01x05 - Writers of Destiny

[bunniefuu]

[uplifting music]

[snoring]

Our little guy's still asleep.

Totally exhausted.

[metal squeaking]

Saving a kingdom

of magical mud-eating rock monsters will do that.

So you're telling me this dragon, like,

"sparks" or something,

then Sora can use her Elemental Power?

[sighs] If I even have a power.

It might be all Riyu. You saw how he powered up that mud field.

We've gone over this. You have a power.

Riyu just soups it up.

"Souping up" isn't how dragons work, is it?

That's weird, right?

Everything's been weird since the Merge happened.

As far as I know,

no one's ever taught themselves Spinjitzu before,

but then the Merge hits and suddenly...

Wa-- wait. You learned Spinjitzu by yourself?

No Master Wu morning breath?

Well, it's kind of a shaky, basic Spinjitzu.

But still better than any of us could do when we started out.

I was just trying to figure out all the moves I'd seen you do.

I'm kind of a Ninja fan.

"Kind of"? [chuckles]

He once asked a barber to give him "the Zane."

It did not go well.

Of course not.

He should've gotten "the Kai."

Please. You shouldn't even get "the Kai."

And you think all this is tied to these Mergequake things?

Maybe.

Mergequakes are like aftershocks of the original Merge,

where two realms try to occupy the same space.

Elemental powers shut them down, but they're happening more often.

That's why I went searching for help.

If we don't stop the Mergequakes, they could destroy everything.

[groans]

Wow.

So we've really got our work cut out for us

when we get back to Ninjago City.

Speaking of cities.

[epic music]

-[gasps] -[both] Whoa.

The Cloud Kingdom. Whoa.

Why wasn't this here on our way out?

It's a floating kingdom. Maybe it drifted into our path?

[sighs] Looks relaxing here.

[Arin] I could really get used to this.

Anyone else feels that?

Relaxation is cancelled!

♪ Lost in the unknown So much to see ♪

♪ Together we will rise! ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ We fight ♪

♪ Be a ninja for what's right ♪

[Arin grunts]

[screaming]

[woman] Help!

[man grunting]

Whoa!

Don't worry, we got--

[screaming]

[all screaming]

[squawks]

Way impressive, Arin.

Very Ninja.

And Kai rarely admits to being impressed.

What's happening here?

The beast is smashing everything! How was this unforeseen?

Beast? What beast?

[Kai grunts]

Oh, that one.

[all whimpering]

[grunts]

Wanted to know more about Mergequakes, Nya?

Today's your lucky day.

This monster's realm must be merging here.

[dragons roaring]

[roars]

There are dragons here?

They came from one of the lands we crossed over

and thought this would be a safe place to live.

Everyone, save the people. I'll try to close the Mergequake.

[whining]

[grunts]

Let's see if this thing still works the old-fashioned way,

with no Elemental Powers.

Yes!

A fireproof monster? I hate fireproof monsters!

[Arin] Prepare to be impressed again, Kai!

[straining] Never mind.

[Sora grunts]

Ew.

This thing is slimier than it looks. It's like fighting a tongue.

I misjudged that!

What are you doing?

Get to safety!

Can you not hear me? I said... [screams]

Help!

This just went from bad to super bad.

Lloyd! Don't close the Mergequake!

Have you lost your mind? I need to close it!

Not yet.

We can't hurt this thing,

but we can force it back into the Mergequake, right?

I hope... their plan... works.

We won't...

be around...

if it doesn't!

It's working!

If the creature's near the merge when I close it,

I think it'll get pulled back into its realm!

[both screams]

[beeping]

I've lost power.

Don't worry, I got this!

Help! Anyone!

Huh?

What's happening?

Are you doing this?

Yeah, with the new flying power I don't have?

That wasn't normal, right?

She's the Elemental Master of Wind?

Let's kick this thing back to wherever it came from.

[action music]

Yeah! Way to go, us!

[dragons roaring]

[squawks]

This is pretty far out

from the original Merge for a Mergequake.

So they're getting worse and happening in more places.

Just like you were afraid they would.

Master Wu was studying the Merge before it happened.

He called it the "coalescence" or something.

He had a ton of scrolls about it.

Great! Then we just use them to figure out how to stop these things.

Not great.

Most of the scrolls, and his notes, were lost in the Merge.

Oh.

Listen, King and Queen Buzzkill,

I'm gonna go talk to these Cloud Monks.

I'm sure they're dying to tell us how awesome we just were.

[murmuring]

Hello, fabled Ninja.

I am Suetonius,

the current Master Writer of the Cloud Kingdom.

And you're welcome.

Is this backwards day? Who's thanking who?

Yeah, the Ninja saved everyone while you all stood here, writing.

Of course, because here in the Cloud Kingdom,

we are the Writers of Destiny.

Oh, right. I forgot.

In the Cloud Kingdom,

they believe everything they write in their scrolls

is immediately what happens in real life.

Not belief.

Fact.

I instructed my scribes to write that you would be victorious,

and you were.

Fact.

Why doesn't that sound quite right?

Because it isn't.

The Cloud Kingdom claims they're responsible for fate,

but when something they write doesn't happen,

they ignore it.

I admit that, on occasion,

events somehow manage to defy destiny.

But that is exceedingly rare.

Can you write that my parents come back?

They were lost in the Merge.

Sadly, no, my son,

-because... -[Lloyd] Let me guess.

The Merge "defied destiny."

The Merge did catch the Cloud Kingdom by surprise,

like it did everyone else.

But I've instructed the scribes to write

that a Mergequake like we just experienced

will never come again.

So, problem solved.

Wait.

You write down everything that's happened everywhere, right?

Everything that has happened and everything that will happen.

So if there's any info about how to stop Mergequakes,

it could be in your archives?

Huh.

Smart thinking, Nya.

Did you not just hear me say "problem solved"?

Still, we do encourage all truth seekers to study our learned writings.

Show the Ninja to the library, Marcus.

This way, please.

We'll check this out. You three stay here and keep watch.

You want us to just wait?

We're in unfamiliar territory. Anything could go wrong.

Call us the second you need us.

Will do!

-[Riyu screeching] -[Sora groans]

It was bad when this thing fell to pieces.

Now it's completely crushed. I can't even begin to repair it.

They really should have let you go with them.

You deserve to be there.

What's that supposed to mean?

You taught yourself some Spinjitzu, Arin.

You should become a Ninja more than anyone.

Way more than me.

But you have an Elemental Power.

That I keep messing up with.

I could have gotten Nya k*lled

in that dragon Cragling fight we were in before we got here.

I do know it would be better for everyone

if I never use them again.

I can't control them.

[Sora chuckles] You're a good friend.

Sora, look!

It's the girl with the Elemental Wind powers.

And that's how storm clouds can wash ink stains

out of white togas.

Okay, we're here.

[grandiose music]

Okay. This might take a while.

Input search request?

The library is vast.

But that's why we have these.

Worm, bring me information on Lloyd Garmadon.

The worm will pass the request along,

and soon you have a team searching for your information.

Wow. These things are great.

Information obtained.

Garmadon, Lloyd: Legendary Green Ninja.

-Picks his nose and eats it. -Stop! These things are terrible!

[Marcus] Apologies.

The Cloud Kingdom archives are very detailed.

All right, let's give this a sh*t.

Input search request?

Search for info on how to prevent Mergequakes.

Oh, looks like someone has a new nickname.

Master of Green Boogers.

-[laughs] -Ugh!

Nice weather you've got up here, even if it is a little windy.

I have no idea what you mean.

She means how you're the new Elemental Master of Wind.

I don't know what you think you saw,

but I'm from Cloud Kingdom, so I can't be an Elemental Master.

Uh, you can, 'cause you are.

Elemental Masters use actions to impact the world.

Cloud Monks use words only.

Writing destiny is our power.

Anything else, especially actions, violates who we are.

Trust me. I know this stuff can be scary.

But the Ninja can train you.

Having a power would get me exiled from the Cloud Kingdom.

I would lose my family, my friends,

my whole way of life.

So, I don't have a power!

I'd give anything to have an Elemental Power.

How could she turn her back on it?

[Rapton] Oh, so cute.

Wrapped up in their own drama.

They'll never even see us coming.

[evil laugh]

Information obtained.

Mergequakes can be permanently prevented via usage of the...

Curious. I've never seen that before.

Ugh, gross! Huh.

What part of the worm is that string coming from?

[screeches]

[rumbles]

[roars]

Remember how Lloyd said to call him 'cause anything could go wrong?

I think this counts as "anything."

Lloyd! Kai! Nya! Come in!

Hello? Come in!

[monster roaring]

Master Suetonius, you said this couldn't happen again!

Destiny is clearly testing our resolve, Euphrasia.

Keep writing!

Write that this Mergequake ends.

The Ninja aren't answering. I've gotta go find them.

Lloyd? Kai? Are you...

Whoa.

[muffled shout]

-Lloyd! -[grunts]

Behind you!

Keep writing!

[Suetonius] Only the words of destiny can save us now!

[monster roaring]

-[clanks] -Ugh!

Useless hunk of junk.

[squawks]

I know what you're thinking, Riyu.

But I can't control the powers.

I'll just make this all worse.

[squeaks, purrs]

Time to make our own destiny!

Is that Euphrasia?

She's abandoned her scrolls!

This is not our way. What is she doing?

I think she is saving us.

[roars]

[grunting]

[screaming]

[Euphrasia] Thank you.

So much for turning our backs on our Elemental Powers.

Let's do this.

[grunts]

[Sora] We've got to shut down that Mergequake

before more of these things come through!

[Lloyd] We can help with that.

[roars]

[Arin] Whoa!

Hi.

Did you...

It was kinda necessary.

-Where've you been? -I released the Ninja

from the evil worm cocoons in the cloud basement.

Yeah, that's a nonsense jumble of words and you know it.

-[Sora grunts] -Whoa!

Thank you for writing that the Ninja would save us.

But Master Suetonius,

none of us were writing anything.

[whooshes]

[monster roaring]

[grunts]

[grunting]

So, you're the new Elemental Master of Wind, huh?

[chuckles] That's what it looks like, I guess.

I knew the last one. I already like you more.

[cheering]

Master, I know what I did goes against everything we believe in.

But after the Merge, I...

discovered I was an Elemental Master.

I tried to deny it,

but when I saw I could help save our kingdom,

I just couldn't hide who I was any longer.

I realize this means

I will be exiled from the Cloud Kingdom.

Perhaps it's time for us to admit that the Merge has changed a few things.

You mean, I can stay?

I'll require someone's assistance updating how we do things around here.

Maybe that could be you.

[cheering]

So, uh, what happened to the world being better

if you never use those powers again?

I'm still not sure I'm meant to be a Ninja.

But someone inspired me not to sit on the sidelines

when I have the chance to help people.

Was it me? Oh, it was me, right?

You should have seen me kicking those evil worms!

Very inspiring.

-[worm screeches] -[Arin screams]

[chuckles]

So, you have no idea why the scroll-worms acted like that?

No.

But I suppose it's possible the worms were cursed

to become defensive when certain information was requested from them.

Forbidden information.

Cursed by who?

I don't know who would do such a thing.

Or how they could.

You sure about this, Nya?

If there are answers in the archives about the Mergequakes,

someone needs to keep searching for them.

It won't be easy without the scroll-worms, but...

Ninja never quit.

You know where to find us when you have something, sis.

Let's get back to the monastery, boogers.

Stop it.

[laughs]

[epic music playing]

[whirring]

It worked perfectly, Lord Ras,

just like you and the Empress planned.

There was so much chaos, no one even noticed us.

Imperium continues to gain the upper hand,

and the Ninja are entirely in the dark.

[closing theme music playing]