Heroes POV
Pluto hesitated at the entrance of the abandoned subway, uncertainty clouding his thoughts. "Do I have to go in there?" he murmured to himself, glancing nervously at his phone. Despite his apprehension, he stepped forward, ignoring the worn sign warning against trespassing. The dim light from his phone revealed the decaying interior of the subway, the musty smell of mold and decay hanging heavy in the air.
A voice behind him caused Pluto to startle, dropping his phone in surprise. He turned to see a large, scarred man retrieving the device before returning it. Despite the scar, the man's appearance was unexpectedly striking.
Pluto's voice was firm as he inquired, "What do you know about Abaddon? I came here to see him."
The scarred man gave him a thorough once-over before motioning for him to follow. Pluto's heart pounded as he followed the imposing figure further into the tunnel, the darkness closing in around them. Eventually, they reached the end of the subway, where the scarred man rapped three times on a wall, revealing a hidden room.
Inside, Pluto was met with a diverse group of individuals, including a boy with a stitched mouth and an elderly man in a wheelchair. The elderly man gestured for Pluto to take a seat, reassuring him, "Don't be afraid, we won't bite."
Seated among strangers, Pluto's mind raced with questions. "Cut to the chase. Where is Abaddon, and who are you people?" he demanded, his newfound confidence tinged with urgency.
Eugene, the elderly man, smiled warmly as he explained, "Abaddon isn't here. I am Eugene, and this is Stitchface. We are the Outcast, a group betrayed by the world. Our purpose is to show our strength and get our revenge. Abaddon created this group and wants you to join us."
Pluto listened in stunned silence, unsure of what to make of the situation. Jacob, the scarred man, placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, prompting Eugene to ask, "Do you want to join the Outcast? We have a place for you."
Pluto stood, his mind reeling with uncertainty. "How can I believe you? I didn't hear any of this from Abaddon," he questioned.
Eugene chuckled knowingly before presenting a recording from Abaddon. As Pluto listened to Abaddon's voice, memories flooded back, and he felt a wave of conflicted emotions. "Give me more time to think," he finally responded. "I will come back when I figure things out."
With a nod from Eugene and an escort from Jacob, Pluto left the subway, his mind consumed with thoughts of what lay ahead.
…
Noah found himself enveloped in darkness, his surroundings devoid of any form or substance. The emptiness of the void was suffocating, and he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that always accompanied his dreams. Invariably, they were haunted by the shadowy specter that threatened the very existence of Ninjago. As he stood amidst the darkness, he braced himself for yet another encounter with the sinister being.
"Are you Lord Garmadon?" His voice rang out, cutting through the eerie silence.
The red eyes gleamed ominously from the depths of the darkness, their gaze fixated on Noah. He waited, his heart pounding, for a response. The possibility that the entity before him could be none other than Lord Garmadon loomed heavily in his mind. After all, Garmadon was the embodiment of darkness, the greatest threat to Ninjago's peace and prosperity. But as the creature remained silent, Noah couldn't shake the feeling of dread that gnawed at him.
The creature's refusal to speak only fueled Noah's apprehension. "You spoke before, very creepily," he ventured, his brow furrowing in frustration. "Now you don't want to speak?"
"Wrong," came the blunt reply, the voice echoing through the void. The creature averted its gaze, leaving Noah to grapple with the unsettling silence that enveloped him.
Noah's mind raced, searching for answers amidst the darkness. If the being before him wasn't Lord Garmadon, then who—or what—could it be? Doubt gnawed at him as he took a tentative step forward, the void shifting and twisting around him. Before he could reach the creature, the darkness gave way to the familiar sights of Ninjago, the city they had fought so hard to protect.
Turning back to where the creature had been, Noah found himself alone once more. The enigmatic encounter left him with more questions than answers, trapped in a surreal dreamscape with no indication of when he would awaken.
...
Lloyd POV
Lloyd gazed out of the Bounty's window, his eyes scanning the expanse of Dark Island. It was a place shrouded in mystery and danger, a realm his father had once sought to conquer. The memories of his father's ambitions stirred uneasily in Lloyd's mind, reminding him of the peril that lurked within the island's depths.
"Don't worry so much," Kai's voice interrupted his thoughts, prompting Lloyd to turn and face his friend. "We'll make sure you defeat your father."
Lloyd nodded, though his expression remained troubled. "Killing him won't be that difficult," he replied, his gaze returning to the ominous forest outside. "But there's something dangerous and evil lurking out there."
Kai's words echoed the apprehension that gnawed at Lloyd's gut. The presence of Garmadon's Stone Army only added to the sense of foreboding that hung over the island. "This place is dangerous," Kai cautioned, his tone somber.
Lloyd's frown deepened, his mind grappling with the gravity of their mission. Despite his misgivings, he knew they had to tread carefully. "My advice is not to get spotted," he advised, his voice tinged with urgency. "We're in unfamiliar territory, and I don't want anyone on this island to know we're here."
Jay chimed in, his tone confident. "Ha! Good thing we were once ninjas. We know how to hide."
Acknowledging their reassurance with a nod, Lloyd turned and made his way to his bedroom. As he entered, he found Noah asleep on his bed, his features tense with discomfort. Lloyd regarded him for a moment, his thoughts drifting before he was interrupted by the buzz of his phone.
"Hello, Eugene," Lloyd answered, glancing at Noah, who remained asleep.
"Pluto visited earlier," Eugene informed him, the faint sounds of activity audible in the background.
Running a hand through his hair, Lloyd listened intently. "Did he agree?" he inquired, his tone betraying his curiosity.
"He said he needs more time to process things," Eugene replied matter-of-factly. "When are you coming back, leader?"
Lloyd's gaze drifted to the dense jungle beyond the window, uncertainty clouding his features. "Depends on whether things go my way," he replied cryptically. "And don't worry about Pluto. I'll handle him."
Ending the call, Lloyd's thoughts turned inward as he contemplated his next move. Picking up the sword that lay nearby, he cast a lingering glance at Noah. Temptation tugged at him, urging him to rid himself of his companions and pursue his goals alone. But he resisted, unwilling to succumb to cowardice.
As Zane appeared in the doorway, Lloyd replaced the sword and prepared to join Misako. "Excuse me, Lloyd," Zane began, a hint of uncertainty in his voice. "Misako wants to share something important."
Acknowledging Zane with a smile, Lloyd followed him out of the room, leaving behind the shadows of his thoughts. Together, they joined the others in the control room, where Misako held a scroll in her hands.
"We're going to find the Temple of Light," Sensei Wu announced, setting the tone for their next endeavor.
Misako unfolded the scroll, revealing its secrets to the group. "The scrolls say there's a hidden temple on the island," she explained. "If you find it, it will grant you powers to combat the Stone Army."
"Powers?" Jay exclaimed, his confusion evident. "But we already have powers."
Misako's response only deepened Lloyd's intrigue. "You'll understand when you get there," she assured him. "And for you, my son," she continued, addressing Lloyd directly, "it's written that once you find the instrument of peace, you'll unlock the power of the Ultimate Spinjitzu Master."
The weight of her words settled on Lloyd's shoulders, his mind reeling with the implications. "Ultimate Spinjitzu Master?" he echoed, a note of disbelief in his voice.
"It means you'll be able to invoke the power of the Golden Dragon," Misako elucidated, her tone tinged with pride. "An ancient fighting style practiced only by the First Spinjitzu Master."
As the group's attention turned to him, Lloyd struggled to maintain his composure. The weight of destiny pressed upon him, and he knew there was no turning back. With a forced smile, he quipped, "Jealous much?"
However, doubts lingered beneath his facade of confidence. Something told him that his path was irrevocably entwined with those of his companions, for better or for worse. As they set out on their quest, Lloyd couldn't shake the feeling that their journey was far from over, and that the shadows of Dark Island held secrets yet to be revealed.