Jamanakai Village basked under the gentle sun, its cobbled paths and rice fields soaked in the golden light of late morning. Laughter rang out as a group of children played soccer near the edge of the square. Their shouts echoed against the old stone walls of the village, birds scattering from the rooftops.
"Come on! You're in!" shouted a boy in a red shirt, darting across the field with the ball at his feet. "Ha! You can't catch me!"
Two others lunged toward him with playful war cries, collapsing into a giggling heap as they tackled him.
Another boy in a green sweatshirt called out, "Oh! Here I go!" and gave the ball a wild kick, sending it sailing over the others' heads.
"Whoa!" Red Shirt Kid gasped, shading his eyes as he watched it arc.
"Yeah! Good one!" a boy in a blue shirt whooped.
The ball bounced once, then ricocheted off the side of a stone wall, narrowly missing one of the smaller kids, who stumbled back with a startled squeak. Some kids cheered. Others groaned in exaggerated defeat. But all of them looked up as a shadow passed over the village—a long, drifting silhouette.
Above them, cutting across the sky like a blade of legend, the Destiny's Bounty flew in silent grace. Restored and repainted to its original glory, the majestic ship gleamed as it soared overhead.
On the deck, Lloyd Garmadon leaned against the railing, eyes following the soccer game below. His expression was distant, thoughtful—wistful. The children's laughter stirred something in him.
"Lloyd!"
The bark snapped him out of his trance.
He turned to see Kai, arms crossed, brow tight with impatience.
"Focus! We're still training!"
Lloyd blinked and nodded half-heartedly, peeling himself away from the rail.
Zane approached, calm as ever. "Now that the Bounty is in our possession again, we can train you more effectively. But only if you commit to it. One more round."
Lloyd sighed as he trudged back to the center of the deck. "We've been training all day…"
"It's all to get you ready to face your father," Cole said, adjusting his hood as he stepped into formation. "Now, get in position."
With a resigned huff, Lloyd took his place at the center of the wooden floor. The others pulled up their hoods and readied themselves. He yawned, not even trying to hide it.
"Whatever," he muttered.
Without warning, Kai sprang forward. Lloyd caught the movement out of the corner of his eye and pivoted, his fist landing clean against Kai's chest. The fire ninja stumbled back with a grunt.
Overhead, Zane and Jay descended from the air like twin falcons.
"Ninja, go!" Lloyd called out.
He spun into a sharp Spinjitzu whirl, catching both in the gust of energy. They hit the deck with heavy thuds.
Cole slid in from behind. Lloyd sensed him a moment too late.
The Earth ninja's legs swept his out from under him, and Lloyd was lifted off the deck in a blur of motion. He tumbled through the air and landed hard on his face, groaning into the planks.
"Lloyd!" Zane rushed over, pulling his hood back. The others followed, concern etched on their faces.
Lloyd rolled over, a dazed grin tugging at his lips. "That was fun. Are we done?"
Jay squatted beside him, eyebrows raised. "Seriously? You're better than this. What's eating at you?"
The boy sat up, brushing sawdust from his sleeves. "Well… The latest issue of Starfarer just dropped at Doomsday Comix. It's a limited run—super rare. If I don't get there soon, it'll sell out! Last issue, Fritz Donnegan was surrounded by the Imperial Sludge. If I don't find out if he escapes…" He trailed off dramatically, raising his hands. "I think I'll have my own doomsday."
Kai groaned and stepped forward, arms crossed. "Lloyd… the fate of Ninjago is literally in your hands. You're the Green Ninja. You've got a destiny that none of us can fulfill. You don't have time for… for comic books."
"But other kids get to play," Lloyd said quietly, eyes drifting again toward the distant village. "They get to have fun."
He looked down at his hands—hands that bore the pressure of prophecy, of fate. "All I ever do is train…"
For a moment, no one spoke. The wind stirred the sails, and below, laughter rose again from the village like a whisper of a life that wasn't his.
Just as the silence stretched awkward and long across the deck, a sudden flurry of motion shattered the moment.
SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK.
One after another, the ninja were sent flying, limbs flailing and grunts of confusion ringing out. In the span of a heartbeat, they all landed with heavy thuds on the deck, groaning in a tangled heap of limbs and bruised pride.
Above them, standing like a triumphant storm cloud, was Jinx—eyes narrow, lips curled in theatrical disapproval.
In his arms was Lloyd, held tightly against his chest as Jinx hugged him protectively, one hand affectionately ruffling the boy's blond hair.
"Tsk. Shame on you idiots," Jinx snapped, his voice dripping with exaggerated scorn. "Bullying this precious baby? For shame."
He leaned down, nose touching Lloyd's forehead. "Don't worry, little one. Father Jinx is here. I'll protect you from these villains."
Lloyd, wide-eyed for just a moment, quickly slipped into the role. He clung to Jinx's coat with a pitiful whimper—then, as Jinx's back remained turned to the others, he lifted his head and shot the ninja a look that chilled them to the bone.
A devilish grin. Smug. Sharp. Absolutely Garmadon.
Kai's face paled.
Jay's jaw dropped.
Zane blinked, visibly recalculating everything.
And Cole, still sprawled on his back, pointed up with a stiff finger.
"…He truly is Garmadon's son," he muttered, eyes wide with horror.
The group lay in stunned silence, the full weight of Lloyd's cunning hitting them harder than Jinx's fists had. Lloyd just nestled further into Jinx's embrace, wearing the expression of someone who'd just outplayed them all—and enjoyed every second of it.
Nya climbed up from below deck, tablet in hand and her brow furrowed.
"Guys, there's been a break-in at the Ninjago City Museum of History," she announced urgently. "And the security footage picked up—you-know-who."
From the deck, a soft groan of pain escaped Cole as he sat up, still rubbing his ribs from Jinx's earlier outburst.
"Garmadon…" he muttered, grimacing.
"Of course it's him," Jay wheezed, holding his side. "We have to stop him before he uses the Mega Weapon to start another one of his diabolical schemes."
Footsteps approached. Lloyd came up beside them, clearly hopeful. His eyes flicked between them, silently volunteering—eager to prove himself. But the moment their eyes met his, the hesitation was palpable.
None of them said no, not outright. But the glow in Jinx's nearby eyes, watching from a shadowed corner of the deck, kept their words cautious and their tone careful.
Instead, the ninja exchanged glances and gave a collective nod—more formal than encouraging. It was enough to make Lloyd cross his arms in quiet disappointment and look down at his boots.
A few minutes later, the Ultra Sonic Raider sped off across the dusty outskirts of Ninjago City.
"We'll meet back at the Bounty when we're done," Kai called over the roar of the engines.
"We'll be waiting for your safe return," Nya added with a nod, her voice laced with worry and hope.
Back on the deck of the Bounty, Lloyd stared after them until the vehicle vanished into the horizon. He let out a long sigh.
"Too old for comic books… too young to fight," he muttered. "When are they gonna make up their minds?"
"Come on, pint-size," Nya teased as she passed him, nudging his shoulder with a smirk. "Show me what you got."
Lloyd only yawned, trudging forward in a huff. But then—bonk.
Something small bounced off the top of his head.
He blinked, looking down to see a balled-up piece of paper at his feet. Curious, he bent down and opened it.
Scrawled in messy, unmistakable handwriting were the words:
"I'll get you one on my way back – Jinx
P.S. Look under my bed for some self-training."
Lloyd stared at the note… then grinned wide. The frustration melted from his face, replaced by a spark of excitement. Clutching the note to his chest, he turned and skipped after Nya, the burdens of growing up momentarily forgotten.
Night draped itself over Ninjago City like a velvet shroud, the moonlight scattered across the museum's glass dome in jagged reflections. A quiet breeze stirred, whispering secrets through the alleyways as if warning the city of something ancient... awakening.
A rope dropped from the rooftop, swaying gently before a figure slid down—quick and sure. Jay landed softly on the narrow ledge just outside a tall museum window, glanced over his shoulder, and whispered, "Come on."
The others followed, one by one—Zane with mechanical precision, Cole with practiced stealth, and Kai with the eager energy of someone always ready for a fight. Jinx was last, descending effortlessly like a shadow carried by the wind. Once they were all on the ledge, Jay reached forward and silently cracked open the window. A cold draft met them, carrying the sterile scent of artifacts and long-dead legends.
They climbed in, landing on a catwalk that overlooked the main exhibition hall. Jay raised a hand, motioning for silence.
Below them, the sound of metal tapping on stone echoed.
A single beam of light swept across the polished floor.
"Skales," Jay mouthed.
The Serpentine general moved with the authority of someone who had done this before, flashlight in hand, the glow casting long, snakelike shadows along the walls. His forked tongue flicked occasionally as he led a small procession—Acidicus, Fangtom, Skalidor, and a few lesser warriors.
They approached a massive diorama, a scale replica of The Charge of the Dark Brigade, a legendary battle known throughout Ninjago. Skales snorted at the dramatic figures frozen mid-charge.
"Boy, did they get that wrong," he scoffed with a curl of his lip. He turned and kept walking.
Acidicus slithered up beside him. "Remind me again, why are we here if we're not stealing anything?"
Fangtom's two heads spoke in eerie unison.
"Because Master Garmadon…"
"…has another plan to destroy the ninja."
Skales paused, rolling his eyes. "Master Garmadon? Ha! He's no master of mine. His so-called Mega Weapon has failed time and again. Maybe it's time we called the shots."
A deep voice suddenly boomed from the shadows.
"Because this time... I will not fail."
Skales froze. His flashlight dropped with a metallic clatter. The beam rolled across the floor and lit up Lord Garmadon's twisted silhouette as he stepped forward, cape fluttering, eyes glowing with unholy certainty.
The room went still. Acidicus, Fangtom, and Skalidor immediately bowed low.
"Yes, Lord Garmadon," they chorused.
Even Skales, though reluctant, dipped his head. "Yes, Lord Garmadon."
From their vantage point above, the ninja tensed. Jay's hand hovered near his nunchucks. Kai's brow furrowed. Jinx, meanwhile, leaned casually against a railing, munching on a chocolate bar he had looted from the museum gift shop.
Garmadon stepped toward a towering fossil at the center of the room—a hulking, birdlike predator posed in a mid-roar, claws frozen in air. A plaque beneath it read:
"Dromaeosaurid Theropod Grundalicus — 'The Grundle.'"
"Behold," Garmadon announced, spreading his arms, "the Grundle. Once the most feared predator in all of Ninjago. With claws that could shear through steel, senses sharp enough to detect prey from miles away, and instincts so refined it could hunt even the stealthiest ninja..."
He looked up toward the rafters with a glint of cruel satisfaction.
"...even Jinx couldn't hide from it."
High above, Jinx rolled his eyes and muttered in his head, Bitch please. That thing ain't catching me. The others? Maybe. Me? Naw.
Jay leaned toward Zane. "The Grundle? I've read about them. Man, am I glad those things are extinct." He chuckled nervously.
Jinx shrugged. "I feel like we missed a real opportunity. Fighting an apex predator sounds like a good evening to me. Hell, let it loose in the city. Makes things interesting."
The others gave him flat stares.
Zane: "Please don't encourage the villain."
Cole: "Why are we even friends with you?"
Skales snapped their attention back. "Thanks for the history lesson. But what are we supposed to do with a pile of bones?"
Garmadon turned slowly, his smile widening. "I am going to resurrect it."
Skales scoffed. "Yeah, right. Show us, then."
Garmadon stepped forward, lifting his Mega Weapon high into the air.
"Rise, Grundle," he intoned, voice thick with dark magic. "Feel the strength of the Mega Weapon! I wish to turn back the clock. Return to youth, to flesh, to hunger..."
Dark energy burst from the Mega Weapon in thick waves, tendrils of crimson and shadow lashing at the fossil. The bones rattled violently, and a low growl echoed from deep within the structure as power surged through it.
"…and awaken with a hunger for ninja!"
Jay's smile vanished. "Oh no. He's really bringing it back?"
Zane's eyes flickered. "Not if we have anything to say about it."
The ninja rose from their cover, weapons drawn.
Garmadon spun. "The ninja! Stop them!"
The Serpentine hurled their weapons up at the catwalk. Blades and chains clanged off metal and stone as the ninja scattered, leaping down to the museum floor.
"Go!" Cole shouted, hurling himself into the ribcage of the resurrecting skeleton. Zane and Jay followed, dodging strikes as they scrambled to stop the ritual.
"This is not a solid plan!" Zane called, narrowly avoiding a mace.
Kai joined the fray atop the fossil, gripping his sword tightly. "I feel pretty alone up here," he muttered.
Garmadon poured more energy into the Mega Weapon, shadows pouring into the Grundle as the fossil twitched, then moved—a low, guttural snarl echoing from within its hollow chest cavity.
Kai threw his sword. It spun through the air and missed.
Then, from the corner of the room, where he had been quietly enjoying his snack, Jinx finally moved.
He sighed and dusted off his hands. "Guess it's time."
Raising one hand, he fired a narrow, concentrated beam of dark energy. It struck the Mega Weapon just as Garmadon channeled another surge of power.
The clash sparked with raw force. The Mega Weapon dimmed, faltered—but a split-second later, Kai's missed sword, now bouncing off a stone column, ricocheted across the room.
"...Oh no," Jinx muttered.
The blade shot toward him like a divine prank. He swayed to dodge it, breaking the connection. But the chaos worked in their favor—the clash had weakened the spell enough.
The Mega Weapon slipped from Garmadon's grasp and clattered to the floor with a clang.
The spell sputtered. The Grundle's roar turned into a shudder. Bones creaked... and then froze.
Jinx picked up the chocolate bar again, took a bite, and mumbled through it:
"You're welcome."
The Mega Weapon clattered across the marble floor, skidding to a halt against a nearby wall. Its eerie glow dimmed, flickering uncertainly like a dying flame.
Lord Garmadon stood frozen for a breath, eyes wide with disbelief. Then his voice erupted in fury.
"Not again. Not again!"
From across the chamber, Skales crossed his arms, a smug look curling across his scaly features. "And you said it wouldn't fail."
Garmadon shot him a venomous glare, then turned and sprinted toward the fallen weapon. "Retreat!" he barked.
Jay let out a relieved laugh. "Ha! We stopped them!"
Kai, however, frowned. "Did we? It didn't work…"
Garmadon snarled, cradling the Mega Weapon as he turned. "Curse you, ninjas!" With a final glare, he and the Serpentine disappeared into the shadows, their slithering footsteps echoing into the museum's vast silence.
But something glittered in the corner of Jay's eye. He blinked, leaning forward. "Wait a second… Hey! They're trying to steal the golden sarcophagus!"
From the rear exhibit hall, the Serpentine generals had seized a massive, gleaming coffin adorned with golden hieroglyphs and serpent motifs. With coordinated grunts and hisses, they began dragging it toward a side exit.
Kai's eyes narrowed. "After them!"
The ninja bolted in pursuit. The clatter of footsteps and panicked hisses filled the museum as the Serpentine hauled their prize down a hallway and into the maintenance wing.
The chase led them to a circular manhole embedded in the concrete. Skales yanked it open.
"Down here!"
Skalidor tried to shove the sarcophagus into the hole. It didn't budge. "It won't fit!"
"Forget it!" Skales snapped. "Just go!"
As the generals abandoned the relic and dove into the manhole, the ninja rounded the corner, panting and determined.
Jay groaned, voice rising in pitch. "I can't believe we didn't catch them! I'm usually way faster than that. It's like my legs are half their normal size!"
Kai skidded to a stop beside him. "And that sarcophagus... I don't remember it being that big. Did it grow?"
Zane, examining their surroundings with a rare hint of concern, replied in a voice that was oddly squeaky. "Or... did we shrink?"
Kai blinked, then turned toward a nearby glass door.
"Uh… guys?" He pointed.
Through the door's reflection, four small figures stared back—tiny, wide-eyed versions of themselves.
Jay pulled back his hood, and his scream rang through the museum. "AAAAAH! WE SHRUNK!"
The others followed suit, tugging off their hoods with panicked gasps. They were no taller than toddlers, their ninja gear now ill-fitting and drooping over their smaller frames.
"We're... we're kids!" Kai gasped, grabbing a handful of his baggy sleeve. "We're actually kids!"
A chorus of high-pitched, horrified shrieks followed. Their voices cracked, their expressions comically exaggerated with sheer disbelief.
But not everyone was panicking.
Jinx, who had somehow found a mirror from a nearby, questionably placed display about ancient vanity artifacts, was admiring himself in perfect calm. He turned slightly, twisting his hips with the fluid grace of someone who had done this many times before. His jacket slid halfway down one arm in an elegant, accidental flourish.
"Damn," he said, appraising his reflection with a grin, "I looked good as a kid."
He struck a pose, one he'd stolen from one of Nya's fashion magazines—a dramatic twist at the waist, one hand cocked under his chin. The pose subtly emphasized his already striking silhouette: slender, curvaceous hips, a narrow waist forming a flawless hourglass, and just the faintest swell of an A-cup chest beneath the black undershirt.
One ninja—tall, stocky, with messy black hair—froze, his cheeks blooming a vivid crimson as he turned away, clearly flustered.
Jay, standing nearby, caught sight of the reaction. A slow smirk crept across his face.
"Oh, this is going in the vault," he murmured, already imagining how he could leverage this for blackmail—or at least a few favors. Still… he found himself oddly protective. The idea of anyone teasing Jinx for something like this didn't sit right with him.
Jinx caught the look in the mirror, his eyes narrowing knowingly. "Touch that vault, Jay," he said with a playful threat in his voice, "and I'll turn your voice even higher."
Jay chuckled nervously. "Noted."
But as their laughter faded, the weight of their situation returned.
"We're kids," Zane repeated, calmly but seriously. "And whatever caused this... it may not wear off easily."
The ninja exchanged glances, their oversized eyes blinking with the same thought.
This night at the museum wasn't over yet.
Not by a long shot.
Jay was pacing in tight, frantic circles, his tiny legs making it more of a frantic shuffle. "Oh, oh, oh, this is bad! This is so bad on so many levels!"
Cole, voice now comically high-pitched, flailed his arms in exasperation. "It's impossible! We must be dreaming, Zane! TELL ME WE'RE DREAMING!"
Zane stood perfectly still, though a faint tremor ran through his circuitry. "Nindroids do not dream," he replied flatly, though his voice now carried an odd tinny chirp. "Perhaps Garmadon did succeed in turning back the clock. But instead of reviving the Grundle, the effect was… localized. To us."
Jay spun toward him, arms outstretched. "Yeah, but Nindroids don't turn into kids! Explain that, genius!"
Zane blinked. His systems whirred quietly as he ran internal diagnostics. "I have extended my logic parameters… but nothing is coming up. This does not compute—"
A spark snapped from his right eye as it twitched erratically.
"—This does not compute!"
From a few feet away, Jinx leaned lazily against the sarcophagus, admiring his nails. "I mean… it could work. Depends on what Garmadon defined as 'young.' If the Mega Weapon took that literally, it might've zapped you into something that fit that idea."
Zane tilted his head thoughtfully. "Hmm… yes. That seems like the most likely explanation."
Cole threw his arms up in surrender. "Okay, fine. I get it. We're all in this together." He marched over to the sarcophagus and jabbed a finger at it. "But I can't be a kid again! I hated being a kid! You can't drive, no one listens to you, and worst of all…" He gulped. "Bedtimes."
The others gathered around him, equally miserable.
Jay sighed. "I told Nya we'd meet back at the Bounty. Maybe Sensei will know what to do..."
But the sound of distant sirens cut through the museum's hush.
Moments later, a police cruiser pulled up in front of the shattered entrance, red-and-blue lights casting warped reflections against the marble pillars. Two officers stepped out, their boots clicking on the stone.
One of them, an older man with a broad-brimmed hat and a mustache too big for his face, let out a sharp laugh as he saw the kids standing in the ruined exhibit hall.
"Well, well, what've we got here?" he said, swaggering forward. "Looks like we caught our little culprits in the museum heist. Who would've thought it was just a bunch of brats?" He squinted. "What are you wearing, the Apple Dumpling Gang's pajamas?"
His partner, younger and brown-haired, burst out laughing. "Yeah, what is this, costume night at the daycare?"
Jay's face turned bright red. "These aren't pajamas! We're ninja!"
The brown-haired officer snorted. "Yeah, and I'm Santa Claus."
Kai stepped forward confidently, face tightening with resolve. "Ninja—go!" He spun into action, attempting to unleash his Spinjitzu... only to wobble erratically, teetering like a toddler on roller skates.
"Whoa—!"
He spun out of control and crashed directly into Jay, Zane, and Cole, sending all of them tumbling onto the hood of the police car with a dull thud.
Jinx, meanwhile, simply chuckled from the shadows. With a sly smile, he slipped backward into a dark corner and vanished.
Kai groaned as he rubbed his face against the hood. "Our Spinjitzu doesn't work. We're too small!"
"Easy there, kiddo," said the brown-haired officer, stepping in. He swiftly cuffed Cole with oversized zip ties and turned to Kai. "You're coming with us to the precinct."
Kai tried to keep things light. "Look, officers, this is all a grave misunderstanding. My friends and I were just trying to help—"
"You can tell all the stories you want tomorrow," the officer said, not even listening. "Right after you explain why you stole this thing."
Kai sputtered. "But we didn't steal—"
"Zip it."
The ninja were unceremoniously herded into the back of the cruiser, the doors slamming shut behind them with metallic finality.
"You have the right to remain silent," the officer droned from the front seat.
His partner chuckled. "Kids."
But then the younger one frowned and looked over his shoulder. "Hey… wasn't there five of them?"
The two froze. A moment passed. Then they both got out of the car, shining their flashlights across the parking lot and into every crevice of the museum's front steps.
They even shined a beam toward the shadows where Jinx had vanished earlier—nothing.
"Must be our imagination," the older one muttered.
Unseen to them, from a rooftop above, Jinx perched in the dark, watching with a sly grin. The moonlight shimmered off his reflective goggles as he disappeared into the night.
"Kids," he whispered, amused. "Always underestimate the shadows."
Morning light spilled gently across the deck of the Destiny's Bounty, bathing the wooden floors and polished railings in gold. Inside the main hall, young Lloyd Garmadon lounged upside-down on a couch, legs thrown over the backrest as he held a comic book over his head. His eyes darted back and forth across the colorful pages, utterly absorbed in the daring exploits of Fritz Donnegan, fearless adventurer and scourge of villainy across the fictional world.
He let out a quiet gasp. "No way… Imperial Sludge? Not again…"
At that moment, Nya stormed in from the starboard corridor, arms crossed and footfalls heavy with irritation. Her brow was furrowed, and her voice practically crackled with frustration.
"They should be back by now!" she snapped, pacing in tight circles. "Jinx promised me an all-day VIP spa session. All day, Lloyd! Facials, steam room, the good towels—you know how rare the good towels are?!"
From the galley entrance, Master Wu entered with calm, quiet steps, his hands tucked into the sleeves of his robes. But there was a furrow in his brow too—not of irritation, but worry.
"I fear something… unfortunate has happened," Wu murmured, his gaze distant. Then his sharp eyes turned toward Lloyd, who instinctively froze.
The boy gasped and, in a blur of motion, swapped the comic book for a well-worn lesson scroll, pretending he'd been diligently reading the entire time. He even straightened his back and attempted to look scholarly.
"Lloyd," Wu said evenly, walking over with the patience of someone who knew exactly what had just happened but chose not to acknowledge it. "You are in charge of the Bounty while Nya and I go into town to investigate."
Lloyd blinked. "Uh, yeah. Sure thing, Sensei!"
Wu nodded, satisfied, but before turning away, he looked pointedly at Nya.
"And Nya…" he added with a subtle sigh. "We're going to have a talk about not inviting your sensei to a spa day. Especially one advertised as 'Hot Stones and Silken Robes.'"
Nya's face flushed red. "I didn't think you'd say yes!"
"I didn't," Wu said, already walking out the door, "but I saw the brochure."
As their footsteps faded into the distance, Lloyd slouched back into the couch with a victorious smirk. With one eye on the corridor, he slipped the lesson scroll behind a cushion and reclaimed his comic.
"Okay, Fritz Donnegan," he whispered with excitement, "looks like it's just gonna be you, me… and the Imperial Sludge."
Thunder rumbled softly in the distance. Somewhere far off, fate stirred.
But for now, the Bounty belonged to a boy and his comic book hero.
Inside the dim halls of the museum, under the flickering fluorescent lights, three pint-sized ninja knelt solemnly before the museum curator. Heads bowed, cheeks red with embarrassment, Kai, Jay, and Cole mumbled in unison:
"We're sorry for stealing!"
Zane remained standing, arms folded neatly behind his back, the only one not caught in the guilt-ridden tableau.
"But we didn't steal anything," he said logically, frowning. "I don't understand the point of—"
Kai elbowed him sharply in the ribs and hissed, "Shh! The quicker we get out of here, the faster we figure out how to turn back to normal!"
Zane blinked, then quickly dropped to one knee with the others. "I'm sorry for stealing, too," he said without conviction.
The elderly curator smiled in a patronizing sort of way—the kind adults reserved for kids who looked like they'd just confessed to knocking over a vase with a soccer ball.
"Thank you, little boys, for returning the sarcophagus. You did the right thing," he said. Then his smile wavered, and his eyes narrowed. "But… what about the bones?"
Jay's head tilted. "What bones?" he asked, standing.
"The Grundal bones," the curator said grimly, pointing to an empty glass case.
The four ninja gasped in horror.
Jay blinked in disbelief. "The Grundle bones? They're gone! You don't think…?"
Kai took a nervous step forward. "You're saying it just… walked out of here?"
Zane's face turned grave. "Theoretically… yes. If Garmadon's magic reversed our ages, it's plausible he accidentally reversed the age of the Grundle as well. It could have been… brought back to life."
They all sucked in a breath at once.
Jay turned quickly to the curator and officers. "You've got to believe us! The Grundle's alive! It only exists to hunt ninja—and as long as we're around, everyone's in danger!"
Instead of taking the warning seriously, the officers burst out laughing. The brown-haired one even clapped his partner on the back.
"Well," he chuckled, "we'll keep an eye out for anything that goes bump in the night, alright, junior?"
The hat-wearing officer smirked as he motioned them toward a bench. "Now, you four sit tight until your parents come pick you up."
The boys were practically shoved onto the seat, stewing in frustration as the officers sauntered off.
Cole clenched his fists. "We've gotta get out of here. Right now."
Jay's eyes flicked toward a nearby school group walking through the halls. The children were being led by a tall, mustachioed man in a tweed suit named Mr. Noble, who was droning on about ancient burial customs. Jay's lips curled into a grin.
Kai noticed the same thing. "Follow my lead, boys."
In a blur, Kai slipped toward the group, his small hand diving into a kid's backpack to pull out a red hoodie. Jay snatched a gray cap from another. Cole tugged on a purple shirt with glittering stars that had been stuffed into someone's jacket pocket. In moments, the ninja had disguised themselves—poorly, but enough.
Back at the bench, the hat officer turned to speak—only to find the seat empty.
"Huh?"
The brown-haired officer squinted. "Where'd they go?"
Down the corridor, the disguised ninja shuffled quickly behind the student group. Kai adjusted his red hoodie with confidence. Cole tugged at the too-tight purple shirt, grimacing. Jay glared down at the butterfly on his blue top like it had personally insulted him. Zane, ever the anomaly, looked oddly comfortable in a blue and white shirt that bore the number 13.
Jay groaned. "This is so humiliating."
Zane, scanning the hallways ahead, said, "If our Spinjitzu remains inaccessible, we will be no match for the Grundle should we encounter it."
Kai nodded, face grim. "Then we have to make it back to the Bounty. Fast."
Jay added, "We also need to find Jinx. Who knows what could've happened to him?"
Kai rolled his eyes. "Eh. I'm not that worried. From what Jinx told us, he had good control of his elemental powers even when he was younger. They're not as strong, sure, but he should still be able to handle himself."
Zane agreed. "Not to mention, Jinx is statistically the most stealth-capable among us. It is unlikely he would be caught doing anything… indiscreet."
Jay sighed, shoulders slumping. "You're probably right. Heck, he's probably eating right now while we're on the run—"
CUT TO: Five-Star Restaurant – "Le Château Écarlate"
Velvet chandeliers hung low in the candlelit air as violins played softly in the background. Silver clinked gently against porcelain.
And there, in the center of the room, sat Jinx.
Atop the lap of an enormously round man in a navy-blue business suit, Jinx reclined with theatrical elegance. He wore a child-sized tuxedo jacket that somehow still managed to gleam. In one hand, he wielded a golden fork, the tines coated in chocolate cake so rich it made the air around it heavier. In the other was an Oreo milkshake with whipped cream stacked like a snowdrift.
"Mmmmmm~," Jinx moaned as he took a bite. "Five layers. Imported Belgian ganache. Actual chocolate pearls. Who does that? Magnifique."
A waiter in pristine white approached the table and presented a gleaming bottle of sparkling vintage wine.
"Compliments of the owner, young sir," the waiter said with a reverent bow.
Jinx accepted the bottle, then plucked a sleek black card from the inside of his coat. "A thousand for your trouble," he said, tucking it into the waiter's breast pocket. "And do tell the chef his soul was in that custard."
The waiter bowed again, disappearing in silent awe.
Jinx leaned back, sipping his shake with one hand, uncorking the bottle with the other, eyes twinkling.
"Good looks," he said with a devilish smirk, "really do get you anywhere."
The fat man beneath him chuckled, jowls wobbling. "How about we take this back to my hotel, huh? Get a suite, just the two of us?"
Jinx's eyes went flat. Slowly, the shadows coiled up from beneath the chair, wrapping around his mouth like a veil.
He turned to the man, voice cold and distant.
"Predators," Jinx said, "are so selfish these days."
The shadows hissed.
The man didn't laugh again.
Outside the museum, the autumn air was crisp, but the tension was electric.
Cole, Jay, Kai, and Zane—each now disguised in a patchwork of stolen children's clothes—darted past the field trip group, moving swiftly. Kai tugged the hood of his red sweatshirt low over his face. Jay adjusted the gray cap over his forehead with a groan, still mortified by the butterfly on his blue shirt. Cole stumbled slightly in the too-tight purple star-patterned girl's top. Zane walked with mechanical precision, still trying to grasp the subtleties of blending in.
As they moved, they passed Noble, the museum chaperone, who blinked in confusion.
"Huh? Where are you going? Come back here!" Noble called, half-heartedly. But his voice faltered as a heavy thud echoed above them.
The children and Noble paused. Another thud, this time louder. Noble frowned and squinted upward. "What was that?" he muttered.
High above, the museum's rooftop groaned.
Crkk-sssh.
A grotesque silhouette shifted into view, slinking into the moonlight. Its claws gleamed. Its maw dripped. Yellow eyes flashed with mindless hunger.
"A monster!" Noble shrieked.
The children screamed as the Grundle lunged from the roof, snarling with terrifying speed. The book in Noble's hand fell to the pavement with a wet splack as a thick strand of Grundle saliva splattered across its cover.
Panic erupted. The Grundle disappeared into the shadows with horrifying agility, leaving behind only chaos and screams.
Across the street, in the shadows of a graffitied alleyway, Jay leapt up as Cole and Kai hoisted him toward an old payphone. Zane stood near the mouth of the alley, peering out with robotic calm, keeping an eye out for Grundle—or police.
"Collect call, please!" Jay barked into the receiver. "Hold me steady, will you?" he added, kicking lightly as Kai wobbled under him.
On the Destiny's Bounty, Lloyd lounged in front of the console, fingers clicking away on his video game controller. The ship's main phone rang, interrupting the booming soundtrack of explosions and pixelated dragon roars.
"Ugh, seriously?" Lloyd reached with one hand, struggling to balance game and phone. He fumbled, nearly knocking the controller to the floor before smacking the receiver off the hook.
"Whoa—!" he yelped, jabbing the speaker button just in time. "Destiny's Bounty."
"Lloyd, it's Jay!" the voice crackled with urgency. "Put Sensei on!"
Lloyd blinked. "Jay? Where are you? Why haven't you come back? Sensei's out looking for you!"
Jay groaned on the line. "Apparently, you need parental permission to take the bus now, and we can't even get out of the city without being tackled by mall cops!"
"…Uh, what?" Lloyd asked, clearly more confused than concerned.
"Never mind, long story. Just meet us at Buddy's Pizza in ten minutes. And bring our weapons!"
Lloyd opened his mouth to respond—then slipped off the seat and crashed to the floor, the game still blaring as a digital "Game Over" appeared on screen.
"…Weapons?" he repeated weakly from the floor.
Buddy's Pizza smelled like melted cheese, overcooked pepperoni, and faintly of cleaning chemicals. The lights were fluorescent, the floor sticky in places, and the crowd was a chaotic mix of kids and tired parents. Lloyd stepped inside cautiously, eyes scanning the tables for any sign of his friends. The air was warm with oven heat and chattering voices.
His green hoodie flared slightly as he moved, arms full—awkwardly so—with a bundle of weapons wrapped in cloth. He clutched them tightly, ignoring the looks he got from a toddler pointing at the sword handle poking out.
Focus, he told himself. Ninja first, arcade later.
Near the counter, a man in a full gopher mask was ordering pizza. Lloyd paused only a moment before continuing through the crowd, peeking around booths.
"Really?" Cole's familiar voice groaned nearby. "Of all places we could meet, you pick this?"
Jay shot him a look, seated at a table behind a stack of napkin dispensers. "What? I like their pizza," he whispered back defensively.
Lloyd's eyes flicked in their direction, but didn't register them. Not yet.
"Psst. Lloyd," someone hissed.
He turned—and his brows lowered at the sight of a red-clad kid about his size trying to wave him down.
"Beat it, brat," Lloyd said dismissively, jostling the weapons higher in his arms. "I'm on a mission."
The red-clad kid blocked his path. "It's me. Kai."
Lloyd stopped. Squinted. Looked again—and then really looked.
His eyes grew round. "Whoa," he breathed, dropping the weapons with a loud clatter. Swords clanked across the table and floor. "What happened to you guys? You're… you're tiny!"
Heads turned. A few kids pointed. A mom gasped at the sharp clanking.
"Keep it down!" Kai whispered urgently, ducking his head. Then, using the high-pitched voice of a child: "Your father's Mega Weapon didn't just turn us into kids—it unleashed a creature whose sole purpose is to hunt down ninja."
Cole leaned back with a grim look. "Typical Garmadon."
Jay added bitterly, "And now, every time we try to tell someone—" Lloyd bent to scoop up their gear—"they just think we're crazy kids playing ninja dress-up."
Lloyd let out a chuckle. He couldn't help it.
Kai shot him a sharp glance. "What's so funny?"
"Well," Lloyd said, grinning, "I guess now you know what it feels like to be treated like a kid for once." He dropped the bundle of weapons onto their table with a thud. "Welcome to my life."
Zane adjusted his hoodie with mechanical calm. "This is no laughing matter. If we don't return to our full size, we can't use our Spinjitzu properly. We won't stand a chance against the Grundle."
Lloyd raised a brow. "What about me? I know Spinjitzu."
Kai nodded. "Yeah, but you don't know the Grundle. We need all hands on deck—at full strength."
Jay leaned in. "What we need is someone who knows about Grundles. Weaknesses, legends—anything."
Just then, Lloyd's attention drifted. At the next booth over, a kid was reading a well-worn Starfarer comic, completely immersed. Something about it sparked a thought.
"Lloyd," Cole warned, snapping his fingers. "Focus."
"I am," Lloyd replied, still staring. "I think I know just the guy…"
He glanced around the restaurant.
"…Wait, where's Jinx?"
The group blinked. Then, slowly, they all turned.
"WELLLL…" Cole started awkwardly.
A new voice answered casually.
"I'm right here."
Everyone jumped.
The booth behind them had been occupied the whole time—by a kid with his feet kicked up and style that screamed anything but low profile.
Jinx lounged like royalty in a custom-cut Gucci jacket, unzipped just enough to show a sleek black tee underneath. A glittering diamond chain rested around his neck, catching the overhead lights like a beacon. His pants were black leather, sharp and creased, and on his feet were immaculate Jordan Retro 1s—deep obsidian with encrusted diamonds glittering along the soles. In one hand, he casually stirred an Oreo milkshake with a long silver spoon.
He smirked at them, sipping coolly.
"Sup, baby boy," he greeted with a wink.
Lloyd blinked, stunned.
"Jinx?!" he half-shouted. His gaze swept him up and down, eyes wide. "Okay, you weren't lying. You did look good as a kid."
Jinx shrugged, tilting his shake. "Style's eternal, little man."
Jay dropped his head into his hands. "We're so dead."
Kai sighed. "Can someone please tell the bling king we're supposed to be laying low?"
Cole muttered, "I knew we should've met at the noodle shop."
Jinx just grinned wider and took another sip of his milkshake, letting the diamonds on his shoes glint like stars under the Buddy's Pizza lights.
The bell above the door gave a nostalgic ding as the group stepped into the dimly lit interior of Doomsday Comix.
The scent of dust, old paper, and plastic sleeves filled the air. Tall shelves leaned slightly with the weight of graphic novels, long boxes of back issues, and action figures sealed in yellowing plastic. Posters of long-canceled superhero series clung to the walls like museum relics. A flickering overhead light buzzed faintly above.
Cole looked around, brow raised, unimpressed.
"You brought us to a comic book store?"
Jinx didn't even slow his swaggering walk. "Not just any comic book store," he said, waving a hand theatrically. "This was the spot in Ninjago back in its heyday. You should've seen it, man—Friday nights, costume contests, trivia showdowns… full nerd royalty. But now? Since that dumb Borg Phone dropped, most teens are glued to their screens instead of pages."
Lloyd nodded. "He's right. But trust me—if anyone knows how to beat a monster that doesn't technically exist, I've got just the guy."
The team wandered deeper into the shop, passing boxes labeled "CLEARANCE," racks of long-forgotten manga volumes, and a standee of Captain Cube missing an arm.
Kai stopped abruptly and grabbed Lloyd by the collar. "We're not here to pick out your stupid comics, Lloyd! This is serious."
Jay, however, had already wandered to a nearby shelf. He gasped and held up a worn, colorful issue with a grinning duck in goggles on the cover.
"Oh snap. A first edition Daffy Dale! I loved that nut growing up." He laughed, then cleared his throat quickly. "I mean... how juvenile."
Jinx gave him a sideways glance and smirked. "Ain't no shame in loving Daffy. That duck was wild."
Lloyd rolled his eyes and waved for them to follow. "Come on. This way."
He led them to the register—a cluttered corner guarded by a vintage cash register and stacks of unopened trading cards. Behind it sat a man with a grizzled beard, thick glasses, and a long ponytail tied with a rubber band. He wore a stretched-out Starfarer shirt and sipped from a massive "World's Best Dungeon Master" mug.
Lloyd gestured with a smile. "Fellas, meet Rufus McCallister. Or, as we in the fandom call him... Mother Doomsday."
Rufus looked up, one eyebrow arching. "Well, if it ain't Lloyd 'Hemorrhoid' Garmadon," he said with a grin. "If you're here for the latest Starfarer, sorry to disappoint—I sold out faster than a scalper at Comic-Con."
His eyes moved past Lloyd and lit up when he saw Jinx approaching.
"And if it ain't Jinx Sky, Master of Darkness himself!" He stood and offered a fist. "Thanks again for the donation—we just got a mint box of first editions thanks to you."
Jinx returned the dap coolly. "I'll pick 'em up once I'm back to, uh…" He gestured to his child-sized frame. "…normal."
Rufus nodded solemnly. "Ah. Understood."
Lloyd leaned in. "Actually, Mother Doomsday—we need your help."
Rufus tilted his head, interest piqued. "Color me intrigued."
"There's a problem," Lloyd said, glancing around the store as if the walls might be listening. "A Grundle is on the loose… and we need to know how to deal with it."
Rufus leaned back in his chair. "Oh, so this is a theoretical question."
Lloyd smiled faintly. "Sure. Theoretical. Can you help?"
Without another word, Rufus slid off his chair and shuffled out from behind the counter. His eyes gleamed behind his glasses, voice shifting into lecture mode as he moved toward a shelf labeled Monsters & Myths.
"Dromaeosaurid Theropod Grundalicus," he said with the flair of someone reciting poetry. "Fierce. Vicious. Technically extinct—but deeply rooted in comic book lore, cartoons, and ancient Ninjago legends."
He pulled a thick, glossy comic from the shelf and slapped it open on the nearest table. The page showed a towering, lizard-like beast with glowing red eyes, serrated claws, and armored plating running down its back.
"According to most sources," Rufus continued, tapping the illustration, "these bad boys always get their prey. Once they've marked you… well…" He gave a whistle. "Good luck."
Kai peered over his shoulder, eyes narrowing. "Sounds like he knows his stuff."
Lloyd pushed past Kai and Zane, nearly knocking over a display of model airships. "Can it be stopped?"
Rufus folded his arms. "First thing you need to know—its hide is like a tank's. Shell-like, layered armor. Invincible to swords, scythes, nunchucks, and throwing stars." He looked at their faces. "So, yeah… your cheap little knockoff weapons? Useless."
The boys all exchanged tense glances.
Jay muttered, "Great. So basically, we're dealing with a monster that can't be hurt by anything we actually own."
Jinx crossed his arms, still calm, but his gaze had sharpened. "Then we just gotta find something it can't tank."
Rufus gave a sly grin. "Now that... would require some digging."
Cole crossed his arms and gave a heavy sigh, his voice flat with sarcasm. "Swell."
Rufus McCallister—Mother Doomsday himself—was still in full lecture mode, now gesturing animatedly to the creature in the comic book spread before them.
"Second of all," he continued, "the Grundle is nocturnal. It only hunts at night."
Jay's face brightened for half a second. "Oh, good! It's still daylight, so we can—"
He turned toward the grimy window beside the register, only to see the sunlight quickly dimming as the shadows of dusk crept across the buildings. His smile vanished.
He glanced at Rufus, who was staring at him with the slow-turning suspicion of a seasoned Dungeon Master catching a player bluffing their stealth roll.
Jay cleared his throat and adjusted his collar. "Uh—I mean... theoretically, of course."
Jinx, arms still folded and leaning casually against a display rack, grinned lazily. "Ain't a problem for me. I am the king of the dark."
Kai spun toward him. "But we're not, Jinx!"
Jinx shrugged, unbothered. "Sounds like a you problem."
Jay narrowed his eyes. That cocky tone was a dead giveaway. He'd seen Jinx boast his way out of plenty, but there was one trick to knocking the smug out of him—if you knew how to aim it right.
Grinning mischievously, Jay grabbed Lloyd by the shoulders and pulled him close, as if shielding him dramatically.
"Come on, Jinx," he said with a pleading, over-the-top whimper. "How do you think Lloyd would feel if we got eaten by some big, bad Grundle? Huh? Little Lloydie, left all alone in the world?"
Lloyd frowned. "Jay, I'm literally the Green Ninja."
Jay ignored him and tugged Cole closer into the huddle. "And what about your daily cakes, huh? You think about that? If Cole ends up dead, who's gonna make those sweet, delicious masterpieces you love so much?"
Cole's face turned a deep shade of red. "Jay—what the heck?!"
Jinx raised a brow.
He could feel his composure wobble—not because of the Grundle, nor Jay's playful guilt trip—but at the way Cole, towering and usually unfazed, flushed pink at Jay's touch and words. Jinx's mind hesitated, just for a second, noting it. Huh... interesting.
He raised a suspicious brow at Cole, a sly grin tugging at his lips.
"Well, well," he muttered, almost to himself. "Somebody's got a soft spot."
Cole glared at him. "I do not!"
Jay threw up his hands. "See? Even Cole agrees this is a life-or-cake situation!"
Jinx snorted a laugh, shaking his head. "Alright, alright—you win. No one's dying yet. Especially not my pastry chef."
Jay smirked in triumph. "That's what I thought."
Rufus clapped his hands together with a satisfied smile, his short lecture coming to an end. "Now that the special presentation is over—although quite exciting—the only way to defeat a Grundle," he paused, his voice dipping into something ominous, "is with light."
He slid the comic back into its plastic sheath and returned it to the shelf like it was a sacred text. Then, with a dramatic flair, he turned toward a display stand near the counter.
"Like a vampire," Rufus continued, "with enough concentrated light, it can be neutralized… maybe even destroyed outright."
He gestured grandly to a small glass case, glowing faintly beneath the dim lights of the store. Inside, nestled upon velvet cushions, were four weapons that gleamed like relics from a forgotten age: slim, elegant blades with violet-tinted cores, housed in sleek hilts that pulsed faintly with stored energy.
"If I had my weapons of choice," Rufus declared, eyes glinting, "I would recommend the Illuma-Sword."
He opened the case with a hiss of pressurized air, revealing the four glowing blades in their full glory. "Authentic replicas," he said reverently, "but make no mistake—these would absolutely come in handy. That is, if you live long enough to actually face a Grundle."
The team stepped closer, eyes wide. Even Jinx let out a low whistle of appreciation.
Rufus, sensing his moment, turned and gestured to another nearby display—this one even more dazzling. Behind reinforced glass, five familiar ninja suits stood proudly on mannequins. Each bore the intricate armor plating and elemental colors of the ZX era. One red, one white, one blue, one black… and one unique version, deep charcoal with violet accents.
"And if swords aren't your thing," Rufus added, voice growing softer with reverence, "may I interest you in an authentic ninja gi? These are the real deal—worn and signed by the very heroes who saved Ninjago from certain doom."
Kai stepped forward cautiously, eyes lingering on his own gi.
"Uh… we'll just take the light swords," he said quickly, hoping no one looked too closely.
He reached for one of the Illuma-Swords, but Rufus's hand shot out and stopped him mid-motion, index finger raised in theatrical denial.
"Ah-ah-ah! Not so fast," Rufus said with a dramatic flourish. "These 'Starfarer' combo pack exclusives can only be earned…" He spun and pointed across the room. "In the Fritz Donnegan Trivia Battle Royale!"
The team followed his gesture. Across the comic shop, a small stage had been set up. A crowd of superfans were gathered in front of it—some in full costumes, others with face paint and glittering foam weapons. At the center stood a man dressed in a shimmering silver cape, oversized goggles perched on his head, a dazzling replica of Fritz Donnegan himself. He was currently engaged in a fierce debate about which of Donnegan's space adventures had the best monologue.
"You have what it takes to be the best?" Rufus asked, voice low, serious. "Only then will the Illuma-Swords be yours."
Jay leaned in close, giving Lloyd a firm pat on the back. "You can do this, Lloyd."
Lloyd hesitated only a moment, then stepped forward with a confident smile. "Sign me up."
Rufus gave a slow, approving nod, his grin stretching ear to ear.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he muttered under his breath, "we've got a contender."
Back aboard the Destiny's Bounty, the atmosphere was tense. The phone, left dangling off the hook from a previous frantic call, swung slightly from the motion of the airship. Nya crossed the bridge, her boots clanking softly on the metal floor, and picked it up with a sigh.
"Great," she muttered, placing the receiver back onto its base. "Now Lloyd's missing. What's next?"
No sooner had the words left her mouth than the phone rang again. Nya blinked and pressed play on the voicemail, heart pounding with a growing sense of dread.
Lloyd's voice crackled through the speaker, urgent and breathless:
"Sensei, we're at Doomsday Comix. Garmadon's turned the others into kids and we're about to face a real-life Grundle. If you get this message, this isn't a prank. Come quick!"
Beep.
Wu stood nearby, his expression as unreadable as ever, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of concern.
"Oh dear," he murmured. "There's only one person who could help return the ninja to normal."
Later – Jamanakai Village
The night wind howled as Nya's motorcycle tore down the lantern-lit path, with Master Wu seated side-saddle behind her, robes fluttering like paper in the wind. The village loomed ahead, tranquil and unaware of the chaos brewing beyond its borders.
Nya pulled up outside a crooked little tea shop with a faded sign that read: "Mystake's Finest Teas & Remedies."
The bell above the door jingled as they stepped inside, the scent of incense and ancient herbs wrapping around them like fog.
Wu clasped his hands respectfully. "Hello, Mystake. We need a special tea."
A shrill voice echoed from behind a curtain. "They're all special, you old fool!"
Mystake emerged a moment later, her sharp eyes narrowing behind her spectacles as she peered up at them.
Nya stepped forward. "But this one can turn someone..." she coughed lightly, "...older."
Mystake's demeanor shifted immediately. Her eyes twinkled with understanding.
"Ah. You seek Tomorrow's Tea," she said with quiet gravity. "I only have one in stock. Follow me."
In the shadowy back room, Mystake climbed a rickety ladder and turned on the lights with a flick. Dozens of jars and boxes filled the shelves, each labeled in faded ink and packed with leaves that shimmered strangely in the glow.
"It should be here," Mystake muttered, squinting as she scanned the rows. "Somewhere…"
Nya frowned. "It's gone?"
"No, no—just misplaced!" Mystake insisted, though her tone lacked certainty. "I know it's here somewhere."
Wu stepped closer, voice serious. "We must find that tea before it's too late."
That Night – Doomsday Comix
The comic shop had transformed into a scene of cosmic suspense. The crowd gathered beneath makeshift spotlights as banners of Starfarer heroes waved above their heads. At the center stage stood Lloyd and a diehard fan in full Fritz Donnegan cosplay, each facing off in the ultimate test of sci-fi trivia.
"It's down to the final two!" Rufus Flimflam announced, microphone in hand. "This question... is for Lloyd."
The crowd began chanting, stomping feet and clapping in rhythm.
"Lloyd! Lloyd! Lloyd!"
Rufus leaned in, eyes gleaming. "What is Fritz Donnegan's famous catchphrase?"
Lloyd exhaled slowly, mind searching, then he answered with clarity:
"Fear? Fear is not a word from where I come from."
"Correct!" Rufus shouted, and the room erupted into cheers.
The fan groaned in frustration while Lloyd smirked at him, earning an appreciative fist bump from Jay—who was, notably, munching on cotton candy at the sidelines.
Zane, always vigilant, had his attention elsewhere. He leaned close to Cole and nodded toward the shop windows.
"It's getting dark," he said quietly. "The Grundle will be on the prowl soon."
Kai folded his arms. "Don't worry. I've got faith Lloyd can win those Illuma-Swords."
Just then, they all heard a slurrrrrrp.
They turned toward Jay, who was still happily devouring a pink puff of cotton candy.
Kai groaned. "Is this really the best time to be eating cotton candy?"
Jay shrugged. "It makes me feel young. Deal with it."
Rufus raised his mic again, voice deepening dramatically. "Final question! This one's for all the marbles. First to answer wins. No pressure."
He turned toward the two contestants, eyes sparkling.
"In the latest issue of Starfarer, how did Fritz Donnegan escape the Imperial Sludge?"
Lloyd's confident expression faltered. His eyes widened as panic crept in.
"But... I haven't read the latest issue!" he confessed, looking helplessly at the others.
Jinx leaned forward from the edge of the display racks, arms crossed, a lazy grin spreading across his face.
"Well," he drawled, tilting his head toward the rest of the ninja, "givin' him that comic book don't seem so bad now, does it?"
The others exchanged sheepish glances, visibly cringing with embarrassment. Jinx gave a low chuckle, relishing the irony.
Lloyd, meanwhile, clenched his fists and took a steadying breath. Whether he knew the answer or not, he wasn't going down without a fight.
But he was too late.
"The answer is... by reversing the polarity of the ship's gravity transducer!" the Fritz Donnegan fan blurted out, eyes shining with triumph.
Rufus grinned, raising a hand toward the crowd. "We have a winner!"
A cheer erupted from the comic store patrons, but Lloyd only turned to see the defeated expressions on the faces of his fellow ninja. Their heads hung low, disappointment clear even beneath their childish features.
Before the moment could settle, a low rumble passed through the building. The lights flickered, then cut out completely, plunging the store into darkness.
Rufus's voice pierced the silence. "Who shut off the power?"
A loud creaking groan echoed above them. Everyone turned their eyes skyward just as the metal sign above the door wrenched free from its bolts and crashed down, blocking the only exit.
Kai narrowed his eyes. "It's here."
Rufus blinked in confusion. "What's here?"
Jay let out a nervous chuckle. "You remember that theoretical discussion we had earlier?"
From above, the roof's glass panels trembled. A monstrous shadow slithered over them before a clawed foot struck down with force, cracking the surface.
Rufus gasped, pointing. "Not the… Grundle!"
A hideous creature—part reptile, part nightmare—crouched atop the roof, glaring down with glowing yellow eyes. It gave a snarl as its claws raked across the glass.
Zane pulled Cole aside, urgency in his voice. "We've got to get out of here!"
They rushed to the front, only to find the exit completely blocked by the fallen sign. Zane pressed against it. "The door's jammed! We're trapped."
Jinx stepped forward, about to call on his power when a fresh sound pulled their attention upward. The Grundle skittered along the roof again, then reared up—and crashed through the glass ceiling.
Shards rained down like crystal snow as the beast landed with a thunderous impact.
Jay shrieked. "Agh! We're doomed!"
Rufus, unfazed, quoted with flair, "Doomed as Britts Subskian in Phoenix War, page fifteen!"
Jinx rolled his eyes. "Really, Rufus? Comic book references now?"
The Grundle roared and swung its massive tail toward Rufus and the kids. Panic erupted.
But in a swift flash, Jinx and Zane stepped forward, raising their hands. A sudden fusion of elements—icy silver and abyssal flame—formed a wall of shimmering black ice. The tail slammed against it with a crack, halted just inches from the children. Jinx narrowed his eyes, silently noting the elemental combo in his mind.
The impact shattered the display case beside them, revealing the Ninja's prized ZX gis and a few Illuma-Swords glowing faintly within.
Jay's voice rang out. "Quick! This way!"
The ninja darted toward the case. Jay snatched Kai's gi and tossed it to him while Zane and Kai grabbed the nearest Illuma-Swords. They pulsed with light in their hands. Jinx, meanwhile, reached for his own weapon, unsheathing it with a grimace—the blade felt heavier than usual, dragging slightly in his grip. Weaker body. Great, he thought.
Cole stepped forward with a taunting grin. "Hey, McNasty! I thought ninja were on your menu!"
The Grundle hissed and turned. The ninja now stood united, clad in their gis, Illuma-Swords raised high. The creature halted, its snarling snout twitching.
Jay took a confident step forward. "It's working!"
They moved as one, pushing forward with their glowing weapons. The Grundle backed away, uncertain. Jay lunged first, slashing across the beast's chest.
Snap!
His Illuma-Sword broke in half and went dim. He stumbled back, blinking.
Kai leapt in next. "Try this!" he shouted, but his strike had the same result—another broken blade. The weapon fizzled out in his hand.
Kai scowled. "Stupid toy." With a growl, he swung at the Grundle's leg out of sheer frustration.
Jinx, watching this unfold, scoffed. "What did you expect?"
He stepped forward, calm and quiet, letting his black flames flicker to life and wrap around his blade. The dark fire pulsed with ominous energy. Jinx slashed low and fast across the Grundle's back.
A searing wound tore open. The Grundle screeched in agony.
Jinx stepped back, his voice dry and cold. "That's how you wound a bitch."
Then Jinx dropped to one knee, his sword clattering to the floor beside him. The last strike had drained him—his body too fragile, his energy flickering like a dying flame. He clenched his jaw, sweat dripping from his brow as he tried to will himself upright.
Zane, determined, vaulted up onto the Grundle's back. With a cry, he struck with his glowing Illuma-Sword—only for it to snap on impact, shattering like glass. He landed hard near the others, his face tightening in alarm.
"Argh! Uh-oh!"
Jay's voice rose, trembling. "Oh, we've got a problem, guys!"
The Grundle lunged forward with unnatural speed, sweeping its tail and hurling the trio into the register with a crash. Kai, Jay, and Zane landed in a heap, their broken Illuma-Swords scattered across the floor. The beast advanced, maw opening wide to reveal rows of jagged, slime-slicked teeth. Its growl rumbled in the air like a thunderclap.
The ninja screamed.
Then—
From behind the register, a seat lifted, and a small figure rose up, fierce determination burning in his eyes.
"Not to worry," said Lloyd, his voice surprisingly steady. "I'll take care of this."
"Lloyd!" the ninja cried out in unison—Kai, Jay, Zane, and Cole frozen in shock.
Jinx, still kneeling, looked up and growled. "The fuck you doing, Lloyd?!"
Lloyd didn't answer. He raised his hand, and a bright green energy burst forth, crackling with raw power. The light surged through the room, striking the Grundle. The creature hissed and reeled back, shielding its eyes.
The crowd behind them erupted into cheers.
But it was short-lived.
With a brutal whip of its tail, the Grundle struck Lloyd across the room. He slammed against the wall and slumped to the floor.
"Ugh," Kai groaned, turning away. "Gross."
Cole let out a hollow breath. "This is the end, isn't it?"
Just then, a loud crash shattered the silence—the blocked front door exploded inward. Nya stood in the frame, her boot still raised mid-kick, her eyes locked on the chaos within.
"Everyone out!" she shouted, ushering the civilians and Rufus through the open exit.
Behind her came Master Wu, calm as always. He stepped inside, holding up a small, ornate jar.
"Use this!" he called, and tossed it through the air.
Jay caught it with wide eyes. "What is it?"
"Tomorrow's Tea," Wu answered gravely. "It will turn forward the hands of time—age you, but reduce the Grundle back to the dust and bones from which it came." His voice deepened. "But be careful. There's no turning back."
The ninja jumped onto the fallen register, rallying together as the Grundle stalked closer.
Jay held the jar high. "Grundle, prepare to be extinct!"
But just as he was about to open it, Cole reached out and stopped him, his expression serious. He looked back at Lloyd, still crumpled against the wall.
"What'll happen to him?" Cole asked quietly. "Lloyd will grow old too… won't he?"
All eyes turned to the boy.
Lloyd raised his head. Blood smeared his cheek, but his eyes were clear.
"Just do it," he said.
Jay hesitated. "You'll miss out on the rest of your childhood, dude."
Kai shook his head. "We can't do that to you. It's not fair."
Jinx, still kneeling, took a slow breath. Then he spoke—his voice low, but carrying the weight of lived regret.
"No," he said, "it's not fair. And that's exactly why you can't take it from him."
The others turned to him.
"Childhood," Jinx rasped, forcing himself upright, "isn't just some phase you rush through to be a grown-up. It's the one time in your life where you get to dream without limits… to fall, to fail, to wonder without fear." He looked at Lloyd, his tone softening. "Lose that, and you lose the part of yourself that tells you who you are. And believe me—once it's gone, the silence it leaves behind follows you forever."
He looked at the tea in Jay's hand.
"You take that from him now… and someday, when he's older, he'll wonder who he could've been if he'd just had a few more days to be a kid."
Jay looked down at the jar.
Silence fell.
The Grundle snarled again, stepping forward—time was running out.
But the ninja weren't moving yet.
They were thinking.
And the choice now mattered more than ever.
The last remaining Illuma-Sword flashed once in Cole's grip—its glow flickering, desperate—as he stood between his friends and the approaching monster. With a guttural roar, the Grundle reared back and struck.
Clang!
The sword flew from Cole's hands, spinning through the air before clattering uselessly to the floor. His heart dropped.
"Oh no…" he breathed.
The Grundle lunged.
Its gaping maw snapped inches from their faces. The sheer force of it knocked them back, sending Kai, Jay, Cole, Zane, and Jinx sprawling to the floor. In the chaos, something small and glassy tumbled through the air—Tomorrow's Tea. It struck the ground and rolled, coming to a stop… at Lloyd's feet.
The boy looked down at the ancient vial as the monstrous shadow loomed over him.
Behind him, the others groaned, trying to rise. Time had run out. The Grundle's heavy steps made the floor tremble.
Lloyd stood slowly.
His eyes weren't afraid anymore.
"Fair?" he said quietly, almost to himself. "Fair isn't a word from where I come from."
He gripped the vial tight. Its glow was faint—but it pulsed, alive, and full of irreversible consequence.
Then, with a sharp motion, Lloyd hurled it.
The glass shattered on the Grundle's chest.
A moment of stillness followed, like the world had taken a breath.
The Grundle growled—low and confused. Then it twitched. Its body seized.
From where they stood by the doorway, Wu's eyes widened. "He used it…"
Nya's mouth dropped open. "And—it's working!"
The transformation was immediate and terrible.
The Grundle roared as its skin began to twist, pull, and unravel. The thick black flesh bubbled and flaked away like burning paper. Its arms thrashed as bone began to protrude. One last shriek echoed through the store before the creature collapsed—now nothing more than a skeleton of its former self.
And even that didn't last.
With a final rattle, the Grundle's bones crumbled into dust, scattered across the cracked tiles like sand on the wind.
Silence followed.
The kind of silence that leaves a ringing in your ears, because your heart's still catching up.
Kai, Jay, Cole, Zane, and Jinx slowly rose to their feet. They blinked, light-headed—then pulled back their hoods one by one.
Their faces had changed.
No longer older men wielding relic swords, they were once again boys—young, whole, and full of life.
The reversal had worked. The magic had recognized the illusion of age and released them.
But Lloyd...
He still stood there, motionless, breathing heavily.
The child was gone.
In his place stood a teenager—not yet a man, but no longer a boy. Taller, sharper, his eyes a little more hollow. He looked down at his hands, confused… and then up at his friends.
And in his gaze was something Jinx recognized all too well.
Loss.
Cole blinked in surprise, lifting his hands and studying them as though seeing them for the first time. His voice, no longer squeaky or childlike, came out steady and grounded.
"What happened?" he asked, bewildered. "We're not kids anymore…"
Nya stepped forward, her smile wide with relief. "It worked!" she breathed, brushing dust off her arms. "It actually worked!"
Rufus McCallister, still clutching his comic book with trembling hands, looked between the young warriors, now restored to their true forms. His eyes went wide.
"They're the real ninja…" he muttered, half in awe, half in disbelief.
Master Wu, however, was not looking at the others. His gaze had locked onto one person—Lloyd.
The old master's breath caught in his throat. "But… what about Lloyd?"
All eyes turned.
Lloyd stood still amid the broken remnants of the tea shop, his body framed by dust and dim light filtering through shattered glass. His hair had grown longer, wilder—his limbs stretched with the awkward grace of adolescence, but there was power in him now. Power, and weight.
He stared down at his own hands. His voice, when it came, was deeper—foreign to his own ears.
"I'm…" he hesitated, as if saying it aloud would make it more real. "I'm older."
A silence settled over the group—not of fear, but reverence. Change had come, swift and irreversible.
Wu stepped forward, his tone soft but certain. "The time for the Green Ninja to face his destiny… has grown nearer."
Lloyd slowly lifted his gaze to meet his friends. Kai gave him a firm nod, Cole clapped him on the shoulder, and Jay grinned despite the ache in his limbs. Zane gave a quiet, approving look. And Jinx… Jinx simply studied him, expression unreadable, yet there was something like quiet pride in the tilt of his head.
Lloyd smiled.
"I'm ready."
Together, they turned toward the exit. The building was in ruins—the walls scorched, displays broken, and the air thick with the remnants of battle. Yet they walked as one, purpose guiding their steps.
Just before Lloyd could follow the others out, Rufus stepped into his path. His glasses were crooked, and he looked like he'd just been through a hurricane, but in his hands, he held something precious—a worn but well-kept issue of Starfarer.
Rufus held it out, his voice catching in his throat. "Here you go, Lloyd… You can have my copy. You deserve it."
Lloyd paused, looking at the comic in Rufus's outstretched hands. His eyes softened.
"That's okay," he said quietly, gently pushing the comic back toward him. "I already know how it ends."
And with that, he turned and walked away—his silhouette fading into the daylight beyond the shop's ruined entrance, taller now, steadier.
Rufus stood there, blinking down at the comic book in his hands.
His fingers curled around the cover, holding it like a piece of something sacred.
"…He's a real hero," he whispered to himself.
And for once, the ending didn't matter.