The knocking hadn’t stopped—it had turned into earthquake-level pounding. MK yanked the door open with a growl.

“OKAY, WHO IS TRYING TO BREAK OUR DOOR—?!”

Half the Ninjago cast was standing there in a pile, mid-knock. Lloyd at the front, Kai leaning over his shoulder, Sora desperately holding Arin back from doing a fourth knock.

MK’s aura spiked instantly. “Oh GREAT. An entire ninja squad. Just what I needed.”

Red Son slid beside him, calm and warm like he was built for damage control. “Beloved, breathe. They are here for something, not a fight.”

MK grumbled but stepped aside. “Fine. But no touching anything. And no yelling.”

Wildfire whispered, “He says that while glowing like a volcano—” Red Son cut her off with a glare that could liquefy metal.

Lloyd straightened. “We need your ability to see through timelines. Beatrix is missing—vanished. There’s something blocking our own senses.”

MK paused. His defensiveness dropped into something more serious.

“…Alright. I’ll help.”

He motioned them all back with a sharp flick of his wrist. Everyone stepped away—except Arin, who kept inching forward until Zane physically dragged him backward.

MK sat cross-legged on the floor, Red Son kneeling behind him, steady hands on his shoulders.

MK inhaled.

Golden flames pooled around him like a slow tidal wave.

And then—

FLASH.

Beatrix. A blue-white door. A hand grabbing her. Someone whispering. A shadow that wasn’t a shadow.

MK pushed deeper—

Then his whole body jolted.

A cry tore from him—small, broken, pained.

Red Son reacted like he’d been burned himself. “MK!” He caught him, arms wrapping tight, aura flaring red-hot. “Stop—stop, that’s enough!”

MK’s eyes flickered weakly. “I… I’m sorry… that’s all… that’s all I can see right now…”

His head fell forward against Red Son’s shoulder, breath shaking.

The room froze.

Sora whispered, “That wasn’t normal.” Lloyd stepped forward, carefully. “MK… does it always hurt like that?” MK didn’t answer—too dazed, clutching Red Son’s sleeve like it anchored him.

Red Son looked up, furious flame swirling behind his eyes.

“No one touches him. No one asks him to push farther. He hasn’t used that ability in months. It drains him—it rips at him. You should have WARNED us.”

Kai swallowed. “We… we didn’t know.” Wildfire hugged her arms. “He looked like he was going to pass out—”

MK mumbled, voice thin, “I’m okay… just haven’t done it in a while. Just need a second…”

Red Son’s tone softened instantly as he cupped MK’s cheek. “Then take all the time you need. I’ve got you.”

Arin nervously raised a hand. “…So, um… whatever he saw… it wasn’t good, right?”

Everyone looked at MK—and the way Red Son held him tighter.

No one had to say it.

No. It wasn’t good at all.