A/N: Before I start the next chapter there is another retcon that I will add to the story that I forgot to add last chapter.
In the first actual chapter it was stated how FSM had all Elements and Essences just like Theo does, this is now changed, FSM only has the Elements and Essences he is confirmed to have in cannon while Theo just has all the Elements and Essences in the series as he always did, this is an important detail and will be explored in later segments of the story.
These are just some fun facts about (17 of them) Theo and his relevance going forward.
#1: The idea of Theo is inspired off of Akira from "Ninjago: The Hidden Spinjitzu Master" written by SilverStorm8.
#2: Theo's favorite Elemental Power is Brute Force, and his favorite Elemental Essence is tied between Golden Power, Creation, and Destruction.
#3: Theo does not like the Overlords power(s) and his Essence of Darkness because he sees it as a disgrace to the Oni Heritage; This is because in this AU Darkness is a sort of corrupted, malevolent, and enhanced form of Destruction created by the Overlord, though Theo still has this Essence too for reasons I will not elaborate on.
#4: Theo does not favor Oni over Dragons or Dragons over Oni, he does not see the Oni as evil but misunderstood; Theo in turn honors and respects both Oni and Dragon heritage respectfully.
#5: Theo's Oni Form is more intimidating than Lloyd's and Garmadon's, and of course far more powerful.
#6: Theo and Lady Bone Demon/Saria are not really love interests in a way; Despite the things in Multidimensional Makeshift and the reference in the last chapter it was more of a oneshot concept per-say and her brief appearance was to show that I did not forget her, that is not to say what happened was non-cannon however moving forward I do not have any more plans for Lady Bone Demon/Saria and will be rarely mentioned.
#7: Theo may have a crush on Akira (SilverStorm8's Ninjago OC) due to their similar nature and personalities but this is more of a concept/idea and not something that is confirmed or I exactly have plans for in the main scheme of things especially due to the differing stories but I cannot say for sure about anything here.
#8: Just to be perfectly clear Lloyd and Theo's relationship is supposed to be like brothers (similar to Lloyd with Kai and Nya) and nothing else, although most people are aware I think this should be cleared up.
#9: Theo would not be bound by the digital rules of Prime Empire.
#10: Nadhakans Djinn Blade is not powerful or potent enough to hold Theo or his soul.
#11: Theo got his chaotic and mischievous habits from hanging out with Thunderfang as a child.
#12: As for "family" his "parents" are unknown (there will be a full reveal of Theo's origin story, but not here of course) as a child he saw (and may still see) Thunderfang as his older brother and best friend, he saw (and may still see) Firstbourne as his mother, he saw (and may still see) the Arc Dragon of Focus as his mentor, and he saw Omega as an acquaintance.
#13: Theo is actually as wise, if not more wise than Wu and the FSM, and could be just as great if not a better Sensei or teacher than the two, he just chooses to commonly go by his laid back and mischievous personality.
#14: No, Theo is not related to the FSM.
#15: Theo can use all weapons and is a better fighter than all the Ninja, Wu, and Garmadon combined but he is more so on the level of the FSM in terms of skill.
#16: Theo's power is pretty much equal to a Source Dragon at this point in time, this will be elaborated upon later in the story.
#17: Theo is incapable of having any of his Elemental Powers or Elemental Essences stolen by any means, not Chen's Staff, not Chronosteel, not the Element Cup, not even a Source Dragon could take his powers. Theo also has a limited immunity to Vengestone because of his specific relation to his elements via his bloodline and his extreme degree of control over them; The latter fact is inspired from an immunity for Akira by SilverStorm8.
Also three more important facts, to be clear not retcons:
#1: Lloyd still has his Golden Power and is still able to use Fire, Earth, Ice, and Lightning unlike his original version. This is because in the earlier chapters Garmadon restored the powers of the original four Ninja by destroying the Mega Weapon and unleashing the Elements inside which went into to the four, because of this the Golden Weapons no longer exist anymore and Lloyd still has the four Elements of Creation. Lloyd can switch his Spinjitzu between Green and Gold and commonly uses Green for obvious reasons.
#2: Lloyd has near-full mastery of the Golden Power (even if he was to gain full mastery it still would not compare to Theo's Golden Power) due to Theo teaching him recently after the events of the last chapter, Lloyd also goes by the title of the Green Ninja once more because he prefers the main gi and colours; I do not plan to have Lloyd lose his Golden Power in this story.
#3: This one is not just a Theo fact; Umbralsage and Theo were created from the same conditions though calling Umbralsage an Oni and Dragon Hybrid like Theo is not really a fitting term for what he is, and yes by extension Umbralsage has the same powers as Theo but for his skills, goals, and other things you will just have to wait and find out.
One more thing; since Lloyd still has his Golden Power (again, not planning on having him lose it like he does in the original series) and Theo has his powers, expect to see some good OVERPOWERED cooking in the tournament, and of course the whole series in general but you get the point, and with all that out of the way, here is your new chapter:
[3P POV]
On a lush green unknown island with a slightly rocky terrain we find Theo and Lloyd in the middle of said island and while Lloyd camouflages in an attempt to take down Nindroids in secret Theo came up from above with the Element of Earth causing a massive crater in the ground sending many of them flying while Lloyd goes and takes the remaining out in secret, after running through the small jungle and arriving in the medium sized mountain the two share individually and skillfully evade the lasers before ending up in the center.
Lloyd is caught off guard while Theo remains on guard while both of them dodge the lasers from the Nindroids, Theo and Lloyd through a ball of Energy and Heat before both of them utilize a green and amethyst Spinjitzu Tornado to take out the rest of them, as a boulder begins to fall Lloyd and Theo run to the right and tie themselves up with two ropes and drop down, after the "Necral Armour" is in sight Lloyd attempts to reach it but fails however Theo manages to grab it effortlessly with pure skill alone, as the armour digitally evaporates along with everything else the simulation ends
"Impressive, i'm actually surprised you managed to reach it Theo, though unfortunately I cannot say the same for you Lloyd; Then again I didnt expect you to be quite so rough on my Security Droids" Cyrus borg says "If only Theo could steal the Necral Armour out of us both, then I doubt anyone else could; It's secure but where's the real one?" Lloyd asks "Some secrets are best kept safe" Cyrus Borg replies.
"Lloyd, Theo, where are the other Ninja? I asked for all of you to take part in this test" Wu asks "Oh uh, they really wanted to be here–" Lloyd tries to make an excuse for them but Theo cuts him off "They arnet dealing with the loss of Zane very well, I dont blame them" Theo says with a look of sorrow "I understand perfectly well, the loss of Zane has affected us all I havent even heard word from my assistant PIXAL since his memorial, its heartbreaking" Cyrus Borg adds.
"If we dwell too long on whats missing we fail to see what can be gained, the absence of Zane will either tear you five apart or bring you closer together the choice is yours" Wu claims "I'll do what I can, but it wont be easy" Lloyd says "The greatest lessons never are" Wu replies Okay Theo here is where I want you to be in a few hours" Lloyd elaborates on his plan to Theo.
{Scene Break}
At the restaurant Theo, Lloyd, Jay, and Cole are sitting at a table, as the bell tingling sound is heard signifying the door his been opened Kai walks through "Kai over here" Lloyd calls "Jay, Cole, Theo?" Kai asks "Heh, the runt tricked us all" Jay says annoyingly about Lloyd, Theo's face darkens "Care to repeat that little Walker" Theo sinisterly asks as his eyes briefly turn bright purple, Jay decides to shut up immediately.
Kai reaches out to grab the food going by but Lloyd grabs his arm before he could "We talk first, then we eat" Lloyd issues "Ugh trust me do you know what ive had to have stirring at all this noodle goodness? Your late" Cole adds "Make it quick" Kai says "I know without Zane things have been different but we have to move on, the reason I brought you all here is because… Maybe we should add someone new to our team?" Lloyd elaborates.
"A new Ninja?" Kai asks "Are you crazy" Jay adds "Come on, Zane's irreplaceable" Cole adds "I know "I cared for him too, but now its time to care about this team" Lloyd explains "Maybe without Zane there is no team" Kai claims, everyone aside from Theo turn their heads down in slight sorrow before three strange dressed men walk through the door and shove the people in front of the counter out of the way before taking all the money in the cashier and shoving the man onto the food being passed by the contraption.
"All right, now their our problem" Cole states "No need I will handle this" Theo says as he channels the Element of Shockwave and throws it against the men taking them out instantly, they then get back up and run outside the back end of the restaurant and the Ninja as well as Theo run to the same area before finding something resembling a mural and everyone gasps "Its Zane" Kai exclaims "What does it say?" Cole asks, Lloyd picks up the note "It says… He's alive" Lloyd states "Hey Theo, you said you can see the future can you see if this is all really true?" Kai asks.
"Uhm... Sure" Theo replies, Theo then focuses and uses his future sight and managed to foresee some of the events of the tournament of Element, some things he is sure about, some things that may come to be however he is certain that Zane is indeed alive and where he is exactly "Its true" Theo replies and everyone gasps "Zane really is alive?" Jay asks rhetorically in disbelief "Look I think this were meant for us too" Lloyd points out to the fortune cookies "Fortune cookie, very peculiar" Jay claims as he takes alongside everyone save Theo and Cole which the latter just ate his.
"Uh, you do realize there is a fortune inside right" Kai asks, more so clarifying "Ah, so thats why they're called that" Cole exclaims "Listen to this, Master Chen has personally invited you to participate in his Tournament of Elements" Lloyd read out, while Theo didnt know what this is he couldnt help but think of the Tournament of Sources but if he had to guess considering the name it was presumably a similar set of events "Wait a minute, are you saying that Mr. Chen the same guy filling my belly with delicious goodness is actually Master Chen?" Cole rhetorically asks "Secrecy is of the utmost importance, tell no one or suffer the consequences" Kai reads out "If you ever want to see your friend again meet on the pier at midnight and leave your weapons behind" Jay adds.
The fortunes then evaporate out of the Ninja's hands save Cole as it evaporated in his stomach causing him to burp "Ugh at least I know I was invited" Cole states "You dont think–" Lloyd says but is cut off "It could be a trap, a lie to lure us in" Kai adds on "Yeah but what if its not? What if Zane's alive?" Jay genuinely asks "The Tournament of Elements, im starting to think this Master Chen makes more than noodles" Lloyd claims "You can forget bringing in a new Ninja Lloyd, lets go see about an old one" Kai issues.
{Scene Break}
During midnight the pier is a bit crowded with many unknown individuals presumably tempted by a different but promising deal or situation "Ah I told you we shouldnt have worn them" Jay complains "Hey, im not wearing a Ninja Gi" Theo replies "Well of course you arnet, did you ever?" Jay sarcastically replies as Lloyd arrives "The Tournament of Elements, you think all of them have powers like us?" Kai asks "Like you three, maybe, but compared to me and Lloyd we are on an entirely different level" Theo states, despite the situation this fact is nowhere near incorrect.
"When I asked my dad about it he got really suspicious, like there's something he's keeping from me" Lloyd says "Fortune cookie said tell no one or else there'd be consequences" Cole restates what the fortune read "Relax, were cool" Lloyd calmly replies as the ship arrives and the wooden board is set down and a man with strange black hair exits the transport "We dont know yet if this is a trap, wherever they take us we have to stick together" Lloyd issues "Watch your step, Madam" the main points out to an supposed female in an orange hood.
After "she" turns around it is indeed a female and as she turns and smiles Kai is instantly captivated by her beauty, Theo sighs as this "We cant let anything distract us, you hear me Kai" Lloyd asks "Huh? Uh yeah whatever you said" Kai responds dreamily, albeit not to Lloyd of course "Master Chen will be charmed to see you've accepted his offer, a Master of Spinjitzu shall far favorably in this tournament" The man claims "Hey were not here to fight, were here to save a friend" Jay claims "Dont be so petty Master Jay–" The man pulls Nunchucks out of Jay's bag "Everyone here has something to fight for" the man responds "Chopsticks Im a big eater" Jay claims despite his attempted deceit being extremely obvious, the man throws the nunchucks off the pier.
As the Ninja start boarding the water the water tram Clouse suddenly stops Theo the only one left to board before Lloyd "Ah, I look forward to see how you will handle our gracious rounds your highness" The man speaks in a similar fashion to Theo, Theo's eye slightly squints signifying an unknown reaction however as he boards with Lloyd following behind a similar voice is heard "Lloyd, wait!" Garmadon calls out "If you get on that boat you may never return" Garmadon states "What are you doing here Dad?" Lloyd asks "Master Chen is a dangerous man who should never be trusted, whatever he promised you, do not believe him" Garmadon claims"But we know Zane is there, Theo saw it in his vision" Lloyd responds "Lord Garmadon, its been a while; It's Sensei now, correct? I cant remember" The man asks "Clouse, I see Master Chen still has you running his errands" Garmadon responds "I have to go Dad this is about Zane, it's about family" Lloyd issues.
"If were ever gonna be whole again, I have to get on that ship" Lloyd says "Last call, are you in… Or out?" Clouse asks and Lloyd boards the water tram "I cant stop you son, but I can join you" Garmadon states "Sorry, no more room on the ship" Clouse responds smugly "Room? No problem" Theo says smugly as he blasts one of the henchmen off with a blast of wind; Garmadon smugly smiles in a similar fashion "I stand corrected, there's room now" Clouse says "Dont worry, im not here to compete, only to look out for my interests" Garmadon clarifies as he puts a hand on Lloyd's shoulder "Lets ship out" Clouse issues, jokingly referring to the vehicle.
As the Ninja, Theo, and Garmadon walk into the center of the ship they stare upon the Elemental Masters in curiosity, save Theo and Garmadon "You know him, you said his name's Clouse" Lloyd points out "Dont be fooled by his attire, he is a master of Dark Arts and Master Chen's number two" Garmadon explains "Huh? I thought Chen's number two was an eggroll and fried rice" Cole jokes "Why havent Wu or you ever told us there are others with powers like us?" Kai asks "Because there are some things we dont want you to know, you were led to believe you were special yet you never questioned where your powers came from" Garmadon elaborates "Uhm, are you implying that i'm not special?" Jay asks "Everyone on this ship is a descendant of an original Elemental Master" Garmadon adds "Elemental Mater? Who were they?" Lloyd asks.
"They were the First Spinjitzu Master's Guardians, each endowed with an Elemental Power that has been passed down through generations" Garmadon adds "If thats true then so is my sister Nya, but she cant do what I can" Kai claims "You would be surprised, Kai" Theo replies in place of Garmadon "The fighters here serve no master and have managed to unlock their own True Potential; For instance, that pale man, a distant relative to the Master of Light, watch closely and you'll see how he's stayed hidden all these years" Garmadon says as the individual turns invisible "Then there's Griffin Turner, grandson to the Master of Speed" Garmadon adds "Hey, you cant lay a hand on me, im faster than fast, swifter than swift" Griffin Turner Claims, Theo catches up with him in little over a second "Yet you are still far slower than me" He muses as he pushes him off the ledge lightly, Jay begins to laugh at Theo's stunt.
"Uh, Master of Speed? Thats not an Element" Jay says confused "So asks the Master of Lightning?" Garmadon responds "Oh snap, he got you there" Cole adds "And uh... Who's she?" Kai asks looking over at the orange hooded female once more "I dont know, most of these people I have not seen but they will all be gunning for you; You are Ninja, you serve with honor, here that means very little" Garmadon states, an unknown man with metal gauntlets comes up and tugs on the hooded female's shoulder "Well, maybe honor means something to me" Kai says as he walks towards them "It's okay, I can handle myself" She says to Kai "This none of his business, Karlof cold, Karlof just wants her cloak" The man now known of Karlof responds "You look like you got big enough mittens, why not leave the gal alone?" Kai asks "These not mittens, these crush Ninja!" Karlof states "Ha! Id like to see you try" Kai responds "Save it for the tournament Kai" Garmadon issues, however Kai simply ignores him.
"Dont think Karlof afraid of you" Karlof claims "No, you dont think much at all, do you?" Kai rhetorically asks smugly, Karlof holds Kai up with one of his gauntlets "Uhh, just jump in whenever you feel like it" Kai asks "You say Karlof not smart?" Karlof asks "I'd say Karlof is plenty smart not to start something he cant finish" Lloyd says, Karlof briefly puts Kai down before hitting him with one of his gauntlets "Oopsy, guess Karlof not smart" Karlof exclaims after his rash actions, the Ninja try and go up to Karlof but Garmadon stops them "Kai started this, he can finish it" Garmadon claims.
"Fire!" Kai says as he ignites his flights with flames and throw them at Karlof, however Karlof manages to block them with his bare fists and transforms into a more metallic and large form, Karlof continues to beat Kai with differing and wavering levels of ease before hitting him hard enough that he goes flying towards the green bricks near the sail "Okay this has gone on long enough" Theo says as his eyes glow a bright magenta and his hands are encased with cubical patterns of the same energy as he uses the Element of Reflex to catch up with Kai and blast Karlof while leaping at Kai mid air with the Element of Shockwave sending Karlof flying back and onto the floor.
"I dont care weather you say if that was dishonorable or not, I am proud for sticking up for a friend" Theo states, the hooded female approaches Kai "I'm sorry if I was cold to you earlier" she says as she helps Kai up, Theo noticing her using the Artificial Element of Amber on Kai but does not say anything "Were here, welcome to Chen's Island" Clouse announces as the water ship slowly arrives near the shore of the island "By the way, thanks Theo for helping me back there" Kai says "Your welcome Kai, anytime" Theo responds with a smile.
"I swore to never return" Garmadon claims "You know, you should never swear, its a sign of weak verbal skills" Jay exclaims "Thanks to Theo we know Zane is on that island, we have to find him" Lloyd issues as the sunrise culminates on the other side of the landmass from Ninjago.