It was the next day and the Ninja were training when Lloyd had finally decided to share what happened.
"Moonlit walks on the canal. Sharing food. Ah. Sounds a lot like a date. Ah." Cole replied while blocking.
"It was not a date." Lloyd whines.
"A date: a social or romantic engagement often involving a meal or an intimate setting." Zane replied.
"Did you get that off line?" Ava asked as he was using the dummy to spar with, as everyone else had a partner.
Zane nodded as Jay then said "Haha, you can't argue with a nindroid."
"Look, if you like this girl, you're gonna have to step up your game." Kai then did fire spinjitzu.
"What do you mean, game?" Lloyd asked.
"It means one's ability to charm. You need to convince her why you are the most logical mate." Zane explained.
"That does tend to be how it goes, but mostly in the animal kingdom." Ava adds, she wasn't sure how well it really worked for humans.
"If you wanna impress her, you gotta act tough. Like flex your muscles and stuff. Break things." Cole tried to show with his powers.
"That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard, you'd scare the poor girl like that." Ava shook her head.
"Pff. No way, you gotta make her laugh. Just ask Nya." Jay put his two cents in "She couldn't resist my sense of humor."
Nya then flipped him over saying "It's an acquired taste."
"Not all girls are into that, and it can get tiresome." Ava frowns.
"Don't listen to them. You gotta act cool. Like you don't even care." Kai gives his advice.
"But I do." Lloyd responds.
"He'll look like a fool if he takes your advice." Ava glares at Kai.
"Okay, stop. All of you are really not helping him. Look, just be yourself, it's so much easier than trying to be someone you're not." Nya finally voices her apionion.
"Finally someone gives him actual advice." Ava sighs.
Lloyd was taking this in when Cole tripped him with his hammer "Haha, got ya."
Ava groaned, really, she then noticed Zane starting to walk away.
"Hey Zane, where're you going? I didn't hear you try to give Lloyd any advice."
"I do not believe I would be much help in that department?" Zane frowns.
"Why would you think that? Is it because of what I said, because you're not wrong about the whole trying to show someone you're the best mate it's just…."
"That is not it, it is just that….I have been in a relationship before and sadly it ended."
"I'm sorry to hear that, breakups can be hard." Ava frowns sadly.
"You have experienced this?" Zane asked.
"Yeah. It wasn't pretty." she sighed.
"I am sorry to hear that, do you still wish to find another partner someday?"
"If I find the right guy, yeah."
"What would be considered the right guy to you?" Zane asks.
"Hmm, well he would have to be kind, have similar interests, and I would have to be attracted to him. I know it sounds kind of vain but I look at things a bit logically. I mean love isn't just passion or a feeling, it's someone you're willing to be with because of who they are."
Zane took this in and replied "I suppose that is logical, passion can leave and feelings can change but the person you wish to have memories and experiences with is what's most important."
"Exactly, I just hope Lloyd finds that out soon. He's been through so much already I'd hate to see him get heartbroken."
"You care for him don't you." Zane looked curious.
"Yeah, even though he trained me I can't help but think of him as a little brother." Ava chuckles.
"Much the same as the rest of us." Zaen smiles.
"Hey guys let's get something to eat then get back on patrol." Lloyd called as they headed back into the palace.
After eating Zane and Ava took on patrol together and they chatted on her theory once more.
"Maybe the person after the mask isn't after Ninjago or the royal family, maybe they're after you guys."
"Us?" Zane looked surprised.
"Well Garmadon was your greatest enemy and your first. So whoever this person is must really hate you guys."
Zane hummed as he took this in "You may be on to something, perhaps we should arrange another meeting to discuss this."
As they walked around they suddenly heard something on their coms.
It was Cole and he was saying "Blast zap…there's blast zap…"
It was fuzzy but, "Blast sap!" Ava jumped.
"Cole, where is it, where are you?" Zane asked, but the connection was spotty.
Cole finally told them to get everyone out, and that Hutchins was behind the attack.
That's when the palace blew up.
Ava acted quickly using her wind powers to keep the debris off of them.
"You okay?" she asked when everything stopped falling.
"I am, thank you." Zane replied.
They rushed to the main hall where the mask was.
"Does anyone have eyes on the Princess?" Hutchins calls.
Zane went to the girls room while Ava headed for the mask. 'It's a distraction!'
She could see the Ninja already heading to the mask, 'Good they have it.'
At this she decided to go and help the Emperor and Empress. They had guards but at this rate anything could happen.
The heat was unbearable but she used her powers to choke out any fires she could find.
'Come on, come on, where are they?'
"Help, help!"
At that she rushed over to a blocked door, and used the wind to force the rubble off before opening the door.
"Are you both okay?" Ava asked.
"Oh thank goodness you're here, my husband's hurt." the Empress said.
"My leg." he groaned as he was stuck under a beam.
"I'll get that off, but you'll need to pull him out." The Empress nodded.
She used the wind once more and it lifted the beam off as the Empress got her husband out.
"Come one, let's get going." She helped stand him up and he yelled in pain and said "I know it hurts but we have to leave."
"I will grit through it." the emperor replied.
With that they moved out, each holding an arm.
As they followed the way out, Hutchins appeared "Your majesties!"
"Hutchins, it's good to see you." the Emperor said.
"We must get out of here." the guard looked around.
"Wait, I heard you caused this!" Ava glared.
"If I caused this, why would I be here?" he glared.
"To make sure the job was done." Ava glared back.
Hutchins lowered his head and said "On my honor I promise I did not do this."
Ava's eyes widened, she knew a man of his age and statues would not bow his head for just any reason.
'He's serious.' So she decided to take a chance, "Is there a shortcut you can take us too?"
"Follow me." Hutchins took them to a secret wall that slid but a fire was raging in the tunnel.
"No!" he panicked.
"Hold him!" Ava handed over the Emperor to Hutchins as she took a deep breath and threw her arms out against the fire, making it blow out.
"It's still gonna be hot, but we'll no longer get burned alive." Ava replied.
"Thank you." Hutchins nodded as they started to walk off, Ava at the front to keep the steps cool and destroy any fires, Hutchings explaining how Harumi was safe.
The Empress then said "History will surely remember you as the one to save the royal family."
"Indeed, Ninjago's greatest tradition." Hutchins nodded
"No, my job is to save people, not traditions. To tell the truth I think you need to give up the throne, you may be a figurehead, but you have no true power. How will that help Ninjago?"
"We inspire hope for the people with our speeches." The Emperor looked enraged.
"They can help, but actions must be put behind them or they are empty. Didn't you say it was time to come into the light." Ava replied as she opened the secret passage out of the palace and out into a forest, bright light shining.
As they looked out Ava asked "Can you find your way to safety?"
"Yes, we have a safehouse out here. But where will you go?" the Empress asked.
"The rest of the Ninja, they may still need me." Ava replied.
"Then we wish you goodluck." Hutchins nods to her as she nods back and begins the trek towards Ninjago city.
Ninjago
It was daylight as the Ninja had finally escaped the palace and the SOG, they got on the bounty and Harumi asked "The Emperor and Empress. Where is Hutchins, did they….?"
"We couldn't find them, but neither could anyone else. So they could still be alive." Nya tries to comfort.
"Wait, what about Ava?" Lloyd panicked.
"I lost sight of her during the attack." Zane frowned sadly.
"No, this is all my fault. I'm her teacher, I shouldn't have left her alone on her first big mission." Lloyd looked down holding his face.
"Lloyd, you can't blame yourself." Kai tried to comfort.
"Blame, huff, for, huff, what?"
At that they all turned and exclaimed "Ava!"
They tried to crowd her but she pulled back saying "Wough, too much!"
They pull back as Lloyd comes over and he says "Ava you're okay!"
"Yeah I used my powers to run as fast as I could back here, I'm just glad I saw the bounty before I went past it." Ava sighed.
"And my parents?" Harumi asked.
"Safe, I won't say where incase we might be bugged or being watched." Ava looked around uncertain.
"You think?" Jay jumped.
"At this point I'm not taking any chances." Ava sat on the floor.
Zane rushed over to scan her "You are exhausted and slightly dehydrated, I suggested liquids and rest."
"Good idea." she sighed as Zane took her to the cabin room to rest.
He took her to the white bed and said "You can use my bed."
"Are you sure?"
He nodded as he helped her sit down, once he left she laid down and couldn't help but think the bed smelled like mint.