The journey back to Ninjago was a whirlwind. Jay, still grappling with fragmented memories, clung to Mia's side like a lifeline. Lloyd patiently filled him in on the state of Ninjago after the Merge, the threats they faced, and most importantly, the bond they once shared as teammates.

As they approached the Monastery, a figure emerged from the courtyard, a flurry of water swirling around her. It was Nya. Tears welled up in her eyes as she saw Jay, a mixture of relief and apprehension.

"Jay?" she choked out, her voice thick with emotion.

Before Jay could react, Nya was engulfing him in a hug, the water swirling around them forming a protective barrier. Jay stood there stiffly, overwhelmed by the unexpected contact.

"It's really you," Nya whispered, pulling back slightly. "I can't believe it."

Jay stared at her, a flicker of recognition playing across his features. "Nya?" he questioned, the name tasting strange yet familiar on his tongue.

Mia, her heart swelling with a mix of relief and protectiveness, stepped forward. "Yes, Jay," she said gently. "This is Nya. Your... well..." she hesitated, unsure how to proceed.

Kai, ever the opportunist, jumped in with a mischievous grin. "Your future wife, if she ever forgives you for forgetting her!"

Mia swatted him playfully on the arm. "Kai!" she hissed. Turning back to Nya, she offered a shy smile. "Sorry about him. He's just happy to have his teammate back."

Nya forced a smile. Clearly, Jay's memory loss had brought a layer of uncertainty to their relationship.

Lloyd, sensing the awkward tension, decided to steer the conversation. "Alright, everyone," he said, clapping his hands together. "Let's get Jay settled in and bring him up to speed on everything. We have a lot to catch up on."

_________________________________________

That evening, as they sat by the fire, Mia nudged Kai playfully. "So," she said, a smirk forming on her lips, "still got a soft spot for my brother, huh?"

Kai choked on his tea, his cheeks flushing red. "What? No way!" he sputtered, avoiding her gaze.

Nya, watching the exchange with a knowing smile, finally spoke. "Actually, Kai has always been fiercely protective of Jay. Maybe a little too protective sometimes." She winked at Jay, who chuckled awkwardly.

Kai, finally meeting Mia's gaze, crossed his arms defiantly. "Fine," he admitted. "Maybe he can grow on you. But don't expect me to babysit him!"

Mia laughed, a genuine sound that echoed through the room. "Don't worry, Kai," she said. "I think I can handle my brother."

" Handle him all you want. But, if we want any chance of getting his memory back, we have to find Wu."

_______________________

The next morning, a sense of purpose hung heavy in the air. The Monastery bustled with activity as the ninja prepared for their next move. Cole, his usual jovial spirit dampened by the recent events, approached Lloyd.

"So," he rumbled, his voice laced with concern, "any ideas on how to jog Jay's memory?"

Lloyd shook his head, a frown creasing his forehead. "Wu would know," he admitted. "He's always had a knack for these sorts of things. But with the monastery in disarray after the Merge, his whereabouts are a mystery."

"Maybe Master Wu left some clues," Zane chimed in, his metallic voice carrying a hint of hope. He gestured to a holographic map of Ninjago, its once familiar landmarks warped and twisted by the Merge.

Kai, ever the optimist, slammed his fist on the table. "We'll find him," he declared. "Wu's not the type to leave us hanging. In the meantime, we need to get Jay acclimated to the new Ninjago."

Their attention shifted to Jay, who sat by the weapons rack, fiddling with a nunchuck unfamiliar to his hands. Despite the confusion swirling in his eyes, a spark of his old fighting spirit flickered.

"These weapons," he mumbled, his voice raspy. "They feel... strange."

Mia knelt beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, Jay," she said gently. "We'll help you remember everything, one step at a time."

Suddenly, a loud groan echoed from outside the Monastery. The ninja exchanged worried glances before rushing out to investigate.

There, amidst the wreckage of a building warped by the Merge, stood a monstrous creature cobbled together from various realms. Claws of obsidian scraped against a metallic tail, and glowing red eyes scanned the area.

"What in the name of Ninjago is that?" Cole exclaimed, his grip tightening on his hammer.

"Looks like trouble just found us," Kai muttered, flames already dancing in his palms.

Jay, his own confusion momentarily replaced by a surge of protectiveness, stepped forward. "Who are you?" he challenged, his voice shaky but firm.

The creature let out a guttural roar, the sound echoing through the ruined city. Without warning, it lunged towards the ninja, its claws tearing through the air.

A fierce battle ensued. Lloyd, his movements a blur of green, dodged a swipe from the creature's obsidian claws. Nya, gracefully maneuvering the water around her, created a barrier to deflect a blast of energy. Cole smashed his hammer against the creature's metallic tail, while Zane unleashed a barrage of ice shards.

Jay, however, stood frozen, his memories failing him in the heat of the moment. Mia, sensing his hesitation, grabbed his hand, a silent reassurance. Together, they channeled their elemental powers, a whirlwind of wind swirling around a spark of blue lightning.

The combined attack struck the creature with a deafening roar. It stumbled back, momentarily stunned. Seeing an opportunity, Lloyd focused his Spinjitzu, a green tornado wrapping around the creature and lifting it high into the air.

With a combined shout, the ninja unleashed their final attack, a wave of energy that sent the creature crashing down into a pile of debris. Silence fell over the devastated landscape.

As the dust settled, the ninja stood panting, adrenaline coursing through their veins. Jay, a newfound determination burning in his eyes, turned to Mia.

"I... I think I'm starting to remember," he stammered. "The battles, the teamwork... it's all coming back to me in flashes."

Mia smiled, relief washing over her. "That's great, Jay," she said, squeezing his hand. "But for now, let's just focus on staying safe. And finding Wu."

" Wu..... you mean that guy with long hair and smelly breath?"

Kai nodded. " Yes! He's very smelly!"

Mia had to stifle a giggle. " Kai!"

" Then a guy that moves his bum every time he moves?" Jay tried once more.

" Jay, everyone moves their bum every time they move."

Jay's brow furrowed in concentration. "But his bum wiggles in a special way, like a... caterpillar? I can't move my bum like that."

Mia laughed, a warm sound that echoed in the ruins around them. "There's nothing wrong with your bum, Jay. Now, about Wu... he's the wise old master, the one who trained all of us."

Suddenly, Kai, ever impatient, materialized beside them. "Wise old master, smelly breath optional," he quipped, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Jay furrowed his brow, trying to piece together the fragments of memory. "Wait, wasn't there a short guy who always got scared easily?"

Cole, who had been surveying the wreckage with a frown, perked up at that. "Hey! I'm not short!" he bellowed, puffing out his chest in mock offense.

Mia's laughter echoed in the ruined courtyard. Jay, still flustered, rubbed the back of his head.

"Right," he mumbled, sheepishly. "Memories are coming back in bits and pieces. Like... fighting alongside a green ninja. But I can't remember his face."

Lloyd stepped forward, a hint of understanding in his emerald eyes. He placed a hand on Jay's shoulder.

"That was me, Jay," he said gently. "We've been teammates for years. Though, I wouldn't call myself the smelly-breath ninja." He shot a playful glare at Kai, who puffed out his chest in mock offense.

"Hey!" Kai protested. "It's the fumes from the forge, not my breath!"

Nya, rolling her eyes, stepped between them. "Enough, both of you. Now's not the time for bickering."

"She's right," Cole chimed in, wiping sweat from his brow. "We need a plan. How do we find Wu? Maybe there's something in the monastery archives, some clue he left behind."

Zane, ever the strategist, nodded in agreement. "An excellent suggestion, Cole. Perhaps a map, a message, anything that could point us in the right direction."

With a renewed sense of purpose, the group headed back to the Monastery. The once familiar halls felt alien to Jay, the echoes of forgotten memories swirling around him. He stopped before a dusty portrait hanging on the wall. It depicted a group of young ninja, their faces filled with youthful determination. There, in a green gi with a mischievous glint in his eyes, stood Lloyd. Beside him, a younger version of himself beamed back, a spark of blue lightning crackling in his hand.

And Jay was hugging a girl with black hair and gray gi.

Nya. His one and only love.

A warmth spread through Jay's chest, a feeling of belonging he hadn't realized he missed. He reached out, his hand hovering over the glass.

"That's us," he whispered, a tremor in his voice. "Before the Merge."

The others gathered around him, their faces filled with a mix of sadness and determination.

"We were a team then, Jay," Lloyd said, his voice steady. "And we'll be a team again. We'll find Wu, restore Ninjago, and most importantly, help you get your memories back."

Jay met Lloyd's gaze, a flicker of his old confidence returning. "Thanks, Lloyd," he said, a newfound determination hardening his voice. "But first things first. Let's find that map and track down Wu. We have a world to save." And then he turned to Nya.

" And kids to have."