Dragons

Dragons

“Our father used to tell us stories about the dragons, that they were mystical creatures that belong to both worlds and ferried between them.”

— Nya, "Weapons of Destiny"

Dragons are the first species of creation, mystical creatures that originated from the First Land, the first realm in existence. Thousands of years ago, they were at war with the Oni. They have spread to many realms including Ninjago, Djinjago, the Wyldness, Imperium and Mysterium. In these different realms, new sub species developed and many new dragon tribes were formed, each with an Arc Dragon as leader.

The legendary beings are in tune with elemental properties, due to many being Masters of one the four Elements of Creation. They are also naturally capable of interdimensional travel to a degree, enabling them to traverse between realms such as both Ninjago and the Underworld.

Master Wu once tasked four dragons (Fire, Lightning, Ice and Earth) linked to each of the four Elements to guard the four Golden Weapons.

History

Background

Native to the Realm of Oni and Dragons, the dragons are the first species of creation. The first dragon to see the light of day was Firstbourne, the mother of all dragons. She is the common ancestor of all mortal dragons and has all of the Elemental Powers of her spawn. The dragons constantly waged war against their arch enemies, the Oni (who were beings of Destruction, the polar opposite of Creation). When a child was born, the two sides fought over him until he left the realm. The child also struck a friendship with the Firstbourne when he tried to stop the war.

Later, that same child, who would be later known as the First Spinjitzu Master, would grow up to empower a group of humans with the powers he inherited from the dragons, the Elemental Masters. Together, the Elemental Masters and the First Spinjitzu Master would go on to protect Ninjago from the forces of evil that encroached on it.

Pilot episodes

Master Wu placed each dragon to guard one of the Golden Weapons, each in tune with its elemental properties. The dragons guarded the Weapons for many years until an increase in Skulkin activity led Master Wu to believe that the weapons had to be retrieved before they could fall into Lord Garmadon's hands.

The four ninja had to avoid each of the dragons as they recovered the four Golden Weapons. When the Weapons were stolen by Garmadon, they discovered that the dragons would gladly aid the ninja in their quest to get the weapons back. Afterward, each ninja kept the dragon matching their elemental properties as a pet, in addition to using them for transportation. This allowed the dragons to continue guarding the Weapons, as the four ninja wielded them in defense of Ninjago.

Rise of the Snakes

As Jay decided to visit his parents, all four dragons were molting and had to leave the ninja. The ninja had to go on the journey to Ed & Edna's Scrap N Junk on foot. During their time in the Spirit Coves, the dragons morphed into the Ultra Dragon, who appeared during the fight against the Great Devourer and nearly defeated the serpent.

Legacy of the Green Ninja

The Ultra Dragon became as Lloyd's personal transportation until he mastered the Golden Dragon.

When the Overlord possessed Garmadon's body to regain his true form, he appeared as a humanoid dragon. As he power continued to increase as the Final Battle was about to begin, he mutated into a full dragon. At this time, the ninja were taken to Ninjago City by the Ultra Dragon to defeat him.

Green and Gold

One day, while on Lloyd and "Ultra" are on patrol, they spot some members of the Venomari, who were attacking a local village, setting the houses on fire and stealing their food. Lloyd jumps off of Ultra's back and summons his Golden Dragon, and the two split up to defeat the Serpentine more effectively. Lloyd and Ultra foil the attack and fly back into the air. When Lloyd is about to jump back on the Ultra Dragon, it disappears in the clouds, and Lloyd follows it to the Spirit Coves.

When he arrives, Lloyd notices that Ultra is homesick. He tells Ultra to return to the Realm of Oni and Dragons. Ultra then flies out of the Coves and opens a portal to its home realm. The mini-movie ends with the Ultra Dragon flying with the other dragons, including Firstbourne.

A short time later, the Ultra Dragon was killed by of the Dragon Hunters and its bone were used for Iron Baron's throne.

Possession

During the invasion of Stiix, a Ghost Dragon was summoned to overlook the city.

Hunted

A few of the ninja traveled to the First Realm where they encountered various dragons. Later, Firstbourne gave the stranded ninja dragons that correspond to their Elemental Powers. They rode them to get out of the Realm of Oni and Dragons and into Ninjago. Upon returning, the dragons save the ninja's allies from the Sons of Garmadon and fought against the Colossus.

March of the Oni

When the Oni returned to the Realm of Oni and Dragons to cover it in darkness, the dragons and the former dragon hunters now their allies, fought them only to be overwhelmed, petrifying everyone but Firstbourne and Faith who fled to Ninjago. The effects was reversed when the ninja defeated the Oni in Ninjago. After the Oni's defeat, Firstbourne along with Faith returned home to the First Realm.

Secrets of the Forbidden Spinjitzu

During the Long Winter in the Never-Realm, some Ice Dragons from other realms moved into the realm now frozen because they liked the climate.^[4]