When the ninja arrived, they had helped the fisherman and their boat back into the water, waving to them goodbye before turning to one another.
"Ok, so fill us in on what you found?" Lloyd asked
and the two shared what they discovered.
Zane listened only nod before responding, Saying, "The grave of the Demons... I'll have to share this information when Misako arrives. As I carry no historical knowledge of this place." He said, quite curious about it now.
Lloyd hummed."What could Morro want from this place?" He asked before a wave of dizziness overcame him, almost causing him to stumble before Zane stopped him.
"Lloyd, are you okay?" Zane asked before he was given a nod.
"...Y-yeah, I'm fine I'm just... a little flight dizzy." He said, believing that was the case. But why was he feeling cold all of sudden? He shook his head as now it wasn't the time to worry about him. "Let's try going in and see if we can find a spot that can hide the destiny bounty." He said, believing it would be best that everyone be here for what was about to go down. Remember, we can't let Morro know we're here. So let's keep our distance and find a spot to plan and prepare our next move on them.
To which the others nodded.
"Sounds like a plan." Nya said,
"Operation stealth is a go." Jay spoke and posed in a stealthy like pose.
Zane nodded before turning his tracker on. "Keep your trackers on and stay on high alert. Do not engage with Morro whatsoever."
They then began walking, going into the strange woods and looked around. The deeper they went the more they noticed that something was off. Like there was some sort of dark aura in the air that was sending them chills.
Jay was walking through, moving some bushes and branches out of his way as quietly as he could when he felt his hand on something... smooth like silk and... solid? Frowning at the odd texture of what he could only assume to be a 'rock', he looked to see what he had touched and saw what looked to be a stone clawed hand and followed it up and nearly yelped but Zane's immediately moved his hand, covering his mouth and placed a finger up to his mouth lips. "Shh."
Nodding, Zane then let him go as they both looked up at the statue with the others.
The statue was big, it was slouched over with one clawed hand on its knee and another up ready to attack. It had horns, and four fangs that curled outward. Jagged carvings covered their skin, almost like symbols.
"What is that?" Nya asked.
Cole frowned as he looked at the still statue. "I think it's one of those demons the fisherman told us. But... I think it's-"
"An Oni." Lloyd finished as he stared at it. Now he had a better picture of this mess. With Morro showing he can summon ghosts through possessed statues. It could only mean one thing,
The ninja looked at each other, fearing what could lie ahead.
"We need to stop him before he drags Kai deeper into this." Nya said, scared for her brother.
Cole frowned as he saw how nervous his team was and huffed. "None of that is going to happen. Kai's stubborn, I'm sure he'll try to delay Morro some way if this is what Morro's plans have been leading up to. But right now, let's find this plan he has before he gets to it and stop it before it even happens." He said.
Zane nodded. "Cole's right, it's best we press forward while Morro doesn't know we're here." There was something here, something powerful that Morro was most likely recklessly heading towards as a last resort in trying to summon the cursed realm. But what was it that was hidden in these woods that he could possibly need that he believed could aid him?
Lloyd had no clue what was going through Morro's thoughts other than desire to harm anything and everything involving him. "Let's keep moving. I think from here it's best to split into two parties. With our trackers on, we can keep checking on each other. If we find anything, report it."
They all nodded and a plan was made where Cole, Skylor, and Jay went one way and Lloyd, Nya, and Zane went another.
(Lloyd, Nya, and Zane Pov.)
The three traveled, low to the ground. They couldn't take chances of being seen if ghosts were patrolling from above. So it was best keeping low to the ground and staying hidden under the untamed life and plants that have overgrown over the decades. They found more and more stone creatures, just like the one they had run into earlier. Some broken from the overgrown life or weather that these woods had been under, as well as time wearing them down. They kept walking before Nya stopped as they all came across what looked to be what was once ruins of a village. As it held nothing but stone outlines to show where walls of homes once stood before crumbled from whatever had attacked this place. It was a sad sight, knowing what could've caused this and what could've been here. But other than that, it was well hidden. With tall trees, bamboo, and mountain walls of the valley keeping it well hidden and enough space for the ship to land.
"I think we've found our place to set. Let's contact the others on the ship and tell them the news." Lloyd said and Zane nodded.
"Okay." He said before trying to contact the others outside the forest. "I can't get a signal through. I'll have to get to work setting up the Falcon and its antenna ability." He said.
Nya nodded. "Okay, in the meantime, we can better prep this place for the others once we reach them."
Lloyd nodded. "Right, let's get set up then." He said as the three went to work.
(Meanwhile with Skylor, Cole, and Jay.)
The three had been traveling, moving through and keeping themselves hidden. Only did they stop to look around when noticing a green glow in the distance and follow it before spotting... them...
Morro, and a couple of his friends were standing around at one of the statues. They watched as screamers finished tearing and chewing off the vines and plants that had wrapped around it, revealing more of the statue that held two sets of blades high up in the air.
Skylor watched, noticing Kai was nowhere in sight. Figuring that he must be close by, she looked to one of the ghosts that seemed to be leaving and heading to where she can only guess was their camp. She looked to the two, watching them observe Morro in silence before slowly backing away and went after the ghost.
Cole and Jay watch Morro intently as the ghost was observing the oni statue.
Morro looked at the statue and Bansha couldn't help but frown at the plan. "I don't like this. Listening to the fool is one thing but this? How can you be sure this will work?" She asked.
"It will work, it's nothing but stone. And besides, all that matters is fulfilling what the preeminent desires." He said and stabbed the statue through its chest. The sword then glowed just like before as cracks formed but there was a faint purple glow... with its eyes glowing a bright green its mouth cracked open and the stone cracked into life once more. "There." He said before looking at the statue. "Welcome to ninjago my friends." He said as ghostly laughs spoke through the statue.
"How may we serve you Morro."
"Help us find the gates and destroy anything that comes in your way." He said before watching the statue begin to walk, they watched before Morro turned to the others. "You see, nothing to worry about. Now find me more of them. It's time we prepare for our masters' arrival." He said as Morro and his friends began walking away.
Jay and Cole frowned in concern. "The gates?" Cole asked.
"Must be where Morro's next plan must be. We should try finding it and warn the others about it before Morro finds it." He said.
To which Cole nodded. "Let's do it, you ready Sky- Skylor?" He asked as he looked around, seeing no sign of her.
Jay huffed. "Oh this is just great..."
(Skylor's Pov)
Following them to their camp. A spot surrounded by a few broken oni statues. Guess Morro wanted to find the more intact statues for his friends to possess. Tents with ghosts surrounded the camp. Some speaking with others and others fighting with their cursed weapons. She scanned the area before she spotted a bit of red and found Kai. He looked exhausted, drained, and tired with his hands chained by cursed cuffs that were attached to a steel pole.
Skylor moved, approaching towards his direction while staying hidden in the bushes until she was closer to him. But she was still too far for him to hear or see her as his back was to her. Then an idea came to mind. Using the element of the mind. She reached out to him.
'Kai, can you hear me? It's Skylor.'
Kai opened his eyes when he heard Skylor's voice in his thoughts and turned his head, looking around. 'Wha- Sky-'
'Yes it's really me.' She responded.
'W-where are you and how can I hear you?' He asked as he couldn't help but feel a bit weird to have such communication like this.
'Just to the side in the bushes. I'm using Nuero's element to speak to you, pretty clever huh?" She asked, rather proud of herself. 'Learned it from him not too long ago. Other than that, I'm going to get you out of this.'
Kai shook his head. 'No it's too risky, if Morro discovers you and the others are here he'll rush into the plan.'
'What is he planning? Do you know?'
He shook his head. 'He's been keeping it hidden from me. But from what I've heard and seen, it's nothing good. How are the others? Is Jay, Lloyd, and my sister okay?' He asked. Wanting to know those he hurt were alright.
'Yes,' she responded. 'Yes they are, the others are really worried for you. Are you okay?' She asked
Kai gave a weak quiet laugh. 'Better now with you here."
Skylor couldn't help but smile and shook her head. "Keep the flattery for after we get you out of this mess."
Kai shrugged. 'What are you talking about? I think I'm handling pissing off Morro quite well.'
Skylor sighed. 'You're gonna get yourself killed with that mouth one day.'
'Hey, my charm worked on you didn't it?'
Skylor couldn't help but roll her eyes. "So what am I supposed to do, leave you here to stay?"
Kai looked at her and nodded. "Yes. I'm too weak for you to help me escape without getting us both caught."
Skylor watched and sighed, "Then how can I help. I can't just leave you here."
Kai hummed as he looked around before looking at the table over at one of the huts. 'See the hut I'm looking at? I'm going to try and set off a fire and before I do, I want you to grab the file Morro's using to navigate himself through the forest. I know that much from it. Without it, he's completely lost."
Skylor smiled at the idea. 'Sweep and grab before it's believed to burn to ash, good thinking.'
Kai smiled to himself. 'I know, I'm pretty amazing. When I start yelling, you do your thing.'
Skylor nodded. 'Okay.' She said before set back and watched before recalling the ability of invisibility and went invisible.
Kai took a deep breath, collecting whatever strength had left before... "Hey! How about you airheads go get a life? Oh, my bad. You don't got one. Bout could you please tell your gluttonous screamers things to go take a bath! Do you not see the mess they get themselves in? They're practically all slimy from it I bet!"
He shouted, earning some irritation from the ghost.
Skylor at this point was making her move, watching as Kai went on as the Ghosts approached him, growing displeased with his ranting. She walked into the tent, looking around, finding a map which must've been used for the ghosts to find this place along with scrolls and notes of some sort and then the file. Grabbing the file, it too went invisible with her touch. Storing it away, she peaked out, watching and waiting for her chance to leave with it.
Kai, hoping Skylor had grabbed the file, reacted as he had planned.
"Will you shut up! Or do I have to make you?" One of the ghosts asked as they held up a dagger at him.
Kai glared at them. "Tough news but no one can keep fire still but me!" He said, swinging his foot, it sparked with flames before he swung it across, creating a wave of fire that struck a few of the ghosts as the rest quickly moved out of the way only to watch it strike the tents.
With eyes wide, they all went rushing, trying to find a way to stop the fire.
"Agh! Someone get water!" One ghost said before getting slapped by another.
"Are you insane?! Do you know what you're asking?" They asked before looking at the other ghosts and screamers that were in the area. "Use the dirt! Try to dust off the fire! Hurry!"
Kai huffed, falling back before smiling at his work. Quite pleased as he watched the show with how little effort the ghosts were trying to do with putting out the fire.
Morro came running as soon as he saw the smoke and where it was all coming from before staring at the blazing tents. "What the- I leave and you already have camp falling apart?" He asked before looking at Kai, knowing full well he was behind this. Waving his hand across the air, he summoned his wind to blow off the flames. But the damage has already been done. He walked up to the mess, staring at how there was nothing but damage and growled. The ghosts looked at their leader in fear as they nervously floated.
"Morro, we-"
"Enough!" He shouted. "I want all ghosts available to go and find and locate the biggest demon here and now!" He shouted.