Lloyd's P.O.V.:

What was left of our now tiny resistance were hiding out in what used to be Mistaké's old tea shop before she moved it. It was basically abandoned so it was perfect to hide out in. I just wish we didn't have to. We can't save anyone if we're just hiding, but for now it was all we could do.

Thanks to Kira, my ankle was feeling better. It still hurt a little, but at least I could walk now. My head was still pounding so Kira was trying her best to heal it. I could tell she was getting tired.

"There." Kira finished healing me. She looked so tired. "How's that?"

"That feels better now, thank you." I told her. "Are you ok?"

"Y-yes I'm fine. Don't worry about me." She assured me, although I didn't believe her.

I pulled out the chair next to me and Kira set down catching her breath. Mistaké made us both some healing tea to help with my concussion and to help Kira.

Nya ran through the door into the shop. "It's chaos out there, but we're safe for now."

"Ok, we've all had our fill." I said. "Now are you going to tell us how you turned into a rat?"

"Yeah, I was wondering that too." Seliel said.

Mistaké took a long sip of her tea and then answered my question.

"A rat is easy, how about this?" She turned her face to look like Master Wu, shocking everyone. "Not to shabby for an old woman."

She turned her face back to normal and laughed. I had a lot of questions.

"You're an Oni!" I realized.

"But we were told Oni were dangerous, all they wanna do is destroy." Dareth said.

"We are. You don't want me on your bad side." She scowled.

"How did you get here?" Nya asked. "When...?"

"During the time of legend." I told them. "When she crossed over in pursuit of the first Spinjitsu Master when he fled the realm of Oni and dragon."

"You listen well Master Garmadon." Mistaké said to me. "Since your grandfather was born of both worlds, our mission was to follow him into the realm and turn him to our side, or destroy him. But he wouldn't turn, and I fell in love with the world he created. My fellow Oni wanted to complete their mission, but I turned on them, and I have been helping the First Spinjitsu Master ever since. Didn't you ever wondered why Wu and Garmadon have lived so long? It is our Oni blood."

"How have you kept it secret for so long?" Skylor asked.

"Transformation is a powerful ability." She answered.

"But if I'm part Oni, why can't I do that?" I wondered.

"Transform? You've been doing it all your life." She said. "From a bratty child to the destined green ninja, and now to the great leader of the resistance. But to defeat your father, you must transform again."

"Into what?" I asked.

"There is but one final step for you young master. Have faith, you will figure it out." She said.

'Have faith? What did she mean by that?' I thought to myself.

"Well I for one am tired of just sitting around in the shadows." Seliel stood up. "We need to start fighting back!"

"You have a determined spirit young phantom." Mistaké said. "But good things come to those who are patient."

"No, Seliel's right. We've been patient long enough." I said. "It's time we put a plan into action."

Outside we heard the sound of motorcycles approaching. We sent Dareth to check it out and he came back with bad news.

"They're here, and they brought Harumi." He warned.

"We need to leave." Nya said.

"I'll pack our things." Skylor headed for the other room.

"No!" I said, standing up the best I could. "No more running. It's time to change things up."

"And what were you thinking?" Mistaké smiled.

Narrator's P.O.V.

Harumi was picking on some townfolk and someone who looked a lot like the green ninja got her attention. He was standing on top of a building. He used the clothes lines to get to the other side of the bridge and started running.

"Don't let him get away!" Harumi screamed.

He was being chased by Harumi and the rest of the SOG. He tried throwing a few things, but they backfired and he started jumping on the boats in the canal to get away. He was followed by the SOG, but with a little help from Nya, Skylor and Seliel he was able to lose most of them.

By the time the time the last two guards made it to where he stopped, all they found was a rat, and it turned out the green ninja was Mistaké all along.

"Were you expecting someone else?" Mistaké laughed.

Skylor appeared and took care of the guards. All that was left was Harumi. A man in a straw hat spotted her as she walked along the path alone. This was their chance.

"Those who cannot change cannot change anything." The revealed his face.

"Lloyd?" Harumi questioned. "You speak of change yet look what you've become, nothing but a beggar in rags."

"You took my friends from me, so I took yours." Lloyd smirked.

Harumi found herself surrounded by Lloyd's small resistance. There was no escape.

"Who's the beggar now?" Nya taunted.

Lloyd smiled, knowing he had won.

Meanwhile in the first realm...

Zane's P.O.V.

Little Wu had led me and my brother to the crash site of the bounty where we followed some tire tracks to a small camp like village. As far as I could tell, this was the only civilization around for miles, and possibly the only civilization in the whole realm. They had to be taken here.

"Why are we here again?" My brother asked.

"Because this is where they took our friends." Wu told us.

"They aren't my friends." My brother scowled.

"Maybe not, but maybe I can find the tools I need to repair you inside." I told him.

"I told you I do not need repairs." He said.

"I disagree." I said, referring to the rather large cut in his chest.

"You guys fight more than me and my brother, and that's saying a lot." Wu said.

"If we want to get in there we'll need disguises." I told them.

I activated my cloaking device and changed my attire to look like those I have seen walking around the camp. Wu splashed some mud on his face and made it look like he belonged there. Unfortunately, my brother was not in any condition to sneak into the camp and he did not have a cloaking device of his own. Not as advanced as he says he is.

We found him a place to hide right outside the camp and told him to wait there until Wu and I got back. He, of course, was not happy about it, but with his injury we did not have a choice.

Once we were inside we found Kai, Jay and Cole trapped in a cage. We snuck up to them.

"Zane!" They all quietly shouted.

"Shhh!" I shushed them. "We're undercover."

"Zane you have to be careful." Kai warned. "Mr. E is here too, and he..."

"It's ok, we know." I told them. "He is damaged. He had to come with us so I can get him repaired."

"What?!" They all shouted.

"Um Do you not remember when he pushed you off you off a cliff?" Jay freaked.

"Relax, I know what I'm doing." I said.

"I hope you have a plan to get us out of here." Kai frowned.

"It's in the early stages." I smiled.

"He doesn't have a plan." Wu said. I sighed.

"Wait, what about Firstborne?" Cole realized.

"The drawing on the cave said she was the mother of all dragons." I told them. "But she has rarely been seen."

"Whoever she is, it sounds like her and Iron Barron have a history, and not a good one." Kai said.

"We're only combined by the walls we build ourselves." Jay said to himself.

"Yep, sounds crazy." With said.

"Those were your words!" Jay yelled.

We all shushed him as one of the locals walked by. He almost blew our cover.

"What are you getting at?" Kai whispered.

"If we can't wait for the mother of all dragons, we build it." Jay continued.

"Ugh, now I know you've lost it." Kai groaned.

"Jay might be onto something." I said. "If we trick Iron Barron into thinking he's under attack, then that would create a large enough distraction to break you out."

"If Jay can draw up a plans for it, we can collect the parts and you can build it away from camp." Cole suggested.

"If we work fast we can get it flying by nightfall." I said. "Oh try to get us some tools while you're at it, my brother still needs extensive repairs."

"Just be careful around him Zane." Kai warned. "We don't want to lose you again."

"I promise." I said.

"Then it's settled, we build the impossible." Jay said.

"Oh prisoners!" We heard Iron Barron coming around the corner.

"Zane, take Wu and hide. Now." Kai whispered.

Wu and I ducked behind some crates and watched as Iron Barron dragged them all out of the cage and made them get to work. The dragons could smell Wu's Oni blood, so it was best to stay away until they could finish the parts.

They did manage to get me the tools I needed and I was now able to give my brother the proper repairs. We went back to where we hid him, but he was no longer there.

We saw small trail in the sand as if he was dragged out of there by something or someone. He wasn't able to defend himself in his condition and I was concerned about him.

"Where do you think he went?" Wu asked me.

I used my scanner to analyze the trail.

"This was made recently, he can't be far." I told Wu.

He and I followed the trail as fast as we could. We saw a guy with a robotic arm and leg dragging my brother on the sand. He seemed to be knocked offline and his chest looked worse. Wu and I stood behind a rock and watched them from a distance.

"Lucky me." The man talked to himself. "Someone was dumb enough to leave a pile of scrap laying on the ground. Perfect for some well needed spare parts."

"Stay here Wu." I told him.

"Be careful." He said and I nodded.

I ran out and confronted the man.

"Drop the nindroid!" I yelled.

"And what do we have here?" The man taunted. "More scrap metal."

"Not today." I said.

I felt the anger run through my wiring and I screamed. I charged up my powers and did Spinjitsu, making him let go of my brother. The guy got up and shot at me with a laser attached to his bionic arm. He hit me with it and caused a minor burn mark on my leg, but I didn't care, I just wanted my brother back.

I kept fighting until I eventually had enough. I froze him in ice and took a deep breath. Once I made sure he was completely frozen, I ran to check on my brother. Wu ran out from behind the rock to help me.

"We must hurry." I told my old/young friend. "In this heat that ice crystal will not hold him for long."

"But your leg." Wu pointed to it.

"No time, we must go. Now." I yelled picking up my brother.

It honestly hurt my leg to carry his weight and run at that speed siamotainously, but time was of the essence. I had to help him.

We got him somewhere safe and then I began to repair his chest, this time with the tools my friends had collected. It took a few hours, but I was finally able to fully repair him, at least on a temporary basis.

As we were waiting on him to come back online, I tended to the mark on my leg. It wasn't preventing me from walking, but it was bothering me.

"Are you hurt Zane?" Wu asked, looking at the scorched mark on my leg.

"I will be alright, thank you." I told him.

"Why did you save him if he pushed you off a cliff?" Wu asked me.

"Because it's the right thing to do." I explained.

"Why are you so nice to him when he's so mean to you?"

"Because sometimes a little compassion can drown out large amounts of anger and hatred." I told him. "You taught us that."

"I don't remember." Wu held his head.

"You will, just be patient. Your memories should return in time." I assured him

My brother finally came back online and I ran to him. I saw the color come back in his optics.

"Zane?" He questioned as I helped him sit up. "Why... Why did you save me? Even after I was so mean to you."

"Because it's what brothers do." I smiled.

He looked down and noticed my leg. "You're hurt. Did you do that while you were saving me?"

"Some people are worth getting hurt for." I smiled.

He surprisingly pulled me into a hug. It was like he was my brother again. It was the greatest feeling in the world.

"Now come on, we have a dragon to build." I smiled.

Meanwhile in Ninjago...

Lloyd's P.O.V.

I finally had everything right I wanted it. I felt like things were going my way for a change. We had Harumi tied to a chair in the old warehouse that was our first base.

"Oh how the tables have turned." Harumi laughed.

"Well your plan worked, we got Harumi." Dareth said.

"Now what do we do?" Kira asked.

"What if we use her for trade?" Nya suggested. "Her friends in Kyptarian Prison for her."

"How does that make you feel Lloyd?" Harumi laughed. "That your father cares for me more than his own son."

"My father cares for no one, only his thirst for more power." It honestly pained me to say that, but I can't let her words get to me. Not this time. "He won't free our friends, we'll hold onto until she's valuable to us."

"My generals know this place. It's only a matter of time until they find me." Harumi smirked.

"I'd hate to admit it, but she's right." Dareth whispered to me. "I hope whatever card you have up your sleeve is an ace, because right now we're about to fold. But don't tell me right now, because I think she can hear us."

Skylor and Mistaké bursted through the door. They seemed concerned.

"We found something in her belongings." Skylor said.

"I think you need to see this." Mistaké said.

"Go, Seliel and I keep watch over her." Nya said and Seliel nodded.

Dareth, Kira and I followed them outside. Skylor held up the Oni mask of hatred. Just being near that thing brought back some memories that I didn't want to remember.

"If your elemental powers don't return, this could certainly help." Skylor handed it to me.

"If it's an ace you're looking for, that's a pair of 'em." Dareth said.

"But Oni power is dark magic." Mistaké warned. "Weald it only at your own peril."

"What do you want to do?" Skylor asked.

The memories started flowing through my head. Me and Harumi in the temple. This mask was the whole reason we're all in this mess, and I was the sucker who grabbed it for her. If I hadn't come with her then maybe my father this wouldn't have happened. Maybe Ninjago wouldn't be cowering in fear. This was all my fault.

"Lloyd?" Kira snapped me out of my thoughts. "Are you alright?"

I looked at the mask, and then back at my friends. I got them into this mess, and it's up to me to get them out. I knew what I had to do.

We all went back inside and threw the mask in front of Harumi.

"My mask!" Harumi gasped.

"Save the performance, I'm not going to use it. It's a trap." I told everyone. "The only reason someone as smart as her was captured, is because she wanted to be."

"Ooo very perceptive Lloyd, you're smarter than you let on." Harumi smiled. "If I can't trick you, perhaps I can deliver a message. Emperor Garmadon will destroy you, and you can do nothing to stop it because you can never change. As much as you want to, you don't have it in you to hurt your dear poppy."

As much as I hate her, she was right. I didn't know if could do it this time.

"You don't know Lloyd!" Dareth defended.

"Don't I?" Harumi yelled. "Let me ask, how do you see this ending? You can't! Because there is no happy ending. Once green always green."

She was right. Last time I just convinced myself I was fighting just the Overlord and I was trying to free him from inside. Plus that battle had a good ending for both of us, but this time there has to be a loser, and if I want to save Ninjago, it had to be him, but that means that I had to defeat him.

I looked back at my friends. The look on my face told them all my thoughts, my fears.

"I... I..." I didn't know what to say.

I couldn't think straight. I started to get dizzy and I held my head. Kira came over and put her arm around me, making sure I didn't lose my balance. I smiled at her, letting her know I was ok.

"Aww, you poor thing." Harumi said sarcastically. "Still got that headache?"

"Weird thing is it only acts up when you're around." I told her.

That was a lame comeback I know. I wish I paid attention more back when Cole and Kai were teaching me how to trash talk.

"That's it you little..."

Seliel grabbed a piece of medal and hit Harumi in the back of the head with it before she could finish that sentence. It knocked her out cold. The rest of them were in shock, but I was so relieved.

"What? She wouldn't shut up." Seliel shrugged.

"Did you just..." Nya started.

"Relax, she'll wake up in a few hours." Seliel assured us.

"Well, at least now we finally have some quiet to think of a plan." Nya said.

"Thank you." I sighed in relief and Kira helped me to sit down in a chair.

"Is your head still hurting?" Kira worried.

"I'm fine I just got a little overwhelmed, that's all." I told her. "I just need some time to think of a plan. Do you want to help?"

I looked at Kira and she knew what I meant. I wanted to talk to her alone because she makes me feel like no one else does. Our talks always make me feel better.

Skylor and Dareth went out for more food while Nya, Mistaké and Seliel kept an eye on Harumi just to be safe. Kira and I were in the other room alone. I had the mask in my hands and I was staring so hard at it as if it was going to tell me what to do.

"What's on your mind?" Kira asked.

"I just can't stop thinking about what she said. About this not having a happy ending." I said, not taking my eyes off the mask.

"She was bluffing Lloyd, don't let her get into your head."

"Or was she?" I frowned. "The way I see it there are only two ways this will end: I defeat my father and never get to see him again, or I lose and let all of Ninjago down. Either way I lose something that's important to me. I don't want to come off as selfish, but it seems like I'm always the one who gets the short end of the stick. For me, there is no happy ending."

"This is your story, if you don't like it, you can rewrite it." Kira tried to cheer me up.

"Thanks but this isn't some Saturday morning cartoon or some fan-fiction, this is real. I don't have any control over the outcome."

"Yes you do." She took my hand. "I know in the end, you'll find a way. I know you will."

"You're right." I smiled at her. "At least I know one good thing that came out of this."

"And what's that?" She asked as if she didn't already know.

"I met you." I put my arm around her.

She leaned into me and her lips met mine. It just felt so right. That one kiss made me forget all my problems and for the first time in a long time, I felt like everything was gonna be ok.

"Do you feel better now?" She giggled.

"Yeah. Thank you, I needed that." I laughed and looked away, trying not to let her see how much I was blushing. I wanted so badly to tell her that I love her, but was it too early? Was is the right time?

"You know, all these thoughts are probably all in your head." Kira said. "My grandmother always said, the soul does not absorb negativity by accident, only by choice."

'Absorb?' I repeated in my mind.

I picked up the mask and starred at it. It was as if a lightbulb had turned on in my head. I finally had an idea.

"Kira, I know what to do."