Harumi and Lloyd traversed across the rooftops, like it was an insane parkour course, as they each carried a bag of goods for the Poor with them, "You've learned some moves since I last saw you." Lloyd commented as they ran over a garden house.
"I could show them to you, one on one?" Harumi offered as they grinded over some roof tiles.
"I would love that!" Lloyd said with hearts in his eyes as they jumped off and Harumi laughed before they saw a ledge up ahead and skidded to a halt to see a big drop with only the lantern wires to traverse across, "You've gotta be kidding me." Lloyd said.
Harumi just giggled, backed up, and then ran and jumped off the ledge and did some acrobatic jumps and spins across the wires before grabbing onto the ladder and climbing up and flipping onto the roof, "Ta-da!" She with her arms out.
Lloyd looked at her in amazement, "Whoa." he breathed out before he looked down.
"Oh come on Lloyd," Harumi said as he looked up to see her grinning at him teasingly, "You can face down the embodiment of all the evil of Ninjago but you're afraid of heights?" She teased.
"I am not afraid of heights! And I'll prove it!" Lloyd boasted with a smile as he jumped over some wires as he then landed on the ladder but it was much older than it looked and Lloyd's weight caused it to break. "Whoa!" He called out as he was left dangling from the ladder and holding his bag by the feet as the people below gasped.
"Lloyd!" Harumi called out as she dropped the bag and grabbed onto Lloyd before the ladder broke as she pulled him up to safety, "Are you okay?" She asked as Lloyd bent forward and panted.
Once he caught his breath Lloyd looked at Harumi. "I'm fine. I guess I didn't time that right." He said with an embarrassed smile.
"That, or you put on some pounds since I last saw you." Harumi teased as she patted Lloyd's stomach with a giggle.
"Hey! I've been exercising!" Lloyd defended playfully as Harumi laughed. "Don't we have some less fortunate people to help right now?" He asked as he picked up his bag again.
"I know. I'm just messing with you." Harumi said as she picked up her bag. "We should hurry, once the guards realize that my room is empty, they will…" She was cut off when they heard Hutchin's voice.
"The princess is gone! Find her!" Hutchin's voice called out as the two cringed.
"We gotta hurry. Come on!" Harumi urged as she and Lloyd flipped from the building and into the ground as they went deeper into the city.
A little bit later, they arrived in the part of the city where the less fortunate or homeless live. They walked across the wooden walkways and Lloyd saw three people standing over a barrel fire to keep warm. "I still can't believe you sneak out to help these people,"
They then walked up to an old woman and a little girl as Lloyd passed some food to the woman and Harumi gave the little girl a china doll and some warm clothes for both. "Some things are easier to do when you're not a princess." Harumi started as she and Lloyd continued. "If I asked my parents, they would never allow it. I know they mean well but, these people are hungry, cold, and miserable and we have so much in the palace that we don't use." She said as she opened the bag.
"So you do this often?" Lloyd asked as children started coming over and he and Harumi started handing out toys, food, and new clothing.
"Most of the time. When I could find an opening to sneak out and get the supplies, I take the first chance I get." Harumi said as some kids started shoving to try and get something, "Patience little ones. There's enough for each of you." She assured them before the bags were empty.
The children either run back to their families with their gifts or start playing and laughing, the sight brings a smile to Harumi's face, "This sight is what makes the risks I take worth it." She said as she and Lloyd started walking.
"Rumi, I've been wondering, do you enjoy being a princess at all?" Lloyd asked in wonder.
Harumi sighed. "To be honest, I'm not sure. I mean, everyone thinks being a princess is supposed to be easy and wonderful, and I guess it's okay, but a lot of the time, it's really hard for me, especially during my princess training." She explained as she remembered all the things she had to do as a princess. "Sometimes I wish my family wasn't royalty, that we could just live a normal life and be like everyone else." She said.
"Huh. Tell me about it." Lloyd said in agreement before he corrected himself. "N-Not being a princess. I mean being the Golden Ninja. I mean everyone thought that all I had to do was find my True Potential, join my sister to defeat our father, and bring peace to Ninjago but, they don't realize how hard it is for us." He said as leaned on the railing.
Harumi smiled as she took off her hood, "I know you and I never asked for the roles that were just given to us. We never chose these mantles we hold," She said as she stood next to Lloyd, "But if we look at what's bad about them we'll see them as needless burdens and fail to see the good we can do with our roles." She reminded her best friend, "For example, if I don't see the good in being a princess, I might not be able to help the people as Empress someday."
"I know. It's hard to live a normal life or to help others your way." Lloyd said in understanding as he turned to her. "At least I get to wear a mask, but you Rumi-" He trailed off since Harumi had shown her face in public.
Harumi gave a small smile at Lloyd. "I wear my own masks, Lloyd. Sometimes painted, and when I don't, I get caught with my dress down for boys who get a little too curious," She teased, reminding Lloyd about how she caught him peeping on her earlier.
Lloyd gave a sheepish smile and a chuckle. "In my defense, it has been a whole year since we last saw each other and last spoke. But if I'm being honest, you looked even more amazing." He said as the two gave long looks.
"I'm glad." Harumi smiled as they moved closer.
But then, they heard glass breaking as they broke apart and Harumi quickly put on her hood as they turned to see some kids being harassed by a gang of street thugs.
Harumi frowned at the bullies, "Ugh, it's people like them who turn my stomach." She said in disgust.
"You and me both," Lloyd said in the same tone. "These people have enough to worry about. They shouldn't have to be bullied by low-level street thugs." He said as he clenched his fist as he was about to get out to help the kids before Harumi stopped him.
"Don't. I know you want to help them, I do too, but if you try and stop them, you might draw the attention of Hutchins and the guards." Harumi told him before she noticed the painted symbol on the bullies' backs, "Wait, isn't that…" She trailed off in realization.
Lloyd realized it too, "Yeah, the Symbol of the Sons of Garmadons." He finished in shock.
Harumi shook her head in disbelief, "I can't believe this, after everything your father gave to save us all, this is how people repay him? Reminding the world of the life he had no say in?" She asked, appalled at how these people disrespected Garmadon's memory.
"It's bad enough that my father is gone, but now these guys are respecting the side of him he despised most of all? They need to be reminded of who my father really was." Lloyd growled before Harumi grabbed again.
"Lloyd, no," Harumi said as she pushed Lloyd back gently. "You said it yourself. They are only low-level thugs. They don't know anything about your father. They only take orders. It's the person that gives them the orders that worries my parents." She said in concern.
Lloyd nodded in agreement, in his experience with bad guys, low-level grunts like these bikers were controlled by a much more dangerous and deceptive leader, "I know, but remember, never put off until tomorrow what can be done today," He recited one of his uncle's famous words of wisdom as they watched the poor children being harassed, "We have to do something."
Just then, a vehicle came speeding by as Lloyd and Harumi recognized the details and color scheme, as well as the symbol on the hood.
"Or you can let Samurai X take care of it," Harumi said in surprise.
Samurai X then jumped from their vehicle as he faced the S. . "Step away from the pedestrians." they demanded as they drew their sword and got into a ready stance.
"Samurai X! Let's split!" An S.O.G goon told his buddies as they immediately ran away, knowing they were no match for Samurai X.
The crowd then cheered to Samurai X as Lloyd and Harumi watched with a smile. "It's always good to know the Ninja aren't the only ones protecting Ninjago," Lloyd said with a smile.
"Remember kids, look out for one another and stay safe." Samurai X said to the kids as they jumped back into their ride and drove off.
"Looks like this new Samurai is doing just as good as Nya did," Harumi said with a smile. "I wonder who's behind the mask this time." She wondered.
"I wish I knew. Even Nya doesn't know who they are since they kept changing their voice to keep their identity a secret." Lloyd said since they still didn't know who the new Samurai X was or if they were a man or woman, "Anyway, Rumi, we should get back home."
"Yes, you should be home, you Highness." Hutchins's voice said as the two turned and saw him walking up towards them.
"Ah, Hutchins! How did you-" Harumi said in surprise.
"May I ask what you're doing outside the palace?" Hutchins questioned before she could finish as he looked for an explanation.
"Rumi and I were just going for a walk." Lloyd tried to explain.
"Rumi?" Hutchins asked in repulse before turning to Harumi, demanding an explanation. "A walk?"
"It was my idea. Please, don't be angry with Lloyd." Harumi said, defending her friend. "I just wanted us to catch up while I was out this time and-" Harumi covered her mouth when she realized what she had let slip and Lloyd cringed as well.
"This time?!" Hutchins exclaimed before taking a breath and looking at Harumi stoically, "It's troubling to see you two are on a catching-up basis but now I learn that this isn't even the first time you've snuck out. The streets are not safe at night, your Highness." He reminded as he gestured to the streets. "I must insist you returned with me at once." He firmly said.
"But-" Harumi tried to argue before Hutchins grabbed her arm.
"I said at once!" He repeated, "And don't think your parents won't hear of this either." He added as he dragged Harumi off.
Harumi turned to Lloyd with a worried look as he looked back at her before she turned away sadly and Hutchins shot a smug smile at Lloyd as the Golden Ninja looked at the Master at Arms in suspicion.
The next morning, the Ninja started their morning training routine before they resumed their guard work as they spared with each other, Kai with Zane, Jay with Nya, Cole with Rose, Demir with Morro, and Lloyd with Lydie.
Lydie blocked a sword strike from Lloyd with her Kamayari as she smiled at her brother, "Well, sounds like someone had an interesting night." She commented before knocking her brother's swords back and delivering a kick.
"Yeah, moonlit walk on the Canal," Cole started as he smashed his hammer at Rose before she dodged, "Racing over the rooftops, sharing food and toys and catching up on old times." He continued before turning and swinging as Rose jumped, "Sounds a lot like a date." He said as he shouldered his hammer before swinging his hammer at Rose and pushing her back.
Lloyd blocked his sister's strike as he looked to Cole, "It was not a date." he denied.
Zane then spoke as he and Kai spared one another. "A date, a social or romantic engagement often involving a meal or an intimate setting." He translated.
"Ha ha." Jay chuckled as he and Nya traded blows. "You can't argue with a Nindroid."
"And I can see how you fell for her," Morro said with a small smirk as he blocked Demir's strike. "I may have been inside your head, but hearing what she can do and hearing it from you now makes more sense." He said with a chuckle.
"Look, if you really like Harumi, you're gonna have to step up your game," Kai suggested as he withdrew his swords and engaged Zane in close range as he did Spinjtizu as Zane dodged Kai's tornado.
"What do you mean, game?" Lloyd asked as he pushed Cole back.
"It means one's ability to charm," Zane answered as he dodged Kai's Spinjitzu again and Kai stopped in front of Zane with his back turn as he took a breather. "You need to convince her why you're the most logical mate." He said as he took the chance and shot an arrow at Kai which he quickly blocked with his swords as the Fire Ninja was pushed on his back.
Cole then pushed Rose back and turned to Lloyd with some advice "If you wanna impress her, Lloyd, you gotta act tough." Cole suggested as he put away his hammer and slammed his fists together as his earth punch appeared. "Like flex your muscles and stuff. Break things." He said as he slammed the ground before he did Spinjitzu and destroyed a training dummy before stopping a wiping his forehead, "Phew, it's what got Seliel to fall for me." He said confidently.
"No way," Jay spoke next as Lloyd turned to him. "You gotta make her laugh. Just ask Nya. She couldn't resist my sense of humor." He said as he and Nya exchanged blows before their weapons caught each other.
"Hoo-aah!" Nya cried as she flipped Jay onto his back in front of her. "It's an acquired taste."
Morro scoffed, "Humor? Please, the key is you gotta be slick." He said with a grin as he struck Demir with a jump and upside-down claw spin, "Do stuff like, brushing her hair out of her face, sending a wink her way, or flirting and teasing her till she blushes. Trust me, your sister couldn't resist my pick-up lines." He assured as he landed.
Lydie blocked Lloyd's strike as she turned to her boyfriend with a grin, "Is that right?" She asked while spinning her Kamayari.
"Hah, please, if you want the girl you gotta be sincere," Demir told him, throwing his metal chakrams at Morro, "You need to show her you trust her with your secrets and fears, while promising to keep hers," He added while using his powers to redirect his weapons to hit Morro from behind, "Take it from Rose, she loves the honesty."
"Well, not exactly love but more like appreciate it," Rose corrected as she did a leg sweep at Cole while slashing her fans at him.
"Don't listen to them," Kai spoke as he sat up with a smirk. "You gotta act cool. Like you don't even care." He added as he flipped over to Zane. "That's what got Skylor to come to me."
"But I do care about Harumi," Lloyd said before he realized what he said as his eyes shrunk. "Oops," he muttered.
"Aha! So he admits it." Jay called out as they all looked at Lloyd smirking.
Lloyd whipped his head around frantically while blushing, "No, no! I just, I mean! Wh-what I was trying to say was-uh, um?" He stammered as the others looked at him smugly before sighing in defeat, "Okay, you got me, I guess I do kinda like her." He admitted.
"So the truth finally comes out," Kai said proudly as he crossed his arms, "So Lloyd, whose game plan are you gonna follow?" He asked.
"Okay, stop. You boys are really not helping him." Nya spoke to the boys as she shook her head and placed a hand on her hip.
"Perhaps you should leave how to win a woman's heart to the women?" Rose suggested with a look.
"I agree. Your advice is not gonna cut it." Lydie as she, Rose and Nya looked at Lloyd. "Look, Lloyd. You know Harumi's been your best friend since the day you met, you helped her get through the loss of her parents and been there for her when she needed you. That means she's got plenty of reasons to like you."
"So?" Lloyd asked in confusion.
Nya smiled as she walked up to him, "So, just be yourself." She explained with her hand up, "What's the point in getting Harumi to like you if she doesn't fall for the real you."
"Trust us, it is much easier to be yourself than trying to be someone you're not." Rose finished with a smile.
Lloyd thought about this and smiled, seeing this was probably the best way, "Well, what are you waiting for? Go tell her." Lydie ushered.
Lloyd blinked as he turned to the others and they all gave him encouraging looks. He took a breath and nodded, "Alright thanks, guys." He said before going back inside.
The others watched him leave with proud smiles, "We're gonna go see the confession?" Nya asked.
"Yes, we are," Lydie answered while still smiling.
Lloyd walked through the hallways, putting his sword away as he looked for Harumi before he was near the throne room and heard voices.
"What were you thinking, Harumi?" The Emperor asked as Lloyd crept up behind the door as he watched the family argue. "Sneaking out of the palace and going into the city, behind our backs for years?"
"But Father, I was only trying to help the people." Harumi protested, sounding upset.
"Harumi, you are a member of the Royal Family of Ninjago." The Empress said in disapproval but much calmer.
"You can't just go gallivanting off into the city whenever you want," The Emperor said strictly, "It's undignified."
"Not to mention dangerous." The Empress added as Harumi walked up as she clenched her fists.
"But I was with Lloyd! A hero of Ninjago and my best friend! I trust him!" Harumi explained frustratedly.
"That doesn't matter, Harumi! You need to remember the boy is a Ninja and you are a princess!" The Emperor advised sternly as Lloyd looked away in slight hurt.
"But-" Harumi tried to argue, close to tears but the Empress held her hands.
"Harumi, try to understand, while we appreciated that you were trying to help our people, and that Master Lloyd was there to protect you, the world can be cruel and dangerous, we couldn't bear to lose you," The Empress said gently, "We can see that he is a very kind and noble young man, but as Protector of Ninjago he cannot be in the palace as your Emperor one day while giving up his duty of fighting for Ninjago out there." She explained.
Lloyd gasped silently as he just realized that if he and Harumi became a couple, he would become Emperor someday but had to sacrifice his life as a Ninja in place of it.
Harumi looked down in sadness. "I'm sorry. I dishonored our name and myself." She apologized while bowing her head in tears.
The Emperor sighed, "No Harumi, we are sorry," He said while holding Harumi's shoulder, "We know that the role of Princess is not one you enjoy, but we all have a duty to Ninjago and yours is to one day help our people as Empress, just as Master Lloyd's is to protect us and the land his grandfather created. Your hearts mustn't interfere with your duties." He explained.
"Which is why we believe that it may be best if you and Master Lloyd remain on a professional level until the danger has passed and he and the Ninja continue their quest for Master Wu, do you understand?" The Empress asked gently.
Harumi gave teary eyes as she gave a sob and nodded, "I, I understand, Mother. I'll be in my room." She wept as she walked out of the throne room as the Emperor and Empress looked at her sympathetically, seeing their daughter was very in love with Lloyd.
Harumi walked out the door and she saw Lloyd next to the door as she gasped before she looked at him in dread, "Lloyd, did, did you hear that?" She asked worriedly.
"I, I," Lloyd tried to answer but Harumi took it as a 'yes' and looked away.
"I, I'm sorry." She whimpered before she ran away crying and covering her face.
"Rumi…" Lloyd said as he reached out to Harumi as she ran to her room in tears.
Hutchins then came behind him with a stern look. "You are merely the royal family's temporary bodyguard. So, do not get your hopes of them seeing you worthy to be the next Emperor of Ninjago," Hutchins warned the golden Ninja. "So, if you know what's good for you, stay away from the Princess!" He ordered as he walked away.
Lloyd bowed his head sadly as the Ninja peeked out from behind the wall, having heard everything, "Hey Lloyd, you okay?" Lydie asked as they walked over to him.
"That sounded pretty intense," Cole said, crossing his arms in concern.
"What happened?" Nya asked.
"I can be myself, but not everyone can be so lucky." Lloyd said solemnly, "And some people don't see a Ninja being an Emperor."
The Ninja looked at him sympathetically before they heard the Emperor, "Master Lloyd, we wish to speak with you." He called as the Ninja flinched and Lloyd stiffened.
"Uh-oh," Jay muttered in concern.
"B-U-S-T-E-D." Demir said before Rose elbowed him as he shrugged helplessly. "Well what was I supposed to say?"
Lloyd gulped and entered the throne room as the Empress and Emperor stood before him. "Master Lloyd, we know that you and our daughter had an 'interesting' evening last night." The Emperor said with a stoic look.
"Y-yes," Lloyd answered as the other Ninja peeked from the doors. "We were just out for a walk and giving some food to the poor while catching up on what we've missed." He honestly said.
The Empress looked at Lloyd with a studied expression, "Master Lloyd, we understand that your feelings for Harumi are more than simple friendship," She said simply. "So please tell us, what are your feelings for her and what are your intentions of her giving you her heart?"
Lloyd blushed a bit with wide eyes and darted them around and turned to the Empress who was trying to see if she could find the answer without him saying anything. He then sighed, "Well, as you know, me and Harumi have always been close, since I met her after the Great Devourer, which I had a hand in unleashing, was defeated. And I can sympathize with her since I was once in her shoes before I met my friends and family. Before I became a Ninja, I hardly knew my father or met my mother while I was raised in Darkly's Boarding School." He explained as Lydie looked away as she went through the same thing.
The Emperor and Empress were surprised by that. "You were once an orphan like Harumi?" The Emperor asked in surprise.
"I wouldn't lie. It was a time I'm not fond of." Lloyd answered with his head down. "So I could understand what Harumi was going through, to lose everything you have for no reason other than fate and I didn't want her to suffer the way I did, thinking there was no one who cared for or wanted help her, so Lydie and I helped her get through her loss and eventually she was adopted by you two and during the time of my training we became friends." He added.
"We can see how you and Harumi have come to know each other so well, but what is it about our daughter that attracts your attention?" The Empress asked.
Lloyd took a breath as he thought of the right words. "I don't know. Whenever I'm with her I just feel so, whole. Like a part of me that I didn't know I was missing found me. And Harumi, she's the first best friend I had, the only one who can relate to how I felt in my life. And she's always had my back, even when I had to face my father," He explained before giving a happy smile, "She's probably, the most amazing and beautiful girl I've ever met, the fact she wears a crown or that I might wear a crown one day, doesn't matter to me because…"
"...I love her." He finished with full honesty and a confident smile.
The other Ninja behind the door looked at Lloyd proudly as Lydie had tears of joy for her brother while Jay was sniffling emotionally from the beautiful speech, "I'm not crying, you're crying!" He pointed to Cole.
Cole just rolled his eyes and patted Jay's back in comfort.
The Emperor and Empress looked at Lloyd in awe as they were impressed at his courage and sincerity. The Emperor turned to the Empress as she smiled and nodded, seeing no deception in the boy's words.
The Emperor then approached Lloyd with a small smile. "That was …an excellent speech of how fondly you think of our daughter, Master Lloyd." He said, laying a hand on his shoulder, "Your father would've been very proud of you."
Lloyd gave a smile to the Emperor before he frowned. "I'm sorry for helping Harumi sneak out last night. She just wanted to help the people who needed it." He apologized.
"We understand, Master Lloyd." The Empress said as she walked up towards them. "We know Harumi's heart is in the right place, but she should know that if she wanted to help our people she could have come to us and we could have helped her in turn."
"She was afraid you would say no," Lloyd explained.
The Emperor sighed guilty, "I suppose the blame is on our hands for making Harumi feel this way," He said before looking to Lloyd, "Rest assured young master, we will see to it that Harumi may still help the poor but with our support."
"And we hope that you will find the courage to show her how valuable she is to yourself." The Empress said with a warm smile, "Just know even after the threat of the Sons of Garmadon is over, you will always have a home here."
Lloyd smiled as he gave a bow to the royalties. "Thank you, your majesties. I appreciated it." He said.
"Now, Master Lloyd, you and your friends best get on with patrolling the Palace, we still have a mask to protect." The Emperor told Lloyd.
"Yes, Sire." Lloyd nodded as he walked out of the throne room as the royals smiled at him proudly while Hutchins gave a secret glare with his one good eye.
Lloyd met up with his friends, who smiled proudly at him. "What?" He asked with a small smile.
"The Emperor was right Lloyd, father would be proud of you," Lydie said proudly to her brother.
Lloyd smiled at his friends since he knew they heard them as his sister and the emperor was right, his father would be proud of him for the man he is today.
Somewhere in Ninjago City in a theater, a couple of S.O.G goons enter the theater as they saw only one girl laughing crazy at a move of Fritz Donnegan.
"Hey, is that her?" the mohawk one asked.
"Who else could it be?" the helmet goon questioned with a shrug.
"I hear she's crazy." The mohawk goon said again.
"Don't ever let her hear you say that." the helmet goon warned. "If she hears you call her crazy, she'll go crazy."
"Then stop saying it." The Mohawk goon said as the girl shushed and they quieted down, "I heard she jumped out of a story building just because she didn't wanna take the stairs. He whispered.
"I heard she dragged a guy by her bike for two miles just because he was looking at it the wrong way." The helmet goon whispered in fright.
The girl then raised a three-bladed dagger, "If you two don't be quiet!" She warned, swinging the dagger, "I have ways of shutting you up."
The two goons backed away, "Uh, s-sorry, ." The helmet goon apologized, "But the boss requested we get you."
"Yeah, yeah s-something big is going down at the Royal Palace." the Mohawk goon explained.
The girl seemed interested, "Oh, is there going to be a fight?" She asked, grazing her dagger against her cheek.
"Oh yeah, ." The Helmet goon confirmed nervously, "And, maybe an explosion or two." He added while twiddling his thumbs.
"It's not Ms.Violet," The girl said before turning around to show she had stone gray skin, a white painted skull, and a scar on her right cheek, "It's ULTRA Violet!" She declared as she let out an insane laugh and her eyebrow twitched.
Back at the Palace at sunset, Kai was patrolling outside the castle gates, before he heard shouting, "Hey stop right there!" A guard shouted as Kai looked down and saw two guards holding the Mailman spear point.
The Mailman held up his hand, "H-Hey! I'm just trying to deliver mail." He explained frantically.
"It's okay guys! I know him!" Kai called as the guards looked up at him, "Sorry, no one goes into the palace, but I could deliver it to them." Kai offered to the Mailman.
The Mailman smiled, "Thanks," he said before giving the letters to a guard, "See you in the next Volume." He waved to Kai.
"Volume?" Kai asked in confusion.
"Yeah, you know" Next Volume of the NG Newspaper or whatever?" The Mailman said as left the Palace grounds and the guards looked up to Kai in confusion as he simply shrugged.
On the other side of the Palace Nya combed the palace walls before she heard sniffling and weeping coming from Harumi's room and peeked through the window to see Harumi in her bed, her dress, circlet, and cape at her beauty table as she wore a tank top and shorts.
The princess was currently sitting in a fetal position as she slightly shook with weeps. Nya looked at her sympathetically, knowing Harumi was still upset about the talk she had with her parents, and then jumped in.
Harumi gasped and turned to Nya, mascara tear streaks on her cheeks, "Oh Nya! H-how goes patrol?" She asked cleaning her cheeks.
"It's going fine, but right now I've got something else to take care of." Nya started, walking over and holding Harumi's cheeks, "Like helping a wounded heart." She says while looking at Harumi sympathetically.
Harumi sighed solemnly, "You think I'm being selfish don't you, asking you all to be here just because I missed you?" She said guiltily as she and Nya stood up, "Because to be honest, you have all been gone for so long, I missed you so much, especially Lloyd."
"Oh honey, there's nothing wrong with wanting to see a friend again," Nya assured as she guided her over to her beauty table.
Harumi looked to Nya in worry, "But Master Wu-"
"Would understand that we have a duty to Ninjago and our friends." Nya stopped her as she sat Harumi down on her chair, "Wu might be gone, but even he knows when we need to step back and take some time with those we care about, especially ones who are more than friends." She said as she turned Harumi to the mirror and whipped the tears off her cheeks.
"Am I that obvious?" Harumi asked glumly.
"Trust me, I was like that before," Nya said with a chuckle. "And, I know you have your heart set for Lloyd like how me and the girls had ours set on our loved ones."
"It's just… sometimes I wish I wasn't a princess so I could just have a normal life and be who I wanted to be. Myself." Harumi said as Nya then took a hairbrush and fixed up her hair, "And that, Lloyd and I could just be…" She trailed off, not sure how to say it.
Nya smiled as she ran the brush through Harumi's hair. "Together forever?" She guessed.
Harumi gave a slight chuckle. "Something like that." She admitted as she looked at her reflection. "This whole fate thing can really mess with you and your loved ones, huh?" She joked.
"Trust me, it can." Nya nodded as she remembered how complicated her and Jay's love-life was, "Wanna talk about it?"
"I don't know. It might be embarrassing if I say it." Harumi said uncertainly.
"It's okay if you need to let it out, Harumi. Don't keep it in, just release it." Nya assured her with a small soft smile.
Harumi looked down for a moment and sighed, "Okay, where do I begin." She said before explaining how she felt for Lloyd, "When I first saw Lloyd after I lost my parents, after learning how he inadvertently released the Devourer, I felt so angry and vengeful that, I wanted him to suffer the way I suffered." She started with a bit of shame.
Nya was surprised by this, not believing Harumi to be capable of hating Lloyd, "But?" She asked, feeling this wasn't the end.
"But, after hearing that he was just like me in a way that he hardly knew his parents, that he was forced to fight his own father with his sister, and also the part where he was just a boy who hadn't started his Ninja training yet, I realized that I couldn't be angry at him for something he had no control over," Harumi said as she gave a guilt look before she smiled softly. "But when he, Lydie, and the rest of you helped me through that pain, helped me find a new family, and after Lloyd learned what I felt but still saw me as his friend, I realized that I couldn't bear to lose him." She added while placing a hand over her heart. "He's just so brave, kind, loyal and…" She tried to find another word.
Nya gave a cheeky smile, "Handsome?" She asked.
Harumi blushed, "I was going to go with cute but that works too, I guess." She admitted before she frowned again. "But after becoming a Princess, it is hard to even go out with him, last night was probably the closest thing I could get with a date." She said resting her cheek on her hand.
Nya gave Harumi a sympathetic look as she placed a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, I get it. You didn't ask for this role and it's hard to be yourself when you have to be a princess. Especially having a normal life, well for us, as normal as we could get." She said amusedly before smiling warmly at her, "But trust me when I say, for the boy you love, it's worth it."
"You think so?" Harumi asked, looking at Nya.
"I know so. Plus, putting on a secret identity to impress Lloyd wouldn't hurt either." Nya jokes as they both laugh, "But for now, let's get you ready for dinner, your parents want to talk to you."
Harumi sighed, "Probably about how they're going to tighten security around my room from now on." She said as Nya helped fix her up.
"You never know." Nya shrugged and continued her work.
Outside, Cole and Demir were climbing to the tallest point of the castle as Cole panted a bit before he looked up and saw Morro already waiting at the top. Cole then remembered a time when he climbed a great height only to find someone else at the top.
(Flashback)
Sometime ago before the Ninja was formed, Cole was climbing the tallest mountain in Ninjago as he made it to the top before he looked in shock at seeing an old man in white sitting there and drinking tea, it was Master Wu. "Hello there." He said with a small smile.
Cole looked in surprise as he saw the man continue to drink his tea. "How did you-Who are you?" He asked, confused who this man was and how he got up here when he didn't even see him on the way or heard there was someone else on the mountain.
"Maybe that is a question for me to ask." The man said in amusement while Cole looked confused. "But first, why do you climb the mountain?" He asked.
"I… just lost someone," Cole said slowly while looking away. "My father should be sad or angry, but he's just, he's-"
"Yes?" The man said for him to continue on.
"He spends all his time with this group, singing and dancing." Cole continued. "He's never home, leaving all the chores for me. With her gone, I guess it's up to me to be the responsible one." He stated as he crossed his arms. "He acts like nothing's happened. How can he sing and dance at a time like this?" He questioned.
The man sighed and closed his eyes, "Grief takes many shapes and forms. Some sing and Dance," He mused before looking to Cole, "Some, climb mountains." He said amusedly.
Cole was taken aback by this and looked to the man, "Why did you climb the mountain?" He asked.
The man then gave a serious face and looked at Cole, "To find you, Cole." He answered.
(Flashback ends)
"Cole? Cole?" Demir's voice called as Cole returned to the present and looked to see Demir looking at him impatiently, "Cole, you coming up or what?" He asked.
"Y-yeah, sorry." Demir apologized as he climbed up and stood next to Morro as they looked out to the city, "Ninjago sure is beautiful from up here."
"It sure is," Demir nodded before frowning, "And our master is still somewhere in that beauty."
"And we'll find him." Cole declared calmly as they continued to look out to the city.
Inside where the mask was being held, Jay was pacing back and forth, looking bored while Lydie watched him, "UUGGHH!" Jay groaned rubbing his face, "I'm so bored! I'm almost wishing somebody would steal the mask already! At least then we get some action!" He said doing some shadow jabs.
Lydie sighed as she almost agreed with Jay, "Regardless Jay, we have to figure out what the Sons of Garmadon are after, which also means protecting this mask no matter what," She said pointing to the mask before raising a brow, "Hey, Jay does something about the Mask look different to you?" She asked.
Jay looked at the mask again before he shrugged. "Nope. Seemed the same to me." He said naturally.
Lydie however looked at it confusedly. Yesterday she felt something drawing her to mask but today it wasn't there, "Yeah, cause something feels different about it than yesterday." She said with a thoughtful look before she tapped the glass and then noticed something about the facial marking. "Wait a minute, is it just my eyes playing tricks on me, or does the marking look like their…Dripping?!" She asked in shock as she saw some of the white paint sliding down the orange mask.
"Say WHAT?!" Jay exclaimed as he approached the mask and saw it too, "B-But the Oni Mask is an ancient Relic! It can't be dripping paint, unless…" He trailed off and turned to Lydie who came to the same realization.
Around that time, back on the roof, Demir and Cole walked along the tiles before they got a message from his comm, "Red Alert! Red Alert! Guys zsst-curity ha-zsst been breached!" Lydie shouted over the comms but it was a bit gargled. "The Ma-zsst is gon-zsst! I repeat, the ma-zsst-ne!"
"L-Lydie? I can't hear you." Demir spoke through his comm as static was heard through it. "What's going on?" He asked Cole who just shrugged.
Cole then looked down and noticed Hutchins walking into a bush before he turned to Demir and pointed to the Master at Arms. The two got suspicious and then nodded before stealthily climbing down the roof. "What are you up to?" Cole whispered suspiciously.
Hutchins looked around for anything watching him, thinking the close is clear, he pressed a button on a rock and a stone moved to reveal a secret passage as Demir and Cole got really suspicious and climbed down as they ran to the entrance. "One of those secret passages he told us about, where does this go?" Demir wondered.
"Only one way to find out." Cole said as they entered the secret entrance and saw Hutchins ahead as they stopped and hid to a wall before they continued on to see a line of tunnels and looked for the one Hutchins used. Not knowing which one, they chose the one on the left as they saw an ominous yellow glow as he drew closer.
But once They got close, he saw something that made him panic, and took off his hood to see bottles filled with bubbling yellow liquid hanging from the ceiling. "Oh no, are those bottles of…?" Demir started fearfully.
Blast-sap." Cole finished in horror, "Uh, I think this might be a good time to run!" He suggested as the two of them backed away.
"Guys, we've got a big problem!" Demir called through the comms.
In the hallway, Lloyd and Morro were patrolling before they put their hands to their hoods to hear Demir shouting, "Blast-zsst-ap! There'-zsst-Blast Sap!" Demir said but like Lydie, his voice was gargled. "We saw Hutchi-zsst!"
"Demir? You're not coming in," Lloyd said as he lowered his mask. "You have a bad signal." He informed as he couldn't hear him right.
"We can barely hear you." Morro added. "But, I'm sorry did you say, Blast Sap?" He questioned.
Back where Demir and Cole were, the blast-saps were bubbling really quickly as they realized that they were gonna blow as they started running back the way they came.
"Yeah, and we gotta get everyone out of here!" Cole yelled through his comm.
With Jay and Lydie who were just recovering from the shock of the fake mask. "The whole palace is rigged to explode by hundreds of bottles of the stuff!" Cole explained as the two looked at each other in shock.
"Who planted them, guys, did you see?" Lydie asked as Jay looked worried.
"It was Hutchins! Cole and I saw him travel down a secret passage to here!" Demir called out as Nya and Harumi looked at each other in shock.
"Hutchins?!" Nya asked in shock.
Harumi looked shocked beyond words, "No, no he couldn't! He wouldn't!" She denied.
"He must've set this whole thing up! In a few seconds, this whole place is gonna blow us all back to the Departed Realm!" Demir shouted before he and Cole yelped at the sound of an explosion, "Uh, make that right now!" He corrected.
Rose and Kai were at the entrance of the palace when they heard the two. "We have to get the Royal Family out of here!" Kai told his sister as they rushed inside before a fiery explosion blew them right off their feet, knocking them back.
"Too late!" Rose shouted before the entrance of the palace walls blew up, the guards were knocked back by the explosion as the two Ninja turned and saw the S. coming in on their motorcycles with the thief leader that stole the Mask of Vengeance.
At that moment, Ultra Violet had her bike in the air as she spun and yelled like a banshee as she landed in front of her comrades.
"What a beautiful night for a little mayhem!" Ultra said as she gave an evil laugh at the two Ninja.
Kai and Rose got up as Ultra drove around them, knocking them down again as she spun around before Kai stood up and drew his sword as he charged at Ultra, but the crazy lady grabbed him with her legs as she spun him around on her bike.
"I didn't even get your…" Kai choked while disturbed being held between a woman's, other than Skylor's, legs before he was thrown to the stairs, "...Name." He moaned before collapsing.
Rose glared at Ultra. "Let's leave the boys out of this?" She asked while drawing her fans.
Rose charged at Ultra as the crazy lady charged at her on her bike and Rose managed to kick her bike aside before Ultra started blowing some exhaust in Rose's face, blinding her before she was kicked back by the biker lady while Kai helped her up.
Ultra Violet, the thief leader, and the rest of the S. rode into the palace as the guards tried and failed to stop them. Lloyd and Morro arrived on the scene, saw the chaos as Lloyd kicked a goon off her bike as she fell to the floor.
"Guys! They've broken in, get to the mask!" Lloyd ordered through the comms but only got static, "Gah, comms are down!" He griped.
Morro then saw Hutchins walking behind them, acting a lot calmer than he should be, before he saw the Master of Wind glaring at him and ran off before Morro grabbed him. "You! You helped them!" He accused as he pinned the man to the pillar.
"I had nothing to do with this!" Hutchins defended as he held Morro arms.
"Don't give me that! Demir and Cole saw you in the tunnel and with the explosives!" Morro told him, "I knew you couldn't be trusted!"
"Whatever your friends saw, it wasn't me!" Hutchins called out. "I have served this house from the moment I was trusted as Master of Arms, so if you plan on trusting them over me, Curse Realmer-"
"You finish that sentence I'll put emphasis on can't trust you as far as I can throw you!" Morro interrupted firmly before screaming was heard.
"Watch out!" Hutchins called out as he moved Morro out of the way of Ultra Violet's dagger that struck. "I trust you believe I'm innocent now?" He asked the Green Ninja.
"After that comment, not even remotely," Morro answered with a narrow-eyed glare.
Ultra Violet then drove at them with a yell as she rode across the halls towards Hutchins and Morro before Lloyd jumped in and kicked her back, "Fight each other later, fight them now!" Lloyd told them as they dodged Ultra Violet again.
"Does anyone have eyes on the princess?!" Hutchins yelled out as he ducked another one of Ultra Violet's attacks.
Back in Harumi's room, Nya was over Harumi as they both coughed, "Nya, what do we do?!" Harumi asked worriedly as she coughed.
Nya then grew a determined face, "We get out of here!" She said used her powers to put out some of the flames but more kept coming, then got to her comms. "Lydie, Kai, we need help! Can anybody hear me?!" She called but only got static as the fire got closer, "Hello? Lloyd, Demir, Jay, anyone?! Come in!" She pleaded desperately but only received more static.
But just as when it looked like it was over, "I'm here, Nya!" Zane called out as he moved the debris aside while using his powers to freeze the fire spread as he got the two girls free.
"Zane!" Nya said in relief as she helped Harumi up as they kept coughing.
"Come on, let's get out of here!" Zane said as he led them out of the room before the whole place collapsed.
With Lloyd, Morro and Hutchins, they tried to fight off Ultra Violet, but so far they only managed to get her off her bike as they fell to the floor as Ultra Violet grabbed her sai and was about to stab Hutchins as he backed away a bit on the floor.
But then Zane, Nya, and Harumi came running by as Zane did Spinjitzu as he sucked Ultra Violet into the tornado as she was tossed out, completely frozen as she hit the wall with a scream as her ice prison was cracking.
The three helped the two up as Lloyd looked at Harumi. "You're okay." He said in relief.
"But what about my parents and the mask?" Harumi asked in worry.
With the red-eyed biker, he was driving his bike across the palace before he slid it to the ground and he jumped off it as he faced Lydie and Jay, who were at where the fake mask is displayed.
"Whoever you are, you should've brought more help." Jay taunted as Cole, Kai, Rose, and Demir appeared beside them.
"Hands in the air," Kai ordered as the five Ninja closed in on him with their weapons drawn.
The red eye biker reached behind, pulled out a familiar red mask, and pointed to it tauntingly.
Lydie went wide eyes as she gasped. "The Mask of Vengeance!" She called out in shock, sensing it from here.
The red eye biker put on the mask as some fire burst out from the eyes as the biker shook around as he felt his body changing as bone-white horns grew from his head and he stood up holding four red katanas in four arms.
Jay looked unsurprised by that. "Really? Four arms? Psh. Like that's new." He sarcastically said as Lydie raised a brow.
"Honestly, I was expecting something way more impressive than that. Because I've seen four arms creatures a lot these days." Lydie said with a shrug as the Ninja readied their weapons.
The four armed leaders then charged at the Ninja as they clashed weapons, which got the Ninja off guard as they were knocked down by his surprise agility.
Lydie charged at him as she clashed weapons while Kai and Rose fought beside her as the red-eye biker spun his four arms to block their strikes as Lydie clashed blades as she glared, "Your not the first four-armed bad guy I fought!" She yelled as she kept clashing before she was pushed back.
Cole then slammed his hammer down to create a shockwave and some dust at him before he shrugged it off as he kicked the Ninja back. Demir then coated himself in metal the shield himself from the masked biker's swords but he was much stronger than he looked as the Master of Metal was knocked out of his metal form and into a wall.
"Aw, man! This guy knows all of our moves!" Demir griped.
Rose shot some thorned vines at the biker but he moved aside as Kai's fire burned them. "You can say that again," Kai growled.
Jay then spun his chucks as electricity started forming around them as he shot at the biker, which his swords absorbed. "Can't any of us stop him!?" He questioned.
Then the biker swung his swords out, releasing a shock wave that knocked the Ninja off their feet. With the Ninja, down the biker moved to the Mask's case, sliced it apart and took the mask.
Lydie saw this as she then used her powers to blast a dark fireball at the mask, destroying it in an instant, "Just as I thought." She said smugly as the Biker turned to her, enraged.
Then Rose, Demir, Cole and Kai looked shocked, "Wait, did you just destroy the-" Demir tried to ask.
"Eyup, relax. It's just a fake, nothing to worry about." Jay assured.
Lydie then contacted her brother with their psychic link, "Lloyd, listen, the S.O.G Don't have the Mask of Deception,"
"Because the mask in the case was just a fake placed to fool us." Lydie told her brother mentally as they were in the throne room while Nya, Morro and Zane barricaded the doors.
"What's wrong?" Harumi asked, recognizing Lloyd's telepathic link with Lydie.
Lloyd looked at Harumi in shock, "My sister just told me that the mask they were guarding was a fake!" He called out as Nya, Morro and Zane heard him as they turned to him.
"What?!" Nya shouted in shock.
"A fake?!" Zane and Morro both exclaimed.
"Your sister is correct, that one was indeed a fake," Hutchins confirmed as he went behind the throne room. "I procured the real one from the vaults below." He explained as he brought out the real Mask of Deception.
"But why?" Harumi asked in wonder.
"Forgive me, your highness. It is the Mask of Deception." Hutchins confirmed. "I wasn't sure if I could trust the Ninja when they came, but seeing how they were willing to risk their lives, I do now for them to take it." He said as Lloyd still looked at him suspiciously, not detecting much sincerity in his words. "Please, Golden Ninja, we have no time for your skepticism of me, get the mask and the princess out of here at once!" He ordered pacing the mask to Lloyd.
Harumi then turned to Lloyd. "Lloyd, we must leave. Just trust Hutchins, please?" She pleaded with a worried look as Lloyd sighed.
"Okay. I'll trust you this time. But how do we get out of here?" Lloyd asked Hutchins with a look.
"Like I said, the Palace of Secrets holds many secrets." Hutchins said as he pressed a button on the throne room as it moved to reveal a hidden passage underneath it. "Now, go! Get the Mask and the Princess out of here!"
"But what about my parents?" Harumi asked in worry.
"We'll find them!" Nya said as she, Morro and Zane approached.
Hutchins shook his head, "No, you must go and help your comrades," He told them, "I will find the Emperor and Empress and get them out!" He called out to them.
"But-" Zane tried to speak.
"Just go! There isn't much time!" Hutchins ordered sternly as the group didn't need to be told twice as Lloyd and Harumi went down the tunnel while Nya and Zane exit the throne room. Morro however hanged back to give Hutchins another suspicious look before going after his friends as Hutchins walked off to begin his search. "All according to plan." He said to himself.
Lloyd and Harumi soon ended up outside the palace as they saw the guards fighting off the S. as best they could but losing as the whole area was in chaos as Lloyd and Harumi ran past the chaos as they turned back and saw another explosion going off.
"My home," Harumi said sadly.
Just then a biker circled around them as Lloyd grabbed the handle and kicked him off as he put the bike down. "Rumi, get on!" He called out as he hopped on the bike as Harumi followed in suit before picking up a helmet.
The two drove off, away from the palace as Ultra Violet screamed as she was free from her ice prison and rode her bike out of the burning palace as she and a few others drove after Lloyd and Harumi.
On the highway, Lloyd steered the bike as Harumi held on as they moved past the cars as Harumi turned and saw something. "We got company on our six, Hero Boy!" She cried out. "Can't you get this thing to go any faster?" She questioned in slight anxiety.
"I'm going as fast as this bike can, Rumi!" Lloyd called out as he kept his eyes on the road. While seeing the speedometer at high speed "We're going to have to shake them!" He stated as he moved past some tight vehicles.
Ultra Violet sped up, but a car blocked her as she couldn't find an opening until she drove over the vehicle as it tripped and caught fire as the S. drove around the crashed vehicle as the driver and one of the thugs fell.
Lloyd then saw two vehicles up ahead as he had an idea. "Hold on!" Lloyd called out as got in front of the vehicle as he turned off the headlights as he slowed down and moved to the side of the vehicle as Ultra Violet and her thugs moved pass them as they took an exit to another highway without them being spotted as Ultra Violet looked down and growled as she was tricked.
Lloyd looked up and saw the S.O.G took the upper highway and chuckled, "Heh, Lost 'em!" He said smugly but spoke too soon as Ultra Violet jumped from the highway and into the one they were in as Lloyd looked in shock as Ultra Violet drove towards them. "Her again?" He asked in annoyance
Ultra Violet drew her sai as Lloyd drew his sword as U.V. lowered her sai to the ground as it created sparks as Lloyd readied his sword as the two were about to strike.
"Rumi, get down!" Lloyd ordered as Harumi held onto Lloyd with her head down.
Then Lloyd and Ultra Violet clashed and the impact shook Lloyd and Harumi so much that Mask fell out of Harumi's hands.
"The Mask!" Harumi shouted as it rolled over to Ultra Violet and she held it up victoriously, "We need to get it!" She told her best friend.
But then more S.O.G goons joined Ultra Violet and Lloyd could see they were greatly outnumbered, "No, we have to get you out of here and regroup with the others!" Lloyd told her as he drove off with the Sons of Garmadon following them.
Lloyd drove them to the city harbor and past some fishermen and fish marketers as Ultra Violet knocked Fishermen fish baskets out of his hands as Lloyd drove at the docks with Ultra Violet next to them on another dock as they saw a ramp.
"Lloyd, it's a dead end!" Harumi pointed out.
"But we're not dead yet." Lloyd countered with a smirk as he drove faster and went over the ramp as Ultra Violet was shocked by this as the two landed in a ship covered in a tarp as they got off the bike. "This way, Rumi." He urged as they climbed up to the cockpit.
Ultra Violet stopped as she and her goons looked at where they are. "Bad call. Can't hide from me, Ninja." She boasted as they surrounded the ship.
In the ship, Lloyd and Harumi ran across the deck and up to the Bridge, "Lloyd, why did you brought us here? We can't get away from them in this thing." She pointed out.
"Hey, princess. This 'thing' still has a few surprises in her." Lloyd said in defending the ship as he moved the tarp.
"Lloyd! They aren't going to just let us sail away, there's no wind and Morro's not with us to pick up enough speed!" Harumi pointed out.
Lloyd then pressed a button as a console activated to show a map of Ninjago before it froze out again, making Lloyd annoyed as he kicked it and it rebooted itself as he gave a prideful smile to Harumi.
"Who said anything about sail? You forgot what this ship is, Rumi?" Lloyd asked as he went to press some more buttons.
The S. were closing in on the ship before the sails were raised and those that came behind it, were then got caught in a rocket booster smoke as it pushed them into the drink and those climbing on fell off as the tarps on the ship were torn off revealing two dragon figureheads.
The sails then split to form six wings and the ship lifted up, revealing itself to be, "The Destiny's Bounty." Harumi breathed out with a smile.
"Yep. She's been waiting for the chance to take the skies again!" Lloyd declared as the Bounty continued to be lifted in the air as Ultra Violet climbed the boats to get to it but it was out of range as she screamed in frustration.
And then the main booster lit up, but with a few sputtering sounds as the Bounty entered the city as Harumi gave Lloyd a look as she held on when the Bounty shook.
"How long has the Bounty not been used?" Harumi asked in confusion.
Lloyd rubbed the back of his head, "She took a pounding during our fight with the Vermillion and the Time Twins, and even after we rebuilt her we never had a reason to fly her." He explained as they flew over the city.
"Not even when you were searching for Wu? How did you Ninja get around after a whole year?" Harumi asked.
"We have our ways," Lloyd answered with a wink.
Harumi giggled and looked down at the city below, "I've forgotten what it was like to be up here."
"Then it's a good thing you're with me, your highness," Lloyd said playfully before the Bounty shook again as Lloyd kept it steady.
"Maybe you should ask Nya to tune up the Bounty. She seems a little rusty." Harumi suggested teasingly.
"Sorry, sorry. Don't worry I got it!" Lloyd assured as he flew back to the palace to pick up the others.
It was sunrise as the Ninja climbed up to the highway as they were exhausted and turned back and saw the ruins of the palace as police sirens can be heard as they took off their hoods as their soot-covered faces looked in despair at the palace before they saw the Bounty flying over them as Lloyd lowered it and they climbed on to the bride.
Lloyd approached them, silently asking them how bad it was, and when they bowed their heads solemnly, it was the answer enough.
They all turned to Harumi who looked at them in worry, "My parents? And Hutchins? Did they…" She trailed off as tears started forming.
Rose frowned and reached behind her, "I'm sorry, Harumi, when the S.O.G took off we looked everywhere for them but, this was all we could find." She said sadly, before pulling out the Empress's white, floral printed cape, slightly damaged and burned.
Harumi looked at the cape in dread as she held it before slowly turning to what used to be her home, now in ruins, "No, no they, they had to have escaped, they-" She tried to deny before she felt someone holding her shoulder and turned to see Nya looking at her sadly.
"I'm sorry Harumi but, we don't think they made it," Nya said regrettably.
Harumi broke into tears as she started crying and nearly fell before Lloyd held her from the back and gently helped her down as she cried into her mother's cape.
"What about the mask?" Demir asked as Lloyd just shook his head without looking, getting the answer as he gave Harumi a sympathetic look. "We promise, Harumi, we'll find the people responsible." He declared.
"Once again, I am… alone." Harumi sobbed as she moved to bury her face in Lloyd's chest.
"You're not alone, Rumi," Lloyd assured as he rubbed her back while the others huddled around her. "You're with us now, and we're going to protect you no matter what."
"If the Sons of Garmadon wanna fight, they're gonna get a war," Lydie said seriously while placing a hand on Harumi's shoulder for comfort. "Nya, Rose, get us out of here. Boys, prepare the ship to find that last Mask." She instructed as they all nodded and Lydie turned to her brother, "And Lloyd, get Harumi below so she can get some rest, she needs it." She said.
Lloyd nodded and picked up Harumi bridal style and carried her below deck towards the sleeping quarters, he then set her down on the bed as she still clutched onto her mother's cape.
"I'm sorry, Rumi. We could've been more prepared for an attack if we…" Lloyd tried to say before he was cut off.
"Don't blame yourself." Harumi said as she still held onto the burnt white cape. "We had a mole in our palace this whole time and we didn't even know it. They're the ones who are to blame, not you."
Lloyd, knowing Harumi was going through the same loss she went through when she lost her parents, sat down next to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Rumi, I promise that we will avenge your parents and the S.O.G, and whoever is their leader will pay for what they did and once it is all over, we'll help you settle in with us and then find…and…Oh, what am I saying?"
"I know what you're saying, Lloyd. And I appreciated it." Harumi said with a small smile as she brought out her hand. "I've known you since we were little and I've seen how you, your friends, and your family protected Ninjago many times before. So I know that you'll stop them and find the third mask. I just know it." She said with a soft smile.
Lloyd smiled as he felt the ship flying again, "Well, looks like we're off. I better get back to the deck and-" He said as he stood but was cut off when he felt Harumi holding his arm as he turned to her looking down, "Rumi?"
Harumi stood quiet as she spoke softly. "Please, just stay with me for a little bit longer. It's… It has been a hard time for me." She pleaded.
Lloyd smiled and sat back down as he pulled her close, "I'll always be here for you Rumi," He said as he tilted her head up to him, "Never forget that."
Harumi smiled, "Lloyd?" She started as he smiled at her, "I'm honored to call you my friend." She said happily.
She then let out a small gasp as she felt Lloyd kiss her forehead, "The honor, is all mine." Lloyd said as he held Harumi close and she put her head under his chin. Both wish they could say just three words.
'I love you.' They both thought as the Bounty soared off to find the Third Oni Mask.