, old friend. Sometimes I envy that you get to have your own children!" – Aaron smiled – "But now I have my precious student! I couldn't ask for a better child than her!" – He laughed joyfully.
The other man silently shared in his friend's happiness.
Moon tripped, lost in the memory. She rolled along the asphalt, punching the ground in frustration as the snake vehicle moved out of reach.
She felt a sharp pain in her feet from that monstrous sprint.
The ninjas quickly picked her up and kept traveling to Ouroboros.
"Are you okay?!" – Nya asked, very worried.
"Are you crazy or what?! You could've died!" – Kai scolded her.
Everyone was worried and upset at her actions. Moon didn't even look at them – she only thought:
"I don't regret what I did, and I'm not apologizing," – That surprised them – "I just didn't want to feel that again. You wouldn't understand." – She turned away and waited to reach Ouroboros.
The ninjas were confused but saved their questions for later. First, they had a world – and a sensei – to save.
o0o0o
Upon arriving at Ouroboros City... it was too late.
The Great Devourer had been freed from its prison in the ground.
The Great Devourer rose from the earth with a storm brewing at its arrival – the scene could make even a snake's hairs – or rather, scales – stand on end.
The Great Devourer looked at Wu and Pythor and then...
...struck.