Exhaustion etched lines on Mia's face as she emerged from the library the next day. The Forbidden Archives had yielded nothing. No ancient text mentioned a glowing orb, comas induced by strange energy, or the whereabouts of a missing Master Wu. Disappointment hung heavy in the air.

"Anything?" Jay asked, his voice laced with concern. He had spent the night by Lloyd's bedside, offering silent comfort to Rumi who barely left her boyfriend's side.

Mia shook her head, clearly defeated. "Nothing. No mention of the orb or anything remotely similar. The scrolls were fascinating, filled with forgotten lore, but nothing that helps us with our current predicament."

Cole, who had accompanied Kai on their fruitless search through the archives, chimed in with a sigh. "Same here. We found some interesting stuff about forbidden magic, but nothing specific about Lloyd's coma."

A flicker of hope flickered in Rumi's tear-filled eyes. "But Lloyd... he showed a little improvement this morning, right? He squeezed my hand a bit, right?"

Jay nodded cautiously. "Yeah, there was a small movement. Maybe it's a good sign."

Rumi clung to that hope like a lifeline. "He'll be alright, you'll see. We just need to find a way to wake him up."

Despite the sliver of optimism, the mood remained bleak. Their efforts had yielded no answers, leaving them feeling even more lost. Mia sank onto a nearby chair and sighed heavily.

Suddenly, Zane, who had been unusually quiet since checking on Lloyd the previous day, spoke up. "Wait a minute," he said, a thoughtful crease forming on his brow. "There's something I might have missed in my research. It's a long shot, but..."

He hurried towards his room, reappearing moments later with a dusty old book tucked under his arm. "This is a personal journal of my father's," he explained. "He sometimes dabbled in unorthodox research, things that weren't exactly sanctioned by the Monastery."

He flipped through the pages, his eyes scanning the faded ink. "Here it is! There's a mention of a rare energy source, something called 'Astral Essence.' According to my father's notes, it can disrupt a person's life force, potentially causing a comatose state."

A collective gasp filled the room. Could the glowing orb be the source of this Astral Essence? Could it be what had plunged Lloyd into unconsciousness?

"It's a possibility," Zane continued, his voice filled with newfound determination. "The journal also mentions a purification ritual that could potentially cleanse a person from such an energy's influence."

A sliver of hope pierced through the despair. They had a lead, a possible solution. But performing a purification ritual wouldn't be easy. It likely required specific ingredients, a specific incantation, and maybe even a healthy dose of courage.

"Alright," Mia declared, a spark of defiance lighting up her eyes. "We may not have all the answers, but we have a direction. We need to find these ingredients for the ritual, and fast."

She looked around at her friends, her voice gaining strength. "We'll split up again. Kai and Cole, you two check the Monastery's hidden storerooms. Zane, you keep researching your father's journal and see if you can find anything about the specific steps of the ritual. Jay, you stay with Lloyd and Rumi. Offer them comfort and keep us updated on any changes."

One hour later.....

One hour later, the library doors creaked open with a dramatic flourish. Kai, ever the showman, emerged first, followed by a slightly disheveled Cole. Between them, they carried a precarious mountain of scrolls, dusty tomes, and odd-looking vials filled with shimmering liquids.

"Behold!" Kai declared, striking a pose. "The fruits of our labor! From the deepest recesses of the Monastery's storerooms, we present... a hodgepodge of potentially useful stuff!"

Cole, struggling under the weight of a particularly large scroll, muttered, "More like a hodgepodge of clutter. Half of this stuff looks like it hasn't been touched since Sensei Wu was a baby."

Mia, who had been diligently studying Zane's father's journal with a furrowed brow, looked up with a hint of cautious optimism. "Let's see what we have here. Maybe something in this pile matches the ingredients for the ritual."

She gestured towards the makeshift mountain, and the group began a meticulous sorting process. Kai, with his usual enthusiasm, started organizing the scrolls by color (which, according to Cole, was a completely useless method), while Cole sifted through the vials, their colorful contents catching the light.

Rumi, who had peeked into the library drawn by the commotion, spoke up hesitantly. "I might be able to help. My grandmother used to practice some... unconventional healing methods. Maybe I can recognize some of this stuff."

Mia's eyes lit up. "That's great, Rumi! Any help is appreciated. We need all the knowledge we can get."

The library quickly transformed into a scene of bustling activity. Zane, having rejoined them after deciphering more of his father's cryptic notes, began listing the ingredients for the ritual. Each item sparked a flurry of searching, comparisons, and excited discussions.

An old, brittle scroll depicting a glowing flower matched the description of a rare moonbloom, known for its mystical properties. A vial of shimmering, lavender liquid that Cole found tucked away in a forgotten corner suspiciously resembled the description of "ethereal tears," said to be collected from a specific waterfall during a full moon.

As the hours flew by, a sense of hope gradually replaced their initial despair. They hadn't found everything, but they were making progress. Each discovered ingredient brought them closer to the possibility of saving Lloyd.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they laid out everything they had managed to gather on a large table. The assortment looked strange and slightly chaotic, but to their tired eyes, it represented a beacon of hope.

"Alright," Mia announced, her voice filled with a quiet determination. "We have most of the ingredients. Zane, according to your notes, what's the next step?"

Zane flipped through the worn pages of his father's journal once more. "The ritual requires a specific incantation," he explained. "It's written in an ancient dialect, but I can try to translate it."

The library door burst open with a loud bang, startling everyone out of their focused searching. Nelson, the bumbling reporter, stumbled into the room, panting heavily. His eyes were wide with a mixture of fear and excitement, and he clutched a crumpled photograph in his hand.

"Guys! You gotta see this!" he gasped, holding the picture out for them to see.

It was a photograph of the glowing yellow orb, the same one they had seen hovering above Lloyd before he fell unconscious. But this time, there was something different. The orb was pulsating with a strange energy, and a faint, wispy figure seemed to be trapped within its swirling light. The figure bore an uncanny resemblance to Master Wu.

A gasp escaped Mia's lips. "Master Wu?" she whispered, her voice trembling with a mix of shock and hope.

Cole, ever the pragmatist, squinted at the photo. "Is that really him? It looks more like a bad hologram."

Rumi stepped closer, her eyes widening in recognition. "That's the same energy I saw radiating from Lloyd before he went into the coma!"

Kai snatched the photo from Nelson's grasp, his face grim. "What's going on, Nelson? Where did you get this?"

Nelson, finally regaining his breath, stammered, "I... I was down at the docks, trying to get a scoop on that weird weather we've been having. Then I saw this strange light coming from the harbor. It was coming from a ship, a creepy old freighter that just docked out of nowhere."

He pointed a shaky finger at the photo. "The light took the shape of that... that golden guy, and then it just disappeared! I managed to snap a picture with my phone before it vanished."

A heavy silence descended upon the group. The revelation in the photograph sent shivers down their spines. It seemed the glowing orb, Lloyd's coma, and Master Wu's disappearance were all connected in some way.

"This changes everything," Zane said, his voice filled with newfound urgency. "We need to find that ship! Maybe it holds the key to saving Lloyd and bringing Master Wu back."

Mia nodded in agreement, her eyes gleaming with determination. "You're right, Zane. We can't wait any longer. We need to get to that ship and find out what's going on."

Suddenly, a new problem arose. "But where do we even start?" Jay asked, scratching his head. "There could be dozens of freighters at the docks, and who knows if that creepy ship is even still there?"

Cole, ever resourceful, offered a solution. "We can split up again. Mia, you have the best wind powers to search the harbor from above. Kai-"

" I already made a battle plan " Mia cut in before Cole could finish. " Rumi, Zane and Kai will stay with Lloyd and make sure he recovers. Jay and Cole will save Ninjago if there are any villains."

" What'll you do, Mia?" Jay asked.

" Go after Wu.".

Mia's declaration hung heavy in the air, met with a chorus of protests.

"Wait, what?" Kai exclaimed, his fiery eyebrows shooting up. "Go after Wu alone? That's crazy! We need a plan, a team effort."

Rumi, ever the voice of reason despite her worry, chimed in, "Mia, I understand you want to find Master Wu, but it's too dangerous. We don't even know where to start!"

Cole, his brow furrowed, added, "And what about Lloyd? We just figured out a way to help him, and now you want to leave him behind?"

Mia, however, stood firm, her expression resolute. "I know it sounds risky, but someone needs to act fast. That picture of Master Wu trapped in the orb... it could be the key to everything. We can't just sit here while he's out there, who knows where, who knows what is happening to him!"

She looked around at her friends, her voice softening slightly. "I know you're all worried about Lloyd, and I am too. But Zane's ritual can hopefully help him, and Rumi will be there to keep an eye on him. Meanwhile, I have the best chance of finding the ship, finding Wu."

"But how?" Jay piped up, ever the pragmatist. "You said you'd search the harbor, but that's a massive area. You need a lead, a plan!"

Seeing the concern in their eyes, Mia took a deep breath. "Alright, here's what I propose. I'll take Nelson with me. He saw the ship first, maybe he can recognize it again. We'll search the docks from above, and with his reporter's nose for sniffing out a story, we might find a lead, a witness, something."

A flicker of hope sparked in Cole's eyes. "Wait, that might actually work. Nelson may be clumsy, but he's good at getting information."

Kai, still hesitant, crossed his arms. "Fine, but you take the phone. We need to stay in constant contact. And if you find anything about Wu or that creepy ship, you call us immediately. No heroics, Mia. We're a team, remember?"

Mia offered him a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Kai. I won't forget. We'll all do our part. Now, come on Nelson," she said, turning to the bumbling reporter who stood awkwardly by the door. "Let's go find your mysterious ship and hopefully, Master Wu."

Mia followed Nelson out of the library, a familiar warmth blooming in her chest. They had been through so much together, their bond forged in shared secrets and daring adventures. A silent vow, exchanged long ago, echoed in her heart – a promise of unwavering loyalty and companionship.

As they reached the exit, Nelson stumbled slightly, his gait momentarily awkward. Mia reached out to steady him, a knowing smile playing on her lips.

.

"Woah, careful there, Nelson," Mia said, reaching out to steady him.

Instead of Nelson's usual goofy grin, a sly smile spread across his face. His features shifted and morphed for a brief moment before settling on a more handsome, confident expression. He winked at Mia.

"Actually, call me Jake now," he said in a smoother, more refined voice.

Mia blinked, momentarily taken aback. "Jake? But—"

"Relax, Mia," he said, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Same old Nelson, new undercover identity. Let's just say... shapeshifting has its perks, especially when you're trying to avoid unwanted attention."

A surprised laugh escaped Mia's lips. "You never told me you were a shapeshifter, Nelson, I mean, Jake."

"Surprise!" Jake said with a grin. "Let's just keep this little secret between us, alright? The purple ninja needs to stay, well, a secret."

Understanding dawned on Mia's face. "The Purple Ninja? You're the rumors I've heard? The mysterious figure who helps out Ninjago from the shadows?"

A hint of pride flickered in Jake's eyes. "Maybe. But right now, we have a bigger mystery to solve. Finding that creepy ship and Master Wu is our top priority."

Mia smiled, a spark of excitement igniting within her. Having a secret shapeshifting ninja on her side was definitely a game-changer. "Alright then, Jake," she said, extending her arm. "Let's go find some ships to search."

The salty spray of the ocean whipped at Mia's face as she soared through the air, Jake clinging tightly to her back. The afternoon sun glinted off the vast expanse of water below, revealing dozens of docked ships, all potential suspects in their search for the creepy freighter.

"There!" Jake, transformed back into Nelson (though still using his smoother "Jake" voice), pointed a finger excitedly towards a cluster of ships in the distance. A large, imposing freighter stood out from the rest, its hull painted a dark, rusted brown. An unsettling aura seemed to emanate from it, a feeling that sent shivers down Mia's spine.

"That's it!" Nelson exclaimed. "The one from the photo! The creepy ship with the glowing orb!"

A surge of determination coursed through Mia. "Alright, let's go check it out."

She began to steer them towards the freighter, but Nelson let out a hesitant murmur. "But didn't Kai—"

Mia cut him off, her voice firm. "They're busy with Lloyd. We can't wait around. Besides, you're the Purple Ninja, remember? A little infiltration shouldn't be a problem, right?"

A playful glint sparked in Nelson's eyes, a hint of his mischievous personality peeking through. "Right you are, Mia. Lead the way, and leave the sneaking to me."

With newfound resolve, Mia dipped lower, the wind whipping around them as they approached the ominous freighter. The closer they got, the stronger the unsettling feeling became. This ship held the key to Master Wu's disappearance, and quite possibly, the reason behind Lloyd's coma. But what dangers awaited them onboard?

Taking a deep breath, Mia prepared to land on the freighter's deck. They were about to embark on a risky mission, one that could bring them face-to-face with unknown threats. But together, with Mia's wind powers and Nelson's shapeshifting abilities, they were a formidable team. They would find Master Wu, unravel the mysteries surrounding the glowing orb, and hopefully, bring their friend back from the brink. The fate of Ninjago rested on their shoulders, and they wouldn't back down from the challenge.