The five ninja were lucky enough to find refuge in a nearby fishing village over a frozen lake, unfortunately no one there had seen their missing nindroid friend. Not even a single footprint was in sight, however they still held hope that he was alive here. "Oh my... Oh this is very bad." The village elder, Sorla exclaimed. In hopes to help the newcomers find Zane, her smoke visions caught wind of a location she hoped to never see.

"What's bad? He's not dead is he? I mean it's impossible for him to technically die since he's a robot and all b-"

"Quiet Jay! What is that place?"

"The castle of the forsaken emperor. He has been terrorizing our land for decades now, destroying any village that dares not to conform to his rule." She explained. "He knows all, his lair is surrounded with dark ice. It's as if it has been infused with pure evil.."

"Wow... He sounds like a tough customer. But if he's got Zane we're going after him! If all he's got is some black ice t-"

"Along with his seamlessly endless armies of blizzard samurai, the fact that he always knows your every move and don't even get me started on the menacing dragon that he only sends out when he wants to completely obliterate entire villages. You should have seen what it had done to the home of the Formlings!"

"Boma, I don't think that's helped matters. The blue clad one is shaking in his boots now."

"Ummm, so he knows our every move? Well how about one of us stay behind for him to watch? That way we have a chance at a surprise attack!"

"You coward.. But it would be best for us to split up, I'll find a pathway to this castle without being seen. Cole, you and Nya will repair the Land Bounty and meet up with me as soon as you can. Finally Jay, you make sure Kai doesn't overdo himself trying to get his powers back."

"Being his nurse?"

"Unless you'd like to come along with me."

"Ah! Well in that case I'll get Kai his extra blankets and hot tea! Would he also want a smoked salmon? There's a lot of them around here."

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It seems they didn't take into account having their entire conversation being observed by a very familiar face. General Vex saw it all on his slab of black ice. "So they want their master of ice back do they? They're fifty years late on that! Besides, I've found him first. Nevertheless, Zane will be staying with me. I guess he could say I'm returning him the favour."