The afternoon sun filtered through the windows of Dareth's dusty old dojo, casting golden shafts of light onto the scuffed wooden floor. It was quiet, save for the occasional thud of fists on a training dummy and the low hum of focused breath. In the center of the room, surrounded by scraps of paper and old gym mats, Lloyd stood with a light bulb in his palm—his eyes narrowed in concentration.
His fingers trembled slightly, flickers of green lightning dancing along his knuckles. The bulb glowed faintly, teasing success, before—
Crack!
It shattered in his hand with a small pop, bits of glass raining onto the floor.
"Aargh! Stupid light bulb!" Lloyd growled, his voice cracking in frustration. "You're all putting too much pressure on me. Just… let me have one more try!"
Jay, passing by with a towel slung over his shoulder, paused and turned toward the boy. "Focus, Lloyd," he said, not unkindly. "Control the power inside you. When you feel a surge welling up, don't fight it—harness it. Ride the current, don't get swept away."
Lloyd nodded, lips pressed into a line. "I understand. I am in control." He took a breath, tried to focus again… and immediately winced as the flickering sparks tickled his wrist with painful intensity.
Jay frowned.
"Sorry, Lloyd," Kai interrupted, glancing down at an empty box of light bulbs on the counter. "That was the last one. We're fresh out."
Cole, ever the realist, tossed Lloyd a broom. "Clean up, bud. We'll pick this up again tomorrow."
Lloyd sighed and caught the broom without comment. But instead of sweeping, he took a step toward a nearby punching bag and jabbed it with the handle—once, then twice, harder the second time. The bag rocked on its chain with a dull creak.
Jay watched him, frustration bubbling quietly in his chest. When the boy walked off toward the corner to clean up the mess, Jay turned toward Sensei Wu, who had been silently watching from the back of the room.
"What am I doing wrong, Sensei?" Jay asked, running a hand through his tousled hair. "I've shown him how to channel his power. I've tried exercises, breathing, even meditation—but he just can't seem to control it. He's got raw power, but… it's like the lightning just fights him."
Before Wu could speak, a shadow leaned against the doorframe, arms folded, a lazy grin on his face.
Jinx.
"That's 'cause it does fight him," Jinx said simply, nodding toward Lloyd. "Lightning's the most chaotic element of them all. It's not like earth or fire or water—it doesn't listen. It moves how it wants, where it wants. It's instinct. Wild. You don't teach it—you learn to dance with it."
Jay blinked. "Well… yeah, I guess. But he's—"
"He's not you," Jinx cut in, but his tone wasn't harsh. "You were practically born with a thunderstorm in your veins. You move like lightning because it's your rhythm. But Lloyd? He's still trying to figure out what beat he's supposed to dance to."
Wu finally stepped forward, folding his hands behind his back. "Jinx speaks wisely. You have a connection to lightning that Lloyd does not. It is only natural that he would struggle where you thrived." He looked at the boy still quietly sweeping in the corner, shoulders slightly hunched. "Do not forget, he is still young. Time, patience, and experience will mold him. You must not expect a tree to bear fruit the day it is planted."
Jay let out a long breath, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah… yeah, you're right."
Jinx, still leaning lazily against the door, watched Lloyd for another moment. "He's got the spark, though," he said, a quiet note of respect in his voice. "It's just buried under all that doubt."
"Then we shall help him uncover it," Wu said softly.
The dojo fell quiet again, the last of the glass being swept away.
Outside, storm clouds gathered far in the distance—faint rumbles echoing across the sky.
Inside, another storm waited to be born.
Thwack!
The wooden handle of the broom bounced off Lloyd's head with a hollow clunk. He winced, then scowled as he looked up at the innocent stick lying in his grip.
"You dare to defy the Green Ninja?!" he shouted, thrusting the broom into the air like a warrior's blade. It did not reply.
The dojo door swung open with a creak, and in stepped Nya—dressed in a glittering sequined dress that caught the sunlight and cast tiny reflections onto the floor.
"Hey, guys," she greeted with a warm smile.
"Hey, Nya!" the ninja chorused, some mid-stretch, others wiping sweat from their brows.
Jay nearly dropped his towel. "Hey, uh, Nya!" He grinned awkwardly, trying not to stare too long.
She walked in confidently, stopping beside him. "Wanna come by the autobody shop later?"
Jay blinked. "The autobody shop?"
"Yeah. Got a part-time job there." She flicked her hair over her shoulder, casually cool. "Figured I could fix up the Ultra Sonic Raider in my off time. Maybe if you come by… I can show you what I've been working on."
Jay's eyes widened slightly, his voice caught somewhere between panic and excitement. "Uh—sure! Heh. That sounds… great!"
His gaze then dropped to the envelope in Nya's hand. "What you got there?"
"Oh, this?" she said, almost forgetting. "A letter came for Lloyd." She handed it over to Sensei Wu, who took it with a curious hum.
"Hmm," Wu murmured, turning the envelope in his hands. "It's from Lloyd's old school."
Cole looked up from where he was fixing the alignment on a training dummy. "The Darkley School for Bad Boys?"
Wu nodded. "Formerly Bad Boys," he clarified with a small smile. "Since the last time we were there, they've rebranded as the Darkley School for Great Children."
Kai snorted. "Wait—they turned good?"
Jinx, who had been lounging lazily near the window, perked up with a theatrical sigh. "Awww, I liked their bad kids theme. Had a nice villainy flair to it."
Lloyd blinked and turned toward him. "Wait—you went to Darkley's?"
Jinx shrugged, one shoulder lifting like a cat stretching in the sun. "Yeah. For, like… a year? Wasn't a fan. Couldn't really practice my element much, and you know me—" He twirled a flicker of purple lightning in his palm. "If I can't burn something or zap something at least once a day, I'm gone."
Wu had opened the letter and was scanning it now. "It says here," he began, eyes narrowing, "that there's going to be a ceremony."
Cole's head shot up. "Ceremony? That means there's gonna be cake."
Wu continued, ignoring the interruption. "Lloyd's transformation inspired them. They've invited him to return… to receive an honorary degree in excellence."
Lloyd stood frozen for a moment, blinking in disbelief.
Then—snap! The broom in his hands cracked in half. He marched over and headbutted the nearest punching bag, which swung violently on its chain.
Kai raised an eyebrow. "Are we sure we're talking about the same Lloyd here?"
Jinx chuckled. "As much as it pains me to say this… Kai's got a point." He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching Lloyd pace. "The kid might've turned to the 'light,' as you all call it—but he's still got some… evil tendencies. Just... cleaner now. More heroic brooding."
Jay whispered under his breath to Cole, "Heroic brooding is totally a phase."
Cole nodded sagely. "Only if he gets a cool cape."
Jinx gave a mischievous smirk. "I could get him a cape. Black and green—ominous but inspiring."
Lloyd, unaware of the teasing, stared at the letter in Wu's hands. A ceremony. An award. From the very place that once raised villains… now asking him to represent change.
He wasn't sure how to feel about that.
But deep down, a small smile began to form.
The Black Bounty rocked gently as it sailed through the ocean, the horizon stretched out endlessly in front of it. Onboard, Garmadon stood at the helm, his cloak billowing in the wind, eyes narrowed with intense focus. Around him, his Serpentine army gathered in a loose, chaotic circle, eager for instructions. The air was thick with anticipation as Garmadon prepared to reveal his next scheme.
"Squeeze in tight," Garmadon commanded, his deep voice carrying over the deck. "Can everyone hear me?" He waited for the murmur of agreement before continuing. "Alright, let's brainstorm. How do we use my Mega Weapon to destroy the ninja? Remember, this weapon can create, never destroy. And I can only use it once a day, as it drains my strength. So no such thing as a bad idea. Anyone?"
The Serpentine exchanged glances, each unsure where to begin.
"Maybe... we could create more pirates?" Chokun offered hesitantly, his long, scaled tongue flicking nervously.
Garmadon didn't even flinch before snapping, "Over the side!"
Chokun yelped in surprise as Fangdam grabbed him by the arm and hurled him overboard with a force that made the sea swallow his cries. The Serpentine watched with wide eyes as the waves claimed their comrade.
"Anyone else?" Garmadon asked, his tone sharp. "Don't be shy. No bad ideas."
Lasha, always eager to please, spoke up next. "What if you recreated the Devourer?"
Garmadon's eyes narrowed. "Over the side!"
Lasha's scream echoed as she, too, was sent flying into the sea, her protests lost to the wind. The remaining Serpentine flinched, but none dared to protest.
"Instead of resurrecting old failures," Garmadon continued, his voice growing colder, "how about something new? The golden weapons didn't give the Devourer power. It was something else that made it uncontrollable. I need an idea that's truly different." His voice trembled with barely-contained frustration.
Chokun, still recovering from his recent toss, raised a trembling hand. "Can you… can you create a giant ham sandwich?"
Garmadon turned to him, his face contorted in a mixture of disbelief and exasperation. "A what?"
Chokun's mouth watered. "A giant ham sandwich! We could feed the ninja to it…?"
"A poisoned giant ham sandwich?" Garmadon asked, his patience wearing thin.
Chokun swallowed, shaking his head. "I would hope not. I'm so hungry." He was cut off by another swift toss overboard.
"Aah!" Chokun's voice vanished into the wind as he disappeared below the water's surface.
Garmadon snarled in frustration. "This is impossible! Those pesky ninja always come out on top. How can I defeat ninjas who so rudely refuse to be defeated?!" He glanced down at his Mega Weapon, a long, menacing device resting against the deck. His eyes narrowed as he saw his own reflection in its dark surface. "Wait… that's it."
"Hmm?" Mezmo, standing at the back, perked up. "The giant ham sandwich?"
Before Garmadon could respond, three Serpentine had pulled out plates and forks, clearly not paying attention to the seriousness of the situation. Mezmo only realized his mistake when he felt the heavy boot of Garmadon's anger pressing into his back.
"Off the ship, Mezmo!" Garmadon growled. With a sharp shove, he sent the confused Serpentine sailing into the sea, his cries becoming a distant murmur.
Garmadon exhaled, a wicked grin creeping onto his face. "Better. No more brainstorming." He straightened, his expression cold and commanding. "Gather me any ninja belongings left on their ship. Now!"
The Serpentine scrambled to obey, gathering scraps of clothing, gear, and anything that could be of use. Garmadon stood in the center, watching them with calculated eyes. After a moment, they returned with the items, placing them at his feet.
"Excellent," he murmured. "Ninja, today I wish for you to finally meet your match." He gestured to the weapon. "Mega Weapon, answer my call."
The weapon hummed to life, its surface rippling as it began to glow with a dark energy. Garmadon's eyes gleamed as the power surged.
The Serpentine gasped in awe as they watched the creation unfold before them. The air seemed to warp, crackling with tension.
With a final, dramatic surge of energy, Garmadon collapsed to his knees, exhausted from the strain. But his smirk didn't falter.
"I have made you…" he panted, his voice hoarse, "to be equal to the ninja... and loyal only to me."
The evil ninja stood before him, their presence foreboding, a dark mirror to the heroes they would face. Their eyes gleamed with unnatural obedience.
"Yes, Lord Garmadon," the evil ninja spoke in unison, their voices chillingly synchronized.
Garmadon's smile widened, and he slowly pushed himself to his feet. "Then I command you to find and destroy the ninja!"
But as his gaze fell upon the evil Jinx, a new command formed in his mind—one born of necessity. He turned to the figure, pointing with authority.
"You," Garmadon said, his voice laced with malice. "You will defeat your double—Lloyd's other ally—and bring me back my son! Is that understood?"
The evil Jinx bowed his head, his expression unreadable. "Yes, my lord."
Garmadon's lips curled into a sinister smile. "Good. Now go. The ninja won't know what hit them."
The Serpentine watched as their new creation moved with lethal purpose, the very air seeming to thrum with his power.
The sky was painted in hues of amber and gold as the dragons soared high above the clouds, wings cutting through the air like blades. The cool wind whipped past the ninja as they rode on the back of the mighty Ultra Dragon, scales glinting in the sun, its multiple heads roaring in rhythm.
"Whoo-hoo-hoo!" Jay whooped, leaning into the wind, electricity practically crackling in his hair from excitement. "Now that we can ride the dragon, we should get to Darkley's in no time! Talk about express travel!"
"If Lloyd can get us there in one piece," Kai muttered, gripping a spine on the dragon's back for balance.
"Just be gentle," Cole added, his voice laced with caution. "Any sudden moves can cause him to—"
"Any sudden what?" Lloyd interrupted with a grin, pulling sharply on the reins.
The dragon bucked in response, diving into a wild barrel roll.
"AAAAHHHH!" the ninja screamed, clinging to each other and the dragon for dear life as the world spun around them.
Several yards off, gliding beside them on his own sleek, black-scaled elemental dragon, Jinx was far more relaxed. Reclined lazily on Nyx's back, one leg slung over the saddle and a half-eaten chocolate bar in hand, he watched the chaos unfold with a casual smirk.
"Oh, come on, that was mild turbulence," he muttered to no one in particular, biting off another piece of chocolate.
As the wind tousled his wild hair, Jinx tilted his head and looked down at the she-dragon beneath him. Her wings shimmered like shadows in moonlight, graceful and precise, cutting through the air in smooth sweeps.
"Huh…" he said, suddenly thoughtful. "I just realized… I never named you."
The dragon tilted her head slightly, as if in agreement, eyes glancing back at him with a patient calmness.
Jinx looked at her for a long moment, then smiled. "How does Nyx sound? Has a nice ring to it—mysterious, kinda fierce."
As if responding to her new name, the dragon let out a thunderous yet proud roar, the sound echoing through the clouds like a declaration.
Jinx chuckled, satisfied. "Nyx it is, then."
With a subtle shift of his weight, he leaned forward slightly, guiding Nyx with ease. "Come on, girl. Let's follow the others before Lloyd accidentally turns this trip into a sky-diving lesson."
Nyx veered effortlessly after the Ultra Dragon, flying in smooth, predatory arcs. Below them, the other ninja were still recovering from Lloyd's impromptu dive, grumbling and groaning as they tried to regain their balance.
Jinx gave a sharp whistle and shouted ahead. "Looking good, Greenie! Ten points for the scream chorus!"
"Jinx!" Jay shouted, still clinging to his seat. "Now is not the time!"
"I disagree," Jinx called back, taking another bite of chocolate. "Now is exactly the time."
As the dragons soared toward the horizon, Darkley's School lay ahead—transformed and quiet… for now.
Cole clutched the saddle as the dragon spiraled downward, wind whipping through their hair.
Cole shouted, "The reins! Let go of the reins!"
Lloyd, caught up in the thrill, released them with a sheepish grin. The dragon jerked slightly but glided to a bumpy—yet safe—landing in the school courtyard.
Lloyd laughed nervously. "Hehe. At least I'm getting better."
Cole raised an eyebrow and patted his chest as if checking for broken ribs. "All the same, I'll take the reins on the way home. Just to be safe."
The school gates creaked open and a boy with a wide smile and a tucked-in shirt hurried out to greet them.
"Lloyd?" the boy called.
Lloyd blinked in recognition. "Uh... Brad?"
Brad Tudabone, once a nemesis from his past, jogged over and wrapped Lloyd in an enthusiastic—if slightly awkward—hug.
"You came!" Brad beamed. "So good to see you."
Lloyd tilted his head, suspicious. "It is? You put fire ants in my bed."
Brad scratched the back of his head, a guilty smile forming. "Please, forgive me. I wasn't myself back then. But I've learned the error of my ways. Honest!" He glanced at the group of ninja behind Lloyd. "And you must be the ninja!"
The boys exchanged curious glances as Brad eagerly began shaking their hands one by one. "Such an honor! Huge fan—seriously, huge! Haha."
Then, his eyes landed on someone behind the group—and instantly widened.
"Wait… no way…" he breathed.
Everyone turned to see Jinx, casually leaning against his elemental dragon Nyx, calmly munching on a chocolate bar.
With a dramatic gasp, Brad dropped to his knees and slid forward, hands outstretched in reverence.
"It's really you!" he cried. "The legendary Jinx! The one even teachers and principals are afraid of! Oh my gosh—this is an honor beyond words! Can I get your autograph?"
Brad pulled out a rolled-up poster from his backpack and a marker like he'd been carrying them just for this moment.
The ninja blinked in surprise as the poster unfurled. It was a high-quality print—Jinx standing with a band of Serpentine, instruments in hand, all mid-performance. Fog machines. Laser lights. A flaming logo behind them.
"…Wait," Kai said slowly, pointing at the poster. "Is that… you? With Serpentine? From the talent show?"
They all turned to Jinx.
Jinx gave a nonchalant shrug, still chewing. "Yeah. Cole's dad recruited us after that. Said we had 'big potential.' I wasn't really into it... until he mentioned I'd get money and privileges. The mayor of Ninjago City's a huge music fan."
As Jinx casually scrawled his name across Brad's poster, the other ninja just stared.
"…Of course he is," Cole muttered.
Jinx gave a mock salute, tossed his half-eaten chocolate bar to Nyx, and flashed a grin. "Gotta pay for my snacks somehow."
The doors of Darkley's School for Great Children creaked open, letting in a warm beam of light as the ninja stepped inside, their boots tapping across the polished floors.
Cole glanced around the eerily quiet hallway, furrowing his brow. "Uh… shouldn't you all be in class?"
Brad Tudabone, still brimming with enthusiasm, turned with a proud smile. "Actually, today's a new tradition here—Ninja Day. We all stay out of sight to honor the way of the ninja for showing us the light."
Cole looked around again. The silence didn't feel oppressive. If anything, it was… respectful.
"Huh," he said, crossing his arms thoughtfully. "This is a good school now. I'm impressed."
Just then, a tall, shadowed figure in a blazer stepped into view from a side hallway.
"Principal Noble?" Brad called out, his voice echoing lightly. "Lloyd and the ninja are here for the ceremony."
A muffled voice replied from down the hall. "I'll be with you in just a moment."
Cole elbowed Lloyd gently. "That, and the cake. You do know what kind it is, right?"
Before Lloyd could answer, Brad turned back around, adjusting his tie. "Oh, one more thing—uh, Sir Jinx?"
Jinx, who had been lagging slightly behind the group while unwrapping a new chocolate bar, raised an eyebrow.
Brad smiled. "The Principal had a feeling you might show up, so he had a shake room set up just in case."
Jinx's expression lit up with childish glee. His eyes sparkled like he'd just found buried treasure. "A room. Full of shakes?"
Brad nodded. "This way, sir."
Without a second thought, Jinx peeled away from the group and followed Brad down the corridor, grinning from ear to ear like a kid in a candy store.
Back in the hallway, Jay scratched his head. "Uh… has anyone actually seen a teacher yet?"
Zane scanned the walls with clinical precision, his voice low. "Indeed. Their absence is… statistically improbable."
At that moment, the voice from earlier returned. "I'll see you now. Come in, come in."
The ninja exchanged brief glances, then followed the voice into the principal's office. The door creaked shut behind them.
What they expected to be a warm reunion and a formal award ceremony turned to confusion as the figure at the desk stepped into the light.
Not Principal Noble.
Gene.
The former school bully stood there with a gleam in his eye and a wicked grin curling at the edge of his mouth.
"Welcome back, Lloyd," he said smoothly.
Lloyd took a cautious step forward. "Gene…? What are you doing here?"
Gene stretched his arms out theatrically. "And welcome, ninja… to the new Darkley's School—for Worse Boys!"
Before anyone could react, Gene tugged hard on a rope behind the desk.
Snap!
A series of sandbags came crashing down from the ceiling, striking the ninja before they had a chance to dodge. One by one, they collapsed in a heap, unconscious.
Jay was the first to crumple. Zane's circuits sparked. Kai's flame flickered out. Cole let out a startled grunt before blacking out.
Lloyd, dizzy from the sudden ambush, staggered backward.
"Gene," he hissed, vision fading. "I'm gonna get you for thi—"
And then darkness swallowed him whole.
In the velvet-walled sanctuary known only as the Milkshake Room, the air was thick with the scent of whipped cream and chocolate syrup. Dim lights cast a warm glow over a lounge-style setting complete with bean bags, soft jazz humming through hidden speakers, and a counter lined with gleaming blenders.
At the very center of it all, sprawled regally across a beanbag throne, sat Jinx—half-reclined, sipping with the utmost satisfaction on a tall Oreo milkshake. His hood was down, letting the gentle breeze of two small, wide-eyed Darkley students fanning him with oversized paper fans brush against his silver-streaked hair.
"Ahhh, now this is peak existence," Jinx murmured, licking a bit of whipped cream from his upper lip with the casual grace of a king.
The shake was gone a moment later. Not a drop remained. He gave it a slight shake upside down to confirm. Empty.
Then, just as he was about to declare this moment of peace eternal, one of his eyes suddenly snapped open, the pupil glowing faintly like a shard of stormy violet lightning. His smile faded a hair.
"Hmm… my ninja danger senses are going off," Jinx muttered, sitting up just slightly, the air around him cooling as his energy stirred.
The two children froze mid-fan, eyes wide in concern. One of them looked nervously at the other, then bolted toward the counter to grab another shake, slipping slightly on a rug in her haste. Moments later, she returned with a fresh Oreo masterpiece, complete with a maraschino cherry on top.
Jinx took it without hesitation, the glow in his eye dimming as quickly as it had appeared. He sank back into his beanbag with a satisfied sigh, slurping through the straw like the threat of doom hadn't just tickled his senses.
"Ehhhh," he said after a beat, lazily waving a hand in the air, "they're probably fine."
The two kids let out the breath they hadn't realized they were holding and resumed their fanning duties, relieved. Jinx closed his eyes again, content to sip his shake in blissful ignorance of the chaos about to unfold.
The world came back in a groggy haze. The ninja groaned as they stirred, blinking against the harsh overhead light of a wide, windowless room. The smell of chalk, old books, and stale cafeteria pizza hung in the air.
Kai sat up first, rubbing his head. "Ugh… What happened? Where's Lloyd?"
Around them, a dozen or more adults stood behind metal bars—teachers, their faces lined with exhaustion and frustration. A bespectacled man with a worn name tag that read Principal Noble rushed toward the bars.
"Thank goodness you're awake!" Noble said, gripping the bars like salvation had finally arrived.
Jay squinted. "Who are all you?"
A weary-looking woman with a loose bun stepped forward. "We're the teachers. All of us. We tried to reform the students, to show them a better path… but they turned on us. Locked us up like criminals. They're monsters!"
Jay's face dropped. "Wait, wait. What about the ceremony? Lloyd was supposed to be getting an honorary degree!"
Noble shook his head. "That was just a ruse. A trap to lure him back here… to convince him to become their leader again."
Cole blinked. "Wait, wait—hold on. So there's no honorary degree?"
Everyone shook their heads grimly.
Cole let out a long, pained sigh. "So… there's not gonna be cake?"
Meanwhile, deep within the school's old drama room—now converted into a shadowy chamber of villainy—Lloyd sat tied to a chair. Ropes dug into his wrists. Posters of himself as a child scowled down from the walls like judging ghosts from a past life.
Before him stood Brad, flanked by Gene and several other students wearing black letterman jackets with "DBB" embroidered in crimson. A projector flickered behind them with slides of Lloyd's past mischief.
Brad grinned. "Welcome to your ceremony, Lloyd. Or, should I say… your evil intervention."
Lloyd narrowed his eyes. "Where are my friends?"
Gene crossed his arms. "Probably better off without you. I mean, with friends like you, who needs enemies?"
Brad stepped forward, voice lower now, almost sincere. "You may have tried to forget… but we haven't. We were your real friends. The first ones. We just want to help you undo the damage you've done—to yourself, and to this school's legacy."
He leaned in, his breath hot. "Come on. Be honest. Doesn't a part of you miss being bad?"
Lloyd's eyes flicked down, unsure. A crack of doubt formed.
Back in Ninjago City, chaos reigned.
The evil ninja, forged by Garmadon's Mega Weapon, ran amok through the streets with gleeful anarchy. Civilians screamed, sirens wailed, and shopkeepers barricaded their doors.
A sweet old woman approached them, relief washing over her face. "Oh, thank goodness! Ninjas! Can you help me find my sweet Pebbles?" She pointed to a small, fluffy cat stuck high in a tree.
Bizarro Jay grinned. "Of course, ma'am."
Then, with a devilish snicker, he grabbed the woman and tossed her into the tree instead.
"That's not what I had in mind!" she wailed, clinging to a branch.
Nearby, Bizarro Kai cackled as he twisted the traffic lights, sending vehicles crashing into each other in a screech of tires and horns. Bizarro Zane stomped his way toward an ATM, punching it with robotic might. The machine burst open, paper bills fluttering into the sky like confetti.
"Ninja, go!" yelled Bizarro Cole, spinning into a Spinjitzu cyclone—not to stop a villain, but to steal a massive cone of cotton candy straight from Nuckal, who stared at the empty stick in disbelief.
"Hey!" Nuckal cried. "That was mine!"
As they marched deeper into the heart of the city, Bizarro Kai lit a nearby trash can on fire.
"Remember," he said with a smirk. "Our mission's clear: Find the real ninja… and make sure they never stand in our way again."
Back at Dareth's Dojo, a gentle creaking echoed as Master Wu balanced atop a rickety ladder, dusting cobwebs and replacing the last of the flickering light bulbs. The dojo smelled faintly of incense and floor polish, a familiar calm lingering in the air.
The front doors slammed open.
Heavy footsteps clomped across the polished wood as the evil ninja strolled in, loud, brash, and clearly out of place.
Wu glanced down, one brow arching. "Ah. You're back. So… how was the trip?"
Bizarro Kai, donning oversized sunglasses and a smug grin, shrugged. "Oh, it was great. So great, in fact, we kinda forgot where we were." He snorted, nudging Bizarro Cole, who chuckled darkly.
Wu raised an eyebrow. "I trust Lloyd had a blast?"
"Lloyd? Uh…" Bizarro Kai hesitated. "Yeah, sure! He's, uh, still there. Told us to tell you something. Said… you should go! Right away, even!"
As they spoke, a young student approached Bizarro Jinx, cradling a neatly frosted cake with strawberries on top. The fake Jinx just blinked at it, frozen.
A hard elbow from Bizarro Jay jolted him. Bizarro Jinx snapped out of it, awkwardly grabbing the cake and offering a delayed grin. Wu's gaze narrowed ever so slightly.
Jinx never hesitated with cake.
"Hmm…" Wu muttered, eyes scanning them with the quiet precision of a man who'd seen far too much. He focused on the sunglasses perched on Kai's face. "Interesting."
In the background, the imposters began haphazardly knocking over training dummies, juggling Dareth's fake trophies, and tossing wooden weapons like toys. The once-tranquil dojo filled with chaos.
Bizarro Kai shrugged. "Mega Monster Amusement Park, right? Lloyd just couldn't get enough. Said you'd just slow him down."
Wu stepped off the ladder, his movements calm, deliberate. His fingers curled lightly around his broomstick. "Mega Monster Amusement Park," he echoed, his voice dropping. "Hmm."
Then, without warning, he slid into a ready stance.
Smack! Bizarro Jinx slapped the back of Kai's head. "Idiot," he muttered under his breath.
Wu's eyes gleamed. "Lloyd is not at the amusement park," he said coldly. "And you… are not my students."
Bizarro Kai dropped the act. "And you are not our master!"
"Ninja, go!" Bizarro Jay shouted, launching into a clumsy Spinjitzu—only to be swiftly met with a sharp whack! from Wu's broom. He staggered back, spinning into a pile of wooden boards.
"Aargh!"
With uncharacteristic grace, Wu began lobbing Dareth's fake trophies at the imposters with pinpoint accuracy. One cracked Bizarro Cole in the shoulder, another bounced off Zane's forehead.
"Whatever you are," Wu declared, voice rising with righteous fire, "you could all use a lesson!"
Bizarro Zane snarled and flung his shurikens with deadly precision. Wu deflected one with the broom, but two others pinned the old master's robe to the wall, forcing him still.
Panting slightly, Wu met their gaze.
Bizarro Kai stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. "Fine, teach. Where are the real ninja?"
"Don't bother," said Bizarro Jay, brushing splinters off his shoulder. "He'll never talk."
Suddenly, Wu's eyes flicked to the phone on the counter. It lit up.
Nya's voice crackled through the speaker. "Jay? You back yet? Can't wait to see you at the autobody shop. See you then!"
The evil ninja froze.
Wu smiled ever so slightly. "Hmmm."
Inside the dimly lit storage room, the ninja groaned as they pulled themselves to their feet. The clunk of metal echoed as Zane moved toward a nearby control panel, inspecting the old tech lining the walls.
Around them, disheveled teachers paced nervously, whispering amongst themselves, the fear of recapture heavy in the air.
Zane's hand hovered over a rusted switch. "I may have located a possible exit," he said calmly.
He flipped the switch.
A loud click-hiss sounded from within him, followed by a mechanical whirr.
Zane's body stiffened.
"Battering ram activated."
"What?" Jay blinked.
Before anyone could react, Zane went rigid, arms flat against his sides as he launched himself forward like a human missile.
BANG!
He slammed into the reinforced door with a deafening crash that sent a shudder through the entire room—but the door barely budged, holding firm.
Zane blinked. "Structural integrity: 98%… Apologies."
Kai groaned and let his head fall back against the wall. "Ugh. We're never gonna open that door. I just hope they haven't turned Lloyd yet. If they get into his head again…" He sighed. "I don't think things can get much worse."
Jay stepped forward, dusting off his sleeves. "Hey, hey—don't panic. Everything's under control."
Cole gave him a flat look. "Seriously?"
"No, seriously," Jay insisted. "I told Nya I'd meet her at the autobody shop. And I'm never late. If I'm even a second behind schedule, she's gonna know something's off. She's got a sixth sense for these things."
A pause.
"And don't forget," Jay added, pointing upward as if divine help would descend, "Jinx is still out there."
—
Meanwhile, in the shake room, Jinx sat sprawled on a velvet beanbag, a satisfied grin on his face and an Oreo shake in one hand. Two schoolgirls fanned him lazily with oversized paper fans, their arms getting sore but not daring to complain.
In his lap sat a portable game console the students had gifted him—some retro thing with a glitchy screen and cheerful chiptune music blaring out of tinny speakers.
Just as Jinx's avatar stomped onto the final boss stage, a faint pulse echoed in his mind.
His eye flicked open, glowing briefly. The sensation tickled the back of his skull like a pressure drop before a storm.
"…Hmm. My ninja danger senses are definitely going off," Jinx murmured, thumb hovering mid-jump.
The girls froze.
"Uh-oh," one whispered. "Is something wrong?"
The other looked at his now-empty shake cup. "Quick! Get another one!"
A fresh vanilla-cherry swirl was placed in his hand within seconds. He slurped it without even glancing up, eyes still glued to the screen.
A new high score popped up.
Jinx beamed. "Oh snap! New record!"
His eyes drifted back shut as he took another long sip. "Ehhh… they're probably fine."
The girls exhaled and resumed fanning him.
Outside the autobody shop, the sun dipped low, casting long orange streaks across the pavement. The air smelled of oil and rubber, faint sparks dancing from within as Nya wiped her hands on a grease-stained rag.
The sound of approaching footsteps drew her attention.
"Oh, there you are," Nya said, smiling as "Jay" came strolling in, humming some offbeat tune with exaggerated swagger. "I was wondering when you'd get back. You're usually not late."
Bizarro Jay grinned, twirling the keys to the Ultra Sonic Raider around his finger like a show-off magician. "It's a whole new me, baby," he said, voice dipped in fake cool. "Heh. Nice work here. We should take this beauty out for a spin. Bet we could make a lot of people jealous."
Nya raised an eyebrow. "I should've known spending time at Darkley's School would turn you into a bad boy."
"Darkley's School?" Bizarro Jay echoed, blinking once. "Heh. That's where we were?"
Nya stepped closer, puzzled now. "What's gotten into y—?"
Before she could finish, Bizarro Jay leaned in and kissed her.
It caught her entirely off guard.
Her eyes widened—then slowly fluttered closed. For a moment, she leaned into it, warmth rising to her cheeks, heart skipping. When he pulled back, her lips parted in shock and amusement.
He snagged the keys from her belt loop.
"It's a bad boy thing," Bizarro Jay said with a wink, hopping into the Ultra Sonic Raider.
Nya blinked as the vehicle roared to life and sped off in a screech of tires.
"…Heh," she murmured to herself, flustered and dazed. "Call me!"
Elsewhere in the city, chaos blossomed like fireworks. The evil ninja were gathered in the street, cackling madly as they caused a four-car pile-up and cheered like it was a party game.
A familiar grim voice crackled over the Raider's comm screen.
Garmadon.
"Did you find them?"
Bizarro Cole, leaning lazily against a smashed mailbox, answered with a crooked grin. "They're at Darkley's."
"Excellent." Garmadon's voice was dark and commanding. "Now destroy them."
Bizarro Cole cracked his knuckles. "It'll be our pleasure."
Back at the school, the real ninja were still trapped in the secret chamber, air growing stale and tension thicker with each second.
Kai slammed his fist into the wall. "If we don't get out of here soon, they're going to brainwash Lloyd and undo everything we tried to teach him!"
Cole crossed his arms. "Not to mention we'll never taste cake again."
Zane stepped forward, eyes glowing faintly. "Principal Noble, how well do you and the teachers know this building?"
Principal Noble adjusted his crooked glasses, looking sheepish. "Honestly? Not at all. We're… new. The former faculty quit when the school turned good. Said it was 'a betrayal of everything evil education stands for.'"
Zane's eyes lit up with realization. "Then it's safe to assume this school, originally designed for evil, likely has hidden passageways that none of you would know about."
Cole nodded slowly. "Yeah… it just wouldn't be an evil school without traps and secrets."
Kai turned to the group. "Alright! Everyone spread out. Look for a switch—book, tile, whatever. It could be anything."
Jay moved straight to a bookshelf and pulled on a dusty tome. "I found it!"
Suddenly, the ceiling began to descend with a low grinding groan.
Kai shouted, "Wrong switch! Keep looking!"
Cole, nearby, twisted a potted plant with flair. The ceiling rumbled again—this time, spikes emerged from above.
Gasps all around.
"Oh, that is so evil," Cole muttered.
Zane calmly tilted an antique lamp. With a soft click, a hidden door slid open.
"This way."
The ninja bolted through.
"Hahaha! Stop tickling me!" Jay cried suddenly.
Cole frowned. "I'm not tickling you."
Kai looked over. "Zane, can you give us some light?"
Zane activated his internal glow. The moment the room lit up, they all froze.
The walls, floor, and ceiling were lined with Spykors—small, spiky, purple creatures that blinked in the sudden light.
"Aaaah!" the ninja screamed.
Meanwhile, Lloyd was still bound to a chair, surrounded by a group of misguided students trying to brainwash him with motivational evil speeches and intimidating posters.
But Lloyd's grin was wide. "Come on, you can untie me. Really, this is just a huge relief. I couldn't stand being good. Ha! Thank you for saving me."
Brad narrowed his eyes. "How do we know you're not lying, just so you can escape and help the ninja?"
Lloyd leaned forward with mock sincerity. "Well, if I were truly good, I wouldn't be able to lie, right? But if I am lying, that would make me evil—thus proving I've changed, which means you can totally trust me."
Gene narrowed his eyes. "He's using mind games! I bet he learned them from Lord Jinx!"
The evil ninja stormed the school now, blasting open doors and laughing maniacally as they advanced. Students scattered as lockers flew, desks flipped, and chalkboards shattered.
Brad peeked down the hallway. "Someone's coming!" He gasped. "The ninja escaped! Execute Doomsday Formations! To glory!"
He blew a whistle.
"Spitball Brigade! Step forward—FIRE!"
Tiny students leaned from corners and pelted the evil ninja with a barrage of spitballs. The evil ninja raised a locker like a riot shield, laughing.
"Smoke Bomb Brigade! Fire!"
The hallway filled with thick grey clouds. The students cheered—until the air swirled with energy.
"Ninja, go!" the evil ninja cried, spinning into Spinjitzu, scattering the smoke with ease.
"Dodgeball Brigade! Fire!"
Rubber spheres whistled through the air—but the evil ninja caught them effortlessly.
Bizarro Kai spun one in his hand. "Our turn."
"Retreat!" Brad screamed, just before a dodgeball smacked into him. Bizarro Kai grabbed him by the collar.
"Where. Are. The ninja?"
Back in the room, Lloyd groaned.
"Ugh. Why do I always end up tied up? You'd think I'd be a knot expert by now…"
He twisted, spotting a lightbulb above him. He squinted, focusing his energy.
ZAP!
The bulb shattered in a burst of sparks. Lloyd fell with a thud, wriggling until he could grab a shard with his fingers. He sawed at the ropes.
"Haha! Finally! I'm free!"
Just then, the students returned.
Lloyd blinked, incredulous. "Aww, no way! I escaped fair and square!"
Gene snorted. "Your friends are pure evil now. Face it."
Lloyd's jaw dropped. "Wait, what?!"
The heavy metal door creaked open with an ominous groan, revealing the empty chamber the ninja and teachers had occupied just moments earlier. Dust swirled lazily in the air, disturbed only by the low thudding steps of the evil ninja.
Bizarro Cole stepped into the room first, eyes narrowing suspiciously as he scanned the vacant space.
"What is this?" he growled. "Some kind of joke?"
Brad, flustered and nervous, shuffled in behind them, wringing his hands. "Uh… th-that's where they were. Honest! I swear on my villain application!"
Bizarro Jay cracked his knuckles. "Time for another noogie."
Brad's face turned pale. "No, no! Not the noogie! Anything but—!"
But before the twisted ninja could lay a hand on him, a hidden panel in the far wall slid open with a low hiss. A shaft of light spilled into the room as the real ninja emerged, flanked by the equally bewildered teachers.
Cole stepped through first, brushing dust off his shoulders. "Ah, finally, a way out."
Kai froze mid-step, blinking in disbelief. "Guys… why are we staring at ourselves?"
Across the room, the evil versions stood tall—distorted mirror images clad in dark, twisted versions of their gi. Their smirks were cruel, their eyes glowing faintly with mischief and menace.
Principal Noble took one look at the showdown and slowly backed into the hidden door. "Uh… this is kinda too weird for us. We're gonna just… stay in here."
Jay arched a brow as the teachers disappeared behind the door. "Those who don't fight… teach."
Cole pointed at his doppelgänger. "Drop the boy—uh, me!"
Bizarro Cole sneered and released his grip on Brad, who toppled to the ground and scurried away in a tangle of limbs. "He's of no use to us anymore."
Kai narrowed his eyes. "Who are you guys?"
Bizarro Kai smirked. "Your doom."
Zane's voice remained calm, but cold. "My early assessment tells me this must be Garmadon's doing."
Across the room, Bizarro Zane tilted his head mechanically. "My early assessment tells me… you will be destroyed."
There was no time for more words.
As if summoned by the same beat, both sides shouted in unison:
"NINJA—GO!"
A whirlwind of color and force erupted in the room as Spinjitzu met Spinjitzu, crashing like waves against each other. Dust blasted outward, lights flickered, and fists collided with thunderous impact.
In the chaos, Bizarro Jinx slipped away silently, unnoticed in the madness. His footsteps echoed down a quiet corridor, drawn by a strange, unshakable pull. Something... someone… was calling to him.
A door stood slightly ajar at the end of the hallway, dim light spilling out from the edges. Curious, he pushed it open slowly.
Inside, the real Jinx sat comfortably in a chair with one leg slung lazily over the other, sipping contentedly on a chilled drink through a curled straw. A record player hummed quietly in the background, and the air smelled faintly of winter spice and ozone.
They locked eyes instantly.
Time seemed to slow.
Jinx's dark purple eyes narrowed with intrigue, a smile touching the corner of his lips.
Bizarro Jinx didn't move—but the soft lavender glow of his artificial eyes began to brighten, matching the rising intensity in Jinx's gaze.
Two shades of purple. Dark and light.
Both ancient. Both powerful.
The air between them crackled with tension as the hum of the Force stirred, responding to the sheer weight of their presence.
"Well," Jinx said slowly, lowering his drink. "Aren't you a surprise."
Jinx rose slowly from his chair, the straw in his drink still bobbing with the motion. The quiet clink of glass meeting wood echoed in the air as he set it down, his hand drifting behind his back.
"I was hoping to get a few more sips in," he murmured, his voice low, like distant thunder.
Bizarro Jinx stepped fully into the room, head cocked, a wicked smile carved across his face like a cracked mask. His movements were jagged, like a puppet pulled by chaotic strings. He said nothing—just raised one hand and pointed two fingers directly at Jinx.
Jinx narrowed his dark purple eyes. "Not a talker, huh? Guess that makes two of us."
With a hiss of metal, Silence, Jinx's obsidian-black katana, leapt from its sheath at his back into his waiting hand. Wind swirled around him, tugging at his cloak and stirring the air like an oncoming storm.
"You're not just a copy," Jinx muttered, lowering his stance, "You're something… else."
Without warning, Bizarro Jinx's body jerked—and a pulse of energy exploded from his palm.
Jinx barely had time to register it.
Not darkness.
Not wind.
But something far more ancient. Something wrong.
The blast that screamed toward him was a swirling vortex of black and light purple, shimmering with a destructive frequency that resonated in the very bones of the room. The lights flickered violently. The record player exploded in a shower of sparks.
Jinx's eyes widened in raw disbelief.
"...Destruction?!"
He spun into the air, using wind to launch himself over the incoming blast. It collided with the wall behind him—and erased it. Not shattered. Not burned. Erased—as if that part of the world had never existed.
He landed in a roll, cloak flaring behind him, and dashed forward.
Silence sang.
The blade arced in a wide horizontal slash, wind spiraling around it like a cyclone. Bizarro Jinx blocked with his forearm—and the katana clanged against what felt like steel, though nothing covered his skin. The clone slid back, boots skidding across the floor.
Jinx didn't give him room to breathe.
With a spin, he slashed again, then vanished, reappearing above his opponent with a diving strike. Wind howled in the room as he brought the blade down like a lightning bolt.
Bizarro Jinx twisted unnaturally, bending in ways no human should, and let out a guttural laugh—deep, hollow, echoing like it came from the walls themselves. He raised his hands and this time unleashed twin orbs of Destruction energy.
Jinx thrust Silence into the ground. Wind erupted around him in a spiraling shield, forming a dome of whirling air and darkness. The blasts struck the shield—and split it open.
BOOM.
The explosion rocked the building. Dust and debris burst outward, cracking the ceiling. Flames licked the edges of the room. In the center, Jinx emerged with a gash across his cheek, blood running down his face—but his eyes were locked and unyielding.
"You're using something you shouldn't even understand," he growled, flicking the blood away. "Destruction is older than darkness. That's not yours."
Bizarro Jinx finally spoke—his voice fragmented, mechanical and cold. "All things... return to nothing."
He launched again, fists glowing, but Jinx met him head-on.
Katana and fists collided in a blur of movement—black steel vs. raw entropy. Jinx used wind like wings, skating across the ground, dashing up walls, creating cyclones mid-strike. He wrapped his katana in a cloak of darkness and wind, every blow sharper, faster.
But Bizarro Jinx wasn't slowing down.
He was learning.
Adapting.
Twisting.
At one point, he copied Jinx's own wind burst to propel himself across the room, spinning into a high kick that sent Jinx tumbling through a desk.
Jinx groaned and rose to one knee. He clutched Silence tightly.
"…Guess I'll need to stop holding back."
The lights flickered again.
The air grew heavy.
He raised Silence in both hands. Darkness surged from his body, coating the room in a shadowy haze. His wind became a hurricane, a swirling maelstrom of black and silver energy.
A single thought echoed in his mind:
"This is my shadow. My storm. My soul."
Jinx charged, and this time, the blade whispered something ancient as it moved—a language only the shadows knew.
The katana cut through the air.
Bizarro Jinx raised his hand, charging another blast of Destruction—
But Jinx vanished mid-strike.
He reappeared behind the clone, whispering: "Silence falls."
He slashed.
A wave of compressed wind and darkness exploded outward, cutting through the clone's blast before it could form fully—sending Bizarro Jinx spiraling into the far wall, crashing through concrete.
Smoke filled the air.
For a moment, all was still.
Then—
Bizarro Jinx emerged.
Damaged. Limbs twitching. A crack down the side of his face, revealing a flickering purple core beneath.
Still smiling.
Still glowing with that unnatural energy.
Jinx stood tall, chest rising and falling. Silence gleamed in his grip, but his eyes were wary.
This wasn't over.
No…
This had only just begun.
The smoke thinned. Sparks crackled across shattered walls, and the broken doorframe barely hung in place. From the rubble, Bizarro Jinx rose slowly, head tilted at an unnatural angle, jaw cracked from Jinx's last blow—but that eerie, glitched grin still clung to his face like a scar.
Jinx steadied his breath, eyes locked on the clone. Silence pulsed in his hand, warm with the echoes of its last strike.
He dashed forward—just as Bizarro Jinx did the same.
Steel met bare fists in a clash of wind and corruption. Every strike from Jinx came like a tempest—controlled, elegant, precise. Every blow from Bizarro Jinx landed like a seismic shock—reckless, chaotic, devastating.
Then it happened.
With a vicious twist, Bizarro Jinx ducked beneath a sweeping strike, grabbed Jinx's wrist—and wrenched Silence from his grip. The black katana clattered across the floor, skidding out of reach with a shriek of metal.
Jinx's eyes widened for a split-second.
But the clone was already lunging.
They collided—hands gripping each other, palms pressed against one another, locked in a brutal test of raw force. Wind whipped wildly around them, papers and debris circling in a frenzy.
"You're not... me," Jinx growled through clenched teeth, his boots digging into the floor.
"You are correct," Bizarro Jinx rasped. "I am... the evolution."
As their hands remained locked, a strange sensation crawled through Jinx's fingers. His dark energy began to siphon something out of the clone—not darkness... not wind...
It was Destruction—a ripple of that same black-and-light-purple power. But instead of being consumed by it, Jinx felt it fuse into him, merging with his core like ink swirling into water.
His pupils dilated. His heart thudded harder.
So this is what it feels like... raw entropy.
A brief smirk crossed his face.
That was his mistake.
Bizarro Jinx headbutted him with a sickening crunch, then followed with a spinning kick that caught Jinx in the ribs—sending him flying through the splintered doorway and out into the hallway.
Jinx skidded across the tiled floor, crashing to a halt amidst the chaos of the ongoing ninja battle. He groaned and pushed himself up—
"JINX!" Jay shouted, dodging a lightning bolt from Bizarro Jay. "What in the twelve spinning circles of madness is that?!"
Jinx didn't answer. His eyes had gone storm-dark—still glowing purple, but now threaded with subtle streaks of destruction energy, shimmering like cracks in glass.
Bizarro Jinx stepped out of the doorway, slowly, like a hunter relishing the kill. His face was twitching now, as if the Destruction inside him had briefly destabilized him. He snapped his neck once—and his eyes locked back on Jinx.
"Okay…" Jinx muttered, cracking his neck in return. "No blade. No problem."
Wind began to swirl at his feet.
The hallway exploded into chaos once more.
Jinx sprinted forward, creating a burst of wind that launched him into the air. He spun and delivered a dropkick directly to the clone's chest, sending Bizarro Jinx through a pillar with a thunderous CRACK.
Cole turned his head mid-punch. "That's new."
Zane, battling his Bizarro, took a moment to scan the energy flickering around Jinx. "His energy signature is changing. It's... unstable, but stronger."
Kai grunted as he locked blades with Bizarro Kai. "Stronger's good. Let's hope he doesn't explode."
Jinx didn't hear them. He leapt onto the debris, caught air with a twist, and spun with a wind-fueled uppercut that launched Bizarro Jinx into the ceiling, cracking it.
The clone crashed back down in a crater of rubble, but rose again—faster this time.
"Still kicking, huh?" Jinx muttered. His hands glowed with a mix of darkness and the faint flicker of stolen Destruction. "Guess it's time we both got serious."
They lunged again—fists, elbows, knees clashing in a blur. Wind screamed through the hallway. Darkness danced with entropy. The other ninja fought on in the background, but even they paused now and then to glance at the war unfolding between these two versions of the same soul.
Then, amidst the flurry—
Jinx roared, fists blazing, and drove both palms into Bizarro Jinx's chest.
There was a concussive shockwave of wind, so powerful that it shattered glass down the entire corridor.
Bizarro Jinx was launched backward—
Right into a room filled with smoke, gears, and—coincidentally—where Silence had landed.
The clone slid to a halt, right in front of the blade.
Both pairs of glowing purple eyes turned to it at once.
And the next move... would decide everything.
The hallway was scorched and battered, winds still whipping in wild spirals through broken windows and shattered walls. The smoke began to settle—but the tension only climbed higher.
Bizarro Jinx rose from the rubble, flicking bits of stone from his shoulders. He stood directly in front of the katana Silence, its black blade pulsing faintly with a dark hum. A strange shimmer danced across its edge, like the blade recognized its master… and the imposter.
Jinx landed lightly on the floor, boots skidding. His breathing was heavy, his hands still faintly aglow from the energy siphon. He saw Silence—and his double standing over it.
Before he could move, someone else sprinted past him—
Cole.
"Hang on, Jinx—I'll grab your sword!"
"NO!" Jinx shouted, voice echoing like a thunderclap.
Cole skidded to a halt, inches from the blade, looking confused. "What?!"
Jinx's eyes were wild. "You'll die if you touch it! Silence only obeys its master—it'll drain the life out of you in a heartbeat!"
Cole's eyes widened. He glanced down at the blade. Sure enough, the air around it shimmered with a subtle, whispering aura. He could feel it now—like a storm held in suspension.
"Right. Cool. Stepping away." He backed up, fast.
Bizarro Jinx tilted his head. "It wants me," he said, his voice glitching slightly as he reached a hand toward the hilt.
Jinx's eyes narrowed. "You're not worthy."
In the blink of an eye, they both moved.
Wind roared as Jinx launched forward, feet barely touching the floor. Bizarro Jinx dove for the hilt, his hand nearly closing around it—but Jinx arrived first, shoulder-slamming his double with such force that both went sprawling through the wall into the room beyond.
The katana spun into the air—glinting black and violet—and stabbed into the ground, humming like a tuning fork struck by thunder.
Inside the new chamber, flickering lights cast long shadows. Old pipes hissed steam from the walls, and sparks danced along a cracked ceiling. It was a maintenance room, forgotten and rusted—but it would be the battleground for something far more ancient.
Jinx got up first, panting, blood on his lip. His purple eyes locked onto Bizarro Jinx, who was crawling up to his knees, smirking despite the crack down one side of his jaw.
"Tell me," Jinx said, wiping his mouth, "where did you get that Destruction power?"
Bizarro Jinx tilted his head. "I am what you could be. What you should have been. Not just darkness. Not just wind. Something greater. Something final."
Jinx clenched his fists. "You don't understand what that power does. You don't control it—it controls you."
"I don't need control," the clone hissed, charging forward again.
Fists met palms, elbows met ribs. The room shook with each strike. The fight turned savage—no longer graceful or calculated, but primal and personal. Jinx fought with purpose. Bizarro Jinx fought with spite.
And outside, the other ninja paused, peering into the wreckage.
"Should we go in?" Jay asked, lightning arcing between his fingers.
Kai shook his head slowly. "That's his fight now. His blade. His shadow."
Inside, Jinx finally broke the stalemate, ducked under a haymaker, and spun-kicked the clone directly into a rusted support beam. The impact dented the metal with a deep groan. Bizarro Jinx slumped, but his eyes still glowed, his grin still intact.
Jinx turned toward the blade now embedded in the ground. Silence.
He approached slowly, wind circling him in a soft spiral. The moment he reached for it, the room stilled. Even the clone hesitated, watching.
Jinx gripped the hilt.
The blade pulsed in recognition. It did not burn him. It welcomed him.
As he pulled Silence free, the winds around him exploded outward in a burst—blowing back debris, smoke, and even staggering Bizarro Jinx a step.
"Let's finish this," Jinx said quietly, his voice like distant thunder.
His eyes burned with darkness. His katana hummed like a storm ready to scream.
Bizarro Jinx stood, clenching his fists—and his hands crackled now, not with wind, but with pure Destruction.
The final round was about to begin.
The tension in the ruined chamber coiled tighter than the wind before a storm. Jinx stood with Silence in hand, dark winds whirling around him like living shadows. His cloak fluttered in the gusts, eyes glowing with pure, focused intent.
Across from him, Bizarro Jinx stalked toward a fallen weapons rack. With a crooked smile, he reached down—not for a sword, but for a kendo stick. Ordinary, cracked, meant for practice.
But the moment his fingers curled around it, Destruction surged.
The kendo stick screamed with black and light-purple energy, warping and twisting, cracking at the ends but not breaking. Instead, it pulsed—like the universe itself was trying to reject what he was doing.
"Who needs elegance," Bizarro Jinx said with a grin, "when you've got entropy?"
The stick vibrated in his hands, now brimming with the raw, untamed force of Destruction. The light around it dimmed. Shadows warped.
They charged.
The first clash was deafening.
CRACK!
Wood and steel met in a shower of sparks and shattered air. Silence howled, as if furious at being touched by a lesser weapon. The kendo stick screamed under pressure—but the power of Destruction held it firm.
They moved like ghosts, phantoms flickering between each strike.
Jinx struck low. Bizarro blocked, countered with a wide sweep aimed at the ribs.
Jinx ducked, flipped, parried—a flurry of footwork and blade work honed through years of solitude and countless battles. The wind aided him, dancing at his back, giving him impossible speed.
Bizarro struck hard, wild, unrelenting. Each swing left black scars in the air, like reality tearing at the seams. A nearby wall disintegrated from a missed slash.
One final clash—and Silence met the kendo stick dead-on.
BOOM.
The resulting blast shattered what was left of the ceiling. The room trembled. Cracks split across the floor like a spiderweb. The other ninja, watching from outside the chamber, ducked for cover as debris rained down.
Inside, Jinx stood, panting.
Bizarro Jinx grinned, sweat and blood on his face. "You're slowing down."
Jinx didn't answer. Instead, he drew a deep breath and held Silence with both hands. Wind and darkness swirled inward, condensing around the blade. The room began to dim.
"You want a finale?" Jinx said softly, "You'll get one."
Darkness pooled around the blade like ink in water. The hum of the katana grew higher, purer, more resonant—as if it were preparing to sing.
"This technique… was never meant to be used," Jinx whispered, "but for you… I'll make an exception."
He raised the blade overhead.
"Divine Dividing."
He slashed downward.
And when the tip of the blade touched the ground—
Everything went silent.
Not a whisper. Not a breath. Not a creak of wood or rumble of earth. Just—void.
Then, in that stillness—
SNAP.
The sound returned with the sound of the world breaking.
Everything in front of Jinx… split.
Bizarro Jinx froze, eyes wide.
Then, slowly—he slid in two.
So did the wall behind him.
And the floor.
And the very air.
From Jinx's feet outward, a perfectly clean, quiet line carved reality itself. The room beyond, the ceiling, the back wall, everything in the slash's path had been cleaved with divine precision.
A moment passed.
Then—
BOOM.
The back half of the room collapsed, crumbling inwards in slow motion, as if even gravity had to recover from what it just witnessed.
Bizarro Jinx's halves fell, disintegrating into drifting fragments of light and darkness. The kendo stick cracked… then turned to dust.
Jinx stood alone, his blade humming faintly, the glow slowly fading from his eyes. Wind gently carried the ash away.
Silence reigned once more.
From the hallway, the other ninja emerged slowly, awestruck. Jay let out a low whistle.
"…Remind me never to make you mad."
Kai looked at the split room. "That… was insane."
Cole stepped forward, cautious. "You okay?"
Jinx exhaled slowly, sheathing Silence. "I am now."
Behind him, the light returned to the room, and the winds softened into a calm breeze.
And far above, for just a moment, the clouds parted—revealing a silent sky, unmarred.
The students erupted into cheers as the secret panel in the wall slid open with a soft hiss, revealing the missing teachers stepping out, blinking against the light and brushing dust off their robes. Relief turned to celebration in an instant.
Noble crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow as the noise swelled around them. "Normally," he said in a mock-stern voice, "we'd hand out a dozen detentions for trapping your educators in a wall…"
The students froze, eyes wide.
"…But," Noble continued with a growing smile, "I suppose we've all learned a valuable lesson today."
There was a beat.
"Which means—it's cause for celebration."
The room burst into laughter, students whooping and high-fiving, while the teachers joined the crowd, shaking their heads and smiling despite themselves.
Cole elbowed his way to the front, a hopeful gleam in his eyes. "Uh… that wouldn't happen to involve cake, would it?"
Laughter doubled. Someone handed him a plate piled high before he even finished his sentence.
Later, the skies over Ninjago swelled with late-afternoon clouds as the Ultra Dragon soared high above, its mighty wings slicing through the wind. Cole sat atop the dragon's saddle, still munching on cake with reckless abandon. Below, the Destiny's Bounty Raider sped toward the dojo, humming with energy and ninja-packed enthusiasm.
"Oh, man," Jay said, leaning back in his seat with a sigh of relief. "So good to have the tank back."
"Mmm-hmm," Cole replied through a mouthful of frosting. "You said it."
Kai grinned, resting one foot on the console. "Can't wait to see the look on Sensei's face when he hears about this one."
Suddenly, a dark, flickering screen came to life on the console. The image of Lord Garmadon appeared in the haze, his red eyes narrowed and voice low.
"So, it's true…" he growled. "You've destroyed my evil ninja."
Kai folded his arms. "Keep it coming, Garmadon. The more you throw at us, the stronger we get."
Garmadon exhaled slowly, frustration thick in his voice. "But tomorrow is a new day, ninja. Mark my words—I will find new ways to—"
BZZT.
The screen fizzled, sparked, and died with a shrill crackle of static.
"What? I can't hear you," Kai said, smirking as he tapped the display.
Zane raised a brow. "Nya will be… displeased. She just repaired the system. It appears it will need to return to the shop."
"Nah," Lloyd chimed in casually from the back, where he leaned over the console. Electricity crackled gently along his arms. With a quick flick of his fingers, the screen blinked once—and suddenly displayed a high-score leaderboard and colorful explosions from an arcade game.
Jay's jaw dropped. "Wait—you did that? But it didn't blow up!"
Lloyd shrugged, grabbing a controller and settling in. "What can I say? You go to school, and sometimes…" He grinned. "You pick up a thing or two."
The cabin echoed with laughter as the Raider continued on its course through the golden sky, the city far behind them and the dojo on the horizon.
For now, they had peace, cake, and video games.
And somewhere in the distance, darkness brooded—but that could wait until tomorrow.