Two Hundred Years Ago
The sea stretched endlessly, a vast expanse of blue swallowing the horizon. The salty breeze carried the weight of months at sea, and the once-hopeful glimmer in the eyes of the crew had dulled into exhaustion.
Captain Soto, hunched over his journal, dipped his quill into the inkwell, the candlelight flickering across the weathered parchment. His handwriting, usually steady and bold, wavered slightly as he wrote:
"We have spent months searching for this fabled Island of Darkness, but all my eyes have seen is ocean. I fear my crew has given up, but I hold out hope that it exists."
He let out a weary sigh, closing the journal and tucking it away in a hidden compartment within his quarters. Steeling himself, he rose, his boots clicking against the wooden floorboards as he strode out to check on his crew.
Outside, the pirates were anything but diligent.
"Hardy, hardy, hardy, ho! Hey, we all in a yo-ho-ho!"
The chorus of drunken, off-key singing filled the deck as his men clanged tankards together, the rhythmic swaying of the ship doing little to dissuade their revelry.
Soto's expression darkened. "This is no time for fooling around!" His sharp gaze swept across the deck. "Who's steering the ship?"
A nearby pirate, swaying slightly on his feet, waved him off. "Don't worry, Captain. No-Eyed Pete is behind the wheel."
Soto froze. His face drained of color.
"No! Not No-Eyed Pete!"
A squawk echoed through the air as a ragged-looking parrot flapped overhead.
"Awk! Left! No, the other left!"
From the helm, a wild-eyed pirate clung to the wheel, grinning ear to ear. His name was well-earned—he had no eyes, only a ragged bandana covering the empty sockets.
Soto barely had time to react before the ship lurched violently.
"THE ISLAND OF DARKNESS?!" a panicked pirate called out.
"No, you fool!" Soto snatched the wheel, but it was too late. The ship groaned as it veered off course, the shoreline of Ninjago looming before them.
"All hands on deck! Brace for impact!"
The world became a blur of chaos—splintering wood, crashing waves, panicked screams. The last thing Soto saw before the darkness swallowed them was the unforgiving sea, claiming its victims without mercy.
Present Day
Lloyd's fists snapped forward in a blur, striking against Kai's open palms. The older ninja wore oven mitts as makeshift hand pads, wincing slightly as each blow landed.
"Good," Kai said through clenched teeth. "Keep it up."
Lloyd grinned. "Ha! Fists of fury! You can't even see 'em move, I'm so fast! Ha!"
Kai rolled his eyes. "Save the gloating. It can only be used against you by your enemy."
"Oh, please," Lloyd scoffed. "I'm ready to face whatever you throw at me." He pivoted and delivered a sharp kick—sending Kai stumbling backward.
Kai landed with an unceremonious thud, groaning. "Whoa, grasshopper. You're not even ready to face my pinky toe." He wiggled his foot for emphasis.
From the sidelines, Wu observed the training with a knowing look.
"I see the student has become the teacher," the wise old ninja mused. "You will learn fast, Lloyd, with lessons from the four ninja."
Cole stretched, cracking his knuckles. "Great, now that lesson is over, how about some target practice… on Kai?"
Wu shook his head. "You'll each get your turn, but first, I don't want you to be late for your next lesson with Nya."
Lloyd groaned. "Aww, but when will I learn Spinjitzu?"
Wu's gaze softened with wisdom. "Patience. It will only be unlocked when the key is ready to be found."
Lloyd sighed, trudging away to meet up with Nya.
Cole smirked. "Ha, sounds familiar?"
Kai scoffed. "I wasn't that whiny."
Zane, ever the straight shooter, countered, "No, you were worse."
Jay chuckled. "Guys, I know we're trying to prepare Lloyd for the future, but it's hard to give him the best training in these conditions."
Cole nodded. "Jay's right. I miss the Destiny's Bounty. Too bad it's gone."
Wu hummed thoughtfully. "Hmm. I see your point. Perhaps we could find somewhere else to aid his journey."
Jay glanced around suddenly. "Hey, where's Jinx?"
Cole frowned. "I don't know. He hasn't come for his every-other-day Oreo chocolate cake."
Meanwhile…
On the very top floor of a sleek, high-rise building, Jinx reclined on a leather couch, sipping a glass of something dark and expensive. The apartment was massive—twice the size of the one the ninja had tried to get. Instead of a training center, the space boasted a private bar, a hot tub in the bedroom, and a state-of-the-art kitchen with an advanced, high-tech cake dispenser.
Patty, the eager real estate agent, stood beside him, practically vibrating with excitement.
"So, Jinx, how do you like this apartment? Do you want to buy it?" she asked, her hopeful gaze fixed on him.
Jinx barely glanced at her, swirling his drink in thought. The penthouse even came with a vast underground garage—large enough to store multiple vehicles and even a personal plane with a hidden launch hatch.
Finally, he smirked. "Yeah, I'll buy it."
Patty's eyes gleamed with money signs as he handed over a sleek black credit card.
"Oh, and Patty," Jinx added offhandedly, "I'm planning to buy a large piece of land in the Sea of Sand next year."
Patty's breath hitched, her excitement doubling.
"Of course, Mr. Jinx! I can make that happen!"
Jinx simply leaned back, taking another sip.
Back with the Ninja…
Kai scratched his head. "Something tells me Jinx isn't exactly roughing it the way we are."
Lloyd climbed the final flight of stairs, pushing open the heavy metal door that led to the rooftop. A crisp breeze greeted him, carrying the scent of the open sky. Before him, perched majestically on the rooftop's edge, was the Ultra Dragon—a magnificent fusion of four elemental dragons, his scales shimmering under the sun.
Beside the mighty beast, Nya stood with her arms crossed, observing the dragon as it stretched its powerful wings.
"Now that I've given him his medicine," Nya said, brushing a hand along the dragon's thick neck, "he should be able to fly properly soon. But it's important to take care of him because one day, he'll be yours."
Lloyd blinked. "Uh, mine? Really?"
Nya nodded with a small smile. "Sure. The elemental dragons were always loyal to the four ninja. But Ultra Dragon?" She patted the dragon's side. "He's meant for the Green Ninja to ride."
Lloyd's eyes widened in awe. "Whoa… I never knew that." He reached out tentatively, letting his fingers brush against the dragon's tough scales. Ultra Dragon turned his massive head toward him, snorting gently.
Nya smirked. "See? Even a samurai like myself can teach you a thing or two."
Lloyd chuckled nervously. "But, uh… I don't know how to fly."
Nya ruffled his hair like an older sister would. "It's all in the legs."
Lloyd laughed, shaking his head. "Hehe."
The dragon gave a powerful shake, stretching his wings further. The sheer force of the movement sent a gust of wind through the rooftop.
"He'll be the fastest and strongest dragon in all of Ninjago," Nya added, watching with admiration. Then, she chuckled, stepping back. "Alright, big guy, why don't you go test those wings?"
Ultra Dragon let out a thunderous roar, then with a powerful leap, he launched into the sky. His wings cut through the air, catching the wind effortlessly. Lloyd watched in amazement as the massive beast soared higher and higher, gliding with ease.
"Looks like he's already feeling better," Lloyd murmured, watching in awe.
Later, the ninja gathered in the monastery's courtyard, discussing their next move.
"It's time we search Ninjago City for a more suitable place to train Lloyd," Wu announced, his staff planted firmly in the ground.
Jay groaned. "Oh, but Sensei, Ninjago City is huge. It'll take us all day to find a spot on foot!"
Zane folded his arms. "And without our Golden Weapons, we have no Spinjitzu vehicles. How exactly are we supposed to get around town?"
Wu remained unfazed. With a small, knowing smile, he reached into his robes and pulled out several small golden coins, holding them up between his fingers.
"You'll learn to travel with these."
Cole squinted. "What are those?"
Wu handed one to each ninja.
"They can transport you anywhere you want to go in the city," the old master explained cryptically.
Cole's eyes widened. "Like a magic portal?"
Jay gasped dramatically. "Ooh! Or a Spinjitzu vortex?"
SMACK!
Before either of them could continue, Jinx appeared out of nowhere and smacked both of them on the head.
"You dumbasses," Jinx muttered, rubbing his temples in exasperation. He snatched a coin and held it up.
"It's a bus ticket, you dumb bitches."
Silence.
Cole and Jay exchanged glances.
"Oh," Jay mumbled.
"…That makes sense," Cole added.
Jinx sighed, shaking his head. "Unbelievable."
Wu merely smiled, as if he had expected all of this.
Garmadon paced restlessly across the deck of his commandeered airship, gripping the Mega Weapon tightly in his dark, clawed fingers. The golden artifact hummed with dormant power, yet he had yet to unlock its full potential.
Acidicus, slithering beside him, studied the weapon with narrow, suspicious eyes. "So, what does it do?"
Garmadon turned sharply, his red gaze piercing. "The weapon possesses unspeakable powers."
Fangtom tilted his head. "Like what?"
Garmadon's jaw clenched. "I told you, fool. They're unspeakable!"
Skalidor crossed his thick arms, unimpressed. "It kinda looks like you don't know how to use it."
Garmadon's eye twitched. He exhaled sharply, turning his back to the Serpentine. "Of course I know how to use it," he growled. "I just don't have anything worthy to use it on!"
Before another insult could be thrown his way, a voice rang from above.
"Lord Garmadon!" A Serpentine lookout shouted from the crow's nest. "We spotted something!"
Garmadon whirled around, his black robes billowing in the wind. "What is it?"
From the deck, all eyes turned toward the sky, where a massive, multi-headed dragon soared through the clouds—its wings slicing through the air like a tempest, its scales glinting under the light.
"The ninja's pet," Garmadon murmured, a slow grin forming on his lips. He clenched the Mega Weapon tighter, its golden glow intensifying. "What better way to test out its power?"
He raised the weapon high, his voice booming. "Keep up with him, you slithering idiots! Don't let him get away!"
The airship jerked to life, engines roaring as the Serpentine scrambled to adjust the sails and steer after the dragon.
Garmadon thrust the Mega Weapon forward, commanding its might. "Eliminate Dragon!"
Nothing happened.
Garmadon's grin faltered. He gritted his teeth and waved the weapon again. "Destroy! Fire! Annihilate! Bad dragon!"
The Ultra Dragon let out a deep, thundering snort before banking left, easily outpacing the sluggish airship.
Garmadon's eye twitched again. "Shoot it down, pretty, pretty please?!"
The Serpentine crew exchanged glances. Skalidor hesitantly raised a claw. "Uh… I don't think it works like—"
"I CAN'T CONCENTRATE WITH US JOSTLING AROUND LIKE THIS!" Garmadon snapped, slamming his foot against the deck.
The ship lurched to a halt.
The Ultra Dragon gave one final, almost mocking roar before disappearing over the horizon, leaving the airship in awkward, defeated silence.
Garmadon stood frozen, the rage boiling in his veins. Slowly, he turned to face his crew, his crimson eyes burning with fury.
"Obviously," he began, voice low and dangerous, "if I had a proper crew that could fly this ship, I would have had a clear shot." His scowl deepened. "This is all your fault."
Without another word, he spun on his heel and stormed below deck, his long cape snapping behind him.
The lower deck was dimly lit, the only illumination coming from the faint golden glow of the Mega Weapon. Garmadon paced furiously, gripping the weapon so tightly his knuckles ached.
"Aargh! They dare mock me?!" he snarled, his voice echoing in the quiet chamber. "How does this cursed weapon work?!"
Frustrated beyond words, he raised the Mega Weapon and slammed it down against the wooden desk.
THUNK!
Something clicked.
Garmadon froze. The desk's surface had shifted, revealing a hidden compartment.
His narrowed eyes gleamed with curiosity as he pulled the compartment open. Inside, nestled within a dust-covered nook, was a leather-bound journal. The cover was worn, the edges tattered with age. He carefully pried it open, skimming the faded ink on the first page.
"Captain Soto. Captain's Log."
Garmadon's brow furrowed. "Captain Soto?" He flipped through a few pages, realization dawning on him. "You mean… this ship belonged to a pirate crew long before the ninja ever had it?"
He smirked. "Now this crew sounds like they knew how to fly a ship." He let out a dark chuckle, shaking his head. "I wish they were here to show these scaly idiots how it's done."
Then—
The Mega Weapon trembled in his grasp.
The golden glow flared, its light pulsing violently. Garmadon's grip tightened as the weapon suddenly pulled at his strength, draining him. His muscles tensed, a cold wave of exhaustion washing over him.
"What? What is… happening?" His voice wavered as his knees buckled slightly.
The power of the Mega Weapon surged, its ancient magic seizing the air.
A ghostly wind howled through the chamber.
Then—
"ALL HANDS ON DECK!"
The voice echoed from nowhere.
Garmadon's breath caught in his throat. The shadows in the room twisted, shifting unnaturally.
Thud.
Footsteps.
Echoing from above.
Garmadon's fingers curled around the journal as realization crept up his spine. His pulse quickened.
The airship suddenly felt… full.
More voices whispered through the ship, the creak of boots against wood, the clank of cutlasses against belts.
Then—
"I AM CAPTAIN SOTO!"
Garmadon's eyes snapped up.
He turned, his breath heavy.
And there, stepping from the shadows, stood a man with a tricorn hat, a long, tattered coat, and a wicked pirate's grin.
Captain Soto.
Garmadon's grip on the Mega Weapon tightened.
"What has it done?" he whispered.
The streets of Ninjago City buzzed with the usual energy—vendors calling out their wares, traffic rolling by, and people bustling through the sidewalks. Among the crowd, a group of ninja stood at a bus stop, staring up at a rather peculiar establishment.
The neon sign flickered above them in bold lettering:
"Grand Sensei Dareth's Mojo Dojo."
Jay blinked, unimpressed. "This is where Lloyd is supposed to train?"
Cole crossed his arms, his expression skeptical. "Not exactly the secret ninja headquarters I was hoping for."
Jay smirked. "Hehe, it's better than our dumpy apartment."
Jinx, however, grinned, nudging them with an elbow. "You guys don't get it. Dareth's a little bit of a scammer, sure, but once you get to know him, he's… alright."
Before anyone could question that statement, the doors burst open, and out stepped a man in a brown gi, his long, messy hair tied back, exuding confidence—probably too much confidence.
Dareth planted his feet, striking a dramatic pose. "Welcome! To Grand Sensei Dareth's Mojo Dojo! I am Grand Sensei Dareth, and I Dareth you to join my dojo!"
He threw a choppy karate punch, complete with an exaggerated "Heeya!"
The ninja stood in awkward silence.
"Uh…" Kai sighed.
Dareth, unfazed, gestured proudly to the wall of trophies behind him. "Behold! The Wall of Karate Glory! If you look closely, my name is on all of them." He shot them a smug grin. "That's because I am a highly skilled karate machine."
Then, mid-monologue, his eyes landed on Jinx.
"Oh! Sup, Jinx!" Dareth's entire demeanor shifted as he strolled over with a casual grin. "Nice of you to swing by again!"
Jinx smirked. "Wouldn't miss it, champ."
The two of them launched into a complicated handshake—full of elbows, fist bumps, and an unnecessary amount of finger snapping.
The other ninja exchanged looks.
Kai cleared his throat loudly. "Look, Dareth, we need a place to train. We've been put in charge of making sure this little guy—" he gestured to Lloyd "—becomes the greatest ninja in all of Ninjago."
Dareth's brow arched. "Not possible."
Kai blinked. "Excuse me?"
Dareth folded his arms, tilting his head toward his trophy wall. "I am the greatest in the land. How many trophies do you have?"
Jay groaned. "Look, pal, we're the guys who just saved the city from that giant snake."
Dareth scoffed. "Ha! Am I looking at Lord Garmadon? Because unless I'm stupid—and I'm not—Lord Garmadon destroyed the Great Devourer."
He glanced at Jinx. "Well, besides Jinx, of course."
Jay huffed, rubbing his temples. "Hehe… okay, see, there's been a huge misunderstanding. We were actually the ones who dest—"
Dareth held up a hand. "Shh-shh-shh. Doesn't matter."
Jay looked like he was about to explode.
Dareth crossed his arms dramatically. "I'll allow you to train here… but only on one condition."
Kai narrowed his eyes. "What condition?"
Dareth suddenly pointed at them. "You must defeat me."
The ninja stared at him.
Dareth grinned, stepping into a battle stance. "That's right! I, Grand Sensei Dareth, Master of all Animal Fighting Styles, challenge one of you to a battle!" He took a deep breath. "I know the tiger!" He slashed the air. "Rawrr!"
Kai and the others blinked.
Dareth crouched, swaying side to side. "I know the python!" He hissed, wiggling his fingers like fangs.
Jinx covered his mouth, stifling a laugh.
Dareth suddenly stood tall, puffing out his chest. "And I know the penguin!" He flapped his arms, bouncing on his heels. "Awk! Awk!"
Kai rolled his eyes.
Then, without warning—
FWOOOSH!
A burst of Spinjitzu erupted from beneath Kai's feet, spinning him into a fiery whirlwind. The dojo trembled as a gust of wind surged through the room.
In an instant, Kai lashed out, catching Dareth in the chest with a controlled burst of force.
Dareth let out a stunned "HURK—" before flying backward into the trophy wall.
CRASH!
Silence.
Dareth groaned from within the pile of fallen trophies. His head popped out, dazed. "...How did you—?"
Kai smirked, arms crossed. "You might know animals…" He let a small flame dance in his palm before extinguishing it. "But we know Spinjitzu."
Dareth blinked. Then grinned.
"...You can train in my dojo anytime."
Aboard the Black Bounty, tension hung thick in the air as the Serpentine and Pirates stood in an awkward standoff. Neither party could fully grasp how the other had ended up on their ship, and confusion swirled like the storm clouds gathering outside.
Garmadon stood at the helm, his mind racing. The Mega Weapon, he thought, It's not just a weapon of destruction... it's something else.
His fist tightened around the Mega Weapon, his voice a low murmur only he could hear.
When I wished it to destroy the Dragon, it wouldn't. But when I wished for a better crew... The Mega Weapon doesn't have the power to destroy... it only has the power to create!
His gaze flickered over the motley crew before him—the Serpentine, who hissed in confusion, and the Pirates, grinning with arrogant insolence. The tension was palpable, but Garmadon's mind was elsewhere, pondering the weapon's true potential.
Suddenly, a sharp voice broke his reverie.
Spitta sneered from the corner. "I still don't see how you got on our ship!"
Garmadon's eyes flicked to the Serpentine warrior, but he didn't answer. Instead, he addressed the bickering crew, his tone low and dangerous.
First Mate, a grizzled pirate with a crooked grin, jabbed a finger at the Serpentine. "Your ship? We built 'er! So why don't you slither yourself off the plank?"
Garmadon, ignoring the jab, finally spoke with surprising authority. "I finally have a crew I can be proud of. Batten down the hatches, fellas!"
A harsh voice barked back from the pirates.
Soto—the pirate captain with a swagger to match his confidence—stomped forward, narrowing his eyes. "Who you callin' 'fellas,' four arms?"
Garmadon sneered, a malicious grin spreading across his face. "Me, Lord Garmadon. I created you, you fool. I am your captain now."
Soto snorted, crossing his arms defiantly. "Created me? I be Captain Soto, stealer of the seas! Raise your weapon!"
A cold laugh escaped Garmadon's lips. "You're welcome to try."
Meanwhile, Fang-Suei muttered low to Mezmo, both Serpentine far from understanding what had transpired. "The Mega Weapon must've created them," Fang-Suei whispered, eyes flicking to the pirates, "But now Garmadon's too weak to use it."
Soto, not one for patience, jabbed a finger toward a pirate. "Take it from him."
Garmadon's eyes widened in alarm. "Ugh, no! Don't! It's too powerful! Only I can—"
Before he could finish his protest, a pirate lunged forward, swiping at the Mega Weapon with a greedy glint in his eye. The instant the pirate made contact, a brilliant golden light erupted, engulfing the pirate entirely.
Garmadon gasped, stumbling back as he dropped to his knees, breath shallow. He looked up, fury and confusion warring in his expression. "What... what just happened?" His voice cracked as the power of the Mega Weapon drained from him, his once towering strength now a faint whisper.
A grunt escaped his lips as he collapsed to the floor, his body trembling. "Only I have the power to wield the Mega Weapon. It may have drained my powers for now, but when my strength returns, I will deal with you."
Soto let out a mocking laugh, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Then that's too bad for you, because we're taking back our ship." His voice became steely. "Lock him and all his reptilian friends into the brig!"
No-Eyed Pete, an intimidating figure with a set of piercing blue eyes, grabbed Garmadon by the collar, dragging him toward the brig. "Awk, left! No, your other left!" He shouted at the pirate crew, struggling to keep the captain under control. The sound of clanking chains echoed through the hall as the Serpentine were locked up, their hisses of protest filling the air.
Once inside the brig, Garmadon, now stripped of the Mega Weapon, glared through the bars. His body still ached, but the look of simmering fury in his eyes spoke volumes—this wasn't over. Not by a long shot.
Meanwhile, on the ship's upper deck, Soto and the First Mate stood over the controls.
Soto ran a gloved hand across the ship's raider scanner, his expression hardening. "Someone's done something to my ship," he muttered.
The First Mate sighed deeply, tapping his fingers on the ship's console. "She ain't like how we left her."
Soto furrowed his brow, looking down at the screen. "Hm... must be some sort of treasure map." His fingers pressed a button, and the Black Bounty shuddered beneath them as it lurched into motion.
Parrot perched on the shoulder of No-Eyed Pete, squawking. "Flying! Awk! Flying!"
Soto smiled darkly, leaning over the railing to see the ship lift off the ground. "Ah, your bird speaks the truth." He paused, his voice almost delighted. "A flying ship! Oh, this is too good. Just wait till they get a load of us!"
He turned to the First Mate, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Head for Ninjago, we're going to show them what a real pirate crew can do!"
With that, the pirate ship soared toward Ninjago, its destination set, and Soto's plans for chaos already in motion.
The dojo echoed with the rhythmic sounds of motion—grunts, strikes, and the thud of padded feet on wooden floors. In the heart of it all, Lloyd stood, sweat beading on his forehead, face flushed from effort but eyes bright with determination.
Jay zipped around him like a bolt of lightning, performing a fluid spinning kick before pointing dramatically. "You gotta be light on your feet! Like this! Hiyah!"
Cole stepped in, grounding the energy. "Balance the flash with power," he said, standing firm and demonstrating a controlled punch. "When you strike with your fists, focus. You may be small, but you're strong."
Lloyd inhaled, tightened his stance, and mimicked Cole's move. As his knuckles connected with the wooden training boards, a sudden rumble erupted from beneath their feet. The entire room shook violently. Dust rose. The boards splintered into a thousand pieces, and the force of the impact blasted the ninja backward, knocking them flat onto their backs.
Everyone stared at Lloyd, stunned.
Jay blinked, brushing off his jacket. "Dude... that was the power of the Staff of Quakes. And you did it without even touching the Golden Weapon!"
Zane, always analytical, stepped forward, brushing his chin with his fingers. "That confirms it. Lloyd, you possess the unique ability to harness all of the Elemental Powers. That's why the prophecy named you—you truly do have the potential to become the greatest ninja."
Lloyd's eyes widened, his voice filled with awe. "Really? Cool."
From the back corner, leaning against a support beam, Jinx scoffed playfully. "Yeah... after me, of course."
All eyes turned toward him. Every ninja, including Lloyd, gave Jinx a look—part amusement, part disbelief.
Kai raised an eyebrow. "Uhh, Jinx, I mean no offense, but Lloyd's the prophesied Green Ninja. You know, destined to fight Garmadon? I think he's gonna be stronger than all of us one day."
He didn't even finish the sentence before a shadowy tentacle lashed out from the corner of the dojo, grabbing Kai by the ankle and hurling him clean out the door with a startled yelp and a crash.
Silence fell. Even the wind outside seemed to pause.
Jinx exhaled slowly and stepped forward, the shadows around his feet dissipating like mist. His tone wasn't angry—just matter-of-fact.
"First of all," he said, brushing off his sleeves, "I can whoop all your butts with minimal to no effort, and we all know it. Don't take it personally—it's just facts. There's only one smart one in your group, and he's not the one who just got yeeted into a laundry line."
He folded his arms, his eyes flickering with calm confidence.
"Second... I've been training my elemental powers for twelve years. Twelve. That makes me the most experienced ninja in this dojo, period. Lloyd?" He turned to the green ninja, a hint of a smirk curling on his lips. "Maybe... maybe in a few years, you'll be able to push me. Maybe even tie me. But not today, and definitely not next week."
The room was dead quiet. The ninja just stared at him, eyes wide, processing what he'd said—and the worst part was, they knew he wasn't wrong. As much as their pride wanted to object, Jinx had the skills and the discipline to back it up.
Lloyd, oddly enough, just smiled. "So… you're like my warm-up boss?"
Jinx grinned, teeth sharp as ever. "Kid, I'm the secret boss you find after beating the game."
The other ninja groaned collectively, except for Zane, who nodded solemnly. "Technically accurate."
And from outside, muffled by the wall, Kai's voice drifted back in. "I'm okay! I landed in soup!"
The dojo burst into laughter, the tension broken—but a new sense of respect lingered in the air, especially toward both Lloyd and Jinx.
The sun filtered through the high windows of the Mojo Dojo, casting warm light across the training floor where Lloyd still stood among the shattered remains of the training boards. His chest rose and fell with labored breaths, the glow of newfound power still faintly shimmering around him.
Sensei Wu stepped forward, his expression calm but tinged with concern. His long robes barely rustled as he moved beside his nephew.
"With this power," Wu began gently, placing a hand on Lloyd's shoulder, "you must be careful. You must control it before it controls you."
Lloyd nodded solemnly, the weight of the words settling in like a stone in his chest. He didn't fully understand it yet—but he felt it. The responsibility.
"Pfft!" a voice broke the gravity like a rock through glass. "Not bad for a kid, I gotta admit," Dareth said, strolling forward with a swagger that seemed to defy the concept of self-awareness. He looked around at the others, rubbing his hands together. "But tell you what—why stop at ten boards?"
He pointed to the stack of shattered wood. "How about fifty? Stack 'em, boys!" he called out dramatically to no one in particular. Behind him, Wu exhaled slowly, the kind of sigh that carried years of silent suffering.
Without missing a beat, Dareth spun on his heel, eyes gleaming with flair. "And perhaps, if I—Grand Sensei Dareth—can break through them all…" he said, pulling a worn, mismatched brown ninja hood over his head with great ceremony, "you will finally allow me to join your team… and become…"
He struck a pose that was clearly meant to be heroic.
"The Brown Ninja!"
Jay burst out laughing so hard he had to steady himself against the wall. "The Brown Ninja? Oh man, you gotta be joking!"
Cole, arms crossed and as unimpressed as ever, shrugged. "Sorry, pal. Club's already full."
That's when Jinx noticed it.
As the others laughed or rolled their eyes, Sensei Wu's expression didn't match the mood. For the briefest of moments, something flickered behind his calm exterior—an echo of unease. His eyes narrowed slightly, not at Dareth, but at something... deeper.
Jinx's sharp eyes didn't miss it. Wu glanced—subtly, but deliberately—at Nya.
It wasn't long, barely a heartbeat, but in that second Jinx's instincts kicked in like lightning behind the eyes. The look wasn't of annoyance. It was something else. Guilt? Worry? A hidden plan?
Jinx tilted his head ever so slightly, his usual playful grin vanishing for a brief moment, replaced by something far more analytical. He didn't say anything aloud, but internally, alarms were starting to ring.
'What aren't you telling us, old man?' he thought.
Wu quickly returned to his serene stance, folding his hands behind his back. But the moment had happened, and Jinx didn't forget moments like that.
Something was brewing beneath the surface—something bigger than Lloyd's training or Dareth's silly dreams of brown-hooded glory. And whatever it was... Nya was somehow at the center of it.
Jinx's gaze lingered on Wu a second longer, silent as the shadows curling beneath his boots. Then he smirked again, hiding his thoughts behind his usual sharp smile.
This dojo had more secrets than broken boards—and he intended to uncover every single one and he was patient enough to wait for now.
Dareth, still rubbing his bruised hand from his earlier attempt, refused to give up. Puffing his chest out with exaggerated pride, he looked to his two loyal followers who were standing nearby with wooden boards stacked precariously.
"Okay, okay. Then perhaps this—" he declared, striking a dramatic pose as if he were on stage, "—demonstration of my superhuman strength will persuade you all."
He turned to his assistants. "Jeffy. Phil. Are we ready?"
Both men saluted clumsily, nearly toppling the boards. "Yes, Grand Sensei Dareth!"
The others barely kept from groaning.
Dareth stepped in front of the tower of fifty boards, cracking his knuckles with exaggerated flair. "Observe!" he boomed. "I call upon the mightiest creature to lend me strength... the Dragon! Heeyah!"
With all the grace of a falling tree, Dareth launched his fist forward—only to recoil instantly with a high-pitched scream.
"AAHHHH! My hand!!"
Everyone except Jeffy and Phil burst out laughing.
Jay doubled over, holding his ribs. "Oh, man. Ow! That was the most painful thing I've ever seen—and I've been electrocuted!"
Even Sensei Wu, composed as he always was, had to cover his mouth to stifle a chuckle.
The clouds parted as the Black Bounty cut through the sky like a ghost ship reborn. Its massive sails were stiff with wind, cannons gleaming, and tattered pirate flags flapping ominously.
The people below screamed and scattered, pointing up in horror and awe.
On deck, Captain Soto stood with arms crossed, surveying the city below with a gleam in his eyes. "What is this place, First Mate?" he asked, voice filled with hunger.
The First Mate, equally amazed, adjusted his cracked spyglass. "No idea, Cap'n. But it's loaded with riches."
Soto's grin widened. "A place to plunder. Never have me eyes seen such treasures!" He raised his voice for the whole crew to hear. "Boys—take whatever you want!"
Chaos erupted as pirates swung down ropes into the streets. Below, a businesswoman stumbled back, pointing up.
"Are those… pirates?!"
One of the cannons on the ship fired, a cannonball smashing through a skyscraper window. Glass rained down. Civilians screamed and fled in every direction.
The Postman, clutching a stack of envelopes, groaned. "Oh great. Now what?" A pirate yanked the mail out of his hands with a sneer.
"Hey! You can't do that!" the postman protested.
The pirate cackled. "Hahahaha!"
Soto leapt from the deck with supernatural agility, landing in front of a city bus. He stared at the massive vehicle.
"Aye… a creature," he muttered, drawing his blade. "Let's give 'im a taste of our steel!" The pirates followed with wild yells, swinging their weapons as they began attacking the bus, whose driver and passengers huddled inside in terror.
"It surrenders!" Soto roared. "Have at it, boys!"
"Oh, that's our ship!" Jay gasped, pointing to the Black Bounty gliding over the skyline.
"But pirates?" Lloyd asked in disbelief.
Cole frowned. "Pirates haven't been around for centuries."
Zane narrowed his eyes. "I sense Lord Garmadon is somehow behind this."
Jinx leaned casually on the railing, smirking. "Nice color. Garmadon's got taste."
Lloyd's eyes stayed locked on the flying ship. "How are we going to follow them?"
Kai held up a small object between two fingers. "Perhaps this can help…" he said reluctantly. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but… follow that ship."
Lloyd tugged on Kai's sleeve eagerly. "Please, please, please! I'll be super good!"
Zane shook his head gently. "The powers inside you are still too great… too uncontrollable."
Cole crossed his arms. "One of these days, you'll be able to join us. Just not today. Sorry, kid."
"Yea…" Jinx muttered behind them, cracking his neck with a grin. "I'll catch you slowpokes later."
The shadows around his feet suddenly deepened, expanding outward in a 20-meter radius as if the light had been swallowed whole. The dojo's walls shivered from the shift in energy. From the inky black emerged a flash of glowing lavender eyes, followed by a low, deep rumble.
A massive clawed wing exploded from the shadow, then a second. A great horned head emerged, followed by the sinuous body of Jinx's Elemental Dragon—dark as dusk and veined with violet light. Its wings beat the air with enough force to scatter leaves and send robes fluttering.
Jinx approached the beast without fear, placing a hand on its snout. The dragon purred low and deep like a thunderstorm resting between mountains.
"Hey girl," Jinx whispered, stroking the smooth scales. "How you been?"
The dragon nuzzled his palm in response, the purr vibrating through the earth beneath them.
Jay blinked, his jaw hanging open. "Okay… That's new."
"New?" Kai muttered, watching as Jinx climbed atop the dragon's back with practiced ease. "That's terrifying."
With a beat of its mighty wings, the dragon launched into the sky, carrying Jinx like a prince of shadows and storms.
The ninja stood there for a moment in silence.
"…We're gonna have to up our game," Cole said finally.
Zane nodded. "Agreed."
Lloyd just stared after Jinx's soaring figure, eyes wide with wonder—and just a hint of envy.
High above Ninjago City, Jinx soared effortlessly through the clouds, reclined atop his dragon's back like it was a living throne. The beast's wings cut through the wind with rhythmic beats, each stroke stirring the air like the pull of gravity itself had been rewritten. Beneath him, the world was shrinking—the chaos, the screams, the pirates—all distant noise.
With one hand, Jinx unwrapped a chocolate bar, taking a casual bite as if he were lounging on a sofa, not gliding thousands of feet above ground on a massive elemental dragon born from shadow and storm.
Then, he spotted it.
The Black Bounty.
Sailing through the clouds like a haunted fortress, its sails swollen with unnatural winds, its cannons still smoking. Pirates crawled over the deck, shouting orders, laughing with blades drawn.
Jinx's eyes narrowed. A smirk curled across his lips like a flame dancing along oil.
"Let's show them what happens when they piss us off, huh girl?" he said, his voice low and calm, dangerous in its serenity.
He reached forward, gently stroking the dragon's sleek, scaled neck. The beast gave a small, sharp roar, almost playful but filled with power. The sound rippled through the sky like thunder whispering secrets.
Jinx's smirk widened.
"Good girl," he praised. Then his gaze returned to the ship. "Now… they're moving a little too fast." His fingers flexed with purpose. "Let's slow them down."
He raised his hand, palm outward, eyes glowing faintly with violet light. The air shimmered around him, wind beginning to swirl like a storm answering his call. With a slow curl of his fingers—like a conductor summoning the first notes of a deadly symphony—the wind obeyed.
At first, it was just a subtle shift in the current.
Then, it hit.
A sudden, violent gust crashed against the Black Bounty's sails. The ship lurched backward with a groan of strained wood and creaking masts. The pirates stumbled, grabbing at rigging and railings as their skybound vessel was dragged—not by rope or chain—but by the will of a single boy riding a dragon of shadow.
Captain Soto's hat nearly flew off his head. "What in the seven seas—?! HOLD HER STEADY!" he shouted, gripping the wheel with white knuckles. "The wind's gone mad!"
"No, Cap'n!" yelled the First Mate, pointing ahead. "The wind's not mad. It's him!"
Jinx hovered directly in their path now, silhouetted by the sun behind him. The light streamed around his form, but his body was cloaked in dark tendrils of elemental energy, giving him the appearance of a wraith with a smile.
The dragon flapped its wings once—just once—and the air shattered like glass around it.
"Showtime," Jinx whispered, popping the last bite of chocolate into his mouth.
Below, the citizens of Ninjago saw a terrifying yet awe-inspiring sight: a shadow dragon locking eyes with a pirate ship in the sky, both suspended like gods in battle.
And Jinx?
He was just getting started.
Captain Soto braced himself against the wheel as the wind howled around them, tearing at sails and cloaks like angry spirits. His sharp eyes locked onto the boy atop the dragon, the one who dared to challenge his legendary ship with mere air.
"Fire those metal-looking things!" he bellowed, pointing toward the unfamiliar control panel on the deck—an addition none of the crew had ever seen before.
"Aye, Cap'n!" yelled one of the pirates, slamming a hand onto a blinking red button marked BOOST.
With a sudden blast, the Black Bounty's rear thrusters ignited, spewing steam and fire. The ship jolted forward with a deafening roar, engines whining as it broke free from the slowing grip of Jinx's manipulated winds. The entire vessel lurched ahead like a dragon snapping loose from its chains.
Jinx, still airborne, narrowed his glowing eyes. His dragon growled beneath him, wings beating harder as they picked up the sudden change.
The boy groaned in irritation. "Ughhh... they're actually pulling away..." he muttered under his breath, more to himself than to the beast he rode. He clenched his jaw. "That's what I get for slacking off on my wind element…"
He leaned forward, letting the breeze tug at his wild hair as he rubbed the back of his neck, stretching it like someone just waking up from a long nap. "Guess I've been relying too much on darkness lately."
Then he scowled, sighing like a tired sensei watching his students mess up a kata for the fiftieth time.
"I'm gonna have to bull—" He coughed quickly, glancing sideways as if Wu might be listening from a thousand miles away. "I mean… train the ninja. Really train them. Get this rust off me before it starts showing."
His dragon rumbled in agreement, and Jinx rolled his eyes with a smirk. "Don't start. You were there too when I was out here throwing whirlwinds for fun."
The Black Bounty veered toward the horizon, leaving a chaotic sky trail behind it.
Jinx's smirk returned, this time sharper. "Alright... time to crank it up."
He stood atop the dragon, balancing with ease despite the wind. Shadow tendrils flickered at his feet, anchoring him in place. His eyes ignited with light purple flame.
"Let's see how fast they can run... when the storm catches up."
And with a sharp whistle and a flick of his wrist, his dragon tucked its wings, dove through a curl of thundercloud, and streaked after the fleeing pirates—faster than sound, darker than shadow.
With a single mighty flap of her wings, the elemental dragon surged forward, slicing through the sky like a blade through silk. She wasn't bound by the laws of physics like ordinary creatures—she was born of wind and shadow, her form forged in the quiet corners of storms and nightmares. Air resistance didn't exist for her. In fact, if she truly wished, she could command the wind itself to propel her forward faster than thought. But much like her master, she preferred to take her time.
There was beauty in the chase.
Jinx stood with casual ease upon her back, unbothered by the impossible speeds. His cloak flared behind him, his shadow trailing like smoke, curling around his boots and tailing across her scales like silk threads. He munched lazily on the last piece of his chocolate bar, flicking the wrapper into a small purple flame that devoured it mid-air.
"Getting close, girl," he said, glancing ahead with a glint in his eye. The Black Bounty loomed in the distance—still trying to escape, its steam engines roaring, sails snapping like panicked wings.
The dragon gave a low, rumbling growl in response, a vibration that hummed through the air like thunder in a bottle.
"Alright," Jinx smirked, brushing her neck gently. "Let's stop 'em dead."
She heard the command without words. Her eyes flared an ethereal white, and as her jaws opened, the skies themselves seemed to take a breath.
WHOOSH.
A spiraling vortex of wind burst into life, not out of her mouth, but into it. It was a reverse gale—a vacuum, a funnel of sky that sucked the very air in front of her. Clouds warped and twisted, debris spiraled into the distance, and the Black Bounty's sails snapped backward with violent force.
The ship, mid-flight, suddenly halted, its momentum shattered. The pirates screamed as the deck tilted forward, sending barrels rolling and ropes snapping free. Gears groaned, and the engines sputtered under the unnatural pressure.
Then, like a spider reeling in her prey, the dragon's vortex began to pull the ship toward them.
Jinx grinned.
"Good girl," he praised, leaning forward to pat her obsidian-scaled neck with affection. The dragon purred—a deep, airy sound like wind running through cavern halls—and her wings kept steady, even as the chaos swirled beneath them.
The Black Bounty was no longer fleeing.
It was being dragged back, inch by inch, toward judgment.
Back in the bustling city, the chaos of the pirate invasion was still in full swing. But down a quieter alley, a glimmer of mischief lit up in Jay's eyes as he pointed to a modest costume shop with a flick of his thumb.
"Ah-ha!" he exclaimed, rushing toward it. "There are other ways a ninja can hide in plain sight."
Moments later, the group emerged one by one, dressed in cobbled-together pirate disguises. Jay twirled a plastic cutlass and adjusted his oversized tricorne hat.
"Wow," he said, clearly impressed with himself. "I'd plunder me."
Kai rolled his eyes, tucking his fiery red bandana behind his ear. "You look like a birthday party reject."
Meanwhile, on the Black Bounty, the air was thick with laughter and menace. Captain Soto stood proudly on the upper deck, looking down at a bound and shaking Dareth, who was teetering on the edge of a narrow wooden plank, high above the city streets.
"Hahaha!" Soto bellowed. "How about we have him walk the plank, lads?"
The crew of pirates erupted in cheers and drunken howls, banging mugs and weapons together in delight.
Dareth, despite his trembling knees, tried to stand tall. "You're making a big mistake," he said, puffing his chest out. "Don't make me call upon the Dragon."
Below, hidden among the pirate crew, Jay elbowed Kai and whispered urgently, "We've got to save him!"
Kai narrowed his eyes. "We can't get close without blowing our cover."
Soto turned back to his bloodthirsty audience. "Now then—who here wants to see him go splat?!"
The pirates roared louder, thrusting their swords into the air.
Jay raised his voice suddenly. "Who here wants to see him live?!"
A few pirates raised their hands out of instinct, cheered—then looked around, confused, as the enthusiasm quickly died into puzzled murmurs.
Soto blinked. "Hehe… The plank's getting shorter, huh?"
The plank creaked as it lowered a few more inches with a loud groan. Dareth wobbled, barely keeping his balance.
"Okay! Okay!" Dareth burst out in panic. "We don't have to do this, fellas! I—I'm a lousy martial artist, alright? What I do, I wouldn't even call it an art. And sure, I'm a brown belt, but I painted it. My trophies? All fake. The bowling one even says 'third place.'"
Kai and Jay groaned simultaneously, smacking their foreheads under their pirate hats.
And then—the push.
"Aaaah!" Dareth screamed as he plummeted—
—Only to land with a thump on the back of a majestic, multicolored Ultra Dragon that soared into view from below, wings flaring wide.
Lloyd grinned from atop the dragon's back. "Woo-hoo!"
Dareth blinked rapidly, clinging for dear life. "I-I called the Dragon. I—I called the Dragon!" He broke into hysterical laughter. "I knew it would work!"
Down below, the ninja wasted no time.
"NINJA, GO!"
Their pirate disguises were discarded in a blur of motion, replaced by their bright elemental gis as they flipped onto the ship's deck, weapons drawn and ready.
Soto snarled. "More pajama men?!"
A one-eyed pirate stumbled forward. "Where? I can't see!"
Kai twirled his katana. "Ninja versus pirates. Who will win?"
The deck erupted into chaos as the first punches were thrown and the clash of blades rang out. Pirates yelled, smoke flared from cannons, and the ninja danced between attacks with honed skill. Jay zapped a cutlass from a pirate's hand with a burst of lightning, while Cole sent three overboard with a ground-shaking stomp.
In the sky above, Jinx and his dragon circled like a storm cloud on the horizon—watching. Waiting.
But that didn't last long.
High above the fray, Jinx lounged on his dragon's back with a half-eaten chocolate bar in one hand and a bored look in his eyes.
Jinx: "Yeah… I'm bored."
With a sigh, he patted the side of his dragon's neck. "Go ahead and rest, girl."
Obediently, the massive winged creature gave a low rumble before folding her wings and slipping back into the swirling shadows below, her form vanishing seamlessly into the pool of darkness that followed Jinx like a second skin. A single flap of wind dispersed her trail as if she were never there.
Without pause, Jinx let the wind catch beneath his cloak, his body relaxing as he floated down from the sky like a falling feather. The breeze bent to his will, holding him aloft until his boots touched down gently onto the creaking deck of the Black Bounty.
His presence did not go unnoticed.
A nearby pirate turned to face him, snarling with a crooked blade in hand. But Jinx's eyes narrowed, not at the weapon—but at the faint golden shimmer that pulsed faintly around the pirate like a heatwave. His gaze sharpened. He'd only seen that kind of aura when dealing with the Golden Weapons of Spinjitzu.
Interesting.
"Something's off with you guys…" he muttered, barely audible over the clash of blades and cannon fire.
Then a dozen more pirates rushed him, blades raised and battle cries flying.
Jinx exhaled slowly, letting his fingers rest gently on the hilt of his katana—Silence. The long, slender blade shimmered with a dull black sheen, no ornament, no fanfare—just clean, honed death.
He didn't draw it.
Not yet.
Instead, he spun—Spinjitzu ignited, a spiraling tornado of wind and pale violet-gray energy whirling around him. The vortex howled like a wolf through the sails, knocking pirates off their feet and hurling barrels overboard. Any enemy who dared approach was flung back violently, clothes flapping, weapons spiraling from their hands.
The pirates couldn't see through the storm. But Jinx could.
He moved like a whisper within the gale, letting the wind guide him. One foot forward, a shift of the shoulder, and he appeared behind a pirate mid-swing. With a flick of his fingers, a blade was pulled from the pirate's belt by the wind and embedded into the mast.
Another pirate tried a frontal assault.
Jinx smirked. "Too slow."
He raised his palm and curved his fingers in a conductor's gesture. A focused stream of slicing wind roared forward like a compressed blade, cleaving the pirate's cutlass in half and sending him flying into a pile of rope and sails.
More came.
Wind currents surged beneath Jinx's feet, lifting him into the air for a moment. He rotated mid-flip, and at the apex, he finally drew his blade.
Silence whispered from its sheath with a breathless hiss, its edge catching the light in a way that seemed to devour it.
Three pirates charged him.
Jinx landed, turned, and vanished in a gust of wind.
By the time they realized he was gone, they collapsed—cuts on their weapons, their belts sliced clean, pants falling to their ankles. Not a single drop of blood spilled, but none would be getting up anytime soon.
He danced through the battlefield like a storm made flesh, his wind-enhanced speed turning him into a blur. Each strike of his katana was surgical, guided by the breeze and his own sharpened instinct. He wasn't just fighting with wind—he was wind.
Then, as the last pirate tried to escape over the railing, Jinx raised his hand again—fingers flat, palm out—and a circular wall of wind blasted the deck, pinning the man to the mast with an audible THWACK.
The wind calmed.
Jinx stood alone in the eye of the storm, his katana resting at his side, a calm expression returning to his face as though none of it had even happened.
He flicked a speck of dust from his shoulder and glanced toward the helm, where Soto had been watching in wide-eyed silence.
Jinx: "Next time… bring better pirates."
The shadows at his feet rippled again, signaling his dragon's rest was nearly over.
And Jinx wasn't done just yet.
The chaos had reached full-blown absurdity.
Jay, in a moment of improvisational brilliance—or clumsy panic—smashed open a gumball machine, sending a cascade of colorful spheres scattering across the street. In seconds, the entire area turned into a battlefield of slapstick.
Cole, slipping sideways, flailed as he landed hard on his back. "Ugh, Jay!"
Jay grinned sheepishly, barely managing to stay upright. "Oops!"
But there was no time to scold him. From the corner of the street, Lloyd let out a sharp battle cry, his eyes blazing with determination.
Lloyd: "Ninja, go!"
He leapt forward with surprising agility and boarded the Black Bounty, catching Zane and Captain Soto off guard. With a burst of raw momentum, he knocked them both aside like dominoes.
Soto, staggering to his feet, barked out the obvious: "Pirate, go!"
Back on deck, Kai stormed up the steps, red-hot frustration in his voice. "Lloyd! You're not supposed to be here!"
Before Lloyd could respond, Kai shoved him toward a barrel to hide him—but in a twist of irony, Lloyd's small frame and flailing arms knocked Kai overboard in the process.
Kai: "Aah!"
He grabbed hold of the ship's anchor by sheer instinct, clinging for dear life as it dragged through the city streets below, demolishing vendor stalls, shattering fountains, and toppling a public art display shaped like a giant eggplant.
Kai (shouting back): "Sorry about that! I'll pay for that! Ohhh, that's gonna leave a mark. Oops! Heh…"
Meanwhile, in the heart of the ship, Garmadon watched from the shadows, his skeletal fingers stretching out his weapon to hook the set of keys dangling just above him. They flew into his hand with a clang of metal, and a small, satisfied smile tugged at his lips.
Up above, Soto was furiously slashing at thin air as Lloyd darted between barrels and rigging, the pirate's eye twitching in disbelief.
Soto: "Come here, you blurry little munchkin!"
But Lloyd was too quick. As Soto lunged, Lloyd spun with instinct alone and shouted:
Lloyd: "Ninja, go!"
To everyone's astonishment—including his own—Lloyd erupted into Spinjitzu.
A green tornado of raw energy swirled around him, knocking off the lid of the barrel he had been trapped in. He hovered for a moment like a glowing top before the spin died down and he landed, wide-eyed and panting.
Lloyd: "Whoa! Spinjitzu! I just did Spinjitzu for the first time!"
He barely had a second to celebrate before Soto growled and lunged, booting him backwards—but not before Lloyd's arm whipped out and slapped a lever near the helm.
CLANG!
The anchor reversed its direction with a mechanical groan.
Just as Kai was about to collide with a glowing gas tanker, the anchor yanked him backward and launched him back toward the ship, his wild, ecstatic scream echoing as he flew through the air.
Kai: "Whoooo, ha-haaa!"
Deep within the shadows of the ship's lower deck, Garmadon stood still, watching the scene unfold through the slats in the wooden wall.
His red eyes gleamed with emotion—part pride, part calculation. He watched as Lloyd held his own, watched as Jinx from the far side of the deck weaved effortlessly through pirates like a phantom wrapped in storm and silence.
He could no longer deny it.
Garmadon: "My son… He's growing stronger."
He paced slowly, speaking to no one yet to everyone. His voice echoed off the damp walls, as though feeding some invisible presence listening with intent.
"And Jinx… a true prodigy. Far beyond his years. He adapts, evolves… and the darkness obeys him." Garmadon's smile stretched slightly, thin and cold. "I wonder… Could Father have been right all those years ago?"
A quiet, sharp breath.
"He might be useful... in my future conquest of Ninjago."
He turned away, shadows clinging to his form like smoke.
Garmadon: "But not yet… No, not yet. In time."
His voice turned low, into a growl laced with amusement. "Heh… Brother… You have done me a great service."
He laughed, a slow and rising echo of menace.
"Hahahahahaha!"
Lloyd's hands pulsed with unstable light, his expression one of panic and fierce resolve. The swirling green energy in his palms cracked with unpredictable arcs as it spilled outward in a burst of power.
"Lloyd! Don't! Your powers are too uncontrollable!" Kai shouted, his voice sharp with urgency. But the warning came a heartbeat too late.
The moment Lloyd released the energy, it surged like a wave across the deck. The wooden planks trembled beneath its pressure, ropes snapped, and the air pulsed with a concussive boom. The ship's mast—already strained from the chaos—shuddered violently before it splintered with a thunderous crack and came crashing down.
The mast struck the deck in a tangle of sails, wood, and ninja. Kai barely managed to roll aside. Cole groaned under a mess of broken spars, while Zane was knocked flat beneath a fallen boom. Jay's muffled voice emerged from under a flapping sail: "Ow. Every. Single. Time."
Soto stepped forward, a gleam of victory in his eyes as he straightened his hat with flair.
"Well, well, would you look at that," he said, gesturing broadly to the fallen ninja. "You lose, Pajama People."
The pirates jeered and whooped behind him, banging cutlasses against the deck. Some began preparing the plank, dragging the dazed ninja toward the edge with gleeful menace.
"Now…" Soto grinned, unsheathing his sword with a metallic rasp. "You're walking the plank."
But in his bravado, Captain Soto had made a grave mistake.
He had forgotten someone.
A windless silence fell.
Then Soto felt it. A chill, creeping up the nape of his neck like an invisible hand. His skin prickled. Every instinct—honed from years at sea—screamed at him to not turn around.
He turned anyway.
There, standing in the center of the ship, was Jinx.
His cloak rippled slightly, though there was no wind. His boots made no sound against the wood, and his presence alone dimmed the world, as though light itself hesitated to touch him. Behind those windswept bangs, his dark purple eyes burned—not with rage, but with something far more terrifying: calm amusement.
Soto took a half-step back.
Jinx raised his right hand, and the flames of deep violet fire coiled around his fingers. Flickers of crackling lightning laced through the flames like living veins of energy. The power didn't just radiate—it whispered.
And then, in a soft, almost cheerful voice, Jinx asked:
"May I ask… who will be walking the plank again, Captain?"
The tilt of his head was innocent. His tone was light. But Soto had stared down sea monsters and enemy fleets—and never had he felt fear like this.
This wasn't just a ninja.
This was a storm in human form.
From above, the Samurai Mech descended with a roar of jets and clanking steel. The gleaming red armor shimmered in the light, its massive limbs moving with precision and strength. Inside, Nya gripped the controls, eyes sharp with determination.
"Hold on!" she called out through the speaker system.
The mech's arms gripped the shattered mast, hydraulics hissing as she heaved the massive beam off the tangled ninja. With a careful twist, she pivoted and slammed it back into its socket, the ship's balance stabilizing immediately. The sails whipped back into motion, the deck once again level.
Jay sat up, brushing splinters from his hair and blinking against the sunlight.
"Who wins between pirates and ninja?" he began with a wide grin. "It's Sam—"
And then he froze.
A sudden weight pressed on his shoulders, like the atmosphere thickened just behind him. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead. He didn't need to turn around. He knew.
A very specific presence. A very specific gaze.
It wasn't Nya.
It wasn't Garmadon.
It wasn't even one of the pirates.
Slowly, Jay's cocky smile vanished, replaced by a sheepish expression as he raised his hands and corrected himself.
"It's... Jinx!"
Instantly, the invisible pressure behind him vanished.
Jay exhaled as if he'd been holding his breath for minutes. He gave a nervous chuckle and muttered, "He's got ears everywhere. And eyes. Definitely eyes."
From a few feet away, Cole—still dusting off his gi—grinned and patted Jay on the back. "Smart choice, sparky. Very smart choice."
The afternoon sun cast long shadows over the city streets, now calm after the chaos. Police officers, clad in dark uniforms and neon vests, secured the area. Pirates, bound in cuffs and grumbling curses under their breath, were ushered into the backs of police cruisers one by one. Their days of swashbuckling mayhem had come to an abrupt and very public end.
One of the officers gave a satisfied nod. "Good work, team."
Kai, arms crossed with a proud grin, nudged Lloyd forward and playfully ruffled his hair. "Don't forget to include this guy in the report."
Lloyd laughed, trying to squirm away from the noogie. "Hey! I helped!"
Nearby, another officer pointed toward the sky, then back at the ninja.
"Uh... that your ship?"
The ninja turned their eyes skyward. The Black Bounty hovered ominously above the city, its dark sails flapping in the wind. And there, at the helm, a familiar figure stood with arms folded and a smug expression on his shadowed face.
Jay groaned. "It sure is."
A dark chuckle echoed from above, carried on the breeze like a storm cloud rolling in.
Lord Garmadon, clad in his sinister armor, smirked as he called down, "Sorry, you snooze, you lose."
"Knew it," Kai muttered, fists clenching. "Lord Garmadon!"
Lloyd stepped forward, his eyes narrowing. "Dad..."
Garmadon's expression shifted—just slightly. There was a flicker of something behind his cold gaze. "You're growing stronger, son. But you'll never be strong enough to defeat me. Give up now, before it's too late."
Lloyd glanced over his shoulder at the ninja—his team, his family—then back at his father. His small hands curled into fists, but he didn't back down.
"No," he said, firm and calm. "I stand with them."
There was a pause.
Then Garmadon let out a cold laugh. "So be it... another day, ninja. Another day." His eyes narrowed, but this time they weren't focused on Lloyd.
They were focused on Jinx, who stood silently at the edge of the crowd, arms crossed and one eyebrow raised, as if he'd been expecting that.
"And you, Jinx," Garmadon called, his voice lowering into a sharper edge, "we'll be seeing each other very soon."
Jinx gave him a devilish smile, his voice smooth and unwavering. "Oh, I hope so. I can't wait."
With a dramatic gust of wind and a flash of lightning, the ship surged forward and vanished into the clouds. Garmadon's echoing laughter rolled through the sky like thunder.
Jay dropped his head into his hands. "Great. Lord Garmadon's back... and now he's got our ship."
Cole clapped him on the shoulder. "Well, at least we've got this little guy."
Lloyd grinned. "I'm not that little."
Suddenly, a high-pitched whistle cut through the air, followed by a voice trying (and failing) to sound intimidating.
"Yah!" Dareth leapt from behind a lamppost, attempting a surprise attack on Jay.
Jay didn't even flinch. He instinctively flipped Dareth over his shoulder and onto the pavement with a grunt.
"Ow!"
The ninja burst into laughter.
Dareth groaned from the ground, looking up at them with a sheepish grin. "Oh, come on, guys. I Dareth you to forgive me."
More laughter followed, light and carefree, echoing into the now-peaceful city streets. For today, Ninjago was safe once more—but the war between shadows and light was far from over.