Disclaimer: I don't own Ninjago
Lloyd woke up the next morning a small smile on his face. This would be the last time for a long while that he'd wake up in a bed, in a palace for that matter. Lloyd got dressed and prepared himself for the coming day. As he finished getting ready and dressed, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in." Lloyd said.
The doors opened, and the emperor and empress stood there with smiles on their faces. Lloyd returned a friendly smile and they stepped into his room. Lloyd turned around fully and embraced a final hug from the emperor.
"Thank you, Lloyd, for everything." The emperor said.
Lloyd returned the hug.
"And to you as well." Lloyd thanked.
"You have everything, dear?" The empress asked.
"Yes, your highness." Lloyd smiled.
The only things Lloyd had with him of value were his new Jade Blade, the gem on his chest, the Eyes of Dreams, and the heart stone. Lloyd took the eyes from his belt and held them up.
"Do you know what these are?" Lloyd asked.
"The Eyes of Dreams! The eyes of the oracle queen that were brutally ripped out by the Erinyes. How did you come by these?" The emperor asked.
"By the very creatures that you mentioned. It was with the eyes I defeated them and found my Jade Blades…or blade now." Lloyd chuckled. "Now that I found my sword, I no longer have any use of them. Please, as a gift and way to remember me."
Lloyd handed the emperor the eyes and he graciously took them, holding back his tears.
"Thank you." The emperor said.
"Well I figured you needed something to replace your grandfather's crown." Lloyd said.
"We have something for you as well." The empress said.
The empress handed Lloyd a large book bag filled with supplies.
"Food, water, blankets, a few pieces of gold, and other items you might need on your journey." The empress said.
"Thank you, this is too much." Lloyd thanked.
"You deserve it, young Garmadon." The empress kissed Lloyd's cheek.
Lloyd smiled and put the bag on his back after placing his own items in there.
"Should you ever return to us, Lloyd, you will always have a place here." The emperor said.
Lloyd bowed at them and they bowed back.
The emperor and empress left Lloyd inside to gather the rest of his items. Lloyd felt a presence in Spinjitzu. He looked up and saw a saddened Harumi watching him. Lloyd became sad too and they both walked towards the other.
"You're really leaving?" Harumi asked.
"I am sorry, Harumi, I am." Lloyd said. "What else can I do?"
"Stay, with me." Harumi put both her hands on his chest.
Lloyd closed his eyes. He was tempted to stay at the palace. He was treated like royalty, everyone was kind to him and he could spend more time with Harumi. They shared one kiss already, and Lloyd was beginning to fall for her and he felt that she was for him as well. Lloyd sighed.
"Harumi." Lloyd whispered.
Harumi closed her eyes and started to lean forward. Lloyd pulled his head back, surprising the princess. He gently took her hands and held them both.
"I would very much like to stay here. The palace is wonderful, your family is kind, the people are generous, I even saw Hutchins smiled once." Lloyd began.
"I'm sensing a but coming up." Harumi half smiled.
"But…I am needed elsewhere. There are other places in Ninjago that need my help. Now that I have my blade back, I can help people again like I have before." Lloyd explained. "Please understand."
"I understand." Harumi sighed. "It's one of the reasons I like you Lloyd; your kind heart."
They smiled at each other.
"I promise, I will return one day to visit you. I swear." Lloyd said.
Lloyd lifted her hands and kissed her knuckles. Harumi blushed. Lloyd let go of her hands and Harumi kissed the corner of his mouth, shocking the Green Ninja. She pulled away with a smile on her face while Lloyd's eyes were wide open.
"Just making sure you actually come back." Harumi said.
Lloyd laughed and packed the rest of his things. He then headed outside to a crowd of adoring citizens leaving Harumi inside the palace alone. She was smiling until she felt a sudden drop in temperature.
"No." Harumi whispered.
The lights went out around the dining hall and the doors all closed. A ghostly figure appeared behind Harumi. He was colored black with red eyes and looked human enough*.
"Well, Princess, what do you think?" The figure asked.
"He's…kind, strong, handsome…" Harumi said.
"And…" The figure asked.
"And a bad judge of character. It will be easy, but it'll take some time. Especially since he's leaving." Harumi said.
"The seeds are already planted, princess." The figure said. "He will fall for you and our bargain will be complete. Nice touch with the kiss goodbye by the way."
Harumi looked away in shame.
"Don't forget that you still serve me." The figure crossed his arms.
"No…master. I will make it work, I promise." Harumi assured.
The ghostly figure chuckled. It flew through Harumi's chest before vanishing completely. The lights turned on again and Harumi walked outside.
Harumi stood between her parents and watched Lloyd walk through a crowd of citizens, each one thanking him again. Lloyd smiled at them and walked towards the gates. Once he reached the edge of the kingdom, Lloyd turned around to the royal family. He locked eyes with Harumi and waved her goodbye. The princess smiled and waved back. Lloyd turned around and walked out the palace gates, following the setting sun, beginning a new adventure.
In the Underworld, Death was slouching in his throne, his massive scythe in one hand and resting his head in the other. He looked down from his throne and watched all the tortured souls being tormented for their sins. It usually would've brought a smile to his face, but not today. Today, he was angry. A heavenly light tore open the sky and a being floated down from it. Death rolled his eyes.
The First Spinjitzu Master, also angry, walked towards Death.
"Is this what you wanted? Your wives are dead. Your only son is dead. Do you truly hate me and my grandson so much that you went through all this trouble?" The First Spinjitzu Master asked.
"Why are you here, Yoshi?" Death groaned.
"Answer me." The First Spinjitzu Master said.
"He owed me a debt and I wanted it repaid." Death said.
"No, you wanted my Lloyd to do your bidding and tear down the walls of Paradise." The Master said.
"You knew of my plan?" Death was surprised.
"Your son came to me in secret after you tore the eyes of that helpless oracle. I didn't believe him until you took Lloyd." The First Spinjitzu Master said.
"Musukoshi." Death spat. "And he wondered why I always despised him."
"He was your son." The Master said.
"He was a disappointment!" Death yelled. "He aligned with the Green Ninja! He got himself, and his mothers, my wives, killed!"
"His soul isn't in Paradise." The Master crossed his arms.
"Well he isn't here either, or my queens. Lloyd destroyed their very souls as well." Death sighed.
"Perhaps it's for the best." The Master said.
"If you're done scolding me now, Yoshi, I'll kindly ask you to leave my realm." Death said as he pointed up.
The First Spinjitzu Master chuckled, confusing Death.
"You think after everything you put my Lloyd through, you'd go unpunished!?" The Master laughed.
He dropped his arms and they started to glow gold.
"I'm banishing you." The Master said.
"Ha! To the Cursed Realm!?" Death laughed.
"No, no, no. I'm banishing you from everything!" The First Spinjitzu Master declared. "I'm invoking God Realm Separation."
Death's eyes widened, and he jumped from his throne.
"Yoshi, don't be a fool!" Death yelled. "If you do this, I can't travel to Paradise or anywhere!"
"I know." The First Spinjitzu Master said.
"And neither will the one who curses me!" Death shouted.
The First Spinjitzu Master started to move his hands in the air, creating glowing symbols.
"Any cursed souls or innocent ones that get lost on their way to the afterlife, we cannot reclaim." Death said.
"Trust me, if I find any soul that's worthy of you, I'll send it to Hell where it belongs." The Master said sternly.
"And any innocent soul that gets trapped here…I will keep for myself. Can you live with that?" Death asked.
The Master didn't respond. It was only a small occurrence when a soul ends up in the wrong afterlife realm, it still happened though. Death would travel to Paradise and take the corrupted souls that got lost and the First Spinjitzu Master would travel to the Underworld to reclaim the honest souls. It rarely ever happened, however. The First Spinjitzu Master shot a golden beam at Death. Both gods yelled as the curse affected both of them. The First Spinjitzu Master stopped, and Death fell over. Gold bracelets appeared on both of their wrists and large chains circled the entire Underworld. The Master started to float upwards towards his portal and Death growled.
"Mark my words, Yoshi! I will reclaim the powers you stole from me a millennium ago and escape from my world to destroy all life everywhere! You cannot stop me! Lloyd cannot stop me! I WILL KILL ALL!" Death yelled.
"You will never leave this Realm." The First Spinjitzu Master told him.
The Master went through the portal and it closed. Death roared, frightening all in his realm.
Death and Harumi will return.
R&R
*To find out more about the being Harumi spoke to, read Shadow of the Ninja Chapter 31
