Legacy of Darkness: The Ninjago Rebirth

The ninja gathered on the deck of the Destiny's Bounty, their eyes fixed on the horizon as they watched Zane push the limits of his abilities. The icy-natured ninja had just shattered his own breath-holding record, diving deep into the ocean below. He had reached depths that seemed almost impossible for any human to withstand, let alone exceed with ease.

Kai's voice rang out with admiration. "Ten minutes! He just broke his own record. The guy's inhuman!"

Beneath the surface, Zane effortlessly glided along the ocean floor, his movements fluid and graceful. A curious fish swam past, and he paused for a brief moment to gently pet it before ascending toward the surface. With a burst of energy, he shot upward, breaking through the water with a powerful splash. As he resurfaced, the ninja cheered for him.

"Amazing!" Cole called, a grin spreading across his face.

Jay's eyes widened in awe. "We're not worthy."

Jinx, leaning casually against the side of the ship, sneered at the praise. His dark purple eyes glinted with a mixture of disdain and amusement. "You may not be worthy," he muttered under his breath, his voice sharp, "but don't count me in with you lot."

Zane, his chest heaving from the exertion, smiled faintly. "I broke the record?"

Kai's eyes widened in disbelief. "You destroyed it!"

Jay slapped his hands together in mock prayer. "Okay, okay. Is anyone thinking what I'm thinking? We've been training for so long… I don't think we can get any better. Just think about all we've accomplished."

The ninja fell into a brief, reflective silence as a flashback flooded their minds. They recalled the countless hours of training, each one pushing themselves beyond their limits. Kai running across scorching hot coals, Jay spinning on a metal rod while a lightning storm raged above him, and Cole adding more and more weights to his barbell, struggling to break through his own personal limits. The flashback ended with Nya, on one end of a dumbbell, and Jay on the other—Jay holding a platter of chicken, as if nothing else mattered.

Zane broke the silence with a thoughtful expression. "The question should be raised. Perhaps we have reached our full potential?"

They made their way inside the Destiny's Bounty, where Master Wu was putting away a katana, the weight of his thoughts heavy in the air. Zane's voice broke through, pulling him from his contemplation. "Master Wu, we've been training for so long. What if we've already reached our true potential?"

Wu looked up, his eyes clouded with something that could have been regret, or perhaps sadness. "Hm. You might have reached peak physical condition, but you've yet to reach your inner potential. In each and every one of you, there are obstacles that hold you back. Only when you conquer that fear will your heart be free. Only then will you reach your true potential. Only then will we have a fighting chance to stop the Serpentine from releasing the Great Devourer." Wu paused, his tone turning heavier. "Also, I heard your bickering about who can lift the most. It's Jinx."

The ninja blinked in confusion. "What?!"

Wu's voice turned serious as he addressed them. "Jinx has the most experience with his elements. He uses wind to pace himself so he can go on for longer."

For a moment, the ninja were stunned into silence, before they nodded, accepting the logic behind Wu's words. Not that they'd admit it aloud, but Jinx was undeniably skilled in the art of stealth—his manipulation of wind and darkness made him an expert at blending into shadows, often slipping away when they least expected it. It made sense.

Suddenly, Zane spoke, his voice low with a sense of realization. "There's more to the Great Devourer than you've led on, isn't there, Sensei?"

Wu's face darkened, and the ninja knew they had hit upon something deeper. "I, too, have obstacles within my heart. There's a story I've never told you." A flashback began to unfold.

Long ago, when Wu was still a young boy, he and his brother Garmadon had been more than mere siblings. They were the best of friends. But as the story continued, it was clear that their bond was shattered by a single, fateful event.

One day, Wu had lost his katana. Knowing their father would be furious, Garmadon had insisted that Wu not go after it, but the young Wu had refused. Garmadon, always the daring one, had gone in search of it on his own. Unfortunately, Garmadon had encountered a legendary snake—its venom could turn the purest heart wicked. The poison infected Garmadon, twisting his soul and leaving him vulnerable to the darkness.

Wu's voice quivered with the memory. "The snake is the same one the Serpentine want to reawaken today."

Young Garmadon, bitter and broken, spat venomous words. "Leave it. Leave me alone. I don't need you. I hate you."

Wu's expression hardened. "It was the snake that took my brother away from me."

The flashback faded as Wu sighed heavily, his shoulders slumped with the weight of the past. "The Great Devourer turned your brother into the Dark Lord."

Kai, ever the one to speak his mind, blurted, "So the Great Devourer is what turned him into… that?"

Wu's voice trembled with emotion. "It was all my fault. You five have finished your training, but now you must focus on stopping Pythor from collecting the Fangblades. But never lose sight of the obstacles that lie within your hearts—those that hold you back from true greatness. Unlock your True Potential."

Zane stepped forward, his voice laced with doubt. "But how are we supposed to do that, Sensei?"

Wu's eyes were distant, his mind preoccupied with something else. "It is up to each of you to discover. Now, I must go on a personal journey of my own."

Jay, not one to let things go easily, raised an eyebrow. "Where are you going?"

Wu turned to face them, his gaze unwavering. "To a place you cannot follow."

Cole's face darkened. "If you're going for Lloyd, the City of Ouroboros is filled with hundreds of Serpentine. You'll never do it alone."

Wu turned and nodded gravely. "I am going to find someone who can be of aid. The Serpentine have united and grown stronger. We will need all the help we can get."

And with that, the ninja had no choice but to drop him off at the top of a mountain, one with a single missing companion. They knew it was only a matter of time before the Serpentine would strike again.

Meanwhile, in the City of Ouroboros, Pythor scoured the old ruins in search of the Fangblades. But no matter how hard he searched, the map was incomplete.

Skales, impatient, hissed, "It says nothing about where the four Fangblades are hidden. Have our ancestors left us nothing?"

Pythor, clearly agitated, slammed his fist against the stone. "This, here. This must be a clue. 'When five fangs unite as one, the path toward the Devourer has begun.'"

Skales, ever the skeptic, shook his head. "Yes, when the five tribes unite. We've done all this. It means nothing. If you don't find out soon, the others will begin to ask questions, and they'll start to think you don't know what you're doing."

Pythor's eyes glinted with dark resolve. "I know what I'm doing, fool. I'm trying to unleash the Great Devourer."

Later, the ninja was hanging flyers, trying to track down the missing Fangblades. But just as they had come to terms with their training, they realized someone had disappeared from their midst.

"Where is Jinx?" Jay's voice trembled with suspicion.

Kai groaned in frustration. "Arg, why is he always disappearing?!"

Zane's voice was laced with a certain level of understanding. "Well, he is the master of darkness and wind—those are prime elements for stealth."

The ninja's eyes widened as they realized what had happened. Jinx 

was gone again.

The sun hung low in the sky as the ninja walked through the bustling streets, each of them lost in thought. Zane, however, was distracted, his eyes scanning the horizon. He felt something—a pull, like a thread tugging at his senses. His attention snapped to the sky as he spotted a lone Falcon soaring high above them. Without a word, he dropped the flyers he was holding and stared intently.

"Hey, weirdo! You're making a mess of my storefront!" A voice shouted from behind him, followed by the clatter of paper hitting the ground. "Yoo-hoo! You got a problem?"

Zane continued walking, ignoring the man's ranting. His mind was elsewhere.

Kai, who had been standing nearby, shot the man a quick apologetic glance before hurrying to catch up with Zane. "I'm sorry, sir. Sometimes our friend is in another world."

The man huffed in irritation, noticing the scattered flyers. "He's littering all over the place."

Cole, ever the peacekeeper, stepped forward. "We'll pick it up. So sorry." He quickly gathered the fallen signs.

Jay, always a little slower to catch on, frowned at Zane's behavior. "Zane, what's the deal?"

Without responding, Zane lifted his hand and pointed to the sky. "The Falcon," he said simply.

Jay's eyes widened with excitement. "Ah! It's the Falcon! Oh, my gosh! Every time we follow it, it leads us to good fortune."

Kai gave a nod. "Head back to the Bounty and wait until you hear from us."

Nya, concerned, stepped forward. "But where are you going?"

Kai smiled, a glint of determination in his eyes. "We're gonna follow the bird. Who knows? It could lead us to the first Fangblade." Without wasting another moment, the ninja followed Zane as he moved in the direction the Falcon flew.

The journey took them through dense forests, up rocky cliffs, and into areas that seemed far from the bustling streets of Ninjago. As they climbed a mountain path, Jay started to slow down, panting for air. "Keep going," he urged, trying to catch his breath. "I'll...I'll catch up later."

The others continued forward, though it wasn't long before Cole, too, slowed his pace. "I'm good," he said with a heavy sigh. "Just...just taking a breather. Uh, I'll meet up with you shortly."

Kai, ever the optimist, gave him a thumbs-up. "Good thing we're in peak physical condition." He wiped sweat from his brow as the mountain seemed to stretch on forever. "Gosh, that bird just keeps going."

Zane, ahead of the group, was still focused on the Falcon as it circled above them. As he scanned the sky, something caught his eye—an old sign warning visitors of something called "Treehorns."

Kai, catching up a bit, chuckled. "It's probably just some wild squirrels. Heh. Well, don't lose him. I'll wait for the other guys to catch up."

Zane didn't respond. His gaze remained fixed on the Falcon, as though he could sense something more. He muttered to himself, "Where are we going, my mysterious friend?"

Just as Zane reached a clearing, the Falcon suddenly plummeted from the sky, falling to the ground with a twitching, sparking mechanical whine. Zane's brow furrowed as he crouched down beside the bird. "You're... a robot?"

The Falcon's form glowed faintly as it lay on the ground, sparks still crackling from its frame. Zane carefully set it next to a nearby tree, his mechanical mind whirring with curiosity. But as he turned to look around, something far more unsettling caught his attention.

A massive figure lumbered forward from the shadows—a Juggernaut. Its mechanical frame was massive, with sharp, angular edges and cold, calculating red eyes.

"Intruder! Intruder!" The Juggernaut's voice boomed, its hands tightening into fists. "Prepare to be terminated!"

Zane's eyes narrowed. His instincts kicked in, and he quickly formed a plan. "Ninja, go!" He sprang into action, creating a ramp from the snow to launch himself high into the air.

The Juggernaut's voice roared after him, "Intruder! Intruder! Prepare to be terminated!"

As Zane landed behind the Juggernaut, he swiftly disabled the robot's mechanisms with a well-placed strike. Sparks flew from the machine as it powered down, its enormous form crashing to the ground with a resounding thud.

Breathing heavily, Zane turned back to the fallen Falcon, which still emitted a faint glow. As he crouched beside it, he noticed something that made his heart skip a beat—the same symbol he had seen on the bird was emblazoned across the Juggernaut's armor.

"The same symbol," Zane muttered under his breath, his mind racing. "Where have you brought me, my Falcon friend?" His voice echoed softly as he stood, gazing around at the vast, hidden landscape. Then his eyes fell on another symbol etched into a nearby tree.

With a sense of dread creeping in, Zane approached the tree and opened a hidden compartment, revealing a secret blueprint. As he examined the intricate details, his stomach sank. "So, this is your home, my mysterious friend," he whispered, before his eyes widened in realization.

He pulled out another blueprint from beneath the Falcon's body. His face drained of color as he looked at it.

"No! It can't be!" he exclaimed, his voice cracking. He stepped back, overwhelmed with disbelief. "No! NOOOOOO!!!!!!"

The village was alive with movement—merchants calling out their wares, children darting between stalls, and the scent of roasted chestnuts hanging in the cool evening air. Master Wu walked calmly through the bustling streets, his staff tapping lightly against the cobblestones. His eyes, sharp with wisdom, barely strayed from his path, yet he noticed everything.

Ahead, two figures lurked near a market stall—Kruncha and Nuckal, two bumbling Skulkin warriors who had long been a thorn in his side. Their bickering came to an abrupt halt when they noticed him.

"Aah! Retreat!" Nuckal yelped, scrambling to hide behind a stack of barrels.

Wu merely shook his head, continuing on without a second glance. His true destination lay ahead: Mystake's Tea Shop.

The small, humble shop stood wedged between two larger buildings, its wooden frame worn from years of use. Wu stepped inside, greeted by the familiar scent of exotic herbs and aged parchment. Mystake, the enigmatic shopkeeper, regarded him from behind the counter, her weathered hands carefully measuring tea leaves.

"I would like to purchase some Traveler's Tea," Wu stated evenly.

Mystake's dark eyes narrowed slightly. "Never heard of it."

Wu met her gaze and placed a few gold coins on the counter. Without another word, Mystake began preparing the tea, her movements deliberate and knowing.

"You know," she murmured, pouring steaming water over the leaves, "those who drink this never return."

Wu accepted the tea with a nod. "Then I will not bother you again."

As he turned to leave, he failed to notice the faint glow in Mystake's eyes—a deep, unnatural purple. But her gaze was not on him. It was on his shadow.

Meanwhile, the ninja had finally caught up to Zane, entering the massive hollowed-out tree that concealed a hidden workshop. The air inside was thick with the scent of oil and aged paper, and the walls were lined with strange blueprints and mechanical designs.

"Zane?" Kai called out, stepping forward.

Jay whistled, glancing around. "Wow, would you look at this place? Zane, what's wrong?"

Kai frowned, taking in the stiff way Zane held himself. "Are you hurt?"

Cole, ever concerned, placed a hand on Zane's shoulder. "You okay?"

Zane sighed deeply, his gaze locked onto the blueprint in his hands. Then, without a word, he turned toward them and opened his chest panel.

A series of whirring clicks filled the air. Then came the collective gasps.

Kai staggered back, eyes wide. "You're a robot?!"

Zane's voice was calm, but heavy with revelation. "All this time, and I never knew."

Jay blinked, trying to wrap his head around it. "Uh, guess this explains why you're always acting so weird, right? Hehe."

Zane stared at his own control panel, scanning the switches and dials. One in particular caught his attention.

"The reason I never had a sense of humor was because my funny switch wasn't on." He pressed it.

Without warning, Zane burst into song. "Hello, my baby! Hello, my honey! Hello, my ragtime gal—"

Jay doubled over with laughter as Zane quickly turned the switch back off with a sigh.

Cole chuckled. "Uh, it just makes you more special. You're still the same Zane. Just... with more gears."

Kai nodded firmly. "No matter what you're made of, you're still our brother."

Zane hesitated. "Really?"

"Of course," Cole said. "In fact, I bet it even makes you an even better ninja."

Jay grinned. "Yeah! And how cool is it that I can honestly say, 'My brother is a Nindroid'?"

Zane tested the word. "A Nindroid?"

Cole smirked. "Come on. Pythor is still out there looking for the first Fangblade, and we need you."

But Zane shook his head. "You'll have to go on without me. I just don't feel right."

The others exchanged worried glances before reluctantly leaving him behind.

"We just have to give him time," Kai muttered. "I don't know how I'd feel if I was told I was a robot."

Jay corrected him. "You mean a Nindroid."

"Yeah, whatever," Kai sighed.

Cole huffed, glancing around. "How the heck do we get out of this place?"

A rustling sound echoed through the workshop.

Jay squinted. "Cute tiny birds?"

Cole stiffened as he saw movement in the shadows. "Did you see that?"

"I don't see anything," Jay said, but his voice was uneasy.

Kai's eyes darted across the room. "I just saw it too. Treehorns."

Then, from the corner of the workshop, a metallic voice crackled to life.

"Intruder. Intruder."

The Juggernaut twitched, its mechanical limbs jerking erratically.

Kai groaned. "Oh, great. I think that thing was supposed to protect this place. Guys, it's up to us! Ninja, g—ugh!" He was cut off as something tackled him.

Cole fought back but was quickly overwhelmed. "There's just too many of them!"

Back in the workshop, Zane stared at the blueprint in his hands. A single phrase stood out.

Memory Switch.

His fingers hovered over the hidden switch on his control panel before pressing it.

The world around him melted into light.

A voice echoed from the past. "Hello, Zane."

Zane gasped. He was standing in a familiar workshop, staring into a mirror. Behind him, an elderly man—Dr. Julien—adjusted his stance, helping him learn to walk.

The memory shifted. Zane watched himself learning to cook, hugging a lamp, his father smiling at him.

Then, the image blurred. Dr. Julien was older now, lying weakly in bed. His voice was strained but filled with love.

"You were always the son I never had. It's time you begin your next stage in life. And the only reason I'm about to do this... is because I love you."

With a heavy heart, Dr. Julien reached for a switch. The world faded to black.

Zane snapped back to the present with a single tear rolling down his cheek.

A soft flutter of wings drew his attention. The Falcon landed on his arm, its gaze steady.

"Hey, guys. Wait up!" Zane bolted from the workshop. As he emerged, his eyes widened. His friends were being attacked.

"Leave my friends alone! Ninja, go!"

With renewed purpose, he fought back. The Treehorns hesitated. The Juggernaut faltered. Zane felt something stir deep inside him.

A surge of energy coursed through him. His entire form shimmered, turning light blue.

Kai gasped. "What's happening to him?!"

Jay's eyes were wide. "I've never seen a robot do that."

Cole corrected him. "You mean Nindroid."

"Yeah, whatever."

Cole's face split into a grin. "Zane's unlocked his True Potential."

With a final cry, Zane released a wave of ice, freezing the Treehorn Queen in her tracks. As the power left him, he collapsed.

Jay was the first to reach him. "That. Was. AWESOME!"

Kai grinned. "You should've seen yourself!"

Zane exhaled, standing tall. "This must be what Sensei meant by unlocking our hearts. I remember now. I remember everything. I remember my father. And I feel stronger for knowing."

Cole crossed his arms. "I'm so jealous. His powers are so cool."

Jay laughed. "We have our very own Nindroid!"

Zane smirked. "Watch out, Pythor. We're coming to get you."

Meanwhile, on a distant mountain peak, Master Wu sat beside a campfire.

"How much longer do you plan to hide, Jinx?"

From Wu's shadow, a figure emerged. Jinx stepped forward, his expression unreadable. "How did you know I was with you?"

Wu handed him a note—one from Mystake.

Someone is hiding in your shadow.

Jinx chuckled. "How—"

Wu cut him off. "Some things are better left unasked. Now tell me, why are you here?"

Jinx's smirk faded. "It's wrong to not see you off on your final stop—to see your brother."

He took the teapot of Traveler's Tea and poured it into the fire. A swirling portal emerged.

Jinx gestured toward it. "Good luck, Sensei. And, y'know, break a leg."

Wu nodded. But before stepping through, he handed Jinx a scroll.

Confused, Jinx unfurled it.

The first words burned into his mind.

Elemental Dragon Summoning.