Hey everyone. I hope you are all well with the current situation. I'm bored as hell. Nothing to do and I have to go to the doctor all the time. Yeah that's what you get when you're heart transplant and your immune system sucks. But hey, I'm not dead yet and I really hope you haven't lost anyone close yet.
I'm not the most sentimental person but losing people you love sucks, even I know that.
But stay positive. We can do this. Humanity has faced a lot without modern medicine so we can do this too. Stay positive!
"What do you mean winning against the overlord would be easier" Jay yelped. "This is still Lloyd we're talking about. He would never do anything to hurt us" he insisted.
"My freaking arm says otherwise" Morro hissed, still clutching his wounded arm.
"We will talk tomorrow. Go to sleep everyone, it is late, and the day was exhausting for everyone" Wu spoke, slowly walking into their home. Just like all the others, he could not believe his nephew would ever do such a thing.
He had a lot of power he knew that very well. But still, this was not like him at all. He could only pray that everything would turn out good.
Harumi briefly watched the old man walk inside before turning back to the large wound on Morro's arm. Lloyd's behavior had turned upside down in just one day. What changed? Was it the present of the other oni that quickened the process? Or was he finally accepting his fate.
She turned to walk back into her own room. Once inside, she layed down in her bed
Harumi shook her head. No, this wasn't it. Lloyd had never been one to ever give up on anything he believed in. Not even her. He had hoped hard and long that everything was a joke. That she would never betray him. Or anyone else.
But she did and killed so many in the process. Not even feeling remorse. Why had he even gotten her out of prison? He didn't really believe her when she said she wanted to help, right? He was just a pawn like always.
The girl turned onto her side, arm resting under her head as she watched the wall that lead to Kai's room. She knew the look he had been giving her, insisting that she would stay close to at least one of them. He was smarter than she gave him credit for.
He never trusted her, not after she showed her trued intentions. Before, well maybe he had a few suspicions, but never said them out loud. She didn't know, nor did she really care.
The important thing was, he was standing in the way, constantly watching her every move.
Closing her eyes, Harumi slowly fell asleep.
"Ow!" the raven-haired teen yelped. Getting stitches hurt more than he expected.
"Forgive me, but I must treat this before it can get infected" the Nindroid apologized.
The wind master sighed, forcing himself to hold still. "Not your fault. I'm just not used to pain anymore. It's been way to many years since I felt pain, didn't even remember what it felt like until now. And I can tell you I don't like it" he chuckled.
Zane leaned his head to the side in thought. He never even realized that Morro must've forgotten how pain felt, or rather: his brain forgot. He had no knowledge over how long the wind master had been a ghost for. He only knew that it had been many years.
"Yes, it will take a while until your brain registers what really happened to your body. Do you remember how long you have been a ghost for?" Zane was careful with his questions. He and the others knew very well that the former ghost didn't like talking about these things. Things that reminded him of all the mistakes he made in his life, and even after it.
Morro shrugged, wincing right after. "A few decades probably. I lost count on the years after a while."
Zane hummed at that, finishing the last stitch. "Done. You should avoid sleeping on that side for a couple of days" he said.
"Noted. I'm sure it would hurt to much anyways" he pulled the sleeve of his gi down again, covering the wound. Well, more or less. The fabric was still torn at the part where Lloyd had hit him.
After that, both he and Zane went to bed, trying to get some sleep before they planed the next steps in the morning. Still, he wondered why it happened. Lloyd had missed him on purpose, he knew it. His aim was perfect, he never missed.
In the memories he had seen in the others mind he always hit the target. No memory showed the blond ever missing something, when he wanted to hit it. So why had he missed on purpose? Even when he flew away on his dragon, he didn't even try to hit him.
He knew this wasn't right. After all, it was something he would do in Lloyd's position. Letting the enemy get away to warn the others and find out where they were. The problem was Lloyd already knew where they were. So what was going on here?
Morro stared at the ceiling for a long time, trying to find a solution to the problem. Growling in frustration, the former ghost turned onto his side that wasn't injured and looked at the parts of the realm crystal. At least that was what he was supposed to se.
They were gone! GONE!
Jumping out of the bed he threw open the door of his room that lead to the hallway and screamed for the others. "They're gone!" he screamed.
Everyone ran out of their room to check out the noise.
"What's gone?" Jay asked in panic.
"The pieces of the realm crystal, they're gone!" he yelled again.
"What?!" the others yelled.
"They were supposed to be in my room, but they're not."
"Calm down everyone" Misako started. "Are you certain they were in your room?" she asked.
Nodding his head, the former ghost answered. "They were. Just before Zane fixed my arm, I put them there myself."
Kai crossed his arms. He had a pretty good idea where they were, but he had no prove. Even if his suspicions were true, he still had to prove no one else did it. Even though no one else had a motive.
"Where's Harumi?" Cole suddenly asked, ripping Kai out of his thoughts. He was right. She wasn't even with them, even though Morro had screamed pretty loud.
Without another word Kai turned and went straight to her room, the others following quickly.
He threw the door open without a second thought. But to his great surprise, the former princess was lying in her bed, sleeping peacefully. At least she was until the door slammed into the wall, making her jump in surprise.
For a second, she looked confused, eyes darting around the room in shock, then her eyes settled on the intruders.
"Don't you know it's rude to just walk into a girl's room. In the middle of the night no less" she said annoyed.
"Didn't you hear us yelling?" Nya asked, raising an eyebrow.
Harumi sighed. "No, I'm a tight sleeper. I only woke up because someone had to slam my door open" she glared at the fire Ninja. If it was because of her annoyance that they just came in without permission, or because it was the middle of the night, the others didn't know.
But Kai didn't believe any of it. Morro had been screaming pretty loudly, and she didn't hear anything? No, the sound of the slamming door and the screaming had been equal in volume. Waking up from one thing but not from the other made no sense.
"Will someone please tell me what happened that made you all just waltz in here in the middle of the night?" the girl asked in annoyance.
The ninja and the older looked at each other, a quiet question if they should tell the truth. But the eyes of everyone showed the same emotion. Even though there was no trust between the ninja and the former princess, lying wouldn't help.
"The pieces of the realm crystal have gone missing" Wu finally said.
Harumi raised an eyebrow in wonder. "Oh I get it" she laughed lightly. "You think the evil girl took them" she said in a mocking voice.
"Well it is the most logical thing to have happened" Zane meant.
Humming in thought, the girl looked at everyone. The only real suspicion she saw in Kai's eyes, similar to Morro's. They were smart, but if she had done it or not, they had yet to prove.
"Right, right" she sighed. "If you think I took them feel free to search the whole room. I promise you wont find them here" she stood up and moved to a corner, allowing everyone access to the whole room.
As the ninja moved to inspect the room a loud crash was heard outside. The surprised looks quickly turned into worry as everyone began to run to the front entrance.
Jay opened the front door and immediately felt at peace. Even though the crash meant nothing good, it was raining, and lightning was coming down now and then. The storm was his best friend and he wondered if Morro felt the same in the wind that was coming along with it.
For others it might be terrifying, being so close to a storm, but his element was lightning after all. Who wouldn't lie that in his situation? But as quickly as it came, it left again when he saw the figure not to far away from the entrance.
It was one of the oni creatures, but it was holding a white flag. He came in peace.
"That's new" Cole said.
"Indeed. But careful. White flags mean that the person holding it is coming in peace, but he will probably defend himself if he needs to" Zane reminded.
"Right, so be careful" Garmadon agreed.
Jay gulped lightly but opened the door more, allowing the others to get a better look on what was going on outside. The oni creature didn't more, just stood there with the white flag in one hand.
"Why are you here" Kai finally yelled. He was growing impatient, the others noticed. Kai had always been short tempered.
Lighting stroke in the distance, illuming the place in a white light for just a moment before everything went dark again. And then the oni spoke.
"His majesty sends me with a request. He told me to not hurt anyone if not necessary."
"That doesn't sound creepy at all" Jay whispered.
"Is he talking about Lloyd?" Cole questioned.
"Most definitely" Zane confirmed.
"Well, what is it?" Morro yelled.
"He wishes to have the girl" the oni answered.
Everyone looked at Nya. "Me?" she asked, pointing a finger at herself.
The oni shook its head. "The other one."
Sounds of surprise were exchanged. Harumi?
"Why her?" Cole yelled over.
"Master has requested for her. I do not know why" it answered.
Who knew they could be so polite? But then again, Lloyd controlled them now, right? They listened to everything he would say.
Kai looked down in thought. He hated doing this, but they had no other choice. If Lloyd wanted Harumi, then she was the only chance in getting the old Lloyd back. But was it worth the risk? No one knew which side she was on.
And now that the pieces of the realm crystal were missing, it was even more of a risk. Letting her go wasn't good, but if they didn't, the oni would attack to get her.
"I'll get her" he mumbled, turning to get the girl.
Harumi still sat in her room when he came back, sitting on her bed once again. Kai leaned against the wall of her bedroom.
"Congratulations you're getting out of here" he said with a fake smile.
Harumi looked up in surprise. Getting out?
"Lloyd send one of the oni and they want you to come with them" he explained.
Harumi smiled. So she was finally getting somewhere. She was getting what she wanted, just like always. Getting out of the sight of the ninja was step one, the next step was getting closer to Lloyd, who now owned Ninjago. And lastly, she would be queen. His queen.
All that seemed to happen in one night alone.
"Be happy all you want. Pretty sure you're getting what you want, but deep down you know it's not right. It wont be long until he doesn't need or want you anymore" to her Kai sounded pretty sad. Deep down she knew he was right but didn't want to see it.
Sighing, the former princess stood up. "Since when are you the one that sees the good in people?" she asked.
"I don't. But I'm trying to do what Lloyd did by helping you not to die. If you intent to live then you'll listen" he explained, crossing his arms over his chest.
"I'm listening."
"You are still angry at Lloyd for what happened, but you need to forgive him. It was never what Lloyd wanted. He was alone and confused but still determined to be like his father, like ever other kid. He knows of the mistake he made and is mad at himself every day for it, but he can't undo it. You know that."
Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes. She knew how right he was, but the anger towards the blond was strong, strong enough to do what she had done.
"I can't just forget what he did" she forced the words out, trying not to break down in front of the other. She had sworn to herself that she wouldn't cry again. Never again.
"I don't want you to forget. Forgetting means that you don't care, but you do. I want you to move forward. It helps. A lot of people were hurt that day. But if we let Lloyd go down this path now, there will be a lot more people facing the same fate. You're not evil. You're hurt and Lloyd was a way to get rid of the pain. Do you really want half of Ninjago to feel that way?" Kai almost screamed at her, but managed to be calm.
Harumi searched for an answer, but there was nothing she could say. She knew how right she was. It wasn't even Lloyd that freed the great Devourer. He even did everything he could to stop it from happening. To stop it from destroying Ninjago.
She reached into her clothes and pulled out a small bag with blue pieces. Both of them knew what the pieces were for. She quietly handed them to the fire ninja.
"I took them while Zane was helping Morro. Originally, I wanted to take them and bury them somewhere, maybe even take them with me when I ran away and make my way to Lloyd myself, but you're right. I can't allow him to do this. I should know better" she whispered.
Kai sighed. This girl was a mystery to him. She had so much anger, but at the same time she never wanted anyone to feel the pain she had felt.
"Let's go" he lightly grabbed her elbow, waiting for her to move on her own. Which she did. When they were back at the door, the others were little surprised that Kai had the crystal pieces. They could talk about that later.
Before they went outside though, Zane gave her a small device.
"A hairpin?" she asked, raising an eyebrow in confusion.
"It will help us follow your every step to keep you safe. Also, we will hear everything you hear. It is shaped like a hairpin for your safety" Zane explained.
Harumi shrugged and placed it in her hair. It looked nice. Three dark green flowers in a row. They sparkled lightly.
"Be careful" Misako warned, handing her an umbrella.
"I will" she smiled, taking the umbrella. She opened the door and was met with the pouring rain from the outside. She took a step forward but turned her head back.
"And if it's worth anything, I'm sorry" she smiled sadly and went ahead. Along with the oni, she walked down the pathway, not to be seen for some time.
And here we go. A new chapter. We still have some way to go. I have no idea how long this will take, but we'll see. Who saw this one coming? Kai talking calmly and Harumi just being like: okay you're right. To easy right? Be surprised 😉
Bye