The remaining fighters trudge through the tunnels in chains, herded by cultists to the underground temple like sheep to the slaughterhouse.

"I'm sorry." Razhai sniffs, her crimson eyes sorrowful. "We shouldn't have been so worried about ourselves. If we weren't, maybe we could've seen through Chen's lies."

"Hey, you had your reasons to compete," Kai responds with a sympathetic look. "You all have families or yourselves to take care of. I don't blame any of you for wanting to win."

"Well, now it looks like we're all gonna lose," Melody mutters.

Up ahead, the tunnel leads into the cave. The group is corralled down a flight of rock stairs and into the center, where Chen and Clouse wait for them. There's a hungry gleam in Chen's eye as his gaze drags over his prisoners, like he's starving and they're a three-course meal.

"I can smell insecurity." Rain growls low in her throat, baring her fangs at him. "You reek of it, old man."

"Yeah! And you may have us, but you still don't have the Green Ninja," Jay adds.

"Oh, I'm sure any moment now he's going to swoop in and teach me a very valuable lesson." Chen sits back and crosses his legs. "Well, I'll wait! I love lessons."

They stand there in tense silence. Melody coughs. Apollo clears their throat. Razhai shuffles her feet. Lemon mutters something like "any minute now" under her breath.

"Well, I'm bored," Chen blurts. "But here's a lesson: don't be a sore loser! Only one can remain!"

With that, he leaps from his throne and activates the Staff of Elements, unleashing its wrath upon his victims. They all scream as they're lifted off the ground, followed by a chorus of agonized cries as their powers are snatched from their bodies. It's over in a flash, and they drop back to the ground, panting and sweating.

"Take them to the factory," Chen orders. He watches as they're dragged off, too powerless to fight back, and smiles entirely too wide.

When the Green Ninja arrives, he'll be ready for him.

——————————

The noodle factory quickly becomes more crowded than ever. The guards force the remaining prisoners into the room before heading off to assist Chen. Rain growls after them, wanting nothing more to claw them to shreds as the doors slam in her face.

"Hey, guys," Taylor says. She smiles weakly, flashing half-hearted jazz hands. "Welcome to the party."

Kira tackles Kai and Jay in a tight hug, tears glistening in her eyes. "Oh my gosh, you're both okay!"

"Yeah, but we're powerless," grumbles Kai.

"You're both alive, and that's what's most important."

"So...that's it, then?" Rose asks as she looks around. "Chen got all of us?" Ray nods, looking utterly crushed.

"Not all of us." Kai gives Dareth a sharp look. "Where's my sister?"

"I wish I knew." The older man shakes his head. "We both got caught 'cause of me, but she got away. I'm sorry I couldn't have been more help."

"Oh, FSM." Kai clenches his fists. "If anything happens to her out there..." Nearby, Taylor and Rose wince, entirely too familiar with the pain of losing a sibling.

"So Lloyd and Sensei G are lost, too?" Kira frets, fingers starting to tremble. "Oh gosh..."

"Don't worry." Rose shuffles toward her and rests a hand on her shoulder. "I have faith in both of them. I'm sure they'll come back for us."

Kira blinks at her, wondering how someone could stay so kind despite the circumstances. "Th-thank you..."

"I know we're worried about our friends, but I think we'll be able to find them soon," Ivan pipes up. "The guards think we're fixing a noodle machine, but we're actually building a Roto Jet so we can bust out of here." They gesture to a tarp in the corner of the room, under which the work in progress is hidden.

"An underground jet?" Razhai asks with furrowed brows.

"Yeah, just don't think about it too hard."

There's movement as Zane and Cole appear from underneath the tarp, having been working out some kinks (and keeping themselves hidden). Kai and Jay gasp, breaking out into smiles, and rush toward them.

"Cole! Zane!" Jay looks ready to cry as he bounces on his feet. "You're okay!"

"And Zane, you look incredible!" Kai adds, beaming from ear to ear.

"It's wonderful to see you both again. I've missed you more than you know, and so has Pixal." The nindroid smiles as he hugs his brothers. "I promise, we will catch up in time. Right now, Cole and I need everyone's help with the jet. It's almost finished."

Everyone hustles over and gets to work. For the first real time since the Tournament started, they all work together, doing their best to complete a functioning vehicle in such a short amount of time. 

"Hey, I actually don't hate this teamwork thing," Apollo says as they tighten a bolt.

"See?" Melody giggles and nudges them. "It's not so bad."

"You two are sickening," Lemon teases with a smile, causing them both to blush.

The group has been working for a while when the factory doors swing open, and a handful of cultists march inside. Everyone startles, scrambling to cover the jet with the tarp again, while Cole and Zane melt into the shadows.

"We're almost done with the machine," Katlain says smoothly as one of the guards approaches.

"Make it now," he retorts. "Master Chen wants noodles for the big ceremony."

"What ceremony?"

"Chen defeated the Green Ninja. Now no one in Ninjago can stop us!" He cackles. "Guess all your jobs just became permanent."

Kira and Samuel cry out simultaneously. Samuel starts to hyperventilate as they sink to their knees, panicked tears streaking down their face. Noodle wraps gently around their shoulders, nuzzling against their neck.

"That's it. It's over," they whisper, a sob racking their body as they start to shake. "We're doomed..."

Taylor rushes over and starts to rub comforting circles on their back. "Hey," she murmurs. "Everything's alright, I promise. Just breathe, okay?" Samuel nods shakily and attempts to steady their breathing, the redhead coaching them gently.

The guard huffs and tries to push past Katlain. She scowls and shoves back, unimpressed with his treatment of Samuel. "Back off, buddy," she growls. "I told you it's not ready—"

He shoves her aside and yanks the tarp off, eyes bulging the moment it falls. "That's NOT a noodle machine!"

"I warned you." Katlain shrugs. Her head snaps up. "Cole! Zane! NOW!"

Cole and Zane leap down from the rafters, the former landing in the cockpit of the jet. There's a loud whirring as he turns it on, followed by a series of BOOMS and CRASHES as he starts to fire torpedos around the factory. The cultists scream and flee while Cole aims for the wall, blasting a hole in it.

"Come on!" he shouts as his allies cheer. "Let's get outta this dump!"

The Masters rush over, latching onto the sides of the jet and starting to push. Samuel stumbles a bit, still reeling from their sudden panic, but Taylor sticks by them and helps them keep up. With everyone's combined strength, they manage to move the enormous thing into the tunnels.

"Dang," Razhai puffs as she hauls the machine along. "I thought I was in good shape, but this is hard!"

"That's okay," Lemon smiles at her. "We've got this."

"Heck yeah we do!" Jay whoops. Beside him, Ray pumps their fist eagerly, and Rose laughs.

Kira's eyes narrow as she pushes with the others. "Hold on, Lloyd," she murmurs. "We're coming."

——————————

The Green Ninja is led down the stairs in chains.

His body feels like it's been used as a punching bag thanks to Chen, and his feet drag along like bricks with each step he takes. He doesn't know what's become of his father or Nya—the last he saw of them, they were both holding off Chen's forces, fighting for their lives to buy him more time. As for the rest of his friends, well...

The boy draws a shaky breath, blinking back tears. He came to this island to make his team whole once more. Instead, Zane is still gone. All his friends have been stripped of their powers and locked away, never to see the light of day again. And in a few moments, he'll be doomed to share their fate. His mind wanders to the people in his life: his father, his friends, his lover, and his fellow Elemental Masters, all of whom were innocent in this twisted game. He was their last hope, but that's shot now.

He's failed them all.

Lloyd grunts, pain lacing through his body, as he's forced to his knees in the heart of the cave. More rusty chains are attached to his wrists, scratching at his already-sensitive skin. Powerless, chained up, and kneeling at the feet of his enemy—Lloyd hasn't felt this humiliated in a while. Is it for better or worse that this will be his last time feeling such a way? He doesn't know anymore.

"Aww, poor little green bean," Chen coos. "All alone with no one to help him. And to think, all your friends truly believed in you." He grabs the boy's chin and wrenches his head up, earning a pained whimper. "Such misplaced faith."

His tongue drags across his lips as he stands, as if he can already taste the power. "And now, for the final element."

Lloyd shrinks, a cold feeling of dread creeping over him. The old master gives him a wicked grin as the words roll off his tongue.

"Only one can remain!"

The Staff of Elements begins to glow, and Lloyd shrieks as he's struck by its energy. It hurts, far worse than when the Digital Overlord drained his golden power. At least then, it felt like he was slowly slipping away. This feels like his very soul is being ripped from his body. He convulses, gives a final scream, and crumples to the ground as the torture ends. 

Chen tosses his head back and cackles. "Behold! Every Elemental Power, all in my control! All of you who bear the mark of the Anacondrai, it is time. We will shed our skins for new ones, and be the most powerful force in all of Ninjago!"

Lloyd feels sick to his stomach as the cave fills with cheers. The faces of everyone he's ever cared for flash in his mind, a single tear streaking down his face.

I'm sorry...

BOOM!

An explosion goes off, making the entire cave shudder. Clouse staggers while Chen falls flat on his rear. The Staff slips from his hands and rolls away across the ground. Lloyd looks up as the dust settles.  

Am I seeing things, he wonders, or is that...a jet? Underground?

He quickly realizes he isn't seeing things. There is, in fact, a jet flying around in the cave. Nya, Dareth, Garmadon, and the rest of the Elemental Masters come charging in after it, metaphorical guns blazing.

"Anyone order some kung pao?" Cole calls from the cockpit.

With that, the cave becomes a battle arena.

Cultists and Elemental Masters clash. Cultists go flying—even without powers, the Masters are a force to be reckoned with. Rose grunts as she lands a punch to an opponent's gut, sending him reeling, before whirling around and taking three more out with a roundhouse kick to their heads. Nearby, Apollo absolutely pummels anyone unfortunate enough to get near him, and close to him Katlain doesn't hold back either.

Kai finds himself in the middle of the chaos. His heart hammers against his chest, eyes darting around the cave. His breath hitches when he spots it: the Staff of Elements, laying abandoned on the ground. His gaze snaps up and he locks eyes with Chen. They glare at each other from opposite ends of the room.

Then, at the same moment, they rush.

Kai is quicker. He lunges forward, fingers closing around the Staff, and rolls onto his feet. The red ninja sets his jaw and raises the cursed item above his head.

"NO!" Chen shrieks.

Kai slams the staff into the ground, instantly shattering the crystal inside.

A rainbow of color explodes from the broken shards. Colorful tendrils of light snake through the room—elemental essence—and return to their respective Masters, fusing back with their souls. Shocked murmurs fill the room as, like magic, their factory jumpsuits all disappear, replaced with their normal gis and clothing.

The Elemental Masters are elemental once more.

"Our powers!" Lemon squeals, bouncing up and down. "THEY'RE BACK!"

"Ugh, now that's more like it!" Melody says with a pleased smile. "That jumpsuit was so ugly. I'm glad I look cute again."

"You jerks are in trouble now!" whoops Taylor. She barrels into the fray, sending blasts of dark matter in every direction. 

Ivan shimmers in and out of view, catching the enemy with surprise attacks, while Razhai takes glee in freezing them in time. Rain howls and swoops down from the air, and the cultists scream and flee, desperate to escape her terrifying eyes and fangs. Meanwhile, Samuel hovers above the battle, their panic turned to rage. They fire blasts of wind at their rivals, grinning as they're blown over like bowling pins. 

Lloyd gasps with relief as his power returns to him, newfound strength surging through his body. He uses his energy to break his chains, then leaps into the fight with the others. As he fires beams of energy, mowing down cultists left and right, a familiar face makes his heart melt.

"ZANE!" He bounds over, blinking back happy tears. "Oh man, it's so good to see you again!"

"And it's good to be back." Zane responds. "Thank you for journeying so far to rescue me."

"Hey, you would've done the same for us. Now come on, let's go kick some butt!"

The two nod and split off. Lloyd runs through the cave, yelping as a cultist suddenly tackles him. He braces himself as his opponent raises his fist, but before he can hit him, Ray appears from the shadows in a blur of blue and white. They knock the enemy away, then focus on Lloyd, grinning and flashing him a thumbs up.

"Thanks, buddy," the blonde says as they help him to his feet. "Wanna help me take the rest of these guys out?" Ray nods eagerly, and the two charge back into the fight side-by-side, working together to take down their opponents. At some point, Lloyd catches sight of Kai, Cole, Jay, and Zane and rushes to join them, waving to Ray as he goes.

"NINJA-GO!" they shout together. Five colorful tornadoes rage through the cave, taking out every enemy in their path. Combined with the effort of the other Elementals, Chen's army is dwindling fast.

Kira lingers at the edge of the cave, grunting as she fights off two cultists. With a blast of crystal, she freezes them both, then spins around and kicks another straggler away before he can touch her. 

"Lloyd!" she calls, scouring the room for him. "Llo-"

She cuts off with a muffled scream as a hand clamps over her mouth. The girl squirms and thrashes, but her assailant doesn't let up. A blunt object strikes her over the head, and she can't even gasp before she goes spiraling into darkness.

Before long, the cave has completely cleared. Chen's warriors have either fled or been left utterly beaten, laying on the ground in tired, groaning heaps. The Elemental Masters all catch their breath, taking in what's just happened.

"Well, everyone," Kai says, dusting his hands with a smirk, "I think it's obvious who won this fight."

——————————

By the light of the rising sun, everyone gathers outside the palace, dragging the defeated (and now tied-up) cultists with them. 

"No sign of Chen or Clouse," Garmadon reports. "And no sign of Kira, either."

"Where could she have gone?" Lloyd grits his teeth. "It's not like her to just disappear."

"I don't know, but we'll find her." Nya places a hand on her little brother's shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "I promise." Lloyd musters a weak smile and nods.

"You know, it's funny," Kai says from his sister's other side. "We came here to find an old friend, but..." His gaze shifts to other Elemental Masters. "...I never thought we'd make new ones."

"They sure are something, aren't they?" Jay smiles. "You know, I'm glad we met them. Even if we fought most of the time, it was pretty cool meeting other people like us."

"Hey, robot dude!" Taylor calls. The Ninja look up to see her sauntering over, everyone else following. "Do the thing!"

"I am happy to oblige," Zane responds.

He opens his chest compartment, earning a few gasps or gags from the others, and flips a switch—his funny switch, to be exact. He then proceeds to launch into his signature old-timey song, performing all sorts of ridiculous dance moves to go with it.

"Hello, my baby, hello my honey, hello, my ragtime gal~" he sings in that corny voice that his friends have all missed so dearly.

No one can hold back their laughter. Even Lloyd finds himself cracking a smile as it hits him just how much he's missed his titanium friend. For just a little while, everyone's troubles melt away as they share a laugh together, listening to Zane's singing as it carries through the morning air.

"Send me a kiss by wire..."