Hello everyone! So very nice to be typing and writing again. Our home and community got hammered by some not quite tornado's. Power was out for a very long time. Tree's knocked down and live wires everywhere. It was not fun to say the least. But now it is back and life is somewhat normal in these slightly still pandemic times. I am very, very busy this time of year with the farm, our family and two jobs. So while updates could be slow I am still thinking constantly of this story and striving to make it the best that it can be. The second half is basically my part two and I want it to be even better. Thank you all so much for sticking with it. Every single view let alone reviews makes my heart happy.

Lloyd thumped his head on the hardwood of the kitchen table again. It was so so frigging frustrating and boring. It had been six weeks since Clouse's death and the new apparent life wrecking danger. The small pendant he currently wore was the cause of the last several weeks of research, failed leads, arguing and frustration. The pendant, or soul stone as Bree had concluded and Hana had confirmed was part of a larger piece. And was only able to power itself when it came into contact with the floor down in the catacombs and draw power from it. So no more glowing or trying to skeeter after Bree. Alana or Harumi. But just to be safe Cole had encapsulated it in a hard layer of literal diamond so it couldn't touch any of them. Even then they had decided that himself and Wu would take turns carrying the pendant each day. Bree didn't think it fair for just Lloyd to carry it all the time because herself and Harumi would avoid whomever carried it like the plague.

"But we still don't know if that would work Cole!" Bree yelled from the library.

Lloyd could hear everything from his place laying on one of the kitchen tables that was going on in the other rooms with the doors open. They could not figure out what the stone was for. Or how it had come into Bree's mothers possession. Only that Bree was fairly sure that if herself or Harumi touched it that it might drag them some where else. Cole wanted to smash it. Morro and Wu both wanted to drop it off to some distant realm. While that didn't seem like a terrible idea. Bree was very afraid that it would somehow make its way back to her family. Considering how much Clouse had personally managed to tweek and screw up their whole lives. Including going back in time to try and kill them. Bree was worried that this tiny piece of sentient stone had come to them for a reason. As if destiny was trying to right itself again she had said. Problem being they didn't know how that would work. Or where it would take the girls. Or if they would ever come back. From what Bree and Harumi had pieced together their current time line was so messed up that if unaltered Harumi would actually be about forty years older than Bree. Not a huge amount for a Djin apparently. But it was still super weird to think of her really being closer to his mothers or the others ninjas parents in age. Morro thought it was hilarious and called her an old lady. Lloyd smiled at how pissed Rumi had gotten at Morro for that. Rumi had threatened to put him back where ever Bree had accidentally pulled him through space and time from. Good times he thought.

Wu walked into the kitchen shaking his head. And holding out a hand. It was his turn with the soul stone So Lloyd could go research with the rest of the ninja.

"Anything?" Lloyd asked.

"Not so much more than we already know." Wu said wearily.

Bree and Cole came into the kitchen, Bree skirting wide around Lloyd and giving him a half smile in apology. Apparently the screams that they could hear from the stone, or more accurately where the stone wanted them to go were absolutely hideous. Lloyd couldn't blame his cousin for staying away. After Wu and Lloyd traded off Wu headed off to his own rooms to meditate. And where Alana would be less likely to run up to him while he was carrying the pendant. Sitting up Lloyd felt relieved and more relaxed. They were not totally sure if the soul stone put the person holding it in a bad mood. Or if Wu and Lloyd just felt like it was a burden staying away from people and that made them both annoyed. Cole had half wondered if that is what made his dad act like a dick for years. But Elias corrected him that Lou was like that long before Beverly had him take the pendant.

The other ninja and the handful of elemental masters staying here at the fortress started coming in for dinner. Some of the elemental masters had gone back to their own lives. Some came and went frequently. Others decided this was home for them now. It was certainly large enough that everyone had their own space and wasn't crawling on top of each other like at the ruined airjitzu temple or Wu's old temple. The family's with children had all decided to stay much to Alana's delight. And she ran and played with Flora and Odell every day. Zane and Pixal's little Cyrus couldn't do much more than roll over yet. But would be soon enough. That was nice Lloyd thought. He didn't get to run and play with any siblings or other children. Or his own cousin for that matter. Bree very quickly had food ready. Even with Zane helping actual magic got the job done pretty dam fast.

"Where's the wind bag and the angry blond?" Kai asked shoving a roll in his mouth.

"Ya'll gunto have be more specific dan dat" Jay answered with a mouthful of food. Elbowing Lloyd slightly.

"I'm not the angry blond" Lloyd said defensively.

"The morose and depressive blond?" Kai joked. Earning him a foul look from Lloyd.

"Leave him be Kai" Bree half scolded half looked like she would seriously loose her shit with Kai for making fun of Lloyd again.

"He was moping around the kitchen for half the day again when he could have been out training with us or in the library researching with Bree. I would assume that he is unhappy with the so far unattainable progress we have received on the soul stone" Zane stated.

"Maybe I just like to butter myself up and slide around the floor like a slug" Lloyd quipped while keeping a straight face. A few giggles from the others. While Faith looked to Karlof in confusion. He shrugged, both assuming that either something was lost in translation or that Lloyd was heading off the deep end.

"To answer your question I sent them off on a research errand." Bree told Kai.

"Why do you always send Morro out with her?" Lloyd asked trying to keep his tone light and not like he was slightly jealous or anything.

Bree and Cole both glanced at each other. Avoiding Lloyd's gaze.

"Because I don't have a elemental dragon and he does. Its faster." Bree explained.

That answer seemed to placate Lloyd. But walking behind his back to grab something for Alana, Bree shook her head in frustration. Bree and Cole were now very happily married. And spending every single second that Cole wasn't training and Bree wasn't researching together and with Alana. It did not go over well the first time Wu had gone to knock on their apartment door at night to ask Bree something and Cole had yelled through the wall to come back later. But while Cole and Bree were now very honest about their relationship Morro and Harumi hadn't come out with their's yet so to speak. Harumi even going so far as to use the glamours that Bree taught her to hide the handfastening ribbons they wore. Being identical to Cole and Bree's style someone was sure to have noticed it sooner than later. Harumi and Morro were very much afraid that Lloyd wasn't going to take them being together well. And they wanted to ease him and everyone else into the idea of it. Cole thought it was going to blow up in their faces. Bree thought it was only going to make it worse hiding it. And worse still if Harumi and Morro ever got the baby they wanted. Because in Bree's exact words how in the hell are they going to explain it then.

A door opened and slammed shut with a gust of wind. Morro and Harumi were back. And judging by the rushed footsteps something was up.

"Bree! I think we found something!" Harumi called as she made her way down the hallway. Bursting into the kitchen with a handful of books and a newspaper. Morro trailing behind and immediately helping himself to food. Now that he was alive and well he never missed a meal. Particularly one that Bree made. Wu would often smile and shake his head at that. Morro was starving when he found the young boy digging in the trash cans outside the old monastery. His love of not just food in general, but good food was almost as bad as Coles love of cake. And Bree and Zane both seemed to enjoy seeing who could out do the other with their skills.

"What is it?" Bree asked excitedly.

Harumi rushed to her. Quickly sidestepping around Lloyd.

"Don't have it" Lloyd said in an annoyed tone.

While that did see to make Harumi more comfortable she still seemed extremely excited over what she had found.

"We didn't find anything on the how and why Rowena had the stone. Or even when and why she gave it to Beverly who then gave it to Lou for safekeeping. But we did find a newspaper article about a blade found in some warehouse that was being shipped and sold illegally and the police confiscated it. Well take your guess who was selling it?" Harumi said slyly.

"Illegal weapons worth money sure sounds like Ronin" Nya said from her seat beside Jay. Who leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.

Alana stuck her tongue out over that. Lloyd copying her to make her laugh. Which she did with glee.

"Bingo. And here's the kicker. It was stolen again and the cops put up a picture of it in the paper and... tada" Harumi said holding the paper out for all to see.

Jay and Nya's faces both went white. It was the same Djin blade that had been used before by Nadakhan.

"I take it that you both know what it is?" Bree asked. She had glanced at the picture but was studying their faces now.

"That's the Blade Nadakhan used to try and trap and kill us all. And try and marry Nya. Creeepy fucking bastard" Jay spat.

"I've seen it before, but... I was very little and it wasn't usually taken out and shown to children. I doubt that Rumi remembers it at all." Bree said

Harumi shook her head. Bree snatched the paper from her and held it close. Scanned the print closely.

"Oh no" Bree snapped quietly.

What was the question from most of the group. Except for Morro. He responded with a garbled fuck as his mouth was full of the pot roast from dinner.

"Morro is right. And the kids are in here, come on Morro" Bree said rubbing her eyes. Not caring that she smudged her make up a little.

"Take a close look at the jewel close to the bottom of the blade...does it look right to you" Bree asked Nya and Jay.

They both had gotten up and took the paper. Looking close.

"Its not the same? Wait no... its broken?" Nya asked.

"It's missing a small piece... a small pendant shaped piece." Bree said flatly.

Everyone paused for a second to let that sink it.

"So... with what Jay and Nya told us about Nadakhan using his fathers sword to trap people... the soul stone is just a little part of that stone...er... the whole sword." Harumi said trailing off and looking up at Bree.

"Yes. And I am now fairly sure I know why you and I and Alana can hear screaming when the catacombs powered the stone up." Bree said with anger creeping up in her voice.

"What in the hell is it now?" Lloyd asked saying what everyone else was thinking.

"The sword was never meant to trap living souls Lloyd. It was meant to be a resting place for past kings and queens of Dinjago. And much like the catacombs down below work for us, the elemental masters, it was meant for the current king or queen to be able to ask questions of their ancestors and get help and guide the people. But if its full of living souls...even in a slumber like state then someone else is using it to trap people. And this broken chunk of soul stone does not like that at all. And..." Bree trailed off.

Cole and Lloyd giving her a look to keep the hell explaining.

"The soul stone wants to go back to the sword and be whole again. And it wants the current king or queen to fix it and release the living souls from within. And its going to scream at us till it gets things set right." Bree explained with a dark look on her face.

"But why is it screaming at the three of you? Skyler asked in confusion.

Bree looked at Cole with an embarrassed and slightly sheepish look. She has told him months ago. But it wasn't really relevant till now so she hadn't said a word to anyone else.

"Because with so many Djin dead, Dinjago gone and the wear abouts of Nadakhan currently unknown its looking for the next prince or princess to fix it. That means our family is next in line." Bree said with an uncomfortable tone.

"The angry blond is a actual princess this whole time? And so are Bree and Alana?" Kai asked in mock shock and horror. Getting laughter out of most but not all of the room.

Bree rubbed her face with both hands. Harumi looked like she wanted to kill Kai or sink into the floor.

Great Lloyd thought. This is not going to end well he sensed.