"You're doing all of this because they left you?!" Lloyd questions. "Serving whoever the crystal king is? Destroying the ninja? What did the city do to deserve this?!"

"...when I was left alone, I was at the end of my rope." Reika explains as she walked around the room. "My family had abandoned me, and I had no friends. When I was ready to give up, I found something that gave me the courage to continue on." She turns to him "That was the voice of your girlfriend, my idol, my goddess."

"Aria?" Lloyd questions.

"Her music was always full of joy and happiness," Reika sighs. "But damn, did she sound lonely." She points to Lloyd "Then, the whole city came crashing down on her, just because she wasn't as perfect as they idolized her to be. She was the overlord's daughter."

"You want revenge against the city for what they did to Aria?" Lloyd asks.

"Of course I do!" Reika shouts. "How dare they do that to her?! They put her on this pedestal just to push her off it!"

"Okay, I agree that their reaction was wrong." Lloyd says "But Aria tried to destroy the city! She's repented for it and has moved on!"

"You think it doesn't still eat away at her?" Reika questions as she approaches his cage. "My dear Aria has PTSD because of it, Lloyd. Her very first concert back didn't you see it? The flashing of the cameras, the lights on her, everything about what she once loved made her fearful because of the night she was arrested."

"...you're not wrong," Lloyd mutters. "But you're not right either! Everyone loves Aria despite what she's done!"

"Do they?" Reika asks. "Do they love her, or do they love her music? It's very easy for people to love her as long as she's acting like an idol. The minute she acts out though-" She snaps her fingers "the internet is flooded with articles."

"Aria wouldn't want this though!" Lloyd shouts.

"What do you mean?" Reika questions. "She's completely on board with it."

"...no," Lloyd shakes his head "She's not like that anymore!"

"It hurts when someone close lies to you," Reika walks away. 

Lloyd looks over to see the Council of the Crystal King carrying the Golden Weapons.

"The weapons of Spinjitzu. How did you get those?" Lloyd asks

"We got them from the monastery." Reika replies, waving her hand. "Where else?"

Lloyd shakes his head "Master Wu would never hand them over without a-"

"A fight?" Reika smiles "They're gone now, like the other ninja."

"You're lying!" Lloyd shouts.

"Why would I lie?" Reika questions. "You're no use to me, so what would that do?"

"You're going too far," Lloyd says.

"No, I think I'm going far enough." Reika tells him "I have a ritual to prepare. It is time for the coming of the Crystal King."

-

Aria opened her eyes and sat up immediately, gasping for air. All around her, screams echoed through the stone corridor. She stood up and took in her surroundings. She was no longer in the dark void, but in a long corridor like maze where stone pillars lined the pathway. Aria shivered as she looked around, the air was thin and thick chains hung from the pillars.

Aria began walking through the maze, and after a bit she stopped in place. She looked around before smiling slightly.

"I can't hear them.." Aria mutters.

Wherever she was, brought her peace, the voices that been haunting her were once again silent. Not only that, but her body no longer ached from the pains of her years as an idol. Her body felt light, and her soul felt free.

-

Later that day in the Crystal Temple, Lloyd struggles to free himself. Reika and the villains stand together with the golden weapons.

"You don't have to do this," Lloyd tries to reason with her.

"We're ready," Reika turns to the council, ignoring Lloyd. "Commence the ritual."

The villains let go of the weapons, which hover above separate stands. Lloyd grits his teeth, seeing Reika holding Aria's spellbook, that use to be her mother's.

"Ven-ge-ictin. Ven-ge quisay! Ven-ge ictin! Ven-ge quisay! Ven-ge fosar! Ven-ge jovit! Crystal King! Ven-ge ictin! Ven-ge quisay! Ven-ge-fosar! Crystal King! Ven-ge-ictin! Ven-ge-quisay! Ven-ge-fosar! Ven-ge-jovit! Crystal King!"

The weapons glow and time seems to slow.

"Crystal King, my lord. Follow my voice, I summon you forth. Break free of your bonds. Take form! I summon you back to your rightful place as supreme ruler of Ninjago!"

"Yes," The Overlord emerges from the crystal and laughs, he turns to Lloyd "What was it you said to me the last time we fought, hmm? Oh, yes."

"Overlord?!" Lloyd looks shocked.

"It ends, now," the Overlord laughs menacingly.

"But-" Lloyd looks at Reika. "Why would you bring him back?!"

"So, Aria truly has someone who loves her," Reika replies with a smile.

"Yes," the Overlord says before putting a hand on Reika's shoulder "After all, I am her father."

"He doesn't love her!" Lloyd shouts. "What made you-"

Lloyd's eyes widen as the Overlord suddenly plunged the sword of fire through Reika's chest.

"Reika!" Lloyd shouts.

The Overlord laughs as Reika falls to the ground.

"You're right Lloyd," the Overlord turns to him. "She truly did too much."

"H-How could you do that?!" Lloyd looks in shock. "She brought you back! I thought you were working together... this isn't happening." He shakes his head "I don't believe it!"

The Overlord laughs "Your grandfather fought me and failed. Your father fought me and also failed. You tried twice and failed just like your forbearers."

"You know what they say, third time's the charm." Lloyd responds.

"You still hope, admirable, but foolish." The Overlord turns to the council "Watch as I crush that hope."

The Overlord uses his power to power up the council. A shuriken shoots outward, and Mister F catches it. The other shuriken shoots outward, and the Mechanic takes it. The other villains receive weapons of their own. Aspheera gets the Sword of Destruction, Vangelis gets the Scythe of Destruction, and Pythor gets the Nunchucks of Destrution.

"Finally, these work!" Pythor holds them up "Thank you, my Lord!"

"You gave them some cute purple outfits, is that supposed to impress me?" Lloyd questions.

"Perhaps this will." The Overlord turns and manipulates the central crystal, levitating the Crystal Temple.

Lloyd looks around the room and mutters "Aria, where are you?"

"Witness my power, Son of Garmadon, and see that resistance is useless!" The Overlord turns to him. "Join me, I offer you a chance. Refuse and be destroyed, the choice is yours."

"Thing is, sometimes I like to order off the menu." Lloyd replies gripping his chains "So I'm going with choice number three."

"Choice number three?" the Overlord raises his eyebrow.

"Escape and live to fight another day!" Lloyd swings on his chain, knocking back the Crystal King and Vangelis. 

The Scythe of Destruction hits the crystal, Lloyd's chains break, and he stands up. The Crystal Island tips, and everyone tries to gain their balance.

"Thanks for hosting the party, guys. But I think I'll be going now." Lloyd says before taking off

Mister F throws his Shuriken of Destruction at Lloyd but misses. Lloyd runs through the temple, looking around. 

Aspheera suddenly turns the corner "Where exactly do you think you're going? We're floating up into the sky! And last I checked; ninja can't fly!"

Lloyd sends Aspheera flying with Spinjitzu, he turns to run but finds himself surrounded by the Council.

"Somehow, it's fitting that this would come down to you and me," Pythor says.

"And me," The Mechanic moves closer.

"And me," Vangelis adds.

"No! You chaps just ruined a really dramatic one-on-one moment!" Pythor says annoyed "Phooey."

"Okay, look. I know you all have new weapons and powers and everything seems great." Lloyd backs up "But trust me, the Overlord is bad news! For all of us! He will destroy everything!"

"Ha, except us! That's why we joined him, genius!" the Mechanic laughs.

The council all throw their weapons at Lloyd, he jumps in the air evading them, and the weapons collide and knock the villains back with a shockwave. Lloyd then turns to run down the corridor they were seemingly blocking.

"She's gotta be here," Lloyd mutters.

Lloyd was right, at the end of the temple corridor was holding cells. In the center one, laid Aria out cold on the stone flooring.

"Aria!" Lloyd runs over to the cell.

Lloyd uses his powers to break open the cell before rushing in.

"Aria, can you hear me?" Lloyd put his hand on her cheek.

Lloyd's eyes widened; her cheek was cold. He put his ear to her chest, thankfully she was still breathing, but it was shallow. Lloyd let out a sigh of relief and quickly picked her up, carrying her on his back.

"Don't worry," Lloyd glances at her head on his shoulder. "I'm getting you out of here. Mistake should know what to do."

Lloyd runs out of the room and goes back to finding an exit. In a hallway, Lloyd is attacked by a Vengestone Guard, narrowly dodging him. The mouth of the temple opens, and Lloyd nearly falls off, he steadied himself before turning back to the approaching council.

"Running around with a corpse won't do you any good," Pythor says as he and the council approaches.

"Then, let's hope we live to fight another day." Lloyd took a step back, tightly holding onto Aria on his back. 

"From this height? You'd never survive!" Pythor shouts.

"Then I'll join her wherever she ends up," Lloyd replies.

Lloyd moves Aria from his back and into his arms before jumping off the temple. Lloyd presses Aria to his chest as he falls into water, miles below them. He quickly pushes Aria up onto the river ban before climbing up himself.

"You really are getting heavy," Lloyd mutters as he looks over at Aria.

Lloyd slashes his way through the jungle, once again carrying Aria on his back. Above them, the council searches for them on Dragonides. Lloyd hides in the bushes, glancing above him. He makes a run for it but finds himself surrounded once again.

"Running is useless!" Pythor shouts.

Lloyd grits his teeth before running underneath one of the dragonides. Lloyd runs until he stops at a cliff, he turns back to the council.

"Give it up Lloyd," Vangelis says. "The King wants his daughter back," he chuckles "you have no use for a corpse, do you?"

Lloyd holds onto Aria's legs tighter as he takes a step back towards the cliff.

"I'll never hand her over to a monster like him!" Lloyd yells at them.

"Well said Lloyd!"

Just then, the Destiny's Bounty rises behind the, Lloyd sees it and smiles. Wu and Nya stand on the deck of the Bounty.

"Master Wu!" Lloyd says happily.

"Lloyd! Come!" Wu calls out.

Lloyd leaps and nearly falls, but Nya catches him.

"I got ya!" Nya pulls him up,

"You guys are okay!" Lloyd looks between them.

"Of course we are," Nya replies. "What kind of idiots do you take us for?"

"Hang on! We're not in the clear yet!" Wu turns to the dragons.

"Wu-ser! You're still alive?" Aspheers laughs.

Wu sees her weapon "Is that the Sword of Fire?"

"What a wonderful surprise!" Aspheera readies her weapon.

"If you like surprises, you're going to love this!" Wu holds up his communicator "Zane, are you standing by?

"Affirmative" Zane confirms.

"Fire at will!" Wu commands.

Zane flies in on his jet and shoots at the villains while Nya fires cannons at the villains. The Mechanic falls from his Dragonide. The heroes soon manage to drive the council away. Nya takes Aria from Lloyd's back and checks on her breathing.

"This isn't good," Nya says worriedly. "We need to bring her to Mistake."

Wu turns and spots the Crystal Island in the sky.

"What is that?" Nya asks, looking over as well.

"It's the Overlord," Lloyd replies, turning to her. "He's returned."

Wu gasps before talking into his communicator "Cole, Kai, do you copy?"

"We copy," Cole responds.

"We're holding up the jungle perimeter," Kai says "Standing by if you need us."

"Negative, pull back, all of you!" Wu tells them, he looks over at the unconscious Aria as Lloyd holds her hand. "We are not ready for this."