The car was once again filled with questions.

"But dad, why do we have to visit The Ninja? Can't we do something fun?" Harumi whined. While her view on Garmadons legacy had changed ever since her initial meeting of him, she knew she would likely never be able to forgive The Ninja for failing to keep her family safe. Let alone stomach the idea of being trained by them.

"You think The Ninja are boring? Why so?" Garmadon asked, curious as to the reason. Harumi had not displayed such a dismissal of The Ninja before. At least, not one that huge.

"Well I guess they aren't boring, but what if they don't like me?"

"They'll love you Harumi, I promise. There's nothing wrong with you at all. But still, you seem really afraid. Are you ok?"

"I'm fine, ok?" Harumi lied. She didn't lie often, but she enjoyed doing so. It was like creating a little secret for herself to giggle at. But lying to Garmadon felt wrong. Somehow.

"Be honest. You can talk to me when you need something. Are you sure you're alright? Now. What about The Ninja scares you?"

"I guess.. I just wish that they could have saved my real mom and dad sometimes. They saved other people, but not them. I'm afraid they'll be angry if I tell them that.."

"I'm so sorry Harumi.. I know it must've been hard. But remember, without The Ninja, the streets of Ninjago would be a lot more dangerous. "

"I know, I know. But it still doesn't mean I'm not mad about it. It still hurts a lot."

"Maybe it'd help to be able to meet them yourself and reserve judgment until after?"

"Well, ok.. Can we maybe get ice cream after?"

"Sure. What flavor?"

"Mint chocolate please Mr, Garmadon. The other girls at the orphanage think it's gross, but can I have it anyways?"

"Of course." Garmadon smiled. As soon as they finished their conversation, they arrived at Sensei Wu's Academy.

Wus Academy was built off of the remains of what used to be Darkleys Boarding School. All of its previous students, whether for better or for worse, were put into classes with either of the four Ninja, Nya, and when none of the five were available, Dareth.

The rooms were lined with various posters and drawings, all of which celebrated the recent defeat of The Overlord. Strangely enough, any of said drawings that depicted Lloyd in any way would mysteriously be taken down the next day, without a trace. Sensei Wu had a sneaking suspicion as to which of his pupils had done so, but he decided to address the issue after Harumi's visit, rather than before.

The four Ninja, Nya, Dareth, Wu, and some specially selected students waited inside the halls, expecting the distinctive figure of Garmadon and his new daughter soon enough. Aside from Wu himself, none of them had seen much of Garmadon after Lloyd's funeral. He was as stoic as he was wise, with knowledge from decades of fighting and training. And all who stood in the hall respected him.

"So! You guys actually called me here for a meeting with the Garmadude? Heh! Talk about moving up in the world! So I'm one of you now? Dareth said, excitedly putting his hands together in anticipation.

"What?- No! We just called you here so Harumi knows which one of us she can beat up if she ever transfers here!" Jay said, as Nya bumped him with her shoulder. "Hey! You told me to be more honest!"

"Ah well. A guy can dream, huh? Anyways Wu, what'd you want us to do again?"

Wu started pacing in front of his crowd. "We are all here to welcome Garmadon and Harumi to the school. This place will prove instrumental in helping her unlock her elemental power, and I expect each of you to maximize your time with her when she is around."

Kai raised his hand. "Question Sensei, but how exactly does this girl have an elemental power? I thought you said we were the only ones who could harness them?"

Wu stroked his beard, contemplating how to proceed. While he knew the topic of other elemental masters would need to be brought up someday, Harumi complicated things. "You are all still special. You each carry the elemental powers of creation itself. However, there are others like you that can channel alternative powers and abilities. However, their whereabouts have been lost, ever since the dissolution of The Elemental Alliance."

"And what power does she have?"

"We aren't sure yet. Her former home observed several oddities that may have been caused by an unharnessed ability that she had no knowledge of. Though she does indeed have one, from what my brother has observed. As you trained Lloyd to master your powers, help her as best as possible to master her own."

"But master, Lloyd was different! He had all of our powers combined into one, and we don't even know what Harumi has! How do you expect us to help her?"

"You wear the clothes of a teacher, yet you still think like a Ninja. But to balance both paths would mean a better future for her, and you."

"Thanks. That sure helped." Kai muttered, as Dareth tried to comprehend Wu's statement.

"Oh! I get it! I think.. Anyways, what do we do after that?"

"Kai and Nya will show the two around the school, with the help of these students. It's a large location, so a tour will be most welcome."

Kai was about to object, but Nya cut him off before he could say anything else. "We would be honored Sensei. When do they get here?"

Sensei looked at his small watch, hiding his face beneath his straw hat. It was a habit of his that was carried over from his father. He enjoyed the shade the hat provided, and focused on the watch. "About now."

Garmadon and Harumi walked through the door. Harumi clung to Garmadons leg, while still trying to appear to be somewhat proper. She wasn't usually shy, but meeting The Ninja to her was like meeting a group of incompetent policemen who constantly let criminals get away. Or serpents who only survive by chasing each other around until one accidentally happens upon prey. Garmadon made it easier, but she was still afraid.

Wu approached, keeping a short distance from Garmadon and Harumi so as not to scare her.

"Welcome! I am Sensei Wu. My brother has told me a lot about you so far over the phone. You are?"

"H- Harumi. It's nice to meet you Sensei Wu."

"It is nice to meet you too. These are my wonderful Ninja." Wu pointed to the distinct figures of Kai, Jay, Zane, Cole, and even Nya and Dareth. "In time, I'm sure you'll be well acquainted with each of them."

"I like what you've done with Darkleys, brother! I never liked the old atmosphere." Garmadon said, looking around.

"Indeed. I-" Before Wu could finish, one of the secretaries came running from behind the corner.

"Sir! You need to get over to the front of the school gates now! The press discovered that Garmadon was visiting, and they've been banging at the gates!"

"But school is out for today! How did they find out?" Wu questioned. Dareths face turned into a slightly concerned expression. Before he even said a word, everyone could tell he somehow had something to do with it.

"Hey! So uh- remember how you said not to tell anyone, since, yknow it'd be a big deal for Lord Garmadon himself coming here?"

"Yes? And what happened to said promise, Dareth?" Wu questioned.

"Hah- funny story! I was about to tell my mom, and I swear, it was only my mom, when I accidentally sent it to all of my contacts!"

"And how many people were in your contacts list?"

"Let's see. There's my mom, obviously, all you guys, my trophy make- I mean- trophy provider, my cousin in metalonia, his wife clara, the guys at the dojo, my friends at Ninjago City News, and-"

"You sent that message to the news!? It's no wonder they all got here so fast. Probably here to try and pawn some cheap story about "Lord Garmadons Grand Return." Or something silly like that!"

"It was an accident! Can't we just pull the fire alarm and pretend the buildings are gonna blow up or something?"

"No. We will deal with them directly. Brother, Jay, Zane, Cole, and Dareth, you'll come help me deal with the reporters outside. Kai and Nya, you give Harumi the tour.

"Wait- i'm not sure im comfortable with leaving Harumi with-" But before Garmadon could finish, he was dragged alongside the rest of them out to the front of the school. Leaving Harumi with the siblings, Kai and Nya.

"I guess I'm ready for the tour maybe. Who are you?"

"I'm Nya! And this is Kai. Don't mind him if he's a bit grumpy today. Master Wu made him wake up extra early so he wouldn't miss the tour."

"Sis!" Kai angrily responded. Prompting a giggle from Harumi. The three set off on a massive tour of the academy. The school's layout was relatively unchanged, however, most of the traps that had given Darkleys such an infamous reputation had been dismantled, or filled with concrete. Still, what little remained were repurposed into secret escape hatches, with the express purpose of being used in the case of some kind of invasion. Harumi used the time she had with the siblings to ask them several questions. Most of which were out of preconceived obligation to live up to some sort of reputation.

"So your brother can use elemental power, but you can't?" Harumi said respectfully, not wanting to anger Nya.

"Yup. Whenever I ask Wu about it, he just says my time will come someday. But he never tells me what that means?"

"Dont worry sis! At least you have your cooler older brother to make up for it." Kai said, flexing his muscles.

"You aren't cool! You look like a big cherry!" Harumi said, pointing at laughing at Kais red suit. He had hoped he would be able to wear it during the school year, but Wu had insisted he wear something a bit more traditional.

"What? I do not!" Kai retorted. "Anyways, where do you come from? How'd you end up in an orphanage?"

"Jeez Kai! Maybe that's not a good question to ask-"

"It's ok. I lived in the orphanage because my parents died in a building." Harumi said bluntly.

"Oh.. That's horrible. I'm so sorry Harumi. We lost our parents at a young age too." Nya replied, trying to help Harumi feel a bit better.

"Huh? Did they die in a building too?"

"Well, we don't know. One day, they just vanished. We never found out what happened to them." Nya said.

"Did they run away?"

"No!" Kai yelled out. It was an impulsive response, and he immediately attempted to correct it. "Sorry, I'm a bit touchy on this subject. I like to think they didn't. Point is, we had to help each other grow up. We were not lucky like you."

"That sounds sad.. At least you're doing ok now?" Harumi reasoned.

"Yea!" Nya said. "Anyways, this is basically the entirety of the school. We should go check in to see if everyone else was able to get those reporters out of here."

The three walked to the front, observing as the group reasoned the rest of the reporters off of the school premises. While Dareth, Wu, Garmadon, and Jay talked to them, Zane and Cole created a diversion in the distance that'd draw their attention away. Approaching them, Harumi ran up to her fathers side and once again hugged his leg close.

"I'm so sorry Harumi. I lost grip of your hand-"

"It's ok. Are those news people gone?"

"Yep! Used my suave charm to get them out of here. Trust me little gal, I was like a real Ninja. Only I fought them off with my outstanding looks. Could learn a thing or too." Dareth said.

"I could call you a lot of things, but suave isn't one of them." Kai said, walking back inside, as Nya followed.

"I think it's about time to go. Don't worry, I'll come back to see the rest of the school later, brother." Garmadon said.

"If you say so. It was nice to meet you Harumi! I look forward to training you in the ways of The Ninja later on. Have a lovely day!"

"Thank you Uncle Wu!" Harumi said, as she and Garmadon walked through the school to get to their car at the back. Wu resisted the urge to shed a tear. The last person to ever call him that was a distant memory. Pleasant, but distant.

As Harumi passed by the restrooms, she decided she would use them while she had the chance. The ride from here to the city was surprisingly long. "I'll be there in a second, I need to use the restroom!"

"Alright. Try not to get lost on the way back to the front, ok?"

"Ok!" Harumi replied, as she prepared to walk through the door. But before she could, she heard the now familiar voices of Kai and Nya off in the distance, as she instead diverted her attention to locating them.

As she peeked around a corner, she saw Kai and Nya standing around in one of the hallways of the first floor. Nya was leaning against the wall, while Kai stood nearby. The two appear to have been talking about something before Harumi had gotten there.

"I still don't like any of this. If Wu doesnt even know what she can do, I don't trust her." Kai said, focusing on the ball of fire.

"She's still young. She hasn't done anything yet!"

"That doesn't mean I'm not mad about it. Garmadon getting off the hook for everything he did was one thing, but replacing Lloyd two months after he dies is scummy, and you know it."

"He's grieving. Besides, she deserves to have a home as much as we did."

"I dont give a fuck, Nya! Why are none of you taking this seriously!?" Kai yelled. Again. Harumi's eyebrows lowered. She knew very well what Kai had just said.

"The question is, why aren't you!? That was a cruel thing to say Kai! You're lucky she wasn't here to hear it." Right as she heard that, the sounds of running footsteps could be heard from the distance.

"... Oh no-" Kai said, realizing what he had done. But it was far too late to take back what he had said.

The ride to the city was silent. It took Harumi a while to internalize everything Kai had said. Not only did it reinforce her previous stigma towards The Ninja, but it made her realize, or at least assume, just how careful she would have to be if she wanted to remain Garmadon's daughter. She would stop at nothing to keep from ending up in that orphanage again. Or even worse, on the streets. Even if that meant finding a way to spite that arrogant prick.