The reunion we've all been waiting for! :D
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*At an apartment in Ninjago City.*
"I can't believe it's been weeks and I haven't gotten better. Being sick is the worst." Nalia let out a long yawn as loose scales fell off her hands that had been itching.
It's been at least a whole month since Chen was defeated and so far Nalia somehow still hadn't gotten all her energy back. She kept feeling sleepy and would sleep for days, to the point Sensei Wu would have to come by and wake her up.
If the ninjas tried waking her up the same way as him, they would most likely lose a hand or just a finger if lucky. Sensei Wu being more experienced, would be able to react fast enough to avoid losing any body part.
Not only that, but even loose scales would fall from her face and hands but instead of gold they would be white.
Nalia saw it as more of her being sick, then knowing that by Chen draining her powers had caused an early molting season. Increase her growth, and weakening the spells blocking her powers and most of all her dragon form.
Nalia pulled out her phone with a heavy sigh. "I wonder how the others are doing..."
Her thoughts slowly went to Lloyd and quickly her mood went sour as she pouted and started mimic his voice perfectly. "Oh Lia, it's for your own safety." She rolled her eyes. "You will be safer if you stopped being a ninja." She moved her arms dramatically. "Lia, I am the leader and the Green Ninja. So it's my decision which also means it's probably best... if we just stayed as... friends... or acquaintances..."
Nalia grabbed a pillow and threw it across the floor. "Stupid Lloyd!" She crossed her arms and glanced back at the pillow she threw, seeing that it had been ripped open by deep clawmarks.
She looked down at her hand that she had used to throw the pillow with, but it looked completely normal.
"I get that you are strong and a little different from a normal human. But seeing you hurt or in any danger scares me." Lloyd's words echoed in her mind.
A sad look grew on Nalia face when thinking back to those words. Even now, she still didn't know what she was. Sensei Wu seemed to know, but it frustrated her to no end that he wouldn't tell her anything.
"I wish Morro was still here..." Nalia lightly pulled at her scarf, when suddenly she heard a tearing sound.
Nalia's eyes widened as she took off her scarf and saw that she had accidentally ripped some of it. "Oh, no, no, no, no! This is the last thing I want ruined."
She started to panic when she remembered there was a sewing kit back at the ninjas... or more so Lloyd's, so to speak.
"You have got to be kidding me!" shouted Nalia in frustration when kicking a different pillow and caused it to break through a window because of not controlling her strength.
.
.
.
.
"Oh, oh..." Nalia suddenly realized what she just did, worried about what she should tell her manager. She didn't wanna lie, but if she told the truth she might get scolded or worse.
Nalia looked between the broken window and her scarf, deciding what was more important.
With a final nod to herself, Nalia decided to visit the ninjas. Hoping to fix her scarf, the broken window could wait.
*At Steep Wisdom.*
"Hmm, "Steep Wisdom." Not a bad name for a tea shop." Wu chuckles.
"I thought saving Ninjago was difficult. Try starting a small business!" said Nya.
"Wu can't be a Sensei forever. It's about time we all help out with his retirement. Speaking of which, Nya?" Misako explained.
"Oh, here, let me give you a hand with that." Nya tries to take the bucket from Wu, but he juggles it to his other hand.
"I am old, not weak." said Wu.
"You look after ninja, I look after you." said Misako as they headed back inside the shop.
"Well, Steep Wisdom is staring to look like a real tea house, except for one thing: customers." said Nya looking at the empty space of the shop.
"Good things come to those who wait." said Wu as he stroke his beard.
Nalia suddenly bursted through the door, surprising the three.
"Hey Lia, what a surprise visit. Thought you would still be asleep." said Nya with a small smile.
"Hello Nalia, good to see you awake for once. What have you visiting us today?" Wu asked.
"Oh umm hi..." said Nalia seeming more calm as she got a better glance at the shop. "I'm searching for a sewing kit, I don't have any sewing materials at my place. But I remembered you guys should have one."
"A sewing kit? I believe we have one somewhere in the back. I'll go and take a look." said Misako going out back of the shop.
"What do you need a sewing kit for Lia?" Nya asked.
A sad expression grew on her face. "I accidentally ripped part of my scarf."
"Oh, I see now. Well don't you worry, I'll help you fix it up." said Nya cheering her up.
"Thanks Nya." A small smile grew on Nalia's face before letting out another yawn.
"Looks like you still haven't recovered fully from having your powers drained Nalia." said Wu taking notice of how sleepy she still seemed to be.
"Don't remind me, Sensei. I just wanna be back to normal... back with the team." The smile on Nalia's face slowly disappeared.
Wu placed a gentle hand on her back. "I understand that you are still upset about Lloyd's decision, but maybe it is for the better."
Nalia's hands started shaking as tears were forming in her eyes. Her frustration was clear on her face. "I choose to be a singer because I like singing for people. I didn't decide to become one, just so I could be locked away again like in my cave."
"Nalia, perhaps—" Wu was cut off when Misako returned with a sewing kit.
"Here you go Nalia, it was hidden in the very back. Luckily it looks like it has everything you should need." Misako handed her the sewing kit with a kind smile.
Nalia's anger slowly faded away as a smile appeared on her face. "Thanks Misako."
*The ninjas arrive and land their Dragons outside.*
"I'm just saying, it was big but, I've seen bigger." said Kai as they were walking towards the shop.
"As big as your ego?" Jay asked.
"Right." said Zane.
"Oh, who am I kidding? I'm tired of waiting. I'll put the ninjas to work." Wu picks up a box. "Ninjas, you need to find customers."
"No "hello, how's it going, glad to hear you saved the day..." again?" Jay asked, before noticing Nalia. "Sorry, Lia..."
Nalia just gave a sad smile, while ignoring the concerned look on Lloyd's face since he knew she was still upset with him.
"Yeah, Sensei. We're all a bit tired. You mind if we handle this tomorrow?" Cole asked then saw Nalia was here. "Oh Lia, glad to see you're awake."
"For once." said Nalia while holding the sewing kit tight.
"We all have a share if this business succeeds. How else do you expect me to be able to afford all your new uniforms?" Wu puts down the box and opens it. "Which reminds me, your new ones arrived."
"What do they look like now?" Kai asked.
"New suits?" Zane asked.
"Sweet!" said Jay.
"I bet they're off the hook." said Cole.
The ninjas see the outfits, but they are shirts with the Steep Wisdom logo. "Huh?"
"Those do not appear to be ninja uniforms. They resemble work attire." said Zane finding it a little strange.
"Very observant, Zane. We must focus on furthering brand awareness. And here are the fliers I want each of you to pass out in the city." said Wu.
"Ugh, If I have to pass all these out, I may be the one passed out!" Jay complained.
Nalia found herself a box and decided to sit down so she could start fixing her scarf.
"What happened to your scarf? After everything it has been through I've never seen any damage on it." Lloyd asked, trying to start a conversation.
Instead, he was giving the cold shoulder from Nalia. Who didn't pay him any attention, almost like he wasn't even there.
The others could already feel the tension, as this always now happened ever since Lloyd dropped her from the team.
"I don't know what's worse. When Nalia actually loses her temper like with Pythor, or when she is giving that stone-cold shoulder." Cole whispered to the ninjas.
"And to Lloyd of all people." Jay whispered.
"Well, he was the one who made the decision to drop Lia from the team." Zane whispered.
"Not to mention, he went and decided they should just be friends as it wouldn't be possible to date a famous singer who is always focused on their career." Kai whispered.
"Maybe I should just stop being a singer then." said Nalia as she was looking for the right color thread that matched the scarf.
"Lia, please don't be stupid. You love singing, why stop doing something that you love?" said Lloyd.
"I'm sorry, did you guys heard anything just now? Because I could have sworn I heard the sound of a quiet breeze passing through in the wind outside." said Nalia glancing over at the ninjas, not even looking at Lloyd.
The tension between the two only thickens as the ninjas could almost cut through it with a knife.
*Suddenly the sound of the shop's phone rings.*
"Oh, that could be our first order! Shh!" Misako picks up the phone. "Steep Wisdom, how may we serve you?"
"Aren't we going to look kind of dorky flying up on our Power Dragons with these things on?" Kai asked looking at their new outfit.
Misako kept talking over the phone in the background. "Yes, I see; and you need him right away?"
"You won't be flying on anything. We're selling tea, not magic. Besides, you all have been relying a little too heavily on your Elemental Powers lately. Real powers come from the inside." Wu told them.
"It would be our honor, Sensei." siad Lloyd, deciding it was pointless to talk to Nalia while she was this upset.
"Thank you. I'll let him know right away." Misako puts down the phone.
"Is it a big order?" Nya asked.
"It's the police. They've asked for Lloyd. There's been a break-in at the museum." Misako explained.
Everyone but Wu and Misako gasp.
"Go on, I'll take your share." said Cole.
"Thanks. I owe you one." said Lloyd, gratefully.
"Aren't you going to kiss your mother goodbye?" Misako asked as he started heading out.
"Mom, we've...we've talked about this. I'll catch you on the way back." said Lloyd when getting on his dragon and left.
Everyone, except Nalia, laughs.
"Remember, no powers." Wu reminded the ninjas.
The ninjas groan in annoyance.
"I can help, I don't have anything better to do." said Nalia as she had just finished fixing her scarf.
"That would be great, who knows. The shop might even get a boost in customers by a famous singer promoting it." said Jay.
"I'm not gonna use my famous singer status. I would like to keep it a secret that I'm a ninja." Nalia told them.
"Previously a ninja, since Lloyd did drop you from the team." Zane pointed out.
By the mention of this, Zane got a scary feeling from Nalia by the cold stare she was giving him.
The ninjas quickly covered Zane's mouth before he could say anything else. Unless he also planned to get the cold shoulder from her too.
"You want my help or not?" Nalia asked seemingly calm.
"We would love your help." said the ninjas in unison.
Sensei Wu was shaking his head at the ninjas and Nalia. He could understand that she was still hurting from being dropped, and while the ninjas didn't know what she really was. Sensei Wu at least wanted her safe too, because of what she was.
*Later in Ninjago City.*
"Uh, Steep Wisdom. Enlightenment in a cup!" said Kai holding out fliers.
"Steep Wisdom? Never heard of it." said a woman throwing away the flier.
"Best little tea shop in Ninjago." said Cole offering fliers to people passing by.
"First cup is free, with a flier." said Zane.
"Take... Why won't you take the flier? Just take the flier!" shouted Jay, and sighs in defeat.
"I see no one else is having any luck." Kai groans in frustration.
"Please check out Steep Wisdom. You won't get better tea anywhere else." Nalia handed out a few fliers, smiling brightly while wearing a hat and sunglasses to cover her identity.
"Well, besides Lia it seems like she has better luck than us combined." said Kai letting out a sigh.
"Oh. It's as if they think I'm passing out a communicable disease. I mean, sure, I have a cold sore, but it's hardly contagious." Jay complained.
"Aah!" Cole and everyone else backs away.
"What? What?" Jay asked confused.
"Maybe if we use our powers, we can get this over with." Cole suggested.
"But Sensei gave us strict instructions not to use our elemental powers." Zane explained.
"Yeah, using your elemental powers might not be the best idea." said Nalia with a concerned look.
"Well, Sensei's not here, and what he doesn't know won't hurt him. I'm in. Is everyone else?" said Kai looking at the others.
"Yes!" said Cole.
"Yeah!" said Jay.
Everyone, except Nalia, cheers as they run away.
"Uuhhh, I have a feeling this isn't gonna end well." Nalia sighs and shook her head.
Nalia looked down at the fliers she was holding. "If the others are gonna stop being ninjas to support and work at Sensei's tea shop. Does that mean I should quiet being a ninja too like Lloyd said, and just stick to being a singer..."
A sad look grew on her face at these thoughts, since that would mean she wouldn't have much time to see them as such.
"Hey, young man. Watch it!" shouted a man when Cole lifts his car. "Whoa! Oh, no. Oh, no. Put, put, put me down! Put me down, I say!"
"Feeling tired? Out of strength?" Crowd cheers while Cole is lifting the car. "Yeah! Then get a pick-me-up at Steep Wisdom!"
Nalia looked back at the others, and the most deadpanned expression appeared on her face by how unimpressed she was at what they were doing.
"Care to pass the torch?" Kai asked a fire breather.
"Sure, let's see what you've got there, Mr. Teapot." said the fire breather, handing Kai a torch.
"If this isn't your cup of tea, how about this?" Kai blows fire on the road to form a teapot shape. The crowd gasps. "Steep Wisdom. The hot new place!"
"Ha! You think that's a crowd? Check this!" Jay uses lightning to change all the electronic billboards to the Steep Wisdom logo. The crowd cheers. "I know, it's shocking, right?"
"If we're going to use our powers, you may as well do it right!" Zane summons his ice Dragon and makes an ice sculpture of a teapot. The crowd cheers again.
"Lia, come and join us!" Jay called her over.
"No." said Nalia bluntly, not wanting anything to do with tricking people like that.
A Wind suddenly sweeps away the fliers, extinguishes Kai's fire, and changes the billboards to its original state. Kai tries to blow on his torch, but fails.
"You're such an amateur." said the fire breather taking back his torch.
"My powers. They're not working!" said Kai as nothing was working.
"Mine either!" said Jay, also trying to use his powers but fails.
"What do you mean? My powers are—Uh-oh." The car falls on Cole, but Nalia was able to act quickly, dropping her own fliers and caught the car. The crowd cheers. "T-thanks Lia, that was a close one."
"No problem." said Nalia with a small smile, and slowly put down the car.
"If our powers are gone, that means..." Kai suddenly realized with a concerned look at the others.
Zane's Dragon disappears in midair. He screams as he falls.
"He's kind of fast." said Kai when Zane falls and smashes a hole in the ground. "Whoa. I think he just broke the sound barrier."
"Are you alright Zane?" Nalia asked concerned, walking over to help him up.
"I told you we shouldn't use our powers!" Zane groans as he gets helped by Nalia.
"What powers? Where did they go? We have to see Wu!" said Jay with worry.
*At Steep Wisdom.*
Misako scoops tea leaves in a bag and hands it to a customer. "I added a little something extra."
"Sensei!" The ninjas quickly burst into the shop.
"It's an emergency!" Jay exclaimed.
"We need you!" shouted Kai panicked.
"It's important!" shouted Cole.
"It's very worrying." said Nalia as she let out a yawn, already growing tired.
"Boys, not so loud. Can't you see we have our first customer?" Misako scolded the ninjas.
"Wow, the real ninjas! Oh, can you shock me?" A little girl asked with bright eyes.
"Uh...not now, kid. Maybe later, okay?" said Jay, not really paying attention to the girl as he whispers to Misako. "Where's Wu?"
"Thank you again for that flier, you handed out. I wouldn't have known about this place if not for that." said the girl's mother who was thanking Nalia.
A soft smile grew on Nalia's face. "It's no problem, just happy to help."
"Sensei!" shouted Kai when Wu showed up.
"Yes?" Wu asked.
"We were getting the word out..." Kai started.
"...and there was this wind..." Cole continued.
"...and our powers disappeared." Zane ended.
"You were using your powers?" shouted Wu enraged.
"Yeah, I know. We're terrible students, but what happened to our powers?!" Jay exclaimed.
*Wind blows by the shop.*
The sudden change in the wind had Nalia stop for a moment, as it felt very familiar. "No, that's not possible... he can't be..."
"If your powers are gone, then something must have happened to..." said Wu when Lloyd finally appeared.
"It's Lloyd!" The girl pointed out when she saw him.
"I know that wind... That's not Lloyd." said Wu hold his staff ready.
Nalia's eyes landed on the person appearing to be Lloyd, and she just froze right where she stood. Her eyes were wide in shock and disbelief.
"Step aside." said the imposter in the form of Lloyd.
"Lloyd! What's wrong with you?" Jay asked.
"I want a word with your master." said the imposter.
A tear slowly ran down Nalia's face as she struggled speaking.
"Whoa, Lloyd's gone through puberty." said Jay surprised by the change in his voice.
"What's gotten into him?" Cole asked.
"I sense some kind of foreign entity has taken over his body. So the question isn't what, but who's gotten into him?" said Zane narrowing his eyes and getting into a fighting pose.
"Whoever you are, whatever beef you had with Sensei, you have with us. Give us back our friend!" said Kai ready to fight this imposter off.
The imposter just cracks his neck and laughs.
"How are we supposed to fight a friend?" Cole asked looking at the others with concern.
"Let me show you!" Lloyd's skin turns green, his hair turns black and he attacks the ninjas, laughing.
"M-Morro..." Nalia's legs finally gave out as she fell to the ground, tears running down her face.
Wu looked surprised at Nalia's reaction and her seeming to know him somehow.
"Great, we don't have powers, but he does?" Jay complained.
"Lia, a little help here!" Cole asked.
Nalia didn't move from where she was, she was too shocked by this and didn't know what to do. Her emotions were all over the place and not knowing which to pick.
The ninjas charges at Morro, but he easily fends them off.
"We may not have powers, but we still know a little thing called Spinjitzu! Ninja, go! Whoa! Ugh." The ninjas tried using their Spinjitzu but got knocked over by Morro using the wind.
"So not only does he have powers, but he can control the wind, too?" Jay complained.
"Take the truck! Get them out of here now! Nya, we need to leave too." Wu quickly urged her.
"But this is our place. Tell me, Sensei. What's happened to Lloyd? And what's going on with Lia?" Nya asked.
"There's no time." Wu told her.
"Ninja, Go! Aaaahhh! Whoa." Jay tried using his Spinjitzu but got knocked over by the wind again.
"Our Spinjitzu is worthless against the wind."Zane approaches Morro with a shuriken.
"Shurikens? Cute. Try this on for size!" Morro breaks off the propellers of a windmill and spins it like a shuriken and breaks it on the ninjas.
"Ugh." Kai struggles getting up after taking that hit.
"Get up. Please. Ninja never quit." The girl pleaded to the ninjas.
Nalia finally snapped out of her shock when she heard the girl's voice and slowly got up.
Kai gets up, but Misako evacuates with the daughter and her mom. The ninjas scream as they are tossed around. Morro enters the shop.
"Get out!" shouted Nya.
"Go stock some shelves before you get hurt." said Morro in a mocking manner.
"I'll take you on anytime!" said Nya not afraid.
"Morro stop!" Nalia ran in front of Nya and Morro and stopped him from going any further.
Morro stopped in his tracks and were surprised to see Nalia. "Lia?"
Tears were running down Nalia's face while trying to stay strong. "I don't know how you're back, but please don't hurt my friends." Her voice breaking as she spoke. "Let Lloyd go."
The two were staring right at each other, neither breaking eye contact like the old days whenever they would have an argument.
"I can't do that, Lia." said Morro taking a step forward. "I don't wanna hurt you, so step back."
Nalia was shaking her head not moving a inch. "Why are you here? How are you here?"
"How I am here doesn't matter. Now move, before I have to do it myself." said Morro stepping closer. "If you don't want me to hurt your friends, then you have to stop me, yourself."
Nalia looked back at the ninjas, struggling to get up after having been beaten around. Then back at Morro who was now standing right in front of her. Waiting to see what she would do.
"What will it be, sis?" Morro asked.
Nalia were completely speechless, unable to give back a reply. But the troubled expression on her face gave enough away for Morro as he walked past Nalia who didn't try to stop him. Unable to fight a friend... a brother she had lost once so long ago and was now back somehow.
"Stay back!" said Wu as he got in front of Nya. "It's me he wants."
"Not you! Just your father's staff." said Morro.
"I see you've found the Allied Armor, Morro, yet you haven't summoned your friends." said Wu while holding on to his staff.
"Your pathetic students haven't given me a reason to." said Morro with a smug grin.
The ninjas pant and groan as they are defeated.
"Hey, hey, hey! No one calls me pathetic!" shouted Jay while trying to catch his breath.
Nalia looked at the ninjas and back at Morro, struggling to decide if she should fight... if she even could fight her own brother.
The memories of the day Morro died returned to Nalia, breaking her even more mentally. She couldn't fight him, no matter how much she knew she had to. She was the only one still able to fight, yet, she couldn't do anything.
"You want the staff? Try to take it." said Wu, fighting against Morro as he kept him from taking the staff.
Morro grunts. "You've gotten old. You used to be a great Sensei. Now you're just a petty shopkeeper."
"Wait... how do they know each other?" Nalia turned her attention to Sensei Wu and Morro.
"With age comes wisdom." Wu gasps as he drops the staff over some flour, revealing a message. "A secret message engraved on the staff."
"The staff of the First Spinjitzu Master." Morro uses wind to grab the staff, but Nalia uses her sand powers to blind him and quickly grabbed the staff.
"Sorry, Momo." said Nalia, feeling bad about using such a dirty trick but she knew sitting around doing nothing wouldn't help anyone.
"What the fuck! Nalia?!" shouted Morro trying to get the sand out of his eyes when Nya knocks him down with a shelf.
"I do more than stock shelves." said Nya.
Nalia gives the staff back to Wu. "Yes. Now we leave."
"To the barn!" shouted Nya.
"I am not running away from Lloyd!" shouted Kai.
"We will not win this fight today." Wu told him.
"Give me the staff!" shouted Morro quickly catching up to them.
"Oh, is he crazy?" Jay asked when Kai jumped off to confront Morro.
Nalia had followed right behind Kai, without the others notices.
"Foolish ninja! Why would you try to take me on all by yourself?" Morro asked, not having noticed Nalia.
"Because I promised to look after Lloyd." Kai told him.
"Where's my brother?" Nya asked.
"He's fighting the Green Ninja." Jay told her.
"Alone." said the ninjas.
"What about Nalia?" Nya further asked.
"Wait, she isn't here?" Jay asked when they only now noticed she wasn't on the bounty.
"I know you're in there, Lloyd. Fight him!" Kai grabs hold of Morro.
"We gotta do something." said Nya.
"The staff is getting away. Let go of me!" shouted Morro, struggling against Kai's grip.
Kai grunts. "Only when you let go of Lloyd!"
Lloyd slowly starts breaking free of Morro's possession. "Kai..."
"Huh?" Kai were surprised when Lloyd seemed to break free.
"Help me!" shouted Lloyd.
"Lloyd? Is that you?" The Bounty's anchor latches onto Kai. Lloyd is left there coughing weakly as Kai has been taken away. "Wait, let me go! I saw Lloyd!" Morro regains his possession. "Put me down! Let me go!"
"You won't get away that easy." Morro uses Wind to pull the Bounty back.
Nalia saw a chance and tackled Morro to the ground, giving the others the chance to get away.
"NOOOOOO!" shouted Morro, and pushed Nalia off of him. "What the fuck Nalia?! When will you learn to stay out of things that doesn't concern you!"
Nalia got up and took a stand in front of him. "This does concern me! First you take over Lloyd's body and then you attack my friends!"
Morro narrowed his eyes at her and began walking towards her. "I see now, so you're a ninja too."
Nalia took a step back, nervous as he was getting closer.
"Well then, if you care so much about Lloyd. Then try and attack me, that is. If you even can fight against someone close to you." Morro kept walking towards her, not a bit of hesitation. Since he knew she wouldn't do anything.
Nalia took another step back whenever he took a step towards her. "... Momo please, I don't wanna fight you. Can't we just talk this through?"
Morro gave a mocking laugh. "I knew you couldn't do it. You never had it in you to hurt anyone close to you." He went on and laid a hand on her shoulder. "Forget about those weak ninjas, and join me instead. Just like the old times, where it was just you and me against the world."
Nalia's body started shaking in frustration but once again, she couldn't get herself to fight him.
When she didn't say a word, Morro went on and pulled her into a hug. "I've missed you, crybaby. I'll give you some time to think, but don't take too long."
Morro broke up the hug and then summoned his dragon as he took off after the others.
Tears were running down Nalia's face as she fell to the ground and cried into her hands. "Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Once again, I didn't do anything!"
Nalia slammed both of her fists into the ground, cracking it and creating an earthquake.