Season 2: Heart of Dragons

**Season 2** of Beyond: Rising Force, subtitled Heart of Dragons is preceded by Season 1, and will be succeeded by Season 3. It covers events such as: Journey to the First Realm, Salvation of the First Realm and the Retrieval of Natalie Walker. This season focuses on the whole team; even though the season focuses a lot on Jason and Natalie. The mascot ninja of the season are Natalie Walker, Jason C. Walker, Kate Smith and Digital. The main antagonist of this season is the Skullcrusher while the secondary antagonist is Ryder Takahashi. The Romanji Slavers are the villainous faction of this season.

Following their victory, the Ninja Force is in an era of rebuild. This work is interrupted to their surprise and to the rest of Ninjago’s dismay; in comes the Romanji Slaver Collective, who are set on filling the power vacuum created by Destrevan and the Dark Horizon Syndicate's supposed fall. Can the heroes stop them from expanding their occupation across the realms.

## Overview

A call to action. In the aftermath of their first, eye-opening adventure that ended in the elimination of the Devourers and the incarceration of Johnathan Destrevan, the Ninja Force; comprised of Jason, Michael, Levi, Kate, Alessia, Liam, Sabrina, Brian, Chad, Brad and Digital have done the best they can to pick themselves up after the events of Destrevan's quest for revival. They're sort of eager for a chance to get their minds off such things. They get their wishes in the form of a new group's arrival in the Terra Realm. After a stand-off in New Genesis City, one of the team's own is captured by this Romanji Slaver Collective before the enemy's retreat to the shadows. Set on getting her back, the team gathers their stuff and follows them back to the First Realm where they discover from the Resistance there that this enemy is filling the power vacuums created by takedowns of big names such as the Dragon Hunters or Johnathan Destrevan. Using vengestone, the Slavers started off by capturing Dragons and their Riders before moving on to other realms to get their specimen. Coming to the conclusion that they could be in possession of his long-lost sister, Jason makes a brash move that sets off the chains of events that will begin the team's new mission: free the inhabitants of the realms from this sinister movement. However, as they step into the shadows to face down the darkness, they will need lights strong enough to give them an edge against this new enemy.

## History

### Part One: Awakenings

#### A Call to Action

In the aftermath of their first adventure, the Ninja Force is hungry for some more action to drown their sorrows; their wish is fulfilled when a brigade of a group known as Romanji Slavers begin plundering the city. The heroes take action, although they don't know what the slavers' reason for attacking. Zane and Digital reminisce upon the sacrifice of P.I.X.A.L in the Overlord's attack.

#### Where It All Started

Having followed the Slavers back to the First Realm to rescue Sabrina, Jason befriends a Stormbringer Dragon to help him trace their movements. Back in the Terra Realm, the Ninja Force gather the tools necessary to extract Jason, Sabrina and whoever else they can from the realm and get out. Digital explains the team's mission to their confused senseis, leading Cole to step up and promise that he'll keep an eye on things. In their preparations, Kate expresses that she feels drawn to something about the realm and its link to her powers.

#### Hunted

Jason and his Stormbringer companion follow the Romanji Slavers back to the Dead's End which has changed a lot since the Core Ninjas' time within the realm; leading the two to discover that there are prisoners there from other realms. The Ninja Force use Traveler's Tea to get to the First Realm, but upon their arrival they are faced with getting through Slaver Territory to find their senseis' old allies. Kate takes charge alongside Michael when the group is attacked by Giant Sand Worms.

#### The Deadly Arena: Fate Decided

Having been captured but telling his Stormbringer companion to find the others, Jason now faces trail by fire through a gladiator battle with a Fire Elemental that he soon discovers is connected to one of his reasons for being in the realm. Upon being discovered by the Dragon Liberators, the Ninja Force is introduced to Faith and the other founders of the cause to explain their situation.

#### Fire & Smoke

Having been reunited with his sister, who has unlocked her memory of him as a trustful one, Jason springs a plan of escape for the two after they find and rescue Sabrina from the Dungeons. Using the guise of the night to infiltrate a Slaver caravan heading for the Dead's End, the Ninja Force and their Dragon Liberator allies prepare to do what they can to free the enslaved peoples. Kate discovers the Golden Dragon Armor that was first wielded by the First Spinjitzu Master in the Oni-Dragon War.

### Part Two: Ascensions

#### Ryder Takahashi

Having been called in by the Collective and the Skullcrusher, Ryder Takahashi is tasked with hunting down and retrieving Natalie Walker while they relocate to another realm as the Dead's End is compromised. The Ninja Force use the transportation method of Dragons to get some Skulkins back to the Underworld, but are affected in their journey by setbacks. The team gets used to their new companion all while Kate deconstructs the armor to possibly improve it.

#### Roots That Run Deep

Having gotten the displaced people back to their homes, the Ninja Force head back to the Terra Realm after realizing that there are some problems with having Natalie around, but are hunted by Ryder and his men; giving Jay and Nya a shortlived reunion with their thought-dead daughter. The Romanji Slavers label the Terra Realm as their next target and abandon their cause in the First Realm, prompting Genevieve to persuade her mother into returning the favor to their friends.

#### Thunder - Part One: The Light

Having taken Natalie north to an old base of the Core Ninja Team, the Ninja Force attempt to use Brian's magic to get the dark magic beacon out of her body, leaving Digital, Brad, Chad and Levi with defending their position from their pursuers. Kate reads up on the Dragon Armor all while she uses the Phoenix Airship's Fabricator to make a new version of the relic, causing her and Michael to learn about the ties of their powers to the realms. Genevieve and her squad arrive in New Genesis City and search for the Core Ninja members to figure out where the Ninja Force is.

#### Thunder - Part Two: The Darkness

The Slaver Collective debates on whether or not attempting a takeover of the criminal underworld of the Terra Realm is possible or not; elsewhere, Ryder and his men spring into action to try and get Natalie but are held back by Digital's clever tactics. Brian is able to remove the beacon but feels that Natalie is connected to a demonic presence, forcing her to try and figure out for herself how that can be as she is regaining her memories. Kate puts the final touches on her new gear but makes a phone call that she thinks can clear up her dwelling on the death of Skylor.

#### Thunder - Part Three: Power

Ryder's generals and warriors manage to get past the heroes defenses and a battle over Natalie follows, with Genevieve and her Liberator squad jumping in to help them escape the clutches of their common enemy. Jason confronts Ryder to learn why he does what he does and stall for the others. The Skullcrusher uses her magic to find Natalie so she can turn the tide of the battle but is countered by Brian who can sense her presence and Jason's desperation.

### Part Three: Reckonings

#### Slaves to the Darkness

The Skullcrusher's tale is illustrated through the vision she gives to Natalie to help her understand her cause. Kate's grief over her mother's death subsides in her fight against Ryder and his generals as she has accepted the Dragon Master mantle. Jason works to keep an incapacitated Natalie from the clutches of the slavers as a chase ensues. In the Terra Realm, Kai has a chance encounter with Johnathan Destrevan to let out his anger. Digital embraces her take on the Samurai X mantle as she faces the hulking sibling pair that are Dogpile and Dogshank.

#### The Beginning of an End

Ryder and his troops are summoned to the Collective's gathering somewhere on the outskirts of New Genesis City where they rally supporters from across the Slaver Clans to help them carry out their new plan. The Ninja Force interrogates Dogshank to learn what the Collective's intentions are with their realm. Kate and Natalie connect as they seek out Larses, also known as the Firstbourne, to aid them in their final effort to protect all the realms from the enemy they face.

#### Flight of Fate

As the Skullcrusher's plan proceeds and her fleet launches, Jason, Kate and Michael unite as leaders to make a decision on how the Realm Alliance should go about stopping the Romanji Slavers. Larses and Lena have their showdown during the epic battle that ensues. Natalie faces down her past by facing down both her literal-inner demon and the figurative ones that kept her from her family. One hero makes a life-altering decision.

## Cast

### Heroes

#### Ninja Force

* Jason C. Walker - Steven Yuen
* Michael Hayate - Asher Angel
* Liam Disborough - Ben Diskin
* Alessia Carrow - Katie Cassidy
* Kate Smith - Seychelle Gabriel
* Levi Miller - Tyler Labine
* Natalie Walker - Tiya Sircar
* Sabrina Carrow - Laura Bailey
* Brian Springer - Kyle Hebert
* Brad Williams - Jeremy Shada
* Chad Williams - Taylor Gray

#### Ninja Allies

* Kai Smith - Vincent Tong
* Lloyd M. Garmadon - Sam Vincent
* Digital - Erica Luttrel
* Zane Julien - Brent Miller
* Cole Brookstone - Daniel Henney

#### Dragon Liberators

* Faith - Kathleen Barr
* Genevieve - Rosie Perez
* Jet Jack - Rhona Rees
* Daddy No Legs - Ian James Corlett
* Chew Toy - Scott McNeil
* Arkade - Michael Donovan
* Rott Willy - Lucien Dodge

### Villains

#### Romanji Slavers

* Skullcrusher/Lena Alberta - Kimberly Brooks
* Ryder Takahashi - Matthew Mercer
* Falcon's Cry - Liam O' Brien
* Dogpile - TBA
* Dogshank - Nicole Oliver
* Ultra Violet - Maggie Blue O' Hara
* Masher - TBA
* Kinkade - TBA

## Sets

* 71811 Wind Dragon Rush
* 71812 Brian’s Unicycle
* 71813 The Dungeons
* 71814 Earth Dragon Nest Ambush
* 71815 Stormbringer Dragon
* 71816 Dragon Liberator Lookout Tower
* 71817 Water Dragon’s Oasis
* 71818 Firstbourne’s Den
* 71819 The Dead’s End
* 71820 Skullbreaker's Ivory Airship

## Notes

* This marks the first physical appearance of Natalie Walker in the Beyond Franchise. Aside from a baby photo of her briefly seen in Season 1: Dark Resurgence.
* This is the first time for the Ninja Force to travel to the First Realm.
* This marks the first appearance of Genevieve and the Dragon Liberators.