A young girl sat in a dirty alleyway in Jamanakai Village. She was just trying to keep warm, but was failing miserably. She sighed, her breath hanging in the air as a little cloud. Her mind was focused on her hunger. She had nothing. Her hair was a raggedy mess and her clothes were torn. She had been an orphan since her mother died last year in a horrible car crash. She shivered, pulling her knees towards her body. Then she noticed a boy about her age, wearing a hood. He saw her too. "Who are you?" He asked.

"My name's Maya Flamey, who are you?" She replied, looking at him with interest.

"I'm Lloyd Garmadon, son of the dark lord!" He looked at Maya's state and asked, "Are you a hobo?"

Maya laughed. "Yeah, I guess I am! My mom died last year and my dad left her before he knew about me."

"Aww, I wish I could help you, but I don't have any food," Lloyd sighed. "But I'm gonna try and steal some candy! If I get any, I'll give some to you."

Maya gave Lloyd a hug. "Thanks!"

"Haha I was first!" "No, no one was faster than me!" "Ha my feet touched the ground before yours!" "You are all disillusioned, it was clearly me!" They could hear the ninja arguing just outside the village.

"Oh no, I better go!" And Lloyd scampered off.

Maya peeked out of the alleyway to watch. Lloyd made a big shadow and people started scampering into their houses and closed the doors. Lloyd did an evil laugh and the ninja just stared at his shadow. Maya giggled to herself. Everyone was fooled. They thought Lloyd was his dad. Then he came out into the open and demanded candy. Then he opened a can and a bunch of rubber snakes popped out. Maya wondered if the serpentine were real. But people just started throwing vegetables at him. Maya frowned. Why were they being so mean to her new friend? Then the ninja hung Lloyd from a sign.

Once the ninja left, Maya came out of hiding and helped Lloyd down from the sign. "Are you okay?"

Lloyd sighed. "I don't know, Maya. No one thinks I'm menacing!"

"I think you're menacing," Maya said, trying to cheer him up.

"Eh, I think I'm just gonna go. But I'll be back, okay Maya?"

"O-okay. Promise?" Maya was terrified of being left alone again.

"I pinkie promise," Lloyd said, holding out his pinkie. The two shook on it and Lloyd left Maya in her alley again.

DISCLAIMER: NINJAGO DOES NOT BELONG TO ME, ONLY MAYA DOES! THIS IS JUST MY AU (alternate universe) Read On, Dancer