The Ninja stood behind Zero and Princess Vania, who had just finished explaining what happened to her, Zero, and Cole that night.

"I'm very disappointed, Vania. It is forbidden to enter the mountain!" King Vangelis shouts "The rule of law is there for a reason. It is unsafe below. Not only did you endanger yourself, but you have also endangered our guests!"

Vania looks down "I-I'm sorry, father."

"We are just as much to blame as her King Vangelis," Zero says. "I'm afraid curiosity kills the cat, and Cole may have bitten off more than he can chew."

"My daughter knows better though, your majesty. I will send three brigades of my ablest guards at once." King Vangelis tells him "They will find your friend and the Empress. Have no fear."

"We'll go too," Kai chimes in.

"I cannot allow that," King Vangelis declines "The dungeons are treacherous. We have lived here for centuries, and even we do not enter them lightly. There are things that dwell below that... should not be disturbed."

"So, the creature Cole saw was real?" Nya asks.

"You told me I imagined it!" Vania looks upset.

"I said what I had to, to protect you, child" King Vangelis defends himself. "One day, when you are older, you'll understand. Now, time is of the essence. I must dispatch my men. I ask you all to remain calm and stay here."

"We can't just stay here. Cole is our friend!" Kai argues.

"Yeah, we have to help!" Jay agrees.

"King Vangelis please," Lloyd begs "We have to look for them."

"It is out of the question; I will not put anyone else in danger." King Vangelis insists "My men will bring them back, trust in them."

Kai looks annoyed "Yeah-"

"Of course, King Vangelis, we will do as you ask" Wu intervenes.

"Thank you. Now please, I have much to attend," King Vangelis smiles lightly "As do you, Vania."

The group walks out with Zero and Princess Vania. Zero glances back at the king as the doors close behind them.

"You don't really think we're gonna sit this one out, do you?" Lloyd asks Wu.

"I fear Zero is right, Cole has bitten off more than he can chew" Wu says.

"I don't like this," Zero put a hand on his chin. "Something here isn't adding up."

"What do you mean?" Lloyd questions.

"I mean, I don't think King Vangelis is going to send anyone to look for Cole." Zero states "Or at least anyone competent, considering he doesn't want anybody going down there."

Wu turns to Vania "Princess, I don't want to get you into any more trouble, but do you think you could perhaps show us-"

Vania pulls out two torches "the way into the dungeons? You bet. Follow me!"

She hands Wu a torch and runs off.

"Okay," Lloyd shrugs.

Vania takes the ninja to the opening in the palace gardens.

"Here it is," Vania sighs. "I wish I could go with you, I feel like this is all my fault."

"No, we don't want you to get into any more trouble." Nya insists "We'll handle it from here."

Lloyd looks at her suspiciously "Yeah, you've done enough. Come on, guys."

Zero and Wu stay standing next to Vania as the ninja start heading in.

"Master?" Zane looks back at Wu.

"Go on without me, Zane." Wu tells him "I would only slow you down."

"Master Wu, that is not so" Zane disagrees

"It is, no matter how I wish it weren't. Now go, quickly, before someone sees you" Wu holds the torch out to him.

Zane takes the torch and runs off. Wu looks beside him at Zero, whose eyes seemed to have a slight blue glow to it.

"What's the matter Zero?" Wu asks. "I've never seen your aura so out of place before."

"It's showing that much is it?" Zero chuckles lightly. "Yeah, something is bothering me."

"What?" Wu questions. "Is it the uncertainty of what is down there?"

"No," Zero turns to him. "I know exactly what's down there." Wu's eyes widen as Zero tells him "It's my father, he's alive."

-

"Thanks for helping me set up guys,"

In Ninjago, Misako and P.I.X.A.L were inside the Borg concert hall with Aria. The two were helping her set up for her concert that would be held that night. Aria used to have a team that did all the lighting work, but since she was dropped from the label, she had to do everything herself. Lucky for her, Misako and P.I.X.A.L showed up out of the blue to help her.

"Of course," Misako replies with a smile. "It seemed like you needed the help."

P.I.X.A.L climbed down from the ladder and walked up to the team.

"We assumed you had never put on your own concert before," P.I.X.A.L says. "Something like tweaking the lights is easy for me."

"And setting up speakers isn't that hard," Misako adds.

"I really do appreciate it," Aria says.

Misako and P.I.X.A.L look at each other before turning back to Aria.

"You seem nervous," P.I.X.A.L points out the obvious.

"Do I?" Aria asks.

"Mhm," Misako nods. "But you don't need to worry. You're a talented singer Aria, and now without a label backing you, you're free to do what you wish."

"Do what I wish?" Aria questions.

"She means, you don't have to be perfect." P.I.X.A.L reiterates, placing a hand on Aria's shoulders. "You can just be yourself."

"Just be myself..." Aria mutters before looking back at the stage.

"Everything is set," Misako tells her with an encouraging smile. "All you have to do now, is get yourself ready, for whatever may await tonight."

"Right," Aria fidgets with the charm on her bracelet and took a deep breath "I can do this."

-

Wu, Zero, and Vania spent their time making it seem like the ninja were still in the palace, while keeping a low profile themselves. Wu and Zero sat together as Wu was deep in thought.

"I can't believe it," Wu mutters. "It's been so many years." He turns to Zero "Are you sure you saw him?"

"I guess," Zero replies. "He didn't have a body, or flesh, but I saw his skull."

"His what?" Wu questions.

"It's hard to explain," Zero sighs. "But the ninja has been down there so long, I'm worried."

"I am as well," Wu agrees.

Zero stood up "Then, I'll go looking for them."

"You're the emperor Zero!" Wu stood up. "You can't go after them, especially if it's your father we're dealing with."

"I have to be the one go down," Zero states as his eyes glow blue. "Even more so, since he's my father." He grabs onto the hilt of his sword and squeezes it.

Wu sighs as Zero walks out of the room. Zero was heading towards the underground when he spotted Vania running.

"Princess Vania?" Zero raises his eyebrow.

"Emperor Zero!" Vania stopped in her tracks and ran towards him "I was looking for you!"

"We're you?" Zero questions.

"The ninja had been underground way too long, and I think something terrible might have happened to them. And I think I should go after them, but they're ninja. They can take care of themselves, right?" Vania rambles "Master Wu even said I shouldn't go after them. But what if they've been attacked by crazy monsters? I should at least alert the Palace Guards, right? But if my father knew the ninja went down into the tunnels, he'd banish them from Shintaro forever! Even if their intentions were good. Oh, what should I do?"

"Pft," Zero held in a laugh.

"What?" Vania looked confused "I'm serious!"

"I know just, give me a minute," Zero composed himself before looking at her "I'm heading to the mines now, I'm sure I'll find them."

"But what if you get hurt too?!" Vania questions "I'll just come with you."

"No way," Zero pushed her aside gently "you'd only slow me down."

"They're ninja and they could be lost," Vania argues "even if you're a trained swordsman, they're ninja."

"Yeah yeah," Zero continued walking.

"Do you even know where you're going?" Vania asks.

"To the mines to look for the ninja," Zero replies "yeah."

"Mhm, but do you know your way around?" Vania asks.

"Well," Zero stops and turns to her "Do you?"

"A little... I can at least point you to where me and Cole went," Vania points out "Come on."

"Sorry princess," Zero shakes his head "not happening."

"Well, I'm going," Vania crosses her arms.

"Really?" Zero places his arm above her head against the wall "I hope you're able to keep up with me then."

Vania blushes and looks irritated "I can!"

Zero smirks and stands up straight. He turned with a shrug and walked to the mines with Vania running after him.

He stopped and gestured to her "After you, princess, ladies first."

"Hmph," Vania took a torch and went inside

Zero rolled his eyes before following after her. Vania and Zero made their way through tunnels when Zero stopped walking.

"Just admit we're lost!" Zero shouts.

"We're not!" Vania turns to him "I know where we're going!"

"You're way in over your head princess," Zero sighs.

"I-" Vania stopped when they heard shouting "That sounds like Cole!"

The two quickly ran in the direction they heard Cole shouting. They arrived in a clearing where they saw Cole being webbed by a giant spider.

"Ah!" Cole shouts and laughs nervously "I'm now willing to discuss the terms of your surrender."

Zero unsheathes his sword and runs at the spider, in a blink of an eye the spider was over his shoulder and on its back. The spider tried turning over as Vania ran over to the two boys.

"Zero?" Cole looks confused "Princess Vania."

"I hate spiders, especially huge slobbering ones with fangs!" Vania complains as she tries to unweb Cole.

"Move aside," Zero says as he faces them with his sword.

"Ah, you know, I don't really feel like being cut in half!" Cole shouts.

Vania moved to the side as Zero precisely cut the web from Cole.

"Oh.." Cole says as he sat up "thanks."

"You think I'm some armature swordsman?" Zero questions as he puts his sword back in its sheath.

"Well.." Cole looks around "guess not."

Zero sighs as Vania turns to him "You're pretty cool you know."

"I-" Zero looks away, hiding a blush. "I'm not that good."

Vania hides a laugh as Cole looks between them, confused.

"You two should head back to the surface and warn them about what's going on down here," Zero says turning to Cole "You did figure that out right?"

"Yes," Cole nods.

"Good," Zero turns away from them. "Then I'm off."

"Where are you going?!" Vania asks.

"Somewhere important princess," Zero replies, turning back to them.

"Now isn't the time for your solo guy act," Cole says. "We're dealing with this powerful sorcerer and-"

"It's not safe!" Vania shouts.

"Don't you worry about me." Zero says as he turns to Vania. "Just get back to the surface where it's safe."

Vania looks worried "But-"

"I'm the emperor of Ninjago," Zero cuts her off. "If I can grow up with a lunatic like my sister, I think some creepy guy in a cave."

"Just be safe," Cole tells him. "We'll bring backup as soon as we can!"

"Mhm," Zero nods.

Zero takes off down one of the tunnels.

"Come on Vania, we gotta warn everyone." Cole runs off

Vania looks worriedly at Zero before running after Cole "Right!"