Season 5: Shadow of the Moon

**Season 5** of Beyond: Rising Force, subtitled Shadow of the Moon, is preceded by Season 4: Ghostly Empire and is succeeded by Season 6: Chaos Rising. Kate Smith serves as the mascot character and title reader for the season while the team that is the Ninja Force is focused upon as a whole. Erebus the Nightmare serves as the main antagonist of the season while his Mayonaka Warriors serve as the villainous faction. This season covers events such as the Night of the Lunar Apocalypse, Rise of the Golden Ninja, and Gravitational Restoration. This season connects as part of the Eclipse Arc that the previous season started.

## Overview

After saving reality from Rift Chaos due to the sacrifice of their Sensei Cole, the Ninja Force is preparing for Ninja Day, a holiday devoted to them but also one where they take time to honor the sacrifice of their predecessors. Just as night falls upon Ninjago and the festivities begin, Ninjago City is raided by a fleet of skiffs carrying strange otherworldly warriors who attack the festival. The Ninja leap into the action and think they get the upper hand but are helpless as Kate Smith is abducted and taken by the warriors to some sort of fortress in a realm that is accessed through the moon's craters. The Ninja split into two teams as one heads for the fortress to rescue their teammate while the others stay back to prepare for the worst.

As Kate is brought to the fortress, she soon meets the Mayonaka Clan's representative, Erebus. The young lord tells her that her link to the power of the Golden Ninja can help restore balance and peace between both Ninjago and the Lunar Realm. but is he telling the truth or are his good intentions just lies? Will her friends arrive in time to save her before she is used for something sinister? Will the two realms clash and will war breakout? The answer remains unknown as they are covered by the Shadow of the Moon....

## History

### Part One - Destiny

#### Celebration Station

The Ninja help set up the preparations for the Lunar Ninja Day Festival with some help from I.N.A Students. Kate, Kai and other members of their family take time to honor their ancestors. Lloyd begins to become plagued with visions of the future. A new enemy descends from an unknown realm to make their presence known.

#### An Ancient Civilization

After being captured by the Mayonaka Warriors, Kate finds herself face to face with their representative named Erebus. The Ninja clean up the mess caused by the Mayonaka Warriors' sudden attack. Lloyd makes preparations to save Kate while also keeping Terra safe at the same time. Michael and Jason have a talk as friends about the things that are bugging them.

#### A Bright Future

Erebus discovers that Kate has the opportunity to become the Golden Ninja and tries to educate her on their perspective of what the Golden Ninja is. Lloyd and Kai lead a team of six in the Destiny's Explorer to retrieve Kate from the Lunar Realm. Nya and Zane send the team to deal with a prisoner ruckus at Kryptarium Prison.

#### A Forgotten History

As Kate is brought into the Lunar Realm's Capital City, she is presented to the clan's elders and taught of their history. Erebus detects the presence of other humans in their realm and sends out his generals to take them out. The rescue and retrieval team is met by the native creatures of the Lunar Realm. Kai has memories of raising his daughter alongside his late wife. The other team must help Joey Destrevan search for his father and his gang.

#### Into The Depths

Alessia and Vincent must save the team from a group of giant centipedes that are blocking their path through the White Dragon Valley. Michael discovers Lloyd's perspective on the Golden Ninja as they must continue on foot as the Destiny's Explorer is currently decommissioned. Kate is taken with Erebus as they quest to find the Lunar Realm's Temple of Light. Jimmy takes charge of the team while they must team up with Johnathan Destrevan's men after he leaves them in the mouth of an active volcano.

### Part Two - Heart

#### The Rescue

The Rescue Team launches their rescue mission as they've caught up to Erebus's Command ship but they must not blow their cover as his fleet is also arriving at his and Kate's location. Erebus demonstrates his powers as he finds the Ninja putting his plans at stake; The Terra Team finds themselves going to the Library of Domu when Zane wants to find intel on the Lunar Realm.

#### Monsters & Men

The Rescue Team escapes from Erebus and his fleet but crash land into the Midnight Forest where they make a plan on how to reach the Temple of light on their own. Erebus's backstory is revealed as his frustration with losing Kate is unleashed. The Terra Team begins to discover foreign creatures entering their realm and terrorizing some villages and cities.

#### Balance

Kate begins to hear the voices of past heroes in her head as the team must take an unconventional route to the Temple of Light to avoid contact from Erebus and his warriors. The Ninja encounter a hermit who tells them of the Temple of Light and a secret underground transportation system that leads to it. The Terra Team battles against the remaining Lunar Realm bugs. Zane discovers the history with the Lunar Realm and Terra.

#### Skeletons in the Closet

The group arrives at the Temple of Light and do what they can to help Kate become the Golden Ninja but find that their powers alone will not make her gain the Golden Power. Kate finds herself going through a series of tests to prove that she is worthy to become the Golden Ninja. Lloyd confronts the Lunar City Council and helps them see through Erebus's lies. Vincent warns their allies back in Terra of what's to come by using the Lunar Realm's Temple of Light's Nexus Device. Erebus makes his way to the Temple of Light but finds that some of his warriors are rebelling against him and doubting his authority as a leader.

#### Twilight

Kate begins her final trial when her presence is intercepted by Erebus's Naka-Naka Dragon. The Ninja and Mayonaka Warriors find themselves teaming up to fight an enraged Erebus. The Terra team prepares fro the worst as signs of an invasion become more and more imminent.

### Part Three - Fate

#### The Way of the Ninja

Kai finds himself having to face his inner demons alongside the Ninja as Erebus plunges them into his pocket nightmare void. Lloyd and the Mayonaka Council work to stop Erebus from getting to Kate while trying to break their allies free from his illusions. Kate meets the Golden Dragon as she has finished the trials but still needs to make resolve with some certain events from her past. The Terra Team goes to battle with the Lunar Realm's invading creatures that are under Erebus's influence.

#### Sacrifice: Part One

Kate emerges from the caverns to find that Michael, Jason, Natalie and Vincent's souls are still trapped in Erebus's Nightmare Void and must work with Matt and Alessia to break them free. Kai and Lloyd, backed by Mayonaka Warriors, go after Erebus as he heads for Terra so they can help their teammates there. The Ninja Force continues to face off against the creatures in a desperate defense.

#### Sacrifice: Part Two

The seven ninja must make an ultimate decision if they wish to save Terra from Erebus's treachery, The other ninja must pave a straight path for their friends to Erebus as he begins to use Borg Tower for his own way to get what he wants. Kai and Lloyd get a rematch against Erebus as they utilize the Lunar Twins' blades' power.

## Cast

### Ninja Force

* Jason Walker - Steven Yuen
* Natalie Walker - Tiya Sircar
* Michael Hayate - Asher Angel
* Kate Smith - Seychelle Gabriel
* Vincent Roberts - Josh Keaton
* Levi Miller - Tyler Labine
* Alessia Carrow - Katie Cassidy
* Sabrina Carrow - Laura Bailey
* Brad Williams - Jeremy Shada
* Chad Williams - Taylor Gray
* Jimmy Brookstone - Jack De Sena
* Emma Haruno - Kate Higgins
* DIGITAL - Erica Luttrel

### Allies & Other Heroes

* Lloyd M. Garmadon - Sam Vincent
* Kai Smith - Vincent Tong
* Nya Walker - Kelly Metsger
* Jay Walker - Michael Adamthwaite
* Zane Julien - Brent Miller

### Mayonaka Clan

#### Clan Elders

* Councilman Callisto - TBA
* Councilwoman Nikini - TBA
* Councilwoman Selenā - TBA

#### Warriors

* Erebus Esmeray - TBA
* General Apollo - TBA
* Commander Aku - TBA
* Badru - TBA

## Sets

* 71852 Mayonaka Warriors Battle Pack
* 71853 Jimmy's Mecha Wolf
* 71854 Mayonaka Air Skiff
* 71855 Natalie's Fēnix X Mech
* 71856 Mayonaka Clan Command Ship
* 71857 Ninja Day Festival Celebration
* 71858 Destiny's Explorer Airship
* 71859 Battle on Borg Tower

## Opening Credits

**Opening**: All You Ever Wanted - Rag'n'Bone Man

## Notes

* This season exhibits the first appearance of the Mayonaka Clan & the Lunar Realm
* In the sets there are collectable Golden Minifigures of Jason (71855), Natalie (71853), Vincent (71856), Matthew (71857), Kate (71858, 71859) and Michael (71854) and the Nightmare Staff also serves as a collectable that only appears in 71856.
* This is the first season in beyond where no heroes die.