The night is darker than usual. From the harbor, the bright lights of Ninjago City are just visible in the distance. Murky water ripples below the pier, but the thick layer of fog hanging over it makes it near-impossible to see. The air is salty and thick with tension, wrought with the feeling that something isn't quite right.

Lloyd takes a deep breath as he arrives, clutching the straps of his duffel bag. A small cluster of people are already gathered on the pier. Some speak to each other in hushed murmurs, while others stand off to the side, staring around with apprehensive eyes. The blonde perks up when he notices his color-coded friends waiting nearby.

"There you are!" Jay exclaims as the youngest ninja walks over. Lloyd grins and nods to them, grateful to be reunited with what's left of his team.

"The Tournament of Elements..." murmurs Kai. His stark amber gaze sweeps over the crowd of people, studying them warily. "Do you think all of them have powers like us?"

"When I asked my dad about it, he got really suspicious," Lloyd says with narrowed eyes. "Like there's...something he's keeping from me."

Cole shoots him a warning look. "The fortune cookie said tell no one, or else there'd be consequences."

"Relax, we're cool."

They all tense as the horns of a ferry ring through the air—their ride is almost here.

"If Kira's coming, she'd better get here quick," Kai remarks. "Sounds like it's time to go."

"She said she would," says Lloyd. He squints into the distance but sees no one. She couldn't have changed her mind so soon, could she?

Suddenly, a feminine figure emerges from the fog. The dark blue of her gi makes her blend into the night, but the shimmery fabric adds a sparkle that's hard to miss, making Lloyd's heart skip a beat. She's tiny and delicate-looking, like a doll, with black hair that falls in waves around her shoulders, part of it braided back. Her brown eyes glint nervously as she stares around the unfamiliar scene. When she spots her friends, her face brightens and she hurries over.

"Oh, excuse me! Sorry! My bad!" she whispers as she picks her way rather clumsily through the crowd, earning a few odd looks and grumbles. By the time she finally reaches her friends, her face is flushed pink with embarrassment.

"Well, if it isn't the master of crystal herself," Cole says with a teasing grin. "You're late, little pebble."

"Yeah, sorry," Kira lets out a breathy laugh. "I would've gotten here sooner, but my mom insisted I stayed and ate dinner with her before I left. She says hi, by the way."

"Aw! Hi, Kira's Mom!" chirps Jay.

Lloyd nudges the girl gently. She looks up at at him, a shy smile adorning her face. "It's great to see you again," he murmurs. "I've really missed you."

She hums, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear as her cheeks flush pinker. "I've missed you, too. I'm glad we're doing this together."

"Eugh. That's enough, you lovebirds," Kai teases. He makes a gagging gesture at them, causing Lloyd to pout at him and Kira to giggle.

The moment is interrupted as the horns blow again, far louder this time. Everyone looks up as a ferry emerges from the fog and docks. Two men appear and drop a wooden plank onto the pier. Then, another man appears. He wears his hair in a sleek black ponytail, his dark eyes surrounded by even darker circles. He gestures toward the ferry, and the other Elementals oblige, starting to load onto the boat.

"We don't know yet if this is a trap," Lloyd whispers to his team as they move with the group. "Wherever they take us, we have to stick together."

The man's eyes gleam as Jay approaches, making the hairs on his neck raise. "Master Chen will be charmed to see you've accepted his offer," he comments. "A Master of Spinjitzu shall fare favorably in his Tournament."

"Hey, we're not here to fight," responds the blue ninja. "We're here to save a friend."

"Don't be so petty, Master Jay. Everyone here has something to fight for."

"He creeps me out," Kira whispers to Lloyd. Her boyfriend nods in agreement.

Quick as a wink, the man reaches for Jay's bag and snatches his nunchucks from them.

"Chopsticks!" he says quickly, rubbing at at the back of his neck. "I'm a big eater, heh..."

The stranger responds by tossing the weapons over his shoulder. They land in the water with a splash, sinking quickly into the murky depths.

"Did you just...chuck my chucks?"

The older man smirks and turns away. The Ninja exchange glances, unnerved, before making their way into the boat.

"Lloyd, wait!"

A familiar voice, taut with desperation, makes them all freeze in their tracks. The Ninja turn to see Sensei Garmadon hurrying down the pier. "If you get on that boat, you may never return."

Lloyd does a double take. "Dad? What are you doing here?"

His father's voice is urgent as he skids to a halt before them. "Master Chen is a dangerous man who should never be trusted. Whatever he promised you, do not believe him!"

"Lord Garmadon. It's been a while." The black-haired man approaches, face twisted in a sneer. "It's Sensei now, correct? I can't remember."

"Clouse," Garmadon spits. "I see Master Chen still has you running his errands." His aggression makes the Ninja exchange glances. Their expressions all ask the same question: they know each other?!

"We have to go, Dad," Lloyd insists, briefly abandoning his confusion. "This is about Zane. It's about family. If we're ever going to be whole again, we have to get on that ship."

Clouse taps his foot sharply on the pier, making them all flinch. "Last call. Are you in, or out?"

Garmadon sighs. "I can't stop you, son, but I can join you." He starts after his pupils as they board the boat, but the guards withdraw the plank, leaving him stranded on the pier.

"Sorry," Clouse says, sounding anything but apologetic. "No more room on the ship."

"No room?" Garmadon echoes. Quicker than lightning, he lunges forward and seizes the nearest guard, shoving him off the boat. The guard's screams are cut short as he goes plunging into the depths of the harbor. The Ninja all stare, dumbstruck, but Clouse looks unphased. "I stand corrected. There's room now."

"Lloyd? Your dad is awesome," whispers Kai.

"Yeah, I know," comes the awed response.

"Don't worry, I'm not here to compete." The old Sensei places a hand on his son's shoulder, giving him a fond look. "Only to look out for my interests."

Clouse rolls his eyes and walks away. "Let's ship out!" he calls to the staff.

The horns of the ferry ring through the night once more. The vessel starts to move. Then they're off, cruising steadily across a moonlit sea.

"You know him," Lloyd observes as he and his party stroll warily across the deck. "You said his name's Clouse?"

"Don't be fooled by his attire," his father says. "He is a master of Dark Arts, and Master Chen's number two."

"Huh." Cole blinks. "I thought Master Chen's number two was an egg roll and fried rice."

"Why haven't you or Wu ever told us there are others with powers like us?" Kai asks, arms folded across his chest.

"Come to think of it, why is there so much Wu hasn't told us?" Kira adds.

"Because there are some things we don't want you to know," replies Garmadon. "You were led to believe you were special, yet you never questioned where your powers came from."

Jay scoffs, looking offended. "Uh, are you implying that I'm not special?"

"Everyone on this ship is a descendant of an original Elemental Master," their Sensei continues. "They were the First Spinjitzu Master's guardians, each endowed with an Elemental Power that has been passed down through generations."

Kai's brows furrow in confusion. "If that's true, then so is Nya. But...she can't do what I can."

"Can't she? Power lies in all of you...it only needs to be awoken. The fighters here serve no master, and have managed to unlock their own True Potential." Garmadon gestures toward the other people scattered across the deck.

The Ninja study them with a mixture of curiosity and wariness, noting quickly that there's a wide variety of people here. Among them include a girl perched on top of a crate; she plays a violin, creating a beautifully haunting melody that drifts through the nighttime air. A girl with what appears to be wolf ears, a tail, and wings of some sort walks past her, earning a look of utter bewilderment from Jay. Another fighter sits with their back to the railing, smiling at a tiny snake coiled around their fingers.

"So, then...who are all these people?" asks Kira. "And what are their elements?"

"I don't know. I've never seen any of them."

"Sounds like a great opportunity to make some friends!" Jay practically squeals, looking as excited as a kid in a candy store.

"Be careful," warns Garmadon. "Everyone here will be gunning for you. You are ninja. You serve with honor. Here, that means very little."

"Even better to get on their good side then, right? Come on, if we're gonna compete against these people, we should at least get to know them!"

Before anyone can stop him, Jay bounds over to the closest person—an Elemental with pinkish hair and soft, violet eyes. "Hi!" He chirps. "I'm Jay. And wow, I really like your eyes. They're so cool!"

"Oh!" The stranger blinks, looking startled, then smiles shyly. "H-hi there. And thank you..."

"Welp," Cole shrugs, looking at Jay as the blue ninja keeps talking, "guess Zaptrap's got a point. Come on, let's go socialize."

He and Kai split off while Garmadon remains alone, still looking wary. Lloyd looks to his girlfriend. Her gaze is distant, eyes fixed on the moon above. He catches the hint and nudges her, gesturing upward, and she nods. They're halfway to the ferry stairs when Lloyd bumps into an older figure.

"Oh! Sorry," he says.

The stranger whips around and glares at him with his one good eye, the other of which is covered by an eye patch. "Watch where you're going, Green Ninja," he snaps before turning and stalking away.

Lloyd blinks. He and Kira exchange glances before continuing to the stairs. They make their way to the topmost deck of the boat, leaning against the railing as they stare out into the distance. The moon shines full and bright above them, reflected on the surface of the rippling water.

"Feels like forever since we've watched the moon together," Lloyd says with a tiny grin.

"I know. I've missed it." Kira musters a smile. It's not enough to hide the sadness behind her eyes.

Lloyd frowns. He scoots closer, brushing her shoulder with his. "Hey...are you okay?"

"Maybe? I'm just...processing, I suppose." She exhales, her chestnut eyes shifting back to the sky. "Everything's happening so fast. I mean, we find out Zane's alive, and there are more people like us, Elemental Masters. That means my father must've been one, too. When he was around, I mean." Her lip quivers slightly.  "Just when I thought I couldn't miss him any more after he went missing, this happens."

"I get it. It's a lot to take in. But you don't have to do it alone."

"Thank you." Kira looks him in the eye. "You know, it's strange being back with you after all those months. I...I'm sorry I didn't reach out as much while we were apart."

"It's okay. You just needed time after what happened, like the rest of us did." Lloyd shifts closer, his breath tickling her forehead. "Don't worry. You and I will have plenty of time to catch up at this Tournament."

Kira grins. "I look forward to it."

They both focus on the moon, enjoying how good it feels to be in each others' presence again. Meanwhile, the ferry chugs on through the night, carrying its passengers across the Endless Sea. It's not until the sun rises that the boat finally begins to slow.

"We're here," Clouse calls as everyone regroups on the main deck. "Welcome to Chen's Island." Sure enough, in the distance, the silhouette of a mountainous island has just begun to appear.

Garmadon's expression is grim, his jaw set tight. "I swore never to return here."

"You know, you should never swear," Jay says matter-of-factly. "It's a sign of weak verbal skills."

Garmadon rolls his eyes.

Kira looks nervously to her boyfriend. "You really think Zane's here?"

"If what our invitation said is true, then he has to be. And we're gonna find him."

She grips his hand a little tighter. "I hope you're right."

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First chapter down! I promise the whole book won't just be dialogue regurgitated from the show; I'll only do that for important bits.

Also, kt12345678kk2021 is looking for a love interest for their OC Katlain. If anyone's interested, just leave a comment :)