[3P POV]
After the events that transpired mere minutes ago everyone has arrived at Chen's island as the water tram pulled up "Welcome to Chen's Island, the Tournament of Elements welcomes it's brave fighters; Master Chen will be pleased you've returned 'Sensei' Garmadon" Clouse semi-sarcastically says to Garmadon "The pleasure is all mine Clouse" Garmadon responds "I'm sure it is" Clouse says in turn.
"Definitely feeling some tension between you two" Jay points out "Yeah, and how is it were on an island ive never seen on any map?" Kai asks "And care to explain how the face to Ninjago's most popular noodle house is secretly assembling an underground fighting tournament?" Cole adds "Master Chen used to be a friend, now he's a traitor, during the Serpentine Wars Chen turned against his own kind and sided with the treacherous snakes" Garmadon says "Not all Serpentine are evil you know, I have a friend far from this world who is living proof of such a thing" Theo claims "The battle you and Uncle Wu fought together in? He was an enemy?" Lloyd asks.
"He used deception to divide the Elemental Masters, we barely defeated the Serpentine and in a deal for his surrender Chen was to never leave this island, little did we know he'd begin to build his criminal empire from here" Garmadon explains "He may have divided our ancestors, but he's not gonna divide us" Lloyd exclaims, after hearing this Theo couldnt help but think about his parents if he even had any and what or who they were, either way Theo was much older than Garmadon and despite his young appearance his experience and firsthand knowledge and viewings of the Serpentine War (as well as many other events) while staying hidden just made him feel personally alone presently.
"Ladies first" Kai says as he pulls everyone over to the side "Fire will melt her icy heart, just wait" Kai smugly claims, Garmadon sighs "This is a big island, Zane could be anywhere, keep an eye out" Cole issues as they enter through the gate towards the main entrance "So this is the house the noodles are built in, heh, always wanted to go to a red carpet event" Jay happily says "Chen lives like a king, here he is totally self-sufficient. The only way on ot off this island is with his permission, which you have to earn" Garmadon states.
"You never told be about this place, how do you know so much about this island?" Lloyd asks "Because before Chen was my enemy, he was my Sensei" Garmadon says as he reveals his Anacondrai tattoo, finally everyone enters the main palace and take a seat while awaiting Chen "You never told me you had a Sensei" Lloyd says "When I was your age, I… Sought a darker mean of guidance, he taught me to win at all costs no matter who I hurt, it wasnt until you saved me that I saw the light" Garmadon explains "Uh, apparently he also never taught you to have a sense of humor, lighten up were in an underground fight club, this is supposed to be fun" Jay says.
As a gong is heard being hit and a music disc is played Clouse begins to speak "All rise for Master Chen" Clouse issues as his throne is slowly hanged down from above "Welcome to the Tournament of Elements, now everyone can all die–rect [direct] your attention to me! Haha!" He muses as everyone sits down "I forgot to mention he has a pension for theatrics" Garmadon says "Hehehe, never before have so many Elemental Fighters been under one roof, I see Master of Fire, Earth, Shadow, Speed, even the prophesied Green Savior; And a former pupil has returned" Chen exclaims "Oh, forgive me I forgot to mention the one real catch, all rise for the presence of royalty; We have the Prince of the First Realm among us" Chen states pointing to Theo, everyone gasps.
"Theo, your actual royalty?" Jay asks dumbfounded "Why didnt you ever tell me about this?" Lloyd asks just as confused and shock struck as Jay "It- It was irrelevant and a long time ago, I didnt know anyone here would know of that title; But I know for a fact I didnt get this from my parents because I dont even know who they were and getting that title was from different conditions" Theo says confused on how someone managed to gain that information, especially in Ninjago "Look, well talk about this later okay" Theo says "Wait Theo one more thing, you once told me that you have all Elemental Powers and Elemental Essence's, is that really true because if so that means–" Lloyd is saying but is cut off "Yes Lloyd I have all these powers and more, I do indeed have all Elemental Powers and Elemental Essence's, but these people are not all of the Elemental Masters alive, believe me" Theo claims.
"So how come we never heard about this?" Cole asks "How do you think I used Ice against the Overlord, or how I managed to somehow display random powers out of nowhere, do you really think I am lying?" Theo asks "If this is true, than this would mean you are more powerful than even the First Spinjitzu Master" Garmadon states "Indeed I am, Garmadon, and I have lived almost as long" Theo confirms "What are you?" Kai asks "Theo, I am just Theo" Theo responds and they decide to leave it at that "This symbol before you is for the Anacondrai, the fiercest Serpentine Warriors to ever roam this land, its creed: 'Only one can remain'" Chen explains.
A gong is heard and seen being hit again before it opens to reveal a panel of each fighter and who they were up against "Good, looks like were each in our own bracket, we wont have to face each other for a while" Kai points out "Better find Zane before that happens" Lloyd replies "Behold, a Jade Blade here it represents life: obtain it, move on, allow your opponent to take it, loser" Chen elaborates "The rules are simple: every match will be different, no two fights will be the same; Your powers will keep you in the tournament. Use it or lose it!" Chen adds.
"What does Karlof win?" Karlof asks "Win and stay on the island, win it all and you'll receive fortunes beyond your wildest dreams, and a lifetime supply of Master Chen's noodles" Chen responds "But no one is here because of noodles, you want the glory of being the greatest fighter in all of Ninjago" Chen adds which earns cheers from most of the audience "And what happens if they lose?" Garmadon and Theo ask at the same time "Lose? Who likes to lose?" Chen sarcastically asks causing set of laughs from the majority of the audience.
"Now please enjoy my island, its a super fun happy place ahaha, fun time on me!" Chen muses "You will now each be shown to your rooms" Chen says as the many kabuki gather around everyone on the ground floor "Ah just what this place needs, creepy clowns" Jay says "Not clowns, Kabuki, Chen's jesters as they grab everyone save Garmadon "Yeah well whatever they are, I dont like em' so much for staying together" Cole adds.
"Always be ready, never lose focus" Garmadon says to the Ninja and Theo before being pulled out by Clouse "Uh what'd he say?" Kai asks "I dont know, something about mucus?" Jay rhetorically asks "He said 'Always be ready, never lose focus'" Theo clarifies "Oh…" Kai and Jay say in realization Theo then is brought inside his room to find a deluxe sweet as the humans would call it, inside he would find sigils of both Oni and Dragons engraved on each side of one pyroglyphic to emphasize a fusion and balance between the two, Theo's room would lack Technology as he had a limited understanding of it. It had, among other things such as a golden and obsidian outline across the room, a bed, a meditation carpet. And then a picture of Theo and Mystake in their human forms.
'I wonder how did they got that, ah Mystake was always like a mother to me just like Firstbourne was like, both so caring, I should say hello to her sometime after this" Theo thought; There was no balcony like the other rooms however there was a robe for Theo with a note on top of it 'Dear Theo, we know of your heritage and believe you are fit to wear these robes in you hybrid form, it would please us dearly if you were to comply with this; Signed Chen' "Interesting, I dont see why not" Theo exclaims out loud, then Theo uses his shapeshifting ability to let out a bit of his Oni/Dragon form as a gray-black tail spurts out along with an obsidian-coloured set of horns resembling a crown on his head, and finally one of his eyes slightly glowing purple to signify the Oni and his other glowing bright yellow and pseudo-gold to represent the Dragon; Theo then put the robe on and he felt genuinely comfortable, to an extent.
A/N: Image Here:
Chen's voice is then heard on the speakerphone "Hello fighters, hidden around my island are a set of jade blades for every participant except for one the one who returns to the palace arena empty handed, loses. The Tournament begins…. Now!" Chen issues through the speakerphone, Theo then runs outside to find Lloyd watching a bunch of Elemental Fighters fighting in the upper levels "May the best fighter win!" Chen is heard through the speakerphone once more "Hey!" Lloyd calls out to no one in specific before running up to a jade blade and getting tripped by the Master of Smoke, Lloyd tries to hit him but he teleports behind him and gets a clean hit on Lloyd.
Lloyd manages to defeat some of the masters and get a good hit on Neuro before running, however Clouse attempts to chant a dark spell to stop him "Enough!" Theo shouts as he sends a blast of the Element of Heat hitting Clouse and knocking him back and thus stopping the progression of the spell, Garmadon runs up and notices Clouse attempting to chant the spell again the he jumps over him and holds him down "Hurry Lloyd, you must not lose!" Garmadon shouts to Lloyd.
Theo notices Cole dealing with some trouble so he jumps down to the lower levels "Agh! Stomach cramps!" he grasps in pain before the Master of Light turns invisible and takes the blade "Cheater!" Theo calls out as he sends a blast of lightning cancelling out the invisibility "Hey thanks, woah Theo you look so cool! and kind of… Creepy?" Cole says "Thanks" Theo says before utilizing the reflex element to advance and enhance his agility to the top level of the palace and tke a Jade blade hidden conveniently right next to one of its pillars, Theo then uses the Element of Time to warp time forward and appear right next to Cole as he places his Jade Blade down, also doing as such.
"Only one Jade Blade remaining" Chen announces, a few minutes later Karlof arrives "Karlof Wins!" Karlof shouts, as the other Elemental Masters save Theo, the Ninja, and Garmadon cheer Kai comes behind him and unscrew his gauntlets "Looks like you got a screw lose" Kai muses as he takes the jade blade the gauntlet dropped and flew through the air using Fire before placing the jade blade down in its purposeful location "We have a loser!" Chen announces, referring to Karlof "Thats not fair! He cheated!" Karlof exclaims "I did what I had to do" Kai claims "That is not how you win!" Garmadon states.
"Fine, I lose. Karlof never wanted to be on stinking island" Karlof says "Oh, im sorry to hear you did not enjoy your stay. I guess this worked out for the best, this is goodbye" Chen exclaims as he pressed a button causing Karlof to fall into an unknown presumed pit "As you can see, lose and you are out, break any rule, you are out; Never bite the hand that feeds you… Master Chen's delicious noodles, now rest up, tomorrow the tournament will recommence" Chen states.
Hours later they find themselves eating in the cafeteria "Well at least the chows good" Cole says "Ah its killing me, whats under the trapdoor, what happens when you lose?!" Jay panickingly and rhetorically asks "Dont think about that" Garmadon says "Its all I can think about! I moved on, I feel guilt, these are not good feelings" Jay states "You think you feel bad? Imagine how I feel, our mission is simple, tonight we find Zane and get off this crazy island" Kai issues "And just how are we supposed to do that? You heard Chen, break a rule and were out, hes not gonna let us roam around" Cole replies.
"Well its a good thing were Ninja, meet me in my room at midnight" Kai issues "Do you mind if I join you?" The Master of Light asks "Dissappear pal, this is private!" Jay says as the Master of Light turns invisible "I know your still here, I can see your lunch tray" Jay says as the Master of Light turns visible once more and walks away "Hm, wow Jay you were really mean" Cole points out "How am I supposed to know if I can trust him? See what this island is doing to me? Its corrupting me! It has to stop! I'll see you tonight" Jay says.
Hours later Theo arrives in the room through the shadows, quite literally, and while Jay was talking "--Any ideas on how we search the island?" Jay asks "We travel by Sha– Theo where did you come from?" Kai asks confused and shocked by his sudden appearance "Dosent matter, anyway Im just telling you im not going with you" Theo says "What, but why not?" Lloyd asks "Trust me, its better this way; There is something I need to do so I will see you after you come back" Theo adds "Come back? Come back from where?" Jay asks "You will see, trust me" Theo says as he warps himself away with the Element of Time appearing outside.
As Theo approaches the docks where the ship is he stops himself "You can come out now, I know your watching me" Theo says to seemingly nothing, but in that instant a presumed shadow-like being appeared and grinned "Hello Theo" It says "Who are you? You were the same thing I felt after defeating the Overlord" Theo responds in semi-realization "Indeed, I have been watching your reality for a long time, ever since you first manifested into this Mirror Realm, I know who you are and what you are capable of, which I gave the Overlord the means to stand up to you and hopefully put an end to you, but ah. Such a shame he missed his chance" It cynically remarks.
"Why WHY are you trying to kill me so bad? And if you only want me dead why make the Overlord target the Ninja; In fact, what did I even do to you to make you hate me so much?" Theo asks in near spite "You exist, but you serve a lower purpose and not a higher one like myself, you and that girl Akira wield so much potential, yet you waste it on defending a simple child; You cannot hide away from who you are even in Death!" It claims fiercely, however not out of anger, but of a simple warning tone while maintaining its calm demeanor.
"You want to kill Lloyd?" Theo shakingly asks "Yes, but I wont be doing it, you will" It states "I would never hurt Lloyd!" Theo claims "Not intentionally maybe, but you will slip up. And I will be there to make it happen and watch in sweet and dear twisted joy" It says before laughing almost hysterically but fully sadistically; Theo snaps.
In that instant Theo shifts into his Oni Form which rearranged and altered his clothes on a nigh-molecular level before summoning a blade out of Oni Magic and pure destruction resembling a Longsword and charging at the being before it catches it "Woah you want to fight? Okay then" It grins before sending a burst of Fire into Theo's stomach but he shrugged off the attack, Theo then paused all 16 Realms, sending the entire Universe to a fullstop and halting everything but himself, or so it seemed as the being remained unaffected.
"Is that all, you think Time is enough to hold me down?" He asks still grinning; In that instant the being teleports behind at such a pace that Theo could barely block it but was still sent flying before the being went to a speed so fast it seemed like It was cloning himself and all held down Theo before sliding its hand onto the back of his neck causing Theo to slowly lose consciousness "Dont you worry Theo, everything will be okay in the end" It says before Theo had lost consciousness.