The Bounty sails towards the Kingdom of Shintaro.

"See? I told ya. Amazing!" Jay talks fast in excitement.

"I'll admit, I wasn't sure it could live up to the legend, but... it's even more beautiful" Nya agrees in amazement.

"The Ivory City of Shintaro.. incredible," Wu says with a small smile.

The Winged Guards of Shintaro land the Destiny's Bounty safely in the Kingdom of Shintaro. The ninja, Zero, and Wu are led by Hailmar to be welcomed to Shintaro by King Vangelis.

Hailmar bows before him "It is with great honor, King Vangelis, that I present Emperor Zero of Ninjago and the famed ninja."

"Welcome, welcome! I'm most pleased you were able to accept our invitation. It is an honor" King Vangelis bows humbly.

"The honor is ours" Wu responds as he and the ninja bow as well "Shintaro is beyond anything we imagined."

"And I am honored to finally meet you, Emperor Zero, I have heard many great things about you." King Vangelis smiles at him.

"That seems unlikely since I only recently amended the throne," Zero comments.

"Yes, but your mother was an outstanding Empress, she is a legend around here." King Vangelis explains "I am certain, her son is nothing but extraordinary."

"Well, you got that right." Zero says "My mother was an extraordinary person."

"Yes, and I am thrilled that the rightful heir is finally on the throne," King Vangelis smiles.

The Princess suddenly runs in looking excited "Oh, they're here!"

"And please, meet my heart. Her Royal Princess Vania" King Vangelis introduces.

"I am such a fan!" Princess Vania shouts excitedly, looking at all the ninjas "I've read all about your adventures. It was my idea to invite you to my birthday!"

"It's an honor to be here, Princess" Cole responds.

"So, is it true you've been to Hiroshi's Labyrinth?" Princess Vania asks.

"Affirmative," Zane confirms.

"Competed in the Tournament of Elements?" Princess Vania asks.

"Oh ho, do we have stories for you," Kai says with a chuckle.

Vania gasps "I need to hear them all."

Vangelis and Hailmar land between Vania and the ninja. "You can begin by following me. Tomorrow will be a very busy day for all of us."

Vania looks around them "Cole, the Earth Elemental. What is it like to command the very earth? Is it as fun as it sounds?"

"Yeah, pretty much" Cole responds.

"Huh. Weird" Jay whispers "The Princess seems to like Cole" he looks at Zero "I mean, he's my best friend and all, but Cole?"

"And why are you looking at me?" Zero raises an eyebrow.

"Well you're his cousin, aren't you? Shouldn't you be interested in it?" Jay questions.

"Not in the slightest," Zero replies.

"Yeah, Jay the guy has a serious sister complex," Kai says. "He's not interested in anything, but Aria."

"I do not!" Zero shouts.

"More like he has a vendetta against her," Lloyd comments. "Coming in second to your little sister all the time must be tough."

"...I will fight you," Zero glares at Lloyd.

The ninja are brought to their rooms as Zero stays to speak with the king alone.

"So, what is the real reason I was invited?" Zero asks "Surely you had other intentions than just being allies. Shintaro has never needed anyone before, why now?"

"You think too much Emperor Zero," King Vangelis chuckles "I simply wish to be friends with my late friend's son."

"Hm," Zero looks suspicious before nodding. "If that is so, I look forward to the visit."

Hailmar brings Zero to his room. The king sits back on his throne with a sigh as the doors shut behind them, leaving him alone.

"Your son is too smart," King Vangelis says "I knew this was a bad idea."

-

In Ninjago, Aria was walking into Borg Tower where the inventor himself was waiting for her in the lobby.

"There you are," Borg smiles to her as she walked towards him. "I was wondering when you'd show up."

"Hey Borg," Aria greets with a small smile "Thanks for meeting with me, especially under these circumstances."

"Of course," Borg waves his hand "I don't listen to those silly rumors anyway. With the Ninja backing you, well, I'd trust you with my own life."

"Hehe, thanks," Aria laughs nervously, considering she did technically help her father overtake his entire Industry in the past.

Not that she'd ever tell him that.

"What was it that you wanted to ask me about?" Borg questions. "It must be important since you wanted to ask in person."

"...it's about your concert hall," Aria says quietly.

"Hm?" Borg thinks for a second "Ah! That one yes, what about it?"

"I want to rent it," Aria states.

"You want to put on a concert?!" Borg gasps.

"Please Borg," Aria put her hands together. "I know the chance you'd be taking, letting me put on a concert as a fallen idol in your hall. But-"

"You need not say anything else," Borg cuts her off "I will not allow you to rent it." Aria looks down disappointed before Borg smiles "I'll let you use it for free."

"W-What?" Aria looks up at him shocked.

"With how much you've invested into my technology for your past concerts," Borg chuckles, "I think I owe it to you. My company became bigger than I could ever dream thanks to you."

"You did that all on your own," Aria tells him. "You didn't need my advertisement."

"That's where you're wrong," Borg shakes his head. "My company was near bankruptcy when you asked for my help. Making all that equipment for your concerts and more, not only made me more reputable, but it also allowed me to expand. I was able to make more, because of your funding." He put a hand on her arm "I couldn't be more thankful for you."

"Well, my concerts wouldn't have been so amazing without you," Aria says. "It's I who's grateful."

"Just promise me something," Borg put his hands together.

"What?" Aria asks.

"That no matter if there's 100 people in that audience, or only 5," Borg smiles slightly. "You'll give your performance your all. Fallen or not, you can touch people's hearts, and that's a true idol." He chuckles "I admire your courage to get back on that stage, despite the odds you may face."

"That's a given," Aria laughs before hugging him with a big smile. "Thank you, Borg!"

-

Zero stood with the Ninja and Wu in the middle of the night, all looking very annoyed.

Jay yawns "So let me get this straight. You pulled me out of the most luxurious bed ever -"

"It felt like a cloud of warm contentment" Nya interrupts.

"-because you saw a creature in your bedroom?" Jay questions.

"Yes! I told you, it tried to attack me, and when I fought back, it ran off somewhere! It disappeared. But get this, the weirdest part is that the creature was wearing my mother's necklace!" Cole explains

"Cole, um, are you sure this happened, like, in reality?" Lloyd asks looking concerned.

"What do you mean?" Cole asks.

"I believe he is implying that you were dreaming," Zane explains.

"It wasn't a dream! I recognized it right away! It had a picture of my parents inside it!" Cole insisted.

"So, where is it?" Nya asks.

"Well, I don't have it on me. The creature grabbed it back before he vanished" Cole replies.

Kai yawns "Cole, buddy, go back to bed."

"It must have been a dream, Cole. Because I do not recall your mother ever having a locket" Wu says.

"She did! I've seen pictures of it. We have to tell King Vangelis!" Cole insists.

Lloyd pats his shoulder "Whoa, slow down. It's not that we don't believe you-"

"I don't believe him," Jay says.

"We're guests here. We can't wake up the King in the middle of the night." Lloyd says.

Cole looks around "But-"

The ninja walks away.

"Cole, go to sleep. We can discuss all of this in the morning, okay?" Wu says before returning to his own room.

Cole turns to Zero who looks deep in thought, "You believe me don't you?"

"Well, while I think your story sounds absurd." Zero sighs "Aunt Lily did have a locket, I've seen it too."

"Really?" Cole looks surprised

"Mhm." Zero turns and starts walking "Let's go check this out, I knew Shintaro couldn't be trusted."

Cole smiles before following after him. Cole is brought out of his thoughts when he notices a shadow following them and he tackles them. Zero turns around and sighs.

"Ha! Got you now, you little purple-" Cole sees that it was Princess Vania "Oh, Princess Vania? Oh wow, sorry! I thought you were someone else, I swear!"

Cole helps her up as Zero walks over and smacks him on the head.

"Idiot," Zero says.

"It's ok," Vania smiles "I heard what you said back there. About the little purple creature."

"Oh, great, another person thinks I'm imagining things" Cole looks down.

"Oh, I don't think that at all," Vania says.

"You don't?" Cole questions.

"When I was a child, I thought I had an imaginary friend. A little purple creature who used to follow me around. Now, I'm starting to wonder if my imaginary friend was a real friend. Follow me. This way!" Vania quickly runs away.

Zero and Cole look at each other before following her to the palace gardens.

"Here. This is where Mr. Sparkles and I used to play. Hmm, that's what I called him. All the adults insisted I dreamed him up in my head, but I swear, he used to come right up out of there" Vania points to a small opening "There used to be some mines under the city, but my father ordered them all covered up for the public's safety."

"Mines?" Cole looks at her

"Long ago, before my people settled here, there was an older city run by the super evil sorcerer, who built tunnels, mines, and dungeons deep in the mountain. He's gone now, but the dungeons are still there, so my father forbade anyone from entering them. It's too dangerous" Vania explains.

"A super evil sourcerer?" Zero mutters.

"Look, Princess. Forbidden or not, I have to find out how my mom's necklace ended up with that purple dude" Cole says.

"Okay, I'm in" Vania pulls out two torches.

Cole looks confused "Are those- where did you-"

"Always onward, the adventurer's motto," Vania says excitedly.

Cole looks around "If the King finds out-"

"I'm not some small child anymore. I'm old enough to decide things on my own" Vania defends.

"Well, in that case..." Cole uses his Earth Punch to remove the bars of the opening, and they enter "Always onward and into the mines of an evil sorcerer."

"You're a bit odd," Zero says as he takes a torch from Vania.

"I know," Vania says.

They begin walking.

"I remember so many incredible stories about the evil sorcerer told by candlelight," Vania says "He was called Hazza D'ur. Isn't that creepy?" Zero's eyes widen and looks at Vania "People had weird names back then, I guess. And he had all these evil powers and - oh look! Train tracks. I wonder where those go?"

Vania runs to the tracks.

"Cole," Zero grabs his shoulder "This isn't good, we shouldn't be here."

"It doesn't hurt to investigate." Cole shrugs and follows after Vania.

"No, I-" Zero sighs in defeat.

They follow the tracks and arrive at a dead end.

"Uh, let's take the other tunnel" Cole turns around

"So anyway," Vania continues "A long, long, long time ago, the evil sorcerer was vanquished, and they say his bones are still down here in this mountain somewhere. Maybe we'll see them. Wouldn't that be great?"

"Uh, yeah. Great" Cole says unsure.

"Not great," Zero states.

"Why are you so uptight about this?" Cole questions "You said you believed me on this."

"I do," Zero says "It's just-"

Zero stops when they come upon an active mine, they stop to watch the creatures mine, supervised by Re-Awakened.

"Oh, my. Look at all these creatures! Those look just like Mr. Sparkles!" Vania points out.

"Shout louder why don't you," Zero comments "I don't think they heard you."

"They look just like the one that was in my room. But who are those guys?" Cole questions.

"I don't know, but they don't look happy. They're all chained up" Vania says.

"Why don't we bring them some cookies, maybe that'll cheer them up." Zero comments sarcastically.

Vania shoots him an annoyed look.

"You're an ass you know that," Cole tells him.

"Born and raised," Zero replies.

A Munce spills some minerals, making a Mino break a carriage and cause a loud noise. The Skull Sorcerer appears from behind a lava waterfall.

"Who dares? Who dares to disturb the work?" The Skull Sorcerer demands "I warned you, all of you! The work must not stop or there will be punishment!"

Skull of Hazza D'ur: Punish them! Punish!

The Skull Sorcerer fires blasts at the Geckles and Munce.

"He's still alive?" Zero mutters.

"I don't know what's going on here, but I know a bad guy when I see one, and that is a bad guy," Cole says as he stands up "Get back and tell your dad what's going on. Tell him to bring his guards and wake up my friends."

"Cole no," Zero grabs him.

"Yeah, what about you?" Vania asks.

"I'm the Elemental Master of Earth, and I'm surrounded by Earth. I'm gonna do what I do best" Cole replies as he pulls away from Zero.

"No, we have to go back too." Zero insists "You have no idea-"

Cole jumps down as Vania smiles and leaves. Zero looks between the two and covers his face.

The Skull Sorcerer growls "The next to defy me shall feel-"

"Hey, buddy!" Cole cracks his knuckles "Hey there. Name's Cole. Ninja. Uh, I heard there was some jerk down here, chaining people up, making them work. You seen any jerks around?"

"Get him!"

The Awakened Warriors charge at Cole. He tries to use his Earth Punch, but it won't work.

"What the? Oh, come on!" Cole complains

Zero watches as Cole defeats all the Warriors without his Elemental powers.

"Alright, now, how about you give me the keys to all these chains before I really get angry?" Cole smirks.

Skull Sorcerer looks mad now "You have meddled in the wrong place. Now, you will witness my true wrath! The wrath of the Skull Sorcerer!"

He revives the Warriors with a spell.

"Hey, what? No fair! Uh-oh!" Cole tries to escape but the Warriors defeat him.

"The wrath of the Skull Sorcerer!" The Skull Sorcerer laughs.

"Shit." Zero curses before running away. "Thanks Cole, now we have to have a family reunion I'm SO not looking forward to!"