A few hours before, Mia and Nelson and the pups ( Blackie was in Mia's bag) were happily skipping on the path that Wu instructed them to go on. Now, they were panting heavily.

" Why does this have to be so long?!" Nelson asked, throwing his hands up in exasperation.

" I don't know." Rocky replied.

" What do you think will be on the other side?" Chase inquired.

" I hope to find a biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig carton of water, and-"

" Fork!" Mia exclaimed, pointing up ahead.

" Uh, Mia? I think a STRAW would work better." Marshall made sipping noises in the air.

" No, FORK!" The others looked in the direction Mia was pointing to, and gasped. There really was a fork. But, there were clouds obscuring their view.

" Don't worry, Mia!" Blackie said, his face popping out of the bag. " My tail ALWAYS knows which way to go!"

He lifted his tail out, who pointed right.

" Why'd your tail choose that?" Mia asked.

" Because the other has STAIRS." The clouds lifted up, and the paths were visiable.

" Good one, tail." Mia and Blackie's tail fist ( or, tail) bumped.

The path Blackie's tail pointed to was narrow and rocky, disappearing into a dense grove of bamboo trees. The air hung heavy with humidity, the silence broken only by the occasional chirp of an unseen bird.

"Looks like an adventure," Nelson muttered, rubbing his sore legs. He glanced at Mia, who still wore a determined look despite the long walk. "Ready for another hike?"

Mia grinned. "Always! Besides, who knows what exciting things await us on the other side?"

The pups, sensing the renewed energy, yipped excitedly. Even Chase, usually reluctant to embrace the unknown, seemed to perk up at the prospect of a hidden path.

With renewed pep in their step, they began their trek. The narrow path wound its way through the bamboo forest, dappled sunlight filtering through the thick leaves above. The air was thick with the sweet scent of bamboo shoots, and the sound of crunching leaves echoed under their feet.

Suddenly, Blackie, who was leading the way, let out a startled yelp and backed away, his fur bristling. The other pups, their playful energy momentarily forgotten, gathered around him, ears perked and eyes alert.

"What's wrong, buddy?" Mia asked, crouching down to pet Blackie's head. 

Blackie whimpered, his tail twitching nervously towards a dark opening in the bamboo thicket. It seemed the path ended there, leading into an inky blackness that seemed to swallow any light that dared enter.

Mia stood up and approached the opening cautiously, her hand hovering over the hilt of the katana Wu had given her before his... well, before his unfortunate pink disco ball incident. She wished she had brought her staff. Then again, she could just summon it, but there were more things on the line.

"Do you guys think this is the way?" she asked, her voice echoing in the stillness.

Chase, ever the strategist, stepped forward. "There could be a hidden passage on the other side," he suggested, sniffing the air. "I don't smell any danger, but..."

His voice trailed off as a faint, rhythmic drumming sound began to emanate from within the darkness. The beat was slow and steady, almost hypnotic, sending shivers down their spines.

Rocky, ever the resourceful one, pulled a small night-vision device from his backpack. "Let's see what's in there," he muttered, activating the device and peering into the darkness.

He gasped, his eyes widening in surprise. "Guys," he whispered, his voice laced with a hint of awe, "you won't believe this..."

A chorus of excited yelps erupted from the pups as they caught sight of the slide – a bright red, curving monstrosity that plummeted into the inky depths of the bamboo thicket.

"A slide?" Nelson exclaimed, eyebrows raised in surprise. "This doesn't exactly scream 'hidden ninja passage.'"

But Mia, ever impulsive, was already clambering up the ladder, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Come on, slowpokes! Let's see where this leads!"

With a resigned sigh, Nelson followed, the pups bounding up the ladder with joyous barks. Blackie, nestled comfortably in Mia's bag, peered out with a hint of apprehension.

One by one, they whooshed down the slide, a dizzying blur of red and green. Laughter mingled with yelps as they emerged at the bottom, blinking away spots in the sudden brightness.

And there it was. A sight that left them speechless,

A vast cavern shimmered before them, its walls adorned with countless sparkling crystals that cast a kaleidoscope of colours across the room. The air itself seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly energy.

"Mia?! Nelson? Is that you?" boomed a voice that echoed through the cavern.

Blackie, unable to contain his excitement, burst out of Mia's bag and yipped, "Oh, it's the old man!"

Wu, his eyes widening further, sputtered in mock indignation ( or, that's what it sounded like). "I heard that!"

" Master, where are you?" Mia called, her voice echoing though the cave.

" Follow the sparkles!"

Mia squinted into the darkness, her eyes straining to catch any glimmer of light. "Did he say sparkles?" she whispered to Blackie, who nodded in agreement.

" You go find Wu. Me and the pups.... we wanna check something out." Nelson said.

As they ventured deeper into the cave, Mia kept her eyes peeled for any sign of Wu. The cavern was eerie, with shadows dancing along the walls and the sound of dripping water echoing through the vast space.

"Master Wu, are you sure this is the right way?" Mia called, her voice quivering slightly.

"Absolutely!" Wu's voice echoed back, accompanied by a faint, shimmering light ahead. "Keep moving forward!"

Mia quickened her pace, following the faint glow. "Blackie, stay close," she whispered, feeling a shiver run down her spine.

As they rounded a corner, the cavern opened up into a larger chamber, illuminated by countless tiny, sparkling lights. Wu stood in the center, his staff raised high, emitting a soft, golden glow.

"Master Wu!" Mia exclaimed, relief flooding her voice. "We found you!"

Wu turned to face them, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Indeed you have, Mia. And just in time."

Mia, unable to contain her joy from being separated from her master for years, ran to him suddenly and wrapped her arms around his body.

"There you are, my dear Mia," he said, his voice filled with affection. "I must admit, this situation has been... trying. After being separated from the Merge, it's been.... hard. Especially when Nelson kept saying I was a disco ball."

Mia pulled back, a smile playing on her lips. "Disco ball, huh? Sounds like quite the ordeal, Master Wu." Her gaze darted around the chamber, taking in the mesmerizing spectacle. "But this place... it's incredible. All these sparkling lights..."

"Indeed," Wu confirmed, his staff humming with a soft golden light. "These are no ordinary crystals, Mia. They are fragments of the Light of Ninjago, a powerful source of energy said to hold the key to ultimate balance."

Mia's eyes widened in wonder. "Ultimate balance? What does that mean?"

"Patience, young one," Wu replied with a gentle smile. "There's much to explain. But first, let's rejoin Nelson and the pups."

He gestured towards a passage at the far end of the chamber, its entrance shimmering with an ethereal light. "They seem to have found something interesting of their own."

Curiosity piqued, Mia followed Wu, Blackie trotting faithfully at her heels. As they entered the passage, the sounds of excited barks and Nelson's voice reached their ears. The passage opened into another cavern, smaller but no less spectacular than the first. Here, bathed in the soft glow of bioluminescent fungi, Nelson and the pups were gathered around a series of ancient murals painted on the cavern walls.

The murals depicted scenes of past battles, legendary ninja wielding elemental powers against monstrous creatures. But what truly captivated Mia's attention was a single figure at the center of one mural, a figure clad in familiar green robes, wielding a staff that pulsed with golden light. It was Wu, but younger, his face etched with determination as he faced down a colossal serpentine dragon.

A gasp escaped Mia's lips as she recognized the image. It was a legend whispered amongst the ninja, the tale of the First Spinjitzu Master defeating the Great Devourer, a monstrous serpent that threatened to consume all of Ninjago.

"Master Wu," Mia whispered, her voice filled with awe, "is that you?"

Wu joined her side, his spectral form shimmering as he gazed at the murals. "Indeed it is," he confirmed, a hint of pride in his voice. "Those are the chronicles of Ninjago's past, tales of bravery, sacrifice, and the never-ending fight for balance."

Nelson, ever the pragmatist, chimed in. "Cool murals and all, but what does this have to do with you being stuck in a disco ball?"

Wu chuckled, his staff emitting a soft pulse of light. "These murals hold the key to restoring my physical form, Nelson. They depict the ancient Spinjitzu techniques needed to channel the Light of Ninjago."

He raised his staff, its golden glow intensifying as it pointed towards the sparkling crystals embedded within the cavern walls. "With these fragments, and the knowledge contained within these murals, I can hopefully return to the monestary.

A wave of excitement washed over Mia. Finally, a chance to bring Wu back. The journey had been long and fraught with danger, but the prospect of seeing her master whole again filled her with newfound determination.

"Then let's get started," Mia declared, her voice ringing with confidence. "We'll help you decipher these murals, Master Wu. We'll get you back, one Spinjitzu move at a time!"

A warm smile spread across Wu's spectral form. "I wouldn't expect anything less, my dear Mia," he replied. "Together, we will face any challenge. After all, that's what being a ninja is all about."