Multiple Strikes | Ninjago Movie AU

Chapter One - The Realm Crystal

A low rumble and a boom was heard briefly throughout the Mountain of Smoke's Cry as a large rock moved out of a long lasting position. There stood the Ninja at the freshly opened cave, looking into it's dark abyss, unable to see the content that lingered untouched for so long.

"Good job, buddy!" Kai complimented, giving a huffing and puffing Cole a pat on the shoulder. Cole looked over to him and gave a faint smile before going over to study the cave itself.

It'd been a long time since there had last been activity stirring around the cave. The most recent corpses were all rotting to the skeleton, and the oldest are far gone. The only one that remained and still does is the one of the person who crafted the cave, who's heart still overflows with blood the color of apples. Ivy and vine overwhelmed the beginning of the cave, but randomly stopped few feet in. The cave was hard to find, not to mention. With all the ivy and vines and moss and mushrooms and trees, you wouldn't guess there'd be the resting place of the creator of Ninjago tucked right in with it all.

After consulting a fortune teller on future evils, the Ninja and Garmadon were now aware of quite a few. Two time travelers Garmadon and Wu were actually already aware of, a ancient storm dragon, etc. But the most prominent ones fixated upon by everyone, the telling of a wind ghost and an evil Djinn, were the ones that left everybody wanting to know more. Both the ghost and the Djinn were going to be out for an ancient artifact called the Realm Crystal, so why not get to the crystal before they do?

Wu studied the inside of the cave which the large boulder that Cole had dealt with upfront had been protecting. He looked down, deep into the cave bound to be explored, longingly. He wielded his staff in one hand, a rolled up and tattered map in the other. He clenched the map in his hand, and holded thoughts close to his heart, and let the thoughts make the heart thrum. It's simply hard to think. He's here. Father. But he's gone. How can it be that way, and why is he gone?

Despite all this, Wu acted as if everything was fine about disturbing his dad's resting place, and Garmadon didn't even have a serious thought about what they're about to do. He simply had a triumphant stance, grinning ear to ear.

"Finally!" The former warlord exclaimed. "We found Dad's resting place!" He said, and pauses as his brother stares at him with the intent; 'What the heck?'

Garmadon looked around trying to act as if he didn't just say that, but sighed. "That came out wrong."

"Very wrong," Wu agreed. He turned to his pupils, and thumped his staff on the ground to insure he had their full attention. "Students, let us proceed into the cave. We have some trials to take on."

Nya gasped, delightedly. "Like, ninja trials?" She asked with a large grin.

Garmadon shrugged. "Basically. He wanted to be isolated from the rest of the world when he passed, so-"

Nya began to cheer and rejoice at the news. "Yes! We're going to dominate these!"

"And be respectful," Lloyd cut in. He mumbled; "It's my grandpa's tomb."

Nya nodded and agreed at this reminder, but soon began buzzing back to how good she'd apparently be at these. The others join in on the chatter, of course, not the same things, but relative to the task at hand. One curiosity that grew among the teens is the Realm Crystal itself. What it is, what it does, how it works, all the rather important stuff.

"Hey, so can we know more about the Realm Crystal?" Jay asked, catching up to the two elderly brothers in the lead. 

"Well doesn't the name say it all?" Garmadon chuckled. "The Realm Crystal takes you to other realms! Actually, back when I was trying to conquer Ninjago, I was planning to find the crystal myself. But I realized that there's likely not another Ninjago to conquer."