The Ninja had eventually grouped up in Borg tower. After all this time. They were in the same room... Uh. Most of them. Two were missing.

Lloyd had entered the room. One missing.

"Hey, there he is. You're late." Kai pointed.

"Kai was late too, if it is any consolation." Zame chimes in. The five gathered around Lloyd.

"Thanks for meeting me here. It's been a while since we've all been under one roof." Lloyd grinned. The Ninja started to giggle.

"What?" Lloyd asked.

"Are we gonna talk about it?" Jay asked.

"Talk about what?" Lloyd shrugged.

"Your voice, it's--" Cole grinnes under his mouth.

"Lower." Zane said, the pitch of his voice deeper.

"Oh good. It's not just in my head."

The Ninja turned around to see Morro leaning on the door way. He softly smiled and made it to the others.

Seems like everyone here got a new hair style. Nya squealed as she saw Morro. She ran behind him.

"Look at this! Look! Look!" Nya exclaimed, pushing Morro infront of everyone.

"You look so cute with this pony tail!" Nya exclaimed.

Nya started to play with Morro's hair as the other guys laughed a bit. Morro played with the green cloth around his right arm in a bit of embarrassment.

"Any word from your mother?" Zane asked

"Not since she went searching for Master Wu. I don't know where she is." Lloyd sighed.

"She'll come back, Lloyd. And so will Wu." Cole reassured.

"Not everyone comes back, Cole." Lloyd said. The brothers know that well.

"But that isn't why I called you here. I called you because of this." Lloyd pulled up a picture on a tablet. The same one on the parachute.

"Your father? Lord Garmadon?" Cole pointed.

"After poking around, I've learned it's the symbol to--" Lloyd was cut off.

"The Sons of Garmadon. Cryminal syndicate, since become known as a biker gang for... Some reason." Morro interjected.

"Seventy two hours ago, they stole a powerful relic from Cyrus Borg." Lloyd pointed behind everyone, at the cut open portrait.

"Some mask--"

"Not 'some' mask. The Oni Mask. There are only three in existence." A man in golden armour and jade green clothes walked in.

"Whoa, I'm confused. How can there be three masks when you just said it's the only mask?" Jay asked.

"Not only, Oni." Nya corrected.

"Oni. Like demons. Bringers of destruction." Morro crossed his arms.

"Each mask embodies one of the three Oni warlords. If all three masks are united, whomever owns them will wield tremendous power." The man in armour explained.

"Ninja, this is Mr. Hutchins. Master at Arms and Counsel to the Royal Family. I've asked him here." Lloyd said.

"The Royal Family?" Kai tilted his head.

"Apologies if you aren't familiar. They honor their privacy, as they do the safety of Ninjago." Hutchins replied.

"Let me guess, they have an Oni Mask too." Cole said.

"Two? Now there's two?" Jay asked. Nya covered his mouth.

"The Emperor will be delivering a public speech tomorrow, and I'm worried the Sons of Garmadon may try to steal the mask." Hutchins explained. He walkes over to the window to see the sun.

"We could use your assistance, that is, if you can keep a low profile." He turned back to the Ninja.

"We are ninja. No one will know we are there." Zane nodded, shifting back to human form.

"Just let us know where and when." Lloyd said.

. . .

And the day has come. The big speech.

"As many of you know, my family has kept a private life." The Emperor startes.

"We aren't interested in meddling with current affairs. But as crime has risen, so has our concern." The event was streamed all over Ninjago, seemed on every media.

"So it is time to step out of the shadows, and into the light." The Emperor said, standing tallk at the podium.

The Ninja were scattered around the vicinity. Lloyd and Morro above on the gateway arch, Nya in the crowd, disguised; Kai, Cole and Jay on the stalls on the sides of the bridge facing the palace, and Zane scoping out on high, drawing back a bow.

"I don't like this one bit. If the Royal Family likes their privacy, why give such a public speech?" Nya wispered.

"I think it's nice. They're reaching out to the people." Jay said.

"Why all the hate, sis? You just don't like getting gussied up." Kai kneeled to watch over the crowd.

"All that gold and glitter is for show. The Royal Family are figure heads. They don't have any real power, what purpose do they have?" Nya sighed.

"Their purpose is to be protected, as do all of our traditions." Zane said. He looked to Morro and Lloyd's positions.

"I believe the Masters have spotted something of interest." Zane said.

Morro seemes confused. Then he looked to his side. Lloyd was gazing at the princess. Morro almost had to do a double take.

"Looks like he's got an eye for the Princess." Kai said.

"I guess green is her favorite color." Jay added.

"You do know I can hear you, right?" Lloyd asked.

'They can't hear me, so why don't you explain that loving gaze?'

Morro leaned forwards.

'Shut up.'

Lloyd pushed Morro's face away.

The Wind Ninja stood up and brushed his gi. He let out a small laugh.

"We must continue to be vigilant..." The Emperor continued.

"The Emperor is almost finished. Let's just do our job." Lloyd informed everyone.

"...and always stay united." The Emperor finished. The crowd cheered.

"Be on the lookout." Lloyd said.

Zane pulled his bow back up. The three on the left began to move. Nya walked around the crowd. A balloon rose up with the symbol of the Sons of Garmadon.

"I see a--" Lloyd was cut off by the sound of popping. The crowd paniked and ran. Lloyd tackles the Princess and Empress to the ground while Hutchins did the same for the Emperor. Morro jumped down infront of them, holding a defensive position.

"Is the threat clear?" Lloyd asked. Nya helped a man up. The clared up crowed revealed firecrackers flaring up.

"Huh. Firecrackers. False alarm." Nya said.

Morro and Lloyd helped the Empress and princess up as Hutchins escorted them through the gates.

"You protected the Royal Family. You have their gratitude." Hutchins turned back to the Ninja

"You are invited to be their guests in the palace." He said.

"Heh. No one ever gets invited into the palace. Are you sure they meant us?" Jay asked, joining up with the rest.

"It's just a palace. Once you've seen one, you've seen them all." Nya said.

"We'd be honored." Morro bowed.

. . .

And invites they were. Aa the night fell, the Ninja gathered at the gate.

"Welcome to the Royal Palace, also known as the Palace of Secrets." Hutchins opened the gates for the Ninja to enter.

"Ooh, why do they call it the Palace of Secrets?" Kai asked.

"If I were to tell you that, then it wouldn't be a secret now, would it?" Hutchins barred the gates.

Inside, the halls were decorated with lanterns that dimmed the room with a warm glow. The taprestries on the wall reflected the light onto the floors and walls with lotus patterns.

"Look at that." Kai gazed.

"I already feel royal." Jay exclaimed.

"It's beautiful." Zane remarked.

"Yeah, I could really get used to living in a place like this." Cole said.

"Well, don't. We're only here as guests, then back to protecting Ninjago." Lloyd reminded.

'This is a really big place.'

Morro stared at the ceiling.

"Let's keep going." Lloyd tugged on Morro's hand a bit.

"Hmph. Too much gold in my opinion." Nya sighes.

The gates to the main hall opened and Hutchins bowed. The royal family awaited in their thrones, dressed in their jade coloured attire, fit for a returning warrior of Ninjago.

"I present to you the exalted Emperor and Empress of Ninjago, and their daughter, the Jade Princess, Princess Harumi."

The Ninja lined up and bowed. Nya almost didn't. Lloyd nudged her. She begrudgingly bowed.

"We are honored by your presence." The Emperor said as the family bowed.

"The honor is all ours." Lloyd said.

"I have read much about you. Your heroics will surely become legend." Harumi stepped down to the Ninja.

"Kai, the hothead who acts without question. Cole, the rock and foundation of the team. Jay, the joker whose mouth is as fast as lightning. Zane, the cold and calculating android." Harumi said as she went down the line.

"Nindroid, your highness." Zane corrected as he flicked back to titanium.

"And Nya, the girl." Harumi started. Nya seemed displeased.

"The girl I've wanted to be ever since I first heard about her. With her mastery of Water and her skill that could rival any master." Harumi said.

"I like her." Nya said.

"But you were just--" Morro was stopped when Nya nudged him.

"The first Master, Morro, the calm and swift wind of the skies. Yet proficient in battle to tear down buildings." Harumi said. Morro stepped back a bit.

"Oh! I do not mean to be uhm... Pushy!" Harumi exclaimed. Morro said nothing and simply bowed.

"And Master Lloyd, the Green Ninja. The youngest but most powerful protector. The chosen one. I too have lost my parents..." Harumi said.

"Uh, heh?" Jay glanced between the Princess and the Emperor and Empress.

"...but we're both without family, hm?" Harumi noticed Jay.

"We adopted Harumi and raised her as our own." The Empress said.

"When her parents passed away." The Emperor finished.

"Thank you for inviting us into your home." Lloyd said.

"It wasn't us. It was our daughter." The Emperor smiled.

"And she would like you to stay with us, until the threat to our throne is over."

"These are troubling times, and as long as we have an Oni Mask, we fear our lives are in jeopardy."

"The masks must never be reunited. Please say yes." Harumi said. The Ninja turnes to Morro and Lloyd.

"We will be of service whenever you ask." Morro said.

"We are honored to continue to serve." Lloyd said.

"Great. Then Mr. Hutchins can show you the palace." Harumi seemed to light up.

"Yes!" Cole pumped his arm.

. . .

"While you are in our service, you have full access to the complimentary royal buffet. Anything you want is at your disposal. Exotic fruits, assorted vegetables, scones, and all-you-can-eat cake." Hutchins said as they passed the food hall.

"Ah, thank you, but I gave up sweets. My body is a temple." Cole chimed in.

"Ever since Master Wu went missing, Cole has been a real party pooper." Jay crosses his arms.

"Party pooper?" Zane asked.

"I'll explain later." Jay whispered.

"The palace is equipped with secret passages to get anywhere fast." Hutchins said as they passed a book shelf.

"Oh, so that's why they call it the Palace of Secrets." Kai said.

"Yes, but as to the locations of these secret passages, only the Royal Family knows." Hutchins said.

"Sure. You mean like right...here?" Kai pulled out a book.

"Nope."

"Or here?"

"Not there."

"Or right here?"

"Nope."

"How about here? Here?"

"No."

This went on for a while. Kai was out of breath from pulling out books. Morro walkes up to him.

"Eh?" Kai asked. Morro grabbed Kai's ear and pulled him away.

"AAAHH AHH! OKAY OKAY OW OW OW OW OW!!" Kai yelled.

"We'll clean up after ourselves." Cole smiled. Hutchins walked forwards.

"Anyone else think there's something a little off about this guy?" Nya asked.

"Yeah. Like a secret." Morro nodded.

"He's holding something back." Lloyd said.

"And finally, the reason for your protection: the Mask of Deception." Hutchins stopped before a room.

In the center was a bright orange Oni mask housing a jumbled up face.

"Ugh. A face only a mother could love. Why would anyone want that?" Kai asked.

"That's up to us to figure out." Lloyd said.

"Just being in the same room with it gives me the heebie-jeebies." Jay took a step back.

"If this is the Mask of Deception, what was stolen from Borg Industries?" Nya asked.

"The Mask of Vengeance." Hutchins replied.

"And who has the third one?" Cole asked.

"No one knows the location of the Mask of Hatred, but my sensors tell me it won't be lost for long." Zane said.

"Hatred..." Morro repeated.

"Zane is correct. Though no one has found the third mask, it is given the Royal Family little resolve..." Hutchins wenr on.

Lloyd spotted another room. He went to see what it was. It was the Princess's quarters. He saw Harumi adjusting her makeup. Lloyd flinched and quickly turnes around, making his way back to the group.

"...for we know dark forces are looking to acquire it. And that's why we need eyes on it at all times." Hutchins instructed.

"Don't worry, we're ninja. We're experts at this kind of thing." Kai said.

"The Masks?" Morro asked.

"N-no. The ancient artifacts thay everyone wants to steal to possibly end the world." Kai said.

"I think."

. . .

"All clear." Nya said as she patrolled on the roof.

"Here too. Wait, look!" Kai pointed to Hutchins who looked up to see Kai. The guard walked back in.

"Who's watching who?" Nya asked.

"Mm. Mm. Are you sure you don't want any? This cake is delicious." Jay asked as he ate feom the buffet table.

"Ah. My body is a temple." Cole looked the other way and said.

"Well, the buffet is clear of any threats. And they're out of baloney." Jay pointes.

"Can we discuss now what is a party pooper?" Zane asked.

"Jay's upset I'm the responsible one. With Master Wu gone, someone has to keep us in check." Cole said.

"I thought that was Morro's job." Zane said.

"Ha! That's not it. You just want to turn down every nice thing we're given." Jay said.

"In that case, you are correct. You are responsible. It is nice to have a pooper at the party." Zane smiled. Jay laughed.

. . .

Lloyd walked beside Morro who was staring at the Mask of Deception.

'What do these do all together?'

Lloyd leaned to get a closer look.

'Not sure. But... If it's coralated with Oni and... The Mask of Deception and the Palace of Secrets.'

Morro turned to Lloyd.

'Don't you think it all goes a bit too well?'

Lloyd stared at the mask.

'You might be right...'

They heard glass breaking. The brothers looked at each other. Lloyd turned to Harumi's room.

"Princess? Princess Harumi? Are you there?" Lloyd asked. Morro took out his staff and extended it. Lloyd nodded and opened the door.

It was empty. And all cluttered. The window was open and the curtains blew in the breeze of the night. No princess in sight.

. . .