The Master of Nature

Ninja Never Quit

The team returned to the shore to tell Dr Julien, Echo and Hope's parents about everything that had happened. Everyone was scared.

The final battle would begin soon, and Lloyd was going to have to face his father.

"But where's Nya and Alyssa?" asked Dr Julien.

"They have been taken by the Overlord, but we'll get her back. At the moment, there are bigger things at stake, including all of Ninjago itself," said Wu. "Lloyd, your focus gives strength to invoking the power of the Golden Dragon. You cannot lose faith now. Everything rests on your shoulders."

"But Sensei, you saw what happened when I tried to face my father. I-I froze. I can't fight him," said Lloyd. He was almost in tears.

"Remember, your father is just as scared," said Misako.

"You won't be alone," said Kai. "I'll be right behind you. You have my fire."

"You have my earth."

"And my ice."

"And lightning."

"And you have me," said Hope. "I know that my power isn't connected to yours and I'm just as experienced as you are, but I will be there for you. That's what siblings are for."

Suddenly, Olivia burst into tears. "Mom!" said Hope.

"My baby girl is so grown up!" said Olivia. "Look at her, she's ready to fight. I can't believe that there was a time when Hope was paddling in the kiddie pool and peeing in the bushes..."

"Mom!" said Hope. The boys were all laughing. Even Wu was laughing! "Stop embarrassing me!"

After spending the next few hours getting prepared for battle, the group charged into the campsite. But it was empty.

Although they were initially confused, Zane's falcon found some tracks and the team followed it. However, Dr Julien and Hope's parents were slowing down.

"Father!" called Zane and Echo.

"Mom, Dad," said Hope.

"You go on without me. I'm an inventor, not a fighter. I'll only get in the way," said Dr Julien.

"Sweetie, just go without us," said Jeffrey. "Just promise us that you will make it back alive."

"I'll be back at the Bounty waiting for you to return in one piece. But don't worry, a part of me will always be with you," said Dr Julien.

Hope's eyes teared up. "I promise," she said.

Dr Julien and Hope's parents went back to the Bounty while the others went to find the Stone Army.

The team started reminiscing about old times, and Hope learned that Cole once got hypnotised by a Hypnobrai and the ninja had once destroyed a treehouse belonging to Lloyd. They also talked about the time Kai wanted to be the green ninja and when Wu came out of the Great Devourer's belly drinking tea.

Suddenly, someone ran in a flash in front of them. Everyone froze in place.

"I sense an evil presence," said Zane.

Hope felt someone pushing her and she fell. "Who's there?" she asked.

Lloyd got knocked off his feet, angering Kai.

"No one does that to the Green Ninja!" he said.

To the group's shock, their attacker turned out to be Nya and Alyssa, both infected by Dark Matter.

"Garmadon must have sent them to slow us down," said Wu. "We have to stop them from firing that weapon."

However, no one wanted to hurt Nya or Alyssa. Lloyd, Wu and Misako had to resort to sneaking off while the others kept Nya and Alyssa distracted.

Even Cole's Triple Tiger Sashay dance wasn't any good. Nobody wanted to use their elemental powers.

Alyssa pinned Hope onto the ground. Hope started to cry. "Alyssa, please don't. I'm your sister."

Suddenly, Alyssa seemed to resist. Hope took the opportunity to escape.

"Alyssa's fighting it," she said.

"It's still not enough," said Zane. "Perhaps we can use our Elemental Powers, but without hurting them."

Hope understood and quickly bound the other girls using plant stems. Kai cut a tree and Zane froze it, trapping Nya and Alyssa in an ice dome.

Unfortunately, by the time the ninja and Echo caught up with Lloyd, they found out that the Overlord had possessed Garmadon's body.

"Father!" yelled Lloyd.

"No, Lloyd. That is no longer your father," said Wu.

"But what about the prophecy? It said I had to face my father," said Lloyd.

"You still must, but now the Overlord has possessed him. Unlike your father, the Overlord will show you no mercy," said Misako.

Lloyd looked terrified, but he went to face the Overlord. The others went to deal with the Stone Warriors.

General Kozu ended up getting shot all the way to Dareth's Mojo Dojo. The ninja were now powerful enough to take on the Stone Warriors, but all they could do was to slow down the process of loading the cannon.

The ninja watched Lloyd battle the Overlord. Garmadon was able to resist the Overlord's possession momentarily to talk to Lloyd, but the Overlord eventually overpowered Lloyd and threw him to the other side of the beach, knocking him unconscious.

Hope screamed when she saw the Overlord point the cannon at Lloyd. But then the Destiny Bounty appeared and went in front of Lloyd.

Dr Julien and Hope's parents were driving the ship, and they quickly jumped out before the Dark Matter could affect them.

The Overlord had enough and took the Bounty and opened a portal to Ninjago City. Kai tried to get to it, but he didn't make it.

Everyone was worried about Lloyd. Unlike the situation with Hope, they did not have the option to send Lloyd to the hospital.

After five hours, Lloyd finally woke up. Still disoriented, he asked, "Did I…did I win?"

"No. But you're alive," said Wu.

Lloyd tried to stand up, but he found out that his right leg was broken.

Hope was crying. "I thought that you were dead," she said. "You looked really pale. I haven't been this scared since I lived with my foster parents."

Dr Julien bandaged Lloyd's leg and told him that he would take weeks to heal. "We don't have weeks," complained Lloyd.

Jay wondered if he would ever see Nya again. "I miss Alyssa," said Hope. "She is more than my sister. She's my best friend."

"Perhaps it's best to think of our friends as we remember them in our hearts, not as they are now," said Zane.

"But I don't remember my father any other way," said Lloyd.

"Your father loved you. It was the evil of the Great Devourer that corrupted him," said Misako.

"Sensei, I don't understand. The prophecy said the Green Ninja would defeat the Dark Lord. Why didn't we win?" asked Kai.

"I...don't know," said Wu.

"Don't know? You're Sensei! You always know! You have a long white beard!" said Jay.

Lloyd then spoke up. "If Sensei doesn't have a lesson, then I do. I used to be nothing but trouble, but then I met you guys. You took me in. Showed me the importance of being brave, the importance of being strong. And most importantly, being good.

"When this battle first began, when the First Spinjitzu Master fought the Overlord and his back was up against the wall and he knew it was all over, did he quit? No. He found a way to keep the fight going. He passed his Elemental Powers to us. Of all people, a bunch of kids. But there must have been a reason he chose us. I'd like to think it's because he knew we'd never back down, we'd never give up. We've learned the ancient ways of the ninja. And ninja never quit."