Zane looked at Ember.
"Ten years ago Pythor took over. Ten years ago you both disappeared off the face of the land as far as the general population were concerned. Ten years ago you both lost your memory. Ten years ago the royal family fell. Ten years ago today."
King Garmadon looked out over the kingdom. Everyone was rejoicing, celebrating thirty years since the serpentine wars. He looked down as a small hand tugged on his robe. Garmadon bent down and picked up Ember. The small girls eyes shone with curiosity and a thirst for knowledge.
"Why is everyone celebrating daddy?" She asked
"Thirty years ago today we won a great war"
"What's war?"
"War is when lots of people fight over something"
"Like Lloyd and I fight over cake?"
"Kinda Ember, but not quite like that"
"Not quite like what?" Misako came up with a young Lloyd. Garmadon put Ember down
"Ember was comparing war to her and Lloyd fighting over cake." Misako laughed.
"War isn't like you two fighting" She told her daughter.
"Your majesties!" A guard came running into the room. "The palace is under attack!" Garmadon turned to Misako
"Get Lloyd and Ember out of here!" Misako grabbed Ember and Lloyd leading them out of the room
"Mummy?" Ember asked
"Yes dear?"
"What's going on?" Misako looked at her daughter
"I don't know darling."
"Just keep moving" Misako looked behind her to see Garmadon
"What happened?"
"The serpentine are back!"
"I thought you defeated them?"
"We did. Come on" Garmadon picked up Ember as Misako picked up Lloyd.
"Daddy why are we running?" Ember asked
"People want to hurt us"
"Why?" Lloyd asked
"I don't know son. I really don't know"
"Oh it's simple really. I want to rule" Garmadon and Misako turned around. Pythor was right in front of them.
"Run Misako" Garmadon put Ember down. "Follow your mother Ember. Don't lose them" The small girl raced after Misako and Lloyd.
"Didn't I beat you already?" Garmadon asked
"This time I win"
Ember ran as fast as she could. She couldn't see Misako or Lloyd. She was hopelessly lost in the woods. The girl stumbled on before finally collapsing at the base of a horse chestnut. Her shoes lost somewhere in the run, her dress in tatters.
Misako ran as fast as she could. Lloyd clung to his mother, fear shining in his eyes.
"I'm scared Momma" Lloyd whimpered
"Hush darling. Everything will be fine."
"Famous last words Misako" Misako turned around. Pythor stood right behind her. Strange men came up and snatched Lloyd from her grasp
"Momma!" The small boy yelled
"Give me back my son!"
"Oh, you wont need him where you're going" Pythor replied. A portal opened up and Misako fell through"
"MOMMA!" Pythor turned to face his men
"Shut the brat up and find the girl!" He ordered "Three down one to go"
"Time past." Zane continued "Yet Pythor never found you?"
"I learned to survive"
Ember moved quickly through the woods. It had been two years since her world had fallen down around her. Two years since she had lost her memory. When she arrived back at the tree house she looked at Wu.
"How did I do?"
"Faster than last time. Quieter as well" Ember jumped up and punched the air. "Now, training. You need to be able to use all weapons"
"Yes Sensei" Ember replied. She was used to life in the wild. Every day she would navigate the forest in the morning, then after lunch she would train. At first it was hard, every night she would collapse exhausted, every morning she would wake with her body aching. Yet after a while the pain lessened. Over time she was growing stronger. The weak, frail and delicate little princess who had run from the palace was long gone. In her place was a strong, determined and hardy young girl.
Lloyd however had spent the past two years very differently. Pythor had spared him that night. Lloyd didn't know why.
"Boy!" Pythor yelled "Where is my food?"
"Coming master" Lloyd replied. He hated what he had to do but he had learnt the hard way to do as he was told.
Like Ember Lloyd had changed but unlike Ember, who had grown stronger, Lloyd hadn't. The Energetic, playful and competitive prince was long gone. In his place stood a meek, humble and obedient young boy.
Lloyd kept his head down whilst he worked. His green eyes often attracted unwanted attention. He had learnt long ago that looking Pythor in the eye ended up in a beating. Not for the first time he thought about Ember. The sister he couldn't remember. He had tried running away once, tried to find her. All that happened was he got caught, and punished.
"He almost caught me once" Ember stated. "It's the reason I generally avoided the city."
"What happened?" Zane asked
"It was eight years ago"
"Oh I remember that!" Lloyd laughed. "He was so mad. Everyone thought you were dead, then people reported seeing a green eyed girl in the market. He sent all his guards yet they were outsmarted by a girl!"
Ember sat cross legged in the tree house. It had been eight years since Pythor took over. On an impulse she stood up, left the treehouse and headed towards the city. Ember headed towards the palace, instinct saying that that was where she should be. In the market place she stopped at a bookstore. Inside she picked up a big volume of fairy tales. Opening it she started reading the list of stories. Cinderella, snow white, sleeping beauty. Stories like that. Sighing she closed the book and paid for it. Slipping the item into her bag she left the shop. Outside the shop the first thing she noticed was the guards.
"There she is! Get her!" One of them shouted. They started chasing after Ember. The small girl ran as fast as she could, ducking down allies and racing round corners in an effort to escape. As she raced past the street performers someone grabbed her arm. Ember looked around to see another girl close to her age.
"Jade?" Lloyd asked
"Yep. That was the first time I met Jade."
Jade tugged Ember along after her.
"Why are they after you?" Jade asked without turning around
"I have no idea" Ember replied. Jade opened a chest by her cart.
"Yeah well, put these on" Jade handed Ember a green top and trousers, a brown waistcoat, a blond wig and a pair of sunglasses.
"Why? What is this stuff?"
"It's called a disguise silly. If you don't look like yourself it's easier to get out of the city" Ember replied as she put the things on.
"Thank you" Ember left the cart wondering down the street. No one tried to stop her. As soon as she made it out of the city, Ember took the wig and glasses off. She kept the cloths on, after all green and brown were brilliant camouflage in the woods.
Ember smiled as she finished the tale.
"Outsmarted by a couple of girls. Since I officially met Jade we have continued to outsmart him as well."
"Yeah well I am a master of disguise" Ember turned around to see Jade in the entrance with Cole. "I couldn't belive it was you when I saw you in Wu's house. I had helped you out once before and now you were helping me"
"Yeah. It was like karma or fate" Both girls laughed
"Who's this" Cole gestured to Zane
"I am Zane"
"As in Zane Julian, the master assassin? The person who has annoyed Pythor the most?"
"I thought we annoyed Pythor the most" Ember spoke up
"Well, seeing as Lloyd was captive, so no threat whatsoever, and most people thought you were dead, Zane was the biggest threat against Pythor's rule" Cole explained
"What did you do?" Ember asked
"I am a master assassin. Stands to reason that I would be getting rid of those who aided Pythor"
"True" On impulse Ember got up and fetched the Shurikens of Ice. She handed them to Zane. He looked at her questioningly
"Instinct." She replied "Hasn't lead me wrong yet"