One year has passed since Krux, Acronix, and Master Wu were all lost in time. Two years since Aria separated from the ninja. During the Dragon Day celebration in downtown Ninjago City, six masked members of the Sons of Garmadon infiltrate Borg Tower and steal the Oni Mask of Vengeance.

While leaving, they are confronted by Lloyd, who fights and overpowers three of them and manages to get one of them arrested. However, Mr. E manages to escape with the Oni Mask after a big chase in Lloyd's Ninja Nightcrawler, causing Lloyd to tell P.I.X.A.L. it was time to get the crew back together.

The other Ninja are on various missions around Ninjago. Nya is dealing with a group of samurais in a valley, Cole and Jay are searching for Master Wu at an ancient temple, and Kai and Zane are battling the Mechanic.

The Ninja eventually grouped up. Lloyd joins them.

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

"Kai was late too, if it is any consolation" Zane comments

"Thanks for meeting me here. It's been a while since we've all been under one roof" Lloyd says in a deeper more mature voice, Nya giggles while Cole nudges Jay. Lloyd looks confused "What?"

"Are we gonna talk about it?" Jay asks

"Talk about what?" Lloyd questions

Cole smiled "Your voice, it's—"

Zane changed to a deep voice "Lower"

"Sounds like our little Ninja's growing up" Kai laughs

"well I am 18" Lloyd says

"Yeah leave him alone" Nya sighs "Any word from your mother?"

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

"She'll come back, Lloyd. And so will Wu. What about Aria have you heard from her?" Cole asked

Lloyd shook his head "Not everyone comes back, Cole. But that isn't why I called you here. I called you because of this" He shows them the logo he saw on the parachute.

"Your father? Lord Garmadon?" Cole questions

Lloyd: nodded "After poking around, I've learned it's the symbol to—"

"The Sons of Garmadon. A mysterious criminal syndicate growing prominent in Ninjago City" Zane answered

Lloyd sighed "Seventy two hours ago, they stole a powerful relic from Cyrus Borg. Some mask—"

Hutchins walks in "Not some mask. The Oni Mask. There are only three in existence."

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

"Not only, Jay. Oni." Nya clarified

"The Oni are said to be all-powerful beings. Demons that predate Ninjago" Zane informs them

"Each mask embodies one of the three Oni warlords. If all three masks are united, whomever owns them will wield tremendous power" Hutchins explains

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

"Let me guess, they have an Oni Mask too" Kai says

"Two? Now there's two?" Jay questions and Nya covers his mouth.

"The Emperor will be delivering a public speech welcoming the ruler of a neighboring kingdom tomorrow, and I'm worried the Sons of Garmadon may try to steal the mask. We could use your assistance, that is, if you can keep a low profile" Hutchins says

"We are Ninja. No one will know we are there" Zane answers

"Just let us know where and when" Lloyd said

-

The Ninja hide while the Emperor delivered his speech.

"As many of you know, my family has kept a private life. We aren't interested in meddling with current affairs. But as crime has risen, so has our concern. So it is time to step out of the shadows, and into the light."

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

"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 said

Nya glared at him "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?"

"Their purpose is to be protected, as do all of our traditions. I believe Master Lloyd has spotted something of interest" Zane said

They see Lloyd staring at the princess.

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

"I guess green is her favorite color" Jay snickered

"You do know I can hear you, right? Besides I'm already engaged" Lloyd said "The Emperor is almost finished. Let's just do our job"

"Are you not going to explain what you just said?" Kai questioned "are you going to ignore that you just told us you're engaged... nothing really?"

"...and so that is why we have invited the ruler of the Shadowlands here, to create peace between our kingdoms and an alliance. Please welcome the Empress of the Shadowlands, Empress Aria Lord" The Emperor finished

The crowd cheers.

"Aria!" the ninja shouted

Aria stood next to the royal family and everyone bowed to them.

"Aria's looking good, and she went from being a princess to being a Empress" Jay praised

"Lloyd you're staring" Cole waved a hand in front of him

"She's still my girlfriend, I'm allowed to stare" Lloyd defended

"You haven't seen her for 2 years though" Cole said

"Well we're engaged so... be on the lookout" Lloyd spotted a balloon with the Sons of Garmadon logo

"He said it again" Kai commented

They hear popping sounds and the crowd panics. Lloyd tackles the Princess and Aria to the ground while Hutchins did the same for the Emperor and Empress.

"Is the threat clear?" Lloyd asked into the com

Nya sees firecrackers going off. "Huh. Firecrackers. False alarm"

Lloyd stood up and helped the princess up then held his hand out to Aria.

Aria took his hand "Quick reflexes as always ninja"

"oh well you know, it's my job" Lloyd smiled "Aria-"

"Now's not the proper time to talk about this" Aria covered her mouth with her fan like the empress and princess are

"oh yes your majesty" Lloyd said realizing his mistake "Are you alright?"

"yes thank you green ninja" Aria replied

Hutchins walked over "You protected the Royal Family. You have their gratitude. You are invited to be their guests in the palace"

The ninja all head down

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

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

"We'd be honored" Lloyd bowed

The Emperor, Empress, princess, and Aria head inside the palace.

-

Later that night, the Ninja enters in the palace.

"Welcome to the Royal Palace, also known as the Palace of Secrets" Hutchins said

"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 replied opening the doors

The Ninja, except Nya, gasps in awe.

"Hmph. Too much gold in my opinion" Nya said unimpressed

They entered the throne room where the royal family is with Aria. The Emperor, Empress, and Princess were sitting on their thrones while Aria was sitting in her own throne.

"I present to you the exalted Emperor and Empress of Ninjago, their daughter the Jade Princess, Princess Harumi, and the Empress from the neighboring kingdom Empress Aria"

"We are honored by your presence" The Emperor said

"The honor is all ours" Lloyd said as he and the ninjas bowed

"I have read much about you. Your heroics will surely become legend. 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-"

Zane smiled "Nindroid, your highness"

"Nya, the girl... 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 finished

"I like her" Nya said

"Master Lloyd, the Green Ninja. The youngest but most powerful protector. The chosen one. I too have lost my parents..." Harumi trailed off "...but we're both without family, hm?

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

"And he purple ninja..." Harumi looked around "the most dangerous and feared ninja, the overlord's daughter..."

"Oh yes I'm here" Aria replied from her throne "I may wear a different mask but I am still here"

"Empress Aria is the purple ninja?" Princess Harumi asked surprised

"I am the Overlord's daughter, of course I would inherit my father's kingdom" Aria closed her fan "It shouldn't be that surprising"

"Forgive our daughter Empress Aria, she did not mean to offend you" the Emperor stood up and bowed to Aria

"Of course, she is still a child" Aria smiled opening her fan back up

The Emperor sat back down and smiled at the ninja.

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

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

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

The Emperor sighed "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" Princess Harumi pleaded

"Then you have our help" Lloyd answered

The ninja visit the royal buffet and Hutchins states that they have access to eat anything like assorted fruits, assorted vegetables, scones and cake. Jay then states that Cole "gave up sweets" due to the fact that Master Wu is gone.

Proceeding on the tour, Hutchins tells the Ninja there are many secret passages in the palace that only the Royal Family know. After hearing this, Kai starts pulling books off the shelves, trying to find one of the passages, but only succeeding in making a mess. The Ninja are now lead into the main room where the Oni Mask of Deception is being held.

Hutchins starts to explain about the mask, but while he is, Lloyd sneaks off to a room to find Harumi doing her makeup. Harumi notices Lloyd through her mirror and she quickly hides her face. Lloyd backs away awkwardly and bumps into someone.

He turned around

"Aria" Lloyd called out "Um... can we talk"

Aria sighed "let's get it over with"

"You left for two years" Lloyd said "It was just a small fight between me and Kai, it's all fine now"

"I just felt uncomfortable" Aria answered "I'm sorry"

"I'm sorry too, but you should've talked to me" Lloyd took her hand "Our marriage isn't going to be stable if you can't talk to me"

"You still remember our engagement?" Aria asked embarrassed

"Of course" Lloyd smirked "I'm all yours, now and always. Next time you're upset just talk to me, I don't think i can take the silence treatment for another two years"

"ok" Aria replied hugging him "I've missed you so much"

"I've missed you too, let's go see the ninja" Lloyd smiled

Jay, Cole, and Zane are at the buffet table.

"Mm. Mm. Are you sure you don't want any?" Jay asked Cole "This cake is delicious"

"Ah! My body is a temple!" Cole shouts

"Since when?" Aria questioned as she walks in with Lloyd "At my 8th birthday party you ate my birthday cake before my party even started"

"Aria!" The 3 ninja shouted running to her and tackling her in a hug

"Ok ok release" Aria commanded

The ninja let go of her and were so happy.

"We haven't seen you for 2 years, we were so surprised when they announced you as Empress of the Shadowlands" Jay told her

"yeah and your dress was amazing" Kai complemented

"Last time you were with us you were only a princess" Cole said

"Well I turned 18 and was crowned Empress, but my title is not official until i get married" Aria explained

"...my ship?" Jay questioned looking at Lloyd

"Don't start that" Kai said covering Jay's mouth

"So when are you getting married?" Zane asked

"When my fiancé isn't busy saving Ninjago every year" Aria replied leaning against Lloyd

"So you and Lloyd are engaged!" Kai shouted happily "i knew it"

"YES" Jay shouted and Zane covered his mouth

"I'm going on patrol I'll be back" Lloyd said kissing Aria's forehead and walking away

Lloyd looks into the mask's display case "So, you're the Mask of Deception" He hears glass break and slowly walks toward Harumi's room "Princess? Princess Harumi? Are you there?" He opens the door but her room is empty.