Well, Myrana's going to need more than a plushie for this... It's also a nice sized chapter again, so enjoy!


Kai was given a punishment by Sensei for doing what he did, after we turned in the pirates and Garmadon took the ship. Garmadon was nice and actually gave me a somewhat non-hostile nod before he took off. Lloyd hovered over me for the rest of the night, which was actually comforting to know that someone cared about me, and that the rest of the ninja crew understood that Kai went too far. Kai was grumbly, but didn't appear to have plans to get near me again. I sent Vastu a letter, albeit a short one. It held little information, just a crazy rant about my knowledge and how the ninja have been very careless with talking to me about it.

Currently we were at Dareth's dojo, with Lloyd having gone through half of the light bulbs. Though Jay was trying his best to teach Lloyd, I had to admit he was doing a bit of a poor job. He was not telling Lloyd how to harness the power, just to hold it in then let it go freely.

"I'd actually like to try here. I think you're giving Lloyd a bit of a tough time here. Give me a quick summary of how the lightning flows please. I think there is a better way." I interjected as Lloyd reached for another light bulb.

"Well, it's everywhere. When you use it, it just flows through you everywhere, but that the best I can give you. Lightning is hard to explain…" Jay tried to say, but I took in the information anyways.

"That'll do. Alright Lloyd, let's try something new. Keep holding that light bulb, but this time, remember that energy. I want you to instead, try to let small amounts of it flow through the light bulb, like it is a part of you. Believe that your energy can flow within that little piece of metal, but not a whole lot. Just a tiny amount." I instructed, and the light bulb didn't turn on, much to Lloyd's dismay.

"It's not working, Starlord! It's not doing anything!" He pouted, and I shook my head. Lloyd was close to having a hissy fit.

"Patience, you need to learn how to let the energy flow properly. It will take time, Lightning is a bit more unpredictable, and can hurt people if it's not controlled correctly. Now, think about slowly adding more power to the flow, not just bottling it up. Let the energy move freely, and go from one side of you to another in a circle." I told Lloyd, and it managed to slowly work.

"I-It's working! It's not taking a lot of energy either, take a lo-" The light bulb shattered into tiny glass shards, with a disappointed Lloyd holding the metal base.

"What? But I just had it working, how could it have broken?" Lloyd yelled out in frustration, his victory taken away.

"Remember that I said that Lightning is unpredictable, and can hurt others if not controlled correctly. You must keep some sort of concentration on your energy, and your surroundings, otherwise it will move freely, and hit anything nearby. Keep trying, and figure out a way to focus on your energy. Block out sounds, use your memories as a guide, or something similar. There is no sure way to learn how to focus, but once you get it, everything will become just a bit clearer. I don't have powers myself, so I can't help with the Lightning itself. But I hope that this made a few things clearer. Anyways, I'm heading out to get some food rations real quick. I'll be back soon." I smiled, and the Ninja gave me their farewells.

The door closed behind me as I headed out onto the street, walking by foot to a nearby food store, where I bought some non-perishable items. I had about two thousand and one hundred Jyn left, and since the Dark Island was bound to show up sometime soon, I bought Lloyd a small treat. There would be no use for money on the island, and I could work with Vastu again.

As I walked back, I looked upon the city, finally noticing it's size. Once again it reminded me of New York, but it was still fairly clean, much like Copenhagen, Denmark. I had traveled a lot thanks to my parents, so I often had an open mind. The people were fairly clean too, and often times they greeted or smiled at me, even though they were still in a city. That friendliness, that trust that Ninjago had between its residents was truly a sight to behold. That was something Ninjago could pride itself on. Something my world lacked for many years.

I walked back to the dojo, only to find Lloyd cleaning up light bulb remains, and the Ninja held a letter, with Nya in a nice outfit. They were talking about being invited to a ceremony for Lloyd.

"Oh, hey Starlord. We got an invite to a ceremony for… Lloyd apparently. Says here you're invited too! And that means, cake!" Cole exclaimed, happy at the prospect of cake. Keeping up the charade of not knowing what was going to happen, I laughed, and smiled at Lloyd.

"Yeah, I think he could use a bit of praise. After all, the world has been doing nothing but bearing down on his shoulders, and I think it's time for him to catch a break." I answered, which he never gets, by the way. Walking over to the green ninja, I offered the candy and took the broom away so that I could clean.

"So, when are we leaving for the ceremony?" I asked, sweeping at the shards.

"In a few minutes. You always seem ready to go, so we'll just get ready and then we'll take the Ultra Dragon to the school." Cole replied, and I nodded, giving them the signal to get ready to leave. I cleaned up the shards quickly, with the Ninja being ready soon after.

"Lloyd's taking the reigns this time, he needs to learn how to fly the Ultra Dragon if he's going to save Ninjago anytime soon." Kai teased Lloyd, and Lloyd laughed. Kai didn't like to talk to me after the fight. He wasn't fond of me at all right now, and so I politely stayed away from him, giving him some space.

I sat on the back of the Ultra Dragon, holding onto Zane as we flew. I knew there was going to be a drop soon, and I hated, absolutely despised being dropped. I held onto Zane with a death grip now, closing my eyes and waiting for it. I didn't focus on the Ninja's chatter. I only noticed Lloyd's voice.

"ANY SUDDEN WH-" Lloyd yelled back to one of the ninja, whom I did not care. Right now, I was screaming and holding onto Zane for dear life.

The drop made my insides light, all the blood rushing into my brain, and I was screaming at the highest volume I could. A true feminine high pitched wail of fear. Everything was dark while I held tightly to whatever I was holding onto, I forgot. I didn't care, this drop was lasting forever! Someone screamed something, and the drop stopped. I breathed in and out, adrenaline still rushing through my veins like wildfire. We glided down, smoother than that of our last drop. My eyes still closed, and I felt the lifeline move.

"Are you alright? You are taking a while to recover." Zane asked, and I nodded.

"Adrenaline, don't like drops, give me a sec." I wheezed out, trying to catch my breath and soothe my frazzled nerves. It took me a minute, and Brad's impatient voice to get me off the dragon, and I headed inside with the Ninja.

I knew fully well what was coming, and after that head rush, I was in no mood to have another.

"Uh, shouldn't you all be in class?" Kai asked Brad as we walked down a school hallway, lined with wooden floors and light beige lockers made of plastic.

"Actually, today is a new Darkley's school tradition, Ninja Day. We stay out of sight, to honor the way of the ninja, for showing us the light." Brad said, leading us to a door with a barred circular window.

"Huh, this is a good school. I'm impressed!" Cole said happily as Brad opened the door. I stayed outside, keeping quiet and to myself.

"Principal Noble, the ninja and Lloyd are here for the ceremony!" Brad called out into the next room. It was a bad job of trying to hide malicious intent, but the ninja bought it anyways. Oblivious as always, those poor ninja.

"That, and the cake. By the way, do you know what kind it is?" Cole asked the smiling student. I continued to remain stoic and silent, looking above the Ninja for the sandbags. They were still there.

"I'll be with you in just a moment!" The figure replied, which I knew it was a skeleton dressed up by Gene.

"I should get back to the flowers!" Brad nervously exclaimed, rushing out of the room and closing the door behind him. I watched as he gasped, and saw as I stood with my defense pen in hand. I would not allow myself to go in there.

"Shut up and don't make a sound. I know what you're doing, and I'm going to let it happen. But you say anything about me, and I will give you a threat that would give adults nightmares for the rest of their lives, got it?" I growled out, proving my worth to stay awake. Here, you had to be bad to show that you were worthy of even remaining in the school. Brad wisely stayed silent and did nothing as I heard the Ninja shout out in panic as the sandbags surely collapsed on top of them.

"You're good, I'll give you that. But how did you know to stay away?" Brad asked as he reopened the door.

"Knowledge." I simply replied as Gene gaped at me.

"You! How did you not get hit!" Gene asked with a nasal sound to his voice. He jumped down from his perch, and the lights turned on properly.

"It doesn't matter. I'll go with Lloyd if you don't mind. I will have bigger problems than you to deal with later." I sneered, and Gene smiled.

"Seems like you hold no favoritism for the Ninja. Not bad, you really are like the rumours." Gene spoke with a sinister undertone.

"Oh, rumours? Interesting, I'd like to hear them later. But it seems you have a bigger task to deal with other than me." I nonchalantly suggested for Gene to get to work, while I twirled my defense pen absentmindedly. He laughed, and the students went to work. Lloyd was treated with some form of affection, not being as roughly handled as the Ninja. Following the people carrying Lloyd, I silently followed the boys. They occasionally asked how I managed to be so sinister while being a girl, and I answered by saying there was no difference between genders. They were surprised, but were fairly stoic.

"So, what are these rumours you've heard? It's interesting to know that you've even heard of me." I curiously asked, adding a dark undertone to my voice. Gene let out a nasal snort.

"We heard that you know what evil really is, watching the Ninja and even watching the Serpentine. You've supposedly got the Ninja to be afraid, but if you're able to stay in the same room with them, then that's obviously untrue." Gene snorted. I laughed.

"Oh yes, the blue one, Jay, was quite afraid for some time. He still has small fears about me, and the red one, Kai, is severely angry with me. Alas, he is passionate and refuses to follow my plans." I stated, which wasn't exactly untrue. Kai really was bringing attention to me, much more than I would like.

"Yes, the fire ninja. I've seen a lot about him." Gene answered, the conversation ending.

We reached the room, and I strayed around the corners of the room, careful not to stick around Lloyd. I knew he was alright, so I let him be tied up and unconscious in that chair. I waited, and Lloyd started to wake up, struggling against the rope around him. I frowned underneath my hood, I didn't like seeing him struggle. I didn't like the idea of having him tied up in the first place. However, I was under extreme scrutiny by the boys, so I remained stony as I watched Lloyd.

"Welcome to your ceremony Lloyd, or should I say, an evil intervention!" Brad said as he turned on a single lightbulb. Lloyd looked shocked at my appearance, squinting at me with scrutiny.

"Starlord? What are you doing here? Where are the others?" Lloyd asked me and I gave Lloyd an apologetic look.

"I'm doing what I have to, Lloyd. Besides, the others are in a room somewhere around here. You know how it goes." I shrugged, Lloyd, struggling to comprehend my ability to switch sides so often. Lloyd was taking a jump away from the script in my presence, but it was small. I could let this change slide.

"This better end well, Starlord, we're really getting tired of you doing this." Lloyd sighed, and I scoffed.

"Doesn't matter. So nasal command force, what's your plan?" I sneered out, trying to act what the boys would call evil.

"Snarky, not bad. We're here to show you who your true friends are, and undo the damage you've done to yourself and our school's reputation! Be honest, doesn't a part of you miss being bad?" Brad goaded Lloyd, who was still confused and frightened.

"Uh…" Lloyd tried to think of something to say.

"Pshht, you couldn't even imagine the things I used to do back at home. I once tackled down my friend and held a napkin to her mouth for fun. Though I don't remember why, but it was fun. Along with stealing each other's food, which we valued highly, and stealing valuable objects from each other for a while. Those were the days, I tell you. Let's say, that sometimes we gave each other quite the amounts of pain." I smirked, trying to save Lloyd.

"Stealing was your main thing then?" Gene asked, voice nasally as ever.

"Yep. Food or electronics were amongst the most highly valued. Our school wasn't exactly a 'bad attitude' school. It was more or less a good one, but small." I shrugged, deciding to wander around the room, finding anything to toy with, while Gene and Brad talked to Lloyd. Finding nothing, I decided on fooling around with my pen.

"C'mon, you can untie me! Really, this is just a huge relief. I couldn't stand being good! Thank you for saving me!" Lloyd said in obvious fake appreciation. Could your lying get any worse Lloyd?

"How do we know that you're not lying, just so you can escape and help the Ninja?" Brad asked, and I laughed mentally. Brad actually bought that obvious lie? They could come up with accurate rumours about me, but not see right through a lie? They were certainly not good at detecting lies, were they?

"Well, if I am truly good I wouldn't be able to lie," That's one crappy lie right there son," which I'm not, but even if I was, wouldn't lying make me evil? Thus, giving you reassurance that you can release me!" Lloyd tried to convince the group.

"He's trying to trick us with mind games!" Gene concluded after a moment, not quite believing Lloyd. What do you know? Gene can actually think!

Boom! Something exploded outside, causing me to raise my pen reflexively. I calmed when I knew what it was going to be, so I headed out with Brad and the boys to meet the 'Bizzaro Ninja.'

When I walked out behind the tiny army, I saw each of the Bizzaro Ninja, which was goo-

Oh dear god no.

A splitting image of me, stood behind the Bizzaros calmly, likely smirking underneath that mask. She wasn't trashing anything, which was nice. Yet, there was a wicked gleam in her eyes, her posture was confident, and I was a defensive trembling mess.

Why did I have a clone? I wasn't a Ninja!

"Spitball brigade, step forward!" Brad ordered, and a few boys came forth with spitballs. Had to admit, they had good teamwork, better than what normal teachers could teach. The spitballs flew, my clone hiding behind a corner passively. Bizzaro Kai looked annoyed at my clone being a smart alec.

"Smoke-bomb brigade, step forward!" Brad called out again, surprised the Ninja dodged them all. They were Ninja, what did you think was going to happen, Brad? Smoke-bombs now flew from the children's hands, hitting the Bizzaro Ninja, but not Bizzaro me. The boys laughed, seeing the Bizzaro Ninja being blinded.

"Ninja-go!" The four cried out as they performed spinjitzu to clear the dust.

"Dodgeball brigade, ready, fire!" Brad called out one last time, confident the Bizzaro Ninja would fail. They didn't, rather Bizzaro Zane caught four, and passed them to his teammates.

"Our turn!" Bizzaro Kai exclaimed, his posture threatening by Lego standards.

"Run!" Brad called out, and I was swarmed by a mass of fearful little boys. As a last order, Brad started to say 'retreat,' but was cut off by a ball and Bizzaro Kai picking up the dazed boy.

"Where are the Ninja?" Bizzaro Kai demanded, threatening Brad. Brad trembled in fear, being held up by Bizzaro Kai.

"Perhaps I will have the answer." My clone finally spoke, a mocking undertone to my voice.

"Brad has the answer and we know it. He doesn't need a noogie for it though. I suggest we have him guide us, and we'll see what happens then." I deadpanned, unhappy with there being a clone of me. However, she was sentient, and me so I couldn't just kill her.

"Oh, we both know how the script goes. Why not? Boys, have little 'ole Bad-to-the-bone tell us where to go, hm?" Bizzaro me ordered subtly. She mentioned the script. How dare she mention the script. I trembled in anger. She could release all of my information on a whim of existing! Bizzaro Kai growled, but handed the boy to Bizzaro Cole, and let Brad lead the way.

"Today is going to be the Underworld for you." Bizzaro me chirped, skipping alongside me behind the rest of the Bizzaros.

"If I know myself well, it's that you're going to make me pay mentally, huh?" I muttered, not enjoying her presence. It was unsettling, like knowing that someone could expose your lies in an instant if you didn't obey.

"You don't even know the half of it." She whispered happily in my ear, making me shiver. Was I always this creepy to my friends? Man, I had some darn good friends if they stuck with me when I could do that.

"That's where they were, honest!" Brad cried out, shocking me out of my stupor.

"Time for a noogie!" Bizzaro Cole growled out, while Brad begged in protest for him not to. The Ninja came out on time, which was good, because I didn't want them dead. Bizzaro Cole looked back to see the normal Ninja.

"Finally, a way out!" Cole said in relief, as he and his teammates strolled out of a locker. Bizzaro me and I walked behind the other Bizzaros as they lined up to face the Ninja.

"Uh, guys, why are we staring at ourselves?" Kai asked rhetorically.

"This is kind of too weird for us. We're just going to stay in here!" The real principal said, as he closed the locker door.

"Huh. Those who don't fight, teach." Jay joked as he turned back to the Bizzaros. The Bizzaros took off their sunglasses at the same time, like a synchronized set of watches. It was intimidating to a normal person.

"Drop the boy, uh, me!" Cole shouted out, unsure but stepping forward to protect Brad.

"He's of no use to us anymore!" Bizzaro Cole yelled as he dropped Brad. Brad scrambled to his feet, and ran past us to another hallway.

"Who are you guys?" Kai asked the Bizzaros.

"Your doom." Bizzaro Kai answered, taking a step forward.

"My early assessment tells me this must be Garmadon's doing!" Zane pointed out the obvious.

"My early assessment tells me you will be destroyed." Bizzaro Zane threatened, putting his fists together.

"Ninjago!" All eight of them called out, as they charged against their copies. Cole kicked in the air, Zane headbutted, Kai pushing, and Jay punching. All were balanced and the same, while my copy and I sat on the sidelines, watching the clones fight one another.

"You know I have to die." Bizzaro me said calmly.

"Yes, but it is hard to kill anyone sentient, let alone myself." I answered back, unhappy with where this was going.

"You have two choices. One, I reveal our secret, and I die. Two, you kill me by stabbing me in the head with your pen, secrets are kept and I die. Either way, you get hurt, and I die. You'll get a choice, but it all ends the same. I don't care. After all, you have until the fight ends to decide. Yes, that's right. You have to kill me as the last enemy. Everyone will watch, even little Lloyd we care about so much." Bizzaro me taunted as I gasped.

"What! But that's like an unseen horror being shown to children, and adults who haven't experienced it alike! We both know what that might do to them!" I yelled out, causing the fight to stop for a mere second. After that second, the fighting resumed, but slower. Gene was in the background, rambling to Lloyd.

"Kill me nicely, and I tell. Kill me the way I want, everything will be happy for you. Tick tock, you've got to decide soon." Bizzaro me giggled out, a wicked joy showing throughout her body language.

What the crap was I going to do?

Kill her like a cartoon, and my life goes completely down the drain.

Kill her like a maniac, and my life goes down the drain, with my secret kept.

Well, she was going to die anyways, right? I mean, if that's what she wants, who am I to deny her last wish, along with my secret being kept as a bonus? I knew she would keep it secret, we were too much of secret keepers to let any slip go by without reason.

What was I going to do about Kai, or Lloyd? They'll be scarred! I groaned and put my hands to my face. I felt a locker nearby get tipped over.

"Oh, wow. I thought we were already at terms with life there on the Bounty earlier. It seems like there is still a part of you left to break." Bizarro me whispered in my ear, surely wearing a smirk underneath the hood.

"We are fragile, remember that. We are just the same aspects of me. I choose to observe, and you choose to mentally destroy." I answered, sighing sadly as I knew the time neared.

"Ninjago!" Lloyd called out, an army of children dressed as ninja behind him.

"Looks like the cavalry's arrived. I trust you've made your decision." Bizarro me smirked. I didn't focus on the battle at all, just getting up robotically, and holding my defense pen shakily. Lloyd said something about a 'punch.' Bizarro me and I stood in the center of battle, everything just between us.

Bizzaro Zane, dead. One down, four to go.

Bizzaro Cole, dead. Two down, three to go.

Bizzaro Jay, dead. Three down, two to go.

Bizzaro Kai, dead. Four down, me to go.

"Starlord, land a blow!" Lloyd called out, the tiny army waiting for me. I blinked, then bowed my head to Bizzaro me.

"You win." I spoke aloud, then tackling her to the ground. She laughed as I did so.

"Ah, so you will honor my last wish. Good, show these kids what we're capable of." Bizzaro me laughed.

I raised my pen high.

A tear fell down my face again.

Why?

She laughed with a shrill tone, sounding like a schoolgirl gone mad.

The pen struck dead center, hitting the forehead and causing the clone to disappear instantly.

Her laugh seemed to still permeate the air, mocking me for my selfishness.

Silence.

I took my pen, and held it to my chest tightly. I wasn't going to let anyone take it, or hurt me.

"S-Starlord?" Lloyd stuttered out first, looking horror stricken, with his hood off. The children were silent, but fearful of me, scared to have me even look in their direction.

"She asked me to. I had a choice. Kill her the way she wanted, or have her say something I dare not to say myself. She was going to die either way, and she knew that. But she wanted me to suffer, following through with whatever she was ordered to for sure."

"She didn't just want me to get hurt physically."

"She wanted me to feel pain for the rest of my life."

"Guilt."

"Fear."

"Everything." I finished, looking at the people I just scarred with my previous deed. I got up, and Kai was about to stop me, but I gave him a look, and he backed off. I walked through the halls to the outside, and found a patch of particularly thick flowers.

All fake, but was certainly set up to hide someone. I sat in them, hiding myself away. I wasn't supposed to be here. I was supposed to be at home, watching this on my tablet! I had already cried for my world. I wasn't going to cry again.

But the looks on their faces.

They were so, so scared. They couldn't even believe that I would do such a thing.

Kai was scared too, I could see it in how backed off. He wouldn't have done that unless he cared, or he was frightened.

Jay, oh Jay. He had humor. Did I kill it in that moment? Did I kill Jay's basic self, the piece of him that has always existed no matter what? I heard my name being called by someone.

I didn't know or care. I was too busy stuck in my world of self loathing.

The calling grew louder, more defined. It didn't matter, why should it? I had just k-

A hand parted the flowers. I scrambled back, yelping in fright at the unexpected hand.

"Starlord!" A voice I finally recognized as Zane. I looked up to see him looking worried.

"Oh." I said in reply.

"What happened back there?" He asked, sitting in front of me calmly.

"You still care?" I asked, amazed he wasn't lecturing me, or telling me I needed to leave.

"What you did back there still has everyone frightened. I was the only one who left to find you. Lloyd is scared. He said he doesn't know what to do about you. He cares, but everything you do is either against him or scary. Kai is particularly angry. He thinks of Lloyd as a little brother, and you continue to upset him." Zane told me. I didn't respond.

"You need to say something. Even I am shaken from what you did. Please, tell us something. We are unable to help you or understand if you don't tell us." Zane coaxed me. Well, saying anything was what I was afraid of.

"I had a choice. I honored her last wish. We agreed upon it." I finally said, telling it to Zane simply.

"We?" He asked, looking concerned again.

"We were just different aspects of the same person, me. We are one, she is just the culmination of a part of me that knows how to hurt others. I'm sorry that you had to see that, but it is what we agreed upon." I answered, Zane nodding to my answer.

"I suggest you go back, they will want answers from you." Zane said, slowly standing up and offering a hand.

"A minute more, please? I just went through a nightmare." I responded, thinking a bit more on my actions. Zane complied, and waited until I was ready.

"Okay, I'm ready." I said, taking Zane's now outstretched hand. He walked me back into the school, where I found Kai comforting Lloyd. Lloyd was being held by Kai gently, a scared look on Lloyd's face. Kai looked at me with anger, but made no move towards me.

"I'm sorry." I blurted out before any part of my brain could scream 'no' at me.

"Why, Starlord?" Lloyd asked, his voice wavering between being understandable, whispery quiet and squeaky.

"We agreed upon it. I wasn't supposed to have a clone. She knew she was going to die. So, she followed her orders. Destroy the Ninja, right? Your clones believed the only way to defeat you was to beat you up. Mine was smarter than that. She wanted to destroy me, and you. She knew the best way to do it too. She decided I had a choice. She told me that I could kill her the way she wanted, with a blow to the head, or I could kill her nicely, and she'd reveal a secret of mine that I have no intention to share. She wanted to make sure that my life would be destroyed either way. I guess she was to only one who succeeded in her mission, but she did it well." I sighed, sitting down on the ground to show I was not going to do anything like that again anytime soon.

"What could be so bad you had to do such a thing to keep it secret?" Kai asked, holding Lloyd protectively.

"A target on my back so large, I'd be better off a hermit, or dead. Depending on how much people will do to hunt me down. I told one person. But they are good, and don't know the details I do. Just a brief overview. I'm not joking though. I'd probably be better off gone than staying if people find out. I would cause too much damage." I said quietly, staring at the floor in front of me.

"I don't know what to do, Starlord. You keep doing these things, and we don't understand why. You're always scary, or you're doing something against us. We just don't understand. Why, why everything?" Lloyd asked, burrowing into Kai's side.

"I told you I might just rather die than have that target on my back. Funnily enough, Ninjago might just die if I left now. I've interfered so much, things are starting to change. If I'm not here to make sure everything goes smoothly, then something will happen the way it shouldn't. Ninjago would be conquered, for power or for revenge. Please, I don't want to die. Please don't ever make me say it. I, I just want to help. I don't want to have to kill myself." I muttered out, curling up into my own tiny ball. I started to mumble to myself, about being afraid of so much. I felt arms hug me tightly, and words of reassurance in my ear. Others gasped at my confession, the idea of suicide being so foreign to them.

"Why would you ever even think about hurting yourself? I, I can't even believe that you'd think of that." Lloyd choked out, as he cried too.

"It's not a topic new to me Lloyd. This place is just so perfect, and I'm the sour patch of darkness in a garden of beautiful flowers. Everyone cares, there's little crime, no one would even think of what I know. I'm not even sure if you have words for the crimes I know, since you probably have never experienced them. You even speak English for god's sake, and you still don't have the words. What I know might just doom us all if I ever say it to someone other than my old friend. Even he doesn't know much. Oh god Lloyd, please, please I-I don't want you to get hurt any more than you have to, so the world is safe. I can't have that happen. Please, please, please, I don't want to die, please, I'm sorry just I-I please, p-please, please," I sobbed out, mumbling please over and over, while Lloyd hugged me. We cried over each other's shoulders, quietly wailing about our lives.

It was a moment that lasted forever, burning into my memories for eternity. Whatever happened around us didn't matter as we sobbed on that wooden floor, arms holding each other close. Lloyd was a brother to me. I kept failing him, but now I think I made something.

Whether it was good or bad, I didn't know.


We stopped crying after a good ten minutes. Still, we clung to each other as if the other was our lifeline. There was no celebration, and everyone was sent home. Though Cole was given the cake batter, since he seemed to be so obsessed over it earlier. Currently, we were climbing into the Ultra Sonic Raider. I knew Garmadon was going to call, and I was prepared to give him a verbal sledgehammer to the face. I needed to get rid of my anger against him, otherwise a grudge would take hold, and it would not be pretty later. Cole and Jay took the Ultra Dragon, while the rest of us were in the Raider. Lloyd and I were in the back, and I glared at the tiny screen where Garmadon would call. It was silent in the Raider.

"So, it is true. You have destroyed my evil Ninja." Garmadon spoke, staring at our upset faces. I took this as a time to scream at him.

"How dare you! How dare you create a clone of me! Great job genius, now I think I just scarred Lloyd, the Ninja, and every kid watching me! You're even crazier than me to even think about creating a clone of me that has nothing else in mind but destroying the Ninja! Do you have any idea what I just had to do? Do you? I just had to stab my clone in the head in front of everyone! You sad excuse of an evil old man, I hope you're proud to know that my clone was more evil than you! She was also the only one to get the job done! But why? How? There wasn't anything about me on that blasted ship! GUESS WHAT OLD MAN. YOU JUST PISSED ME OFF, AND I'M SURE AS HECK I AM GOING TO MAKE YOU PAY. I WON'T EVEN HAVE TO LAY A SINGLE HAND ON YOU TO MAKE YOU SUFFER! YOU CROSSED A LINE, AND EVEN THAT VENOM WILL NOT EXCUSE THIS! CREATING A CLONE OF ME WAS AN IRRATIONAL MISTAKE, YOU KNEW WHAT I COULD BE CAPABLE OF, AND YET YOU WENT AHEAD CLONING THE MOST DANGEROUS THING IN NINJAGO! I WON'T HURT YOU FOR LLOYD AND THE FUTURE'S SAKE, BUT I WILL ADD THIS TO YOUR LONG LIST OF REGRETS! YOU JUST WOKE THE DEVIL FROM THEIR SLEEP, AND THEY'RE READY TO HUNT." I screamed at Garmadon's shocked face, he took a step back from the screen. The screen randomly shut off, and switched to a green leaf blowing in the wind.

"I learned how to control lightning." Lloyd mumbled, the others just hummed in a half-hearted congrats. I remained silent, but nodded all the same. I wasn't exactly in the mood at all to talk. I was drained, tired, and I needed time away from people.

We reached the apartment, and everyone got out.

"I'm sleeping in a tent tonight. Don't bother me unless it's an emergency." I growled out, walking away from the apartment to a nearby alley. I didn't care it was still early in the afternoon. I needed mental rest as I fell asleep in a tent, with nothing else on me.


I woke up the next day, feeling a bit better at the prospect of a fresh slate for the day. I walked out, taking down my tent, and going back to the apartment. Hopefully they were ready for me, because I wasn't sure they would be. My feet almost seemed to drag upon the concrete as I slowly made my way to the apartment. I really did mean what I said, I would rather die than face life being hunted. Besides, what did my life matter in a world that I didn't originate from? I was here to help, then I would be disposable afterwards. I entered the building, heading down to the room. I knocked on the door, and I could feel the tension in the air, despite there being a closed door in the way.

Zane was the one to open the door, letting me in wordlessly. Zane truly was a caring soul, and was able to handle some of the the things I did. Kai and Lloyd sat together in a corner of the room, with Cole staring at the cake batter with a distant look, he looked regretful, or at least disturbed. Jay was in another corner, for once not having a smile on his face. Nya was next to Jay, her face reflecting Jay's. Sensei was standing in the middle of the room, staring at me with his own look of sadness.

She really did know how to hurt the citizens of Ninjago, didn't she?

I opened my mouth to say something, but I stopped. I didn't know what I would say.

It was silent in the room for a few minutes, silent emotions passing through our stares.

"When will it stop?" Jay whimpered, and I turned to face him. He looked almost broken.

"Not for a long time, I'm sorry. I don't know when it will ever be done. I might have to do things I regret. I don't want to do them. I don't want to bear Ninjago and a lost world's past upon my shoulders." I murmured, Jay grimaced at my answer.

Silence returned to the room, no one dared to speak. A silent truce made of sadness took it's place, and so we all just stood and sat where we were.

I did this.

I brought everyone to their limits.

"I wonder if they're dead. I think they're dead, so I've learned to cope. But I still wonder, did they die, or was I just pushed out? I don't know if my grandma, grandpas, aunts, uncles, cousins, and my friends are dead. Are the strangers I'll never meet dead? Is humanity dead? I don't know and I guess it doesn't matter. I'm here, and they're not." I finished, not knowing why I was rambling at this point. Maybe it was to fill the silence, maybe not.

Silence still reigned supreme over the room.

"Please, how can I help? I-I don't want to leave you like this." I begged the Ninja to tell me how I could help.

"Just leave for a while, we need more time." Cole sighed out, and I left the room swiftly, heading out on my own again.

The mailman came by and gave me a letter. I didn't open it, I was not in the mood for it, no matter how much I cared for Vastu. I walked around the city, an atmosphere of guilt around me. People gave me looks of curiosity, but they all moved on. I walked around, passing by the laundromat and the pool I had once been to. Despite being a city, it was still relatively small compared to other cities from home. It didn't take long to traverse the city, moving out and finding my way towards the outskirts of Ninjago City. I was close enough to receive news freely, but far enough as to give the Ninja some space.

I wasn't evil, was I? I was going to go this far for my knowledge? I was willing to go through such gruesome actions?

"But it's the last of your home, and it would destroy Ninjago if it were known." A voice subtly whispered in my head, trying to justify my action. It was right though, if someone knew the events, then the Ninja would easily die. The Ninja were also losing their 'protagonist powers' of sorts. They had to slightly rely on me to help them win. Not much, but any sort of reliance on me was bad. It would only get worse with time, and so then they would rely on me heavily, and I wouldn't know what to do after Day of the Departed. Sure, I knew the next season had to do with time, but nothing else!

Still, I had to either break off ties, or keep working with them. No, not working, living. This was the life-changing decision I had to make.

Stay with the Ninja, and have healthy relations, or leave and become a possible enemy.

My thoughts instantly wandered to Lloyd. I told him I'd be a good sibling, right? I wasn't going to give up family so easily. I just hoped he thought the same, even after what I've done. I'd have to stay anyways just to make sure that I don't become an enemy. I guess I was practically like Ronin, just more violent rather than sneaky.

Yes, I'd stay. I'd live with the Ninja, of course with my own vacations too.

But I still would keep my reliability distance. They will have to learn that I am not reliable. I am there to watch, not join in.

But I'd stay.

And that was all that mattered.


And so she stays...

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