Arin Nived[1] is the son of Barry and Jenny Nived, a self-taught Spinjitzu prodigy, creator of Object Spinjitzu, a ninja student of Lloyd's, and a former student of Ras. He is the first known person to teach himself Spinjitzu without a master. He used to live in a neighborhood outside Ninjago City, until the Merge caused his parents and region to disappear. Years after the Merge, Arin and his best friend Sora became students of Lloyd Garmadon.
A year passed and he began to express frustration at not improving his Spinjitzu. In addition to this, he discovered that Sora had lied to him about his "triumph" during the Ritual of the Blood Moon, and that Master Wu was responsible for the Merge, leading to him embracing Ras and his teachings.
During the weeks of healing and being trained with Ras, Arin eventually went to the Spectral Lands, where he met Morro, who helped him obtain an healing elixir to heal Ras. Ras would eventually take him to the graves of his parents before Ras persuaded Arin by offering to reverse the Merge to revive them. After Thunderfang absorbed Lloyd's soul, Arin, using his Object Spinjitzu, defeated the dragon singlehandedly, reviving Lloyd in the process. Although on friendly terms with the ninja now, Arin continued his journey to bring back his parents with Ras, this time, accompanied by Sora, leading them to the Forge of the Forgotten, where Arin turned against Ras after the latter attempted to sacrifice Sora in order to obtain a Dragon Icon. After he and Sora managed to escape Ras, he went back to his parents' tombstones where he discovered that they were fake and was reunited with his parents in the Community of Lee.
Appearance
Appearance[]
Arin has coily black hair in "The Duke" hairstyle, featuring stubbled sideburns and two scars on his right cheek. From "The Merge: Part 1," to "Return to Imperium," "The Battle of the Second Monastery," and "What the Mech?," he wears an orange sweatshirt with a dragon on it and his initial 'A' in Ninjargon in white, located above the left pocket, navy blue pants also sporting his initial in a lighter color on the right pocket, a very bright celadon belt, and black gloves. In "The Merge: Part 1," he wore Lloyd's mask with his clothes, but neglected to wash it as it had a dirty appearance, as noted when he gave it back to Lloyd in "The Merge: Part 2." After escaping Imperium, Lloyd gave it back to him in "The Battle of the Second Monastery."
On the day of the Merge, as a child, Arin was smaller and wore a different orange sweatshirt, but with the initial in the very center, different navy blue pants, and black gloves.
From "Return to Imperium" to "The Battle of the Second Monastery", Arin dons the disguise of an Imperium citizen under the alias of Dr. Lampshade Floortile, with three markings on his left cheek.
Sometime prior to "The Temple of the Dragon Cores," Arin changed into his own ninja suit, which consisted of the orange sweatshirt and belt he usually wore, paired with matching orange pants, orange hood and mask which included a golden plate on the front with two horn-like studs.
From "Enter the City of Temples" to "Elements of Betrayal," Arin donned his Tournament of Sources suit. It consisted of a bright orange sleeveless jacket with two front pockets, dark blue fasteners, and a dragon-like pattern on the right side in a lighter colour, as well as stitching details and his initial 'A' in Ninjargon on the bottom right. He wore matching orange pants with a dark blue belt and mask as well as black gloves. This attire strongly resembles his regular ninja suit.
From "The Missing" onward, he wore a suit similar to his Merge suit, except it included a black hood and mask with ripped black fabric covering his left shoulder and sleeve. It also incorporated a black belt, black gloves and various straps and pouches on his legs. The typically orange dragon design was swapped for a dark magenta with splattered, spray-paint like details.
Personality
Personality[]
“The Arin I know, my best friend, his strength comes from his kindness. His generosity. His hope.”
“But all that didn't help me.”
“It helped me. And it helped everyone who ever met you.”
Arin was once an ordinary child who aspired to be a hero. However, after the Merge, he underwent a significant change. When he believed that the ninja had vanished, he striven to take on the role of protecting the world, gaining his parents' pride, and continuing the ninja's legacy. Despite his noble intentions, Arin faced several challenges in his ninja journey due to his lack of coordination and finesse compared to his peers. This often resulted in clumsy mishaps, such as self-inflicted punches.
Arin is kind, caring, kind-hearted, compassionate, helpful, trusting, affectionate, and friendly. However, he can sometimes act naive and is willing to trust others easily. He is incredibly fond of his friends such as Sora, Riyu, and Lloyd.
Season 2 explores Arin's struggles as he grapples with his skills. He tries to control them while feeling the weight of expectations to become a skilled ninja. Arin's accident, which injured Egalt, his lack of Elemental Powers, and the looming threat of Ras, compound his insecurities and self-doubt from Season 1, intensifying his internal struggles. The fear of inadequacy and the need to prove himself in the face of adversity deepen Arin's inner conflicts. These conflicts are especially evident during a battle orchestrated by Ras, where his vulnerabilities and doubts were exposed.[2]
After being told by Ras that Wu was responsible for the Merge and that Sora lied to him, Arin started to become cold and willing to side with Ras to find his parents, as his teaching helped improve his Spinjitzu while Lloyd’s teachings barely helped him at all. He stopped seeing Lloyd as a role model and started to hold a grudge against Sora and to pull away from her, sometimes being harsh to her when she tried to approach him. All this caused him to reach the point to where he betrayed the ninja to save Ras from the Forbidden Five.
Despite the above, Arin was quite insecure and uncertain about his decision to trust Ras, especially when the latter taught him harshly and told him to dismiss the ninja's teachings. After learning of his parents' apparent deaths, Arin broke down and decided to help Ras in his quest to reverse the merge after the latter claimed that could bring back Arin's parents, showing the extreme yearning he had developed for his parents and a growing hatred that fuels his spinjitzu even more. However, his insecurity deepened when he watched Ras hurt the Spirit of the Temple and was considered a villain by the Forest Dragons since he sided with Ras. Despite this, Arin had decided to accept this and became more hardened in the process with his indifference. However, though he decided to follow Ras, Arin does not reflect the same antagonism towards the ninja that his new teacher expressed, crediting them for saving the world. Furthermore, the teachings that Arin learnt as a student of Lloyd continued to influence his actions, which made acclimating to the ruthless nature of Ras a difficult change. While told that it was time for him to prioritise his own needs above others, Arin still demonstrated shreds of his original personality, rarely accepting violence as a first opinion and being friendly towards others, which marked a clear difference between him and Ras. He also exhibited visible hesitation when his friends in the ninja were referred to as enemies and clearly misses them deep inside, then demonstrates visible discomfort at their reunion in the World Forest, but little to no antagonism, with Ras noting that there was internal turmoil inside his student. His mellowed anger is best demonstrated through his renewed interaction with Sora after the two best friends are brought back together. Despite the rift that had flourished between them at the Tournament of Sources, Arin proves that he still cared about Sora and when the battle with the Forbidden Five broke out, the two were able to fall back into their previous teamwork without issue, which enabled them to save one another from death. Swinging from opposite sides of the same rope, when Sora asked him to return to the Monastery, Arin revealed the death of his parents to her and made no move to pull away when she pulled him into a hug that he returned after several seconds. From then on, though there was still a certain fissure between them that stemmed from their different teachers in the past few months, the two appear to have reconciled without further issue. Arin even acknowledged that he was the one at fault for their falling out and opened up to Sora about the uncertainty that he felt about his powers and how he had only grown stronger under the tutorage of Ras. When he briefly rejoined the ninja to fight against the Forbidden Five and Thunderfang, Arin had a moment of realization about himself and finally realized that his true strength lies in his positive traits, such as his kindness, and absolutely denounced Ras' teachings and advice. This allowed him to ultimately kill Thunderfang, ending the tumultuous battle and saving Lloyd, though he did comeback Ras in the end out of desire to be reunited with his parents, with Sora following him, to his gratitude.
During his journey with Sora accompanying him, he is still assertive with himself and demanding his friend to take the quest seriously, showing that he has no time to mess around. However, he was still amicable and retained the heroic streak that Ras had encouraged him to suppress. The presence of Sora caused his more light-hearted nature to resurface, and Arin agreed when his best friend affirmed that the two of them where a team, then laughed when she discounted Ras in a joking manner. Like Sora, he prioritized the welfare of innocent lives and defended this effort to help the people who had been hollowed to Ras. Upon discovering Ras' intention to sacrifice Sora, Arin displayed his immense devotion to his friend, even calling her family, and completely regretted his decision to trust Ras, abandoning him, even while reminded that the reversal of the Merge was the sole means to restore his parents to life. Upon escaping from the Underworld, Arin broke down into tears, believing that his parents were truly gone and admitting to Sora that he was scared of this change. Arin would unexpectedly reunite with his parents and the ninja later, much to his joy. He seems to have learned from his disastrous time with Ras and become much calmer after finding his parents, but still showed insecurities about his role as a ninja, only helping his friends out against Thunderfang out of kindness and generosity to release the captured souls and have people reunite with their loved ones and stating that he intends to quit the ninja because he is at his limits and showing his tiredness with his situation. The effort to stop Thunderfang caused Arin to realise that the path of a Ninja was his calling however, though he intended to take some time off with his parents before the resumption of his training.
Weapons and abilities
Weapons and abilities[]
Abilities[]
“Your self-taught Spinjitzu is a bit wonky, but it's incredible you learned it on your own. It makes sense to me you have other skills you haven't tapped into yet. We just have to learn what's holding you back.”
Spinjitzu: Arin's relentless efforts to decipher the maneuvers performed by the ninja in order to master Spinjitzu have led him to develop a rudimentary version of the art, distinct from the more sophisticated forms. Lloyd's observations acknowledged that Arin possesses untapped Spinjitzu abilities and talents beyond his foundational skills, including Object Spinjitzu, which he has yet to explore.[3][4] After using the advice that Frak and Lord Ras had given him, Arin was able to achieve a full version of Spinjitzu, however due to using a forceful manner to perfect, it carries some wisps of energy found in Shatterspin.
Arin possesses the ability to transfer his Spinjitzu energy into any inanimate object he throws. These objects possess explosive power, and severely damage anything they hit. It can only be used when Arin feels a strong need to protect others.
Skilled combatant: Arin is skilled in combat. Due to being mostly self taught, Arin manages to evade multiple attacks. Although he lost to Ras, even after a year of training under Lloyd, Arin managed to defeat several Wolf warriors by himself. By the time of the Tournament of Sources, Arin's skills improved where he manage to hold against Nokt for a brief time and manage to pin him down with Ras help. Training under Ras help Arin fight off Soul Suckers and briefly against Jay, in his armor. Later on, with the help of Sora, he was able to fight on par with Ras and best him in combat, leaving the latter stuck under a rockslide.
Baking: Arin is good at baking, his speciality being the pies.
Weapons[]
Grapple Gun: At some point after the Merge, Arin obtained a grappling hook that Sora created for him, which he uses to get around places or as a weapon.
Imperium Sword: Arin briefly used an Imperium Sword but accidentally almost shot himself when he had it in blaster mode.
Returning Blade: Formerly owned by Ras, Arin wielded the Returning Blade until it was taken by Drix. Although he manage to get it back after Thunderfang was freed, it was broken after fighting Spectral Dragonians in Mysterium.
Lightning Dagger: Arin briefly used one of Rogue's Lightning Daggers when fighting him in the World Forest.
Arin is a teenager. He is younger than the ninja, as he was a child during the merge. Chris "Doc" Wyatt thinks that there is a 6 to 7 year age gap between Arin and the original 6 ninja.[7]
What follows are possible estimations using creator statements on the ninja's ages. Their specific ages are not canonically set in stone, and some older statements may no longer apply if the creator later disagrees with themselves.
Possible estimations:Deven Mack sees Arin as being around 13 to 15 years old.[8]
Official description
Official description[]
Meet Arin![]
Just another ‘wannabe’ ninja? Or something more? Things got shaken up by The Merge, and nobody felt it more than ninja superfan Arin. One thing is for sure, epic adventures await him and his new buddy, tech genius Sora.[9]
Self-taught[]
Obsessed with the ninja since he was a child, Arin’s self-taught Spinjitzu is impressive, but he must truly master it to help save the world.[10]
The heart of the team - Has always been a big ninja fan - Taught himself a form of Spinjitzu - Optimistic: never loses hope - Lost hisfamily and his home in "The Merge"[11]
Arin is a superfan of the ninja team who has taught himself a rough form of Spinjitzu. After his home and family disappeared because of the Merge, Arin teamed up with Sora.[12]
Arin has no elemental powers, but he has developed his own version of Spinjitzu— much to the Ninja's amazement. Imagine what he'll be like after some Ninja training!
Arin grew up as a ninja superfan before his family disappeared in the mysterious Merge that brought the different realms together. He had thaught himself his own rough version of Spinjitzu.[citation needed]
Arin is a gender-neutral name of Irish origins. It means "high mountain; enlightened; warrior lion." The name is also translated as "first rays of the sun; joy; peace" but the origins of these meanings are unknown.
Behind the scenes
Behind the scenes[]
In early concept, Arin was originally named Max, but was possibly changed to avoid confusion with the LEGO Life character of the same name.[13]
Chris "Doc" Wyatt has stated that Arin has a last name,[14] which was later confirmed to be "Nived" in "I Alone Can Save Them".
Trivia
Trivia[]
Arin is the first character to speak and appear in Ninjago: Dragons Rising.
He has an unfortunate habit of punching himself in the face.
He likely stopped doing this once he got better during his training with Lloyd and later Ras.
He once tried to have Zane's hairstyle, which, according to Sora, did not go so well. Both Kai and Cole share the belief that having Zane's hairstyle isn't the most ideal decision.[15][16][17]
This is further confirmed by Chris "Doc" Wyatt who has stated that Arin does not have an elemental power,[19]As such, he has no connection to the Source Dragons.[20]
He didn't know who Morro was before "The Spectral Lands", even though he had heard about the existence of the other realms before the Merge, which were revealed during season 5, the season in which Morro was the main antagonist.
He also didn't seem to know of Lloyd using the Tomorrow's Tea to accelerate his age.
Arin's arc in Season 2 of Dragons Rising about wanting to get better at being a ninja is similar to what Kai went through during Season 1 of the original series.
Both at a young age admired and idolized the Ninja.
Both lost their parents due to actions of their heroes (Harumi lost her parents when the Great Devourer was released by Pythor who was freed by Lloyd, and Arin lost his parents in the Merge caused by Wu).
Arin is the third ninja to have his surname revealed, following Lloyd and Jay, however, similar to the latter, his last name was revealed through his parents.
Arin's last name is possibly a nod to his voice actor Deven Mack's first name, albeit spelled backwards and with an "i" instead.
Arin grew up in a small neighborhood with his parents, Barry and Jenny, outside of Ninjago City, where he became a fan of the ninja. He always loved detective work, and his parents would always play Track with him or read him detective books. Whenever he was sad, his mother would make him a pie before she eventually began teaching him how to bake.[1] At some point, he was teased by some bullies due to being a Ninja fan, only to be scared off by a Serpentine named Frak, whom he befriended and learnt how to make a pie with Merlopian ingredients, until one day, Frak had to move away, leaving Arin disappointed. While practicing ninja moves with a broom one day, a strange earthquake happened as several cracks showing the realms appeared in the sky. Arin's parents told him to get inside the house. Although he tried, Arin was blown away by the wind until he was rescued by Lloyd. Along with a few other citizens, Arin was taken back to his neighborhood. As the ninja left, Arin noticed the cracks in the sky disappearing before creating a shockwave. Shortly after, Arin saw his entire neighborhood gone while the Kingdom of Imperium was located right across. That was when Arin learned that all sixteen realms had merged with Ninjago. Arin found himself to be the only one left in the area as his parents' bench fell behind him. He tried calling for them, only for a seagull to fly by as Lloyd's mask fell onto his hands.[2]
Arin left as the only survivor of his neighborhood
With his parents gone, Arin began a new life in the Merged Realms, moving in the Crossroads newly established where his neighborhood once stood, coexisting with various denizens and starting baking Snowberry Pies. In the Crossroad Arin meet Sora, a girl who came from Imperium, with whom he became best friend and move in together. Together they also got to know Alfonzo Frohicky and Arin entered into multiple pie contests, but always lost to Grab-Barg. Because the ninja were missing, Arin started to carry on their legacy by training to become a ninja. Sora built him a Grapple Gun as his ninja weapon, and over time, he was able to learn a rudimentary version of Spinjitzu all by himself.[2][3]
At the penthouse he shared alongside his best friend, Sora, Arin assisted the latter in preparing her mech for the upcoming Mech Master 5000. After a less than pleasant surprise visit by Kreel left Sora feeling dejected and hopeless, Arin encouraged her not to give up, insisting that she was one of the best mech pilots in the Crossroads.
The next day, Arin stood on a street corner and tried performing Spinjitzu moves to entertain passerby for, holding out a hat afterwards for donations, hoping to raise enough money to pay for Sora's registration fee for the race. Unfortunately, Arin was only able to obtain two coins after several hours, filling Sora with despair once more. Arin then thought back to his own childhood and how his mother would always bake him a pie whenever he felt down. Believing that this would help cheer up his friend, Arin got to work baking an appleberry pie and presented it to Sora when it was finished.
A few hours later, Arin offered the pie to Alfonzo Frohicky, the manager of the Mech Master 5000, in lieu of money for Sora's registration fee. Although Mr. Frohicky declined at first, one whiff of the pie's delicious smell was more than enough to get him to change his mind. After Sora came in last place in the race, Arin rushed over to her side, fearing that she would be upset and disappointed about her loss. To his surprise, Sora actually declared this to have been the best race ever and that she looked forward to pushing herself harder going forward and to make even greater improvements to her mech so that she could start winning.
Arin and Sora went to the Crossroads' junkyard to obtain mechanical parts for an engine. To distract the guard dogs, Arin told them the story of the Merge and how he plans to become a ninja. Despite Sora's protests, Arin believed he needed a ninja master to train him. Just as Sora found the piece, she and Arin were caught by the Security Bots. Arin used his Spinjitzu to knock away one of the Security Bots, only to be bounced back. Sora asked Arin if he can distract the robots. Although Arin thought his intent to tell the robots about the Merge wouldn't work, Sora tells him to think of something else. So Arin used his grappling hook to swing over the robots, distracting them as Sora hacked into one of the robots. As the robots began dancing, Arin expressed concern about how Sora can hack things so fast. To make up for the stolen mechanical piece, Arin placed a Snowberry Pie for the owners of the junkyard to get. He then left with Sora to return to their penthouse.
Arin baking a pie
While going back, Arin expressed joy about how amazing the Kingdom of Imperium is, despite Sora's hatred towards the city. Arin said he wanted to explore other places since he rarely ventured outside his neighborhood. Although Sora explained that the Crossroads already has the best places from the realms, Arin said that it's different since the people of the Crossroads only live there because they had nowhere else to go because of the Merge. As they reached their penthouse, Arin was challenged to see who would get there first. By using his grappling hook, Arin beat Sora, but ended up hurting himself as a result. After making another Snowberry Pie, Arin and Sora used the parts they took from the junkyard to build necessary components for their mech to participate in the Mech Master 5000, Arin hoping to use the prize money to build a monastery.
On the day of the race, Arin bribed Alfonzo with the pie to let him and Sora race, but they were later forced to abandon it, when a baby dragon was being hunted down by the Claws of Imperium before rescuing him, and attempt to get away, but their racer had previously been sabotaged by a rival, knocking them off the bridge. When the dragon transferred his power to Sora, allowing her to power to transform the racer into a flying mech, it surprised Arin before they attempt to fight the hunters, only to be incapacitated by Lord Ras.
En route to Imperium on a prison train, Arin couldn't help but wonder what fate awaited them. Sora, however, started discussing how the Claws of Imperium were tasked to hunt dragons, as their life force was crucial for powering the technology in the Kingdom of Imperium. Arin questioned the safety of dragon power, as it was considered safe. But Sora challenged that notion. Changing the subject, Arin couldn't help but mention Sora's feat of transforming the SA Mark 01 into a flying mech. Arin drew a parallel between Sora's powers and the Elemental Powers possessed by the ninja. He confessed that he had always dreamt of having such powers himself. Sora informed Arin that not everything was connected to the ninja. Arin voiced his belief that if he lost hope in the return of the ninja, he also lost hope in his parents' return, as hope was the only thing that he hadn't lost since the Merge . Sora acknowledged that hope alone wouldn't be sufficient. Arin couldn't deny the truth in Sora's words. Suddenly, they heard a noise from their compartment and looked up to see their savior, to Arin's surprise: Lloyd.
Lloyd frees Arin and Sora before Arin returned Lloyd's mask to him, where he was appalled by Arin not washing it before they exit through the roof. Arin then surprises Lloyd by doing Spinjitzu, which was the main reason he thought there was a ninja on the train before moving to rescue the dragon, who compliantly licks him, and watched him empower Sora again to turn the Imperians' swords into bombs and they quickly get off the train. While getting acquainted and hoping to warn the dragon's herd, Arin notices him make a sculpture of his home: The Land of the Three Mountains.
As Sora got to work on Lloyd's new Destiny's Bounty, Arin took to time to get reacquainted with Lloyd since when the latter rescued him during the Merge and what happened afterward. Arin then told Lloyd his reappearance is fate and that he was meant to train him and Sora, something the latter believed he was unreliable and that Wu should be the one, but he isn't around.
Sora, Riyu and Arin
Once Sora got the Bounty working, they make their way to the Three Mountains, where they discover the Claws of Imperium had followed them and shot them down. Only for the Matriarch of the Mountain Dragons to save them. Using telepathy, the Matriarch accuses them of harming the baby dragon, identified as Riyu, but is reassured by him before they move to deal with the hunters to prove their trust. During the fight, Arin, in his Spinjitzu tornado, crashed into a tree. After Lloyd, empowered by the Matriarch, defeats them and the herd prepare to relocate, Arin and Sora said their goodbyes to Riyu, only for him to want to stay with them, with Lloyd complying that he will be their master.
Arin was more eager to be trained by Lloyd than Sora. After training for the whole day, he, Sora, and Riyu, both disguising him like a dog, attend the Crossroads Carnival with Arin determined to beat Grab-Barg. They then notice pieces of their mech were salvaged and used as a DJ set, but Arin was more focused on the content before they head over to Mr. Frohicky to enter it. As he does so, Grab-Barg deliberately bumps him with his shell before he mocks him about being put in second again, even calling Riyu a "weird little dog". During their argument, however, they spot Whack Rats kidnapping Lobbo for his prize money, and he, Sora, and Riyu follow them to the junkyard, where another rival racer Kreel needed the money to pay for her friend.
From Kreel's information, they search the drop point and discover a secret hatch which leads to a stage with many Whack Rats in a cage, drained by magician Dorama, who didn't want to be upstaged by rivals. Narrowly escaping his traps, Arin used a broom to shut it down before Dorama unleashed a puppet on them, only for Lloyd, who had been following a trail of his meditation carpet's fabric, to come to their rescue. The puppet, despite being off its strings, then went to attack again, but Arin grabs a gramophone horn and, using Spinjitzu, threw it at the puppet to expose gears on its chest. The move of transferring Spinjitzu into items was a surprise to him and Lloyd before he used the fabric pieces through a fan to jam the puppet's gears, destroying it, and Riyu prevents Dorama from escaping.
Arin loses the pie baking contest again
Returning Targle to Kreel, they went back to the pie baking stall, where Arin was disappointingly placed in second again, but was relieved when Lloyd told him that they will participate the following year.
While in the midst of returning to the monastery, Arin checks up on Riyu, who was resting from overpowering the Earth Dragons before joining in on Lloyd, Kai, and Nya's conversation about himself and Sora, even saying his version of Spinjitzu is shaky and basic, even mentioning his fandom, to which Sora retorts that he once tried going for Zane's hairstyle, which was a disaster before he started to practice his moves, until he ends up punching himself in the face. Eventually, they come across the Cloud Kingdom before a MergeQuake occurred and they spot two monks hanging from a damaged tower, where Kai and Nya attempt to save them, only for all four of them to start to fall, but Arin managed to save them all, earning a compliment from Kai. Dropping the monks off, Kai, Nya, Arin, and Sora try to fight off an tentacled beast that came out of the MergeQuake rift, only for the latter two to be grabbed and are nearly thrown aside, only to be saved by a monk, who discreetly used her Wind powers.
After Lloyd closes the rift, sending the beast back to its realm, the five ninja meet Suetonius, who deserved praised from them, claiming he had the monks write their success. After Kai explains their duties, Arin tried to ask for his parents' return to be written, but Suetonius disappointingly tells him it couldn't happen as the Merge defied destiny before Lloyd, Kai, and Nya went to try and find answers on how to prevent MergeQuakes while leaving Arin and Sora to keep an eye out for more MergeQuakes.
While waiting, Arin feeds Riyu a Snowberry pie, until they spot the monk that saved them and tried to get her to admit her powers, she refused as she will be banished from the Cloud Kingdom if that were to happen. When another MergeQuake occurs, Arin tries to contact Lloyd, but gets no response before leaving to find them, eventually finding them cocooned by Scroll-Worms, who end up encasing him as well.
Soon, they were able to get out of the cocoons and moved to help Sora and the monk before using his grappling hook to pull one of the beasts into the rift, and with the combined powers of Lloyd, Kai, Nya, and the monk, they close the MergeQuake rift. As they regroup so that the monk to admit her powers, which her banishment was not going to be in effect. Arin then tried to tell Sora about how he freed Lloyd, Kai, and Nya from the cocoons, only for a Scroll-Worm to crawl out of his sweatshirt, frightening him. He watched as Nya decided to stay and research the prevention by hand.
Arin and other the ninja arrived at the Crossroads junkyard, fighting against the Claws of Imperium to rescue Jiro. Arin swiftly swung over using his grappling hook. Arin attempted to punch an Imperium Drone but accidentally hit himself in the face. As the Claws of Imperium begin to retreat, Rapton activated the Photac, which projected a holographic wolf known as the Photac Beast. Riyu pushed Arin out of harm's way just in time to prevent the beast from biting him. Despite the ninja's efforts to attack the Photac Beast, their strikes prove ineffective. Arin, confused by the situation, asked what the Photac Beast even was. Sora explained that it was a digitally generated animal made of hard light, revealing that she was the one who invented it during her time in Imperium. The Photac Beast continued its attack, while the ninja desperately try to fend it off. Despite their efforts, the beast remained unharmed, and amidst the chaos, the Claw Hunters successfully capture Jiro. Filled with a sense of responsibility, Sora firmly believed that it was her duty to bring an end to the Photac by shutting it down permanently. Arin inquired about the method to accomplish it, and Sora informed that she must make her way back to Imperium in order to do so.
Arin was concerned about Sora going to Imperium alone, stating that they are a team and have been together since the Merge. Lloyd, on the other hand, was not convinced and voiced his doubts about their readiness and the potential dangers they might face. Arin tried to reassure Lloyd that they could handle it, but Lloyd remind Arin that he had punched himself in the face earlier that morning. Arin was surprised that Lloyd had seen him do it, but he reminded Lloyd of the importance of their training and how they had come a long way. Arin also mentioned one of Master Wu's saying, "Ninja sharpens ninja." Lloyd acknowledged Arin's point and agreed to go with him. Arin was were thrilled to be going to Imperium. However, he punched himself in the face again. Arin, Sora, and Lloyd gathered together to strategize their approach to infiltrating Imperium. Sora raised a valid concern, stating that simply strolling into Imperium was not a viable option for them. Arin, puzzled by the statement, questioned why they couldn't use their usual method of transportation. Sora explained that they were likely considered wanted criminals in Imperium due to their previous clashes with the Claws of Imperium, making it risky for them to enter openly. Arin suggested that they could access Imperium through the sewers, as he believed it was highly unlikely that the sewers would be heavily guarded.
Nevertheless, the following day, while Arin, Sora, Lloyd, and Riyu were in the Imperium Sewers, they were pursued by three Imperium Drones until they arrived at the Security Station. Sora promptly requested false names for the IDs, and Arin proposed the name Dr. Lampshade Floortile for himself. Once Sora finished created the IDs, they headed to a locker room where Sora distributed Imperian uniforms, emphasizing the importance of dressing as actual Imperians. Arin noted that Sora was already an Imperian, but Sora clarified that assimilating was crucial in the Imperium. Lloyd agreed, highlighting the significance of stealth. Arin suggested hiding Riyu in a backpack to avoid detection, but unfortunately, as Arin put on the backpack, he struggled due to the baby dragon's weight. With everything set, they were prepared to proceed until Arin and the others encountered an Imperium Guard who insisted on inspecting their identification cards. Despite the fact that the Imperium Guard accepted their ID cards, he quickly noticed that Arin and the rest weren't wearing shoulder pads, which contradicted Beatrix's decree that all Imperians must wear shoulder pads during weekdays. As a consequence of the breach, they were promptly escorted to the Public Shaming Platform, where they would be publicly broadcasted throughout the entire Imperium, thereby alerting the Claws of Imperium to the presence of the ninja within the kingdom. Arin was left wondering what to do, until Riyu burst out of the backpack and attacked the guard, providing a distraction. Arin reassured Sora that they will ensure Riyu's safety and encouraged her to seize the opportunity to retrieve the Photac. As Sora left to fulfill the task, Arin, Lloyd, and Riyu fought the Imperium Guards. During the fight, Arin evaded an attack from an Imperium Guard, causing the guard to inadvertently punch themselves in the face. Relieved, Arin remarked that he's not alone in occasionally making such a mistake.
Having been separated from Lloyd, Arin and Riyu were being chased by three Imperium Guards, who were determined to capture the dragon. Arin tried to escape with Riyu by grabbing a hoverboard and riding away. However, the Imperium Guards send out Weapon Drones to track them down. Arin managed to use his grappling hook to swing onto another street, but they were eventually hit and carried away by a drone. Arin punched and kicked the drone, damaging it in the process. However, doing so resulted in Arin and Riyu ending up falling into a dumpster. As the Imperium Guards left, Arin suggested to Riyu that they should wait until it's safe to find Lloyd and Sora. While waiting, they witnessed a group of teenagers cleaning a building, and Arin saved them from a collapsing scaffold. Arin, under the pseudonym Lampshade Floortile, questioned about the nature of their organization, suspecting it to be a musical group. However, the leader, Percival Tartigrade, clarified that they were, in fact, a community service team dedicated to serving the Imperium. He asked Arin to join them and teach them his moves. Arin was surprised that the teenagers think he was cool, but Percival reassured him that they do and asked him to teach them his skills. Arin hesitantly agreed.
Arin showcased his moves to the Imperium Teenage Protection Force, but tried to downplay his skills. Percival praised Arin and expressed his admiration for his abilities. Arin mentioned that he has a Master who's helping him improve his techniques. Arin then asked about the Imperium Teenage Protection Force and Percival explained that their goal is to help others in any way possible. Arin shared his desire to help others as well, mentioning that he has been motivated by the disappearance of his parents. Percival revealed that their ultimate aspiration was to join the Claws of Imperium. Arin was taken aback by the revelation, as the Claws hunt dragons for their life force. As the conversation continued, Riyu fell back from the dumpster, drawing their attention. Arin tried to divert their focus by suggesting he shows them more moves, but Percival insisted on checking what caused the noise. Arin tried to distract the teenagers by pointing at man on a moving walkway, to which the ITPF assumed that Arin was explaining the beauty of Imperium. However, Percival discovered Riyu. He questioned Arin, suspecting that Arin was intentionally trying to divert their attention from finding the dragon, which they perceive as an evil creature as all Imperians were led to believe.
Despite the stern reprimand Percival had given Arin about why an Imperian would defend a dragon, Arin revealed that he was not an Imperian, meaning he hailed from a different realm. The Imperium Teen Protection Force was disgusted by the revelation, and Arin braced himself for a fight. However, to his surprise, the dragons had escaped from Imperium Prison. Arin and Riyu seized the opportunity to make their escape as one of Beatrix's banners fell atop the ITPF. Over time, Arin lost sight of Riyu and found himself caught up in the midst of the dragon stampede. He came across Lloyd atop the Earth Dragon, alongside Wyldfyre, who was using her Heat abilities to neutralize the Imperium Drones. Unaware of her powers, Arin mistook her for another Elemental Master of Fire like Kai.
As the group strategized their plan for the dragons to make their escape through the main gates, Arin resolved to search for Riyu, intending to regroup later. However, their escape plans were halted by the arrival of the Claws of Imperium, accompanied by their new Photacs. Arin soon realized that Sora had activated the new Photacs, much to his dismay. With little chance of winning against the dragon hunters and their Photacs, Arin and Lloyd struggled to come up with a plan. Unfortunately, Wyldfyre decided to take on the Photac Beasts, drawing Arin and Lloyd into the fray. As the battle began, Sora was reunited with Arin and Lloyd, and Arin made his displeasure known about her activation of the new Photacs. Sora revealed that she had been coerced into activating them, but can permanently shut them down using her Tech Power - but only with Riyu's dragon power. And so, Arin and Sora set out to find Riyu.
While searching for Riyu, Arin briefed Sora on the Imperium Teen Protection Force, hoping they wouldn't locate Riyu. Sora proposed hacking into the Imperium logs to track Riyu's whereabouts, but Arin hesitated, knowing they would have to return to the Security Station. Sora instructed dragon Sora to go back and assist Lloyd. Arin humorously mentioned that having two Soras would complicate things. Sneaking passed Melvin, they infiltrated the Security Station, evading another guard as Sora entered the computer room. Arin paused to ensure the Imperium Guard was asleep before following Sora. Together, they examined the latest dragon captures. Lloyd anxiously requested updates from Arin and Sora. Arin questioned the urgency of the battle against the Photacs, prompting Lloyd to confirm its critical nature. In a sudden realization, Arin urged Sora to rewind the surveillance footage, uncovering that Percival had handed Riyu over to Beatrix at the Imperium Palace.
Arin and Sora were making their way to the palace. Sora mentioned that most of the Imperium Guards were busy with the dragon breakout, making it easier for them to use their ninja stealth training to pass the guards unnoticed. Arin disagreed, stating that Lloyd hadn't given them any stealth training. Sora argued that their sneaking out to the Crossroads Carnival was informal training. As they tried to sneak past the guards, Arin tripped and fell. The Imperium Guards approached them, concerned for Arin's well-being. Arin tried to downplay the fall, but the other guard questioned how he managed to trip on the smooth ground. Arin and Sora quickly made up an excuse, claiming that Arin was upset by mean comments about the palace guards' shoulder pads made by people two streets away. The guards, offended by the comments, went to handle the situation, leaving Arin and Sora surprised.
Arin tried to forcefully kick the palace doors open, but his efforts were futile. Using a grappling hook, they reached a window and were surprised to find Riyu trapped inside a cage. As they descended with the grappling hook, their progress was halted by the sudden appearance of Beatrix, Ras, Dr. LaRow, and Jordana, who were there to extract Riyu's dragon power. Arin quickly contacted Lloyd for assistance, who promised to handle Ras and Beatrix. Lloyd, accompanied by Wyldfyre and the dragons, launched an attack on the Imperium Palace, causing Ras and Beatrix to flee in order to address the threat. Meanwhile, Arin and Sora attempted to approach Riyu's cage, but Jordana blocked their path. Arin tried to communicate with Lloyd, but Jordana destroyed their communicators, leaving them stranded.
As Arin and Sora were apprehended, LaRow has expressed her disappointment in Sora, calling her by her real name. Arin tried correcting Dr. LaRow, telling her that Sora is not Ana. However, Dr. LaRow clarified that the dragon's name is Sora, and Sora herself revealed that her birth name is Ana. Arin expressed his embarrassment for the misunderstanding. Dr. LaRow then showed them the battle outside the Imperium Palace until the ground shook, and Sora wondered if it was another MergeQuake. However, Arin believed it was a sign of hope. As the Monastery of Imperium emerged from the ground with the ninja inside, Arin got up and attacked Dr. LaRow. Dr. LaRow expressed her aversion to physical violence and surrendered to Arin. Jordana intervened by taking Dr. LaRow's Imperium Sword and began firing a shot at Arin and Sora, who managed to evade it. Arin and Sora continued to evade Jordana's attacks, utilizing the obstacle course techniques taught by Lloyd. As they approach her, Jordana swings her Imperium Sword, but the two used it to break free from their handcuffs. As they were freed, Arin told Sora that they still need to free Riyu.
However, their path was blocked by Ras, who stated that if they fought him, he would kill them, but if they surrendered, he would spare them. Despite the offer, Sora and Arin declined to give up and faced Ras in battle. Arin and Sora avoided Ras' attacks. In a strategic move, Arin tripped Ras from behind. Arin and Sora engaged in taunting behavior towards Ras. During the altercation, Arin utilized his grappling hook while Ras threw his hammer at him, resulting in Arin being knocked to the ground and rendered unconscious. Following Ras' defeat, Sora and Riyu approached Arin, who had just regained consciousness and was surprised by the turn of events. Sora reminded him of their mission and they head outside, where the latter deactivated the Photacs. Arin inquired about the whereabouts of the dragons to the Ninja, to which Nya informed him that the dragons had already left to Ninjago. Without delay, they made their way to the monastery's portal gate.
Days later, Lloyd inquired about Arin's well-being, to which Arin responded positively but with a hint of uncertainty. He explained that he had expected his training to be temporary, given the absence of the other ninja. Lloyd probed further, recognizing that Arin's concerns weren't only about training. Arin told Lloyd that he has been searching for a new family since losing his parents in the Merge. Lloyd reassured Arin that he has found a family in him, Sora, Riyu, and Wyldfyre, and that there is always room for growth when it comes to being a ninja before giving Arin his old hood back.
Arin, now donning his own ninja suit, accompanied the ninja in shutting down a MergeQuake in the Crossroads before returning to the monastery. As Lloyd tried to offer Wyldfyre a room up top instead of staying in the stables, she refused, even explaining she uses the bathroom everywhere, with Arin noting that it isn't sanitary.
Later that day, Lloyd tried to show Arin and Sora how to maintain the monastery before he later practices his skills on a dummy, but was disappointed that Lloyd wasn't watching him. He later came across Kai and Wyldfyre fighting in his room and, along with Lloyd, Nya, Sora, and Riyu try to stop them, with Arin and Riyu holding Kai back, until Zane managed to use his powers to stop the two.
After being told about MergeQuakes appearing more frequently, they soon head for the Temple of the Dragon Cores, based on Nya's studies and come across a puzzle at the entrance. While waiting for Zane to analyse the door, Arin threw a pizza slice at Kai, later resting on the back of the Earth Dragon, until he, Sora, and Wyldfyre find out the levers must be pulled simultaneously, which they do so and enter the temple. Upon approaching the main room, they discover an altar that was knocked over before Kai and Wyldfyre open nearby doors, bringing out angry spirits, until Lloyd fixed the alter, bring the spirits into one, who explains that three Dragon Cores can stabilize merged realms.
Seeing Lloyd continue to struggle with maintaining the monastery, Arin and Sora bring in Alfonzo to help in Lloyd's absence.
Arin and the others strategized their search for the Dragon Cores. They divide into teams: Nya, Sora, and Riyu formed one, Lloyd and Arin formed another, and Kai and Wyldfyre formed the last. Nya and Sora's departure on dragon Sora confused everyone, including Arin, due to the naming similarity. Lloyd and Arin opt for the Destiny's Bounty.
On their way to the Mother Garden, Lloyd mentioned that the pink Dragon Core was supposed to be located across the ocean, indicating that they are on the right path. While they wait, they meditate. However, Arin finds it boring and suggests doing something else. As Lloyd recalled Arin of his Object Spinjitzu skills, Arin admits that he hasn't been able to do it since and wondered if he imagined it. Lloyd encourages him to try it with a plate, believing that Arin has other skills he hasn't tapped into yet. After several attempts, Arin finally succeeded in transferring his Spinjitzu energy to a plate, which destroyed the engine. Arin and Lloyd successfully landed the Bounty in the water, relieved that the hull was still intact. However, they soon realize that the engines were beyond repair without proper equipment. Arin suggests paddling their way out, but he soon realize there are no paddles on the ship. Lloyd opens the sails, reminding Arin that airships usually don't require paddles. As they navigate the ocean, they notice a mix of the Endless Sea and a red water ocean, a result of the Merge. Suddenly, Arin and Lloyd spot an aircraft above them and desperately call for help, but the pilot, who was actually Rapton, ignores them.
Arin and Lloyd seek help for their damaged ship from a nearby village. But they are met with hostility from the ocean gang. In their attempt to escape, they are attacked by a giant crab monster. They manage to break free, and discover a friendly village of algae farmers. The farmers inform them that the ocean gang has taken over their village and the crab monster is their guard. Arin suggests fighting back to reclaim their village, but the farmers express their reluctance to engage in combat. Lloyd offers their assistance in retrieving their village, as they needed a place to live while their engines were being repaired. Arin proposes a solution: by confronting the ocean gang, they could address both problems. Lloyd agrees, on the condition that the farmers are willing to fight. After an extensive training session, Arin, Lloyd, and the group returned to the algae farmers' village. A raft approached with a note from Arin, but it couldn't be read due to darkness. Arin revealed that the note instructed the Merlopian with the note to look behind. The Merlopian turned around and was kicked into the water by Arin. Lloyd and the farmers fought the ocean gang, but couldn't find the leader. Arin believed he was still around. They were outnumbered and Arin tried to rally the algae farmers' spirits. Suddenly, the crab monster appeared, making Arin realize the situation had worsened. Lloyd went after the leader while Arin stayed to distract the crab monster. Arin's confidence wavered as the monster destroyed a structure.
They encountered the ocean gang again, and Arin tried to use Object Spinjitzu again but failed. The crab monster reappeared and Arin sought alternative options for the farmers, but there were none. After Lloyd knocked the control crown off the ocean gang leader's head, Arin discovered that the crab monster was controlling the ocean gang. He figured out that the monster's center tooth was the source of its power and that someone intentionally placed it there. Arin annoyed the monster while Lloyd knocked out the tooth, causing the creature to shrink and swim away. The next day, Dale repaired the Bounty for free as a gesture of gratitude. With a wave goodbye, Arin and Lloyd left in the Bounty to continue their mission, with Arin hoping for an easier one for the other ninja.
Continuing their journey to the Mother Garden, Arin explained the many pie crust flavors to Lloyd, until they eventually came across the Mother Garden, where they were astonished by flowers that sound like bells or blow out bubbles. They then notice the Dragon Core, which Arin intended to take, but Lloyd stops him, saying it was wrong and they should see if someone was around before being surrounded by Mucoids, who acknowledged their answer about the core before Zant-Tanz leads them to Rapton, who was captured trying to steal the core. Despite his attempt to harm them since their first encounter, Rapton begged Arin and Lloyd to help him from being executed. However, when Zant-Tanz mentioned that crossing the Impossible Path could spare Rapton's life, Lloyd made the decision to take on the challenge. This decision surprised Arin, who questioned Lloyd's motives in helping Rapton. Lloyd, on the other hand, saw this as an opportunity to teach Arin a valuable lesson about the importance of valuing all life. Despite Arin's doubts, Lloyd remained resolute in his belief that saving Rapton was the honorable thing to do.
Lloyd took on their trial of passing through the Impossible Path while Arin and Zant-Tanz wait on the other side, where Arin was concerned for Lloyd's safety. Zant-Tanz dismissed Arin's worries, claiming that there was no need to be nervous since they already knew Lloyd's fate. Arin found this advice to be terrible. To their surprise, Lloyd emerged from the path, unscathed. Zant-Tanz was astounded by Lloyd's survival, considering that the path was laced with salt. Arin and Lloyd pointed out that it posed no threat to humans, before Zant-Tanz fainted from Arin explaining salt is also edible. After Zant-Tanz's recovery, the Mucoids free Rapton, who double-crosses them and takes the core, only to be knocked out by two strange agents, who leave through a portal before Arin and Lloyd follow them.
Lloyd and Arin emerged from the portal, relieved to find themselves unharmed at the Administration. Arin, using his grappling hook, hoisted them to a higher spot for a better view of their surroundings. Uncertain of their location, Lloyd suggested seeking assistance from someone nearby. Approaching a line of people, Arin jokingly expressed his hope that it wasn't the queue for the bathroom. Lloyd asked an applicant where they were, and the applicant responded with a complicated location. Arin asked what the Administration was, and the applicant explained that it's the center of bureaucracy for the world. Lloyd asked for help, but the applicant refused. He explained that he had been waiting for something important, although the purpose of the line has been lost for a generation. Arin was incredulous at the idea of waiting in line for so long. Allen and Underwood confronted Lloyd and Arin, asserting that without the necessary forms, their presence in the Administration was deemed unacceptable. In an attempt to delay the agents, Arin initiated a narrative about the ninja's pursuit of the Dragon Core. Yet, before he can proceed, Allen interjected, emphasizing the necessity of a permit for any form of stalling. Suddenly, a tube capsule delivered two permission forms for Arin and Lloyd. Arin wondered who sent the permission forms, while Lloyd emphasized the urgency of finding the Dragon Core.
Arin and Lloyd were searching for the Dragon Core and asked other Administration Agents if they had found it. However, the Agents remained silent as they didn't have the necessary permission forms. Suddenly, more tubes dropped pieces of paper to guide Arin and Lloyd to prevent being caught by Allen and Underwood. However, they were caught by a Merlopian and a Munce. Arin, not wanting to reveal the truth, fabricated a story about gathering pencils for sharpening and asked if they had any. Taking the pencils, Arin and Lloyd made their exit. Lloyd then referred to the directions, instructing Arin on the path to Mail Cubicle 45-67A. However, Arin didn't hear Lloyd as he was searching for a pencil sharpener. As Arin and Lloyd arrived at the mail room, they were surprised to find Zane waiting for them. Arin questioned how Zane ended up there, to which Zane explained that he had been caught by the Administration Agents for too many failed attempts to activate the portal gate. The conversation then shifted to the messages in the tube capsules, which Zane had been sending. Arin then accused Zane of drawing a terrible picture of him, to which Zane claimed it was a good likeness due to his photographic memory. Zane asked Arin why he was carrying pencils. Arin replied that they needed to be sharpened.
Suddenly, Allen and Underwood broke in. However, Arin hurled the pencils towards the agents, causing them to slip. In the chaos, Zane threw Lloyd and Arin up the tube and entered it himself. Unfortunately, the group became separated during the process, with Arin ending up at the Department of Reassignment, meeting Prentis. Prentis explained that the Department of Reassignment was where the Administration Agents send the affected individuals of the space bubbles back to their original realms. Arin asked if they had found his parents and assigned them somewhere. Prentis, overwhelmed by the number of people they had encountered, questioned Arin's presence and demanded authorization. In response, Arin lied and quickly left to retrieve his supposed authorization. As a Munce agent attempted to extract Lloyd from the Master Mech, Arin intervened and threw the agent out. Lloyd expressed his relief at Arin's arrival, and the two of them fled from pursuing agents in their mech. Arin directed Lloyd to move closer to the laser grids, and upon detaching the Dragon Mech from the Master Mech, he destroyed one of the laser blockades. Lloyd was impressed by Arin's ingenuity and asked how he accomplished the feat. Arin revealed that he had heard of mechs such as the Master and Dragon Mechs during his time as a mech street racer. Subsequently, Arin and Lloyd rendezvoused with Zane, and the three proceeded to enter the portal that would transport them to the Mother Garden.
Arin, Lloyd, and Zane made their way back to the Monastery of Spinjitzu. To their dismay, they found out that Dorama had managed to steal the purple Dragon Core from Kai and Wyldfyre. Worried, Arin voiced his concerns about Nya and Sora, wondering if they had been able to obtain their core successfully. Kai admitted that he was unsure, as Nya and Sora hadn't returned yet. Arin stressed the importance of acquiring all three cores urgently, explaining that Beatrix having even just one core was preventing them from stopping the MergeQuakes. As the ninja returned to the Kingdom of Imperium, Arin couldn't help but mention his lack of fondness for the place.
When a shockwave knocked them all down, they believe it to be dragon power and try to find a way into Imperium since the electro barrier is still up, until Kai tells Wyldfyre to attract some guards' attention, which succeeds before he, Lloyd, Kai, and Zane take them out and take their hoverboards. Reaching the entrance, Arin uses a guard to open the main gates before heading inside.
Upon being surrounded by guards, the Imperium Teen Resistance Force arrived, with Arin believing they're the guards' backup, until he became surprised to see the teens knock the guards out before they guide them further into the city.
Arin was filled with unease about siding with Percival. He questioned Percival's newfound fascination with dragons, especially since he used to be focused on joining the Claws of Imperium to hunt them down. Percival acknowledged that things had changed since their last encounter and mistakenly referred to Arin as Lampshade, but Arin quickly corrected him. Just as they were nearing the Resistance's base, Beatrix and the Claw Hunters arrived, sparking a conflict. Fortunately, Nya and Sora's team arrived just in time, breaking through the kingdom's energy barrier. Jiro and Zanth kept Beatrix occupied, diverting her attention while the Resistance head to the base.
Upon their arrival at the headquarters, Arin inquired about the size of the Resistance. Percival, in response, revealed that the Imperium Teen Resistance Force served as the leaders of the Resistance, while some Imperians had successfully infiltrated various places within the Kingdom of Imperium. Percival went on to explain that their suspicions of Beatrix's claims were heightened when they witnessed the ninja releasing the dragons during the Battle of the Second Monastery. To his astonishment, Arin learned that that Beatrix, along with Ras, had orchestrated the death of her own father, Levo, making it appear as an accident. Furthermore, any Imperians who dared to oppose Beatrix were either imprisoned or eliminated, further solidifying her tyrannical rule. Percival disclosed the existence of a video where Beatrix admitted to her deceit. He also mentioned having an insider who could help them gain entry to the broadcast tower later in the evening. If they managed to bypass the encryption, they could broadcast the video on all screens in Imperium. However, only Sora possessed the necessary hacking abilities to stream the footage. Sora agreed to participate, and Arin promptly volunteered to accompany her.
The ninja headed to the Advanced Systems Lab to retrieve the Dragon Cores and distract the Imperium Guards, while Percival led Arin, Sora, and Riyu towards the broadcast tower. But to Arin and Sora's surprise, they discovered Rapton waiting for them, who then confessed that he was actually working undercover for the Resistance. Reacting swiftly, Riyu tackled Rapton to the ground. Arin, however, attempted to ease the tension, suggesting that they should at least listen to what Rapton had to say. Rapton began to explain that he had a change of heart when he realized that Beatrix's quest for revenge would ultimately lead to the destruction of the Merged Realms. Arin was then caught off guard when he learned that Rapton was responsible for the unintentional explosion at the Advanced Systems Lab by providing Beatrix with a counterfeit Dragon Core. Both the ninja and Rapton agreed to a temporary truce so they could expose Beatrix. Dorama intervened to halt the ninja's advancement, causing Arin to attempt using his grappling hook to subdue Dorama, but Dorama swiftly deflected it. Fortunately, Riyu swiftly tackled Dorama, while Sora successfully spread Beatrix's deceit throughout Imperium via a broadcast and delivered a speech that incited the Imperians to initiate a riot against Beatrix.
With the MergeQuakes now beginning because of Beatrix, Arin, Sora, and Riyu leave the broadcast tower to meet up with the other ninja. When Beatrix sent Wyldfyre into a rift, Arin and Lloyd try to figure out a way to take the MergeQuake weapon away, but are nearly sent into a rift, Arin losing his grappling hook in the process.
Arin throws a rock at Beatrix
After Riyu got sent into one himself, Arin, filled with emotions, used Spinjitzu on a rock to throw it towards Beatrix's mech, managing to knock it down, but barely fazed it before Lloyd then summoned the Master Mech and Dragon Mech. After Kai was sent into a rift himself, they manage to knock her down before Arin tried to make a break for the weapon, but was tripped by Beatrix and was almost sent into a rift along with Lloyd, but manage to eject as their mechs went into the rift.
Arin after kicking Beatrix into a MergeQuake
Soon after, Sora was able to achieve her True Potential and destroy Beatrix's weapon before Arin sends her flying into a rift as compensation for Riyu.
Arin after seeing his parents in a rift
Because of the many rifts, they eventually turn into a storm with the Crossroads smack in the middle of it. With help from Zanth, they reach the city before rescuing and sheltering the citizens with Arin saving a dog, until he sees a rift open, revealing his parents, but it closes before either of them could react. Once Mr. Frohicky brought the last Dragon Core over, Lloyd, using it and the two cores they retrieved, manage to bring the merged realms in balance and all the people caught in the rifts were eventually brought back, including Kai, Wyldfyre, and Riyu, whom he and Sora hug upon his return and the people delighted to see the ninja again, achieving his long time dream of being recognized as a ninja.
Arin being reassured by Lloyd
When Lloyd and Riyu return from freeing the Source Dragon underneath Imperium, the former comes across Arin throwing shurikens at a Wyldmelon, attempting to use Object Spinjitzu without mixed emotions before heading inside to grab his freshly made pies for the team to celebrate their victory.
During Lloyd's absence, Arin joined Kai and Sora in participating in Kai's Super Awesome Slide Course as a way to enhance their training. Although Arin had some reservations, they ultimately decided to go along with it. As they slid down the course, they were taken by surprise when they came across Cole, who informed them about the shipment of dangerous items to Ninjago, including Chronosteel. At first, Arin was confused about what Chronosteel was, but Kai provided a detailed explanation. While Cole struggled to determine where the shipment was headed, Arin suddenly had a realization that the items were actually being sent to Kreel's Junkyard, as Kreel had been advertising them for days.
Arin and the ninja made their way to Kreel's Junkyard with the intention of putting an end to her sale of the items. Arin noticed Lobbo, who was fooling around with the one of the objects, and warned him to exercise caution. However, the item electrocuted Lobbo, causing a drastic transformation in him. Fueled by an overwhelming rage, Lobbo began launching relentless attacks, prompting Arin and the ninja to engage in combat. Yet, their attempts were in vain, as Lobbo's newfound power proved to be overpowering. Sora swiftly devised a plan and constructed mechs for the ninja to use to restrain Lobbo. Arin, on the otherhand, tried to calm him down and reason with him, hoping to bring him back to his senses. Sora then used her mech to drain the energy that was empowering Lobbo. By doing so, she successfully reversed the transformation, restoring Lobbo back to his normal state. Arin emphasized that their task was simply to seize the items, but then noticed Kreel attempting to abscond with them. The ninja intervened and prevented Kreel from doing so. Nevertheless, Kai proposed utilizing the items for his slide course, which earned disapproving looks from Arin and the others.
Arin participated in another pie-baking contest, but unfortunately, he was defeated by Grab-Barg once more. Afterward, Arin and the rest of the ninja gathered at the Mech Master 5000 to spectate the race. Upon their arrival, Cole and Kai praised Grab-Barg's Snowberry Pies, which irritated Arin. However, Sora was even more annoyed because she had forgotten to register for the Mech Master 5000. Arin sympathized with Sora's frustration but reminded her that their responsibilities as ninjas had kept them occupied. Just as the race was about to commence, the Mechanic swiftly seized control of the mechs and made an attempt to flee. Arin and the rest of the ninja sprang into action, pursuing the Mechanic. Arin confronted the Mechanic, playfully taunting that his initial impression was far from impressive. However, the Mechanic maneuvered Arin towards the finish line barrier. Arin used his grappling hook to swing across the obstacle, only to crash into Grab-Barg's booth. Arin tried one of Grab-Barg's Snowberry Pies. Succumbing to their taste, Arin couldn't help but admit that they were truly exceptional. Arin and Riyu made a pit stop for Snowberry Pies. Exiting the Mech Master 5000 racetrack, Arin convinced Sora to give it a try, emphasizing that Grab-Barg's Snowberry Pies are unparalleled. After tasting one, Sora declared them the most delicious she had ever had. This, however, saddened Arin, causing Sora to reconsider and label them as the second best. Despite feeling down, Arin appreciated for Sora's remark.
Arin, Sora, and Riyu accompanied Kai and Cole to witness the Crossroads' noodle cook-off. However, chaos ensued when the Ice Dragons launched an attack on the citizens. The ninja deployed their mechs to defend against the Ice Dragons' aggression. Arin advised his comrades not to harm the Ice Dragons, since there was a valid explanation for their hostile behavior. As the skirmish unfolded, Arin's attention was drawn to Lava-Tony, who was exhibiting peculiar behavior while attempting to safeguard himself and his crate. Sensing something amiss, Arin decided to confront Lava-Tony, learning that the stolen eggs of the Ice Dragons were in his possession. Riyu forcefully knocked Lava-Tony into his own oven, inadvertently causing a massive explosion that sent noodles flying in all directions, including directly onto Arin. After returning the eggs to the Ice Dragons, Arin and the others made their way back to the Monastery of Spinjitzu. Once there, they briefed Lloyd on the events that had transpired.
Arin saves two breakdancers from the Mechanic in Ninjago City before the latter was soon distracted by NinjaFanInfinity and SpinjitzuForDays99 filming him, giving Arin and Lloyd a chance to defeat him with Arin waving at the two fans.
Later, Arin and Lloyd rescue Lobbo from his mech that was out of control before the former joins in on dancing alongside Sora and Wyldfyre after the former turned the mech into a DJ set.
Lloyd's dreams about the Wolf Mask Warriors and the Blood Moon were being discussed by the ninja. Arin pointed out that these dreams were actually visions, while Sora emphasized the importance of taking control of their own destiny. However, Arin was frustrated at not being able to defeat Cinder with his Spinjitzu. Nya and Kai reassured him that they would all be there to face Cinder together if they encountered him again.
At the Crossroads, Arin, Lloyd, Zane, and Sora went to meet Fedulian, who was believed to have answers about the Mallet of Shattering. Sora reminded Arin about the importance of being tough during their interrogation with Fedulian. Arin asked Fedulian about the mallet, but he fell for Fedulian's deceitful claims. However, Sora remained skeptical and decided to question Fedulian about the stolen Mallet of Shattering. Fedulian denied any involvement and abruptly left. Sora sensed that something was wrong, but Arin believed that Fedulian was being sincere. Sora reminded Arin that not everyone is honest. Arin and the others used his grappling hook to reach the rooftop of Fedulian's shop, where they discreetly listened to Fedulian conversing with Hantro via a tablet. Arin openly acknowledged his lack of skill in detecting liars. Meanwhile, Sora noticed her cat graffiti and headed towards the alleyway where it was at. Arin mistakenly perceived the graffiti as noodles instead of a cat, which greatly annoyed Sora. Soon after, Hantro emerged and attempted to assault the group with her artifacts, but her efforts were fruitless as they were harmless. Arin and the others were informed by Hantro that the mallet is connected to the Gong of Shattering. This combination is designed to eliminate any traces of goodness in a person wearing a Wolf Mask, enabling them to acquire unique combat skills and mystical abilities. Arin, uncertain about Hantro's credibility, sought the opinion of the group regarding her trustworthiness. Hantro confessed to being a liar most of the time but affirmed that she was indeed speaking the truth in this instance.
Upon their arrival back at the Monastery, Percival and Euphrasia surprised Arin with Percival's unexpected return. Euphrasia urgently warned the ninja about the invasion of the Cloud Kingdom by the Wolf Clan, prompting the ninja to quickly board the Destiny's Bounty and set sail towards the Cloud Kingdom. Arin was concern about Ras' interest in the Cloud King archives, to which Lloyd speculated that it might be related to the Blood Moon. Upon reaching the Cloud Kingdom, Arin used his grappling hook to ascend, expressing his willingness to trade it for an Elemental Power. Lloyd reminded Arin that each ninja's journey is unique. As they approached their destination, Arin and the team witnessed the Wolf Mask Warriors pressuring the Writers of Destiny to translate texts in Theroxian. The ninja successfully subdued one of the Wolf Mask Warriors, freeing Suetonius, who disclosed that Ras was behind the curse on the Scroll-Worms. Following Lloyd's theory about Ras' intentions with the Blood Moon, Suetonius doubted Ras' intentions in such an act, but Arin interpreted his response as confirmation. Suetonius shed light on the Ritual of the Blood Moon, explaining how it could release the Forbidden Five, Elemental Masters corrupted by their desire for domination by wreaking havoc upon the realms. Arin inquired about stopping them, to which Suetonius revealed that a force from the East defeated them, leading to their banishment and erasure from memory. Ras aimed to unlock the secrets necessary to perform the Ritual of the Blood Moon and free the Forbidden Five, prompting the ninja to ponder the impending danger. Their contemplation was interrupted by the arrival of more Wolf Mask Warriors, whom they swiftly defeated.
Arin and the ninja encountered Ras and Jordana, where Ras used the Gong of Shattering to power a few wolf warriors into Wolf Mask Claw Warriors. The ninja faced difficulties against the upgraded adversaries. Ras introduced Cinder into the fight, but Kai swiftly defeated him. However, Cinder turned the tide by wearing a Wolf Mask and performing Shatterspin after Ras activated the gong once again. Arin quickly recognized Shatterspin as another variation of Spinjitzu, which Ras confirmed. With Cinder's triumph over the ninja, the only option left for the ninja was to retreat to the Destiny's Bounty.
Arin and the ninja evaded the dragon's attack. Despite Arin's attempt to reason with the dragon and convey their peaceful intentions, the dragon remained hostile and continued its assault. Lloyd and Arin stood in front of the gate, determined to locate the teacher. Their initial efforts to force the door open were futile, as they discover that the gate was securely locked by a complex mechanism involving a large bucket positioned near the gate's summit. Observing the spherical boulders scattered in the vicinity, Lloyd explained to the group that by strategically placing the boulders in the bucket, they can trigger the chain connected to it to lower, ultimately unlocking the gate. While Arin and the other ninja engage the dragon in a distraction, Wyldfyre, Sora, Lloyd, and Kai collaborated to put Lloyd's plan into action. Together, they steadily load four boulders into the bucket, gradually achieving success in opening the gate. Arin endeavored to outsmart the dragon by attempting to add the fifth boulder to the bucket. However, his plan was thwarted as the dragon seized him and hurled him aside. Nya tossed the fifth boulder into the bucket, causing the door to swing open fully. As the gate swung open, Arin and the rest of the group moved forward to enter, only to be startled by the sudden appearance of another dragon emerging from behind the gate. The ninja quickly assumed defensive positions, ready to engage in another battle. However, to their surprise, the dragons bowed down. Feeling perplexed, Arin voiced his confusion and questioned the dragons' actions, finding the situation rather awkward. The dragons congratulated the ninja, explaining that they had successfully passed all three tests that had begun when they first entered the Phantasm Cave. Lloyd, curious about the whereabouts of the teacher, inquired about their presence. The first dragon remarked that Lloyd wasn't the brightest one, causing Arin to burst into laughter. The two dragons, Rontu and Egalt, disclosed their true identities as the sought-after teacher of the ninja.
Arin raised doubts about the idea that dragons can possess ninja skills. However, Egalt countered this skepticism by asserting that dragons were the most adept at being ninja. He reveald that he had negative encounters in the past when training non-dragons, which led him to exclusively train dragons. Lloyd emphasized the importance of the ninja learning how to counter Shatterspin. Lloyd informed the Dragon Masters about Ras, who trained Cinder to harness Shatterspin, and also reveals Ras' plan to free the Forbidden Five. The Dragon Masters disclosed that they were the ones responsible for defeating the Forbidden Five, causing excitement among Arin and the other ninja. Arin was surprised at the revelation, having previously thought that the force from the east was merely a legend. Egalt emphasized the legendary nature of the Dragon Masters' actions, spanning thousands of years. He also reminded Arin of his skepticism regarding dragons being ninja, which made Arin nervous. The Dragon Masters elaborated on how they vanquished the Forbidden Five using the Rising Dragon technique, sealed them in the Nether-Space with a spell, and then concealed any mention of them and their teachings.
Sora revealed that Ras gained the energy of the Source Dragon of Energy to unlock the Shadow Dojo after being captured by Imperium. Egalt believed that if this actually happened, darkness has corrupted the world. Arin firmly agreed that Ras was completely evil, even his breath carried evilness. Lloyd stated that with the Dragon Masters fighting alongside the ninja, the Wolf Clan stood no chance. However, the Dragon Masters argued that they're too old to fight alongside the ninja, as they were young when they defeated the Forbidden Five for the first time. Rontu suggested that they could train the ninja to learn the Rising Dragon technique. After a brief disagreement, Egalt reluctantly agreed to train the ninja as well. Rontu informed the ninja that mastering the Rising Dragon technique would be challenging, so their training would begin tomorrow. Arin was confidence in their abilities, but Egalt warned against overconfidence, as it was a weakness that the Forbidden Five could exploit. Egalt acknowledged that the ninja had received good training, but emphasized that they still had much to learn, or else the Merged Realms were doomed.
Arin and the other ninja presented their combat skills to the Dragon Masters, with Arin sparring against Wyldfyre and Lloyd. After the demonstration, Rontu explained the concept of Rising Dragon, stating that it is based on the motion of Spinjitzu and can only be mastered by a Third Fang Ninja. Due to their knowledge of Spinjitzu, Arin, Lloyd, Kai, and Nya were chosen to train with Egalt to learn Rising Dragon. Arin and Sora exchanged good luck wishes, with Arin confident that Sora would soon join their group.
During their practice, Arin and the rest of the ninja were honing their stances when Egalt claimed that motion possessed a greater power than sheer strength alone. He emphasized the importance of eliminating any unnecessary movements and striving to be as still as a mountain. Arin, along with the other ninja, followed Egalt's guidance, recognizing that the world and the universe were in a perpetual state of motion. Egalt further elaborated on the constant movement within their own bodies, highlighting the significance of embracing and connecting with this internal motion. It was then that Egalt unveiled that to successfully executing the Rising Dragon technique, one must align their own movements with those of the universe.
Later, Arin and the rest of the ninja received instructions to perform Spinjitzu, with Egalt stressing the importance of pushing their self-awareness and movements out of their Spinjitzu tornadoes. Arin, on the other hand, was puzzled by the notion of "elevating awareness," prompting Egalt to vent his frustration regarding the fruitless training, greatly disappointing Arin. Arin's second attempt did not go as planned, resulting in a collision with the other ninja. Arin took responsibility for the mishap and apologized, while Lloyd reassured him that making mistakes was a natural. However, Egalt wasted no time in criticizing Arin's Spinjitzu skills, deeming his mistake unacceptable and suggesting a demotion to the rank of a First Fang Ninja. Despite the setback, Arin pleaded for another chance, promising not to repeat the error. Egalt issued a stern warning to Arin, emphasizing the need for improved performance from the entire team before leaving. Lloyd offered to train Arin, but Arin declined, choosing to spend some time alone.
Arin's attempt to use Object Spinjitzu by hurling rocks at a tree ended in failure, soon Lloyd showed up. Arin poured out his troubles to Lloyd, mentioning Egalt's warning that his Spinjitzu was as unstable as it had been in the past, putting him at risk of being demoted to a First Fang Ninja at any moment. Lloyd reassured Arin, relaying Wu's advice to exercise patience. However, Arin pointed out that the Blood Moon was approaching, and he questioned his very suitability as a ninja. Lloyd countered by reminding Arin of his potential to surpass all others and become the greatest ninja. Arin expressed doubt about living up to such high expectations and admitted he wished he possessed Lloyd's confidence. In response, Lloyd confided in Arin about the anxiety-inducing visions he had been experiencing lately, confessing that they sometimes left him paralyzed when it came to thwarting Ras.
In a training exercise, Arin was pitted against LLoyd in a rock-throwing competition while utilizing Spinjitzu. Determined not to repeat past mistakes, Arin became desperate to score a point, despite Egalt's advice against it. Unfortunately, this desperation caused Arin to lose control of his Spinjitzu, resulting in boulders flying everywhere until Lloyd intervened. To Arin's dismay, one of the rocks accidentally struck Egalt in the eye, causing him to temporarily lose his vision on the right side. Egalt reprimanded Arin for his carelessness, and feeling remorseful, Arin realized he was negatively impacting everyone. As a consequence, Egalt demoted Arin to the rank of a First Fang Ninja, proving his doubts about Arin's abilities.
Arin practiced Spinjitzu, attempting to knock down three pillars while executing a proper Spinjitzu tornado. He successfully completed the first two, but stumbled on the third, causing frustration to build within him. Unbeknownst to Arin, Sora and Riyu had been observing his practice session in secret. They praised Arin for his efforts, but Arin misinterpreted Sora's words as mockery. Arin pointed out how had been demoted to a First Fang Ninja after the incident, but Sora insisted that Arin's Spinjitzu skills were impressive. She highlighted Arin's unique ability to perform Object Spinjitzu, which set him apart from others. Despite Sora's encouragement, Arin doubted his own abilities, claiming he could barely perform Object Spinjitzu. Arin emphasized the urgency of the situation, mentioning the impending Blood Moon and the threat to the Merged Realms. Arin stressed the importance of stopping the impending danger and acknowledged his need to improve his ninja skills. However, he felt disheartened by his perceived lack of progress.
Later, Lloyd alerted Arin and the others about the approaching Blood Moon, Ras' sinister plans, and the danger faced by Cole and Zane. In response to the urgent situation, Arin and his companions immediately resumed their training.
In the evening, Arin and the rest of the group observed Kai and Nya's attempt at performing Rising Dragon. They were amazed to see that Kai, despite his uncertainty, flawlessly executed the move. They praised Kai for his achievement. Egalt expressed his changed doubts about the ninja, acknowledging them as worthy students and how their accomplishment would ensure the passing on of the Rising Dragon. However, a moment later, Arin was the first to notice the emergence of the Blood Moon. This unfortunate event turned the Dragon Masters into stone, causing great distress to Arin and everyone else.
Lloyd believed that Ras was on the brink of starting the Ritual of the Blood Moon. However, Arin was determined to prevent this from happening. In a moment of urgency, Arin turned to Kai, acknowledging his mastery of the Rising Dragon technique. Kai confessed that he did not know how to perform it intentionally. Lloyd had a sudden vision and revealed to Arin and the group that the Ritual of the Blood Moon was unfolding in the Wyldness. The ninja swiftly boarded the Destiny's Bounty to make their way to the Wyldness, only to face a formidable obstacle in the form of Jordana's Theroxian magic, conjuring a devastating storm that threatened their journey. As the situation grew dire, Arin's quick reflexes saved Sora from a falling crate, but the Bounty suffered damage as the sails tore apart. Arin fell off the ship, only to be rescued by Riyu who carried him to safety. Arin thanked Riyu for saving him but sadly expressed uncertainty about the fate of the other ninja after the crash. With a sense of responsibility, he both understood that if they were the sole survivors, it was their duty to save the Merged Realms.
Arin and Riyu were faced with a dilemma as they tried to figure out where the Blood Moon Ritual was taking place. Arin mentioned to Riyu that it was much easier to navigate in the Crossroads due to the abundance of street signs, unlike the lack of direction in the Forests of Spirits. They hoped to stumble upon some clue that would lead them to the location of the ritual. Suddenly, their attention was drawn to Jordana, who was riding a buggy with Bonzle as her hostage. It became clear to Arin and Riyu that Jordana was headed towards the ritual. Without wasting any time, Riyu swiftly picked up Arin and they began to chase after Jordana's buggy to rescue Bonzle. Arin had doubts about whether Riyu would be able to catch up to Jordana, but was pleasantly surprised when Riyu displayed an unexpected ability to fly. This turn of events filled Arin with a sense of pride and admiration for Riyu's newfound skill, giving them hope that they might be able to reach Jordana in time. Arin and Riyu caught up with Jordana and confessed that he couldn't remember her name, which immediately angered her. Arin jumped into the buggy while Jordana tried to use her magic against him, but Riyu stepped in and forcefully threw her away from the speeding vehicle. Arin spotted a cliff ahead. Without hesitation, he accelerated the buggy to its maximum speed and used the attached hook to propel them across to the other side. Bonzle informed Arin that Ras needed her presence for the Ritual of the Blood Moon. As a result, Arin drove Bonzle away from the Wolf Clan, ensuring they were as far away as possible. Despite their efforts, Ras managed to catch up with them.
Ras effortlessly defeated Riyu in battle, and when Arin attempted to fight Ras, he was quickly overpowered. However, Arin refused to give up, asserting that a ninja never quits. Ras argued that the ninja were holding Arin back, but Arin disagreed, believing that they were actually helping him improve. Despite this, Ras pointed out that Arin hadn't shown any improvement, as he was still unable to stop him just as easily as their first encounter. Ras shared his own experience of weakness before his master taught him the value of strength, exemplified by slamming Arin to the ground. Ras suggested that Arin may need to find a true master who could teach him the same lesson one day. With that, Ras departed, taking Bonzle with him. Shortly after, Arin mistook two approaching figures for his parents.
Still mistaking the two figures as his parents, Arin felt disheartened by his inability to do anything right. However, his confusion was cleared when he realized he was actually speaking to Lloyd and Nya. Arin recounted how Ras had kidnapped Bonzle and defeated him effortlessly. Together with Lloyd, Nya, and Riyu, Arin made his way to the Shadow Dojo. Upon arriving, Arin and the others joined forces with the remaining ninja to confront the Wolf Clan. In the midst of the battle, Arin took a moment to inform Sora about Riyu's ability to fly. When Cinder broke free from the Technology cage, Arin intervened by knocking the Wolf Mask out of Cinder's hands to prevent him from using Shatterspin, urging the ninja to stop him. Despite their efforts, Cinder managed to acquire another Wolf Mask and gain the upper hand by unleashing Shatterspin. However, Kai turned the tables by overpowering Cinder with the Rising Dragon. Unfortunately, Ras intervened and sent Kai through the portal to the Nether-Space, freeing Nokt in the process. Arin attempted to rescue Nya from being sacrificed by using Object Spinjitzu with the hand of the Elemental Fire Mech. He threw the hand towards Ras, thinking he had succeeded, not realizing that it was actually Sora who used her Elemental Powers to manipulate the hand to hit Ras, as Arin's Object Spinjitzu failed. After the Wolf Clan and the Shadow Dojo vanished, Arin and the ninja went back to the Cloud Kingdom, where they received gratitude from Suetonius. The team was still grieving over Kai's loss, but Lloyd, unaware of Sora's intervention, praised Arin for his courage in trying to stop Ras with Object Spinjitzu, ultimately saving the day. Arin opened up about his doubts regarding his place in the team, but the victory was a significant moment for him, boosting his self-assurance and proving his worth.
Arin had Sora join him in invading the Administration for information about where his parents went. He was excited about it being their first solo mission, despite worrying that his parents could have been sent anywhere. Eventually, the screen displays they were looking at in the Department of Reassignment flash red, and Sora explained that a lot of information went missing when the head of the department, Agent Walker, went missing as well. Arin got upset at himself, claiming that he came too late and was distracted by ninja business. Sora reassured him as Administration Agents storm the room. Arin tried to grapple them away, but they were held down, so he threw a smoke bomb which allowed them to escape.
Arin and Sora meet up with Riyu, and they all jump into Arin's Explorer to navigate through the Kingdom of Madness. As they drove, Arin was frustrated over their failed mission, feeling particularly distressed about losing vital information regarding his parents. Sora tried to assure him, but Arin's emotions boil over as he insisted that they had no other leads to follow. Suddenly, they spot something hurtling toward the ground and quickly made their way to the crash site. Upon arrival, Arin realizeed it was a dragon, but Sora and Riyu identify it as the Matriarch of the Mountain Dragons, who was severely injured and had her crown taken by the assailant. Arin felt a deep sense of compassion for Riyu, who is wailing. Sora suggested reaching out to the ninja for assistance, but Arin was resolute about helping the Matriarch immediately, knowing that the ninja's arrival would take too long. Instead, they decided to seek help from the Craglings, recalling how Riyu had previously saved them.
The Craglings offered the Matriarch of the Mountain Dragons their sacred cragling mud to help heal her, which left Arin in awe. He was surprised that Riyu's act of saving the Craglings resulted in such a significant gesture. When the other ninja arrived, the Matriarch, using her remaining strength, warned Lloyd about an impending threat and handed him a map. The group was devastated when the Matriarch succumbed to her injuries, leaving Arin troubled and questioning the motives of the attacker. He turned to Lloyd, asking what the Matriarch had meant by her warning, and Lloyd revealed that the Source Dragons might be in peril. Just then, Arin heard a soft cry and discovered the Matriarch's baby daughter hiding in her nursing pouch. The ninja decided they must return the baby to her herd, but they were uncertain of its location since the Mountain Dragons had left the Land of the Three Mountains. Riyu then drew an arrow, which puzzled Arin until he recalled Riyu's ability to track the Mountain Dragons, just as the Matriarch had mentioned.
Arin rode on Zanth with Lloyd and Sora, closely following Riyu as they journeyed together. After a while, Arin grew worried about Riyu's energy levels and suggested a break, but Riyu was resolute, which took Arin by surprise. Suddenly, they were ambushed by Rapton and the Claw Hunters, catching Arin off guard since he had thought the Claws of Imperium were allies. Rapton, however, revealed that he and the Claws had rebranded themselves as the Freebooters after failing to adapt to their new roles in the Kingdom of Imperium. During the skirmish, Arin used Spinjitzu to defeat one of the Claw Hunters. With the help of the Mountain Dragons, the ninja ultimately triumphed over the Freebooters. They were then led to a World Tree in the World Forest, where they successfully returned the Matriarch's daughter to her tribe.
Returning to the monastery, Arin sadly vented about the day's events, feeling disheartened by being unable to uncover any details about his parents and the mystery surrounding the Matriarch's death. He and Riyu find solace in each other's company. Suddenly, the Source Dragon of Motion arrived, prompting Lloyd to question her authenticity. Yet, she quickly unveiled her complete mortal form, prompting Arin to set the record straight with Lloyd. The Source Dragon of Motion warned them that the people responsible for the Matriarch's death also killed two other Arc Dragons, and how the Source Dragons might be next. She elaborated on the dangers her kind face, especially since they were already in jeopardy before the Merge. Concerned looks passed between Arin and Riyu when they learn that a Source Dragon had been killed prior to the Merge. Arin became anxious as he pondered the consequences of the Source Dragons' deaths, understanding that their survival was vital for preserving the structure of reality; otherwise, the Merged Realms would be destroyed. Ultimately, the Source Dragon of Motion assigned Arin and the rest of the ninja the task of attending the Tournament of the Sources to track down those responsible for the death of the Arc Dragons.
Arin proudly presented his new creation, Merlopian Berry Creme, to Sora and Riyu, mentioning that Frak had taught him the recipe. This declaration caused Sora and Riyu to feel slighted by Arin's reference to Frak as his best friend. Arin clarified that Frak was one of his closest friends alongside Sora and Riyu, noting their friendship predating the Merge. He fondly recalled how thrilled Frak would be to see his accomplishment. Arin concluded that the Merlopian Berry Creme would always be a reminder of their bond, prompting Riyu to eat the dessert in one bite. As Arin decided to prepare more pies for the other ninja heading to the Tournament of the Sources, Sora encouraged him to join, but Arin felt out of place, considering the tournament was reserved for Elemental Masters. Sora jokingly proposed that Arin could be the Elemental Master of Pie, highlighting his significance to the team, yet Arin expressed his feelings of inadequacy regarding his role in the event.
Upon Lloyd's return from the Dragon Masters' training plateau, he had Arin and the other ninja balance bowls on their heads as part of their training regimen. Lloyd humorously referenced the benefits of stew-jitzu, amusing Arin and Sora. After some time, Arin took a moment to confide in Lloyd about his choice to forgo the trip to the City of Temples, citing his lack of Elemental Powers. Lloyd clarified that their mission extended beyond mere victory; it was about seeking justice for the slain Arc Dragons, highlighting Arin's role in unraveling the mystery while the others compete. Drawing inspiration from his parents' detective stories, Arin felt a renewed sense of purpose and no longer perceived himself as insignificant. Lloyd reassured him of his importance and instructed him to prepare for their departure, prompting Arin to hurry inside the Monastery to pack.
Arin and Sora set off for the Dragon Stone Shrine in the Explorer, accompanied by their fellow ninja. Arin was filled with excitement at the prospect of meeting the Elemental Masters who were set to compete in the tournament. They spotted Euphrasia stepping into an elevator, which made him shake Sora with enthusiasm about the thrilling experiences that awaited them. Upon reaching the entrance, Sora was eager to move forward but felt uncertain about what to do next. Arin tried to ask the gate to take them to the tournament, but nothing happened. Just then, a door swung open, revealing Bleckt, who introduced himself as the Minister of Ledgering for the Tournament of the Sources. He informed the ninja that they needed to leave because they did not have an invitation from the Spirit Dragons, unlike the other Elemental Masters. Bleckt dismissed them, claiming they lacked the skills to compete before leaving, which left Arin feeling frustrated, while Lloyd remained determined.
When Kizzy took the elevator into the city, Arin and Sora used the Explorer's grappling hook to secure it to the rising elevator, allowing it to lift them up the cliff while the other ninja soared alongside them on their dragons. Suddenly, Security Bots appeared, attacking the ninja for their intrusion. Two of the bots targeted Arin and Sora. Arin quickly attached his grappling hook to one of the Security Bots, which launched him upward toward the City of Temples, with Riyu closely following. They both landed at Foundation Street, where they were immediately confronted by more Security Bots, who aimed their weapons at them. Arin attempted to explain their situation when, to his surprise, Frak arrived.
As Arin briefly reunited with Frak, the former and Riyu were about to be arrested, until Frak proclaimed his master will vouch for them. As they get reacquainted, Frak reveals to Arin that he obtained the power of Quake and ends up falling during the former's demonstration. The other ninja soon arrive with Roby, the Games Master, and Bleckt, who was his uncle. Introducing his old friend to the ninja, Arin offered Frak to tour the city with them, but the latter received an alert to train and takes off. While touring the city, they come across Zant-Tanz, who recently discovered he was the Master of plants before revealing a banquet would be held.
At the banquet, Roby's speech was interrupted by Zeatrix, Beatrix's exiled twin sister and Master of Shockwave, who was angered at the ninja for dethroning her sister and Roby for blackballing her from the banquet and housing.
Later that night, the ninja were asleep in their quarters before an assassin showed up, intending to kill Lloyd with a Gilba Thorn, only to be interrupted by Riyu, and they pursue the assassin with Arin trying to slow them down, until Lloyd managed to knock them to the street below, the disturbance waking everyone up before they discover the assassin was a bot, which malfunctions. Soon, Ras and Zur reveal they were attacked also before Tox identified the thorns were from the Mother Garden, thus Zant-Tanz was named the culprit. Not denying the accusation, Zant-Tanz was disqualified and banished from the city, warning that the true culprit is still among them.
Arin was engaged in training with a wooden dummy while conversing with Sora. He believed that Zant-Tanz could not possibly be behind the recent bot attack, citing the latter's amiable nature as evidence. Instead, Arin pointed the finger at Ras, reiterating his suspicion that Ras was responsible for the death of the Matriarch of the Mountain Dragons. Sora, however, countered this assertion by reminding Arin that Ras had also been ambushed, prompting a reluctant agreement from Arin, who acknowledged the complexities of detective work. He lamented that his parents would have unraveled the mystery in just a day. Sora encouraged him to seek help from the other ninja, but Arin was determined to tackle the issue on his own, feeling a strong urge to redeem himself after missing out on the tournament. He then invited Riyu to accompany him as they set off to Foundation Street in search of clues.
While investigating, Arin catch up with Frak.
Arin observed that the attacker bot likely passed through this area last night and suggested retracing the bot's path. As Riyu continued to sniff around, Arin inquired if he had picked up the same scent from the previous night, hoping it would lead them to the attacker's origin and the mastermind behind it. They ventured into an alley but hit a dead end, where Arin noticed a small symbol scratched into the wall and speculated it might be a clue about the bot's sender. Just then, Frak arrived, inviting them to join him for a pie. As they did, Frak expressed disbelief over the previous night's events, while Arin dismissed the idea that Zan-Tanz was responsible, noting his timid nature. Arin shared with Frak the story of how he met the ninja, emphasizing the significant effort and rigorous training it required. Frak understood and recommended that Arin meet his master, who had helped him confront his fears regarding his Elemental Powers. They soon noticed Wyldfyre searching for Roby. As Wyldfyre departed with Roby and Bleckt, Arin realized that Wyldfyre had feelings for Roby, remarking that it was the only typical behavior he had observed from Wyldfyre. Arin then wished Frak good luck as he headed off to join his team, but he remained troubled by his own lack of Elemental Powers.
Arin was informed by Sora that Frak was on Ras' team.
As Arin and Riyu made their way back to their quarters, Arin took a moment to delve into his book. Sora soon arrived with some news for Arin, who initially assumed she was talking about the pies from Temple City. However, Sora clarified that she was actually referring to the fact that Frak's team is the Wolf Clan. This revelation surprised Arin, especially since he learned that Riyu also harbored suspicions about Frak. Arin dismissed their concerns, believing that Sora had simply misunderstood what she had seen. Sora, however, stood her ground, insisting that she would never deceive Arin. At that moment, Lloyd walked into the room and proposed that they all head to the Games Plaza, as the first match of the tournament was about to kick off.
During Nya's match, Arin realized Jay is Agent Walker.
At the Games Plaza, Arin joined the ninja as Lloyd reminded everyone to the villain's scheme aimed at capturing the Source Dragons and harnessing the Elemental Powers, which posed a significant threat to the Merged Realms. When Roby introduced Zane and Zur as the first two Elemental Masters ready to compete, Arin enthusiastically cheered for Zane, urging him to give his best effort. Unfortunately, Zane was defeated by Zur, prompting Roby to transfer Zane's powers to his opponent. Shortly after, Arin and the other ninja were left stunned when they spotted Jay alongside the Wolf Clan, preparing to face Nya in battle. During their fight, Jay revealed that he had previously worked at the Administration before being rescued by Ras, which made Arin realize that Jay was actually Agent Walker. As Jay prepared to wear a Wolf Mask to perform Shatterspin, Arin expressed his concern that Jay was on the verge of losing his goodness, but Lloyd insisted that it was already too late. Fortunately, Nya emerged victorious in the match, and Arin celebrated alongside Sora and Wyldfyre. However, their joy was short-lived when Lloyd informed them that Jay had succumbed to evil.
Arin confronted Ras alongside the other ninja, insisting on the return of Jay. Ras defended himself, stating that he assisted Jay when no one else would. He explained that after Jay's defeat in the tournament, he had sent him away for, suggesting that if ninja truly cared for their friend, they should search for him. Nya wanted to rescue Jay, but the ninja reminded her that the Tournament of the Sources posed danger to the Source Dragons. Lloyd reassured Nya that they would find Jay once the tournament end. As they made their way back, Arin confided in Sora that Jay was actually Agent Walker. Sora saw this as a positive development, believing they could find Jay and uncover information about Arin's parents. However, Arin recalled how obstacles always seemed to arise whenever Lloyd promised to find someone they had lost.
Later the next morning, Arin was going through his notes when he overheard Zane and Lloyd giving Sora advice on staying calm. As the Games begin, Arin notes that Sora obstacles involves Balance yet she is competing against the Elemental Master of Balance. Sora did succeed, Arin celebrated with the others. When Wyldfyre went up against Cinder, she lost because Cinder used Shatterspin, prompting other other Ninja to help her up.
Later at nigh, Arin complains that Ras shouldn't be able to use the Gong of Shattering, but Zane had check the rules and saw that there is no probation against it and Ras knew of it beforehand. After Zane involves the Cavern Run, Arin told the others that his Explorer was damaged when they tried breaking into the City of Temples and Bleckt had the Security Bots thrown it into the junkyard.
Sora went to the junkyard where she created a Combo Vehicle. Lloyd told Arin the race would be a good time to do some detective work. As the race began, Arin snuck away to head to the Wolf Clan's quarters.
Arin finds out that The Merge was caused by Master Wu.
Arin entered the Wolf Clan's quarters, where he found Riyu waiting for him. He started to look for clues about the Matriarch and the attacking robots, but soon noticed Riyu wandering off again. While searching, Arin came across a photo of Frak with his parents, realizing that Frak was indeed part of the Wolf Clan. Riyu then presented a glowing stone to Arin, who found it strange that Riyu was conversing with it. Intrigued by the stone's glow, Arin wondered about its composition. At that moment, Ras arrived, commenting that it was typical for Lloyd to send the youngest ninja without Elemental Powers into enemy territory. Arin retorted that he didn't need powers to defeat Ras during the Ritual of the Blood Moon. Ras countered by saying that Arin had failed to execute Object Spinjitzu, revealing that Sora had used her powers on the Elemental Fire Mech to make it seem like Arin succeeded. Arin was skeptical, insisting that Sora would have told him. Ras insisted that Sora was lying to Arin, suggesting it was part of a larger pattern of deception by the other ninja to hide their failure to train him properly. Arin defended his training, but Ras argued that he was missing out on true mastery. Ras proposed that if Lloyd couldn't help Arin realize his potential, perhaps he should consider Ras as a mentor, claiming he understood Arin better. Arin firmly rejected this notion, stating he would never ally with Ras. Ras then pointed out that Frak was willing to learn from him, to which Arin responded that Frak must not be aware of Ras' true nature. Ras revealed his intention to reverse the Merge, leaving both Arin and Riyu confused. He argued that while Arin condemned his actions as evil, the Merge itself was a far greater evil. He expressed his surprise that Arin was siding with the ninja, especially since the Merge was responsible for the disappearance of Arin's parents. Ras then revealed that it was Wu who had caused the Merge, leaving Arin in disbelief.
Arin learns of Ras' intentions was to "undo" the Merge.
Arin was adamant in his disbelief that Wu was responsible for the Merge, while Ras maintained his stance on the matter. Ras argued that since Wu was the cause of the Merge, then he wasn't just accountable for Arin's parents' disappearance but also for all the consequences that followed. Arin, however, held firm, asserting that Wu was a wise man. Ras countered by suggesting that Arin's youth limited his perspective, pointing out the irony in how Arin viewed him as a villain while seeing the ninja as heroes, a notion Arin reluctantly accepted. Ras went on to discuss the intricate nature of morality, proposing that good could exist within evil and vice versa. When Arin inquired if that meant Ras considered himself a hero, Ras explained that his harsh methods were aimed at reversing the Merge. Arin pressed further, asking if Ras' ultimate goal was indeed to undo the Merge, to which Ras replied that this was the only way to save the Merged Realms from their destructive trajectory. He claimed that such an action could potentially bring back everyone who had been lost, including Arin's parents. Despite this, Arin remained skeptical. Ras insisted that it didn't matter when Arin would come to believe him, hoping that it would happen before it was too late. As Ras turned away, Arin asked if he and Riyu were free to leave, to which Ras affirmed they always had been. They departed, and later, as dawn broke, Riyu attempted to console Arin, who was deep in thought about Ras' words. Arin hesitated to share his thoughts with Lloyd, knowing Lloyd would likely dismiss the idea that Wu caused the Merge. Riyu suggested that Ras might be lying, but Arin pointed out that there could be some truth to it, especially since Frak trusted Ras. Just as Riyu was comforting Arin, he abruptly left, leaving Arin feeling confused and disheartened.
Later, Arin met with Frak to voice his concerns about Ras, warning him about the tiger's reputation such as hunting dragons and conquering the Cloud Kingdom. Frak was skeptical of Arin's warnings, as his own experiences with Ras had been entirely positive. Arin warned Frak about the dangers associated with the Wolf Masks and Shatterspin, explaining that wearing a Wolf Mask could lead to a loss of one's moral compass and stressing that Ras was solely focused on acquiring power, no matter the consequences. Frak felt conflicted, as he attributed his own successes to Ras' guidance. He demonstrated some of Ras' teachings, prompting Arin to showcase his style of Spinjitzu. As Frak recounted Ras' lessons, Arin executed a true Spinjitzu tornado, leaving both of them in awe. However, Arin was taken aback to realize that this skill was a product of Ras' instruction. At that moment, Frak received a message from Ras, indicating that it was his turn to compete in the upcoming match against Cole.
Arin meets with Ras who confirms what he said is correct.
As Frak faced off against Cole, Arin joined the other ninja. Sora brought up her earlier statements about Frak aligning with Ras, emphasizing that she would never lie to Arin. However, Arin challenged Sora's assertion, revealing that he had learned about her use of Elemental Powers, which led him to believe that he had performed Object Spinjitzu during the Ritual of the Blood Moon. Sora acknowledged that Arin was the only hope for the ninjas during that critical moment and expressed her determination to ensure he succeeded. She wanted him to achieve a victory, especially after he had been demoted by Egalt in training. Feeling that Sora might also have doubts about his abilities, Arin left in frustration. While the other ninjas prepared for the next game, Arin took a moment to read his book during a break in the competition.
During Sora's match against Cinder, Arin revealed to Ras that Sora confessed to tricking him into believing he had mastered Object Spinjitzu. Arin mentioned that Jay had information about the whereabouts of his parents, thanks to his experiences in the Administration. Ras responded by asserting that he was aware of everything Jay knew. Later that night, Arin decided to practice Spinjitzu using the techniques he learned from Frak, while Ras observed him from a distance.
Arin had set out early to review some evidence, putting together a board that made him discover that the attacker bots and the murder of the Matriarch of the Mountain Dragons were not linked to Ras, despite what he thought. When the other ninja returned, Arin shared his experience of sneaking into Ras' dorm, which surprised everyone. He pointed out that there was more to Ras' plan than they initially realized. Zane argued that their rivalry with Ras had made them overlook other dangers. Wyldfyre agreed, using Bleckt as an example while mistakenly identifying Arin's drawing of Zur as Bleckt until Arin corrected her, dismissing the notion that Bleckt could have killed three Arc Dragons. Arin also noted Sora's statements of how Dragon Horns could be utilized for strength in battle, albeit with the risk of inciting rage. Seeking further clarity, Arin approached Lloyd, who suggested that Zeatrix might be a suspect since Imperium had previously depended on Dragon Power, indicating that Zeatrix would know how to handle the Crowns of Horns. Arin then revealed the symbol he had discovered the previous day. Cole recommended that Arin visit the Temple City Museum, prompting him to head there immediately, while he coldly turned down Sora's offer to assist him.
When Arin stepped into the museum, he was drawn to a painting of Zarkar, one of the Champions of the Sources. He soon met up with Roby and Geo, who was busy crafting a statue of Roby. As they conversed, Roby shared his vision of transforming the museum by replacing traditional artifacts with modern art. Arin countered that history holds valuable lessons, prompting Roby to comment that Arin reminded him of Bleckt. Arin found Roby's idea of showcasing a holographic display of the seven Source Dragons engaged in a fierce battle intriguing. Roby also expressed his intention to feature the Elemental Cup, highlighting its unique Dragon Ivory. Arin was taken aback when Roby explained that the Elemental Cup was crafted from polished Dragon Horns of an Arc Dragon. A moment later, Arin's attention was caught by a painting, and when he asked about it, Roby revealed it depicted his ancestor, Roake Fengxian, the first Games Master. As the tournament was about to commence, Arin noticed the cufflinks in the painting bore the symbol. He was on the verge of sharing the discovery with Roby when he was stunned to see that Roby was wearing the same cufflinks, leading Arin to suspect that Roby might be the person he was searching for.
After Frak's match with Zur, Arin asked Wyldfyre about what she thought of Roby. She described him as a super cool genius who is loved by everyone. Curious, Wyldfyre wanted to know the reason behind this question. Arin explained that he is simply trying to stick to the facts.
Arin was with the other ninja and Geo as they watch over Lloyd before Roby, Bleckt, and a restrained Zeatrix arrive to transfer her powers to Lloyd. Zeatrix attempts to apologize, but no one accepts it before Wyldfyre provokes the former to attack them. Roby manages to take her powers away before they all leave. Suspicious about Roby because of his cufflinks, Arin has Wyldfyre tag along with following Roby and Bleckt, coldly refusing Sora's assistance as the two leave.
As Arin and Wyldfyre head to Roby and Bleckt's office where they found the door lock. Arin found it suspicious but Wyldfyre said that normal people lock their doors for various reasons. Arin tries using a small fork to break in while Wyldfyreis the lookout and when she spots Bleck and Roby she warns Arin which they try to act natural with Wyldfyre admitting her crush on Roby in the process. When Wyldfyre ask about the cufflinks which Roby said that Bleckt wanted him to wear them for his first game just like Roby's father did. As the two went into their office, Wyldfyre tells Arin that Roby got those cufflinks before the first game the morning after the bot attacked. Despite Wyldfyre considering Roby innocent, Arin thought back to what his parents said about being a detective and that is trusting the evidence, even if it means going against things you believe. As Roby left, Bleckt criticizes them for not supporting their teammates, which made Arin notices Bleckt's cane has the same symbol as Roby's cufflinks. After Bleckt left, Arin throws his book at the door, allowing the two to sneak in. While inside, Wyldfyre picks up a rotary phone which accidentally activates a passageway to a secret room. They enter the room to see pictures of Roby with scribbles on his face, much to Wyldfyre's horror. Arin realizes that Bleck hates Roby and wants to stay to find more evidence. Wyldfyre notices a calendar with the words "meet with Ras" noted on the day before the tournament.
After leaving the office, Arin and Wyldfyre return to the quarters where Sora says that she needs help to decipher Jordana's note. Sora tells Arin what the equation means and Arin realizes it means there are horns in the Monastery. At first Arin thinks of the Monastery of Spinjitzu but Cole overheard this and tells the two about another Monastery he knows.
During Lloyd's match, Cole shows Arin the Monastery which Arin lamps that they can't create a bridge to get across but it gives Cole and idea. Cole uses the Elemental Earth Mech to build a bridge. Arin hops onto the Mech as it walks across the bridge. When they get to the other side, the floating orbs around the Monastery combine to turn into Wu's spirit.
Arin finds out the truth of how the Merge started.
Outside the Monastery of Gates, Arin wonder why Wu's ghost is appearing now. The ghost enters the Monastery, and Arin and Cole follow him. Inside the Monastery, they come across 16 gateways leading to every realm. When Cole theories each gate is a doorway to the Sixteen Realms, Wu confirms this. The ghost points upward to where three Dragon Horns on the ceiling. Before Wu's ghost left, Arin asks if Wu had cause the Merge. Cole says that Ras is a liar and no way Wu would do something like that but Arin insists on asking the ghost, and the ghost answers "yes" before suddenly disappearing and splitting into four orbs through one of the portal gates. This shocked Arin when he realized everything was a lie.
During Sora's match with Nokt, Arin approaches Lloyd and tells him they found the dragon crowns are in another Monastery where Jordana gave them a note. Lloyd thinks that Ras is behind all of it and is determined to control all elemental powers and is likely planning to use the powers and the horns together to reach the Source Dragons. Arin informs Lloyd that they saw Wu's ghost, and Wu admitted to being the cause of the Merge. Although Lloyd is skeptical, he instructs Arin to quickly get the crowns out of there, while he stays with Sora. As Arin and Zane head to help Cole, Arin takes one last look at Ras, which Ras noticed Arin making his way out of the Games Plaza but decides to coach Nokt.
As Arin and Zane approached the Monastery of Gates, Arin voiced his apprehensions to Zane regarding Wu's actions leading to the Merge, highlighting the peril faced by the Merged Realms due to Wu's influence, while noting Lloyd's skepticism about Wu's culpability. Upon their arrival, they spotted Cole struggling to retrieve the Crowns of Horns from the ceiling, but his efforts were in vain. Suddenly, a noise echoed from the walls, prompting Cole to break through one of them just as Nya and Riyu arrived. Arin embraced Riyu, while Nya explained their plan to rescue Kai and Bonzle from the Nether-Space. At that moment, Nokt and Rox arrived, with Rox having been possessing Jordana since the Ritual of the Blood Moon. As the ninja confronted them, Nokt and Rox disclosed their betrayal of Ras, claiming they had no intention of aiding him in his schemes. Nokt then made his way to free the remaining members of the Forbidden Five, with Arin closely following. Nokt destroyed the rock bridge, causing Arin to plummet, but Riyu was quick to catch him. Together, they made their way to the monastery, where Arin used Spinjitzu to knock Nokt into a pillar, remarking on the power of a proper Spinjitzu. As Nokt attempted to counterattack, Ras and Roby arrived, using a hoverpad to send Nokt reeling. When Nokt came to Arin and Ras take Nokt down, allowing Riyu to retrain him. Roby prepared to strip Nokt of his stolen Elemental Powers, but Nokt fought back. A battle ensued, with Arin, Riyu, and Ras teaming up to pin Nokt down, only for him to retaliate once more, sending Arin and Ras crashing against a pillar with Shatterspin.
Arin vowing to find his parents.
As Arin regained consciousness, he noticed that Nokt had successfully freed the rest of the Forbidden Five. He took a moment to assist Riyu and then Ras, who was surprised by Arin's help. Arin explained that he was only aiding Ras to find his parents, which Ras accepted. When the other ninja arrived, they joined Arin and Ras in battling Nokt, who used Ras' hammer to knock Arin and Zane aside. While Nokt was distracted, Arin attempted to attack with Spinjitzu, but Nokt countered with Ice and pushed Arin against Lloyd using Shatterspin. Lloyd was impressed by Arin's Spinjitzu skills and wondered how he learned it, but Arin coldly replied that it was not due to Lloyd's influence before standing with Ras, disappointing Lloyd. Nokt aimed to eliminate Ras for trying to manipulate the Forbidden Five, prompting Arin to defend Ras by confronting Nokt alone. Meanwhile, powered by Riyu, Nya used dragon power on the Crowns of Horns, freeing Kai and Bonzle from the Nether-Space. A fight ensued between Kai and Nokt until Nokt gained the advantage but Roby managed to strip Nokt of the stolen Elemental Powers, restoring them to the Elemental Masters. However, the Forbidden Five escaped through a portal gate to the Cloud Kingdom, taking Ras hostage. Arin pursued them to rescue Ras, seizing his hammer along the way, and seemingly abandoning the ninja. Unfortunately, as Arin entered the portal, it exploded, leaving him and Ras stranded in the First Land. There, Arin built a campfire and reflected on Ras' earlier words about the ninja failing him and Wu's role in his parents' disappearance. He vowed to help Ras heal, believing that Ras was the only one who could assist him in finding his parents.
Traveling with Ras, Arin encountered Dorama's Puppet once more, the marionette now reanimated through the power of the Blue Prismatic Blade. Left to defend themselves from the monstrous puppet, Arin lost his grappling gun during the ensuing struggle.
Some time later, he towed Ras atop a makeshift sled through the Storm Village, where he was mistaken for an Oni and driven out by the terrified locals.
Arin began his training, momentarily pausing to admire the Lloyd plush toy. As he stared at the soft figure, he recalled the day he baked pies for the ninja after they had stopped the MergeQuake Storm. He was interrupted by Ras, who impatiently urged him to focus on his training. Arin started to knock down piles of rocks, pouring his energy into mastering Spinjitzu. Ras then challenged him to execute Object Spinjitzu on one of the rocks, but when Arin attempted it, he stumbled and failed. Despite his setback, Arin insisted he would try again, but Ras dismissed his thoughts of the ninja, calling them cowards and fools. Arin defended the ninja, arguing that, despite their flaws, they were heroes. Ras scoffed at the notion of heroism, claiming it was a meaningless label since everyone has different views on what it means to be a hero. He bitterly recounted how no one, including the ninja, had failed to save his world, leading to the loss of his tribe, and how they had not rescued Arin's parents either. This struck a chord with Arin, who felt that only Master Wu was to blame. Ras agreed with Arin's feelings but then began to cough violently, revealing the severity of his condition. Arin, noticing Ras' weakness, commented on his deteriorating health. Ras, acknowledging his impending demise, shocked Arin by admitting he was dying. He then stressed the urgency of their mission, declaring that their only hope was within the Spectral Lands, which compelled Arin to take him there. Intrigued, Arin asked about the Spectral Lands, and Ras described them as dark territories inhabited by those who had died.
Arin continued to pull Ras on his sled until they both were nearing the Spectral Lands. Arin looked ahead, asking if they had arrived, to which Ras urged him to hurry. Arin stumbled over a rock, sending them both tumbling. Apologizing, he had doubts about safely getting Ras inside and pressed for what he needed. Ras insisted he must continue, but Arin insisted that Ras can’t and they were running out of time. Ras revealed he needed a healing elixir from the Well of the Lost, located at a hilltop. Arin instructed Ras to conserve his energy while he ventured in, but Ras presented Arin with the Returning Blade, emphasizing its importance. Armed with the weapon, Arin dashed into the Spectral Lands, noting the absence of spirits around him. Arin was taken aback when the trees and leaves trembled around him. Instinctively, he ran, and as a nearby window slammed shut, he threw the Returning Blade at it, marveling as it returned to his hand. Impressed by its potential, he questioned why Ras had kept such a weapon hidden. Determined to reach the hilltop, he was suddenly tackled by Morro. Arin warned him to back off, only to realize Morro was fighting an unseen enemy. Confused, he watched as Morro struggled against a creature until he urged him to use the Prismatic Steel from the Returning Blade. Looking through the blade, Arin saw that the foe as a Soul Sucker. When the creature charged at him, he kicked it away and threw his blade, causing damage. As it lunged again, Morro advised him to target the nodes on its back. Seeing the weak points, Arin struck, celebrating his victory as the Soul Sucker fled. However, Morro quickly informed him that Soul Suckers hunt in packs. As Arin and Morro linger, Morro quickly pulls Arin to safety, insisting that he must leave. He explains that Soul Suckers are more inclined to drain the living than the dead, prompting Arin to question Morro's own status. Morro clarifies that the Spectral Lands are for the Departed, unlike Arin, and urges him to flee before the Soul Suckers return. However, Arin felt compelled to stay to retrieve the elixir from the Well of the Lost to save his dying teacher, Ras. Understanding the bond between a master and student from his own past as a ninja, Morro agreed to help Arin but warned him to stay close for protection. As they set off toward the well, Arin used the Returning Blade and spotted a swarm of Soul Suckers blocking their way, remarking his urgent need to survive.
As Arin and Morro hurried toward the Well of the Lost, Arin contemplated the purpose of the Spectral Lands, questioning their importance if the Departed Realm is the resting place for souls. Morro explained that the Spectral Lands were formed from the fusion of the Cursed Realm and the Departed Realm, serving as a transitional space for souls after the Merge. While Arin was curious about the fate of these souls, Morro speculated that they might either achieve eternal peace or be reborn. When Arin inquired why Morro had not moved on himself, Morro revealed that his past as a ninja compelled him to protect the souls from the dangers of Soul Suckers. As they approached the Well of the Lost, Arin asked about the elixir. Morro explained that it aids souls in their transition and can also heal the living, which would likely please Ras. However, Arin doubted Ras would easily show pleasure. Morro then shared his own complicated history with his master, whose betrayal still weighed on him, driving his desire to help others and honor his master's teachings about protecting the vulnerable. Arin remarked on the nobility of Morro's mission. Suddenly, they heard a Soul Sucker, prompting Morro to urge Arin to flee quickly, and they both dashed out of the Spectral Lands. Morro assured Arin that he could help him cross the border, where the Soul Suckers would no longer be a threat. Although grateful, Arin felt anxious and thanked Morro, who urged him to stay alive. Suddenly, three Soul Suckers attacked Morro, prompting Arin to quickly halt two while Morro took care of the third. As they escaped the Spectral Lands, Arin accidentally dropped the elixir but swiftly picked it up when the Soul Suckers returned. A Soul Sucker lunged at Morro, who shouted for Arin to flee, but Arin refused to leave him behind, using the Returning Blade to take down two. However, the three Soul Suckers targeted Ras, draining his soul. In a moment of desperation, Arin employed Object Spinjitzu to defeat the attackers and rushed to Ras' side, urging him to hold on as he administered the elixir. Morro explained that the elixir from the Well of the Lost takes time to work but is always effective, and he asked if Ras was Arin's master, acknowledging that Ras must have taught him well. Before leaving, Morro requested Arin to pass a message to his master, Wu, if they ever met. Arin was stunned to hear Wu's name, believing him to be dead, but Morro insisted he was still alive; otherwise, his soul would've been at the Spectral Lands. As Morro left, Arin carried Ras away, reflecting on what it truly meanet to be a hero.
As Arin and Ras journeyed through the vast expanse of a desert, Arin's impatience grew, fueled by the endless stretch of sand that lay before them. Ras, sensing his frustration, pointed out that Arin was misjudging the situation once again. Arin challenged Ras, asking if he too could ignore the miles of barren landscape. Ras reminded Arin that he had been correct about Wu's role in causing the Merge, but Arin insisted that Ras should simply take him to his parents as promised. Ras maintained that he was indeed doing just that, but Arin was not convinced. Suddenly, Ras halted and approached a nearby rock, revealing a hidden lever that took Arin by surprise. With a swift pull, Ras activated the Super Storm Jet, a backup plan he had stashed away in the First Land. This revelation quelled Arin's doubts, and he apologized. Ras then inquired if Arin could pilot the jet, to which Arin confidently replied that he could. He almost mentioned Sora, but decided against it, simply stating that he had learned from her. Ras encouraged Arin to take the controls and demonstrate his skills. However, as they boarded the jet, Arin was struggling to operate the complex machinery, inadvertently activating the alarm, windshield wipers, radio, and the dragon-headed drone, which startled him. The drone nearly crashed into them before Ras managed to shut it down. With a sigh of exasperation, Ras turned on the engine, and Arin prepared for takeoff, only to realize he had forgotten to disengage the landing gear. Once he corrected that mistake, they shot off into the sky at incredible speed.
As Arin and Ras flew the Super Storm Jet, Arin made a lighthearted comment about starting his own airline, calling it Arin Airlines. Ras quickly dismissed the idea, saying it was unnecessary. At that moment, Arin noticed the algae farmers' village under siege and felt a strong urge to help them. However, Ras reminded Arin of their primary mission, emphasizing that they would never locate Arin's parents if he kept getting sidetracked. Ras pointed out that this tendency was why Lloyd had been ineffective, suggesting that Arin had inherited this trait from him. He urged Arin to focus on what truly mattered. With some reluctance, Arin decided to ignore the plight of the algae farmers and pressed on with their journey.
Arin and Ras finally reached the location where Ras insisted Arin's parents were located. Filled with doubt, Arin questioned Ras about the truth of his claims, to which Ras confirmed. Arin to hurry and find his parents. However, upon arrival, Arin was met with the sight of several headstones, and as he examined them, he was heartbroken to discover that two of them belonged to his parents, their names etched in stone. Overwhelmed with grief, Arin was on the verge of tears. In an attempt to console him, Ras placed a comforting hand on Arin's shoulder. Struggling to understand, Arin confronted Ras, asking why he hadn't revealed the truth sooner. Ras countered by questioning whether Arin would have believed him without tangible evidence, to which Arin admitted he would not have. Ras then shared that while the circumstances of their deaths were unclear, they were a result of the Merge. He claimed he had a plan to rectify the situation. When Arin was skeptical about how it was possible to bring his parents back from the dead, Ras explained that by reversing the Merge, they could create new possibilities, including the return of Arin's parents and his own tribe.
Arin was diligently practicing Spinjitzu, trying to topple three stacks of rocks while executing a flawless Spinjitzu tornado, but he was unsuccessful. Ras criticized Arin for his lack of focus, urging him to channel his anger to discover his true strength. Arin insisted that he was making an effort, but Ras pointed out that he was failing because his emotions were overwhelming him. In a moment of vulnerability, Arin reminded Ras that he had just learned about his parents' deaths. Ras then shifted the conversation, questioning who was responsible, leading Arin to reveal that Wu was to blame. This admission unleashed Arin's pent-up anger, allowing him to finally knock down a pile of rocks with a proper Spinjitzu tornado. Arin asked Ras if he was sure to bring his parents back. Ras confirmed that reversing the Merge would require the combined energy of all seven Source Dragons. When Arin asked about how they could achieve this, Ras explained the concept of Source Dragon Icons, which could summon Source Dragons to the Merged Realms, but only once each. He shared that he had previously used the Icon of the Source Dragon of Energy to summon the Source Dragon of Energy beneath the City of Imperium, imprisoning him thanks to the city's technology. Ras then revealed that his hammer was actually the Icon of the Source Dragon of Strength, intended to summon that particular dragon. However, he was unable to use it because Imperium could not contain two Source Dragons simultaneously. He elaborated on his goal of acquiring Elemental Powers at the Tournament of the Sources to create the remaining six icons, a plan that was thwarted by the betrayal of the Forbidden Five. Now, they needed to explore alternative methods to create Source Dragon Icons. Arin, fueled by his desire to bring back his parents, agreed to assist Ras in whatever way possible.
After finishing his training, Arin turned to Ras and asked about their next destination. Ras responded by asking how Arin had learned about the Dragon Cores. In reply, Arin shared information about the Temple of the Dragon Cores located in the World Forest. He confidently assured Ras that he could guide him there, and as they prepared for departure, they boarded the Super Storm Jet and took off.
As Arin stood in astonishment at the sight of the ninja, he couldn't help but notice Frak being a new member of the team and comment on Zane's physique, realizing that significant changes had occurred since the tournament. The ninja accused Ras of holding Arin captive, but Arin quickly defended Ras, whom he had come to regard as his new mentor. The unexpected revelation left the ninja taken aback, prompting Lloyd to urge Arin to return to the team. In a moment of revelation, Zane employed the blue Prismatic Blade to learn that Arin possessed the final Prismatic Blade, which was the Returning Blade. Arin soon discovered that the Forbidden Five were plotting to acquire five Prismatic Blades, which would enable them to unleash Thunderfang, a vengeful dragon intent on wreaking havoc across the Merged Realms for being denied the title of Source Dragon. Ras encouraged Arin to accompany him as they prepared to depart, and Arin acquiesced. Frak attempted to stop Ras, but Arin swiftly countered with Spinjitzu, sending Frak reeling. Arin expressed his reluctance to fight, insisting on leaving with Ras, whom he deemed essential to his journey. However, Lloyd interjected, informing Arin that Ras had been kidnapped by Rogue during their conversation, much to Arin's irritation, as he openly declared Rogue to be his least favorite person. Arin took to the skies on his glider, pursuing Rogue, with Sora, Riyu, and Zane trailing behind, engaged in a fierce battle against Dragonian Warriors.
Arin fights Rogue in an attempt to liberate Ras from captivity. During the confrontation, Rogue employs a cunning tactic by swinging Ras towards Arin, resulting in Arin being knocked backward. Despite this, Arin used his glider to deflect one of Rogue's lightning dagger, which he had intended to use to sever Ras' bonds. Ras, growing increasingly frustrated with the delay, expresses his annoyance at Arin's slow progress. Ultimately, Arin succeeds in freeing Ras by wielding the lightning dagger to cut through the ropes binding him. Ras then remarks that Rogue is proving to be a more significant obstacle than the ninja, whom he refers to as Arin's former allies, a statement that Arin disputes. Just as the tension escalates, Rogue reenters the fray, prompting Arin to confront him in a one-on-one duel. However, Rogue gains the upper hand by severing a branch, causing Arin to plummet. As Arin dangles precariously from another branch, Rogue prepares to deliver a final blow. Sora intervenes, harnessing her Elemental Powers to disrupt Rogue's glider, sending him hurtling away. As Arin begins to fall, Sora swiftly employs Arin's Grapple Gun to catch him, ensuring his safety. Grateful for her timely rescue, Arin expresses his thanks, but Sora urges him to return to the team, suggesting that together they can search for his parents. Overcome with emotion, Arin reveals to Sora that his parents were gone.
As Arin, Sora, and Ras approached a fork in the road, Arin asked about their unexpected stop. Ras explained that the inhabitants of the Underworld disregard mortals, leading to frequent changes in the location of the passage. Intrigued, Arin asked for clarification on what the Underworld was, especially since the Spectral Lands were already a land of the dead. Ras elaborated that the Underworld serves as the domain for fallen disgraced warriors. He reiterated their objective of using the Forge of the Forgotten to create Dragon Icons, which frustrated Arin, who was singularly focused on rescuing his parents. Just as Ras discovered the new location of the passage, Sora began to tamper with Ras' bike, which only added to Arin's irritation. He urged Sora to refrain from annoying Ras, stressing the importance of the guidance they needed. Before they continued to follow Ras, Arin cautioned Sora against jeopardizing their mission. Upon reaching their destination, they discovered a small area populated by Skulkin. Arin was concerned about whether they had truly arrived, but Ras reassured him that the passage to the Underworld was indeed nearby. They noticed a Skulkin entering a hatch and decided to follow, only to find that the passage to the Underworld had vanished. Arin questioned whether it was merely a mirage, admitting he wasn't entirely sure what a mirage was. At that moment, they caught sight of the Monster Skull. Hopeful that the Monster Skull might be friendly, Arin asked it for directions to the Underworld. However, the Monster Skull launched an attack. Arin, Sora, and Ras fight the Monster Skull, who managed to overpower Arin and was poised to deliver a devastating blow. Sora unleashed Spinjitzu as she launched an attack against the Monster Skull, leaving Arin amazed. Just as the Monster Skull readied itself for a counterattack, Ras swung his hammer, dismantling the creature and earning praise from the Monster Skull for his display of strength, a quality highly regarded by the inhabitants of the Underworld. The Monster Skull revealed the hidden passage leading to the Underworld, which the trio eagerly entered.
Upon their arrival, they encountered Kruncha and Nuckal, who informed them that they needed to win a bone rolling challenge to discover the location of the Forge of the Forgotten. However, Ras knocked the heads off Kruncha and Nuckal, compelling them to divulge the information. Arin apologized as he carefully placed Nuckal's head on Kruncha's body, explaining that Ras had a tendency to be intense. Arriving at the forge, Arin he contemplated how to operate it. To his dismay, he discovered that activating the Forge of the Forgotten required entering the Casket of Bones, a grim fate that demanded the life of the one who dared to enter. Ras intended for Sora to be the one to sacrifice herself. Arin stepped forward, determined to protect Sora and declared that no one would enter the casket. Ras countered, arguing that using the forge was the only hope Arin had to save his parents. He insisted that either Arin or Sora must take the plunge, reminding Arin of how he had transformed from a weakling into a warrior under Ras' mentorship. He emphasized that true warriors often face harrowing choices, especially when it comes to their loved ones. Arin protested, claiming this was not part of their agreement, but Ras pressed on, asserting that Arin had never been closer to reuniting with his parents. He urged Arin to summon the courage necessary for such a daunting task. Arin argued that it was unfair, to which Ras responded by encouraging him to find the strength to save his family. Arin then revealed that he considered Sora family as well, expressing regret for ever trusting Ras. As Arin and Sora prepared to leave, Ras, unwilling to let them go, launched an attack. Arin retaliated with Spinjitzu, but Ras countered, sending him sprawling. As Arin attempted to kick Ras, he was caught by the foot, yet he managed to use Spinjitzu to push Ras back. Together, Arin and Sora readied themselves for a fight, but Ras wielded his hammer, knocking them aside and causing them to crash into Kruncha and Nuckal. Undeterred, Arin and Sora unleashed their Spinjitzu against Ras. Arin used Object Spinjitzu to channel his energy into a bone, hurling it at Ras. Although Ras struck the bone with his hammer, it ricocheted and struck one of the floating rocks, causing it to collapse onto him. Seizing the opportunity, Arin and Sora fled before Ras could recover. As they flee, Arin grieved over the loss of his parents, reflecting on Sora's earlier words about the fear of change and admitting that he was scared.
As Arin and Lloyd arrived at the Spectral Lands, Lloyd reiterated their plan, dismissing it as a mere "piece of cake." Arin, however, challenged this overly optimistic view, expressing concern that such a description was far too casual. Upon stepping out of the Spectral Monastery, they encountered Thunderfang in the process of transforming into a Source Dragon. Handing Lloyd the Unbidden Storm, Arin voiced his apprehension about Lloyd's potential to falter, noting that it was practically his Elemental Power. While Arin acknowledged Lloyd's progress as the Green Ninja, Lloyd countered by reflecting on his own childhood errors, emphasizing that confidence is a skill that can be developed. He assured Arin that he was destined to become one of the greatest ninja in history, a sentiment Arin found hard to accept. He reminded Lloyd of the personal stakes involved, highlighting that he had just reunited with his parents and that many souls taken by Thunderfang belonged to the loved ones of others in the Land of Lee. Arin made it clear that he agreed to help the ninja so he could liberate these souls and reunite families, but he also revealed his intention to quit the ninja once their mission was complete.
Arin had a great relationship with his parents, Barry and Jenny, who seemed to support his dream of becoming a ninja. When the Merge occurred, Arin tried to reach them, but ended up separated when he was pulled into the storm. In the aftermath, his first instinct was to call out to them, only to hear no response. He kept the porch swing his parents often sat on, bringing it with him to the monastery. During the MergeQuake Storm, Arin saw his parents through a rift for the first time in years, but it closed before either of them could have a chance to talk. In "Beyond the Phantasm Cave", it is revealed that his biggest fear is his parents thinking he abandoned them for the ninja. He had several flashbacks of them during the Tournament of the Sources, but after learning that Master Wu caused the Merge, which indirectly led to his parents' supposed deaths, this led Arin to lose his faith in the ninja.
In "I Alone Can Save Them," Ras took Arin to his parents' graves, where Arin was heartbroken to learn they were apparently dead. However, in "The Screaming Earth," when Arin visited the graves with Sora to say his final goodbyes, he was shocked to find them empty. Later, he joyfully reunited with his parents in the Community of Lee, overwhelmed with happiness to see them alive.
Following their reunion, Arin wishes to go on a vacation with his parents after he defeated Thunderfang. Unfortunately, Arin and Lloyd ended up lost in the Merged Lands thus nullifying his wish.
“Arin, during the fight, I was trying to force things to go the way I wanted, to control it all, but now I realize, I need to let go sometimes, which also means. . . letting go of you. I can't force you to become a Ninja, Arin.”
“You don't have to, Lloyd, because, after all this, I realize I already am. If that's still okay with you.”
Lloyd is Arin's master. He first met Lloyd during the Merge when the storm pulled him into it before being saved by him and personally brought to the ground. After the Merge, Arin found Lloyd's mask, which he kept in the following years, though he never washed it.[1] After reuniting with him, Arin believed it was fate for Lloyd to train the former and Sora, which he doubted before Riyu's Dragon Matriarch advised and encouraged him. When Lloyd saw Arin had created Object Spinjitzu, he decided to help him control it and learns he can only do it if his emotions aren't right. Lloyd and Arin had a close relationship as student and master, and cared very much for each other, Arin had seen Lloyd as a role model since he was a little kid, but Arin discovered Lloyd's training was holding him back. This, along with seeing Lloyd making promises he can't keep, led towards the loss of Arin's faith in Lloyd and the ninja.
In "Chaos Unchained", Lloyd's attempt to defend his uncle's action caused Arin to further be angry with Lloyd due to Arin believing the Merge causing his parents' death. But even though he was displeased with Lloyd trying to defend Wu he ultimately decided to go back with the Ninja to help them get to the First Land so they can stop the Forbidden Five from unleashing Thunderfang, during the battle in the First Land with the Forbidden Five, Lloyd tells Arin to take the two Prismatic Blades he has back to the Monastery so the Five can't get them, but when he sees Ras is in danger from Nokt, Arin chose to save him rather than return to the Monastery, leaving Lloyd distraught at this decision. During "The Shatter Dragon", because of Arin failing to keep the Blades away from the Five, Thunderfang was unleashed and during the battle against him, Lloyd's soul was absorbed with Arin doing what he can to prevent that from happening. Sadly, Arin failed and upon seeing Lloyd's body falling, he rushed ahead to catch him and begged for him to wake up. Unfortunately, his former Master wasn't waking up as he is saddened that he let him die before his eyes. Upon learning that Thunderfang has reaped souls of his victims, Arin decided to use the special elixir that he got from the Spectral Lands to defeat Thunderfang as the contents turned the dragon into stone and obliterated itself, freeing the souls of Lloyd and everyone that Thunderfang absorbed. After Lloyd reawakens, Arin runs over to check on him, happy that he is alive, but he, alongside Sora, chose to go with Ras still in order to reverse the Merge to bring his parents back, though Lloyd lets them go with Ras because Arin and Sora are free to make their own decisions. He laments that he is still worried about them and hopes they will be okay with Ras.
In "The Hollow Ones", when Lloyd attended Egalt's funeral, Lloyd hides the fact that Arin and Sora joined with Ras to spare the dying dragon from the truth, but Egalt is still hurt by how he was too hard on Arin and begged Lloyd to bring Arin back for he has the biggest potential compared to all the Ninja.
In "Under the Light of a Mechanical Moon", Lloyd kept his promise to find Barry and Jenny as he ensures that they are safe and sound until Arin arrives at the Community of Lee where he reunites with them.
In "For Whom the Bell Tolls", the two worked together to bring the Unbidden Storm into the Well of Souls to summon the Arc Dragon of Focus where Arin, still having mixed feelings of the Ninja, decided to quit the Ninja after they defeat Thunderfang, which upsets Lloyd since he knew that it was his fault for not teaching Arin better.
In "Chaos Reigns", the two finally rebuild their bond with Arin and Lloyd controlling the Arc Dragon of Focus to fight Thunderfang and ending his reign of chaos for good.
“Yet another lie from your so-called teammates. Covering up for their inability to train you, perhaps?”
“I get all the training I need.”
“Arin, you know that's not true. The cycle of mastery eludes you. You obviously have potential. If Lloyd Garmadon is incapable of unleashing that potential... perhaps you need another master. One who sees you more clearly.”
Ras is Arin's greatest enemy as well as his former master. Arin once had a deep-seated animosity towards Ras that stemmed from the latter's insidious ambition to capture and exploit dragons for their energy. Their initial encounter occurred when Ras aligned himself with the Claws of Imperium to ensnare Riyu as part of a sinister scheme. Despite Arin's efforts to thwart Ras' plans, he was unable to prevent the capture of Riyu. Arin's disdain for Ras grew to such an extent that he even likened him to an embodiment of evil, going as far as to claim that Ras had foul breath.
Lord Ras defeating Arin
Ras leaving Arin on the ground
A year following the Liberation of Imperium, Arin was dismayed to learn of Ras' resurgence, as he reemerged to lead the Wolf Clan in a bid to unleash the Forbidden Five and seize control of the Merged Realms. Arin tried to fight Ras again when Ras came to capture Bonzle for the Ritual of the Blood Moon, but he was again unable to prevent the capture of Bonzle. However, the ninja later stopped the ritual and defeated Ras.
Sometime later, they encounter each other at the City of Temples, where, during the Cavern Run, Arin broke into Ras' hut to find clues on the latter's involvement in the Crowns of Horns, only to be caught by him and told the ninja were responsible for the former's parents' disappearance, the Merge and that Sora hid her involvement in Arin defeating Ras, which made the former's trust in the ninja crumble.
Arin nurses Ras back to health
After the Forbidden Five were released, Arin fought alongside Ras, only for them to retreat with Ras attempting to stop them, only to be gravely injured and taken into the portal gate to the Cloud Kingdom before Arin chose to go after him. As a result of the gate's destruction, Arin and Ras end up stranded in the First Land, where Arin vowed to heal Ras' wounds and begin the search for his parents.
Arin under Ras' training in the First Land
For several weeks, Arin took care of Ras, who was in a weak state, providing food and even feeding the tiger. In exchange, Ras was training Arin to become a better ninja, explaining to him that he has to use his anger and rage to access his true strength. Although Arin wasn't completely convinced by these methods, he saw that they provided results and he got better at Spinjitzu and other techniques. After Ras got worse, Arin took him to the Spectral Lands where he risked his life to find the elixir to save Ras' life. He succeeded and they both continued their journey to find Arin's parents, as that was what Ras had promised him. Ras took Arin to a mysterious graveyard, where he showed Arin his parents' tombstones. Despite Arin's breakdown, Ras explained to him that by reversing the Merge, they can alter reality and bring Barry and Jenny back to life.
They travelled to the World Forest to find out how to create more Source Dragon Icons so they could summon them and reverse the Merge. However, during their encounter with the other ninja, Ras was kidnapped by the Forbidden Five who took him to Thunderfang's prison. Arin, accompanied by the ninja, travelled there and saved his teacher, leaving the ninja once again to go with Ras, this time accompanied by Sora too.
The small group's quest takes them up the the Underworld where their relationship will finally be sealed. As they found the Forge of the Forgotten and was about to be able to create dragons icons, Ras betrayed Sora threatening to use her as a sacrifice to use the forge. Arin stepped in to defend his long-time friend and oppose Ras who tries to convince him to sacrifice his friend in order to see his parents again. Learning that before Sora came along, he was the intended sacrifice. But Arin made the decision to drop him, prioritizing his friendship with Sora. As Arin and Sora were leaving, Ras attacked them from behind, which started a violent fight between him and them. The two ninja finally managed to escape Ras after rocks collapsed on him thanks to an attack by Arin. It was there that Arin realized Ras’ true nature, and that he was wrong to trust him.
Frak is Arin's childhood friend, whom he met prior to the Merge when the former scared off two anti-Ninja bullies. They reunited years later, where Frak revealed he had received the Power of Quake. When Arin learnt Frak was affiliated with Ras, Arin felt upset, but managed to get Frak to disobey his command to use Shatterspin. Conversely, as Ras manipulated him, his resent for the ninja grew deeper and he left them when Frak joined.
Sora had been Arin's best friend since the Merge, He seemed to care and love her very much considering her as a very close friend and even family. They were known to be very fond of each other and were very, very close, which made sense given their history together as mech race partners. They both became Lloyd's students, however, when Arin found out Sora lied to him about using object Spinjitzu during the Blood Moon Ritual, he became upset and distant from her. He harbored feelings of betrayal, and became willing to avoid and ignore her leading to Sora feeling hurt but still very much cared for him.
When they met again in "Crashing Together", both apologized to each other, and Arin informed Sora of the supposed death of his parents which led the latter to comfort and hug him.
In "Chaos Unchained", Arin fights alongside Sora and the rest of the Ninja to stop the Forbidden Five from collecting the other two Prismatic Blades. When Thunderfang was summoned in "The Shatter Dragon", they worked together to defeat him, and after the battle concluded, Sora insisted to join him and Ras because she didn't want to abandon her friend another time.
In "The Hollow Ones", Sora kept her promise to travel with Arin so they can find a way to reverse the Merge and does her best to protect him from the Spectral Dragonians.
In "Casket of Bones" that Sora was intended as a sacrifice to use the Forge of the Forgotten, Arin stood up to Ras and refuses to sacrifice her and learns that he was also an intended sacrifice before she came along. Though Ras warned him that a sacrifice was necessary to power the Forge and reminded him that the Source Dragon Icon was the only way for Arin to save his parents, the young man asserted that he considered Sora a part of his family as well. Working together, they defeated Ras and escape. Once they left, Arin broke down as Sora comforted him.
Riyu is a dragon that Arin and Sora first saved from the Claws of Imperium before they became ninja, and remained with them after saving his herd from them. He became very close, friendly, loyal and affectionate towards him and even Sora. He became distraught when Beatrix sent Riyu into a MergeQuake rift that he sent her into one, proclaiming it was for the baby dragon. When Riyu was among those that were brought back when the storm was over, Arin, along with Sora, was happy to see him again. He and Sora love Riyu very much, as their pet, friend and even as a member of their family.
Arin and Riyu as a teen
Arin and Riyu continued training together even after the latter grew taller, but was unable to fly. He and Riyu accompany the ninja to the Dragon Masters' Dojo, where Arin had been assigned Second Fang with Riyu in First Fang, until the latter solemnly looked on when Egalt demoted Arin for half-blinding him. When the Blood Moon interrupted their training, Arin and Riyu end up separated by the ninja in the storm, where they try to rescue Bonzle, but fail when Ras took them down.
After Arin left with Ras at the end of the tournament, Riyu was sad and participated in the search to find him.
In "Chaos Unchained", Arin fights alongside Riyu and the rest of the Ninja to stop the Forbidden Five from collecting the other two Prismatic Blades. When Thunderfang was summoned in "The Shatter Dragon", they worked together to defeat him. When Arin and Sora left with Ras, Riyu showed signs of sadness to see his two best friends leave and especially with someone like Ras.
Kai is Arin's second favorite ninja. While their introduction was brief, they were able to speak properly, where Kai was surprised to hear Arin learned Spinjitzu without proper training.
Cole is Lloyd's fellow ninja. They first met when Cole returned to the monastery upon discovering many dangerous artifacts including Chronosteel, were brought to Kreel's junkyard.
They both went to the Monastery of Gates together, where they learn from the spirit of Wu that he was responsible for the Merge, which Cole refused to believe while Arin, due to Ras' deception, did.
Zane is one of Lloyd's fellow ninja. He once tried to have Zane's hairstyle, but did not go so well. When Arin told Zane that Wu caused the Merge, Zane found it hard to process.
After Arin betrayed the ninja to save Ras from the Forbidden Five, by entering the portal gate, Zane showed concern for Arin, as the portal gate explosion sent Arin somewhere in the Merged Lands.
Nya is one of Lloyd's fellow ninja. Their introduction was hostile when Nya attacked Arin for aiding the Earth Dragons, until they were able to settle their differences. They were able to speak properly not long after, where Nya was surprised to hear Arin learnt Spinjitzu without proper training.
Wyldfyre is Kai's student. They didn't have much interaction, although Arin gave Wyldfyre a brief reprimand for her actuality of relieving herself wherever she wants, and wondering if she'll ever train with him and the others. During the Tournament of the Sources, Arin and Wyldfyre both searched for clues for Bleckt's involvement in Ras' plan to use the Forbidden Five.
“So you don't want a fresh pie, filled with roasted snowberries from the Never-Realm? Fine, I guess we'll just have to toss it. Maybe the dogs are hungry. Or maybe the raccoons?”
Mr. Frohicky is Arin's friend and fellow resident in the Crossroads before moving to the monastery. Arin often bribed him with his Snowberry Pies, which he accepts. When Lloyd was struggling to maintain the monastery, Arin brought Mr. Frohicky in to assist maintaining it.
Percival is leader of the Imperium Teen Resistance Force, whom Arin saved from a damaged scaffolding. Before discovering he was harbouring Riyu, Percival was impressed by Arin's skills, known as "Dr. Lampshade Floortile" to him, until the former discovered Riyu. After the ninja broke the dragons out, Beatrix spreading lies, running an investigation in her involvement in her father's death, and researching dragons, Percival and the teens save him and the ninja from the Claws of Imperium before working out their differences in order to expose Beatrix. Arin and Percival meet each other again when Percival brought Euphrasia to the Monastery of Spinjitzu in order to tell him and the ninja what happened in the Cloud Kingdom.
Arin meet Morro in the Spectral Lands. Despite knowing about the Ninja's adventures Arin was unaware that the departed Ninja was Morro, the former Master of Wind.
Grab-Barg is Arin's rival in baking pies and participating in pie contests during the Crossroads Carnival, which Grab-Barg always wins while Arin himself came in second. His hopes of winning not long after becoming a ninja were crushed when Grab-Barg won again.
Like the other Ninja, Arin idolized Jay, even having a poster of Jay in his room.
When Arin infiltrated the Administration with Sora to find records of his parents, the records were left unfinished when Jay escaped from there. Later during the Tournament of the Sources, when he was shocked that Jay is with the Wolf Clan and told Nya about what happened to him during the Merge, he found out that Jay is Agent Walker and was worried about him shattering his goodness with the Wolf Mask when he was about to perform Shatterspin. After Jay left the City of Temples, he thought that he might have the records to help him find his parents. It’s unknown how he feels about him after he left the Ninja.
After Jay became a bounty hunter, he was after Ras who Zeatrix placed a bounty on and Arin fought him without even knowing who he really was. And after Thunderfang’s defeat, Jay knew the truth of where Arin’s parents were reassigned.
In "Under the Light of a Mechanical Moon", Arin was unconcern of Jay, when Wyldfyre turned the ship, and caused Jay to almost fall off but ended up hitting his head. Although Arin did found out that Jay didn't unshatter his goodness or recover his memories.
In "The Vault of Focus", Arin showed annoyance to Jay's rude behavior commenting of romantic relationships and attacking the Security Bots.
Beatrix is Arin's enemy. Arin is aware that Beatrix was responsible for enslaving dragons and torturing them for their energy and worked hard to stop her. After joining The Resistance, Arin combats her tyranny and was pleased when Sora revealed to the entire Imperium about her true colors. In “The Power Within”, Arin’s dislike for Beatrix turned into complete hatred after the Empress sent Riyu to the rift, during the MergeQuake Storm. Full of rage and hatred, Arin performed Object Spinjitzu with a rock at Beatrix’s mech, greatly damaging it. After Sora achieved her True Potential and disassembled her MergeQuake weapon, Arin took the chance to perform Spinjitzu and kick Beatrix into the rift, where she disappears.
Arin had a massive dislike for Rapton due to his goal of capturing and draining dragons. When Beatrix became too obsessed with defeating the ninja, Rapton defected to the Resistance, to Arin's surprise before reluctantly putting their differences aside to expose Beatrix.
After Beatrix's defeat and thwarting the MergeQuake Storm, their feelings for each other were mutual, until Rapton began hunting dragons for money, reigniting his hatred for him.
The Mechanic is, like the other ninja, one of Arin's frequent enemies. They first met when the Mechanic interrupted the Mech Master 5000 before Arin tried to stop him, but the former almost sent him into an arch.
Arin later fought the Mechanic once more before defeating him alongside Lloyd, thanks to the former being distracted attempting to attack NinjaFanInfinity and SpinjitzuForDays99.
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