It's the calm before the storm.
____________________________________________________________
*At Steep Wisdom, Wu tells the ninja they need supplies.*
"Shouldn't we be going to Stiix? The longer we wait, the worse it'll get." said Kai.
"We need to stock up." said Wu.
"On what? Magic tea that will make us invincible?" Jay gasps. "Give us special powers? Is it gonna give us four arms?"
"Oh god, please no. Seeing you guys with four arms will only be a mistake." [robotic] said Nova shaking her head not wanting that thought in her head.
"Sadly, no magical tea today. I had to sell the rest of the merchandise along with everything else." said Wu.
"What? You sold your business? But that was for your retirement." said Zane.
"Ah! Hello again, ninja." said Cyrus.
"....Shit." Nova quickly went into the shadows since Cyrus had caught her a few times on his security cams when she was stealing stuff from him, so seeing the person who has been stealing from you in the same room, probably wouldn't be the best thing.
"While we were away, I had Borg use the money from the tea farm to create us something new to balance the scales. They are expensive, you know." said Wu.
"It's been so long, I hardly recognize any of you. Lloyd looks older. I see a ninja. A titanium ninja. Cole is a...a ghost? Huh?" Cyrus laughs nervously. "Jay looks shorter. And, and then there's Kai."
Nova tried to hold in a giggle as she was hiding in the shadows.
"Hey, what do you mean I look shorter? Compared to Delta, I'm at least taller." said Jay.
"I'm sorry, Dr. Borg, but cut to the chase. We don't have much time." said Kai.
"Yes, always the impatient one. Come, let me show you." Cyrus presses a button to bring up their vehicles. "If you want a little muscle with that hustle, I've made Jay a lightning-fast Ghost Taker GT. Front spectral intake, rear incorporeal storage."
"Oh, why did the ghost cross the street? Oh, I don't know, maybe 'cause he saw me coming in that!" Jay jumps in his vehicle and rides it.
"Zane's Ice Mech. Sure it appears to be the same, but I've equipped the underarms with Deepstone particle shooters, allowing you to freeze the competition." said Cyrus.
"Super cool. And I mean quite literally." Zane, too, jumps into his mech.
"Cole, I've made you a Ghost Cycle. Twin carbine blasters, auto-evasive handling. Made entirely of Deepstone, perfectly molded to fit the, uh...bodiless. And I've set all the radio presets to your favorite: soft rock." said Cyrus.
Cole climbs on. "I do love a slow jam." He turns on the radio. "Whoa!"
"And for you, Kai." Cyrus tosses Kai a red headband.
"A headband." said Kai.
"A personal embroidered headband. Thirty-two thread count, easy tie capabilities. I apologize. I lost track of the time building the other vehicles. Eh, same goes for you, Lloyd. To be honest, I wasn't entirely sure you'd be making it back." said Cyrus.
"Hey, I'm just happy to be here. We'll take any help we can get." said Lloyd.
"I hear Morro has opened a bridge between our two realms. It'll take time for the Preeminent to cross." said Cyrus.
"I'm gonna kill him for good the next time I see that creep." [robotic] Nova growled softly from the shadows.
"Delta please try and calm down, I know you are still mad about how he treated you." Lloyd whispered to her, since he had noticed that she didn't want Cyrus to know that she was here.
"Which is why we need Lloyd to use his powers to destroy the Realm Crystal before that happens. If Ninjago is cursed, the other realms are sure to follow." said Wu.
"But they'll be expecting us. And Morro still has the Sword of Sanctuary. Even with all these fancy new vehicles, how are we supposed to get close?" Nya asked.
"Yeah, we're supposed to take on an army of ghosts?" Jay asked.
"Maybe I can lure him out. He said he always wanted to be the Green Ninja." said Lloyd.
"No. He will not leave the Realm Crystal unguarded until his master is freed." said Wu.
"But even with our powers back, he's seen all of our moves." said Cole.
"Then we'll show him something he hasn't: a Water Ninja." said Kai.
"But I've just started my training. I haven't even found my True Potential." said Nya.
"Nya, when our parents passed, you were there for me. Now, I'm here for you." said Kai.
"Oooh boy, just wait until they find out their parents are still alive." Nova thought to herself.
"He's right. She's our greatest weapon." said Cole.
"And as brother sharpens brother, the same should go for a sister." said Zane.
"What am I, leftovers?" Nova thought a little offended.
"Our greatest power isn't what we can throw at him. It's what we have right here. A united team." said Lloyd.
"So, what do you think, Nya? Are you ready to lead them into battle?" asked Wu.
"I'm in. But if they know we're coming straight for them, how about we show them not every path is a straight line?" said Nya.
"Intrigued. Do you have a plan?" said Zane.
"I'll explain on the way." said Nya.
Nova smiled a little from the shadows, before slowly moving outside the building for a bit as she needed some fresh air to calm down.
"Okay I've gotta try and not lose my cool when I see Morro...as much as I don't really like him. I don't wanna lose control of my powers because of it." Nova closed her eyes, taking some slow and deep breaths until she heard movement behind her. "What is it Lloyd?" [robotic] She said already knowing it was him.
"I just wanted to check on you, and see if you were okay." said Lloyd walking over to her with a worried look.
"I'm fine Lloyd.....just have a lot on my mind." [robotic] said Nova, opening her eyes to look at him.
"I'm guessing probably Morro, right? I was able to read some of his thoughts while he had control of my body, and I swear he clearly has a thing for you." said Lloyd.
Nova shivered by the thought of it. "Well I don't and he creeps me out, mostly when he is flirting with me." [robotic] She said.
Lloyd chuckled a little. "Yeah I saw your reaction to that, sorry, but it was kind of funny seeing your reaction. You looked like you were about to shut down with that loading icon on your screen." He teased.
Nova glared at him. "It was not funny." [robotic] She said, crossing her arms.
"It was a little." He chuckled. "But with that aside, are you actually okay? You almost lost complete control of yourself back at the Cloud Kingdom."
It was quiet for a moment before a small sigh escaped from Nova. "I don't know Lloyd, I really don't know...I've been losing my temper a lot more after that." [robotic] She said, rubbing the back of her neck.
"Ohh, well that's not good." said Lloyd looking at her more worried.
Nova gave a small nod. "To be honest...I'm scared of what I'm gonna do when I confront Morro.....I-I don't wanna end up losing control again and hurt someone." [robotic] She said.
Lloyd placed a hand on her shoulder trying to comfort her. "Hey it's gonna be okay, you wouldn't be alone in this and should anything happen, just remember what you told me once. "You are more than the Overlord's shadow." So don't let your fear control you." He told her.
Nova couldn't help but let out a soft giggle. "When did you get so wise, greenie?" [robotic] She asked in a more cheerful tone.
"What do you mean, I've alway been very wise, you just never noticed." said Lloyd in a joking manner.
Nova laughed while gently pushing him away. "Yeah right, you wish you were that wise." [robotic] She teased.
"Hey!" said Lloyd, punching her arm in a friendly manner.
"Thanks Lloyd, you.....you're a good....f-friend." [robotic] said Nova growing a little shy, as she was blushing behind her mask.
Lloyd blushed a little but smiled at her. "Happy to hear you see me as a friend, Del."
"Hey you two! We need to get going so hurry it up!" shouted Kai who had been looking for them.
"Coming!" [robotic] They both shouted and started running.
"Wait, Lloyd. Can I ask you something real quick?" [robotic] Nova asked, placing a hand on his shoulder as they were about to head inside.
"Sure, what do you wanna ask?" Lloyd gave her a confused look.
"You mentioned that you were able to read Morro's thoughts. Did....did you–" [robotic] Nova grew a little nervous as she spoke, only to get cut off mid sentence.
"I wasn't able to read all of it. So if you are worried about me knowing your identity, don't worry. I wasn't able to dig that far." said Lloyd, giving a slight smile.
"So you were digging up that info." [robotic] Nova narrowed her eyes at him.
Lloyd let out a nervous laugh. "Anyway, we should get moving. Don't wanna make the others wait."
*Jumping to later where Kai is dressed as a civilian, passing out food to some ghosts. While Nova is hiding in his shadow.*
"I'm starving. I'm deadly hungry. Give me food. I want burgers. I'm just—so good." said a ghost.
Kai on a communication device. "Anyone have eyes on the Realm Crystal?"
"It appears to be inside what used to be Ronin's pawnshop in the center of town. Morro's there, and it's highly guarded." said Zane.
"Do you think we can get Lloyd in there to destroy it? I don't know if we'll pull Morro away long enough." said Jay.
"Yeah, well, that's the plan. Everyone in position?" said Cole.
"Let's do this." Kai turn to the ghosts "Tea, anyone?"
"Yes, please."
Kai pours it on him. "Uh, oh."
"You fool!" They chase him, allowing "Lloyd" to proceed.
"Hey, move back! Thanks!" The ghosts watch as a crate is being lowered by a crane. "Lloyd" continues.
Nova was able to sneak behind the ghosts and use her gun, shooting water and hitting a few before going back in the shadows.
Zane "accidentally" drops a bucket of water, almost splashing two ghosts. "Oh!"
"Watch it!"
"Sorry. It slipped." said Zane.
"Get ready. It's almost time." said Wu.
*Some ghosts dance to music played with a phonograph. Cole possesses it and speeds up the music, making them dance faster. A Ghost Dragon roars, signaling it spotted "Lloyd."*
"Look what we have here." said Soul Archer.
"The Green Ninja. So rude. Hasn't anyone told you it's not polite to be late to the party?" said Morro.
"Now that we've got him, what do you want us to do with him?" asked Bansha.
"Surely it's not just you. I know your ninja and my little breeze are never far. Come out, come out, wherever you are. I have your beloved Green Ninja. You think you can come into my home and steal the Crystal I rightfully earned? You think I'll just hand it to you, just like the green gi was handed to you? Tell me. Tell all of us that I'm better than you, and I'll let you go. What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?" Morro takes "his" hood off, revealing Nya in the green gi.
"Bruh and he says the ninja talks too much." Nova thought while watching from the shadows and moving to where Lloyd was before losing her temper in any way.
Kai turns to Lloyd, who is disguised as a civilian "Plan to get him away from the Realm Crystal worked. We'll clear a path for you, then you can do the rest."
"Let's do this." said Lloyd.
"Look at that. We're back." said a ghost.
"Let's get them!" said another ghost.
"Yeah."
"Chill out! Hahaha. It feels good to have our powers back. Ice!" said Zane.
Nova watched the others taking down some of the ghosts before she noticed the three ghosts of those guys she ran into a while back.
"Time to take care of what I left off." Nova moved through the shadows until she got to the ghosts and came out holding her gun.
"Guys look it's that little bitch that killed us!" said the big one pointing at her.
".....I....what?" [robotic] said Nova, very confused but still kept her gun aimed at them as she shot water at one of them taking down at least one.
"Don't play dumb with us, don't think we would forget about you killing us in that back alley. Just because you wouldn't give us the things you stole!" said the other ghost guy as they tried to attack her.
Nova quickly went back to the shadows before they got any hit on her. "What are you talking about? I've never killed anyone in my life!" [robotic] She said taking another shot at them from the shadows but missed.
"We wouldn't be like this, if you hadn't killed us with that stupid dust or whatever power of yours!" said the big ghost guy.
"....." Nova froze inside the shadows as faint memories slowly came back to her mind on what happened that day. ".....I-I've k-k-killed.....I killed someone, t-three people....b-but Ronin said t-that....and....and I....I....." she started breathing heavily in the shadows, not able to take in this news.
Nova looked around, summoning a shadow clone before giving it her gun. Letting it handle this since she couldn't do it at the moment. The clone took the gun and quickly went on to take care of those ghosts before then going back to the shadows.
"Keep going, Lloyd. You're almost there." said Wu.
Nova quickly snapped out of it by hearing Wu's voice. "I can worry about this later, right now I need to help Lloyd."
"Ice!" Zane freezes Bansha, but she breaks free.
"My Ice can't stop them." said Zane.
"I'm coming to help." Ghoultar jumps over Cole. "Hey!" He trips on his chain.
Nya grunts. "He's too strong. I can't keep this going."
"You have to, Nya. You can do it." Kai ziplines with his headband to escape Soul Archer's arrow. "Ha! Thirty-two thread count."
Ghoultar's scythe gets stuck on Jay's vehicle. "You monster." The Ghosts are released. "Ugh!"
"Is that all? Is that all you've got?" said Morro.
"Hey! Looks like this is just between us." said Lloyd.
"Don't forget about me." [robotic] said Nova coming out of the shadows, glaring daggers at Morro.
"The green gi belongs to me now." Morro laughs. "You think I'm gonna make this easy? Let's see how good you are. And after this I'm taking back my breeze" The three commence the battle.
"Call me that again motherfucker, I FUCKING DARE YOU!!" [robotic] shouted Nova as Morro jumped back and forth between fighting Lloyd and Nova at the same time.
"Stay strong, Lloyd and Delta." said Nya.
"I'm stronger, Lloyd. I always have been. And I've been inside your head. I know what you're afraid of. You could never do it alone, could you? Weak. You need others, but I, I need no one." said Morro.
"Would you shut up already, seriously you talk more than the ninja! But at least they aren't this annoying!" [robotic] said Nova as she went for the attack with her darkness, but hesitated a bit as the image of her future evil oni self came to mind.
But that short moment was enough time for Morro to knock her off guard and down on the floor. "How about you take a break my breeze, you look like you need it."
Nova snapped out of her thoughts and started growling at him as a dark purple glow started surrounding her. "This is why you'll never be the Green Ninja." [robotic] She said in a cold and eerie tone.
At this Morro actually looked at her pissed off and went to punch her, but Lloyd was able to block it for her and knock him away, as to keep his attention on him instead.
"The Preeminent is about to arrive. Lloyd's running out of time." said Wu.
"What are you waiting for, Lloyd? An invitation? If you want the Realm Crystal, earn it." said Morro.
"I did learn a thing or two with you in my head." Lloyd uses Airjitzu to get closer to Morro, but he uses his wind to push him off. "Whoa!"
"Lloyd!"
"Watch your step. The fall can be a doozy." Morro uses his wind to push away a platform Lloyd's going to land on, making him fall. "What's wrong, too hard for ya? This is the end of the line, Lloyd. I'll miss you."
"Better late than never. I saved a lot for this moment." Ronin pours his savings onto Morro. "Where's Morro? He's gone."
*Lloyd is about to destroy the Realm Crystal. While Nova was staying close.*
"Stop! Please, don't." said Morro.
"This isn't your world anymore, Morro. You had your chance. The Realm Crystal must be destroyed. The First Spinjitzu Master never wanted us to have it." said Lloyd.
"Lloyd's right, the only choice now is to destroy it." [robotic] Nova said a bit more calmly but still very pissed off.
"But, b-but if you destroy it, you destroy any chance of ever saving your father." said Morro.
"There they are." said Kai.
"Lloyd, Delta, get out of there." said Nya.
".....And Nova?" Lloyd asked, a little hesitant.
"Yes. Yes, I've seen him and her. They are waiting for you..." said Morro.
"No Lloyd, don't believe in what he is saying, he is clearly lying." [robotic] said Nova glaring at Morro.
"Windows are blocked." said Kai.
"...locked up in the Cursed Realm. Destroy the Crystal and, and the gateway will forever be wiped out." said Morro.
"Use your Spinjitzu!" said Kai.
"You'll never get a chance to see your beloved daddy again. Let alone your old friend." said Morro.
Nova was glaring eerie daggers at Morro as her temper was rising.
"Lloyd, get out!" said Zane.
"Uh...you've...you've seen them?" said Lloyd.
" Lloyd!"
"No. He'd do everything to save Ninjago along with Nova, and you would do everything to destroy it. The Realm Crystal must be destroy—" The Preeminent restrains Lloyd.
"Lloyd!"
Nova was able to avoid it but the dark purple glow around her was growing.
"What is that?! It's taking him! No!" shouted Nya.
"Oh, no!"
"The gateway is complete." said Morro.
"No!"
"Lloyd!"
"No! It must be destroyed!" The Preeminent grabs the Crystal. "No!"
"What now?!" shouted Nya.
"This isn't good." said Kai.
Morro laughs. "You have it wrong. Ninjago must be destroyed. Say hello to your father and friend for me."
*The Preeminent pulls Lloyd into the Cursed Realm, seemingly defeating him.*
"NOOOO!!!!"
*Nya screams.*
"Now my little breeze how about—" said Morro but stopped when he noticed the chilling feeling coming from her.
"You went too far Morro, going to the point of lying about Lloyd's friend being in the Cursed Realm with his father." [robotic] said Nova as more of her hair was turning purple while the tips of it were now turning black, along with her horns growing ever so slowly longer.
Morro took a few steps away from her, a little scared. "W-what do you mean that I lied about that, you wouldn't know that...unless you are—" he wasn't able to finish his sentence as he got punched in the face by a fist.
"You got that right motherfucker, and now I'm gonna make you wish that you stayed d̶̝́e̵̹͇͉͈̫̋ȧ̴͔̮̂͋d̶̢͉̀͂̂ͅ" [r̷̛̛̺̆̽͂ô̸͔̭͓b̷̭̂̒̿ò̵̧̘̰̜͖t̸͇͈̗̹̥̣͒͋̎̂͝į̸̭̩̻̾̏̿c̴̮̱̉̔̌͊̂] Nova growled, rushed towards him and started attacking him like crazy. Using every ability she knew, even on the ghosts that went on to try and help him.