Speed Through Neon

Griffin zipped through Ninjago's neon-lit streets, his red sneakers barely touching the pavement. The towering skyscrapers flashed purple and blue around him, casting dancing shadows on the canals below.

"Late again," he muttered, checking his phone. Sensei Wu had called an emergency meeting, and Griffin's habit of stopping for street food had cost him precious minutes.

He skidded around a corner, nearly colliding with a vendor selling steamed dumplings. The man shouted something in another language, but Griffin was already three blocks away.

The dojo came into view, its traditional architecture standing out against the modern cityscape. Griffin could see figures moving inside through the paper windows. He slowed his pace, catching his breath before entering.

"Wonder what's got Wu all worked up," he said to himself, pushing open the heavy wooden doors.

The other ninja were already seated in a circle. Kai looked tense, his arms crossed. Jay was fidgeting with some electronic device, sparks occasionally jumping between his fingers.

The Invisible Trap

Griffin stepped inside and stopped short. Sensei Wu stood at the center of the circle, his face grave. Zane sat motionless, his ice-blue eyes focused on nothing. Cole drummed his fingers against the wooden floor.

"Griffin," Wu said without turning. "You arrive just as we receive troubling news."

Jay held up his phone, the screen flickering with urgent alerts. "Emergency broadcasts are going crazy. Something's happening at the old mail sorting facility downtown."

"What kind of something?" Griffin asked, sliding into the circle.

Kai stood up abruptly. "The kind where invisible barriers started appearing around the building. Workers can't get in or out."

"Invisible barriers?" Griffin raised an eyebrow behind his sunglasses.

Nya pulled out her tablet, showing blurry photos from news feeds. "Look at this. People are trapped inside, but you can't see what's keeping them there. They're just... stuck."

Wu stroked his beard. "This is no ordinary disturbance. I fear Lord Garmadon has returned from the cursed realm."

The room fell silent. Griffin felt his heart skip a beat. He'd heard stories about Garmadon's previous reign of terror.

"We need to gather all the Elemental Masters," Wu continued. "This threat is too great for us alone."