Mia glided on the ice, narrating her thoughts out loud.

" Okay, let's think this through. Master Wu disappeared right after the merge happened. Kai saw some type of glowing orb when he was alone." Then she paused.

" Well, not necessarily alone. I was there, yet I was not really coming out of my room."

Mia chuckled, a puff of air escaping her lips like a tiny snowball. "Classic Mia, half asleep even during a ninja crisis. Though, being a ghost ninja does have its perks, like not leaving embarrassing sleep drool on your mask."

Then, she stopped laughing.

"There has to be a link," Mia muttered, tracing the design on her spectral hand. "The orb, Master Wu's disappearance... maybe even my incomplete powers. I need to find out more. But where do I even begin?"

" With some hot cocoa!" Jay called, waving his hand as he stepped outside onto the white carpet.

" Coming!" Mia gracefully glided back to the door, untied her ice skates, and shuffled inside, where Jay closed the door behind her.

As Mia kicked off her skates by the doorway, a wave of warmth washed over her as Jay entered, a steaming mug in each hand. "Whoa, that ice rink was a bad idea," Jay chuckled, handing her a mug emblazoned with a goofy dragon. "Here, some super-powered hot cocoa should do the trick."

Mia took a grateful sip, the warmth spreading through her chilled fingers. "Thanks, Jay. You're a lifesaver."

Kai moved closer to her and used his fire to warm Mia up. "Seriously, Mia. You looked like a popsicle out there. Why didn't you say something if you were cold?" His concern was laced with a hint of amusement.

Mia wrapped her hands around the mug, a comfortable silence settling between them for a moment. Then, setting the mug down with a sigh, she blurted, "Alright, you guys gotta help me. This whole thing with Wu disappearing... it just doesn't sit right."

Jay raised an eyebrow, taking a swig from his own mug. "What do you mean? We all saw him get sucked into that weird light thingy."

"Exactly!" Mia exclaimed, her voice rising slightly. "But what was it? Where did it take him?"

" Who knows?" Jay said. " He's a living Fortune Cookie. Everything he does is a puzzle meant to TORTURE US!!!" Jay yelled, throwing his hands up in exaggeration.

" You also said that to BABY Wu!" Kai pointed out blandly.

Mia shot both boys a pointed look.

" Where are the rest, anyways?" She asked.

Just then, a bang game from the bathroom, leading to a surprised yelp.

" Let me guess." Mia said sarcastically. " Kai went to take a bath and Cole was trying to fix something. Cole put in a bit too much muscle work and crashed the wall, and fell onto a wet Kai."

Mia's sarcastic prediction is spot on. The bathroom door bursts open, revealing a dripping Kai with a bewildered Cole on his back.

"Ow! My back!" Cole groans, disentangling himself from Kai.

"Dude, what were you doing in there?" Kai sputters, trying to maintain his dignity despite the sopping wet clothes clinging to him.

"Fixing the creaky handlebar in the training room!" Cole defends himself, sheepishly gesturing towards a gaping hole in the wall where the faucet used to be.

Jay burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. "Oh man, I gotta see this!" He darted towards the bathroom, only to be stopped by Mia.

"Hold on, drama queen," she said. "Let's assess the damage before the entire plumbing explodes."

With a sigh, Kai retreated back to the bathroom, followed cautiously by Mia. Inside, the scene was pure pandemonium. Water sprayed everywhere, drenching towels and toiletries alike. Cole, covered in a grime-water mixture, stood sheepishly next to a mangled mess of what used to be the faucet. And the handlebar was shattered to pieces.

"Uh, guys," Cole started, his voice dripping (literally) with regret, "I may have overestimated my fixing skills."

Mia surveyed the destruction, then looked at Kai, who was trying (and failing) to stifle his laughter. "Alright," she finally said, a hint of amusement creeping into her own voice. "Let's get you cleaned up, Cole. Then, once the plumbing situation is under control and we clean up the shattered ceramic, we can all focus on figuring out what happened to Wu."

2 hours later.....

10 hours later......

One millennium later.....

" Finally!" Jay exclaimed, stretching gratefully as Mia sloshed in the last ceramic bits into the bucket.

" That took longer than I wanted." Cole agreed, yawning as he mopped the last bits of water droplets from the ground.

" Or expected." Kai added in, collapsing on the ground.

Mia, surprisingly, did not feel tired.

" Then again," She mused. " I DID spend an entire year reading scrolls about the Merge and trying to get Jay back. Which could explain why I have this sudden burst of energy."

" And you didn't eat that much," Kai reminded her. " So we need to get your strength back up."

" But I'm not hungry or tired OR undernourished!" Mia argued. " I already told you- there were bars that kept me alive!"

" Haha, very funny." Cole said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. " But still. You haven't eaten a good meal for over a year!"

" Jay only came back TWO weeks ago! I can't eat 10 tons of food, can I? I can only eat so much."

" We know that, Mimi." Jay said gently, attempting to break up the dispute. " But, our main focus should be-"

" To locate Master Wu!" Mia exclaimed, cutting into Jay's sentence. " That's what I've been trying to say! And do! Before this..." Mia waved her hand around the mess they just cleaned. "... catastrophe erupted."

" Hey, it's not MY fault Cole came crashing down on me when I was showering!" Kai protested.

" And it's not MY fault I'm super strong and we went hurling into the sink!" Cole added.

Before Mia could object, the front door went crashing open. Rumi ran past the bathroom, sobbing uncontrollably, while Nya came to them with tears in her eyes. But before she could say anything, she noticed how her boyfriend was sprawled on the ground and couldn't help asking, " What happened, Jay?"

Jay looked at her, his eyes weary.

" That, my dear, is a long story." Then he noticed Nya's face and moved closer to her.

" But what happened? Why are you crying?"

" Yeah, sis. Why ARE you crying?" Kai asked, moving to her other side.

" Lloyd.... He's....."

" Lloyd?!" Now everyone was alert. " What happened to Lloyd?"

Nya glanced at Cole, her eyes filled with sorrow.

" He's in a coma."

Everyone stood there, their faces filled with pure disbelief. But then, they heard a soft thud from behind them, followed by a groan.

Jay reacted instantly, his concern for Mia overriding everything else. He caught Mia before she hit the ground, easing her down onto a nearby chair. "Mia! Are you alright?" His voice was laced with worry as he checked her for any injuries.

Mia looked pale, her spectral hand flickering faintly. "I... I don't know," she stammered, her voice weak. "I suddenly feel drained. All that energy... it's gone."

Cole and Kai, momentarily forgetting their own bickering, rushed over. "What's wrong?" Kai asked, his playful demeanor replaced by genuine concern.

"Maybe it's the lack of food catching up to her," Cole suggested, kneeling beside Mia.

Nya, wiping away her tears, approached the group hesitantly. "Is this because of... Lloyd?"

Mia shook her head, forcing a small smile. "No, Nya. It's... something else. I can explain later. Right now, we need to focus on you and Lloyd."

Jay helped Mia sit up straighter, offering her a comforting squeeze on the shoulder. "Let's get you something to eat first, then we'll hear about Lloyd."

Mia nodded and groaned as she stood. She walked to the kitchen and opened the fridge.

There was only some leftover cabbage, half an egg roll, two croissants and a shriveled grape.

Ugh, seriously?" she muttered. Turning back to the others, she raised an eyebrow. "Um... did any of you guys go grocery shopping this week?"

A chorus of "Nope" and "Forgot" echoed through the room. Kai, ever the charmer, offered a sheepish grin. "Sorry, sis. We were kinda busy, you know, with the whole plumbing apocalypse and all."

Mia let out a sarcastic laugh and looked around the room.

" Hang on, where's Zane?" She asked.

The room fell silent. Everyone exchanged confused glances, realizing they hadn't seen the stoic nindroid since earlier that morning.

"Uh oh," Jay muttered, scratching his head. "Maybe he went on a training mission or something?"

Just then, Kai, who prided himself on knowing Zane's schedule, spoke up. "Actually, I asked him to do a favor for me this morning."

A jolt of realization shot through Mia's eyes. "Wait a minute," she gasped, her voice laced with sudden urgency. "You didn't happen to ask him for... rainbow roses, did you?!"

Kai's confident grin faltered, replaced by a sheepish expression. "Uh, yeah, maybe. How'd you guess?"

Mia's breath hitched. "Because those don't just grow anywhere, Kai! They grow on a specific mountain range, far to the west, near the Whispering Glade!" Her voice rose with each word. "And I think I know exactly where Zane is!"

The color drained from Kai's face. "Oh, no. You don't think...?"

Mia didn't need to finish the sentence. With a determined glint in her eyes, she grabbed her jacket from the coat rack. "We need to find Zane. Now!"

A collective gasp resonated through the room. Cole, ever the voice of reason, interjected, "But Mia, you're barely standing! You need to rest and eat first."

Mia shook her head, her spectral hand glowing faintly. "There's no time. Lloyd needs us, and Zane could be in danger. We have to go!"

Rumi, wide-eyed and bewildered, followed close behind, clutching a forgotten bag of instant noodles.

As they burst out the front door, their frantic cries echoed through the monastery grounds. "Zane! Zane, stop!" they yelled, hoping against hope their friend hadn't ventured too far in search of those elusive rainbow roses.

But no matter how fast they were, they couldn't seem to find him.

"We can't all just chase after her on foot!" Mia exclaimed, frustration lacing her voice. "We'll never catch up!" An idea sparked in her eyes. With a concentrated effort, she conjured a smaller, more focused whirlwind. This one didn't lift them completely off the ground, but it did propel them forward at a much faster pace than running.

"Hold on tight!" she warned, taking the lead with Jay and Cole close behind. Rumi, slightly green around the edges, clung to Cole's arm as they were swept forward by the mini-windstorm, hoping they weren't in for a bumpy ride.

Mia's strategic retreat paid off. The focused whirlwind propelled them forward at breakneck speed, whipping past trees and blurring the landscape into a watercolor painting. As quickly as it started, the whirlwind dissipated, leaving them at the foot of the imposing mountain range.

Mia, slightly disoriented but determined, scanned the vast expanse of jagged peaks. The Whispering Glade, with its legendary rainbow roses, was said to be nestled somewhere within these mountains, a hidden paradise shrouded in mist and mystery. But for Zane, the beauty of the location would be irrelevant if he couldn't find his way back.

"Alright, team," Mia announced, her voice echoing in the stillness. "We need to find Zane before nightfall. These mountains are treacherous, and with the rumors of strange creatures lurking here..." she trailed off, not wanting to add to the already tense atmosphere.

Jay, ever the optimist, clapped his hands together. "Easy peasy! We just need a plan. Cole, your climbing skills are legendary. You think you can find some tracks or something?"

Cole, ever the pragmatist, scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Maybe. But the wind could have easily covered any traces Zane might have left behind."

Rumi, who had mostly been a quiet observer until now, stepped forward hesitantly. "Actually," she said, her voice barely a whisper, "I might have something that could help."

She reached into her bag and pulled out a small, intricately carved compass. "This belonged to my grandfather. He used to say it could point you in the direction of what you seek most, as long as your heart is pure."

Mia raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "A magic compass, huh? Sounds a little out there, Rumi, but at this point, we're willing to try anything."

With a newfound sense of hope, the group huddled around Rumi, their eyes fixed on the compass as she held it out. "Alright, Zane," Mia whispered, closing her eyes and picturing her friend's face. "We're coming for you." She opened her eyes, a determined glint in them, and watched as the compass needle spun wildly before settling on a specific direction, pointing towards a hidden path that snaked its way up the mountainside.

"Well, that settles it," Jay declared, a grin spreading across his face. "Looks like we have a new climbing route, courtesy of Zane and a magic compass. Let's go get our nindroid friend!"

The path narrowed as they ascended, the mountain air turning crisp and thin. Just as doubt began to creep in, a flash of blue caught Mia's eye. There, tumbling down the rocky slope with a surprised yelp, was Zane, clutching a bouquet of rainbow roses for dear life.

"Zane!" they all cried out in unison, rushing forward to catch their friend before he took a nasty tumble.

Zane landed with a soft thud in Cole's arms, the roses spilling onto the ground. He coughed, dusting himself off and blinking in confusion. "Whoa, what's going on here? And why is everyone looking at me like I've grown a second head?"

Kai snatched the roses, his face a mixture of relief and annoyance. "Took you long enough! You wouldn't believe the chaos you caused this morning."

" Wait, how did I get here so fast?" Zane asked, bedwillment mixed into his voice.

Before anyone could explain, he noticed the worried faces surrounding him. "What's wrong? Why are you all here?" His gaze landed on Kai, and a mischievous grin spread across his face. "Did you change your mind about the roses, Kai? I know they look a little muddy, but—"

" Lloyd's in a coma!" Rumi blurted out, sobbing uncontrollably again.

" Wait, what?!" Zane shot up from Cole's arms and looked at everyone. .

Before anyone could answer, Kai stepped forward and placed a hand on Zane's shoulder. "We don't know exactly, Zane. They rushed him to the medical wing, but the doctors can't figure out what's wrong."

Mia, her spectral hand flickering faintly with exhaustion, took over the explanation. "We were just starting to figure things out," she said, her voice strained. "The glowing orb, Master Wu's disappearance, and now Lloyd... there has to be a connection."

Jay chimed in, his usual cheerfulness dimmed. "We were hoping you could help us find some answers, Zane. Maybe in your research, you stumbled upon something related to strange comas or glowing orbs of doom?"

Zane shook his head slowly, his brow furrowed in thought. "I haven't encountered anything quite like this in my studies. But..." he paused, a flicker of hope igniting in his eyes. "There might be something in the Forbidden Archives, a restricted section of the Monastery library. Ancient texts speak of unusual occurrences, things beyond our normal understanding."

A collective sigh of relief swept through the group. The Forbidden Archives sounded ominous, but at this point, any lead was better than none.

As they began their trek back towards the Monastery, a heavy silence settled over them. Rumi, overwhelmed by the sudden turn of events, lagged behind the group, tears welling up in her eyes again. She clutched the magic compass tightly, a small beacon of hope in the midst of their growing despair.

Cole, noticing Rumi's distress, slowed his pace and fell back beside her. "Hey, Rumi," he said gently, "are you alright?"

Rumi sniffled back her tears. "I just... I don't understand what's happening. One minute we're getting groceries, the next, Lloyd's in a coma, and we're on a crazy mountain rescue mission that turned into a quest for answers in forbidden libraries."

Cole offered her a reassuring smile. "It's a lot to take in, I know. But we're in this together. We'll find Lloyd, and we'll figure out what's going on. And who knows, maybe those rainbow roses will come in handy after all."

Rumi managed a weak smile at Cole's attempt at humor.

As they neared the entrance, Kai's phone buzzed, breaking the silence.

He glanced at the caller ID, his face paling slightly. "It's the hospital," he mumbled, answering the call on speakerphone.

A concerned voice came through the speaker. "Mr. Smith? We've run some additional tests, and unfortunately, we haven't been able to determine the cause of Lloyd's coma. We believe it might be some sort of... enchantment beyond our medical expertise. We've decided to release him into your care, but-"

The doctor's explanation was cut short by a sudden outburst. Rumi, who had been unusually quiet throughout their walk back, snatched the phone from Kai's hand. Tears streamed down her face as she choked out a sob-filled rant.

"Enchantment?! You mean you can't help him? What kind of doctors are you?! Don't you know who he is? He's the Green Ninja! He fights monsters and saves the world! You can't just send him home like a broken toy!" Then, her voice dropping to a whisper, managed to choke out, " He's my boyfriend."

The startled doctor stammered on the other end, clearly flustered by Rumi's outburst. Jay tried to intervene, reaching for the phone, but Rumi held it away, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and despair.

"We'll find a way to help him, you hear me? Even if you can't! We won't give up on Lloyd!"

With that, she slammed the phone shut, collapsing into tears on Cole's shoulder. The others exchanged panicked glances, unsure how to react to Rumi's sudden emotional breakdown.

Mia, ever the pragmatist, stepped forward. "Alright, everyone calm down. Shouting at doctors won't fix anything. We need a plan." She looked at Zane, who was staring at the phone with a thoughtful expression.

"Zane," she said, "you mentioned the Forbidden Archives. Maybe those ancient texts have something on curing enchantments. We need to find a way to wake Lloyd up."

Zane nodded grimly. "You're right. The Forbidden Archives are a risk, but at this point, we're out of options. We have to try everything we can."

" It's no enchantment!" Rumi yelled. " It's something called my boyfriend being neglected by others!"

Rumi's outburst hung heavy in the air as she stormed through the front door. The others stood there for a moment, stunned by her outburst. Kai, ever the mediator, finally spoke.

"Rumi, we understand you're upset, but yelling won't help Lloyd."

"It's not about being upset!" Rumi shot back, her voice thick with frustration. "It's about Lloyd being hurt and no one taking it seriously! We were on a mission, risking our necks to find answers, and they just send him home like nothing's wrong!"

A heavy silence descended upon them once again. Mia, ever the voice of reason, stepped forward. "Rumi's right. We need to figure out what's happening to Lloyd, and yelling won't get us anywhere. Let's split up and work on this together."

She looked at Zane, whose stoic expression masked a deep concern. "Zane, why don't you check on Lloyd? See how he's doing and maybe offer some comfort to Rumi."

Zane nodded silently and headed towards Lloyd's room, his steps heavy with worry. The door creaked open to reveal Rumi sitting beside Lloyd's unmoving form, tears streaming down her face.

Meanwhile, Kai and Cole exchanged a determined look. "Alright," Kai said, "let's head to the library and see if those Forbidden Archives can shed some light on Lloyd's coma. Maybe there's some ancient ninja technique for dealing with enchantments... or whatever's going on."

Cole cracked a grim smile. "Sounds like a plan. Let's see what forbidden knowledge we can unearth."

Mia watched them go, then turned to the rest of the group, a resolute glint in her eyes. "We can't let Lloyd's condition distract us from the bigger picture. Master Wu's disappearance is still a mystery, and it might be connected to everything else. We need to find him, and I have a feeling the glowing orb has something to do with it all."

"So, what do we do?" Jay asked, ever the eager one. "Do we retrace our steps? Interrogate the bathroom gremlins again?"

Mia chuckled. "Maybe not the gremlins, but we can try to find the location where the orb appeared. Maybe there's something left behind, some clue that points us towards Wu."