United (Monkie Kid X Ninjago)

Episode 11: Inner Self

"Sooo, why did you need us again?" MK said before pointing at all of them. "And I mean us specifically by the way!"

Zhihui chuckled. "Simple. I was told by Wu that The Ninja were about to unlock their Dragon Forms shortly before The Crystal King transported them here...I'm going to help them unlock it."

Cole's eyes widened. "Wait, seriously?! You know how?!"

"Quanish The Elder's scroll about how to unlock it was very specific...but a chamber I have should allow you to unlock it." Zhihui said simply as he opened the door to a rather shiny looking room.

It looked like some kind of meditation chamber. With a giant Yin and Yang symbol on the ceiling and floor.

Zhihui was the first to walk in. "This chamber was given to me by The Buddha himself. Those who can truly focus on their inner selves will be able to unlock their full potential...I do not use it often. If someone were to unlock their true forms here without being ready or focused...well, the result would not be preferable."

Jay stared in awe before walking inside. "Now, this is cool!"

Zhihui chuckled and then sat on the Yin-Yang symbol. "I suppose it is, hmmm?" He asked before pulling out a few of his hairs and blowing on them.

And then, they transformed into mats for The Ninja and MK to sit on, all of them correctly coordinated with their colors. Kai's being red, Jay's being blue, Cole's being black, Zane's being white, Lloyd's being green, and MK's being gold.

"You can do the hair thing too?!" MK asked as he sat down on his mat.

Zhihui grinned. "I picked up this trick rather recently. Sadly, it's not exclusive to all of our species. My only unique ability is this."

He then suddenly extended one of his arms, sitting Lloyd down on his mat. He then did the same with the others.

"Stretchy arms." Cole blinked.

Zane turned. "Does that...hurt?"

"If it did, I'd be in trouble." Zhihui shrugged.

Kai then looked around. "Sooo...how do we unlock our Dragon Forms? And why bring MK and no one else? I get why you didn't bring Pixal and Nya, but why not Skylor too?"

"Kai. One at a time maybe?" Lloyd said.

Zhihui just smiled. "I will show you how to unlock your forms in a moment. As for why I didn't bring anybody else, they have no need to do this. Skylor likely doesn't need a Dragon Form. As for MK's friends, they are already at full power. Except for Tang, who this chamber cannot help."

MK tilted his head. "Tang has powers?"

Zane hummed. "I did detect a strange energy coming from him. But what do you mean everyone else is already at full power?"

"Red Son is a master of his craft. Mei is one with The Samadhi Fire. Sandy is merely a Pacifist. Pigsy doesn't actually have any powers. And Wu and Garmadon can't exactly get any stronger than they already are." Zhihui explained.

Cole hummed. "Makes sense...sooo, what do we do?"

"Medidate." Zhihui said. "Clear out everything...focus...get in contact with your inner self."

Lloyd looked at him. "But...we're kind of on a time limit."

"Then, if push comes to shove, we will buy you all time." Zhihui said before looking at Lloyd. "And you, Lloyd...you can't just unlock the Dragon Form."

Lloyd turned to him as everyone else started meditating. "Ummm...what?"

"You have another form to unlock."

Lloyd's eyes narrowed a bit and he sighed. "Look, Dad's already tried this. It doesn't work. My Oni Form-"

"No. It does work." Zhihui suddenly said. "You are just rejecting it...my boy, you are a valiant warrior and a noble hero. One who fights for others and not for himself. But...you deny a part of yourself."

Lloyd's eyes widened. "What...? What part...?"

"Your Oni half. Your...bad side, if you will." Zhihui explained. "Take a look at what I am sitting on. The Yin and Yang. A universal sign of balance. Your grandfather wanted balance when he could not reach it in his home."

Lloyd looked to the side for a moment. "...how do you know all of that?"

"Your sensei is a nice person to have tea with." Zhihui said simply. "Lloyd, you embrace your good side. Your Dragon side. The one who creates, fights for right, and sees the good in everyone...but because of this, you fear your other side. You reject your other side."

Lloyd turned to him. "Zhihui, it's not who I am...I...I don't wanna be someone evil...I'm not like that."

"Your Oni side isn't evil if you are not." Zhihui said. "Deep down, your Oni half is still you. And you at your core, are a good person. Your Oni side or...your bad half is more or less a brutal form of justice. Still you. Just the side of yourself you repress."

He then put his hands together. "In order to stand a chance against The Crystal King if he were to ever steal me and my siblings' powers for himself, you need to unite your Oni and Dragon sides."

"But The Oni and Dragon can't get along! One destroys, one creates! You said it yourself!" Lloyd said. "Grandfather couldn't find balance in his home because they were constantly divided!"

Zhihui sighed. "You are correct...partially. I am not speaking of uniting two races. But rather your two halves. Even if just for this one fight."

Lloyd turned to him again. "I...I-I don't know if I can..."

"Yes, you can." Zhihui said. "In order to reach my own balance, I've learned just as much about good and evil...they need each other. Your Oni and Dragon sides need each other too, even if their sole purpose is to clash against each other. Meditate, Green Ninja...see what you can accomplish."

Lloyd took a deep breath before closing his eyes, trying to clear out everything. The fear of their limited amount of time, his confusion, and both his bad and good memories. Clearing everything away...so that could he get to know, well, himself.

Zhihui then stood up and looked at MK. His eyes glowed silver for a moment. 'You have a form under your human shape...but yet, as much as I know about Lloyd Garmadon...I know very little about you, Monkie Kid.'

Then, he noticed Kai, Zane, Cole, and Jay. Golden armor was slowly starting to form on them and their hands were glowing.

Zhihui smiled a bit at that before hearing a rumble outside. His eyes narrowed and he then left the room, shutting it behind him. Looks like his home had been discovered.

Like he promised...he would have to buy them time.