The Winds Of Change

Chapter 8: Echoes of the Past

The shoreline of Ninjago was bathed in a strange twilight as the ninja sped back toward it, the howling winds of Nadakhan's storm fading behind them. Morro's mind raced as they glided across the water on Nya's platform, his thoughts fixated on what had happened on the ship. Nadakhan hadn't been trying to defeat them outright—he had been testing them, offering temptation in the form of wishes, knowing how dangerous those wishes could become.

But why? What was his real goal?

As the water platform touched down on the rocky shore, Lloyd stepped forward, his expression grim. "We need to regroup at the monastery and figure out our next move. Nadakhan's playing with us, and we can't afford to wait for him to make the next strike."

Kai, already tense from the fight, crossed his arms. "What I don't get is why he didn't just finish us off. He had the advantage back there, but instead, he let us leave. What's his plan?"

Morro had the answer. "He's not trying to beat us in a fight. He's going to use his wishes to break us from the inside." He glanced at Lloyd. "He tried to make me wish for something I used to want—something I could never have."

Lloyd frowned. "He offered you a wish?"

Morro nodded. "He knows what we desire, what we fear. And he's planning to use that against us. He could have attacked, but instead, he's waiting for us to make a mistake, for us to let him in."

Zane's robotic eyes flickered as he processed this. "That aligns with his previous behavior. Nadakhan prefers to manipulate others into making wishes, then twisting those wishes into traps. If he can make us wish for something, he could control the outcome entirely."

"Then we can't let him do that," Cole said firmly. "No wishes. No matter what he offers."

"Agreed," Lloyd said. "But we need more than just a defense. We need to understand why he's back and what he's after. Last time, he was trapped in the Teapot of Tyrahn. Someone had to release him."

Wu, who had been quietly observing the conversation, stepped forward. "The Teapot of Tyrahn is a powerful artifact, but its magic is dangerous even to those who seek to control it. We must discover who freed Nadakhan—and why."

Morro glanced at the others. "If he's free, there's a reason. Nadakhan doesn't just act without a purpose."

Kai leaned against the nearby rocks, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, but where do we start? We've already checked out the pirates, and they didn't exactly hand us a map to Nadakhan's plans."

Nya, still standing at the edge of the shore, looked back at the sea thoughtfully. "There has to be a connection between the pirate crew and the release of Nadakhan. Maybe someone found the teapot and made a deal with him. If we can track the pirates back to their source, we might find out who's behind all this."

Morro felt a surge of determination. "We need to go back into the city. If anyone knows about the movements of the pirates, it'll be Ronin. He's got connections everywhere, and if there's information to be had, he'll know where to find it."

Lloyd nodded in agreement. "Then we head to the city and talk to Ronin. He might not be trustworthy, but he's our best shot at getting the answers we need."

Later that night, under the cover of darkness, the ninja slipped into Ninjago City. The streets were quieter than usual, the city's usual hustle dulled by the recent unease. News of the pirate attacks and strange disappearances had spread, leaving people cautious, unsure of what would happen next.

The group made their way through the winding alleys toward Ronin's usual hideout—a small shop tucked away in the less glamorous part of town. The shop was mostly used for selling stolen goods and rare artifacts to those who didn't ask questions. If Ronin was anywhere, he'd be here.

Morro stepped up to the door and knocked twice. After a moment, the door creaked open, and the familiar face of Ronin appeared, looking more irritated than usual.

"Back again, huh?" Ronin said, leaning against the doorframe with a smirk. "Didn't you get enough last time?"

Lloyd stepped forward. "We need information. About the pirates. And about Nadakhan."

At the mention of Nadakhan's name, Ronin's smirk faltered for a brief second, though he quickly masked it with indifference. "Nadakhan? Didn't think I'd hear that name again so soon. What, you got a Djinn problem now?"

"You know what we're dealing with," Morro said, his tone sharp. "And we know you've been hearing things. Pirates. Disappearances. Don't act like you don't know something."

Ronin scratched the back of his head, letting out a dramatic sigh. "Fine, fine. Look, I don't want anything to do with Nadakhan, okay? But yeah, I've heard things. Pirates have been moving more aggressively in the last few weeks. They're not just robbing ships—they're looking for something."

"What are they looking for?" Nya asked.

Ronin shrugged. "No idea. But whatever it is, it's big. I've heard a lot of crews are scrambling to get their hands on anything valuable connected to ancient magic. Rumors say Nadakhan's after something that can make his wishes permanent."

Zane tilted his head. "Permanent wishes?"

Ronin nodded. "Yeah. Word on the street is, Nadakhan's tired of just granting wishes that fade away when people realize they're a trap. He's after something more powerful, something that can let him keep the reality he shapes. If that's true, you're looking at a much bigger problem than just a few twisted wishes."

Lloyd's eyes darkened. "Do you know where he is?"

"Nope," Ronin said, crossing his arms. "But I know the pirates have been making runs to an old island fortress in the Eastern Sea. Could be a hideout. Could be a trap. But if you're looking for Nadakhan, that's where I'd start."

Morro exchanged a glance with the others. The island fortress sounded like the kind of place Nadakhan would hide, far enough from the city to stay unnoticed but close enough to keep an eye on Ninjago.

"Thanks," Lloyd said, turning to leave. "But if you hear anything else, you let us know."

Ronin gave them a half-hearted wave. "Yeah, yeah. Good luck with your Djinn problem. You're gonna need it."

As the group made their way back through the city streets, Morro couldn't shake the feeling of dread building inside him. Nadakhan was after more than just a few wishes—he was seeking something that could rewrite reality itself. If he found what he was looking for, Ninjago wouldn't stand a chance.

"We need to get to that island," Lloyd said, his voice tense. "If that's where Nadakhan's hiding, we can't let him find whatever he's after. We stop him before he gets any stronger."

Morro nodded in agreement. "But we have to be careful. Nadakhan's going to be expecting us. If this really is a trap, we can't walk right into it."

"We'll be ready," Kai said, determination flashing in his eyes. "He's not getting away with this."

As they reached the outskirts of the city, the wind picked up again, a sharp, eerie gust that sent a chill down Morro's spine. It was a reminder that the storm was far from over. Nadakhan was waiting, and this time, he wasn't going to hold back.

The ninja had faced powerful enemies before, but this time, the stakes were higher than ever.

They were running out of time.