Morro turned around nervously in the cave, his flashlight illuminating the dark tunnels.

" Wh... Why are we in a cave?" He whispered, clutching Emma's hand.

Emma, who was also scared, helped as she heard a drop of water, cuddling closer to Morro.

" Because Morros the only one of us who can access the realm of the Departed." Mia said, unfazed as she unwrapped a piece of chocolate and sucked at it.

" Or the Spirit Realm." Annie piped up as she gulped, glancing at Unagami for support.

Unagami looked no more pleased. " This is not how I thought my day would go."

Nelson let out a nervous chuckle. " Yeah, me neither. But my wife's a ninja, and she needs us all for some reason."

Blackie, who was walking next to Mia's foot, hissed. " Mia, I don't like the looks of this olace."

Mia sighed. " Me neither."

The others stared. " Is that supposed to make us feel better?!" Jake cried from.the back.

Mia rolled her eyes. " You guys are so dramatic."

Rose blinked. " Come again?*

Mia turned to the group. " Listen. You all didn't have to come. You didn't have to agree to come with me. But you did. And if you want to turn back, you can. But I am going to save the world, no matter what."

Morro sighed. " She's right."

His voice echoed faintly in the cave, and the others fell silent, their nervous glances shifting between the walls and each other. Emma tightened her grip on Morro's hand, while Nelson pulled his jacket closer, the air growing colder the deeper they went.

Mia marched ahead, her posture confident as she crunched on her chocolate. She was young, but her determination was unshakable. Her footsteps were steady on the jagged floor as if the looming darkness didn't bother her at all.

Unagami frowned, glancing at the others. "She's certainly grown since the last time I saw her. Spiritually, not physically."

Jake nodded nervously, clutching his Kai notebook tightly. "Yeah, but I still wish this whole 'save the world' thing didn't always involve creepy caves and ancient realms."

Rose whispered to Annie, "She's just like her brother. No fear."

"Yeah, well," Annie muttered, glancing around nervously, "I wish we had that kind of courage right now."

Suddenly, the sound of scraping stones echoed from behind them, making everyone freeze in place. Morro instinctively stepped in front of Emma, and Nelson held out his hand protectively in front of Rose. Mia, however, didn't even turn around.

Jake gasped. "What was that?"

"Relax," Mia said, not even breaking her stride. "Probably just a rat."

A low growl came from the shadows, and Blackie hissed again, arching his back. "Mia, that's not a rat."

Unagami's eyes glowed faintly as he activated his scanners. "Whatever it is, it's coming closer."

The group tensed, ready for a fight, when suddenly a large figure stepped into the dim light of their flashlights.

It was a giant wolf, its fur shimmering as though made of shadows. Its glowing eyes fixated on Mia, and it let out a deep, rumbling snarl.

Morro gasped, pulling Emma closer. "That's... a shadow wolf."

"Great," Nelson muttered under his breath. "Because regular wolves weren't scary enough."

Mia turned calmly, finishing her chocolate and crumpling the wrapper. "Stay behind me."

"Mia, wait-" Rose began, but Mia had already stepped forward, facing the massive creature head-on.

The shadow wolf crouched low, growling menacingly, ready to pounce. But instead of attacking, Mia held out her hand, her voice calm and firm.

"Stand down."

For a moment, the wolf hesitated, its glowing eyes narrowing. The others held their breath, waiting for it to strike, but the creature slowly backed away, melting into the shadows without another sound.

Mia dusted off her hands. "See? Not everything is solved by fighting."

Nelson blinked. "How did you-?"

"Let's just say I've dealt with worse than shadow wolves," Mia said, turning back to lead the way. "Now let's keep moving. We're running out of time."

As the group continued, the tension eased a little, but the cave grew colder and darker the further they went. Mia kept her pace, leading them deeper into the unknown.

Suddenly, the tunnel opened into a vast chamber, lit by the eerie glow of ethereal flames. In the center of the chamber stood an ancient stone altar, inscribed with runes that flickered with power.

Morro shivered. "This is it. The gateway to the Departed Realm."

Mia approached the altar, her face determined. "We need to find the key. It's hidden somewhere in this chamber."

Unagami stepped forward, scanning the walls. "I can help decipher the runes, but we'll need to be quick. This place feels... unstable."

Emma, who had been quiet, looked up at Morro. "Do you really think we can do this?"

Morro squeezed her hand, his expression softening. "With Mia leading us? I think we have a pretty good shot."

As they began searching for the key, the ground rumbled beneath them, and faint whispers echoed from the shadows, growing louder with each passing second.

Mia narrowed her eyes, her hands tightening into fists. "Everyone, stay focused. We're not alone in here."

The race to save the world had only just begun.

Blackie, ever the sassy cat , prowled by Mia's side as they scanned the chamber for clues. Nelson, quietly determined, moved toward a cluster of rocks near the edge of the room, his flashlight flickering as he shifted a stone aside.

"Uh, guys? I think I found something," Nelson called out, holding up a gleaming key that shimmered in the faint light.

Mia turned and smiled. "Good." She walked over, examining the key for a moment before nodding. "This is it."

Before anyone could celebrate, a low, menacing growl filled the chamber. The group froze as a large tiger padded out from the shadows, its eyes locked on them. Its muscles rippled with tension, and its growl rumbled like distant thunder.

Morro's face went pale. "Oh no... not again."

Emma grabbed onto his arm, while Nelson backed up slightly, key still in hand. Even Unagami's glow dimmed as the threat of the massive predator loomed closer.

The tiger took a step forward, clearly not afraid of the group. But Mia? She stood tall, her face unflinching. She calmly stepped forward, her hand raised.

"Don't worry, I've got this," Mia said, her voice surprisingly calm.

"Tessa, down."

Everyone stared at her in disbelief. But to their amazement, the tiger's growl quieted, and after a moment of hesitation, the massive creature obediently lay down at Mia's feet, its fierce demeanor instantly replaced by a sense of calm.

"Good girl," Mia praised, giving the tiger a pat on its head as if it were a well-trained pet.

Nelson blinked, completely baffled. "Wait, what just happened?"

Mia turned back to the group, as if this was the most normal thing in the world. "This is Tessa. She's an old friend."

"An old friend?" Morro stammered, glancing between Mia and the giant tiger lying obediently on the ground. "You never mentioned you had a pet tiger!"

"Yeah, Mia," Blackie hissed with a flick of his tail, looking unimpressed. "You couldn't have warned us about the giant cat?"

Mia shrugged, clearly enjoying the reactions. "You never asked."

Unagami raised an eyebrow. "You really are full of surprises, Mia."

Jake, who had been watching from the side, chuckled. "I have to say, I'm not surprised anymore. Mia can handle anything."

With Tessa now peacefully settled beside Mia, the group refocused on the task at hand. Mia took the key from Nelson and approached the altar, her gaze focused and unwavering.

"Let's get this over with," she said, inserting the key into a slot in the stone.

The room trembled as the ancient gateway began to unlock, the air buzzing with mystical energy. The journey to the Realm of the Departed was about to begin, and with Mia leading the way, they were ready for whatever came next.

Though as they stepped forward, Nelson couldn't help but mutter, "Next time, I'm staying at home."

Two hours later, the group had managed to get some much-needed rest, their bodies sprawled out in the cave around a small fire. The soft crackling of flames was the only sound until, out of nowhere, Mia's loud voice shattered the silence.

"GUYS! WAKE UP!" Mia yelled, startling everyone from their sleep.

Nelson practically jumped up, eyes wide in panic. "What?! What's gong on?"

Morro groggily rubbed his eyes, glancing at Mia with a sense of dread. "What now, Mia?"

"I JUST REALIZED WHAT WEAPON WAS MISSING!" Mia continued, holding up a crumpled piece of paper in her hands, her eyes alight with urgency. "It's the Phantom Blades!"

Morro froze, instantly wide awake. "Oh no... that's bad. That's really, really bad."

The rest of the group-Emma, Annie, Rose, Unagami, Jake, and Nelson-looked around in confusion, still half-asleep and not entirely sure what was going on.

"The Phantom Blades?" Emma asked, blinking in confusion. "What are those?"

Annie yawned, rubbing her neck. "Yeah, and why does it sound like it's a big deal?"

Jake looked equally puzzled. "Are they cursed or something?"

Mia rolled her eyes at their questions, clearly irritated. "You guys don't get it, do you? The Phantom Blades are powerful weapons that can slice through anything-any material, any magic! And they're incredibly dangerous in the wrong hands."

Unagami leaned in, curious. "Who has them now?"

Mia's face darkened. "Pythor."

That caught everyone's attention.

Nelson frowned. "Wait, the snake guy? What's he doing with those?"

Mia sighed and started pacing, her hands gesturing animatedly as she explained. "Pythor stole them. I don't know exactly what he's planning, but if he has the Phantom Blades, it means he's probably trying to cut open a portal or break through some ancient seals-something catastrophic."

Rose tilted her head. "But, uh, why didn't we realize this before?"

Mia groaned, clearly frustrated with herself. "I don't know! It just hit me now. I mean, I knew something felt off, but when I saw the paper just now, it all clicked. Pythor's probably going to use the blades to access forbidden realms, and we have to stop him before he unleashes something worse."

Morro stood up and looked at Mia seriously. "This is really bad. The Phantom Blades were supposed to be sealed away for good. If Pythor has them, we're all in deep trouble."

Annie, still confused but clearly understanding the urgency, shook her head. "So, what do we do now? How do we get them back?"

Mia took a deep breath, her determined gaze sweeping across the group. "We track Pythor down. We figure out where he's hiding and stop him before he can do any more damage."

"That sounds... easier said than done," Nelson muttered.

"Yeah, but we don't have a choice," Mia said firmly, clenching her fists. "If Pythor gets away with this, we're all doomed."

Unagami raised an eyebrow. "And I suppose this means more danger for all of us?"

"Pretty much," Mia replied with a wry smile.

Morro, already dreading the next part of their journey, sighed. "Well, looks like we're going snake hunting."

" Pyyyyythor, where aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaare youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuyu?* Unagami called in a single song voice.

Annie eyed her husband. " Not helping."

James stomach growled. " Can we eat?" He complained.

Mia nodded and set her bag down. " Sure."

To their utter astonishment, she zipped her bag open and took out a foldable table and tablecloth, plates ,tea cups, teapot ,sugar and a bunch of other things.

" You guys are too young or too old to have this stuff," she said, pouring herself coffee and not even realizing their mouths were open.

" But you could have......" She fished around in her bag and pulled out some purple juice. " Prune juice."

Nelson made an exaggerated yuck face. " No thanks "

Unagami pouted. " Why can't I have some tea."

" You're one hundred years old."

" What's your point?*

" You could get a heart attack."

Morro opened his mouth, but no words came out.

" Morro can't have either because he's a ghost, and he might not like it."

Unagami cleared his throat. " Mia, you do realize I'm a person from a game?*

" Yeah, so?*

" So I can't be one hundred years old!"

Mia smirked and took a passport out. " I beg to differ."

The group stared at Mia, their eyes wide and mouths still agape as they watched her casually set up an entire tea party in the middle of their mission. The foldable table and intricate tea set seemed almost magical, like they had come out of nowhere.

Unagami blinked at Mia, clearly confused. "Wait, wait, wait... where did you get all this stuff?"

Mia gave a nonchalant shrug. "Oh, you know, just came prepared. You never know when you'll need a tea break." She poured herself another cup of coffee, seemingly oblivious to the chaos around her.

Annie glanced at Unagami, her eyebrow raised. "You're seriously arguing about tea when Pythor could be out there doing... I don't know, evil things?"

James' stomach growled again, louder this time. "Honestly, can we just eat?"

Mia chuckled and pulled out some snacks from her seemingly bottomless bag, passing around sandwiches and cookies. "Fine, fine. Everyone, dig in. But no prune juice for you," she added, glancing at Nelson, who wrinkled his nose.

Nelson shook his head emphatically. "Yeah, I'm good. Not really in the mood for... old people juice."

Unagami looked offended, crossing his arms. "Hey! I'm not that old. And prune juice isn't bad."

Mia waved her hand dismissively. "Uh-huh, sure. That's why your passport says you're over a hundred."

Unagami stared at her incredulously. "I'm NOT over a hundred! I don't even age like that. I'm a computer program!"

With a sly grin, Mia held up a small booklet. "Then explain this-" She flicked open a passport with Unagami's picture on it, and under the age section, it read: 100 years old.

Unagami's jaw dropped. "Where did you even get that? I don't have a passport!"

Mia winked. "I have my ways. Don't question it."

Morro, still in shock, slowly raised a hand. "Okay, but I still don't get why I can't have coffee."

Mia shook her head. "Ghosts don't drink coffee. You'd just... phase through it or something. Trust me, you're better off without it."

Morro sighed, defeated. "This is... the weirdest day."

As they all sat down to their impromptu tea party, Mia poured herself another cup of coffee, completely at ease. "Don't worry, guys. We'll catch Pythor soon enough. But for now, let's just enjoy this moment. You never know when we'll get to have a proper break again."

James took a bite of his sandwich and muttered, "This mission just keeps getting stranger and stranger."

Annie and Emma exchanged glances, both unsure whether to laugh or cry at the absurdity of it all. Meanwhile, Mia sipped her coffee, content as ever.

The calm before the storm.

" Can we eat something?" Jake complained as he carried his bag and a baby that looked a lot like Rose

Morro sighed as he shifted his position of holding another baby that looked a lot like Emma. " This day just keeps getting better and better."

Mia, who was carrying a baby that looked a lot like Nelson, turned. " No time to argue!" She exclaimed. " Gotta keep moving!"

Annie trailed behind holding her husband. " Yep. Totally."

Morro groaned. " They could have at least told us this is the forest of youth."

" Forest of what?!" Jake cried, running to the ghost. " Is that right?*

Morro nodded. " Yep. Up ahead is the forest of lost Memories."

Mia groaned. " Just great "

" Don't worry," Morro reassured. " They don't take memories. Just make you relieve ones you can't remember.

Jake blinked, staring at Morro in disbelief. "Wait, hold up. We're heading into a forest that makes you relive forgotten memories? And... what, we just accept that?"

Morro, clearly exhausted from both the situation and holding a baby, nodded slowly. "Yep. Pretty much. Trust me, I've been through worse."

Mia, still determined, adjusted the baby in her arms. "Listen, we don't have time to stop and discuss this. We need to keep moving, or we'll never get out of here!"

The baby that Mia was carrying, who looked oddly like Nelson, giggled and grabbed at Mia's hair, tugging it gently. She winced but kept marching forward, determination in her step.

Annie, walking alongside her, glanced at her husband, who had somehow been reverted to a baby as well. "Well, at least we're not in this alone, right?" she muttered, adjusting her grip on the small bundle in her arms.

Morro sighed again, clearly not thrilled about the situation. "I'm starting to think we should've taken a different route."

Jake, still wide-eyed, jogged up to Mia. "So, what's the plan? Do we just... power through the memories and hope nothing too crazy happens?"

Mia didn't stop, keeping her focus on the path ahead. "Yep. We just push through. And hope these babies don't get cranky along the way."

Suddenly, a faint mist started to roll through the trees, and everyone paused. The mist wasn't thick enough to block their view, but it gave an eerie, almost dreamlike quality to the forest. They all felt it-the subtle tug at their minds, like something was trying to pull them backward.

Mia clenched her teeth. "This must be it. The Forest of Lost Memories."

The baby in Jake's arms squirmed, clearly uncomfortable, and Jake looked around nervously. "I don't know if I'm ready for this..."

Morro gave a half-hearted shrug. "You don't really have a choice. It's not like we can turn around now."

As they ventured deeper into the forest, faint echoes of laughter and whispers began to fill the air. Each of them started to feel the pull of forgotten memories rising to the surface.

Mia's pace faltered for a moment as a hazy memory flickered in her mind-a day long ago when she was very young, training with her brother, Jay. She shook her head, trying to clear it.

"No time for that now," she muttered under her breath. "Focus, Mia."

Behind her, Jake stumbled slightly, his own forgotten memory tugging at him-one from his childhood, before he ever knew about the Ninja or their adventures. He blinked, trying to focus on the present, but the memory kept pressing in.

"Guys..." Jake called, his voice shaking. "I don't like this."

Annie held baby Unagami tighter, her own eyes flickering with forgotten images, memories she didn't even know she had. She bit her lip, glancing over at Mia. "We need to get through this fast, Mia. The memories... they're getting stronger."

Mia nodded, her resolve unshaken. "We will. Just hold on."

As the group continued through the forest, the memories grew stronger, each of them feeling the weight of their forgotten pasts pressing down on them. The babies in their arms fussed slightly, sensing the unease in the air.

Morro, clutching baby Emma close, gave a weary sigh. "If we survive this, I'm never coming back here again."

Mia gave a determined grin. "Don't worry, Morro. We'll make it through. We always do."

As the group finally emerged from the eerie mist of the Forest of Lost Memories, they each let out a collective sigh of relief. The strange pull of forgotten memories faded, and suddenly, the babies in their arms began to glow softly.

One by one, the babies started to change, growing back into their full, adult forms in a flash of light. Nelson was the first to return to normal size, landing right in his wife Mia's arms with a confused look on his face.

"Remind me again," Nelson said, blinking as he looked around, "why I'm in my wife's hands?"

Mia smirked and let him down gently. "Because you were a baby, and I had to carry you."

Nelson rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, stepping out of Mia's grasp. "Right. That was... strange."

Annie, now holding her full-grown husband Unagami, shook her head. "Strange doesn't even begin to cover it."

Unagami, adjusting his coat, looked at his wife and muttered, "I'd say it was humiliating, but I've experienced worse."

Jake, having just set down Rose, stretched his arms and sighed with relief. "Never thought I'd be so happy to be carrying backpacks again instead of... babies."

Morro, no longer holding baby Emma, shook his head in disbelief. "I'm starting to think this trip was a bad idea."

Mia, always the optimist, shrugged. "We got through it, didn't we? Now we just have to track down Pythor and get the Phantom Blades back before anything else crazy happens."

Jake, finally relaxed after all the chaos, grinned. "Knowing our luck, something crazy is probably just around the corner."

The group exchanged weary glances before breaking into a laugh, all too aware of the truth in his words.

" I'm tiiiired." Emma moped as she took a Ziploc bag out of her bag and opened it. " Cheese?"

Mia sighed. " No thanks."

Her eyes were glued to the map, and she didn't even notice there was a log in front of her and SHE WAS GONNA FALL!

Lucky for her she has a husband who loves her to bits and would do anything for her ( and vice versa).

So Nelson jumped in and kicked the log out of the way.

Mia didn't even notice until she heard a THUD. She looked up, and saw a tired Nelson and a rolling log. She knew what had happened.

Without a word, she fished into her bag and took out a stroller. The others watched in astonishment as she strapped Nelson to it.

" Where does she get these things from?!" Unagami squeaked. " That bag is so small!"

Emma, munching on her cheese, glanced over at Nelson, now strapped into the stroller, and chuckled. "Well, that's one way to take a break."

Mia, still focused on the map, gave a small, tired smile as she kept walking, pushing the stroller as if this were the most normal thing in the world. "Nelson's been through enough today. He deserves a rest."

The others, however, were still dumbfounded. Annie stared at the stroller, eyes wide. "Mia, that bag of yours... is it, like, magic or something? It keeps pulling out stuff that shouldn't fit in there!"

Unagami nodded in agreement, still gawking. "There's no way you're carrying around an entire foldable stroller in that tiny thing!"

Mia shrugged, not missing a beat as she navigated through the woods. "It's all about efficient packing. You'd be surprised what you can fit if you try hard enough."

Lloyd, walking beside them, smirked. "Efficient packing? Or ninja magic? Because there's no way I can pack like that."

Jake sighed as he adjusted his own heavy bag. "I wish I had a magic bag like that. My back is killing me."

Rose looked at him, amused. "You really think carrying around a stroller would be easier?"

Jake pointed to Nelson, who was happily reclining in his makeshift ride. "He doesn't look like he's complaining."

Mia, still unfazed, rolled her eyes. "We've got a mission, guys. Less talk, more walking."

As they trudged on, Unagami leaned over to Annie and whispered, "I still think that bag is enchanted. There's no way it's normal."

Annie nodded, still not over the absurdity. "Yeah, definitely some kind of magic going on here."

As they approached the entrance to the Spirit Realm, the atmosphere grew heavier. A mist swirled around their feet, and eerie shadows flickered across the ancient stone archway that marked the boundary between realms.

Mia stopped in front of it, her eyes narrowing. "Yippie," she said sarcastically, folding her arms. "I get to see

the ghosts of a bunch of people. Just what I wanted."

Annie, on the other hand, seemed more thoughtful, her gaze softening as she looked toward the misty entrance. "I want to see my grandpa," she said quietly. "He was so nice. I wonder if he's here."

Mia glanced at her, her sarcastic edge fading for a moment. "Well, I hope he's the only one who's nice. Most of the ghosts I've run into weren't exactly... friendly."

Morro, standing beside them, nodded grimly. "Yeah, it's not exactly a peaceful place for everyone. Some spirits linger here because they have unfinished business or... darker reasons. But not all of them are bad."

Nelson, still in the stroller, had woken up and looked around nervously. "I'm just hoping we don't run into anything too... unfriendly. We've had enough for one day."

Unagami folded his arms, looking skeptical. "How do we know who we're going to run into? Is there like... a guest list?"

Morro shook his head. "Nope. It's more of a 'whoever decides to show up' situation. We have to be prepared for anything."

Jake groaned. "Great, just what I needed. Surprise ghost encounters."

Mia sighed, gripping her sword a little tighter. "Well, no use standing here all day. We came here for a reason, and we're not leaving until we find what we're looking for."

Annie smiled softly. "If we do run into my grandpa, maybe he can help us. He always knew what to do."

Mia raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Let's hope so."

With a final glance at each other, they stepped through the archway and into the Spirit Realm. The air grew colder, and whispers echoed in the mist around them.

As soon as Annie stepped over the threshold into the Spirit Realm, a familiar voice echoed through the mist.

"SWEETIE?!"

She froze, her heart skipping a beat. Turning quickly, her eyes widened as she saw an older man, slightly transparent, but with the same kind, warm face she remembered so well.

"GRANDPA!" she yelled, her voice trembling with emotion.

Without thinking, Annie ran toward him, her feet barely touching the ground as she sprinted across the misty landscape. She threw herself into his arms, and though he was a ghost, his embrace felt as real as it had when she was little.

"Oh, sweetie, look at you!" her grandfather said, his voice full of warmth and pride. "You've grown into such a fine young woman."

Tears welled up in Annie's eyes as she looked up at him. "I missed you so much, Grandpa," she whispered, barely able to believe he was really there.

Her grandfather smiled softly, brushing her hair away from her face. "I've been watching over you, sweetheart. I'm always with you."

The rest of the group watched the reunion in silence, touched by the heartfelt moment. Even Mia's usual tough exterior softened, and she glanced away to give them some privacy, though she couldn't help but smile slightly.

Nelson, still in his stroller, leaned over to Mia and whispered, "That's one of the good ghosts, I guess."

Mia nodded quietly. "Yeah, seems like it."

Annie wiped her eyes and took a deep breath. "Grandpa, we're here for something important. There's something dangerous out there... something we need to stop."

Her grandfather nodded knowingly. "I know, sweetie. This realm holds many secrets, and some of them are better left untouched. But if you're here, then I trust you'll do what's right."

Annie squeezed his hand. "Will you help us?"

Her grandfather looked at her with a deep, thoughtful gaze. "I can help guide you, but the real challenge lies ahead. It's going to be tough, Annie. But you're stronger than you think."

Mia stepped forward, her tone respectful yet direct. "We need to find the Phantom Blades. Pythor's got them, and if we don't get them back, we're in big trouble."

The old man nodded, his expression serious. "I can show you the way, but be careful. The spirits here don't always welcome visitors, and not everyone you meet will be as friendly as me."

With that, he led them deeper into the Spirit Realm, the mist swirling thicker around them as they ventured further into the unknown.

As they walked deeper into the Spirit Realm, the eerie silence was broken by a sudden shout.

"MIA! IS THAT YOU?!"

Mia froze, her heart skipping a beat. She turned around, her eyes widening as she recognized the voice. Standing just a few feet away, amidst the swirling mist, was a familiar face-a face she hadn't seen in years.

"GRANDMA?! YOU'RE HERE!" Mia yelled, her voice filled with surprise and emotion.

Her grandmother, looking just as Mia remembered her-warm, kind, and full of energy-was smiling widely. Without thinking, Mia ran toward her, practically throwing herself into her grandmother's arms. The hug felt so real, despite her grandmother being part of the Spirit Realm.

"I can't believe you're here," Mia said, her voice trembling. "I... I missed you so much."

Her grandmother laughed softly, brushing a strand of hair away from Mia's face. "I've missed you too, my little firecracker. You've grown so much. Look at you, all grown up and saving the world, huh?"

Mia chuckled, wiping away a tear. "Yeah, something like that."

The others stood quietly, watching the heartfelt reunion. Even Blackie, Mia's sassy talking cat, stayed silent for once.

Nelson leaned over to Jake and whispered, "First Annie's grandpa, now Mia's grandma? Who's next? My aunt?"

Jake shrugged, still a bit unnerved by the whole situation. "I dunno, man. This place is weird."

Mia's grandmother looked over Mia's shoulder, noticing the group behind her. "You've made some interesting friends, haven't you?" she said with a wink.

Mia smiled, glancing back at her companions. "Yeah, they're... something."

She grabbed Nelson's hand and pulled him forward. " This is my husband, Nelson. Nelson, my grandma. You remember her, don't you?"

Nelson turned pink. " Yes, Mia, I do. Good day, ma'am. Pleasure to meet you" He said, bowing slightly.

Mia's grandmother laughed. " The pleasure is all mine."

But then her grandmother's expression turned more serious as she pulled back, holding Mia's shoulders and looking deep into her eyes. "Mia, I know you're here for something important. The Spirit Realm isn't a place to stay long. There are dangers here, and not all spirits are kind."

Mia nodded. "I know, Grandma. We're looking for the Phantom Blades. Pythor stole them, and we need to get them back before something really bad happens."

Her grandmother's face darkened at the mention of Pythor. "That snake... always causing trouble, even in death. You need to be careful, Mia. The path ahead is treacherous. But I know you. You're strong, stubborn like your mother. You'll find a way."

Mia grinned, her confidence bolstered by her grandmother's words. "Thanks, Grandma."

Her grandmother smiled warmly again. "Now go, and be careful. I'll be watching over you."

With one final hug, Mia turned back to her team, feeling a mix of sadness and determination. As they continued deeper into the Spirit Realm, Mia glanced back once more, watching her grandmother fade into the mist.

"Let's go," she said firmly. "We've got work to do."

The group ventured deeper into the Spirit Realm, the fog swirling around them as the eerie silence of the place settled back in. Mia, still shaken but determined after her reunion with her grandmother, led the way, her eyes sharp as she navigated through the twisting paths.

Suddenly, they came upon a strange garden-like area, with lush plants and large, ominous-looking vines twisting around ancient stone pillars. Before anyone could react, the vines came alive, shooting out and wrapping tightly around the group.

Mia, Nelson, Annie, Jake, Unagami, Rose, and the others were all lifted off their feet, ensnared in the thick vines, unable to move. The vines wrapped tighter with every second, pulling them up and suspending them in mid-air.

Emma struggled against the vine holding her. "Morro, why are you not up here?!" she called out, noticing the ghost had been spared.

Morro, standing a few feet away, shrugged. "Because I'm a ghost," he said matter-of-factly.

Emma stared at him, wide-eyed. "THEN GET US OUT OF HERE!" she yelled, wiggling frantically in the vines.

Morro flinched at her outburst. "Yeesh, sorry," he muttered, floating closer to them and examining the vines. He reached out to grab one, trying to phase through it and sever the connection.

But as his hand passed through the vine, nothing happened. The vine didn't budge, as if it was immune to his touch. Morro blinked, confused, and tried again with the same result.

"Uh... I think these vines might be... spirit-proof," he said, looking a bit sheepish.

Emma, still struggling, slapped her forehead in frustration. "You've got to be kidding me," she muttered.

Nelson, hanging upside down from a vine, groaned. "This is not how I pictured our day going."

Jake, entangled next to him, sighed. "I just wanted a snack, man. Now we're stuck in spirit-vines. This is great."

Mia, her arms pinned by the vine, gritted her teeth. "Alright, everybody calm down. We've dealt with worse. Morro, there's gotta be something we can do!"

Morro scratched his head, floating around the group, searching for a weak spot in the vines. "Maybe if I can find where they're connected..." He floated higher, scanning the area.

Meanwhile, Mia was already thinking of a plan. "Okay, Nelson, when Morro figures this out, we're going to need to be ready to move fast. I need you on your feet and ready to act. Same goes for everyone else."

Nelson gave a weak thumbs-up from his upside-down position. "Sure, no problem. Just as soon as I can... you know... move."

Morro, still floating around, suddenly spotted something glowing near the base of the largest vine. "Hold on... I think I found the source!"

He dove toward the glowing spot, and as he phased through the vine, he realized it was connected to a strange, glowing stone embedded in the earth. "This must be the core of the vines. If we can destroy it, maybe we can get you all free!"

Emma rolled her eyes, still wiggling in the vines. "Great, now how do we destroy it if we can't move?"

Morro hovered over the stone, focusing his energy. "I've got this," he said confidently. He placed his hands over the stone and, with a deep concentration, started to channel his ghostly powers into it.

The vines began to shudder as Morro's power flowed through the stone. Slowly, the vines started to loosen their grip on the group, unwinding from around them. One by one, they fell to the ground, groaning but free.

Mia stood up quickly, brushing herself off. "Nice work, Morro."

Morro grinned. "Told you I could handle it."

Emma shook her head, getting to her feet. "Yeah, well, next time, maybe a little faster?"

As the group regrouped and got ready to move on, Mia pointed ahead, where the path continued deeper into the garden. "Alright, let's get moving before anything else decides to grab us."

Although the girls were braver than the boys, they still wanted to feel safe. After all, they were a bit shaken. They did this by seeking comfort from their husbands, linked arms. Emma and Morro, Annie and Unagami, Jake and Rose, and finally Mia and Nelson all walked side by side. Even Blackie, ever the gentleman, trotted along beside them, keeping a watchful eye on the path ahead.

Mia glanced at Nelson, squeezing his arm gently as they walked. "You okay?" she asked softly, concern in her voice after all the chaos.

Nelson smiled at her, his usual playful demeanor intact. "Yeah, I'm good. I mean, other than the part where I was almost eaten by spirit vines, but that's just a normal day with you, right?"

Mia rolled her eyes with a grin. "You know it."

Blackie trotted next to them, his tail flicking in mild amusement. "Can't say this is the most relaxing adventure, but at least it's entertaining."

Emma and Morro walked behind them, their arms linked as well. Emma rested her head on Morro's shoulder for a moment. "You did good back there," she said with a small smile.

Morro chuckled, looking down at her. "Thanks. You weren't too bad yourself, you know, with all the screaming."

Emma slapped his arm playfully. "Hey, someone had to get you moving!"

Annie and Unagami walked together, their steps in sync. Annie leaned into him, her mind still lingering on her reunion with her grandfather. "I'm glad we came here," she whispered. "Even if it's dangerous."

Unagami nodded, his usually analytical demeanor softening. "It was worth it to see your happiness, Annie."

Jake and Rose trailed behind, Jake carrying Rose's bag while Rose rested her head on his shoulder. "Do you think we're getting close to the Phantom Blades?" Rose asked, her voice quiet but filled with curiosity.

Jake shrugged, glancing ahead. "I hope so. But knowing our luck, we'll probably have to deal with more ghosts before we even see them."

As the group pressed on, arm in arm, they felt a little more united, knowing that whatever lay ahead, they'd face it together. The Spirit Realm was unpredictable, but at least they had each other.

Mia took a deep breath, her eyes scanning the path ahead. "Alright, guys," she said, her voice firm but warm, "let's keep moving. We've still got a mission to complete."

As they ventured further into the Spirit Realm, the group began to notice flickers of movement in the distance-ghosts, swirling in and out of view. The eerie green glow of the spirits made the air feel even colder. Mia stopped suddenly, her eyes narrowing as she studied the ghosts.

"I know who can handle this," Mia said confidently, a sly grin crossing her face.

Morro looked around nervously, noticing the way Mia was looking directly at him. "Wait... who? Me? Oh no. No no no no no," he stammered, backing away. "I am not dealing with those ghosts. They hate me."

Mia's grin only widened as she reached into her seemingly endless bag. "Oh, don't worry. I've got just the thing."

Ten minutes later, the entire group stood around, struggling to contain their laughter. Morro, with a face now painted white with hideous splotches, had a bright red nose, ridiculous rainbow wig, and full-on clown clothes complete with oversized shoes. He stood there, arms crossed, his ghostly form practically glowing with embarrassment.

"I look ridiculous," Morro muttered, glaring at Mia.

Mia smirked, putting her hands on her hips. "You look perfect. Ghosts love clowns, right?"

"That is not true!" Morro protested, tugging at the ridiculous clown suit. "And this isn't going to work. I look like... like..." He waved his hands around, at a loss for words. "Like a disaster!"

Nelson, biting his lip to keep from bursting into laughter, leaned in toward Mia. "I think you might have gone a little overboard."

Mia grinned back. "Overboard is my specialty."

Even Unagami, who usually stayed composed, was snickering. "Morro, you have to admit, it's... quite the look."

Morro scowled but didn't argue. "Fine," he grumbled. "I'll try it. But if I get banished by the ghosts for this, you're all to blame."

As Morro reluctantly approached the group of spirits, the others followed at a safe distance, trying not to make too much noise from their giggling.

Mia watched, still smirking, and whispered to Nelson, "This is going to be good."

Morro, now fully decked out in his ridiculous clown outfit, awkwardly approached the group of ghosts, clearly uncomfortable. His voice wavered as he tried to engage them.

"Uh... hey, fellow ghosts!" he called out, giving a weak wave. "Nice... weather we're having?"

The ghosts turned slowly, their ghostly eyes narrowing as they focused on him. There was an eerie silence for a moment, and Morro's confidence seemed to waver even more.

" Hello. Who are you?" One ghost asked.

Morro froze. " Uh.... I am the famous Yulia!"

A second's eyes narrowed. " But he died."

" Im his ghost!"

" No, that can't be right. We killed his ghost."

A third ghost floated closer, studying him with suspicion. "Wait a minute... isn't that Morro?"

Morro's eyes widened in panic, and he forced a big, nervous grin. "Uh... nice to meet you? Gotta go, bye!" he blurted, turning on his heel.

Without wasting a second, he screamed, "RUN!" at the top of his lungs.

The entire group scattered, dashing away as fast as they could. Emma, in disbelief, shot a furious look at Morro as they ran. "ARE YOU SERIOUS, MORRO?!"

Morro, still sprinting beside her, puffed out, "What do you expect?! I can't charm ghosts! They hate me!"

Annie and Unagami ran ahead, shaking their heads, while Jake and Rose struggled to keep up, laughing despite the chaos. Mia, meanwhile, was still smirking as she ran beside Nelson, clearly finding the whole situation amusing.

"Well, that went about as well as expected," Nelson panted, glancing at Mia.

"Hey, it was worth a shot!" Mia called back, still grinning.

As they ran, the sound of the angry ghosts grew louder behind them, and Emma yelled back at Morro, "Next time, leave the clown suit behind!"

The_Sage_Ninja_Morro you're up

Also you DumbassWriter17

( That's Jake)

Thirty minutes later, the group came to a stop, panting heavily after their escape from the ghosts. Morro doubled over, hands on his knees, and muttered, "Well, that went well."

Mia, still catching her breath, grinned. "Yeah, it did!"

Morro gave her a look. "That was sarcasm."

Emma, blinking in confusion, asked, "What's sarcasm?"

Morro groaned, and Mia quickly jumped in. "Never mind that. We need to find a portal."

Emma, still looking perplexed, tilted her head. "What's a portal?"

Before Mia could answer, Emma pointed ahead. "And what's that bright, glowy thing?"

Morro's eyes widened in realization. "That's the portal!" he exclaimed, grabbing Emma's arm. "Come on, everyone, we're going through!"

Without hesitation, the group ran toward the glowing light, diving through the portal just as the sound of angry ghosts echoed behind them. As they emerged on the other side, they collapsed onto the ground, finally safe-at least for the moment.

Emma sat up, dusting off her clothes, her brow furrowed in confusion. "So... what's a portal again?"

Morro, still facepalming, let out a long sigh. "A portal is something you go through to get transported somewhere. Like... a magical door. Is that simple enough?"

Emma looked thoughtful for a second but then scrunched up her face again. "Transportation? Like... a bus? Or a carriage? What do you mean?"

Mia, trying not to laugh too hard, crouched down next to her. "No, Emma, not like that. It's a... magical way of moving from one place to another. You don't need wheels or horses, you just-poof!-end up somewhere else. It's a shortcut."

Emma blinked slowly, processing this new information. "Oh... okay." She looked around, and then her eyes landed on the mouth of a cave just ahead. "Hey, what's that dark thing? Is that... is that a plant?"

Mia and Morro exchanged a glance, trying hard not to burst into laughter again. Morro rubbed his temples, already feeling the impending headache. "No, Emma, that's a cave. A big, empty space inside a mountain or hill."

Emma tilted her head, her curiosity seemingly endless. "So... is the cave alive like a plant?"

Mia finally lost her composure and snorted, though she quickly tried to hide it. "No, Emma. Caves aren't alive. They're just... holes in rocks."

Emma stared at the cave for a few moments, as if expecting it to move or grow leaves, before shaking her head in bewilderment. "Weird. Why do people go inside holes in rocks?"

Nelson, trying to stifle a grin, whispered to Jake, "I didn't think we'd be explaining basic stuff like this on our quest."

Jake, equally amused, shrugged. "I didn't either. This is... different."

Mia, now standing up and clearly struggling to keep the explanation train going, continued, "People go into caves for shelter, or sometimes because they need to find things inside-like treasure or hidden paths."

Emma looked intrigued but also confused, her eyes wide with wonder. "Oh! So are we going in there? Is there treasure?"

Morro groaned. "Let's not turn this into a treasure hunt. We need to focus on finding a way out of here."

But Emma wasn't done. "Wait! What's treasure? Like... shiny plants?"

Mia threw her hands up, half-exasperated, half-amused. "No, Emma! Treasure is gold or jewels. Valuable things. Not plants!"

Emma nodded as if that made total sense, but then she pointed at a nearby bush. "So, are those valuable? Can we take those too?"

Mia sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "No, Emma. Not everything is treasure."

Unagami, who had been quiet for a while, finally chimed in, amused. "This is going to be a very long day if she keeps this up."

Mia nodded in agreement, then shot a glance at the rest of the group. "For the sake of Emma, let's just hope nothing complicated happens, alright? I don't think I can explain anything more today."

Just as Mia said that, the ground beneath them rumbled, and the wind picked up around the cave entrance. The trees swayed violently, and the once peaceful surroundings turned ominous.

Emma looked around in panic, her eyes wide as she grabbed Morro's arm. "Morro! What's happening? Is this normal? Are the trees angry?"

Morro sighed deeply. "No, Emma, the trees aren't angry. It's just... bad weather, okay? Let's keep moving."

But Emma wasn't satisfied with that. "But what's weather? Is it like a plant too?"

Mia gave a long, tired groan and looked to the sky as if asking for help. "Why me?"

As they pressed forward, Emma continued her barrage of questions. "What's rain? What's thunder? What's wind? Is it alive? Is it going to eat us?"

Morro was barely holding it together at this point. "No, Emma! None of those things are alive!"

Every step deeper into the forest brought new questions from Emma. She spotted a river up ahead and gasped dramatically. "What's that shiny, moving thing? Is it a giant snake?"

Mia clenched her fists. "That's water, Emma! It's a river, not a snake!"

"What's a river?"

Mia stopped dead in her tracks, threw her hands up, and turned to face the group. "We need to stop explaining everything! Let's just move before I lose it."

Nelson, trying to be the voice of reason, put a hand on Mia's shoulder. "It's okay, Mia. She's just... curious."

Mia huffed. "Curious? At this rate, she's going to ask me what a rock is next!"

Sure enough, Emma picked up a rock and looked at it closely. "What's this?"

Morro groaned louder than before. "It's a rock, Emma! It's just... a rock!"

Emma stared at it for a few more moments, as if expecting it to sprout legs and start walking. When nothing happened, she shrugged and tossed it aside. "Weird."

Mia and Morro exchanged exhausted looks. "I swear," Mia muttered, "if something more complicated than a rock shows up, I'm going to scream."

As if on cue, a shadowy figure loomed ahead, blocking their path. It was something neither of them had seen before-a swirling, dark entity that seemed to radiate menace. It had no distinct form, just a shape-shifting cloud of darkness.

Emma gasped. "What's that? Is it a plant?"

Mia stared at the creature for a moment, blinking rapidly. "No, Emma," she said in the calmest voice she could muster, "that... is not a plant."

Morro gulped. "That's not... something we should stick around to ask questions about."

Without another word, they turned and ran, Emma trailing behind, still asking questions about the creature as they sprinted deeper into the unknown.

Mia shouted over her shoulder, "For the last time, Emma! Not everything is a plant!"

Two hours later, the group was still trekking through the eerie landscape when they heard voices echoing through the trees. Familiar, cold, and serpentine voices.

Mia's eyes narrowed. "Pythor," she muttered under her breath, her fists clenched. "We're close."

The others stopped, listening closely. The unmistakable hiss and sneer of the snake villain sent a chill down their spines. He was clearly not alone, and the clinking sound of metal hinted that the Phantom Blades were somewhere nearby.

Mia quickly gathered the group into a huddle, her voice low but determined. "Okay, listen. You guys create a distraction-get Pythor's attention, whatever you can do. Nelson and I will sneak in and grab the Phantom Blades."

Nelson nodded, already mentally preparing for the sneaky mission ahead. He tightened his grip on Mia's hand, ready to follow her lead.

Just as Mia was about to explain further, Emma interrupted. "Wait... what's a sword?"

Everyone froze.

Mia blinked, momentarily stunned. "Emma, seriously? We've been talking about the Phantom Blades this whole time, and you don't know what a sword is?"

Emma tilted her head in confusion. "I mean, I thought it was like a big knife or something... but it's not alive, right? It's not gonna, like, bite me?"

Morro sighed dramatically, rubbing his temples. "No, Emma, swords don't bite. They're weapons. Sharp, pointy metal things used to fight. Please tell me you understand that much."

Emma's face lit up as if she just had a major revelation. "Oh! So like... plants but sharper?"

Mia stared at Emma for a long moment before finally shaking her head. "Not like plants. At all."

Jake, trying not to laugh, added, "Just think of it as a long metal stick that can cut stuff."

Emma nodded, seeming satisfied with that explanation. "Okay, got it! Long metal stick. Sharp. No plants."

Mia sighed, relieved that they could finally move on. "Right. Now that we're all clear on what a sword is... let's stick to the plan. You distract Pythor, Nelson and I will grab the Phantom Blades, and we'll get out of here before anyone notices. Got it?"

Emma grinned and gave a thumbs-up. "Yup! Distract the snake guy. Sharp metal sticks. Easy."

Morro shot Mia a look that clearly said, "This is going to be a disaster," but Mia simply shrugged. "It'll work. Hopefully."

They slowly crept closer, the voices of Pythor and his allies growing louder. Mia and Nelson slipped into the shadows, moving with practiced stealth, while the others prepared to make their distraction.

Just before they split off, Emma raised her hand like a student in school. "Uh, one more question... how do we distract a snake?"

Morro nearly groaned out loud. "By not asking him what a sword is, for starters!"

Emma grinned sheepishly. "Right. Got it."

And with that, the team set their plan into motion, hoping that Emma's never-ending curiosity wouldn't be the thing that got them caught.

As soon as Emma and the group approached Pythor's location, it became clear that the villain was deep in conversation with his henchmen. The sight of the Phantom Blades glimmering nearby made Mia's pulse quicken. She nodded at Nelson, and they began to move, silently slipping into the shadows to get closer to the swords.

Meanwhile, Emma, completely unaware of the rising tension, strolled right up to Pythor with the most innocent smile on her face.

"Hi, snake guy! I have a question," she said brightly.

Pythor froze mid-sentence, his beady eyes narrowing as he glanced at the girl standing in front of him. His forked tongue flicked out, testing the air.

"What... do we have here?" he hissed. "Who are you?"

Emma completely ignored the danger in his voice. "I'm Emma. So, are you, like, really a snake? Do you eat rats? Do you shed your skin? Or is that just a myth? Also, is your tail, like, squishy or more scaly?"

Pythor blinked, clearly caught off guard by the barrage of questions. "W-What? Do I-what nonsense are you spewing?"

Morro, hiding behind a nearby boulder, facepalmed, groaning. "Oh no, she's doing it again..."

Jake leaned in and whispered, "I mean... it's working. He's totally distracted."

Unagami looked unimpressed. "We may as well just let her keep going."

Emma, oblivious to the mounting tension among her teammates, was now completely engrossed in her one-sided conversation with Pythor. "Do you get cold easily? I mean, snakes are cold-blooded, right? So, like, do you ever wear a jacket or something when it's chilly?"

Pythor looked utterly confused, his eyes darting around as if trying to find some logical explanation for this ridiculous turn of events. "I do not wear jackets! What is the meaning of this?!"

Mia, crouched near the Phantom Blades, couldn't help but smirk. Emma's innocent, endless questions were the perfect distraction. As Nelson reached out to grab the first of the swords, Mia whispered to him, "I don't know how, but this is actually working."

Nelson, suppressing a laugh, nodded and gently lifted the sword. "Emma's a walking distraction. Who knew?"

Meanwhile, Emma continued her interrogation. "So, if you don't wear jackets, what about scarves? Like, a nice long one for your neck? Or do you just slither around without accessories? Also, do you have a favorite color?"

Pythor's frustration was growing by the second. "I DO NOT WEAR SCARVES, AND I AM NOT HERE TO DISCUSS FASHION!" he bellowed, his tail whipping in agitation.

Morro groaned louder from his hiding spot, whispering to the group, "This is unbearable. She's going to ask him about his entire life story soon."

Annie stifled a giggle. "Honestly, I don't think he can handle much more."

Unagami, ever the realist, sighed. "We should be grateful. She's saving us from a fight."

By now, Pythor was pacing back and forth, clearly distracted by Emma's relentless questions. "You dare waste my time with trivialities?! I am a great general! A master of deception and-"

"So... do you have a family?" Emma interrupted, leaning in with genuine curiosity.

Pythor stopped dead in his tracks, his face contorting into a mix of disbelief and outrage. "What... did you just ask?"

Emma smiled innocently. "You know, like, do you have kids or a snake wife? Or are you just on your own, slithering around and stealing swords? It must get lonely, right?"

Mia and Nelson took this golden opportunity to finish collecting the Phantom Blades. As they safely stashed them, Mia gave Nelson a nod, signaling that they had what they came for.

Just as Emma was about to launch into another question, Mia whistled sharply from the shadows. "Emma, time to go!"

Emma gave Pythor one last bright smile. "Well, it was nice talking to you, snake guy! Thanks for answering all my questions!"

Pythor, still reeling from the strange encounter, sputtered, "I didn't answer any-wait-what?!"

"RUN!" Mia shouted, and in an instant, the group took off, sprinting through the forest with the Phantom Blades in tow.

As they dashed away, Emma's voice echoed, "Pythor seems kinda nice once you get past the whole evil thing!"

Morro, panting as he ran, groaned again. "ARE YOU SERIOUS, EMMA?!"

Nelson couldn't help but laugh. "I think that went better than expected."

Mia, smirking as they raced through the trees, shouted back, "It actually did!"

Pythor's enraged roar echoed behind them, but by then, they were already long gone.

" We gather here today to award the eight brave children who risked their lives to retrieve the Phantom blades. We present them trophies." The commissioner announced in a microphone. The ninja walked on stage, each holding a medal. Jay walked to Mia and Nelson and slipped their medals on. " Good work you two " he whispered with a grin.

Mia giggled and leaned in. " It was nothing." She said, blushing slightly.

Kai did Jake and Rose, Cole Unagami, Nya Annie, Lloyd Morro and Zane Emma.

" Thank you." Mia said into the speaker. " But it was actually Emma. Her distraction techniques, though unique, saved us from the evil clutches of Pythor."

" One question," Emma called. " What's an Emma?"