Chapter 45: Grave Danger

The Ninja used R.E.X. to traverse under the Endless Sea.


"We're almost to the Tomb of the First Spinjitzu Master" Zane informed the others


"Yeah. Can't believe we're almost there after all we've been through" Cole said


"I can't believe I'm underwater" Kai comments


"You? What about me? Just how this is this glass?" Cole taps the glass a couple times.


Wu appears on screen "We're heading to your location now. With Morro already ahead of you and able to foresee the traps protecting the tomb with the Sword of Sanctuary, it's going to be up to you four to find the Realm Crystal before he does"


"Hehe, Cole's a Ghost, Kai can't swim, we have no magical sword, and all of us have no Elemental Powers" Jay laughs nervously "What could go wrong?"


Misako appears on screen as well "I may not know the three tests you're about to face, but I discovered a riddle that makes reference to it that may help: A Spinjitzu Master can. A Spinjitzu Master cannot. To move forward, don't look ahead, to find his resting spot."


"Huh. That's food for thought" Cole says


Jay sees a Leviathan and gulps "Speaking of food, we're about to be some!"


The Leviathan cracks R.E.X.'s glass and Kai whines "Why did the tomb have to be underwater?"


"Hold on!" Zane shouts steering R.E.X through rocks that the Leviathan gets stuck in. Everyone cheers.


The Ninja arrive at the tomb's entrance.


"If you wanna hide a tomb, this looks like a good place. We're here" Cole says as they exited


Jay picks up a cloth left behind by Morro "Argh! There goes any hope Morro couldn't find this place"


"Hey, stay positive. We're about to risk our lives going through traps we know nothing about. All we have to rely on is each other. At least feel luck we got this far" Kai said


"Oh, I'm sorry. You're right. What was I thinking? Hey, there goes any hope Morro couldn't find the tomb! We're not alone! Yay! Now we're gonna have to fight him again! Sure we got our tails handed to us last time, but you never know in the future, because Ninja never quit!" Jay's voice goes back to a normal tone "Better?"


Zane points to a statue "Look"


"The First Spinjitzu Master. Creator of all Ninjago" Cole says in awe


They bow in respect as the ship speaks "Destination reached. Auto return initiated"


"Auto return? No, no! Bad, R.E.X.! Bad!" Jay shouts


They chase after R.E.X., but it submerges underwater.


"Our Aeroblade weapons were in there" Zane says


"Not to mention our only way back" Kai sighs


"Hey, stay positive! Who needs a way back when we gotta go that way?" Jay gestors to the tomb


"No sword, no powers, no problem. We can do this as long as we got each other, right?" Kai questions


They go to the first test and see doors with symbols on each.


"Ooh! Why did it have to be tests?" Jay complains "Why can't the tomb just be protected by Dragons? We're good with Dragons."


"I think we're supposed to pick a door, but which one?" Kai questions


"Um, what was it Misako said?" Jay asks


"A Spinjitzu Master can. A Spinjitzu Master cannot. To move forward, don't look ahead, to find his resting spot" Zane reminds them


"A Spinjitzu master can. Can what?" Kai questions


"Don't know but let me guess, pick the wrong door and we'll be in a realm of hurt" Cole replies


"The symbol above this door, it's a tornado. This could be the one, right?" Jay suggests


"You could be right" Kai says and Jay reaches for the door


"don't" Zane grabs his arm


"W-what is it?" Jay asks


"We're inside a zoetrope" Zane replies


"A zoe-what?" Kai asks


"A zoetrope. The engravings in rapid succession creates a moving image" Zane explained


"A Spinjitzu Master can. We can do Spinjitzu!" Kai shouts finally understanding it


"Exactly" Zane says as he does Spinjitzu. Zane stops and points to a door with the corresponding image "That one. That's the door out"


"I don't know, Zane. Isn't that the same door we came in? Are you sure?" Cole asks


"Are you sure you want to doubt a Nindroid?" Zane questions


"Open the door. Let's find out" Kai commands


Jay opens it and finds the second test.


"But...that's wasn't here before" Cole says confused "How can it be the way, if that's the way we came in?"


Kai smiles "Well, welcome to the Tomb of the First Spinjitzu Master"


"Hey, hey! Nice one, Zane. Who needs the Sword of Sanctuary when you've got a Nindroid" Jay says happily


Kai notices a golden staff "The Staff of the First Spinjitzu Master"


"P.I.X.A.L. can see no pattern. For this riddle room, I'm at a loss" Zane says


"The first test was A Spinjitzu Master can. So this one's A Spinjitzu Master cannot" Cole says


"Hmm" Kai steps on a tile that activated a trap "Uh-oh!"


Everyone dodges it.


"How does one reach the staff if it becomes more difficult with every step to get there? If I'm correct, this riddle room poses quite the conundrum" Zane says


"If a Spinjitzu Master can't do it, how are we supposed to reach the staff?" Cole questions


"Watch and learn" Kai uses Airjitzu, but activated another trap "Huh? What—uh-oh!" He dodges it, but activates more traps in the process.


Jay accidentally stepped back and stepped on a tile.


Cole gets hit, but was unaffected "Wait, I'm a ghost. What am I worried about?" The wrecking ball pushes a button and water starts leaking out "That! That, I can worry about!"


"I can make it" Kai says


"Kai!" Zane shouts


"No!" Cole shouts


After no more traps are active, the Ninja are each standing on their own tiles.


"Wait a minute, the riddle for this room is A spinjitzu master cannot, what's the first rule of being a ninja?" Cole asks them


"A ninja never quits?" Zane replies confused


"Exactly, and that's why we can't do it. Because a Ninja would never give up. I got an idea" Cole says and jumps off his tile though a hole.


"Cole!" they all shout


"Whoo-hoo! Haha! Come on down and enjoy the ride!" They hear Cole shout


The Ninja jump down and falls down a slide. They fall through a wall, leading them to the third test.


"Is everyone okay?" Zane asks


Jay climbs up a wall "Oh, it's a maze! I'm great at mazes!"


Kai looks at his reflection, but notices he looks older "Huh! Whoa! If my reflection means anything, I'm starting to think we won't be breaking out of this maze any time at all"


Zane looks as well "My reflection. Is that...me? I look older, but our attire is different. I don't believe these reflections reveal our inability to escape, but a mere glimpse of our future selves"


"Misako said "To move forward, don't look ahead." Is that what it means?" Cole says then looks into a stalagmite "Wait a minute, why is it I can't see my reflection? Where is my reflection?"


"It's probably because you're a Ghost" Kai suggests


"Hey, guys, guess what. I get an awesome eyepatch! And there's something else" Jay gasps when he sees it's Nya.


"What, Jay? What is so great that you see that I clearly cannot?" Cole asks


"N-nothing. Just an eyepatch" Jay says


They hear a scream and turn to see Aria and a blonde boy on the ground.


"Hanabusa get off me!" Aria shouts pushing him off


"S-sorry your highness" he stood up and helped her up


"Aria!" The ninja shout surprised


Aria looked at them "Boys... what are you guys doing here?"


"We're finding the First Spinjitzu's Master tomb remember" Jay reminds her


"yeah yeah I know, but what are you doing here... in the cave?" Aria asks


"This is his tomb, we're solving the riddles to find his resting spot" Cole clarifies


"what are you doing here Aria?" Kai asks


"Well you know... just tracking down a few escaped souls" Aria replies casually


"Since when is that your job?" Zane questions


"Since I took over my father's tittle and my mother's position as empress of all things evil and dark in this world" Aria replied


"Being the mistress of evil sounds like hard work" Zane tells her


"it is" Aria sighs


"And who is he?" Kai asks pointing to the blonde boy


"I am Hanabusa Aido, my Lord's personal guard" he replies 


"Hanabusa follows me everywhere to carry out my orders and protect me" Aria explains "not that I need the protection"


"Not in the slightest" Cole agrees


"So your hunting down souls, would that be Morro?" Zane asks "the ghost that's possessed Lloyd and is after the tomb?"


"Wait he possessed Lloyd?!" Aria shouts angrily "Is that who I saved your asses from? why didn't you tell me sooner, do you know how dangerous it is for Lloyd?! Lloyd's soul can be destroyed!"


"We would've told you sooner if we knew it was that dangerous" Kai says worriedly "Is he going to be ok?"


"I don't know" Aria sighs "God damn it" she turns and looks in a crystal "...what are these things?"


"We believe it shows us our future selves" Zane tells her


Jay, who was looking at himself in the crystal looks over at Aria's.



"woah woah woah" Jay says "who's that?"


"...for once" Aria looks at him "I can't answer that.. i have no idea"


"Wait a minute, I think I see me" Cole suddenly says and takes a closer look, but it's not him "It's Morro! He's in the maze too!"


Morro appeared and swings his sword at Jay.


Jay runs away "Aah! He's attacking an unarmed man!"


Aria shot purple fire at Morro who dodged it before he hits Jay.


"thanks Aria" Jay said going behind her slightly


Aria pushes Jay out of the way as Morro swings the sword and she hits him right in the gut with an energy ball.


"nice shot!" Jay cheered


Morro gets back up and they continue fighting


Kai notices that more icicles form when one of them is sliced off "Come on! Catch me if you can!"


"Kai no!" Aria shouts when Morro goes after him


Kai leads him to a pile of icicles and traps him.


"No! You can't trap me. I'll find you, Ninja. Just wait, you'll see!" Morro shouts


The ninja all quickly regroup.


"Quick, how do we get out of here?" Jay asks


"To move forward, don't look ahead" Zane replies


Aria looked at them "Don't look ahead? Then look below"


"You're right, there's light. Everyone, dig!" Kai commands


After a bit of everyone digging they fall down.


"Over there" Aria points to a skeleton holding the realm crystal


"It's him. The First Spinjitzu Master" Kai says as they approach him


The ninja all bow in respect, Zane then takes the realm crystal


"How does it work?" Kai questions


"How it works is you'll hand over the Crystal, or say goodbye to your friend" Morro says


The ninja look and see Morro out of Lloyd's body, holding the sword to him.


"I'm sorry. I couldn't stop him" Lloyd apologizes weakly


"or how about you give us our brother back and I won't have to tear your soul out painfully" Aria threatened as her eyes glowed purple


"Feisty, just like your mother" Morro says and Aria growled taking a step forward


"Aria don't" Kai said holding her back "he'll hurt Lloyd"


"So what'll it be?" Morro asks


"let me at him, I'll end this fast" Aria says


"it's too risky" Zane argues "but if we hand him the Crystal, he'll usher the reign of his master, cursing Ninjago and every realm"


"But if we don't, when has he never made good on a threat?" Cole questions "Look at Lloyd. He's too weak to protect himself"


"Ugh, either option totally stinks. What do you think, Kai? What do we do?" Jay asks


"Stop stalling! Give me the Realm Crystal, or else!" Morro shouts


"We're not stalling! We're thinking!" Kai says and the Ninja huddle together "He's totally right, I'm stalling. What are we gonna do?"


"Ugh, this guy really chaps my hide. I swear, when this is all over..." Cole's anger made the ground tremble a bit.


"Now that Morro's out of Lloyd's body, your powers are starting to come back" Aria points out


Jay grunts "yeah, but like Lloyd, they're weak. And we're in no position to fight back"


Kai smirks and whispers to Aria


"Times up!" Morro shouts "You leave me no choice"


"Wait! We'll give you the Realm Crystal!" Kai shouts


Morro laughs, Aria heats up the realm crystal before throwing it. Morro catches it but drops it into a river because it was too hot.


"The Crystal! What have you done!?" Morro shouts and pushes Lloyd into the stream with wind


"Lloyd!" the ninja shout


Kai and Cole chases after Lloyd while Aria, Zane and Jay goes after Morro.


Zane freezes the Sword before Morro can stab Jay, Kai dives in and grabs Lloyd. Jay uses his Lightning, but Morro dodges and it hits Zane instead. Aria breaks apart the ground attempting to trap Morro but he dodges.


Cole pulls both Kai and Lloyd up, he sees the Crystal fall into the waterfall and so does Morro.


Morro uses his Wind to grab the Crystal.


"No!" the ninja shout


"Aria hide!" Lloyd shouts with all his energy


A beam shoots out of the realm crystal and hits Aria.


"Aria!" the ninja shouts


The beam stopped and the crystal was glowing purple now. Aria fell to the ground unconscious.


"sorry princess, it's nothing personal" Morro says as he made his escape


-


After Aria regained consciousness the ninja all walked up to the cave's exit seeing the bounty not too far away.


"You all sacrificed so much to save me" Lloyd says


"Heh, I promised to look after you" Kai smiled


"But now Ninjago's gonna be cursed" Lloyd said worried


"but now we have you back" Cole adds


"And now our powers are back" Jay added


"And mine are gone" Aria mumbled to herself


"As you get strong, so will we. And they haven't even seen us at full strength" Cole smirked


"You don't need to worry about anything" Kai patted Aria's head "we'll protect you until you're at full strength"


"..right" Aria wrapped her arms around him and buried her head in his chest "I missed you guys" 


Kai smiled and kissed the top of her head "I missed you too"


Lloyd looked away sadly as Kai and Aria kissed.

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