Hi fellas! FireLord54 wrote up another one-shot for a late Valentine's Day fic, so I'm guest-posting here! Enjoy. :)


He had told her it was a bad idea.

Ronin crouched nervously in his hiding place as he heard the hiss of metal slicing air as Morro's ghosts closed in menacingly on the intruder. Only a fool would stick around to find out what would happen next. He made for the entrance of the Samurai X Cave, hoping the clack of the automatic doors wouldn't attract the ghosts' attention to him as well. Nya would just have to take care of herself now. He had tried to stop her, but what could he do if the girl wouldn't listen? He shot a glance at what was happening.

Nya, perched in her intimidating mech, (had she really built that herself?) was currently swinging its gigantic blades at her foes, but to no effect, as she should have known it would be. Ronin had to admit it was gutsy of her, if not reckless and shortsighted, to take on those thugs all by herself. So young, too…He turned to leave, but a sudden train of thoughts that made him stop in his tracks raced through his mind; one that lasted only seconds, though it seemed more like minutes.

She doesn't stand a chance against them, you know that.

So? She's not your problem anymore. You did what she paid you to do, and there's an archer back there who'd love to see an arrow in your skull.

What will the others say when you come back alive and she doesn't? How do you think they'll feel about it?

With any luck, they'll never have to know you brought her here. If they do find out, just tell them you tried to stop her, she wouldn't listen, and despite your best efforts, you couldn't save her from them, but she fought like a ninja.

They were right. You are a cad. No wonder you're going to the Cursed Realm.

You're not obligated to help her. This is just how business works.

She'll be killed, and it'll be all your fault.

No it won't! You tried to warn her. It's not your fault if she's reckless. It's not like you're the one hurting her.

Standing by and letting someone get killed when you could have done something is as bad as any murder. You're a thief, not a murderer!

There's nothing to gain from this. You'll just get yourself killed. Do you know what that means?

At least you can say you tried. Ninjago's very future might depend on her.

What did Ninjago ever do for you?

Gosh dang it, she doesn't deserve to die!

What are you going to do? Jump right into the fray? Like some hero?


Nya was beginning to realize that it would take a lot more than giant swords to stop a ghost.

"All right," she said, trying not to betray her increasing alarm, "maybe my weapons can't help."

Maybe she should have listened to that thief. Where was he even? Nya suddenly realized with a sinking feeling that she was on her own in this fight.

The ghost that she guessed was the Soul Archer pulled out an arrow from his quiver and drew it back in the bow, a malignant, glowing creature unlike many she had seen in this world opening its jaws with a screech upon the lethal tip, ready to receive its prey. The blood in Nya solidified, and for the first time, she felt overwhelmed by a sense of loneliness she had never felt before in all her solo career as Samurai X. Oh Ninjago, was this how she was going to go?

The Archer released his grip on the bowstring, and the hissing arrow flew. Time itself seemed to slow down, and Nya was frozen with fear as she helplessly waited for the moment when the arrow would hit home. Goodbye, Kai. Goodbye everyone.

Suddenly, when the arrow was within feet of its victim, something came flying through the air and sliced through it, making the arrow vanish. An aeroblade. It spun across the cave and swung back to the hand that had released it.

"But this can." said Ronin.

And so can I, he added silently.