Chapter 5: A soft remorse

Kai's POV

I'm stuck in bed. I'm stuck in this awful bed while everyone else is trying to find Lloyd, or any trace of him. I've waited so long for this. I've waited to finally see Lloyd alive, and well. Sometimes I dreamed about Lloyd, about him coming back and taking the responsibility of leader once again. I roll onto my side and stare at the wall. It should of been me that day. Lloyd only fell because we swapped roles. Only because I was a coward and begged him. He was weak. He had fought too hard to save us, and now, he had paid the price for our wrongs. For mine.

Harumi's POV

Garmadon, Wu & Misako took the Dragon Cruiser, (which was apparently a smaller version of the Land bounty, whatever the hell that was,) and looked for Lloyd in the west, while we looked east through the forest. Zane and Skylor decided to stay and look after Kai, who had a fractured skull and a broken arm.

How in the world did I loose to these guys?

"So you're telling me that this place was still in the medieval era last time you came?"

"Right." Says Cole, trudging through the mud. "It was like going back in time."

We continue through the forest. Cole holds up the map. "We should be there any minute now. Just saying, we can't show any of our elemental powers, or even mention them. No magic, it's against the law." We turn right and come into view with the village, or rather the city. As I stand before the mesmerising sight, I'm struck by the incredible sight that unfolds before me. The city has towering walls, adorned with weathered stone and formidable battlements, give an imposing sense of grandeur. Even from afar I see the turrets of the castle in the centre of the city, it's indigo shillings practically glowing in the daylight.

"It's beautiful…" I whisper.

"It's, uh, very, very different to when we were here last time. There were only a few buildings, not no castle." Nya states.

"Weird… all in 5 years?" Remarked Cole.

"Um, I'm not a math guy or anything, but I'm pretty sure that shouldn't be possible."Mumbles Jay.

"It shouldn't." Whispers Nya, she shook her head. "Let's not get distracted. Keep your heads down and search for clues."

We all nod. I walk beside Nya as we approach the draw-bridge, and I spot two guards camping the outside of the wall.

"Why would they have guards? I thought you said-"

"They're at war again?!" Hissed Jay. "But- it's only been 5 years! Why would they be at war?"

"Jay, this is the Echo Realm. Everything here repeats remember? Yet again, they said that it doesn't happen too often."

"Welp, we'll just help them get out of this war then too!" Cole ram up to the guards.

"Wait! Cole! You don't know what you're doing!" Warns Nya.

"Hey there, name's Cole, uh, would you happen to know anything about a guy name Lloyd Garmadon? He's a friend of ours and he went missing about 5 years ago." One of the guards looks to the other and shrugs.

"No sorry dude."

"Uh, do you mind if we take a look inside the city?" Asks Cole.

"Yeah sure, but we are going to have to put a tracker on each one of you. Sorry, kings orders."

"No offence but if your friend went missing 5 years ago shouldn't you of looked for him then?" The other guard presses a button in the wall and it dispenses 4 small hexagon shaped trackers.

"Oh yeah, we didn't know he was alive, so you know." The guard hands him his tracker and hands one to the rest of us.

"Weird. Anyway, enjoy the City of Erastone! Hope you guys find Lloyd!"

"Thanks! See you on the way out!"

We walk into the city, the wooden bridge creaking beneath us.

"That guy was way too friendly. Especially for a guard." I hiss.

"Not everyone is a bag guy, Harumi. I'm sure he just wanted to help." Cole says, being uncomfortably friendly.

"Yeah, right. If we're in a another realm, that mysteriously gets a whole city built in 5 years, then surely we shouldn't be suspicious about it? And another thing, why are they so friendly? Aren't they at war? Shouldn't they be making sure that we're not spies?"

"That's rich coming from you…" mutters Jay.

"Don't worry Harumi, as soon as we find Lloyd we'll be out of this city and back to Ninjago." Reminded Cole.

"I guess…" I growl. This place is too friendly, they're clearly hiding something. If only I could get into the castle, or one of the army bases. Maybe then I could interrogate some of the soldiers, and find why they're so happy.

"I know! What if we go to the city's administration building or library to search for information about Lloyd's disappearance?"

"Great thinking Nya!" Sang Jay. "But, which way do we go?"

"If the guards were that friendly, I'm sure that the rest of the people are too!" Hums Cole, walking up to one of the shop keepers. Jay stands in front of him.

"You took the last one, now it's my turn!"

Cole rolls his eyes and gestures to the shop keeper.

"Be my guest Motor-mouth." He teases.

"Have they always been like that?" I ask Nya.

"Yup. Two idiots fighting over the strangest things you'll ever know. It's really annoying." Nya sighs

"I can tell…I know I've done some stuff in the past and I just wanted to say sorry."

"That's it?"

"I really mean it! Before the uh… incident, Lloyd was teaching me how to you know… act like a normal person? I know you probably hate me but I just wanted to get that off my chest. We'll be under the same roof until we find Lloyd and I couldn't stand it." Nya looks at me for a second.

"I don't hate you. But I don't like you either. I dislike you in the most polite way possible. But, if you help us to find Lloyd, and don't play with his strings anymore, then I might just tolerate you. Maybe."

"Thank you. I'll make sure you won't regret it." Jay and Cole give us a look.

"While you ladies were chatting we got info on where to go! Apparently there's a library in the middle of the city, we need to head there."

"Great!" Beamed Nya. "Let's go, hopefully we'll get information before dark."