"My son… is he alright?" Aspheera asked quietly.

Mage looked up towards the Queen of the Serpentine, his expression a neutral frown. Getting back into Serpentine lands and then into the capital of Ouroborus had been a rather small trip. Without having to worry about himself or Clutch to deal with, he'd simply gone to the city of Nagaus and impersonated a snake with his Form ability. It'd taken him a good part of the day, but he now also was able to hit the glowing button Harumi had told him to save the coordinates of both Nagaus and Ouroborus for any future visits. Given that he had lost his dimensional watch along with Over, the one he wore currently belonged to Monty.

"I… don't know," Mage admitted honestly, "I'm really not sure about him right now."

Aspheera nodded her head. She, Mage, and General Arcturus slowly walked their way through the massive garden district that Mage had seen in Ouroborus. The streets were lined with small aqueducts that carried water through the air that sparkled in the sunlight. Around those aqueducts, large patches of greenery, ranging from shrubs to deep jungle-like trees rose up, creating a beautiful series of lined pathways that both shone with life and sparkled with light. The ground under them was made of a deep colored blue tile as well, shades of it mingled in with white and gray that gave the impression of almost walking on stained glass. Mage was still in his Serpentine disguise, an Anacondrai warrior much like Arcturus that she had insisted wouldn't draw attention. Mage saw that Aspheera almost jumped at the chance to get out of her palace.

"What do you mean?" Arcturus asked, "Clarify your words when you speak, child."

"I mean… I mean that Ophiod is using the scroll a lot," Mage informed the two of them, "An awful lot. And lately it's started doing something. He's getting all these weird symbols on him and… well…" Mage gulped, "The last time he used it, he sort of… he sort of hurt Skales."

Arcturus stiffened up, "What do you mean, hurt him?"

"Lloyd says that the scroll feeds on desire, or something like that," Mage nodded, "I guess when he called on its power that hard, it… used his desire for Skales? I mean, they're together, aren't they?" Mage shook his head, "Even I got that."

Aspheera's slithering slowed down slightly. Mage and Arcturus did the same to remain behind her. Mage was thankful that even if he had shifted his form, he wasn't having to actually control a tail and just had to emulate its movement. Aspheera looked down towards the ground for a long while, her breath picking up slightly before she looked up.

"That was why Skales was here, then… why it seemed he had underwent some horrible curse," Aspheera turned around, "Did you know that Skales was here, young Mage?"

"What?" Mage blinked, "He was?! Where is he now?!"

"He is gone now," Arcturus informed him, "Last night, he disappeared. We are not sure where he went, but we are certain Ophiod brought him to us to heal him. We did not know it was because of the scroll, however."

"The scroll… is he truly that devoted to proving his heritage?" Aspheera whispered to herself, "Why… why has he not come to me? Does he know, and not care?"

Arcturus nodded his head, signalling Mage should not speak. Aspheera slithered up slowly until she had reached a small junction that led to other paths through the area. Instead of going further, she turned around and slithered her way towards one of the aqueducts on the side of the path, looking down at it. She stared at her own shuddering reflection in the chilled water, the light of the desert sun above them almost blinding her from it.

"I believe it is time that I tell you something then," Aspheera turned to Mage, "Do I have your trust, Mage, upon both the silence that you will hold with this information, and with what you will do when you learn this knowledge?"

Mage looked deep into Aspheera's eyes. He could sense much in her. Power. Grace. A life that had been lived so very differently from what might have been. Yet he also could sense something in her that he didn't understand. It was tense and primal, urging him to make the promise. Yet he had no need to even think about it.

"You have my word, Queen Aspheera, and you have my sword," Mage shook his head, his sword hidden with Form at the moment, "I made a promise never to hurt Ophiod, and I've kept it. We can add this vow into the promise I already made." Aspheera took his words in. The earnesty of youth was enough to sway her.

"Then I will tell you," Aspheera inhaled, "The scroll that he holds in his hands is the very same that he used to help seal away his father. My magic alone was not enough to bring down my husband when the venom took him. The reason that he took the scroll, the reason that he is so obsessed with it… it is key to his past."

Hearing that fact made Mage feel both a wave of shock and affirmation. He'd guessed the scroll had something to do with it, but hadn't asked any further about it. Aspheera looked back into the water, trying to parse what thoughts came into her mind. When she spoke next, it was with a heavy heart.

"Ophiod has lived his life discriminated from his own kind by his blood. Even how he and Skales met has been deeply entwined with that past," Aspheera gripped her fists, "And I could do nothing for him. The only person he had to alleviate that was his father. Ophiod was loved by his father, yet he was forced to use the scroll alongside me to seal him away."

"But… he's always gone on about being the Prince of the Serpentine," Mage blinked, "He keeps saying that over and over again!"

"Then I imagine that my son is attempting to prove his worth as a Serpentine by learning to wield a power that even I could not," Aspheera shook her head, "That scroll is a terrible thing. I would hate to ever imagine him using it. Yet I know that it is the case. And I wish that I had never needed to use that accursed thing!" Aspheera hissed out, "It is my failing that has led my child down this path. And now he will destroy himself and the one he loves in his quest."

Mage noticed that Arcturus was oddly silent the entire while. The snake held his tongue well, so well that Mage wondered what he wanted to say. There was something about him, a tension in his muscles that Mage hadn't seen before. Yet he didn't want to ask about it. He knew asking would make it worse. So, instead, Mage put his focus on the Queen that looked ready to fall apart on the spot.

"It took me days just to remove whatever it was that was draining his life," Aspheera shook his head, "Ophiod reached so deep into that scroll, I wonder just how much of him he was willing to sacrifice. I imagine the only reason that Skales survived was because his will to fight by Ophiod's side was that strong…" Aspheera inhaled a few times, focusing her will to pull herself together. Within seconds, Mage watched as the mother falling apart over her son was replaced with the stern and collected visage of the regal Queen of the Serpentine.

"Young Mage," Aspheera turned to him, "Now that you know this information, what is your plan with it? What is your plan with my son?"

"That's what I came to you about," Mage nodded to her, "I came to ask for your aid."

Aspheera frowned, but nodded her head for him to go on. Mage inhaled, "The Twins that lured your son away, they've achieved a power that could destroy entire worlds. We are gathering every weapon, everything, every one of us that can fight. We're going to make one final battle. One chance to finally take them down. And in that fight… we intend to defeat Ophiod," Mage shook his head, "But we don't want to hurt him. I came to ask you to join us."

"A battle against these Twins?" Arcturus finally spoke up, "You are a bold one, to ask for the help of one of her status."

"Silence, Arcturus," Aspheera hissed at him, "Your request… it is one that would require me to leave my people behind to partake in a battle that I have until now been privy to none of. Tell me, what good would it do for me to stand on the battlefield, against an enemy that I do not know, on your side of it?"

"Because if you're there, we can finally talk Ophiod out of what he's doing," Mage nodded, "I've seen him. He's… he's not doing well. He's lashing out at us at random, and I think seeing Skales get hurt, it hurt him. I think right now is the only chance we're going to have to snap him out of this. I don't think he honestly wants to hurt anyone. But if you're there, and maybe even Arcturus too, then he might reconsider."

Aspheera went silent for a long while. It was clear from how her eyes narrowed, however, that she was thinking. Mage waited patiently, feeling his heartbeat rise. He'd thought that pitch through. He knew that she wanted to help her son, and that she would want to stop the Twins on some level. But even now, as he looked at her, he felt an uncertainty in her eyes.

"I cannot," Aspheera looked down at Mage, "I must refuse your request."

"But… why?" Mage asked, "Don't you want to…" He rethought his words quickly, "Do you think that wouldn't help him?"

"The opposite, in fact," Aspheera informed him, "If Ophiod were to see me standing against him, whatever he believes his goal to be would shatter. And in that state, it would be all too simple for these Twins to use him to their advantage. Even if he were to find peace in me reaching out to him, my presence on that battlefield would jeopardize my entire race."

"If we win, that won't be an issue," Mage countered.

"If you win," Arcturus growled out, "Have you not failed until now? All these weeks, you have put her Highness under a great burden, yet you have produced not a single result. If they are now powerful enough that you must reach out to us for help, then what chance does your futile plan have of victory?"

"..." Mage looked down. He didn't have an answer to that, not under such a harsh barrage.

"The risks involved are too great," Aspheera shook her head, "And the one that would succeed me is your opponent. I will wish you luck on your endeavors, and hold you to your promise. Yet I cannot join you. My son… I am unable to help you bring him back."

Mage knew that she was being logical. They had failed so much up until now, what hope did they have of bringing them down now? But this was it. There was no going back once they started this plan in full. And that meant that if they failed, that would be it. Aspheera was completely justified in deciding not to help them. Even now, he could imagine Ophiod, with that terrified look in his eyes when he had split Over instead focused on his mother as she fought him to bring him home. He was certain neither of them would want to fight, and any hesitation like that could lead to something horrifying, just like…

Even if there was no scar, Mage could feel the place where he'd been stabbed by Ophiod. He knew what that had done. So much had gone into that moment. So much of their plan, their gambins, their power and all of their hopes. But right now, they had to try again. And he couldn't afford to lose.

"If that's your answer, then I understand," Mage looked up at her, "We'll carry out our plan, then. And… no matter what happens, I promise that I won't allow any harm to come to Ophiod. I know that I can reach, I know I can…. We just have to get our chance."

"Then find it quickly, young Mage," Aspheera ordered him, "Bring him home. I do not trust nor will ever respect those who break their word. We will return to the palace."

"There is perhaps one thing that may interest you," Arcturus spoke up, "I mentioned that Skales disappeared last night. My scouts said that they saw him heading towards Nagaus, or at least one that looked like him. Perhaps you would like to investigate that."

Mage thought for a moment. He'd come here to try to get Aspheera's help. Without that now, he had to think about another option here. If Skales was still here, he might have a chance to try and get to Ophiod. Or at the very least, he could bring back some news that would help the others.

"I'll look for him in Nagaus," Mage affirmed, "I might be able to find Ophiod that way. And if not then… it's at least worth it to try."

Aspheera and Arcturus nodded. They had already affirmed his promise, so no words had to be said. Mage turned away and began to slither off towards the exit to the capital, while Aspheera and Arcturus headed towards the palace. As the three parted ways, the course of what was to come to pass was set further in stone. One way or another, Mage would have to face Ophiod again. And right now, he had to find the best solution to everything that was about to happen.

"So…. that's what we need to do," Harumi nodded her head, "We need to find a way for me to be able to reconstruct the timeline that I came from, without me fading away."

Acronix' sat back slowly in his seat. With the recent arrival of both Skylar and Garmadon in the tribe, he had been able to finally take a rest. However, it seemed that he was now being asked to work in a way that didn't involve fighting. He placed his hands on the sides of his small throne, thinking to himself for a long while.

"What do you mean, exactly?" Acronix' asked them, "Why?"

Over bowed his head, "Our plan is to trap the Twins in a battle with us by removing the world that they are using now. Meaning… we need to restore her timeline."

Acronix' closed his eyes. He was thinking rather hard, given the way that his brow furrowed up and his hands gripped at his throne. His fingers moved to gently grip his arms, crossing them over his chest. And the more that the thought, the more he was starting to understand some of what they were asking him.

"Firstly, I think you do not fully understand what exactly it is that happened," Acronix' looked up, "When Mage and I used our power on you, we essentially froze the timelines inside of you that made up your existence."

"Meaning?" Monty asked as he frowned at the man.

"...I am trying to think of how to explain this," Acronix' waved his hand, "Muto was unwilling to tell us much about it, since in his eyes, our power to potentially manipulate timelines themselves was one he did not want us touching. Even now, all I have done is simply gripped them in my fist, not actually changed them."

"You're saying that my life is a result of hundreds of thousands of timelines that all came together to make me," Harumi nodded, "I'm familiar with the concept of alternative timelines. Lloyd is an alternate timeline of my own world, just earlier in it."

"That makes this a bit simpler then," Acronix' leaned forward, "The timeline that you are apart of was severed at some point along its length. However, all those timelines that converge together to make you… it is like a sheath around a sword," Acronix' paused, "Even if the sword is gone, the sheath will tell you what it looks like, what sort of blade it's meant for. In effect, Mage and I used our power to freeze in place all of those timelines that make you up. However, without the main timeline in place… eventually our grip will slip."

"Which is why we need to know," Over stepped forward, "Is the timeline that created Harumi still intact?"

"Yes, to an extent," Acronix' nodded, "Think of it as fraying a rope. At a certain point, the ends split. The Twins have forced that split, and now have inserted themselves against it. The strength of their machine must be what is keeping the rope from fully fraying. There must be a key point before Harumi's birth that they altered."

"So, we need to go back in time and undo that," Monty nodded, "Simple enough."

"But it isn't," Acronix' frowned, "Firstly, I would need to know the exact moment of which the timeline diverged, so as to know where to even begin to send someone there to undo it in the first place. Secondly, doing that would jeopardize the hold that I have on her existence. If the timeline wasn't restored, I couldn't bring them back."

"Then you just need to find the point in time where it happened," Monty frowned, "Isn't that simple enough?"

"No… I understand what he is saying," Over turned his head, "Think of it like dropping a stone in a river. It will be difficult to retrieve her. The only way in which she would be coming back to us, is if whatever caused the river to become so turbulent in the first place was solved."

"So… you're saying that if I wasn't able to fix it…" Harumi looked up. Acronix' shook his head.

"If we were to send you back, and even I am not sure how to do that now, then if you failed you would be stuck there until the moment that your existence finally unraveled," Acronix' sighed, "And that is assuming that I can figure out how to send you back in time in another world in the first place."

Harumi thought about that for a moment. To say that there wasn't an innate sense of apprehension about everything that she was saying would be denying how her breath was trembling slightly. Over and Monty could both see it, and she wasn't trying to hide it. She was talking not about her own life, but her own existence. Right now, she was the only remnant of the world that she had come from. If she was sent back to a point after whatever event had been altered, she would have no chance to return and would…

"There's another thing we need to talk about," Monty frowned, "Right now, let's put that aside. We need to gather an army to face the Twins in battle."

Acronix' looked down at them with a confused look as they said that, "...What? You need an army, from us?"

"At present, we have no way of knowing what numbers the Twins have fully at their disposal," Over inhaled, "It would be for the best that we have as much aid from all the worlds that we have touched at once. We dare not venture into others as the Twins have so foolheartedly done."

"I assume that you are speaking of this akin to what you constructed at the Summit, then," Acronix' frowned, "As though… you wish for a strike force?"

"No, we need an army," Monty raised his head, "We need as many people there as we can get."

"That is impossible," Krux' called out as he entered the room from behind the throne. Over noted that he seemed to enter in on conversations such as this one quite often.

"What?" Monty scoffed, "How?"

"Because the World is under siege, ghost," Krux' frowned, "While you may not have to fear the sword anymore, we still have to protect our homes. You can't ask us to abandon them for a fight that we know nothing about."

"This is your fight," Over frowned, "It is simply taking it to the heart of enemy territory, rather than just defending the walls."

"For once, my brother and I agree on something," Acronix' shook his head, making Krux' smile slyly, "There is no way that we can do that. You would need each and every tribe to for what force you are describing. Each of us are doing all we can to hold the wall as is!"

Harumi felt a guilt well up in her throat at that. She knew they were asking the most selfish thing that they could. They were asking them to abandon their home, to go fight in some place they had never even seen before. How could they ask them to do that?

"...And what if the Vermillion were to disappear?" Over asked.

Krux' and Acronix' both looked at each other in confusion. Harumi and Monty turned to look at him with a similar expression. Over raised one hand to his chin, thinking deep in thought as he put together a small plan in his mind.

"Let us say that we could convince the Twins that attacking your world is no longer worth it," Over raised his head, "We have a man on the inside, so to speak. One that the Twins trust as they do a slave. We intend to have him already find the information we need to disable that massive machine that you saw attacking us…" Over nodded, "Assume that we were able to use him to convince the Twins to stop their attack. What then?"

The two alternate Twins took their time to ponder on that. Monty gave Over a long, fuming look, once more expressing his innate distaste for the idea of having to rely upon Morro so much. Over didn't dignify it with a look, instead keeping it hard trained on the two men who held the lives of their village in their hands.

"If… that was the case, you could have them," Krux' nodded, "We thought these Raiders were gone before. Now they're back and worse. If you can find a way to get rid of them, we will lend our aid to your cause."

"However, that is only us," Acronix' continued, "You would need to have Mage discuss this with the other leaders. They will listen to their Dragon Lord, not to his allies."

"That can be arranged," Over nodded his head, "I will ensure that we will have that completed for you."

The two Twins nodded, and eventually Acronix' cleared his throat, "You have given us much to think about. Right now, I believe that it is best if you leave us. But… we have seen the horrors of this machine first hand. Know that we aid you, even if now our hands cannot be moved."

"What he means is," Krux' smirked, "We'll help out if you can do what we asked you to."

"As we said, that can be arranged," Over informed them, "We will take our leave now."

Over and Harumi walked side by side out of the room, leaving Monty to stare at both groups before grunting and following after them. The three left the palace, instead walking out towards the paths that led down from the palace to the rest of the Tribe.

"I'm going to train," Monty sighed.

Before either of the two could say anything, Monty had left. It wasn't as though either of them were that surprised, given that he had such bad blood with Morro. But the two of them knew that Morro's aid in this battle would be key to its outcome.

"Leave him be," Over informed her, "His emotions are his strength, and his vice. We must return to plan. We will await Mage's return, and plan for whatever may come to pass."

"You're right… we need to start thinking practically about this battle," Harumi nodded, "We need to figure out exactly how many we can expect to have and… everything else."

"Then it is agreed," Over nodded, "Our allies have given their word. Now, it is time for us to make sure we uphold ours."

In the lush hills of the northern reaches of the World, bordering on the mountains that made up the Border of the World, a beautiful city of pure white stood out amongst its landscapes. The area around it was flat, sloping only slightly in a few places, and was all covered in a lush thick green pelt of grass. The wind blew across them, waving the strands across the ground in a mesmerizing dance. It was a field that was perfect for those born of Speed to practice their abilities. It was the territory of the Speed Tribe, and within those buildings lay its people.

The buildings of the Speed Tribe looked to almost form a beautiful marble castle. Indeed, the buildings were built into the small hills themselves, rolling and rising alongside the land. The entire city had gained its white color from the rocks harvested from under the ground, normally purple yet turning white when exposed to air. Each building rose up like pillars into the air, and a small wall of white stretched to connect them, forming a roughly ovular shape around it. Paths of the white stone were built weaving inside of those walls, framing themselves that much more prominently against the grass. The entire expanse, both the city walls and the area around them, were wide open, leaving those who had lived their lives within speed itself free to explore their lands to their hearts' content.

Even now, though, those fields were stained with snakes. Camps of Vermillion had been set up all around them, effectively trapping the tribe in their own homes. No matter from what vantage along the plains, one could always see the Speed Tribe walls, the beauty of its land. Even now, banners were raised along its walls, depicting their dragon's visage on it framed in colors of white and silver. Those who defended the walls, looking across and out at those camps on the distance, stood diligently and powerfully for the Speed Tribe was the birth of chivalry, of honor and, most importantly, of knighthood itself.

Among those who defended its walls stood Alacr, who held up his sword with bravery and integrity. His white robes flapped behind him, almost making him appear apart of the tribe itself. Indeed, the color white and silver had become their own markers. He had spent days now defending his home. While the terrain offered them no advantage, it robbed the Vermillion of any of their own. Even if they were surrounded, none could approach without them knowing, and none could do anything without facing each and every member of that proud tribe.

"Alacr!" Griffin Turner called out, the leader of his tribe, to the knight that stood guard on the wall, "Has there been any change since last time?"

"Nothing that warrants our investigation," Alacr smirked, "We managed to take out several camps of those Raiders thanks to the help of Lloyd!"

Griffin turned to see Lloyd as he ascended the stairs to the top of the wall. The two men of the Speed Tribe both turned to look at him, praise in their eyes as they did.

"I just came to make sure you were okay," Lloyd rubbed his neck, "I didn't mean to run into you guys immediately."

"Well," Alacr nodded his head, "You managed to take out several snakes on your way back. We are grateful for your help," He nodded his head, "I did not expect to see you again so soon either."

Lloyd blushed. In truth, he'd told the others that he had to check on the other Tribes while they went and talked to the Prime Twins. He had been gone from the front too long. When he'd heard from a guard after they arrived that the Speed Tribe was reportedly under attack, he'd rushed over as quickly as he could.

"I need to be getting back now," Lloyd nodded, "But I'm glad that I helped!"

"We were able to get a supply convoy out to those who weren't able to flee when the Water Tribe pushed off shore," Griffin affirmed, "That's all that matters."

Lloyd gave them another smile, "Just knowing I was able to help means a lot. Hopefully you won't need to call out your dragon."

"That is the hope," Alacr sighed, "But hope will often fail those who cannot take action. We will monitor the other Tribes as best we can. For now, we simply thank you for your help."

Lloyd gave them all another long smile, then he stood up and gave them one more nod before walking down the stairs. He waited until he was out of sight, then he activated his wristband and soon he fell through a portal in the floor. A brief trip through the void later, and he was standing inside of his room in the Time Tribe. He'd retooled the coordinate for himself to be this room.

As Lloyd stretched his back out, he felt the weight of the Mask of Hatred under his robes again. It'd been all he could do to get it off before he'd run into Alacr by mistake. If the others saw him using something like that, it could mean bad news. He'd started leaving this room after one of the guards had seen him leaving the Time Tribe wall and almost mistook him for Vermillion. The mask, though, was giving him what he needed. And that was enough for him to feel justified in using it.

But he had to put that thought out of his mind. For right now, he decided to go and seek out the others. He left the room, and in turn made his way into the main throne room. There, he saw the two Prime Twins, talking away with each other.

"Ah, Lloyd, so you've returned," Krux' nodded, "I saw Monty going towards the training area. Perhaps you may find him there."

"Thanks," Lloyd nodded, "I will." The two watched Lloyd go, but seemed more focused on their own conversation.

A brief trip up the stairs and Lloyd found himself standing at the entrance to the training grounds. There were a few other sparse men training, but he could indeed see Monty on the other side of the grounds. For a moment, he decided to observe rather than immediately approaching him.

As Lloyd watched, Monty held the SoS in both hands, his head bowed and focusing deeply on the thing. He wasn't sure what the ghost was doing, but Monty seemed to be focusing intently. He remained deep in thought like that, and in turn he slowly growled out.

"I can feel it now," Monty sighed, "The power. Inside the sword. But it's not coming out still," Monty hissed, "I thought we figured this out!"

Perhaps, you should try using the words that my previous masters used when they activated Sanctuary, The sword recommended, Could it really hurt?

"Whatever makes this thing start glowing, sure," Monty sighed, "Like what?"

Monty focused, hearing the words in his head from the sword and nodding his head. Slowly, he raised his hand up, then brought the SoS out and held it in his left hand. He focused, then he gave one more huff at how ridiculous he really looked before he inhaled.

"Born in a world of strife!" Monty slashed the sword across his chest, "Against the odds!" He ducked down and slashed again, "We chose to FIGHT!" He slashed the sword up, "Blossom Dance!" Monty leapt into the air and did a massive downward slash with the blade, driving it into the rock in front of him.

"...Nothing," Monty sighed, "Is that all?"

Hrmm… there is another that you can try, The SoS nodded. Monty listened carefully, then he pointed one hand in front of him and raised the SoS in the other to his side.

"Allow me to demonstrate!" Monty spat, "Here is something to believe in!" Monty slashed the SoS down, wind rocketing out from it like a blade extending out to slice apart his foes. He took a moment to focus on the sight, then he groaned out and scrubbed his head.

"You're making me look stupid here," Monty huffed out, "Come on!"

One more then! The sword insisted, What do we have to lose? Monty didn't say anything again, his patience at its limit, but by now he had tried almost everything and was just doing it to sate his own curiosity.

"Come at me as if you mean to kill!" Monty spat out, "Anything less is an insult!" He held the sword forward, digging his mind deep into the well of power that he could sense inside it. Nothing happened.

With the sword in his hand, Monty gave a loud roar of anger, then planted the SoS in the ground and stormed away from it. His hand came up to violently scrub into his hair, and then he turned and drew Ivory out of its holster. He pointed it at the ground, then fired several times to churn up the dirt. The other men in the training grounds all fled at the loud bangs as Monty snarled.

"I don't get it! I mastered my emotions, I went through a whole self of discovery whatever!" Monty roared, "Why isn't this power coming out?!"

I'm wondering that myself, Monty! I can feel that you've gotten the power that you need, but it isn't working… The sword paused in thought, Perhaps we are both missing something. That must be it!

Monty slumped down onto the ground, picking up dirt and chucking it over at the sword, "It isn't fair! How come everyone gets to find all their powers without any issue, then I'm right here unable to make a sword that I all but bonded to work?!"

Lloyd had seen enough. Not wanting to get pumped full of bullets when he tried to sneak up on Monty, Lloyd instead snuck his way around to the other side of the training grounds and leapt down. When Monty looked up, Lloyd had already straightened up and gently raised his hand.

"Maybe it has something to do with the fact you're not using your Chi?" Lloyd offered.

Monty, deciding not to question any of that, stood up slowly. He walked over and leaned up against the hilt of the planted SoS, looking at Lloyd rather blatantly and then letting out a small groan as he did.

"What?" Monty looked up, "What does that have to do with all of this?"

"Well…" Lloyd looked down at the sword, "You've clearly been training for something, right?"

Monty scoffed a bit. For a moment, he considered what he should say about this. Lulloyd knew all of it, and he was sure by now that he'd given enough away through his own ramblings about everything else. He looked up at Lloyd and slowly hung his head, a look of angered anguish crossing his features.

"Yeah… I'm training to unlock whatever power is hidden in this thing," Monty smacked the blade, "We've come to an understanding with each other, but for some reason I can feel the power inside but can't use it. And it's making me want to shoot just about everything I can see."

Lloyd blinked in shock at Monty's explanation, but he decided it wasn't quite worth asking further about. Instead, he looked Monty up and down, then smiled at him and pointed at the sword again.

"Does it have anything to do with your Chi?" Lloyd asked, "The sword's power?"

"...I mean, I had to put my Chi into it in order to get it to talk to me," Monty sighed, "You're taking this really well. I thought you'd be asking way more questions."

"I knew something was going on with the sword for awhile and… trust me, talking swords is the least weird thing I've seen this past year," Lloyd paused in thought, "Maybe, what's going on is you're not using your Chi when you try to draw out its power?"

"Ugh… of course you'd say that," Monty stood up in full, "You know very well I don't want to have anything to do with my Chi, right?"

"But you want the power inside the sword, right?" Lloyd asked him. Monty scoffed.

"Yeah, but I don't like summoning it," Monty groaned out, "I don't mess with it, and you know why. If anyone saw it, they'd know," Monty spat, "I refuse to use it unless I absolutely have to."

"And maybe this is one of those times that you 'absolutely have to' then," Lloyd offered, "Maybe you don't have to actually, you know, make it appear? But, just go and use it a bit, you know? Like, can't you just partially use it?"

Monty turned his eyes down. Out of all of them there, he never used the power that his universe bestowed on him. Lulloyd master built whenever he could, Harumi had Rhotatae baked into her fighting style and so on. He, though, didn't ever want anything to do with him. With the way that Lloyd put it, it sounded like he was being punished for that fact.

"I don't want to," Monty growled, "Not now, not ever. I hated just having to call on it in order to make the sword respond to me."

"Are you sure?" Lloyd asked, "You know that using a power doesn't mean that it's all that you are, right? Just because you can do something, doesn't mean that's you're wrong for doing it," Lloyd looked down at his hand, "Just because I can use my power, doesn't make me the Green Ninja. You chose who you want to be, Monty."

Monty scoffed. For a long while, he wanted to outright dismiss Lloyd. And maybe if he had talked to him this way any other time, he would have. But in those moments, he recalled what Ronin had said to him. Those reminders that no matter who he was before, right now he was Monty, and that couldn't be taken from him. And, slowly, Monty looked up at Lloyd, a small glint in his eyes as he did.

"Fine," Monty yanked the sword up from the ground, holding it in his hand and hefting the blade back and forth before he held it up towards Lloyd, "I'll try it. Once. And if it doesn't work, I get to hit you with it."

"Wait, what?" Lloyd asked. But before he could clarify, Monty focused.

Slowly, around Monty's body, a golden glow began to hum around him. It looked akin to the energy Lloyd had seen before the other ninja from Monty's world summoned their animals, as if the energy was building up for a release. Monty grimaced as the glow overtook him, framing him in that golden hue and leaving his hand to nervously grip the hilt of the sword.

Just before it looked as though the power was about to escape Monty's body, the energy suddenly collapsed and slithered down his body, surrounding the SoS and causing the gem on the bottom to begin to glow brightly. As it did, Monty focused harder, focusing on the sensation that it brought him. He opened his eyes, looking at the blade as he did and feeling something… different.

Master… I can feel it, The sword informed him, a note of hope in its tone, There's something different. I can sense the power flowing between us…

"Yeah… I can too," Monty let go of the sword with both hands, holding it up in his right. Slowly, the glow that surrounded it faded away, and in turn the gem seemed to absorb it. As he did, Monty lifted the sword up in front of him, focusing on it. Deep inside, he could feel that crystalline wall of power, as though a geode ready to be broken. But this time, he knew more than that. He could sense how vast and deep the power truly was. And for once, he felt as though he could touch it, hold it. Not break it… but he was closer to it.

You are unlike any other Master that I have had before now, The sword continued, You require much more effort to truly wield me. But… Master. The power inside me, it grows stronger with your Chi. If the two of us are able to fully drive it out, you may be the strongest of all of my Masters yet.

"Well?" Lloyd asked. Monty raised his head, letting those words echo inside of his head. As they truly resonated, he looked over at Lloyd and gave him a small shrug.

"It's working," Monty sighed, "But I'll have to figure out how to do it without showing anyone I'm using my Chi. I'm not having anyone ask more about it."

Lloyd let out a small sigh at those words, but he knew that Monty wasn't letting on what he'd just experienced. After another moment, Lloyd turned around and began to walk away from the training grounds.

"Just keep trying, you'll get it," Lloyd nodded, "It took me a long time to master Spinjitzu and my elemental powers. It takes way more than just wanting it to happen."

"Mhm…" Monty nodded. He waited until Lloyd was about to leave the training grounds, then he called out, "Since you seem so eager to help me, maybe I can help you."

"What do you mean?" Lloyd turned around. After a moment, Monty gestured to the sky above them.

"Make sure you don't alert the guards again when you leave," Monty muttered out, "You'll draw attention to yourself."

Upon hearing that, Lloyd felt his blood go cold. In turn, he felt the weight of the Mask of Hatred, still sealed so neatly inside of his robes, burn against his body. Lloyd wanted to respond to that, but instead he felt his lips sealing shut at the very thought. Instead, he slowly drifted out of the area, leaving Monty alone.

Why did you say that? The sword asked, Was that not cruel?

"I don't know what he's doing going out at night, but he's not as stealthy as he thinks he is," Monty frowned, "And right now, we can't afford to be careless."

Do you intend to do something about it? The sword followed up.

Monty shrugged, "Who knows? Now then. Let's get back to it."

The sword decided there was no more use in speaking. Instead, Monty focused his Chi once more, and in turn he began to flare up gold again. Soon, the training area was alight with the color of gold both around the ghost and the sword's blade, a glow of duality that carried them both on their way into the night.

"You want to do what?" Harumi asked in shock.

"It is as I have said, now tell me," Over frowned, "Is it possible?"

"I… don't know how much is even left there anymore," Harumi blinked, "But, even if there was, is that even possible? It took you a long time to do that in your world, right?"

"Back then, I was much weaker," Over informed her, "I will not be able to achieve all that I wish to have, but it will be enough," He turned to look her dead in the eyes, "We need an army, do we not?"

"Yes, but… but the logistics of doing that, isn't that…?" Harumi bit her lip, "Are you sure that you can do that?"

"I am," Over informed her, "Factoring in the support of them, the Shark Army, the Elemental Forces, and the remnants of allies across the other worlds, we will have just enough to stand a fighting chance against the Vermillion hordes."

Harumi looked down towards the map that the two had. The location they had chosen together for the site of their battle was there, alongside a rough sketch of all of the forces that the two of them had counted. With what Over was suggesting, they would have an advantage that not even the Vermillion did. But even still, that left her with a question in her head.

"And… what happens if it isn't enough?" Harumi whispered.

"That is something we cannot help," Over informed her, "I do not have much hope in Mage's quest to achieve the Viper's aid. We are limited by what we have already encountered. There is no hope in us obtaining anything from Prime's world, and Oni's origin is a mystery that I do not think we can solve. Our only hope is to draw from the wells that we already have."

"And… and our worlds are gone…" Harumi whispered. Before she could feel anything more, however, Over put his hand on her shoulder.

"No. My world is gone. Yours is simply yet to be saved," Over bowed his head, "We will see this through to the end, Harumi. My promise to you is as simple as that. I will not allow for another tragedy to befall us. We will save your world together, or not at all."

"Over…" Harumi whispered. Over looked back to the map.

"This is what our minds must focus on now, Harumi," Over informed her, "This is our goal. We will not stop until we have reached it, or we have exhausted every hope we have of continuing to do so. We are all training for a day that is soon to come. Now, we will work together to ensure that when it does arrive, we are ready for it."

Harumi found herself with a newfound pang of readiness. She gave one more nod of her head, then she looked back down. The two of them could do them. All of them could do this. Soon, they would leave the message for Morro to go ahead with their plan. For better or for worse, they were committing themselves to Garmadon's plan to save all of the worlds they knew.

Author's Note:

If anyone gets all three of those references Monty made, you are into video games just as deep as I am.

Another fanart feature from hwompy! This time with the cast as the idols from Zombieland Saga! Again, a huge thanks to the artist, and please check out their work!

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