Kai and his parents reforged the Golden Weapons as fast as humanly possible, working away like men possessed. They were careful to wear thick gloves and not come in direct contact with the metal. Despite their haste, it was still a slow going process as they tried to create the detailed weapons while not vaporizing themselves. It was very reminiscent of the time Ray and Maya had to rapidly forge the Chronosteel Blades. 

    Just as they were halfway through finishing their second Golden Weapon, the Shurikens of Ice, Lloyd and the others flew in. Zane practically collapsed in the middle of the monastery courtyard. His strength was drained from maintaining his Elemental Dragon for so long and bearing so much weight.

    The Green Ninja ominously informed his team, "They are coming."

    He glanced back at the others who had flown in with him. They had lost some of the Hunters in the skyfight as their Dragons acted up, following Firstbourne's orders. Jet Jack, Muzzle, and Chew Toy were all that remained. Ultra Violet and Killow's mount was the only Dragon that returned with them, thanks to the two's surprisingly ingenious thinking.

    From the returning team's solemn expressions and missing people, it was clear things had not gone perfectly. Garmado gently guided the shell-shocked mother and son inside. They had both been transported to safety by Muzzle.

    The Ninja gasped sharply as they looked at the frozen figures of Cole and Harumi. Ultra Violet explained what had happened and who they had saved. There were hushed discussions of who would wield the Scythe of Quakes and who could complete their Tornado of Creation. There were no solutions.

    Lloyd quietly stole away to a darkened corner in the forge, harshly wiping away the frustrated tears that had sprung up in his eyes with his sleeve. He didn't want to watch more people suffer and die. He didn't want to quit on them, but how were they supposed to overcome such an overwhelming enemy?

    Noticing the saddened, hunched form of the Green Ninja, Ray and Maya nodded over to their son who quit hammering away at the hunk of shining metal and immediately rushed to his brother's side. "How're you holding up, buddy?"

    "Barely," replied Lloyd tiredly. He swallowed back tears before daring to voice his fears. "I don't know how we're gonna win this. Cole–"

    "Wouldn't want us to give up," finished Kai, though it clearly pained him to think of their fallen brother. "We've come so far and endured so much. He'd want us to finish the fight."

    Lloyd couldn't help but grumble, "Why'd he have to go and sacrifice himself for just two people?!"

    Zane unexpectedly showed up beside them. His eyes were dimmed from exhaustion as he sagely replied, "For the same reason you still fight against the Oni despite the dwindling odds and population: to protect those who cannot protect themselves. We all fight for more than just our own survival. We fight for the survival of others as well. The path of a hero is never easy, but it is the path we have chosen to traverse." 

    To their surprise, he reached out a trembling hand to firmly grasp the Shurikens of Ice. He kept his breathing even, focusing on the comforting feel of the power of his Element thrumming through the glowing metal and not the fear of it overloading his circuits.

    "I wish I could sense the outcome of this final battle. I must admit, the odds are not in our favor; but if there is one thing I have learned after fighting alongside you after all these years, it is that numbers do not win a battle." 

    Jay and Nya joined them, somehow sensing where their team had gone and overhearing what they had been talking about. The Blue Ninja had a bittersweet expression on his face as he declared, trying to keep his tone light but ultimately failing, "And if we win, we're definitely going to find a way to revive that dirtclod and everyone else in Ninjago. And if we lose... we'll see him on the other side."

    "We're not going to lose," declared Nya resolutely. She looked over at Lloyd, knowing he wouldn't like her suggestion. "Lloyd can wield the Scythe of Quakes." She kept talking when she saw the Green Ninja open his mouth to argue. "You're not replacing Cole, just... standing in for him since he can't."

    "But what about the Element of Earth?! We need it to form the Tornado of Creation. I don't have any power." He pointed to the brace on his leg. "I can barely walk. You wield the Scythe of Quakes, Nya. At least you can put it to good use."

    "Me?" questioned Nya, pointing to herself. "I don't know how to use a scythe."

    "Neither do I," said Lloyd, throwing his arms emphatically.

    Silence fell between the Ninja as they wracked their brains for a solution.

    Wu poked his head in, looking nervous. "Guys, you should come see this."

    It was if the breath had been knocked out of everyone the moment they stepped outside to see the colossal dark mass steadily growing nearer. The people sheltering themselves inside the monastery cowered in fear.

    Lloyd drew in a deep breath. "Well, this is it."

    Garmadon placed a steadying hand on his son's shoulder. "Every man, woman, and child here is armed. We'll find a way to make it."

    A loud cry from Ultra Dragon brought their attention up to the skies where he was circling with hundreds of others above the monastery. He reminded Lloyd that their strength was on their side. The Dragons' agitation and hatred for their mortal enemies of destruction grew as the Oni marched closer.

    The Green Ninja's mind immediately snapped to defensive battle mode. "We need to finished preparing for battle." 

    He called Killow and Ultra Violet over and instructed them to gather as many people as possible and equip as many Dragons as they could with blinders and earplugs to help them resist their Queen's call. The two generals quickly scurried off to follow orders. They had been rather quiet and compliant after realizing just how far they were in over their heads.

    "Zane, how long do we have before they arrived?" asked Lloyd.

    "At their rate of travel, we have approximately 1.5 hours until they reach us," answered the Ice Ninja.

    "Then we have some time to prepare." Lloyd grabbed Wu and pulled him to the side. He stared intensely at the young master. "You might not remember or know but you inherited your father's  power of Creation." He went on a mini explanation of what a True Potential was as Wu's eyes got wider and wider. Lloyd's idea was a shot in the dark but it was the only shot he had. He finished up with "... so that's how you can maybe bring Cole back."

    Wu backed away nervously. "Um, I don't think I can. I don't even remember myself." He looked at his hands. 

    "Please, Master. Try," begged Lloyd

    "I have," whined Wu, "but I'm no Master. I'm just a powerless teen trying to pretend I'm a wise leader."

    His words cut deep. Lloyd definitely related. That's all he had been feeling this entire time. "Please. Just try it once."

    Thus, they both stepped reverently over to the statue figures of Cole and Harumi.

    Wu took a deep breath and closed his eyes, assuming something reminiscent of a solid fighting stance. He tensed. Was he supposed to clear his mind or open it? He held his hands out in front of him and concentrated hard. Nothing happened, no rush of power.

    Garmadon stepped questioningly over to his relatives. At seeing his brother's face grow redder and redder from deep effort, he decided to interfere lest the young teen pop a blood vessel from trying too hard. "Aaaand, that's enough." He tapped his de-aged brother's head. "If you needed constipation medication, you should've just asked."

    "Daaad," groaned Lloyd, "we were trying to see if he could summon his True Potential."

    "Not to be cynical, but I don't think that's gonna happen." The old sensei stared out at their impending doom. "Not before they arrive. A True Potential takes time to cultivate. To unlock it, you must overcome personal obstacles holding you back. I suspect that Wu's memory loss and tender age are what's holding him back."

    At seeing his supposed nephew's crestfallen expression, Wu spoke with a childlike faith Lloyd wished he still possessed. "It's okay. I know we'll find a way to win, even without fancy powers."

    The blonde peered at him curiously. "You've had a vision?"

    "No, but I have Faith."

    "Faith will only get us so far," sighed Lloyd wearily.

    "She'll get us farther than you think," smiled Wu encouragingly. Garmadon nodded in agreement.

    Though Lloyd wanted to find his de-aged uncle's effervescent attitude annoying, he couldn't help but smile slightly and find it endearing. It was good to have an undimmed light among them. He tugged the young teen along, "C'mon then. Maybe fighting will unlock your True Potential or some useful memories."

    Wu gulped nervously, looking to his very old brother who unhelpfully grinned from the side, giving him a thumbs up as Lloyd began searching for armor to fit his lean frame. 

    Garmadon chuckled. It was a tired, fond chuckle. He had an inkling on how to take down, or in the very least cripple, the Oni hierarchy but he didn't dare share his idea with anyone just yet. It was only a theory he would test if worse came to worse. He carefully eyed the motionless statue of the girl, trying to ignore the painful prickles that came with every beat of his heart.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Faith inhaled sharply, biting back groans of pain at any minute movement she tried to make. It was a mistake trying to fight back, but would she have chosen any other path? Probably not. She went with what life threw her way and dealt with it. Life had thrown her a handful of bumbling, hope-filled heroes and she fell along for the ride.

    Now she lay crippled in a blackened, haunting mass of structures in an unfamiliar Realm. Now what? Should she give up and die. To be honest, that option sounded rather tempting. She'd done her part and tried. Though she hadn't lived a particularly fulfilling life, the end adventure was wilder than she could've ever dreamed of.

    It was unnerving how silent everything had fallen. Every Oni had cleared the area in a hurry. A frustrated shout of a man was the only sound that resounded in the emptiness. It was Iron Baron's seething tone as he menacingly limped to the top of the building where Faith lay. His eyes blazed with hatred when he caught sight of her. 

    "You! You're the one who did this!" He motioned to the burns littering his body. The Oni, in their haste to annihilate their enemies, had abandoned his injured self and the blinded Dragon, knowing that they wouldn't be of use to them in battle.

     "And you deserve far worse!" spat Faith. Years of pent up rage boiled over. No longer did she fear him. What more could he do besides give her the sweet release of death at this point? "You brought this on yourself conspiring with the Oni."

    He raised the Dragonbone Blade, fully intending to finish her when he paused and looked up, the wrath-filled courage draining from his features. 

    Faith felt her blood freeze as she caught a warm breeze blow across her back. She slowly turned her head to see the towering head of Firstbourne glaring down at them with milky white eyes. Neither Hunter knew how such a giant, blinded creature had managed to slink so stealthily up to them.

    Iron Baron now raised his blade as a miserable defense against the Dragon Queen. "S–s–stay back! S-stay! I have your Armor."

    Faith afforded a small smirk as it seemed Firstbourne tired of the man's jabbering despite his threats to destroy the Dragon Armor. "Destroy it and see what the Oni will do with you next." Iron Baron fell silent, knowing he would not live long after his use had run out. Bitterness hung heavy in the Dragon's tone. "You have slaughtered my children, ruined my Realm, and taken my sight. What more must you take?"

    The former Hunter tyrant gave an quiet, hate-filled answer, snapping the final thread of Firstbourne's self-restraint. Knowing that he had no defense, the Mother of all Dragons snarled and though she could've ordered one of her few children hovering around her to dispatch this wretched mortal, she wanted to do it herself. She craned her neck out to where she sensed his presence and opened her jaws, snapping them shut. To her frustration, she missed, hearing her prey trip and scramble backwards fearfully.

    Seeing that the coward was attempting to flee his judgment, Faith summoned what little strength she had and clumsily lunged for him, just managing to grab his ankle and trip him up. He kicked at her but she kept her grip, clawing her way up his waist and holding him in place. He was panicking as the Mother of all Dragons leaned closer to them. 

    "Get off! Are you mad?! She'll kill us both!"

    "No," growled Faith lowly, "just you."

    At the last moment possible, Faith rolled away as Firstbourne's teeth flashed downward. Iron Baron's terrified shouts were ended with a satisfying crack. To the Firstbourne's relief, she did not feel more pain shooting through her limbs, meaning she managed to not damage her sacred Armor.

    Faith's heart was racing as she stared over at the mangled, decapitated figure. Her heart felt lighter as it slowly processed that the treacherous tyrant was finally gone and no longer able to bring more terror to anyone. She spat out, "And may you rot in the Cursed Realm."

    Though her voice was low, it carried in the quiet streets and bounced off the buildings. Firstbourne snapped her head in her direction and the Dragons hovering around her growled protectively. Faith's heart dropped as the giant Dragon turned her attention towards her, emboldened by the riddance of the corrupted wielder of her Armor and the absence of the horde of Oni.

    The hybrid hardly dared to breath as the Mother of all Dragons sniffed her out, her snout curling in disgust. "As for you. Recompense is still in order."

    Faith didn't reply.

    "Tell me why I shouldn't smite you right where you stand," growled the Queen.

    Indignation flared up in the Hunter-Oni. Did the Dragon Mother expect her to beg for her life? She would do no such thing. If she were to face death, she would face it with her pride intact. Acceptance that she already had two feet in the grave loosened her tongue. She grumbled. "Has the Dragon Queen grown so weak that she can only kill cripples now? Go ahead. The fight is probably over already. I can't offer anything more. This Realm is as doomed as ours."

    Firstbourne seemed ready to fulfill her wishes as her neck charged with a warm light, signaling she was preparing to spew fire when the second strangest occurrence happened in Faith's life. An apparition flashed into existence between the Dragon Hunter and the Dragon Queen, holding up her hand and shouting in a loud, commanding voice, "Stop!"

    Firstbourne did, giving pause and sniffing the air, bewildered as to where this new being had come from. She did not sense any other being besides that detestable Hunter-Oni. 

    Now Faith really knew it was her time seeing as how she was now looking into the realm of the dead. "Have you come to take me to the Cursed Realm?"

    Her question was met with a short strike to the head and a harsh "No!" from the spirit. Faith rubbed her head, startled that she felt that. Yep, this old, mutilated, cane-wielding phantom was definitely here to drag her to the Cursed Realm.

    The specter spoke sharply as if she were berating two younglings. "I am here to keep you two idiots from killing each other pointlessly."

    "Idiots?" questioned Firstbourne, tilting her head to the side. The dangerous glow began showing along her neck again.

    "None of that," chided the spirit. "I told myself I wouldn't interfere anymore, but I can't have you two slaughtering each other when the battle to end all battles is about to be waged. Help the Ninja. Save this Realm. I know you can't see it now, but there is much beauty here that must not be destroyed. It is a flawed place like all others, but believe me, there is a wonder here that the inhabitants and I believe is worth fighting for. Now then, there is a fight to be had against the Oni so you Queens must be off at once. I know in both your hearts you desire payback."

    "Queens?" burst out the living entities, both disbelievingly referring to Faith.

     "Yes. Queens," snapped the apparition, growing impatient. Who else was leading the few remaining Hunters right now? Certainly not the freshly deceased Iron Baron. "But time is short, no time to discuss hierarchies or old grudges. I have other business to attend to in the departed Realm." She pointed at Faith then Firstbourne. "You, eyes. Firstbourne, wings. Go and grant your strength in battle."

    "I will fly myself. My children can show me the way. I am not letting an impure wretch on my back," declared Firstbourne haughtily.

    "Has your old age made you hard-headed? You forget the First Spinjitzu Master wasn't even of pure blood himself," sighed the ghost frustratedly. "Yes, I am aware of the bloody encounters you've had with each other. I'm not asking you to forgive just cooperate. Save this Realm from becoming a desolate wasteland that runs with rivers of blood like the First Realm."

    "She cannot offer me anything I need," refused the Mother of all Dragons.

    Looking at the massive winged reptile, Faith had to concur with her sentiment. What did a measly, immobilized mortal like her have to offer the Dragon Queen who hated her guts?

    Seeing that she was getting nowhere with the obstinate Dragon, the phantom turned her efforts elsewhere. She raided the corpse of the Baron, stripping it of its Armor and depositing it in front of a thoroughly baffled Faith.

    Sensing her Armor was being messed with Firstbourne shot to high alert, barking out in alarm, "What are you doing?"

    "Letting someone who is good of heart put it on," replied the apparition, uncaring of drawing the Dragon's ire.

    "Good of heart?" echoed Firstbourne in outrage. "This creature has slaughtered more children of mine than any Hunter before. She has no right to bear my Armor."

    "And the tyrannical creature who forced her to do such horrid acts now lays dead by your very jaws," pointed out the spirit. She took matters into her own translucent hands, knowing neither stubborn creature would make a move and began buckling the blood-drenched Dragon Armor to the Hunter who was cringing internally. "I did not say she is pure of heart—people like that are exceptionally rare—nor did I say she is worthy. All I said is that this one is good in her heart whether she realizes or not."

    Faith looked doubtfully up at the old phantom. She was speaking nonsense.

    The ghost winked at the Hunter-Oni as she placed the Dragonbone Blade in her hands, continuing to speak to both of them. "Endure each other's presence and take a leap of Faith. Have Faith that the Mother of all Dragons will not incinerate you or throw you from her back. And you, Firstbourne, have Faith that this Hunter will not stab you in the back but guide you truthfully and protect your back. You have a common enemy. Let your hate for them overcome your hate for each other. If you survive, there will be plenty of time settle old debts."

    She hauled Faith to her feet none too gently and the Hunter bit back a yelp of pain. There was a momentary weightless sensation as the phantom carried the Hunter upward and plopped her onto the Dragon Queen's broad head before either had a chance to argue further.

    "If you value the Ninjas' or the Son of the First Spinjitzu Master's lives at all, you will go now," said the spirit. She added, mumbling to herself cryptically, "And I wish to see the Dragon and Phoenix unite."

    To Faith's confusion and relief, Firstbourne did not toss her head and instead begrudgingly asked, "Where are they?" Apparently, the Dragon Queen's concern for the son of her friend was winning out over her disdain for the Hunter.

    "Get above this smoke and I can see," said Faith. 

    She barely had enough time get a firm grip on the Dragon's scales before Firstbourne spread her wings and took to the skies. The phantom vanished with a grin, but that was the least of Faith's worries as she held on for dear life.

    "To the left!" shouted the Hunter. 

    Firstbourne shot off in that direction. She had half a mind to toss her rider then and there but the realization that that would do her little good stopped her. 

    Faith swore her heart stopped as she stared around at the world rushing past. She was riding a Dragon, not some apparition summoned by the Elementals. And it wasn't just any Dragon. This was Firstbourne, the Mother of all Dragons. And without chains? How?! 

    Though she doubted the massive beast heard her over the howling wind, she murmured out a quiet thanks. It was thanks for not destroying her yet and for ridding the Realms of Iron Baron. It was almost comical how she had been seeking to kill the Dragon Queen for years to fulfill Iron Baron's thirst for power and her desire for vengeance; and here she was being grateful to the lizard for finally getting vengeance for her by slaughtering her cruel, deceptive master. He was the true murderer in the grand scheme of things though Faith could not deny her hand in the bloodshed as well.

    This shaky alliance wouldn't last long, but Faith had to admit, it was nicer to be on the same side as Firstbourne than fighting against her for once. For the time being, she was willing to place her life in the talons of the immortal beast. Like the son of the First Spinjitzu Master liked to endlessly chirp, she had to have Faith, right?

    "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." - James‬ ‭2:17‬ ‭NIV‬‬