Chapter 24: North

TW; Implied limb cutting and violence.

"Just head North." Kimyona yawned. "We have a camp at the base of the mountain but I doubt that your flying ship is going to make it there. We'll have to get off as soon as we enter Memoir's Reach."

The Ninja, Harumi and Kimyona stood around the LED screen in the control room of the Bounty, while a map of DragonEcho was displayed. Kimyona looked bored (per usual,) her eyes focusing more on studying each of the Ninja than actually explaining the plan that Lloyd had left.

"Hey didn't Wu and Garmadon go there already?" Jay comments, taking a bite of his apple and chewing noisily. Nya gave him a look.

"Misako was there was well." Garmadon spoke. "It was quite breath-taking until that cursed soul came and ruined everything."

"Oh yeah. Totally forgot about that." Kimyona frowned. "Those souls have been intertwined for thousands of years. We just have to go around them."

She pointed a webbed finger to the screen, waving it around.

"I can normally sneak past it since it doesn't sense me, but with all of your guys asses and a big Ol' Oni I don't think I can make it through. It'll take longer but, eventually, you'll make it to the camp."

Garmadon shot her a look.

"Sounds like a plan." Kai smiled. "We're not far from our little green machine now. Everything's gonna be alright."

Kimyona cocked an eyebrow.

"Weird nickname but sure. Should be a two days walk once we get going."

"And to think if we had continued through that forest that we could have found Lloyd faster." Garmadon sighed.

"You guys are so depressing." Kimyona rolled her eyes. "It should take about a day if Vengeance is on our side."

"Vengeance? What do you mean vengeance?" Jay asked.

"First Master." Kimyona glared daggers into Jay. "Vengeance, pride and agony? The Children of War?"

Cole shrugged. "Never heard of 'em." Kimyona took a deep breath, muttering more curses under her breath.

"It's an old legend. The Children of War are the peacekeepers of the Echoes as a whole. Everything, and I mean everything is their responsibility to look after. After the saviours left, aka, you guys, the Children came and cared for the realm. They all had different roles to play. First there was Vengeance, who hunted down the criminals and wrong-doers of the first war and punished them accordingly. Second was Pride, who crowned the new rulers of their respected territories and gave rewards for the heroes that helped end the war. Last was Agony, who provided everyone with shelter and cared for our wounds. Agony did not punish nor reward us for our actions, wanting a fresh start from all the misery that had haunted our lands. Together they formed the Children of War, and kept balance in DragonEcho."

"So… they were people that helped after the war had finished?" Cole asked.

"Immortals, yeah." Kimyona yawned. "Don't even get me started on how that works. I've skipped way too many classes to know."

"Uh...Wow." Kai mumbled. "What happened to them? Where are they now?"

"No one knows." Kimyona shrugged. "There's this lady in the city that can tell you more if you want. Lloyd's close friends with her. I'm sure he can help."

"Thanks Kimyona." Nya smiled warmly.

"Just doing my job." Kimyona shrugged, flicking her snowflake white tail and smiling back.

It was cold. So, so cold. He could almost feel the sensation biting and crawling into his skin, tearing away at his warm. The cold stone floors was smooth under his laid out body. Thick, violet and black chains piled on the floor, long enough for him to reach the door of the small room. They connected his ankles and wrists to the charcoal grey wall, as well as the muzzle that was secured around his mouth. His majesty hadn't bothered to give him new clothes, instead keeping the dishonourably greasy and torn gi he had been wearing when he was found. It was revolting.

It absolutely reeked in cell 001.

A electric shock of pain licked at his wrists and ankles, forcing him out of the little sleep the night before had given him. Something in his chest rumbled as he heard footsteps coming closer. He forced his eyes to open as the sliding door opened and thick boots thudded against the floor. Tired green eyes looked up at unforgiving hazel ones, pleading for mercy. The Prince blew air out his nose and slithered over to the desk on the right side of the room, his tail bobbing up and down as he walked.

He closed his eyes again and allowed the cold back in, trying to feel anything at all.

"I must say it has been disappointing little Prince." His majesty smirked. "We could have been such good friends if it weren't for you and your selfishness."

He knows that isn't true. Deep down he knows that they wouldn't have left him, and that he wasn't selfish for taking the role of the green ninja or the gold ninja. They couldn't blame him for that, right?

He didn't have a choice. (But he did want to feel the fame and fortune of being the Green Ninja, no?) He wouldn't have minded to give Kai or Nya the role. (Would he be forgotten then?) He couldn't say no to the role. (And yet his father said no to the temptations that his Oni blood had given him?)

"We both know it's true." Hazel eyes watched as he pulled on the chains. "You wouldn't be here for your powers. They wouldn't have left you. Your father wouldn't have disowned you. Your mother wouldn't have abandoned you. It's true."

His majesty tore his eyes away from the beast and back to the plastic gloves he was placing in his gloves. Prince Sol picked up a copper knife and turned back to him, slowly making his way to the cowering figure. He stopped when the beast started shaking and he was just inches away from its pathetic shape on the ground. He extended his free hand and traced the monster's cheek.

"So, all of this is deserved punishment isn't it?" He lifted the monster's chin. "All of this could have been avoided if you hadn't failed at being the green ninja." He let go and stood up, rising the blade above his head and plunging it into the monster's arm.

Author notes

Finally getting this chapter out!!! Yippee!

Sorry it's so short school is an asshole.

Yes, the monster is Lloyd. (Duh.)

Yes, you'll get to find out more about Prince Sol.

I'm conflicted on wherever to go for a more Lloyd-centric path or a more Kimyona-centric path for the next chapter, but I might be focusing on those two too much.

Which character hasn't gotten a lot of love recently in this fic? Pls let me know if you'd like any other characters!

But that's all for now. Leave any comments or theories below and I'll be sure to read them :3

STAY SAFE AND HYDRATED