Kira's P.O.V.:

We were all in the monastery waiting for the ninja to get back. They had borrowed Skylor's noodle truck to track where Lloyd was on his mission, but they were supposed to back by now. I had a terrible feeling something was wrong.

I was pacing the floor back and forth as I had been for the past four hours. We hadn't even heard from them.

All of a sudden, the video phone came u on the computer. We saw our friends sitting in the noodle truck.

"Pixal, come in." Zane said in the video.

"Zane, is everything ok?" Pixal asked.

"We lost Lloyd's signal four hours ago. We just now got communications back online." He said.

"What happened?" I asked.

"We do not know." Zane frowned.

"He was going so fast through the train tunnel and then he just disappeared." Kai said.

"Four hours is long enough. We're going to look for him on foot." Cole said.

"Wait, I have a better idea." Garmadon said. "I'll go after him myself."

"What?" We all looked at him.

"If Lloyd is taking this long then his mission must have been compromised." Garmadon said. "They'll be looking for me anyway, if I were to pretend to join the council,  I could infiltrate the meeting and escape with Lloyd."

"I don't think that's a good idea." Misako said.

"Doesn't Zane have another cloaking device?" Nya asked.

"Negative, that is the only prototype I made." Zane said.

"That settles it, I'm going." He stood up and looked at the video screen. "Ninja, come back home. I'm going to get Lloyd."

"What? By yourself?" Jay said.

"That's crazy, we only know some of the people on the council, and there's probably a whole lot more." Cole said.

"Not to mention an army of vengestone soldiers." Kai said.

"My power is not affected by vengestone." He said.

"Since he has already been invited to the council, he is the most logical choice for this operation." Zane said.

"Thank you nindroid." Garmadon said to him.

"Lloyd's last known location is the end of the N-line tunnel. We think he found some kind of secret passage down there." Cole said.

"Then that is where I will go." Garmadon said.

"I never thought I'd ever say this, but good luck Garmadon." Kai said.

Lloyd's P.O.V.:

I woke up and I was tied to the floor with vengestone chains. I tried to stand but my head really hurt and my legs felt like noodles. Whatever Mr. F shot me with must've been pretty strong.

"My my, look who's awake." That haunting voice said.

"Harumi. I don't understand. How are you...?"

"Alive? Well you see, that's a funny story." Harumi laughed. "After that building fell on me, your little girlfriend came to my rescue."

"What? You're lying!" I yelled.

"Nope, she came back to the wreckage and found me, healed me, and left me there to wake up alone." She said.

"I don't believe you. Why wouldn't she tell me?"

"Maybe she wants to give me another chance?" Harumi shrugged.

I was trying my hardest to break out of the chains, but Harumi picked up something off the ground. I looked at it and realized it was my medallion I had picked out for Kira.

"Hey don't touch that!" I yelled.

"Ugh, you're not still with her are you?" She rolled her eyes.

"Why do you care if I am? You never had actual feelings for me anyway."

"Ew, definitely not. However, if you bought a medallion for her, it must mean you care for her an awful lot."

"Don't even think about it!" I felt my blood boiling.

"Ooh, there's that darkness again. Just like your father."

"I am nothing like my father!" I yelled.

"Yes you are, look at your hands."

"What?"

I looked at my hands. It was my power, but it was purple. Was this what my dad was talking about when he said I had an Oni form? No, it must be a reaction to being around this much vengestone. That has to be it, right?

I took a few deep breaths and tried my best to calm down.

"Harumi, you have no use for that." I said. "Please give it back to me."

"Fine, whatever." She threw it behind her.

It landed in front of me and I picked it up. Looking at it reminded me how much I missed Kira and how much danger she could be in right now. But it also made me wonder why she would save Harumi and not tell me. Whatever the case, I just hope the others were keeping her safe.

"What? You gonna cry?" Harumi laughed.

I just scowled my eyes at her and put the medallion back in my pocket.

"What's the deal with all this anyway? Why are you doing this?"

"Not long after I woke up, the Crystal King recruited me to help with collecting vengestone and find willing candidates to assist in his upcoming invasion."

"Wait a minute, you were the mysterious vengestone buyer we were trying to track?" I frowned.

"Of course I was you dunce!" She yelled. "Look around Lloyd, it was me who made all of this possible, me who got the council together. How did you not see it?"

"I... I thought you were gone." I frowned.

"Well I'm not." She looked me in the eyes. "You took everything from me, and now I'm going to make you feel the same."

"You don't have to do this." I yelled.

"Now if you excuse me, I'm going to prepare for my next move." Harumi said walking towards the door. "Mr. F will keep an eye on you."

Once Harumi left, I looked into Mr. F's eyes. I knew Echo was still in there somewhere, I just had to help him find himself.

"Echo? Is that you?" I looked at him.

He didn't even flinch. He just stood there looking at me with a blank stare while threatening me with his weapon.

"Come on Echo, it's me, Lloyd. Zane's friend?"

He just blinked at me.

"Come on, you remember Zane. Your brother? He helped you see the good side of things and turn over a new leaf?"

"Br... Brother?" He questioned.

"Yes, your brother. Zane misses you so much, and if you help me get out of here, I can take you to him." I said. "He can help turn you back to normal, I promise."

"Z- Zane?"

He took a second to think and then he started to lower his weapon. He started to unlock the cuffs around my wrists, but then Harumi came back in and he stopped.

"Well well, looks like you have a special visitor Lloyd." Harumi smirked.

"Oh boy, who did you kidnap now?" I rolled my eyes.

"Let's just say he accepted his real invitation."

I turned towards the door and to my surprise, it was my father.

"Dad?" I frowned.

"I'll leave you two to get reacquainted." Harumi said, stepping out of the room. Mr. F followed her.

I couldn't believe he would betray me like this. I was such an idiot to give him a second chance. Why did I think he could ever be trusted?

"Lloyd, before you get mad..."

"I don't want to hear it!" I screamed. "You told me you wanted to change, that you trying to be a better person and I was foolish to believe you."

"If you just let me explain I..."

"Don't say anything to me."

"If you would let finish, I was trying to say I came to rescue you."

"Yeah right. Like I really believe that." I rolled my eyes.

"I'm serious."

"Even if you are telling the truth, which I know you're not, I can't leave until I get Echo back."

"Echo?"

"Zane's brother. Harumi kidnapped him and turned him back into Mr. E, though he goes by Mr. F now." I explained. "I talked to him and he almost agreed to let me go. If I can just get him to listen to me, I know I can help him."

"We can come back for him later, Harumi could come back at any minute."

"I'm not leaving here without Echo." I stated.

"But..."

"Well, you boys are getting along." Harumi walked in.

"I'm not falling for your tricks again Harumi. Now release me before I break out of here and mess up your entire plan."

"Haha, you know me better than that." Harumi laughed. "Come Garmadon, we have much to discuss."

"Coming." He yelled back.

He waited till Harumi and Mr. F left the room and then he walked over to me. He walked behind me and put the vengestone key and a piece of paper in my hands.

"Good luck." He whispered.

He winked and left the room. I looked at the key in my hand. Was this a trick, or was my father actually trying to help me? Maybe this was a test to see if I actually trusted him. I know I shouldn't fall for it, but I had no other choice.

I used the key to unlock the chains and surprisingly they worked. I unfolded the piece of paper and there was a map of the temple with the exit route highlighted. I couldn't tell if it was a trap or not, but even if it was, I couldn't let Harumi go through with her plan, because whatever it was I knew it had to be  something bad. Sure my dad may be evil, but no one deserves that, especially since he helped me escape. Plus I had to save Echo too.

I followed the map to the meeting place. I hid behind a pillar and watched as a meeting took place.

"I was not informed of your plan Harumi." My father said.

"Harumi has a plan to get revenge. Revenge! REVENGE!" Asphera yelled.

"Revenge, revenge, yes we know." Pythor said.

"You six go after the ones in the monastery, I have something special planned for the ninja." Harumi said.

"Who left you in charge?" Vangelis asked.

"Yeah and if this is his council, why haven't we met him yet?" The Mechanic complained.

"The Crystal King will reveal himself in time." Harumi said. "He relays his plans to me. There is a special ritual that can release him from the place where he is trapped."

"Then do it." Vangelis said.

"It requires the golden weapons of spinjitsu." Harumi finished. "Once we have the weapons in our possession, and those pesky ninja are taken care of, the Crystal King will reign once again, and Ninjago will finally find peace in the dark."

All of the council clapped and cheered. My dad even played along with it to keep his cover, at least I hope so.

This was a terrible plan. The balance of light and darkness is what keeps Ninjago afloat. One cannot exist without the other. My dad knows that better than anyone and he knows that if one side wins, all of Ninjago would be destroyed.

After hearing what they were planning, I knew I had to warn my friends. I tried to duck out of there, but unfortunately I tripped and made myself noticed.

"It's the green ninja!" Pythor shouted.

"Get him!" Asphera yelled.

I immediately made a run for the exit, but the council was right on my tail with Mr. F shooting his laser gun at me. I had made it halfway down the hall when his weapon hit me directly in the leg, forcing me to the ground. I tried to get back up, but the pain in my leg was almost unbearable. They backed me into a corner and I looked my dad in the eyes.

"Mr. F, finish him." Harumi ordered.

He aimed his weapon and I braced myself for the worst, but before his weapon fired, my father pushed it forwards so that the shot hit in front of me instead and bounced off the ground, hitting the ceiling.

"What did you do that for?" The Mechanic yelled at him.

"Let him watch his friends be destroyed. That is what you wanted correct?" My father said.

"Ahh yes, give him a front row seat." Harumi said. "Just be sure he's tied up properly this time. We cannot risk him getting in the way."

"It will be done." He vowed.

The others turned around and started walking towards the meeting room. My dad ran over to me and helped me up. I could barely move my leg.

"Are you ok?" He whispered.

"Why would I be ok?" I griped. "My friends are in danger and Harumi is leading them into a trap."

"It was only way to save you, and that is what I came here to do. Why didn't you escape the temple when you had the chance?"

"Because I came here to save Echo, and I won't leave without him. Plus if Harumi gets the weapons and goes through with her plan, there might not be anything left to save. You know that."

"Ugh, you are so stubborn!" My dad rolled my eyes. "Why can't you just trust that I have a plan?"

"You haven't exactly earned back my trust yet."

He tied my hands behind my back and helped me walk. He brought me to a different room and basically threw me into the vengestone cage and hoisted it above a lake of lava.

My leg still hurt really bad and I couldn't move it much. It would have to heal before I made another escape attempt.

"Tell me Garmadon, do you truly pledge your loyalty to the Council of the Crystal King." Harumi asked him.

"Yes I do." He answered.

"Then he will not escape twice. Do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal." My dad replied.

This was all my fault that Dad got in trouble. I should've just escaped when they were occupied and let my dad report back their plan to my friends. However I wasn't sure if he would keep his word on that. Plus I knew Echo better than he did, if anyone could get through to him it was me.

"You'll never get away with this Harumi!" I yelled.

"Oh Lloyd, you just don't get it do you?" Harumi laughed. "The council will do anything I tell them, and they'll take over your little monastery."

"Leave my friends alone!" I yelled. "I'm the one you're angry at, please don't hurt them."

"I'm sorry Lloyd, this is the only way to get what I want." Harumi said.

Harumi turned around at the screen and I saw a bunch of pink dots closing in on 4 yellow ones. She must've hacked into my friends' gps trackers in their suits. Everyone else was looking at the screen, but my father was looking at me.

"Dad, you have to stop her." I begged. "You can't let her do this please."

My dad just sighed and turned around. I knew he was probably just trying not to blow his cover, but I would think my friends lives would be more important, but maybe they weren't to him.

"Watch it and weep Lloyd. Say goodbye to your friends." Harumi laughed.

She was about to press the button, but my dad grabbed her hand.

"Wait, if you do it now, his friends in the monastery will come to their rescue." He said. "Send us to attack the others and steal the weapons to cause a distraction."

"Ok, we will send the council." Harumi agreed. "Go, I'll stay with Lloyd."

They all went out the door and as my dad was exiting, he winked at me. Maybe he actually did have a plan, but because I'm in this position I have no choice but to trust him.