A/N: You know, the usual few facts before the chapter begins, just telling you all now this chapter will change the course of the story greatly in greater seasons which will allow new antagonists to come in along with Umbralsage having a partial spotlight on him, now...
#1: Theo is a Source Dragon aka Source Oni (Source Oni's are the same as Source Dragons, this is better explained in the introductory chapter) and is the source of his own powers, he is also stronger than all of the members of the Source Dragon Council combined.
#2: Necral Power's capabilities and abilities extents will be explored in the future.
#3: Despite never interacting, the FSM and Theo were fully aware of each other's existence.
#4: I realized I hadn't named Theo's Element in the last chapter, the Element is called Vortex for future reference.
#5: Theodore is not a nickname in Theo's case, Theo is actual first name.
#6: The Overlord is no longer an Oni/Dragon Hybrid anymore, I decided not to use the headcanon and in turn Darkness is no longer just a corrupted form of Destruction, but as it was canonically confirmed Darkness is and still will be closely related to Destruction.
#7: Theo will create more Elemental Powers (possibly even Elemental Essences as well) in the future.
[3P POV]
Following another day in the Tournament of Elements Theo had felt more prone to anger than he was in a thousand years, he wasn't nearly as agitated to attack any of his friends but there was no doubt in his mind that he was ABSOLUTELY pissed to say the least, ever since he managed to notice how rigged the games was and how Chen as well as the others took advantage of Lloyd, he would not show conventional mercy, albeit to clarify he had no intention of killing them.
As of now Theo, as well as the Ninja, Garmadon, the other Elemental Masters are dining in Chen and Clouse's main room where Chen's Kabuki's bring up food to celebrate the last round "Try the horned wasp eggs, deeeelicious!" Chen exclaimed visually and vocally joyed by the 'dish' "Uhh, I think i'll pass" Lloyd declined "Oh lighten up Green Ninja, this isn't a trick, this is a feast to celebrate the 9 of you making it to the second round!" Chen says as his Kabuki's laugh "And I must congratulate the Master of Shadow's defeat over Master of Poison, she was a bit hard to swallow am I right?" Chen mused as the Kabuki's laughed.
"Laugh harder!" Chen orders as the Kabuki's start nervously laughing faster "You can relax Lloyd, even if there was a fight we still haven't even told the others about Chen's dirty pot to steal our powers, we're safe in our secret alliance" Kai said "Maybe you, but his big metal stick can't take my powers" Theo clarified "Well that is at least a bit reassuring" Jay added "I tried to enlist Shadow, but that dude's throwing some serious Shade" Griffin Turner whispered over to Skylor "Well if you plan to stop Chen, you'll need everyone on board; Each fighter that loses gives him strength, soon he'll be too powerful than all of you combined to overcome, save Theo if it comes down to it" Garmadon elaborated.
A brief minute or so later Chen starts to speak up "It has come to my attention that there are rumours floating about that I am stealing everyone's powers, I AM" Chen reveals which causes chatter amongst the Elemental Masters "But it's all for this... Staff!" Chen announces as the Kabuki start fanning around Chen's throne "No, no not you staff, I mean my REAL Staff!" Chen clarifies as his Staff of Elements is revealed and one of the Kabuki's bring it up to him "Behold the Staff of Elements!" Chen said as held his Staff upwards into the air.
"It holds the power of your fallen foes, and soon it will hold all but one, for the last standing in my Tournament will win this prize and be the greatest fighter ever in the history of Ninjago!" Chen adds "You lie, what about the spell?" Lloyd claims "Spell? What spell?" Clouse mockingly responds "Don't believe him, it's just another trick, Neuro read Clouse's mind and saw it, tell them what you saw Neuro" Lloyd said but in fear of making a scene and exposing himself he lies "I- I don't remember, truthfully I'm a bit more interested in knowing more about that Staff" Neuro falsely claims.
"And why should we be quick to believe everything you say? How do we know your not lying to get the staff for yourself?" Griffin Turner asks "I'm already the Ultimate Spinjitzu Master almost as strong as the First Spinjitzu Master, how much more power do I realistically need?" Lloyd responds.
"Not much more" Theo responds but then he is instantly transported to another realm as his surroundings fade to black "Hello Theo" A chilling voice had called out which Theo instantly recognized "It's you... Again?" Theo responded as the being made himself known "Greetings fellow hybrid, I believe I did not introduce myself in our last encounter, I am known as Umbralsage" Umbralsage said, his voice ringing around in Theo's head as he felt the remnants of the Necral Power, the same power he felt when fighting the Overlord and unintentionally replicating the essence.
"Your a hybrid as well? Just like me and Akira?" Theo asks "Yes indeed I am, you and I were created from the same conditions after all, you should also know we are not the only hybrids out there who can use all Elements, and that includes you little snakey friend" He replied "So that's why you weren't affected when I paused time?" Theo sought clarification "Why yes it is, but you really do not know what kind of dangers that are threatening not only the Mirror Realms, but the fabric of reality itself" Umbralsage states.
"What are you getting at?" Theo asks "Nothing much, just some important info and POWER that you will need to defeat it, or at the very least defend against it. Something that is at this time far more powerful than even the Source Dragons and that includes you" Umbralsage claimed "Why should I trust you?" Theo asked "Your asking a lot of questions here, but the short answer? You shouldn't really... But after I got the Overlord to nearly kill you and your friends, I did some thinking and it turned out that I need you, and you need me" Umbralsage said "So you admit it?" Theo inquired.
"It is completely irrelevant, you are going to need my help fo what's coming, and for that I need your permission to do what needs to be done directly through you via my influence" Umbralsage claimed "Why should I just suddenly believe you, you have shown no proof whatsoever" Theo retaliated "Fine then, have it your way" Umbralsage said as he pressed his semi-intangible hand on Theo's head conjuring memories of what had laid beyond the Ethereal Divide, he saw the void once more and a lingering threat as the memories ended Theo was left slightly gasping.
"I am afraid I was forced to deceive you before, you were led to believe that your traversal of these alternate universes of Ninjago were due to a form of evolution of your powers, it was not. I put you powers on a fritz and forced you out of the realm to see how you would work around it, your performance was by no means mediocre, but it was not ideal. I wanted to kill you and the other Lloyds because I felt they held all of you backs from you REAL Full Potential, but now I see that I was wrong, your world will be fine for now but there will be a time when all worlds will either be eradicated completely or reborn anew, let us hope for the latter Theo" Umbralsage claimed.
"I can't comprehend this! Why tell me this, why go to me?" Theo said it seemed like his whole world was about to crack, because in a way, it was "Because Theo, I am from the first of the Mirror Realms, the first Alternate Universe of Ninjago, and you. You came from there too, you are filled with timeless knowledge of so many erased timelines but you have had them sealed, someone wanted you to stay in line with your own world and I assure you it was not me. I saw these worlds as experiments, all but my own. You showed me otherwise without even knowing or remembering, because you Theo, you are my brother" Umbralsage revealed.
"What...?" Theo said confused "In our world we were just anomalies, no one knew why we were created, not even us. But we had each other and that was enough, we had the same abilities as everyone else had and more, we had gifts that made us feel Omnipotent. But that was not the reality, we tried to defend our world but we lost to... Him"
"Him? Who are you talking about" Theo asks "His name is all but forgotten, remembered by very few. We tend to call him 'Voidwraith' He is the threat that we will need to face" Umbralsage stated "We? Who is this we? You almost killed me and Zane, you went after all my friends and gave the Overlord the means to overpower everyone for his own entertainment, and for your 'experiment' you said it yourself, why should I–" Theo was cut off by Umbralsage.
"BECAUSE THIS IS BIGGER THAN ME! Look Theo, I saw the choices I made and I regret them, you are still my brother and I still love you as such, I was wrong and I admit that. But you need your memories back, and as much power as I have now, you saw him yourself, now will you take my offer?" Umbralsage asks "I will take your offer, but first there is one thing I must know above all else" Theo asks "Your reasoning is more than fair" Umbalsage accepted "Are we really brothers?" Theo asks.
"Look Theo, you are far more older and experienced than you realize, you are also not from the Timeline you were left in after the incident with Voidwraith, there are some things that I cannot tell you as of now Theo, but you will understand soon, I know it; Now do I have your permission" Umbralsage asks "Yes, you do" Theo responds.
Umbralsage then releases Draconic Energy as he takes on an icon form right into Theo "Yo- you made me your conduit?" Theo asks confused and shocked "No, we both have our own unique sources. This Source was created by all three of us to establish our connection and share our original Elemental Powers, this is the Source of Inception, I simply restored it to you which means our connection is reforged" Umbralsage states.
"Three of us?" Theo asks "Kara" Umbralsage responds"Is she our sister?" Theo asks "You will meet her soon i'm sure, until then I believe we should leave it at that; I will return you back to your realm now but I must warn you it will be a bit into the future" Umbralsage said as the dark world started to shatter into light "One thing you should know is my real name, it's Enzo" As Umbralsage [Enzo] said that the void collapsed "Oh and also, your my physical host until I get my real body back, thanks bro!" Enzo had shouted, sounding jokingly joyful.
"OH WHAT THE FU—-" Theo was screaming but before he could finish he was dropped onto the underground cultist area as he sees the Elemental Masters, Ninja, Garmadon, and Nya gather around as Kai smashes the staff and everyone is transformed into their natural robes with their powers restored, though due to this Lloyd's robes glow Golden instead of Green which he would have to change later.
Everyone notices Theo's return "Theo?" Lloyd runs up and hugs him "We thought Chen got you" Lloyd said "That coward could have never laid his dirty hands on me" Theo reassures but as he does his eyes glow an inky black once more "NINJA GO!!" The Ninja scream as they perform their Spinjitzu Tornado colors of Red, Blue, White, Brown, and Golden. Surprisingly Theo did not join them as everything may not be as it seems.
"Thats quite enough from you, Chen" A cold voice rings out as 'Theo' utilizes the dark capabilities of Necral Power to create a corrupted black-ish corrupted liquid hand that cut Skylor free as Chen, Clouse, and their henchmen were trying to make an exit, 'Theo' summons more hands as they absorb Clouse into whatever unknown abyss they came from and 'Theo slams Clouse into the central wall as he starts choking Chen out.
"Theo, what are you doing?" Nya asks worriedly 'Theo' "Theo isn't here, but I'm doing this for him. I don't want anything or anyone like Chen to be able to return on the Day of the Departed" 'Theo' claims "We don't know what your talking about, just let Chen go so we can do this honorably like Garmadon wanted" Jay said "You can't see the future, I can. It's not only Chen that needs to go, it's... It's–" 'Theo' is cut off as he reluctantly decides to retract his am "Even though we don't know you, if you really do care about Theo you will do the right thing and let us handle this" Lloyd said trying to get through to him "Please, he's my brother" Lloyd said on the verge of tears.
"No, he's mine" 'Theo' said as he conjured up the artificial hand and shaped it as a claw before firing it fired at Chen, and in that instant flesh hit nihility as everyone gasps, including Theo as the one who was revealed to be hit was not Chen, but Garmadon. He had understood that this was not the way, and he overall out of anyone would have had the right to despise Chen the most due to their complex past, and yet he had put his life on the line, and then lost it in that instant.
'Theo' would look upon Garmadon's limp and deceased body as Lloyd stood their crying and Chen, Clouse, and their henchmen surrendered and ran away, and though they tried to take Skylor with them Kai interfered and caused them to cower away without her, 'Theo' just stood there with a dark expression on 'his' face "I- I... I didn't mean to–" 'Theo' said finally gaining the will to speak but Lloyd was not having it.
"YOU! Get out of his body!" Lloyd screamed as he fired the Element of Lightning at 'Theo' as it hit him it caused 'Theo' no damage in the slightest as he was completely immune to the effects of Elemental Powers due to his the Power of Destruction automatically negating it, the only exception to this is a being using the Elements of an equal or greater power, or an Elemental Essence which is excused from this.
Lloyd then exited his Golden Robes as his hands grew bright purple as he transforms into a more monstrous form as his skin turns pure black and his eyes turn purple as he fires the Power of Destruction 'Theo' blocks it with 'his' artificial hand and then absorbs it, in that instant Lloyd grows a pair of two wings and flies straight at him but as he is about to hit 'Theo' 'he' conjures up water our of nowhere and uses it to wrap around and subdue Lloyd before using Ice to freeze him and Golden Power to subdue him.
"Lloyd? What's happened to you?" Kai asked worried "He looks like a Demon" Neuro said "Quickly, strike him down!" said Ash "No, did you forget how he helped us? Lloyd is an ally, a friend. And so is Theo" Neuro said determined, Theo's eyes winced and spazzed out briefly back to his normal "Were getting through to him!" Jay pointed out "I didn't mean to kill him, I didn't want this" 'Theo' said on the verge of tears "Whoever you are, we know you didn't your expressions tell us everything, just tell us why your possessing Theo" Cole asked.
"Posessing him isn't really a good term but I– I really just want to protect him and redeem myself. I want to find my sister and stop a looming threat" 'Theo' said "We'll help you, we really will. Just please just let Lloyd go" Cole said "I'm not going to hurt him, I'm reverting him back into his human form" 'Theo' clarified "Oh thank you!" Nya said enthusiastically.
"But... What about Garmadon?" Zane points out "I - I'm sorry. His soul has already left his body and there are only two ways I could restore him as of now, but he would not be the same loving father of Lloyd, or the same caring Sensei you all came to respect" 'Theo' said as she shattered the ice and releases the Golden Power leaving him in human form once again as 'he' started to cry.
"Is there a way to go back and change this? Anything at all?" Jay asks "I could go back, but someone has been altering the Timeline so I could risk doing more harm than good if I change a turning point for Lloyd more specifically" 'Theo' said "So is he really gone?" Kai asked "I'm afraid so, but now we have Chen and his followers back how they were before, except this time we can spread the word about his real nature" 'Theo' announced "But then... Where does that leave me then?" Skylor asked.
"You redeemed yourself, you proved that you are far different from your father and your own person" Kai exclaimed which brought a smile to her face "So what's your name then?" Zane asked "Enzo, and i'm Theo's brother" 'Theo' said "And now I acknowledge that I have only made things worse with my sadistic personality and actions, which is why I trust in my brother, but this time I really will" Enzo added as his eyes turned back to normal leaving Theo back in control of his body "W-what happened?" Theo asked "You came back to us" Cole said happily as they embraced him, while Lloyd laid unconscious.
{Scene Break}
The Elemental Masters as well as Theo laid in utter shock as they climbed the main factory walls as they saw Chen and his followers take the boats back to Ninjago, leaving them stranded aside from two as of now: Lloyd and Theo. Despite not even succeeding it appears they would rather try and take over Ninjago in any way they can.
"We have to go after them!" Kai said "We can't leave the island Kai, only..." Zane cut himself off "Lloyd and Theo, their the only one with Elemental Dragons" Jay pointed out "No, that is not true. In every one of you lies a dormant Dragon power, one that is only waiting to be awakened" Theo stated "How can we unlock this power then? Neuro asks "You need to face your fears, and come to terms with what your life holds and learn to live with it, even you Lloyd" Theo issued.
"But I already have an Elemental Dragon" Lloyd said "You have the Golden Dragon which only counts by technicality, you need to unlock your own Dragon with your Element of Energy" Theo elaborated "But we can't just learn it on the spot like you expect us to, it's not that easy" Griffin Turner said "Well you will, otherwise you'll die" Theo blandly stated as he used the power of Wind to blast them all into the air almost to the clouds as they came crashing down, albeit still falliing as Theo softly smiled.
"THEO WHAT THE FUCK?!" Jay screamed "Language Jay, but he has a point, help us!" Cole said but he heard no response "Lloyd, use the Golden Dragon!" Kai shouted "I can't!" Lloyd said "Why not?" Jay asked "Because I'm too afraid of– Wait...." Lloyd would then see his life flash before his eyes, he would see his father fighting him in the form the Overlord chose for him, the memories of hearing that his mother had left him without ever meeting him until many many years later, and Garmadon's death which left him broken.
But Lloyd could not be broken, no he could not. He was the Leader of the Ninja and who will stand up and fight others if they don't? Being afraid is never an excuse, Ninja never quit and despite everything Theo was right, there was no use holding onto all this rage, he needed to accept the state of things and live with it, and use it to stop it from ever happening to anyone else ever again.
"ENERGY!!" Lloyd screamed as a green Elemental Dragon appeared, and seeing that Theo was seemingly right, the other Ninja and Elemental Masters did the same, all around there were shouts of "Fire, Earth, Shadow, Sound, Amber" and even "WATER!" Nya screamed as a water dragon appeared "N- Nya?" Kai called out dumbfounded "You have power?" Jay asked, equally as shocked as Theo winked at Jay "I just had a little guidance from a friend" Nya said motioning to Theo with a grateful expression.
"Not gonna use an Elemental Dragon, Theo? Lloyd asked smugly, back to his normal sense which nearly brought him to tears of joy with, Theo then returned with his own prideful smirk with his own attitude returning "No, I simply enjoy–" Theo said as he took the form of a massive Arc Dragon almost the size of the Arc Dragon of Focus "A little style!" He telepathically finished as he flew with all of the others.
And since Chen's followers had no real advantages, they were easily apprehended and locked in Kryptarium Prison as the Ninja and the Elemental Masters then came to friendly terms as they departed, with Kai possibly even ending up with Skylor, for real this time. Once more things seemed peaceful for a while, but like always it cannot truly stay that way until the real threat is gone.
"I have found them, after all these years" A strange male bellowing voice said "You what?" A chained female said confused "Your brothers are still alive, and they are on Mirror Realm #471" The unknown male responded "Their really alive? You aren't joking?" The strange female asked "It's such a shame you won't see them again, you really messed up after the rebellion against me, so maybe you can see them, but I will give you a choice, bring them to me and I will spare them, unlike you..." He said with a menacing tone.
"Do I have your word?" The female asked as the male reached out with a hand glowing with dark fuischia-colored energy "There is no going back on a deal..." He said as she shook his hand and the energy culminated before being absorbed by both of them signifying their deal "Okay then, I will bring them back in return for their lives being spared" She said with her mask still on "See to it that you will not fail me, Kara, like your brothers did in the last cycle" He said.
"Of course father" Kara responded "No, call me by my true name, VOIDWRAITH" Voidwraith said as he revealed himself in his astral body "Theo and Enzo... Please forgive me" Kara muttered as she walked through a gateway leading to another realm "I will fix this, I swear to you both!" She stated as she found herself right in the eye of the storm, right into her brothers own Ninjago.