Over stood in the midst of the small plaza, his arms wrapped around himself, a smile on his face like none had seen before. What was normally filled with a mocking condescension or simply one put on for airs, this smile was as genuine as they came. In that moment, there was no Emperor, no dark being, no fusion, nobody else. Nobody was there but Over, the one person who had needed to find himself the most.
"W-Wow…" Lulloyd whispered out, "That was… that was amazing…"
"He's… I don't know how to describe it," Lloyd shook his head, "But it was…"
Lloyd truly didn't know. The sight of the embodiment of darkness, the being that he had assumed had no love in his heart, no good in his body, clinging so desperately to the person that, at one point, was him. He'd watched as that darkness had tried so hard to stay as close to Overlloyd as possible, how the two had seemed to cry out for each other when they were apart. He'd seen how hard they'd both fought to get back to one another. What he'd seen once as nothing more than pure evil… was the most important thing in the universe to someone else.
It was then that Lloyd felt a gaze on him. Over had slowly turned his head over his shoulder, looking at the assembled trio of onlookers. He said nothing at first, still reveling in the feeling of being himself again.
"... You saw that then, did you?" Over asked. Hearing his voice returned to normal like that, it made Lloyd and Lulloyd freeze up. They felt like they'd witnessed something personal and private, like walking in on someone's bedroom.
"Y-Yeah, we did," Lloyd nodded, "Erm… are you, feeling like yourself again, Over?"
Over raised his hand up, inspecting it. Slowly, the Dark Matter inside his body reacted. The group watched as it began to form in his hand, spreading out into the shape of a massive double bladed staff. When it had formed the shape, the swirling dark void of red and purple in the Dark Matter condensed into a solid purple. Now, however, there was a streak of a deep yellow that wrapped around the center of the staff and the blades shaped more like swords rather than sickly blades. Without comment, Over raised his hand up, causing his shadow to swirl around him and froth with power. The staff melted a moment later, reforming into four blades that, while carrying the deep purple in their edges, now had glistening yellow hilts.
"I do," Over nodded his head, "I am once again the man that I was. And I must thank Mage for that… I must thank each otf you for that," Over smirked, "And… Sun."
Lloyd and Lulloyd weren't sure what to make of that. Over turned slowly, looking at the form of Mage that had collapsed into the ground. He walked over and slowly took hold of Mage's hands , hefting the boy up and gently holding him. He looked over Mage's body, barely breathing and pale in the face.
"You, above all others, remained true to your ideals, even when I had forsaken my own," Over whispered, "Thank you, young Mage. You've earned a reprieve far more than I ever could," The four armed man walked over, gently handing Mage over into Lulloyd's arms, "He is injured and exhausted from this day. Take him back to the Time Tribe for healing. Ophiod stole our traveling devices. We will make it a priority to get them back later."
Lulloyd looked up at Over with confusion in his eyes, but nonetheless took as good a hold as his pre-bent elbows could get onto Mage. Slowly, he shifted one arm under Mage and tapped in the coordinates for the Time Tribe.
"I'll take him back, then," Lulloyd affirmed, "It's… it's good to have you back, Over."
Over nodded his head politely. Lulloyd hit the button on his watch, causing the portal to open up. He kept a hard grip on Mage as the two were sent down into the void, vanishing into the darkness and the portal soon closing to seal their journey.
"Now that young Mage is taken care of," Over inhaled, "It is time that we address another that has lost their way."
For a moment, Lloyd thought that Over was looking at him. Instead, he followed Over's gaze to see he was looking at Harumi. The young woman had pressed her back into a pile of rubble, watching the entire thing with eyes that were wider than he had ever seen them before. Her hands were fiercely gripped into fists, and she refused to move even when they both looked at her.
"What?" Lloyd asked. Over walked past him, ignoring him.
"W-What?" Harumi gasped out, "D-Don't get near me!"
"Don't get near you?" Over asked, "Why?"
"B-Because… O-Overlord!" Harumi shook her head, "I saw it, I saw you take the Overlord into your own body! I don't… how could you?!"
"Did you not see what transpired?" Over asked her, cocking his head, "Did you not see the truth behind the two of us? We are not two beings that can live apart. We are symbiotic, we are one. To be separate is the death of us, not only our bodies, but our souls."
Harumi bit her lip, "B-But… but he's the…"
"No, he's an Overlord. One that was offered the chance to finally have companionship after being cast aside by his creator," Over informed her, "He was offered the chance to become something more than a villain of legend. And now… I cannot imagine a life without someone like him," Over reached up and gripped his chest, "The heart that beats in this body is one that is fueled by the rejection we have both faced. Him, for his birth, and me, for my actions. We were forsaken, and we were found. Never will I reject, nor will I deny, that the two of us are beings that do not deserve scrutiny. Our actions are stained in darkness. Yet you have now seen the root of that evil. Tell me… is it as vile as you once thought?"
"No… yes, it's…" Harumi inhaled, "I don't understand!"
"You don't understand because you do not want to," Over shook his head, "Do you see the source of your hubris now, Harumi? Since we have met, you have rejected me. I cannot say you are without reason. Yet the others have come to respect me. I do not ask that you come to see me as a friend. Yet I will not accept you as an ally if you are unwilling to even try."
Over stopped in front of Harumi. From this angle, the sun behind him was almost blotted out by his impressive build. Over loomed over her, facing her with his pupiless, burning purple glare. Harumi felt that fear returning inside of her.
"I-I…" Harumi slid down the rubble, "I-I can't… I can't just… I can't just do that."
"If you have not the will to do that, then what will do you have?" Over frowned, "What fight have you to stand against the Twins?"
"W-We weren't, talking about that…" Harumi whispered.
"No, yet I fear I am the only one who will say it," Over growled, "I will not coddle you. You have been given a chance to continue living, to continue existing. Yet you have squandered it, crying tears for a world that has yet a chance at salvation! The others have given you their pity, yet I will spare none of that for you!"
"S-Stop it!" Harumi protested. Her hands moved to scrub at her hair.
"You've spent the precious time you have doing nothing to help us! You've wasted away in your own misery and regret, just the way you did when you were a child!" Over spat, "I am guilty for the same, yet I did not abandon my fight. Even at my darkest hour, I intended to spend my power upon stopping the Twin's forces. Yet you instead will lay there, a pitiful legacy of the man that gave everything for you to live on, and do nothing to stop it?!"
"OVER!" Lloyd shouted, "That's enough!" Lloyd gripped his fists, ready to force Over to stop. Instead, he froze when he saw Harumi standing up.
Slowly, the girl raised her head, looking towards Over with a fury in her eyes. It was a fury so mingled and interwoven with anguish, however, that Lloyd could not help but find it weak. Over met it with an unflinching gaze.
"Maybe I have!" Harumi shouted, "But what good would it do to fight it?! Better to die peacefully than waste our lives fighting something we can't hope to defeat!"
"Your father was willing to do just that!" Over didn't skip a beat, "Why won't you?!"
"It's useless!" Harumi pressed her hands into her face, "Don't you see how useless it really is, Over? Don't you… don't you understand?! You've already lost everything, just like me! How… how can you…" Harumi shook her head, "We're nothing to the multiverse, it's… it's useless. It's hopeless!"
Over paused. He took a long moment to look at Harumi. She remained on her feet, her fists shakily gripped, her body tense and slack at the same time. Lloyd was watching her, as though worried at any moment she may shatter. Over spared his gaze at her, gauging her next reaction. Yet he made no attempt to press her. Instead, Over turned away, and walked away.
Lloyd relaxed, ready to rush over and console Harumi. Instead, Over extended his arm. His new staff, that glistening band of yellow wrapped around its length, formed in his hand. He spun it twice, then slammed it into the ground in front of Harumi with a massive 'crack' of the earth. He turned his head, his eyes powerfully glowing.
"If you have already consigned yourself to death," Over hissed, "Then you wouldn't mind if it came to you now, would you?"
Over yanked his staff from the ground, spinning on his foot and hurling a bolt of purple crackling power at Harumi. The girl's eyes widened as she threw herself out of the way. The entire pile of rubble she had stood against exploded, sending sharp bits of rock to rain over her back as she lay in the rocks.
"Over?!" Lloyd shouted, "What are you doing?!"
"If she's content to waste what time she has waiting for oblivion," Over launched himself at Harumi, "I will grant her mercy and bring it to her quickly!"
Harumi had just enough time to roll away before the staff plunged down where she lay. She looked up at Over with eyes filled with a true horror, a terror born of a fear for her very life. The pounding of her heart made her senses burn with stimulus, as though the world around her was moving slower to accommodate. That did nothing to stop Over from appearing lightning fast as he attacked her.
Over yanked his staff from the ground, slashing the sculpted blade towards where she lay. Harumi launched herself onto her feet, stumbling backwards and wobbling to stay afoot. Over held one of his hands up, blasting power from it and forcing Harumi to dodge. The girl made no attempt to call upon her own power now, so stricken with fear as she was.
"Why do you dodge this, Harumi?!" Over spat, "The others look at you with pity, I give you mercy! Is it not more merciful to die in an instant than slowly with a mind filled with regret?!"
Lloyd drew the Mask of Hatred from his robes, holding it up to his face. Without even turning around, Over thrust another hand backwards. Suddenly, the shadows from under the mask shot out in spider-like limbs, spreading out and gripping his hand in their spindly growths. The feeling triggered his nerves and made Lloyd shout out as he dropped the mask to the ground. Those limbs then became claws that held the mask down to the ground with its own shadow.
As Lloyd tried to retrieve the mask, Over turned his attention back to Harumi. He brought his staff up above his head and shouted, flinging it down towards the ground and releasing a sharp and powerful cutting purple beam through the air. Harumi ran from it, turning to see a perfectly straight gash in the ground, still warm from the energy to so cleanly bisect it. Harumi gulped, bringing her hands in front of her.
Instead, Harumi felt something sticky on her back. Her head turned to see her shadow had crawled up her back and affixed to her, almost like a parasite attaching to her spine. The sensation set off even more triggers in her mind, her hands reaching back to dig into the shadow and rip it off. Instead, the shadow turned liquidos, a deep glue she couldn't get off. It weighed her body down, spreading out across her back in icy cold fingers.
"G-Get off!" Harumi screamed, "GET OFF!"
"Make it!" Over shouted, "Show your resolve, Harumi!"
Harumi tried to yank the thing off again, yet nothing seemed to work. She raised her head just in time to see Over lunging at her, the point of the staff held towards her chest. Without time to feint, Harumi instead ducked, causing the staff to just barely skirt her head.
Over reached down, grabbing hold of her arm. The two locked eyes for a moment, glaring at each other and sizing each other up in turn. With a snarl, Over spun his body around, throwing Harumi off and across the plaza. Her back struck the small stone monument in the middle, causing an arc of pain to fly through her and make her collapse to the ground. When she landed, the shadows clinging to her back stuck to the ground.
As Harumi slowly tried to pull herself up, Over walked over and planted his foot beside her head. Harumi looked up at him, redoubling her efforts to pry her body up. Instead, Over reached down and spun his staff, smacking her head with the flat of his blade and sending a wave of disorientation through her.
"Show me your will to fight, Harumi…" Over growled out, "Show me the woman that left her home to take down the ones that murdered her friend! Show me the woman who risked everything to try to save a dying world! The woman who has refused to give up, even after all the signs, everything in her life, has told her to stop!"
Harumi said nothing, too dazed to respond. Over reached down and grabbed her, causing the shadows to retract from her back and instead move into his hand. A shadowy claw wrapped around Harumi's neck. Over yanked her up, dragging her through the air and then slamming her against a broken bit of wall from a building bordering the plaza. As she gasped for air, Over held his staff up to put the point in front of her eyes.
"Fight back," Over's voice softened, "Give me a reason to stop this, Harumi! Show me the woman that pushed on, even after her world had forsaken her!"
"That's enough!" Lloyd's voice echoed through the air.
A moment after Lloyd's voice sounded off, Over was suddenly struck with a blinding green light. The impact was hard enough it sizzled all the way through his body, sending Over onto the ground. His staff fell at his side. The surprise of the attack left Over grunting out as he leaned up, his entire right side now sizzling from the impact.
"You've gone too far, Over!" Lloyd shouted, his hands sparking with his power, "I won't let you hurt her! If you're willing to do that… if you're trying to hurt her, then-"
"You are interfering in something that does not concern you," Over's eyes flashed, "Silence!"
Over held his hand out. Lloyd suddenly felt his shadow wrapping around his left arm, sticking to it like glue and wrapping it up so tightly it hurt. It constricted around him as Over held his arm up, causing the shadows to yank Lloyd into the air by his arm. Lloyd shouted as Over sent him down into the ground with a whip-like crack, his world scrambling as the pain arced through him. Over thrust his arm across his chest, slamming Lloyd through the air and into another wall. Lloyd crumpled to the ground, his form limp.
"L-Lloyd!" Harumi shouted. Over turned back to her. As soon as Over looked at her, she yanked against the shadows holding her to the wall.
"He should not have interfered," Over growled, "This fight is between the two of us, and the two of us alone!"
"L-Lloyd, Lloyd!" Harumi gasped out. Over pushed the shadows against her neck, pushing her farther up the chunk of wall. Her windpipe was constricted as he did, her vision blurring. The shadowy claw expanded, creeping up her face and towards her eyes.
With a sudden flash of green in her eyes, Harumi thrust her arms out, charging up two Rhotatae discs. She spun them in her hands, reaching up and cleaving apart the shadows holding her like saws. She fell to the ground, holding her hands up and sending the discs firing out into Over's chest point blank, each charged with her power. The green exploded against Over, sending him stumbling away and gasping out as his form sizzled from the impact.
Harumi put her hands together, charging a massive disc that grew to the size of her torso. As she did, a powerful black lightning began to crackle from it, arcing off and being drawn back inside like a writhing snake trying to escape confinement. Over held his staff up, readying himself to take it. When Harumi shouted and fired the disc, it flew by Over and was knocked aside by his staff.
Harumi charged her hands with power, racing forward and using her now green fists to attack. Over held his staff up, countering her blows with each of them. He turned his head to see the disc starting to arc through the air and back towards him, leaving him to look down at her and growl. Harumi grabbed his staff with both hands, yanking him into place. The two grappled, trying to throw the other off. Over could sense the disc coming closer.
With a massive burst of strength, Over threw Harumi back and spun around, spearing the disc apart on the edge of his staff. For a moment, he took a breath, ready to turn and attack. Instead, something hit him in the shoulder, causing him to freeze. Harumi lowered her arm from the ground, a bit of black lightning sparking through her arm as she did.
All at once, Over felt an overwhelming emotion. It was a feeling of sadness, of regret, of confusion, of loss. He stumbled forward, his breathing and heart rate skyrocketing as he tried to process it. He put his hand to his head, a feeling of devastation too much for him to bear. His limbs felt heavy with a sensation of hopelessness, of longing regret that he could never take back. The emotion arced through him, bringing him to fall onto his knees as he tried to simply process what he was feeling. Before he knew it, deep purple tears were falling down his face.
Harumi raced for the downed figure, tackling Over to the ground. Harumi stomped her foot down into his back, holding him there. When Over turned to look at her with his crying eyes, he saw Harumi holding a green charged fist right at his head.
"You can hurt me all you want… you can even try to end me," Harumi snarled, "But I will not let you hurt Lloyd or anyone else! You have no right to attack anyone other than ME!"
For a moment, Over was lost to his emotion. He didn't make a move to fight. He took deep breaths, trying to force the feeling down from his body. Harumi heaved, her body shaky but refusing to yield. The two were locked there, neither one willing to make the move, for neither one was ready to be the one to end the fight.
"... So you've found it again, then?" Over asked her through a sorrowful voice, "Your reason that you fight?" In that moment, the intense emotion inside of Harumi's mind jolted her confusion.
"I… what?" Harumi blinked, "I… I've always fought for others, I've always fought for my friends. That's, that's why I…" Her eyes widened. Her charged fist suddenly went out and her arm fell limp to her side.
"So you understand…" Over closed his eyes, "You've forgotten why you fought, Harumi. You'd given up on seeing your friends again, and so you lost your way. It seems that you have found it again."
"You mean… all of that?" Harumi shook her head, "You… you just wanted me to remember?"
"I had lost my own way, and to see you doing the same… it felt all too familiar," Over whispered, "The others were too gentle and kind in tending to you, to show you what you needed. The only way I knew you would listen to me is if you were afraid of me."
Harumi was dumbfounded. Here she had thought Over was actually trying to end her, to murder her in cold blood. Instead, he lay here, telling her that he'd given ehr the jolt that she needed. And she couldn't deny that he was right. Even now, just sitting there and thinking about it, he was right. He was so very, very right. And so as he coughed and lay there in the dirt, Harumi stepped off him, allowing him to stir.
Slowly, Over returned to his feet. When he did, he looked down to Harumi. Harumi could see the streaks of tears across his face, the slump in his shoulders as he processed what she'd given him. Yet she could also see someone who's taste for battle had faded for now. Someone who, truly, did not wish her harm. And it brought to her an understanding that she could only feel a sense of confusion, longing and… and of understanding.
"Harumi," Over bowed his head, "You have seen me at my most vulnerable. You have seen everything that I am. You know all about me that you must know. I must ask now, now that your will to fight has returned… will you truly accept me as your ally?"
Harumi waited, thinking about that line in her head. From the start, she'd never accepted him. He was always the distant, echoing reminder of her past. And now, he was asking her this, asking her to do something for him. Was she able to accept him, someone that looked so similar to the man who had broken her family?
"I will," Harumi said without hesitation, "I know why you're the way you are now, Over and… and I trust you. I can't apologize for how I've treated you but… but now, I think we can move forward as more than just enemies on the same side."
"Then I extend that trust to you, Harumi," Over nodded, "Our reasons to fight have been restored. Now, it is time that we plan how we will move forward."
The two looked at each other, a newfound respect, a newfound trust between them. Slowly, Harumi reached out and held her hand towards Over. The dark being looked at her, then he managed to force a smile through his emotions. He reached out and took her hand, simply letting each other, for what felt like the first time, truly accept the other.
Their moment, however, was broken when they heard a long groan. They looked over to see Lloyd stirring from where he'd been thrown, hissing and flinching as he tried to get up.
"Lloyd!" Harumi gasped out, quickly racing over and sliding onto her knees beside him, "It's okay, it's okay! You can rest now."
"Augh... " Lloyd grunted out, "What… Over, Over! Don't, you can't hurt her…"
"He didn't hurt me," Harumi shook her head, "He… he helped me. I never would have been able to get back to myself… without his help," Harumi smiled, "Come on, let's get up. We need to take Over back with us."
"He… he what?" Lloyd pressed himself up onto his feet, looking over towards Over.
"If this wavers your trust in me, I do not blame you," Over shook his head, "Yet now is not the time for us to discuss this. If my return attracts attention, I would like to ask that we not be around when that happens, and I no longer have a means to travel by myself."
"I…" Lloyd bit his lip, "Fine." Slowly, Lloyd walked over to where his mask had been taken from him. He looked at Over for a long moment. Over slowly looked at it, back at Lloyd, and then gently nodded his head. Slowly, the shadows rescinded, letting Lloyd pick it up and hide it before Harumi saw.
"Let's go," Harumi gripped Over's arm and tapped her watch. Over nodded at her as the two moved and fell into the vortex under them. Lloyd looked across the skies of Prime's world for a long while before he, too, was soon gone with a press of his watch, leaving the world behind.
With a loud gasp, Mage shot up in his bed. The two reversal healers beside him in the bed both jumped up from the chairs they were in, looking at Mage nervously.
"D-Dragon Lord?" One healer asked.
"W-What? Where am I…?" Mage looked around. He quickly picked up from the room design he was back in the Time Tribe, or he was in a very convincing replica of the place. He shook his head, trying to remember the last thing that had happened to him.
"How are you feeling, Mage?" Over asked. Mage looked up to find Over standing in the doorway to the room, his arms crossed and looking at him curiously.
"O-Over… you're back…!" Mage smiled shakily, trying to push himself out of bed. The moment he tried, a painful twinge in his torso made him slide back into the sheets.
"You do not want to try that right now," Over informed him, "The healders have saved you from internal damage, but your other injuries will take time to heal. You exacerbated them by carrying me."
"Ugh… I can tell…" Mage slumped backwards into the sheets, "How long…?"
"About twelve hours," Over informed him, "You are back in the Time Tribe, as am I and our allies."
Mage reached down and gripped his bedsheets. A feeling washed over him. A feeling of relief. A feeling of happiness. A feeling of satisfaction. But more than those, he could sense something else inside of him. Mage started to smile, started to feel relief, but then the sudden wave of something else washed over him: guilt.
"I'm… I'm sorry," Mage whispered, "I couldn't help you find the Overlord. You were looking for him and I… I gave up."
"You did all that you could, far more than anyone else would have in that situation," Over informed him, "You have no reason to feel guilt."
"I… I could have gotten you killed, though!" Mage looked up at Over, "You were dying, Over! And then, and then I, I just collapsed. That's not fair to you. If somehow you hadn't found him then, then I would have-"
"Hush," Over whispered soothingly, "Mage, you have done far more for me than anyone else here has ever been willing to."
Suddenly, Mage felt Over's arms around him. His eyes widened as Over appeared beside the side of the bed to gently wrap his arms around the child. The embrace was firm, yet careful not to hurt the boy. Mage's arms were too weak and too stunned to hug back.
"Mage… you are truly someone special," Over shook his head, "To be born with a soul as pure and willing to help others as you, that is a gift that few receive, and even fewer retain. You have placed your feet upon your path without sacrificing the good you see for those in your life. Strong enough, even, to risk your life for someone such as me."
"I couldn't sleep at night knowing I let someone walk off to die, Over!" Mage responded firmly, "It's not who I am."
"Indeed," Over chuckled, "I'm certain you learned that trait from your father, yes?"
"I learned it from everyone," Mage shook his head, "I saw how everyone in the World, they're all working for the same thing. They all want to just, live a happy life with the people they care about. And even if they lose those people, they keep moving on. When I saw you had stopped moving on like that, it… it hurt since I knew why, Over."
"And that is what I mean, Mage. You are someone with empathy. That is not something that comes easily, even to those who devote their lives to helping others," Over lowered his head, "And certainly, not to me."
Over slowly pulled back from Mage, looking down at him with a long nod. In these moments, it was easy to see someone else who had put his life on the line for others. It was easy to see another who had so brazenly wielded a sword and come at him with intention to stop him. Yet now, he could see where Mage and Sun differed. He could see why the two were who they were, and why he had projected it onto the boy.
"There are others here to see you," Over nodded his head, "They have fought hard to get here. I suggest you give them the welcome that they deserve."
"Where are you going?" Mage asked.
Over smiled, "I'm going to speak to the others and give them my thanks for what they have done for me. For now, though…"
"Mage?" Skylar's voice sounded off. Mage turned to look at the doorframe, seeing two people quickly stepping side. One was Skylar, her eyes filled with worry and her body heaving slightly. The other was his father, Garmadon, who was clutching his staff painfully hard.
"Dad? Skylar?" Mage whispered.
"Son!" Garmadon gasped out, "I've finally made it. The Raiders attacked the Monastery. It was only when the Firstbourne returned-"
"This is where you were the whole time!" Skylar chuckled, "I've been looking for you, you know. Ever since you left on that adventure."
Over slowly nodded to Mage, then he moved to duck out of the room. Mage hardly noticed. The grip he had on his bedsheets tightened as he looked up at them both, feeling his body trembling as he did.
"Hey… hey you guys," Mage whispered, "I'm… I'm here."
Before he could say another word, both of the two had crossed the room and taken a stance at either side of his bed. Skylar took hold of his hand, while Garmadon wrapped his arms around his son. As the two hugged onto him, Mage felt his body starting to tremble. Slowly, those emotions that he had been holding in all this time, the fear, the anger, the regret, it all began to boil inside of him until the first sheen of tears fell from his eyes.
"It's… it's been a lot…" Mage whispered, more tears starting to fall, "I've been working so hard… I've been doing so much...I've…" Mage shook his head, "I'm sorry, I only… I only just got back. I've been wanting to see you guys but… but I just. It's been so much. I'm sorry… I'm really sorry!"
Mage launched himself over, grabbing hold of his dad's robes. Garmadon blinked in surprise, then he nodded his head and gently moved in to help draw Mage into them. Mage's fingers dug tightly into the fabric as he tried to hold back his sobs, his tears, his everything. But even now, he couldn't help it. He couldn't help him sniffling, his tears staining his dad's clothes, his shuddering as all of his walls broke down.
"It's alright, son," Garmadon whispered, leaning his hand down to gently pat his son's head, "What matters is you're here with us now."
"Your old man's right," Skylar gripped his shoulder, "Sounds like you've been doing a lot. You're welcome to tell us all about it."
Mage nodded his head. He nodded it once, then twice, and soon his nods were coming so fast he couldn't stop his bobbing head. When he finally got ahold of himself, he just sniffed and grit his teeth, holding back his cries for another long moment before finally, ultimately, he let out a long wail into his father's embrace, feeling safe for the first time in what felt like a long while.
"Where is Monty?" Over asked.
"Monty?" Lulloyd blinked, "He's… not here."
Over frowned. Standing in the middle of the room that had become the pseudo-war planning station for the entire Time Tribe was himself, Lloyd, Lulloyd and Harumi. The four were looking down at a map of the Time Tribe territory, and upon its parchment all the dots of red that were known Vermillion camps.
"He's been off helping the other tribes lately," Lloyd nodded, "Or, so he says."
"So he's not here…" Over shook his head, "That is problematic. We cannot move forward with our endgame if he is not here."
"Endgame?" Lulloyed blinked.
Over nodded. He stepped forward, looking down at the map with a long, thoughtful gaze. It had been the first time he'd truly taken the state of war that had erupted in this place seriously. Seeing all the dots of red that had been taken over left him with a sense of how truly massive this invasion was.
"It looks like someone has been taking out some of the smaller camps, which is helping slow their invasion progress," Harumi informed him, "But… otherwise it doesn't look like we can keep this up forever."
"The Vermillion are a cancer that will continue to grow unchecked unless something is done about them," Over nodded, "That is why I am saying that we must begin planning for our own endgame."
"We did that," Lloyd countered, "That whole thing with the Time Blades, that was our best attempt, wasn't it? What are we planning now?"
Over sighed, "Right now, I do not have much of an idea. There are variables we must consider. Yet our group is still fractured off. We must bring Monty into our fold quickly, or risk him spiraling off as both myself and Harumi did."
Harumi lowered her head slightly in shame. Lloyd felt a pang of guilt for a moment, wondering if he should hop in and defend her. Instead, Harumi took a long and deep breath, then raised her head with a determined glare on her face. She stepped forward and placed her hands on the table.
"Over and I can figure out how to deal with this siege," Harumi affirmed, "Over has practical experience and I have a good grasp on applying historical accounts and battle tactics. Together we can at least keep the Vermillion from getting any further."
"The trump card each tribe has is their dragon, in our case Muto," Over nodded, "Krux' has informed me of the situation in that regard. If we have already deployed our Queen, then we must be ready to set up our gambit."
"Our… what?" Lloyd asked.
"Chess," Harumi shook her head, "If you put your Queen in the front lines that's generally an aggressive tactic. We have to figure out the gambit we'll use now that we've played our strongest piece."
"And that is why the two of us will handle the strategy," Over nodded, "And why you two must find Monty and return him to us."
"What?" Lloyd blinked, "Why, us?"
"Because Monty will listen to you," Over informed them, "He will especially listen to Lulloyd."
Lloyd turned to Lulloyd, only to see the brick-built boy was slightly blushing. He looked down for a long moment, as though grappling with what he had to say.
"I uhm… I know where he is, I mean, really," Lulloyd inhaled, "He's… he's looking for Ronin. He disappeared a bit ago and, well, uhm… I wasn't supposed to tell you guys. He's been ducking out to find him and, it's really eating at him."
"Ronin… hrmm. That complicates things," Over nodded, "If Ronin is gone, then that means someone is using him to keep Monty unbalanced."
Lulloyd went quiet hearing that. He hated saying it, admitting that he knew where Monty was going and lying to them about it. But at the same time, he could feel that Over was right. And with Monty having been gone for so long now, it was getting harder for him to justify to himself not telling them. Even if he didn't want to admit it… he was worried for his friend.
"Hold on, what makes you so sure that someone is doing this just to mess with him?" Lloyd asked.
"Because why else would Ronin be missing and not dead?" Over asked him, "Plenty of men in Monty's world want him and Ronin dead, that much is certain. But one does not disappear another without purpose. If someone has deliberately taken and not killed Ronin, it implies that someone is using him to get to his partner."
"I… I don't," Lulloyd gulped, "I mean, I thought, he said Ronin may just be in hiding…"
"I've seen people do that before," Harumi shook her head, "If someone won't give up, then you take something they care about. It's… a horrible tactic, but it's true."
Lloyd wasn't sure why Harumi and Over looked so calm together. They were standing there, looking at each other so calmly and neatly. It was a contrast to how he'd seen them before. It hadn't been that long since Over had reformed… how was she so comfortable standing next to him now?
"I'll go," Lulloyd affirmed, "I… I don't want Monty to get hurt like that. He… he doesn't deserve that. And, if he's hurting then… then I have to help."
"If he's going, I'll go," Lloyd nodded.
"Good, find him at once," Over commanded them, "Once we are all together, we must begin our plan to solve this crisis. This is no longer us simply trying to stop them," Over darkened his gaze, "This may be our last chance before the end of all our worlds."
The somber note that Over left them on was enough for them to feel the gravitas behind it. Lulloyd gave Lloyd a knowing look, leaving the room alongside Lloyd to prepare and rest up before finding Monty. Once the two were gone, Harumi turned to smile at Over.
"Let's get to work," Harumi nodded. Over gave her a curt nod as the two bent over the planning table, ready to begin staving off the war of the World.
Over stood at the front gate of the Time Tribe, looking across the expanse. It'd been hours since he'd sent the two off on their quest and finished the preliminary steps in the plan he and Harumi had concocted. Muto stood guard as he had now made his priority, looking across the lands to ensure that no Vermillion dared to challenge the people within. Now Over joined that watch, a sentry of darkness against the dull gray overcast of evening.
"It is good to have you back!" Krux' called out. Over didn't bother to look as Krux' climbed up the stairs to make it onto the wall. After hopping over a few spots that had yet to be repaired, the man soon stood beside the dark figure.
"Why are you here?" Over asked.
"I came to make sure you weren't going to go rogue again," Krux' joked. When he saw Over wasn't laughing, he sighed, "What, can't make light of recent events just yet?"
"I think it's a bit too soon for that," Over frowned, "Mage is still healing from those injuries I gave to him in my own regret."
"It's Lloyd," Krux' waved his hand, "I've seen him throw himself in the way of more than one army just to save that girl and the other leaders. He's stronger than you give him credit for."
"So it seems," Over nodded his head. Krux' couldn't help but smile as he saw Over's lips curling up into a grin of their own with him. After a moment, the two men began to chuckle together over the thought of Mage's determination. And soon they shared a small laugh.
"There was one other thing I wanted to ask," Krux' nodded, "I heard from Harumi you attacked her to get her back on track. That sounds like something I'd do."
"Yes," Over's eyes looked to the sky, "What about it?"
"I'm curious… what would you have done if you hurt her?" Krux' asked.
Over didn't respond. Krux' wondered for a moment if he should continue, but then he just let it go. He let the cool air of the evening billow the bits of robe sticking out from his armor, while Over's hair billowed slightly in the wind. The two shared that quiet moment.
"I see," Krux' nodded, "Well then, I'll be going."
Krux' walked his way back and away from the wall, making his way back towards the stairs. Over let him go, remaining so still that one could mistake him for a statue atop the stones. After Krux' had long since faded from his view, there was a sound of mirth from a source only Over could hear.
"What's so funny?" Overlloyd asked the voice in his mind.
"The fact you continue to hide your intentions," The Overlord cackled, "That you would never willingly hurt your subordinates."
"Is that so?" Overlloyd held his hand up, "Are you sure of that?"
"Take it from the one inside your head," The Overlord smirked through their shared lips, "You've grown close to all of them, whether you wish to admit it, or not."
There was no response. There didn't need to be one. The two shared one mind, with two voices to convey it. Just the sound of the Overlord's voice, once more ringing inside of his head, was more than enough for Overlloyd to relax once again. Over looked up towards the sky, allowing for the sensations of the evening sky to wash over him, and to let the Emperor, for the first time in a rather long while, be at peace.
Author's Note:
Another shoutout right now to hwompy on tumblr for their utterly amazing fanart! Their depiction of Monty is up there as almost uncannily close to how I imagine him looking in the story! Please go and support the artist on tumblr!
post/654987333253447680/some-more-ninjago-fanfic-doodles-because-i-have-no
So! Finally, we've brought Over's small saga to a close. Ever since I started the story, I always wanted to have Over's arc move in that direction. It took a rather long while, but I'm rather satisfied with how it came out. The opening scene of the chapter was one inspired by Tokyo Mew Mew of all anime. If you've seen the anime, you'll know what scene in particular!