A/N: Thanks to everyone who's read and commented on RtD! It warms my heart to hear that others are actually enjoying my writing. For those who don't know, I will be doing my best to update this on Thursdays. Thanks for reading, and don't forget to mention RtD to your friends!
"Hey Lloyd! Come check this out!" Kai stood by a street vendor's shop, admiring a collection of assorted weapons. Each blade was intricately carved to perfection, the designs rivaling any Kai had ever seen. Lloyd walked over from a different cart, momentarily stepping away from the pile of comics he had been reading. "I think you might like this one- it's even got your name on it." The ninja of fire reverently held out a short rapier with an emerald green hilt. The ancient symbols for "green dragon" decorated the flat of the blade near the hilt.
Lloyd sighed; Prince Donovan had been captured by the Imperial Sludge, and he was anxious to find out what happened next. "It's just another sword Kai, and it doesn't have my name on it."
The vendor, who had until now been watching silently from the back of the shop, took a step forward. "You're a smart one, boy. There's not many in Ninjago who can read the old language anymore." He had a thick accent, muffled even more by the large mustache hanging over his upper lip, which had curved into a smirk. "However, a sharp mind is no match for an even sharper blade!" The man lunged at the boys, brandishing a large broadsword. "Let's see if you're as tough as everyone says you are, ninja!" He waved his arm wildly, slicing through the fabric of Lloyd's jacket, narrowly missing the skin.
"Hey, watch it!" Lloyd kicked the blade out of the man's hand, throwing it into a nearby tree. His hands glowed with green energy, the beginnings of an emerald flame faintly visible. "Why are you attacking me?"
The vendor grinned, taking another swipe at Lloyd, who easily leapt back. "Why does anyone do anything?" He took a swipe at Kai, grinning "It would be a shame to destroy such a fine swordsman, but they never did say anything about bringing you back in one piece..."
Kai snatched a broadsword from the burning cart, parrying a blow from the man's blade. "Thanks, but I think we'll pass." He picked up a bucket of seeds, igniting it with a thought. "Catch!" Flaming seeds and bucket splinters flew through the air, lighting the street vendor's clothes and hair. The man screamed in pain, and dove into the river.
"And don't come back!" Kai sheathed the sword, ignoring Lloyd's questioning glance. "C'mon Lloyd. We should go now"
The two ninja left the market, startled by the recent attack. "I wonder why that guy attacked us," Lloyd wondered, deep in thought. He stopped suddenly, giving Kai a suspicious look. "You didn't try stealing anything, did you?"
Kai gave him a sheepish grin, "What makes you say that?" He said, polishing one of the many swords he had taken from the smith's shop. Lloyd gave him a look of disgust, rolling his eyes. The fire ninja smirked. "If you don't like me taking things from a guy who just attacked us, then maybe we should start talking about everything you did to bug us when you were little."
Lloyd groaned. He'd tried to forget about all that. "You had to bring that up?"
"Yeah- you keep acting like you've forgotten about your troubled past, and as your protector, I feel it is my duty to remind you."
"Protector?" Lloyd asked.
"Yeah. Protector, adoptive older brother, whatever you need me to be. Including, the person who reminds you daily that you're not perfect and have screwed up quite a bit in your extremely misguided childhood." Kai ruffled Lloyd's hair. Both of them laughed, remembering the days back when Lloyd had opened the serpentine tombs, unleashing the snake-like people on the rest of the world.
They had reached the end of the market, nearing the narrow street where they had left Sensei Wu and Misako on their flying ship, Destiny's Bounty. "Start the engines!" Lloyd shouted, as both ninja leapt onto the ship. He turned to look behind him; there was no sign of the mysterious man who had attacked them, but they weren't going to take any chances. Who knew when he might return?
As Kai told Wu and Misako about the attack, Wu's expression grew concerned. "Interesting..." he muttered. "We must leave at once."
"Wait- leave?" Kai frowned; he hadn't yet had a chance to visit his father's grave - the whole point of this trip. "I'm sure we have enough time to-..." Wu cut him off, once again insisting they had to leave. "Yes Sensei."
"Sensei's right, Kai. If we don't leave soon, I don't think we will..." Lloyd pointed at the village, the once-vacant streets now crowded with people. All appeared to be normal, but there was something about them that seemed...darker. Eyes glowed lifelessly, as if everyone in Ignacia had been somehow transformed into mindless zombie-like creatures. The Bounty's engines flared into life, propelling the ship off the ground, leaving the disturbing scene far behind.
Once they had reached a safe altitude, Misako called everyone to the control room. She had thrown a large assortment of scrolls and papers onto the table- all of her research on the prophecy of the green ninja. She picked up a scroll and unrolled it, "These are my notes on the original battle between the First Spinjitzu Master and the Overlord. After the events in Ignacia, I began to search through my research to see if I could find something we might have missed from before." She placed the scroll on the table, pointing to a section of writing near the bottom. "This is what we missed. It says the Overlord, in preparation for the final battle, created a formula that caused any who came in contact with it to turn evil." She looked up, a worried look in her eyes. "Kai, Lloyd- I fear that you are Ninjago's only hope."
"So... Nya's evil again?" Kai narrowed his eyes, furious. "She seemed fine before we left."
"It is hard to tell for sure, but Misako and I think we found a reason for the... return of the people to their evil state."
Misako nodded, "Before the Overlord was defeated, he was able to transform the people of Ninjago into mindless, evil versions of themselves through his own version of the dark matter. This lasted for as long as the Overlord was still in control. Our theory is the Overlord's defeat briefly allowed those who had been contaminated to regain control of themselves. Now, however, they have reverted back to their evil forms. Only the strongest will have full control of themselves- Cole and Zane, for example."
"And now they're going to try to destroy us." Kai let out a deep sigh of relief.
"It's not contagious?" Lloyd asked.
Misako shook her head. "As far as we've seen, no."
"Is there a cure?"
"We're...still working on it."
"Will you let me know when you've found anything?"
Misako nodded. "You and Kai will be the first to know. You two should get some rest; we're getting close to Ninjago City, and Wu wants everyone to be ready."