Chapter 4:
Lloyd was training Lilly in the training room,
"Lloyd. Went will I be able to use my powers like the others?" Lilly asked,
"I don't know. 1 day." Lloyd replied,
"Wanna see your boyfriend jump 1000 million miles in the air?" Lilly asked with a mischievous sparkle in her eyes,
"We need to train, not see the result of your pranks." Lloyd replied, "But I would like to see it later." He added,
"Hey!" Kai scolded from the doorway. The siblings couldn't help but to laugh a bit, "You're still in trouble don't forget." Kai reminded,
"Yeah, yeah. When ain't I in trouble?" Lilly replied, looping her hand around,
"Now back to training. We know you can control you powers when you're happy, you need to learn how to control them in other emotions." Lloyd explained,
"Lloyd, why did my powers only start to show now?" Lilly asked,
"I don't know. I only know so much. Uncle never wrote about this in his journals so I'm really guessing here on how to train you but whatever I'm doing, I think is working so, yeah." Lloyd explained and Lilly giggled.
Later that afternoon, Lilly went with Misako and Wu for a walk around the park,
"It's so good to be out of that temple." Lilly exclaimed,
"I thought you could use it." Misako replied,
"Mum, why hasn't that Harumi chick attacked yet?" Lilly asked,
"I don't know, but I'd enjoy it while it lasts if I were you." Misako replied,
"Mum, what was dad like?" Lilly asked,
"Your father was a brilliant man. He fought off the evil for so many years longer than others expected just so he could spend time with the ones he loved most until it fully took him, but he was never gone, though the evil was strong, it couldn't block out his heart." Misako explained,
"I wish I could meet him." Lilly stated,
"I wish you could meet him too." Misako agreed,
"Mum, if dad was still here, would he be the same as he was when he got bitten." Lilly asked,
"Oh no. When Lloyd defected your father, every ounce of evil was gone and he was the man he was." Misako explained,
"Then he became the others' sensei before he sacrificed himself to save Ninjago." Lilly finished,
"I see Lloyd has filled you in,
"More or less. Did you want a girl or a boy?" Lilly asked,
"I didn't care, as long as it, will in this case, THEY were healthy." Misako answered with Lilly giving a giggle,
"What about dad?" Lilly asked,
"He didn't care either, nor did your uncle Wu." Misako answered. Lilly looked at Wu who Misako held his hand so he wouldn't run away,
"Is it weird having Lloyd an adult when he should be a kid and uncle Wu a baby when he should be an old man?" Lilly asked,
"It took some getting use to I will admit but at the end of the day, they're the same person, just look different." Misako explained as Wu tried to chase after a butterfly, "Plus your uncle always had a young soul." Misako added as the 2 girls giggled. Wu suddenly stood still as he held Misako's hand with both of his tiny little hands,
"What is it uncle?" Lilly asked,
"Shadows." Wu stated,
"Shadows? What about the shadows?" Misako asked,
"Lilly." Wu stated,
"Me?" Lilly asked and Wu nodded. Lilly looked at the shadows that the trees caused, "Mum, why are the shadows creeping towards us?" Lilly asked,
"I don't know." Misako replied, pulling both children towards her. The shadows then opened up and by standers either filmed on their Borg phones or ran away, "Mum. Uncle. What's happening? I swear this isn't me." Lilly asked. The shadows then circled the 3 before snapping shut like a mouth, but, Lilly and Wu were gone,
"Lilly? Wu?" Misako asked, franticly looking around.
Lilly landed on the ground with a thud,
"Ow." Lilly complained as she sat up to see Wu, "Uncle!" Lilly called, as she made sure he was ok, "You ok uncle?" Lilly asked and Wu nodded, "Where are we?" Lilly asked,
"Shadows." Wu replied,
"We're IN the SHADOWS?" Lilly questioned and Wu nodded, "COME ON!" Lilly blurted out, "What are we going to do?" Lilly asked and Wu grabbed her hand,
"Leave?" Wu stated,
"We can just leave?" Lilly asked and Wu shook his head, "COME ON! I don't know what I'm doing. I don't understand what you're saying." Lilly panicked. Wu placed his tiny hands on Lilly,
"Calm." Wu stated,
"But." Lilly replied,
"Calm!" Wu repeated, then Lilly remembered,
"We're in the shadow." Lilly murmured and Wu nodded, "So do I control everything?" Lilly asked, Wu shook his head, "So why do I need to stay calm?" she asked,
"Think." Wu stated,
"I need to stay calm so I can think straight?" Lilly guessed and Wu nodded, "You are the smartest baby I've known." She stated. Wu nodded and ran off, "Uncle!" Lilly called, chasing after him. Lilly caught up to Wu when he stood still, "Wow. For a baby, your fast." Lilly panted as she saw what Wu was staring at. Right in front of them was a glossed floor and at the end was a doorway covered in some sort of powder, "So now what?" Lilly asked Wu when smoke started to form on the other side of the floor. As the smoke faded, it revelled figure in a white button up shirt with ruffles at the front, black pants, polished leather shoes and had black slick back hair and black eyes and held a wooden cane with a big ruby at the top, "Dracula?" Lilly asked,
"No. You are you and the baby?" he asked,
"Tell me who you are 1st." Lilly demanded,
"One of those people huh? I am Aaronson, keeper of the shadows and ruler of the darkness. Now who are you?" Aaronson asked,
"I'm Lilly and this is my uncle Wu." Lilly replied,
"Wu? As in Wu Garmadon?" Aaronson asked,
"Yeah. How'd you know that?" Lilly asked,
"I know many things. What I don't know is why have you come here?" Aaronson asked,
"I didn't choose to come here or bring uncle. We were just walking in the park with my mum and next thing I know, the shadows practically swallowed us and now we're here. How do we get back?" Lilly asked,
"There is only 1 way back and that's to complete the course." Aaronson explained when another lot of smoke started to form. When it cleared, a woman with wavy black hair the reached her hips, black eyes and wore a fitted black dress with a high neck neckline and reached the floor with a ruby necklace and had black eye shadow, black eyeliner in a cat eye, mascara, contour and black lipstick. She looked up at Aaronson,
"Dad. Do they really have to? I mean like, she's what 10? And he's a baby. There's no way they could complete it. Can't they just go?" she asked,
"No. That's not how it works." Aaronson replied,
"But." She stated,
"Enough!" Aaronson firmly stated,
"Who's that?" Lilly asked,
"My daughter Arianna. She's training to one day take my place." Aaronson explained,
"Dad. She did say she didn't choose to come here." Arianna stated,
"Nonsense. The shadows don't just bring anyone here." Aaronson replied,
"Lilly true." Wu stated,
"How is Wu a baby?" Aaronson asked,
"I'll answer if you just let us leave." Lilly replied,
"Even if I wanted to I can't. That's not how it works here. The best I can do is bringing the baby over. The course must be completed for the key to unlock." Aaronson explained. Lilly looked at Wu then back at Aaronson,
"Do we have a deal?" Lilly asked,
"That and more." Aaronson agreed,
"What's more and why more?" Lilly asked,
"Wu is a good friend of mine. More is I'll give you more info about the course than others. Sound good?" Aaronson asked,
"Sounds good." Lilly agreed. Aaronson snapped his fingers and Wu disappeared and reappeared next to Aaronson and Arianna in a puff of smoke,
"Arianna. Explain." Aaronson instructed,
"Under this floor will arise obstacles you must face and defect. Fail you will be trapped as a shadow forever. Succeed and you gain freedom." Arianna explained,
"What will happen uncle if I fail?" Lilly asked, Arianna looked at Aaronson,
"Unfortunately that is unknown." Aaronson replied,
"Each obstacle is unique. Some are fitted to you and others are handed to all who attempt this challenge. Now please step upon the golden ring." Arianna instructed as a golden ring glowed on Lilly's end of the floor. Lilly stepped on it and glowed gold and when the gold faded, Lilly's clothes were changed to her GI and katana in her hand,
"The outfit you have been changed into is what you fight in best. The weapon you have been given is what you fight with best." Aaronson explained,
"But I don't know how to fight or use a katana." Lilly explained,
"Don't worry. Not all the obstacles involve fighting. Some are physical and others are mental. Plus if you were given a katana, you fight best with it so you should pick it up." Arianna explained, happy that she could help the 10-year-old, even if it was just with information. Lilly brought up every memory of every time she saw someone using a katana,
"Are you ready to proceed?" Aaronson asked. Lilly closed her eyes as she took a deep breath, flipped her mask on and looked straight ahead,
"Ready." Lilly replied,
"Please move onto the purple ring." Arianna instructed as a purple ring appeared. Lilly walked into it,
"Calm!" Wu reminded.
Lilly watched as the golden ring faded and the room filled with water,
"Don't worry. As long as you stay in the ring, you won't get affected." Arianna informed. When the room was filled up to Lilly's waist, with the inside of the ring unaffected, 3 objects appeared in front of Lilly, a spoon, a large mug and a bucket,
"You must rid all the water in the room." Aaronson instructed and 4 holes opened on each wall of the room. Lilly looked at the objects when she noticed something move in front of her,
"Am I allowed to know what that is?" Lilly asked,
"A hammer head shark." Arianna answered,
"A shark?" Lilly asked, scared,
"It's only 1 and as said before, if you are in the ring, you can't be affected. You may return to the ring and have it protect you but the ring can't move." Arianna explained. Lilly looked at the objects before her when she noticed something else, a mark on the floor. Once Lilly figured out what it was, Lilly knew what to do. Lilly waited for the shark to be at the other end of the room before diving into the water. The shark instantly turned and headed towards Lilly but Lilly reached where she was heading 1st and yanked the thing out of the floor and swam back towards the ring, getting in a nanosecond before the shark could bite her foot off. The water soon began to empty and when it was, shark disappeared into the shadows and it was revealed the Lilly had a plug in her hand,
"Well done Lilly! You're already further than most!" Arianna cheered,
"Really?" Lilly asked,
"Yes but that's just the beginning. As it does in other things, the further you get, the harder it gets. Please proceed to the green ring." Aaronson instructed and a green ring appeared. Lilly walked into it as the purple ring disappeared and 5 figures formed in front of her before revelling that they were all Misako with a number from 1 to 5 at their feet,
"One of these figures is the real Misako." Aaronson explained,
"Well not THE real Misako." Arianna butted in,
"It's your job to find which one it is but you cannot leave the ring." Aaronson finished. Lilly looked at the Misakos. They all looked the same,
"Can I ask questions?" Lilly asked Aaronson and Arianna,
"You can." Arianna answered,
"Who are you married to?" Lilly asked the Misakos,
"Lord Garmadon." Some of the Misakos answered,
"Garmadon." Others Misakos replied,
"Eliminate Misakos 2 and 5." Lilly stated and they disappeared in a puff of smoke, "2 gone, 3 to go." Lilly murmured. She was about to ask something but got a better idea what to ask, "Who's your favourite, me or Liam?" Lilly asked,
"I love you both the same." 2 of the Misakos replied,
"Who's Liam?" the other Misako asked,
"4 is the real one." Lilly stated and Misakos 1 and 3 disappeared in a puff of smoke,
"You are clever." Arianna exclaimed.
Lilly went through the rings, passing each one until she was in the black, purple and green ring,
"At last you are at the final ring. Only 0.1% of people who did this challenge have gotten to this point and this is where hey failed. Prepare yourself for the ultimate battle. Physically." Arianna explained. Lilly raised her katana with both hands gripping it, she had been getting good with it, as a figure began to form until it was…Lilly with a white patch across her cheek and a black eye. The 2nd Lilly had tears in her eyes,
"You're pathetic. Weak. Worthless! You're nothing." The 2nd Lilly stated,
"Prank 105." Lilly whispered,
"Why do you even stick around for? Huh? Lloyd's not going to miss you so why stay?" the 2nd Lilly asked. Figures started to form the boys at Darkley's as a little Lloyd walked up to Lilly,
"I don't need you! You're a waste of time! Why do I bother with you?" Lloyd asked before turning around and walking away. The boys laughed as the 2nd Lilly repeated her questions over and over until Lilly remembered,
'Breathe. We all make mistakes. It's what makes us human. Now just breathe. Ignore everything that's around you.' Lloyd's voice echoed on her head. Lilly stood at straight,
'Calm!' Wu's voice echoed in her head,
"Why do you bother?" the 2nd Lilly asked,
"Because I'm strong." Lilly replied as she slashed her katana at the 2nd Lilly. The other boys disappeared in a puff of smoke. Lilly looked ahead and saw Aaronson, Arianna and Wu standing off the floor,
"Step forward." Aaronson stated as Lilly stepped off the floor,
"You are the 1st in history to finish the course. Ever." Arianna stated,
"Really?" Lilly asked,
"Yes. For that, you have earned your freedom." Aaronson explained as a golden key appeared in his hand and handed it to Lilly,
"Thank you." Lilly stated as she took the key, "And my end of the deal. Uncle hand some messy business with the time twins and the reversal blade." Lilly explained,
"Of course." Aaronson replied. Lilly grabbed Wu's hand and turned towards the door when,
"Wait." Arianna stated, "There's an effect of walking through the door." She started,
"What effect?" Lilly asked. Arianna explained the effect and Lilly couldn't believe it,
"Unfortunately there's no way to remove it." Aaronson explained,
"Oh. Well, at least we'll be home, right Uncle?" Lilly asked and Wu nodded,
"Here." Arianna stated as a copy of her necklace appeared in her hand, "If you want to talk, glide your hand over it and you'll be able to talk to me. Only if you want to of course." Arianna explained,
"I would like that. Thank you." Lilly replied as she took the necklace,
"Time." Wu stated,
"Yeah uncle. I think it's time. Talk to you soon and thanks." Lilly stated,
"Safe travels." Aaronson replied,
"Talk soon I hope." Arianna added as Wu and Lilly walked through the doorway and unlocked the door.
At the temple, Misako was panicking,
"I can't believe this happened. What if they don't come back?" Misako rambled,
"Mum. They'll be back I swear." Lloyd stated as he tried to calm his mother, even if he was panicking on the inside. Soon a portal appeared and Misako couldn't believe who walked out. A young man in dark blue kimono, short blond hair and green eyes,
"Wu?" Misako asked,
"Indeed Misako." Wu replied. Misako ran up to him and hugged him,
"Where's Lilly?" Misako asked,
"She's a bit shy about her new look." Wu explained, "Come on Lilly. You can't stay in there forever." He called,
"No! I regret this!" Lilly called out,
"It's not bad." Wu replied. Soon someone was walking out and no one could believe their eyes,
"Lilly?" Lloyd asked.