Fandom - Ninjago

Summary - Sequel to "Corruption." At the moment of Morro's triumph, Lloyd confronts him about what he saw during his possession. Morro realizes some things about himself that he had long since forgotten. Suddenly, his quest for domination doesn't seem as right as he'd thought, and he is left with no idea what to do.

Rating - K+ for some violence. No sex, no swearing.

Characters - Morro, Lloyd, Garmadon, the Ninja, the Preeminent, Bansha, Soul Archer, other Ghosts.

AUTHOR'S NOTE - The first two chapters are basically a rewrite of Curseworld, part 1. It just seemed like it would be easier to start there than just where the AU diverges. This is also likely to be a shorter story than Corruption was, though its sequels will be far longer.

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CHAPTER ONE

THE GATHERING STORM

It was time. The city of Stiix was crawling with ghosts, and ghostly dragons flew high above it, keeping a watchful eye on all entranceways. There was no way the ninja would be able to get inside without being spotted.

Morro waited on the top of the old pawnshop. Beneath him was a swirling portal that was continuing to strengthen, tearing apart the fabric between realms. Soon the Preeminent would cross over, and then there would be no stopping her—soon his revenge would be complete. A grin stretched across his features. For Wu to have to admit that he had failed... To watch his realm being destroyed, and the other fourteen to follow... It would be perfect. Just perfect.

Bansha was right. Morro would be invincible, but only once all of that had happened. He had to keep the ninja away, still, just long enough for the Preeminent to cross over. If he knew anything about ninja, it was that they wouldn't simply sit by and let him finish his job. No, they'd be coming here to try to stop him. But he wouldn't let them do that.

He glanced towards his generals. "I want you to keep patrolling," he stated firmly. "Immediately alert me to any sign of the ninja. Or anything at all that looks the slightest bit suspicious."

He couldn't let anything happen now. Despite being so close to triumph, Morro was tense and agitated. He'd come too far to fail, and he wouldn't rest easily until it had all been finished.

The ghosts nodded, leaving the base, and Morro himself descended to the main room. The portal was surging, widening... but it would still be a little while before it was strong enough for the Preeminent to come to Ninjago. Morro tightened his fists. If only it could happen now... then there would be no chance. No more ghosts came through now—it seemed that most, if not all of them, had taken up positions in the city. Most were revelling, rather than guarding. But it made sense—they'd finally been freed from the Cursed Realm. Still, was it not just a little distracting?

No matter. There was no way that the ninja could make it past his guard. Morro would make absolutely sure of that.

He had begun to climb back to his vantage point when he heard Bansha's voice in his mind.

Wu has been spotted driving one of the food trucks, she told him. Morro's eyes went wide and he began to run toward the bridge. He paused next to Bansha, looking up at the ghost dragons as they circled above. He glanced toward her.

"He's probably bringing the ninja with him," he muttered, eyes narrowing. "We'll have to stop them."

Bansha nodded, and Morro smirked a bit. "Let me possess you... I want to see this, but I'd rather the ninja not know that I'm away from the Realm Crystal." He wanted to see Wu's face as he was captured and dragged away, useless and unable to help, and as the ninja were locked up with him, to watch them fail for once and for all. But just in case they had some sort of trick up their sleeve, Morro would rather not show them that the crystal was unguarded—as unguarded as it could be in a city full of ghosts.

It was no trouble for the other ghost to agree—especially seeing as Morro was her superior—and he quickly took over her body, taking care to keep her appearance and voice unaltered. The trucks approached, and Morro carefully began to wave them through the gates. At a cry from above, his gaze flickered up at one of the dragons before it returned to the line of vehicles. The next truck was being driven by an all-too-familiar set of faces. Just Wu and the woman, though... Lloyd's mother. The ninja must be in the back.

Morro halted the truck, floating in front of it. "Wu..." he smirked, in Bansha's voice. "A special delivery, I presume?" With a brief nod to the few ghosts surrounding him, he backed away a few feet, though he remained in front of the vehicle. They surrounded the truck, and opened the back.

"Nothing!"

Morro was surprised, and looked to Wu in suspicion as his former Sensei opened the door and climbed out of the truck. "Let me talk to my pupil," he stated, the pacifism in his voice grating on Morro's nerves—how dare he still refer to him that way? "It doesn't have to end this way."

If Wu wanted to talk, then Morro would give him what he wanted. Quickly, he shifted Bansha's appearance.

"Sensei!" his voice was laced with bitterness and false hospitality. "I was wondering when you were going to show up..."

Wu looked shocked, eyes widening, and then narrowing once again. "Morro!"

He smirked. "You think I'm just going to let you stroll right in? Your wisdom fails you in your old age."

The old man took a few steps toward him, and Morro just narrowed his eyes a little. "Last chance, Morro," Wu spoke firmly, almost like he was reprimanding his former student—how cute. "You may no longer be my pupil, but I can still teach you a lesson. My ninja are well trained, and they will defeat every last one of you. Give up now, or forever rest in peace."

Morro narrowed his eyes, fists clenching a little bit. How dare he? He was the best ninja that had ever existed, better than Lloyd, better than anyone! Wu honestly thought that he'd give up from that threat? He'd fought the ninja before and won. And it was all Wu's fault that he couldn't rest in peace. It was Wu's fault that he was dead now! He gestured with Bansha's hand. "Take them," he spat, and the ghosts came up and grabbed the two of them. Morro lowered down to Wu's level. "You think I would ever let the ninja into my town?" he asked, gritting his teeth. "Foolish old man!"

With that, he spun around and returned to the base. There, he left Bansha's body. The female ghost stumbled forward, rubbing her head. "You cannot let your guard down, Morro," she advised. "You have captured Wu, but no doubt the ninja are not far behind."

Morro frowned deeply, anger settling within him. "I know. But we'll catch them before they get too far. Besides... I'm protecting the Realm Crystal. There's no way they'll be able to get through me. Especially since I have the sword."

He drew the Sword of Sanctuary, grinning as he peered briefly into its reflection. Nothing. For now he was safe. He cast a glance up at the portal—it was even stronger. It shouldn't be more than a few minutes now... and maybe if he was lucky, the ninja would be able to have a front row seat to watch their realm fall.

Maybe he shouldn't have been so confident in the abilities of the ghosts to keep out intruders. After all, hadn't he had to do most things all on his own throughout this entire mission? They'd failed at almost anything. Nonetheless, he startled in surprise as he heard a screech from one of the dragons. No! That meant one thing—the ninja had begun to attack. Morro quickly looked at the sword—but there was nothing. He gripped its hilt tightly. "Come on!" he snapped. "They got in!" Irritation was evident in his tone—but he had every right to it. How could they have failed him like that? He had an entire realm devoted to keeping them out, and they'd let them in! Stupid ghosts.

Morro's generals followed him just outside, and he looked around—no ninja. A frown creased his expression until he caught a flash of green. Lloyd! He spun to face Soul Archer. "Stop him!" he ordered. The archer floated off to do as he was asked, and Morro looked to the other three. "Come on, we've got to make sure he doesn't get away."

He started off at a slight jog through the streets, watching Soul Archer from a distance. Lloyd dared to try to come in here and steal the realm crystal? He was a fool! Morro came to a halt as he rounded the corner, and a grin spread across his face as he saw Lloyd cornered, facing an arrow of the archer's. He gave a slight chuckle, drawing the sword of sanctuary and starting toward him with a nod toward his generals.

"The green ninja," he taunted, coming up behind Lloyd as the other ghosts began to surround him. "So rude... hasn't anyone told you it's not polite to be late to the party?" The tip of the sword was placed on Lloyd's chest as he caught a sight of the ninja's frightened expression. He tilted his head to one side. "Bring him back to the base," he smirked.

Satisfied that the green ninja was securely in Wrayth and Ghoultar's clutches, Morro turned, heading back toward the old shop. Outside, he stopped and turned. A few more curious ghouls had made their way over, just to watch and see what had happened. Morro grinned as Ghoultar shoved Lloyd down onto the wooden planks. His fingers gripped the sword. All their plans... They'd tried to have Wu distract them—that must have been what they were doing—so that Lloyd could come and steal the realm crystal to get revenge. Well, they were wrong. This was Morro's time for revenge, not Lloyd's. Now it was time for the green ninja to know that, and all his annoying friends.

Bansha walked up, stopping next to the fallen Lloyd. "Now that we've got him, what do you want us to do with him?" she asked, gesturing toward him.

Morro took one step towards Lloyd, sword still in hand. "Surely it's not just you," he stated, watching him closely. "I know your ninja are never far." Lloyd looked up at him and narrowed his eyes, and Morro's own gaze darted about for any sign of his friends, lurking in the shadows.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are... I have your beloved green ninja!"he teased. They'd been so keen to get Lloyd back last time, surely they'd be the same way now.

Morro's fist tightened around the hilt of his sword. This stupid weakling... he actually thought he stood a chance against Morro? The wind master had trained for years for this, and Lloyd had never even known he'd existed. "You think you can come into my home, and steal the crystal I rightfully earned?" he asked, narrowing his eyes. "You think I'll just hand it to you, just like the green gi was handed to you?"

Even now, looking at another person wearing what he should have worn filled him with rage... Lloyd had never bested him, he was better than Lloyd! He should have it. He had earned it, Lloyd had done nothing to deserve to wear it! He reached forward, grabbing him by the collar and shaking him a little. "Tell me - tell all of us that I'm better than you!"he hissed, shoving him back down. "Then I'll let you go."

No reply, just a glare from the green ninja's eyes, the only visible part of his face. They looked a little bit off, but... things were different in this lighting. And Morro hadn't seen Lloyd's face much.

"What's the matter?" he asked, gripping Lloyd's hood. "Cat got your tongue?" He pulled it free, and then gasped, jumping back. It wasn't Lloyd's face that glared back at him, but the girl—Nya! What... what was she doing here?

Morro stepped back, staring, as she jumped up to her feet.

"Sorry, I couldn't hear you... I'm still a little... wet behind the ears," she grinned, and in her hand there suddenly formed a sphere of...

"She's a water ninja..." Morro's heart plummeted and once again he gripped the hilt of the Sword of Sanctuary. "She's—protect the Realm Crystal!"