Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The greatest gift is togetherness.

Father always said, when it rained, it poured.

But in the Sea of Sand, there was not a single drop of rain when the sun stood high in the sky. It was a sweltering mass of light that beat down upon (Y/n)'s head as she knelt in the hot sand, fingers burning, blood rushing in her ears. There was no life here for miles and miles, and even before her, all that was to remain were bones.

"F-father!" Red, sticky blood tainted (Y/n)'s sweaty hands, slopping over her gi as she pressed against the sword wound on his chest. "Father, please! You have to wake up!" Through her disheveled bangs, sticky with sweat, and the tears pouring like rivers from her eyes, she made out his pale face. He stirred with a wet cough.

"My daughter," he shakily took her hand in his firmly, "My power...is now yours. To keep the balance from shattering, you must become what I once was...a keeper...of the peace." Silvery strands of hair fell against his face as he smiled a smile that was kind and gentle, and everything he never quite could be as a father. "Make me proud, my daughter."

The metallic stench of blood burned into (Y/n)'s mind as she lay there, sobbing over her father's lifeless body. He was always stern, always hard on her growing up, but she knew deep down it was out of love and fear for whatever life had in store without his guidance.

There was nothing he wouldn't do for her, and even now, as he lay here, she felt his fading spirit at her side in a lame attempt to comfort her.

The sun quickly fell over the sand dunes, where desert wolves howled at the rising moon. (Y/n) could care less as she cried and cried and cried. Her heart burned with a fire like no other, an anger for vengeance.

Footsteps sounded in the sand, where a man with short blond hair and a black gi approached. 

Uncle Wu.

He said nothing as he knelt beside (Y/n) and clasped his hands together in prayer. She sobbed quietly, even when her tears had long dried up. Shakily, she mimicked Uncle Wu, praying silently that her father wouldn't leave her for good. But it was too late, the breath in his body had long gone, and his spirit finally departed. She no longer sensed any life in him, for he was now an empty shell.

The walk to the Monastery of Spinjitzu was spent in a solemn silence. Not even Uncle Wu, who always had something wise to say, spoke. He carried the body of his departed brother on his back, forging onward through the dark of night. Uncle Wu pulled his cloak over them, a shield from the raging droplets above.

Just as father always said, when it rained, it poured.

And pour it did. 

At the foot of the Mountain of Impossible Heights, Uncle Wu set father's body down to rest. He used whatever he could to dig a hole in the muddy ground as (Y/n) stood in silence, frozen in time. Once the body was buried, the two clasped their hands together, side by side, and said another silent prayer before beginning up the steps to the monastery.

At the top, Wu pushed open the heavy gates. They groaned and creaked as he shut them behind, only to pause in his step as a figure emerged into the courtyard. Lightning struck the skies, bathing the dark in its terrifying flashes of light. (Y/n) wiped at the rain in her eyes, gaze narrowing on the glow of four golden weapons.

"Uncle Garmadon...?" (Y/n) croaked.

There was an evil glow to Garmadon's eyes, a greed that glinted as another flash of lightning struck the stormy skies. At his feet sat a katana, where a pool of blood stained the rainwater red. (Y/n) stared at it as if in a trance. The purple binding at the hilt, the silvery steel that shimmered in the night.

(Y/n) felt the colour drain from her face as reality. The blade was stained in red. "Uncle...you...?"

"Lance was always a thorn in my side," Garmadon's face was solemn, "he was my brother, the same as Wu. But with him now gone, there is no one left in this land to stop me." In a cloth in his arms, he held the four golden weapons to his chest, eyes hungry with greed.

Another flash of lightning struck the sky and Uncle Wu raced forward, swiping the katana off the courtyard's ground. "You killed our brother?!" he cried. "How could you!"

Garmadon unveiled the weapons and they glowed brightly in the night. He took hold of the Sword of Fire, clashing against Wu. "I never planned to end his life! I only did what I had to, and when Lance refused to step aside, he paid for his decision with his life." The wind began to rise and the rain fell harder, cutting through the air like little knives. "It was him who delivered the final blow, not me!"

Wu rolled to the side as a ball of fire burst past his shoulder. (Y/n) could only watch in pure terror as her family shed blood with one another, ripping each other apart at the seams piece by piece. "Stop it! Stop!"

Flames, lightning, earth, and shards of ice scattered across the courtyard, where puddles sloshed and splattered with every step and slice of the weapons. Then, as all four came into contact in a stalemate, the sky opened up and the ground cracked apart.

Garmadon held up the Sword of Fire. "Goodbye, brother!"

(Y/n) let out a blood curling scream. She felt the sky merge with her own fears, a buzz filling her fingertips. She threw out a hand, and the heavens were hers to command. Wind whipped across her face, carrying with it dead leaves and waves of rain as lightning struck the sky and zapped Garmadon at full force. He lost his footing, the golden weapons clattering against the ground as he threw out a hand.

Wu raced forward, reaching out. His fingers brushed Garmadon's, only to miss by a hair as he leaned over the edge of the ravine to the Underworld. "Brother! No!" The ravine closed as quick as it had opened, leaving only a trace of rain and the charred marks of fighting.

(Y/n) collapsed to her knees and Uncle Wu raced over, pulling her close to his chest.

Father always said, when it rained, it poured, but what he never mentioned was how quiet the days afterward would be, and how life, no matter how dark, always carried on even in the absence of light.

(Y/n) was never the same afterwards. She became reserved, closed off from the world around her. Never once did she dare leave the monastery walls, instead taking to sitting at the top of the stairs, staring into the horizon, rain or shine.

"You've been out here for hours," Wu one day noted. He took a seat beside (Y/n), who held her face in her hands tiredly. She didn't want to meet his eyes, not when she could barely stare into her own in the mirror. A comfortable quiet fell over their shoulders, where only the occasional cawing of a bird and the rustling of a lone tree broke it.

"Uncle," (Y/n) finally said. "Why are we the only ones left?"

Wu frowned, brows knitting. "What do you mean?"

"Our family," (Y/n) clarified. "Why is it just you and me now?" She thought of the family portraits hanging in the halls inside. Sometimes, she would stop to stare at the pictures of her, father, Aunt Misako, and Uncle Garmadon and Wu. The memories of family dinners together slowly faded from her mind the longer time passed. She had been too young then, just a little toddler.

But even without the memories of what was said or done, (Y/n) could never forget how she felt. The warmth, the laughs, the love of what was a family--it engraved itself in her mind.

Uncle Wu placed a hand to (Y/n)'s shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. "You still have your cousin, Lloyd, as well as Aunt Misako, wherever she may be. And of course, me." He leaned down, forcing (Y/n) to meet his kind gaze. "It is in our darkest hour that we must make the choice to reflect the light. Our family may be divided, but as long as there is breath in my body and fight in my soul, I will put it back to together."

Uncle Wu stood in the last rays of sun, where a golden glow surrounded his figure in a halo. The wind carried his hair and he held out a hand, urging (Y/n) to follow him inside. "Chin up, my dear niece. Not all is lost. Now, how about a bowl of katsudon for dinner?"

Reluctantly, (Y/n) took Uncle Wu's hand, keeping a tight hold on him as he led her inside. He spoke of teaching some new students, which wasn't new considering he had at least three at the moment, and how exciting it would be if she were to make a friend for once.

Hah, what a funny joke.

Present, 
Many, many years later

"Uncle," (Y/n) rested her face in her hands, "you love cryptic messages, can't you send one from wherever you are?" 

A moment passed before the ocean birds squacked in response. (Y/n) released a long sigh and threw out her arms, stalking up to the bridge. She shouldn't have expected some convenient voice to guide her, much less her Uncle who had been thrown into the very vortex of time. 

"It's been a year." (Y/n) tapped the control panels, eyeing the GPS's map. Ninjago City was still four hours away. "Maybe I'm just not looking hard enough." 

Pixal had contacted the ninja over three hours ago in search of assistance for Lloyd. Judging by how far spread everyone was across all of Ninjago, it was safe to say no one would make it in time for help. Pixal didn't mention why, but it was easy enough to do a quick search on Borg.com to find the culprits of a recent break-in at Borg Tower by a gang named the Sons of Garmadon. 

A creak sounded from the other side of room. One of the stools squeaked and it tipped over with a loud clang!. (Y/n) stood, gaze narrowed as she stalked over to the fallen stool. She set the chair upright, only to pause as a pair of footsteps sounded by the stairs. 

(Y/n) broke into a sprint and leapt onto the deck. She landed like a gust of wind, taking a defensive stance as a frantic boy held up his hands. He was transparent, with wide, wild eyes that spoke of adventure, of a faint hunger and yearning for more. 

Time could have stopped in this moment and (Y/n) would have been none the wiser. She studied the boy, dumb-founded. He was the same as she remembered, with those dark, obsidian eyes. Black hair like night and a green streak he had dyed in the monastery bathroom ritualistically. He also wore a green gi, and worn shoes from running. Always running after what he could never have. 

A rush of anger filled (Y/n)'s veins and she felt her face twist into an ugly scowl. "Morro." She charged forward, pulling him down by the collar. "Last I checked, you had a one-way trip to the Realm of the Departed. Give me one reason why I shouldn't throw you over board." 

Morro threw his hands up in the air. "I don't know! I just appeared here, I swear."

(Y/n) wanted to laugh. The last time she believed him, it almost got Lloyd killed. She couldn't let her emotions cloud her, no matter how painful and vile. She let out a growl and released Morro, forcing her gaze away. 

"Is this some cruel joke? After everything that's happened?" (Y/n) spat. Her hands curled into fists and her gaze locked on Morro's. "Get out of my sight."  And as she marched away, she felt Morro's eyes to her back. He watched her every move, studied the way she ripped open the doors and disappeared down the stairs.

Was (Y/n) slowly going crazy? There was no way Morro were actually here. Those eyes following her, that guilty look on his face--it all had to be her own illusions.

The cold of (Y/n)'s bed did nothing to quell her worries. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Morro's face as he shoved the Realm Crystal into her hands. He had smiled then, cocky and teasing the same as he always had. 

I'm sorry, he had said. I was a fool.

(Y/n) deflated, sinking into her bed with a long, exhausted sigh. If Uncle were here, he would scold her. But he was gone, somewhere far off in Ninjago. This was probably just a nightmare anyway. Once (Y/n) fell asleep, she would wake up and everything would be right again.

---

Peace. This was the first time in a while (Y/n) felt such tranquility. Nothing here could ever go wrong, and even if it did, a strong belief in her heart said it would all be okay. 

(Y/n) stepped through the green grass, where flowers swayed gently in the rolling fields. They seemed endless, an infinity of life. A breeze like early spring tickled her cheeks and a gentle smile rose to her lips.

"I was wondering when you would appear." a calm voice said. "You're a splitting image of Lance, and clearly, in more ways than one. Always defying destiny, writing it as your own." 

(Y/n) stared at the man before her. He had appeared out of thin air and wore a black gi, as well as a straw hat. He smiled from under its brim as (Y/n) scrutinized him. "Grandfather?" 

The First Spinjitzu Master nodded in confirmation. "With Wu gone, you must forge ahead on your own. Of course, you are not without friends." 

A sigh escaped (Y/n)'s lips and reality came crashing through the peace. Her heart grew cold and she pressed her lips together thin. "What have you come here to tell me?" 

The First Spinjitzu Master waved a hand. The ground beneath cracked and they suddenly were free falling. (Y/n) shut her eyes tightly, but before she could come smashing into the ground, her descend slowed and she found herself in an abyss of black. 

Stars and faint traces of other galaxies were spotted across the sky, dancing like little gems in the dark. A transparent bridge of stardust lay beneath (Y/n)'s feet, where tendrils of darkness lingered below. 

This was The Void, a place where past, present, and future coincided together. Unlike the Time Twins who controlled their elements of time, (Y/n) held no real power over this place. She was only a keeper, an omnipotent being who watched without interference. The visions she could see were most often only her own, and any beyond it, faint and too cryptic to understand.

"Why did you bring me here?" (Y/n)'s voice sounded small in the dark, a mere spec among many others. 

Grandfather motioned for (Y/n) to follow and she jogged to meet his side. "Lance passed the position of Keeper to you before his death, as well as the element of Aether. Because of the foolishness of my sons, I fear you will suffer the consequences." Grandfather's voice was no longer calm, instead grave, as if he were running out of time. "You must not fight what is already written. My question for you is, will you embrace what is to come?" 

(Y/n) blinked and he vanished. In front of her lay one of the many vortexes of time, a single snapshot of history that already happened. She placed a hand to the mirror's surface and it bubbled underneath her touch like water. 

Morro stared back, lips pulling up into a bright smile as he laughed. "Why did you do that, stupid?" He set down his bokken and helped a younger (Y/n) to her feet. "You barely know your right from left, now you can't even walk straight? Nice going, Master of Aether."

The memory replayed over and over on loop. The same smile, the same laugh. (Y/n) rested her forehead against the glass that rippled like pond water. She thought of Morro's final moments, felt his touch as he shoved the Realm Crystal into her hands. 

The ground shifted and shook beneath (Y/n)'s feet. The floor vanished, scattering into particles as she was thrust into an abyss of darkness. The stars, those faint galaxies, all vanished, swallowed whole by the black of night. A face of smoke broke through, laughing evilly from the fangs protruded from its face.

"FIND IT!" came grandfather's booming voice.

Buildings formed in the smoke, outlining streets and homes of Ninjago. They crumbled to dust, overtaken by the darkness as that laugh grew louder.

"FIND IT BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!" 

---

(Y/n) awoke with a start and her head hit the bunk above her. Hard. She yelped and rolled over, only to fall and slam her face onto the floor. 

The bedroom door creaked open and (Y/n) didn't need to look over to know who it was. Morro's presence was strong and easy to sense even from miles away. "Don't ask." (Y/n) stated. "Close the door and go." 

The door closed firmly. 

"What in Ninjago is happening?" (Y/n) stumbled over to a lone desk in her room and slumped in the chair. Old maps and books lay scattered with a drawing of the stolen mask from Borg Tower. She had scoured over these notes for hours, only to set them aside and wallow in her own self-pity.

Above the desk sat a cork board, where a map of Wu's whereabouts sat scribbled in red ink. Every place in sight had a red x, a marking that slowly became the source of (Y/n)'s fading hopes.

No, she couldn't begin to walk down that path. If Wu were in any of their shoes, he wouldn't give up. Not just because ninja never quit, but because they were family.

(Y/n) took a seat at the desk, shoulders and ran a hand through her hair. There was something strangely terrifying about that dream she couldn't shake. The darkness closing in on her, the rush of fear in her veins, the sternness of grandfather's voice. 

(Y/n) stood and made her way to the deck. She needed some air.

The sun still remained high in the sky, where birds circled above and clouds lazily hung overhead. Ninjago City stood on the horizon, a collection of dense skyscrapers that stood the test of this world's dangers. (Y/n) took control at the bridge, paying no mind to Morro who sat in a little corner of the room.

An awkward silence hung over the air like a storm cloud, heavy and damp.

Morro played with the loose threads of his gi, swinging his feet under his chair with an uncertain look. "You're not gonna say anything?" 

"What is there to say?" (Y/n) shut off autopilot and gave the wheel a turn. The Bounty descended into the ocean, sloshing sea spray high in the sky. "You may have learned your lesson, but that doesn't mean you've been forgiven." 

"I'm sorry." Morro gripped the edge of his seat. "Nothing I say can make amends for what I did."

Another silence passed as the ship continued sailing on the ocean breeze. Morro wasn't one to fidget, but he couldn't help it. (Y/n)'s anger was the calm before the storm, and it always put him on edge. "What about me reappearing here? I've been trying to figure out why and wondered if it had to do with our fates being tied together?" 

"If it is, it's only a curse." Bitterness dripped in every word that left (Y/n)'s lips. "Destiny likes to laugh in my face and continues to do it again." 

The dock came into view and (Y/n) steered the ship towards the boardwalk. She released the anchor and shut off the power. "Stay here. I don't need you bothering me any longer." Wordlessly, (Y/n) made her way to the boardwalk. But as soon as her feet touched the wooden planks, her body froze. 

"What..?" It was as if an invisible rope had connected itself to her chest. At the other side stood Morro, who steadily made his way over with a frown. He rubbed at his chest, frowning at the same odd tug. "I don't think I'm supposed to be far away from you."

(Y/n) could only stare as if Morro carried the bubonic plague. She quickly reached into the cool harbour water and splashed Morro from head to toe. He held up his hands with a shout, only to pause when the sensation of water registered in his head. "I'm...still here?"

Horror made the colour drain from (Y/n)'s face. "No," she held the sides of her face, "it can't be." Nausea made her double over and keel on her knees, huffing and puffing as if she had ran a marathon. "I'm...I'm stuck with you...?" 

Morro awkwardly pressed his lips together. He kept his distance, but knelt down to check on (Y/n)'s meltdown. "I'm sure it's can't be that bad--"

"That bad?" (Y/n) snapped. "You think I want to be stuck for however long this lasts with you? It could be a lifetime! Eternity!" She threw her head back and stared up into the blue-bird sky. "Those damn Cloud monks! Whose idea was this?! Who approved this?!"

Before Morro could get out so much as another word, (Y/n) had already stormed off. He followed in tow, shamefully trudging along as the Master of Aether continued to mutter under her breath in frustration. 

Oh, and if it couldn't get worse, it just had to. Being away from the city made (Y/n) revert back into a country bumpkin. She hadn't grown up in all the hustle and bustle since she spent her life at the Monastery of Spinjitzu for as long as she could remember.

Cars honking, people shouting and cursing at bad drivers. Crowded sidewalks filled with corporate and finance workers rushing to lunch, lines at food stands that curled around the sidewalks. 

(Y/n) dashed into an alleyway. She placed a hand to her chest, heaving to get more air into her lungs. "I have to get out of here." 

"I thought you had somewhere you needed to be?" Morro said, raising a brow. "Why are we here anyway?"

(Y/n) knelt over her knees, sending him a glare. "I'm here for Lloyd. And I would be on my way if I could get past all these people!" When Morro made a funny face, she had to suppress the urge to scream at him. Was he stupid? Did he not see all these crowds bustling about like...people? 

It took a moment for the information to click in Morro's head. "Ah," his obsidian eyes sparkled mischievously, "you spoiled little princess. C'mon, let's go this way."

(Y/n) wanted to protest, but one look at the crowded streets sent her head into a loop. She jogged after Morro, hands curled into fists at her side. "I'm not following you because I want to. And who're you calling princess? I don't remember being the prissy one."

"Whatever," Morro said, rolling his eyes. "And if I remember correctly, the one who complained all the time was you."

The two weaved their way through a connection of alleyways. Some led to convenience stores and restaurants, while others remained quieter, where heaps of trash attracted mice and flies. A couple blocks further and the two emerged into another busy street, where Borg Tower's front doors gleamed in the afternoon sun.

(Y/n) pressed her lips together. She hated relying on Morro. "Did you know from Lloyd's memories?" 

Morro shook his head, shrugging. "Partly. But you forget I also grew up here." The two made their way to a crosswalk and waited for the lights to change. "If we kept walking the other way, we would have found the canal and made it to the slums where I grew up." 

(Y/n) tapped the crosswalk button, mindlessly listening to the monotone voice saying 'wait'. "How did you end up all the way in the countryside?" 

"We were constantly being recognized by shopkeepers." Morro's gaze was distant, faraway in his memories. "Digging in the trash wouldn't cut it here, so we had to move. I just...didn't think walking up those steps would've led me to the monastery where you found me."

All (Y/n) could do was frown as they crossed the street. She thought of every moment Morro spent in Lloyd's body, how hard it was on her cousin's very life force, and how the fight at grandfather's tomb had ended. Her heart clenched, a cold, numb feeling. (Y/n) wanted to say she wished she had never been there to discover Morro, but thought better of it. 

"Uncle Wu found you, not me." she muttered instead. "I was just watching you." 

"Because, like now, you were filled with despair." Morro's voice was soft as a spring breeze, not a hint of malice coating his words. "I suppose destiny has an odd way of having me find you at your worst." 

(Y/n) let out a humorless huff. She recalled that day well as it was the anniversary of her father's death. She had been sitting on the front steps, chewing on an apple when the sound of someone falling hit her ears. "Now if only destiny could get rid of you too." 

And if she had spared a single glance behind, maybe she would have seen the guilt pulling at Morro's heart strings. Or the absolute grief in his eyes that reflected the same as her own. She sure sensed it in the air, but why did it matter? 

Morro wasn't (Y/n)'s friend. He was an enemy, one who deserved no mercy. And if Uncle were here, he would smack her upside the head and tell her she was being foolish. But he wasn't, because he was lost to time, never to be seen from again.

And even if being a little nice was the right thing to do, Morro hadn't thought of that when he left her. Why should (Y/n) go out of her way for him?

A young monk made his way down the sidewalk and approached. He pressed his hands together with his prayer beads, bowing politely. "I sense you are in great danger. You must be cleansed of this evil presence that follows you." 

(Y/n) sent a glare over to Morro and he raised his hands. "What?" 

The monk closed his eyes and said a prayer in old Ninjago, then bowed before eyeing the space where Morro stood. "Nothing is there, yet I sense a presence." The monk bowed again. "Keep your heart open and you will find your truth, no matter how divided you may be." 

Once the man was out of ear shot, (Y/n) sent Morro another glare. "Thanks for cursing me. I look like an absolute maniac since apparently no one else can see you but me." 

As if on cue, a little boy and his friends grimaced at (Y/n). "Why is she talking to herself?" one asked. 

"We should get out of here."

The group of children quickly ran away and (Y/n) let out a sigh. It was already a difficult task wondering how to re-introduce Morro to the ninja. Now, that would be virtually impossible since he was, well, invisible. 

"None of the others need to know about this," (Y/n) resigned. She shut her eyes to gather herself and stepped into the lobby of Borg tower. Her heart ached at the thought of keeping such a secret, but it was necessary. The ninja had bigger problems to worry about and this would only be a distraction.

"Wait, so you're not telling the others?" Morro inquired. "Aren't they your friends?" 

"Friends who will freak out and burn down the whole city to get rid of you from my body? Yes. Yes, indeed." (Y/n) pressed her lips into a thin line. "After what you did to Lloyd, your biggest worry should be me and how I'll pummel your face ten feet into the ground. I can't tell them about you, they'll only get distracted from whatever mission we now have." 

The two emerged on the sixty-fifth floor and stepped out into a long, open gallery. It stretched out into multiple different rooms, where one of the glass windows had been covered in plastic and wrapped in caution tape. Fragments of glass shards sat under two orange cones, glittering in the sunlight outside.

"Well, look who decided to show up." The familiar voice, warn like a fire made (Y/n)'s lips slowly curve into a small smile. She pulled Kai into a hug. "Sorry, I didn't realize it would take me so long to walk here." 

Zane smiled, "If it's any consolation, Kai and Lloyd were both late too." The two looked to the side sheepishly as Nya made her way over and gathered (Y/n) into her arms. 

"You could've just called one of us over to pick you up," she said. "It's a far walk from the harbour."

"Or taken the bus." piped up Jay, punching (Y/n)'s arm with a grin. "Don't tell me you forgot how it works." 

(Y/n) pressed her lips together and frowned. "I know how to use the bus. I just...don't like being around people." Cole placed a hand to her shoulder with a laugh and pulled her into his secure arms. "Did someone wake up on the wrong side of the bed? We're just teasing."

For a moment, (Y/n) didn't let go. She stayed in Cole's warm arms, laughing awkwardly. "Yeah, I know." She slowly pulled away, lips thin and tight as she forced a smile. 

Zane's eyes flashed blue for a split second and he tilted his head to the side. His sensors were going off, warning him of an extra presence in the room. But what was more, (Y/n) kept fiddling with her hands, clenching and relaxing her fists. "Is something the matter?" 

(Y/n) pulled her face into the happiest expression she could muster. "I'm fine. Why?" Zane opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, Lloyd held out a fist to (Y/n). Her expression softened and the two tapped their knuckles together before slapping their palms up and down in a special handshake. 

Lloyd smiled and it was bright and full of life and everything (Y/n) wasn't. "Glad you got here safe. I think your trip must've taken the longest."

For a moment, (Y/n) paused, brows knit curiously. Lloyd had gotten taller, about half a head above her when before he barely reached eye-level. His voice was also deeper, smoother compared to scratchiness it had before. "Looks like little Lloyd's finally grown up," (Y/n) said, ruffling his hair. "Any word from your mother? I've tried contacting her, but no word."

Lloyd deflated, gaze falling to the floor. "No, not since Uncle went missing." The air dampened and everyone's faces slowly fell. Cole placed a hand to his shoulder firmly, eyes bright with determination. "She'll come back Lloyd, and so will Wu."

"Not everyone comes back, Cole." Lloyd quickly said. "But that's not why I called you here. It's because of this." He held up his phone, where blurry pictures of a masked group were shown scaling Borg Tower. He scrolled to the next photo, where a logo with Garmadon glowed on display. Above in red were the letters, S.O.G.

(Y/n)'s brows knit and her fingers curled into a tight fist. "The symbol of the Sons of Garmadon. I did some research earlier, they're a criminal biker gang with a growing influence. They stole an artefact from Borg Tower seventy-two hours ago. Some mask, was it?"

From down the hall, a man emerged from behind a kabuki mask display. He wore all green, a helmet, and donned an eye patch. There was a serious air about him, a firmness that exuded both confidence and secrecy. "Not 'some mask'." he said indignantly. "The Oni Mask." 

Jay's brow furrowed. "The only mask?" A chuckle escaped Nya's lips and she placed a hand to his shoulder with a shake of her head. "Not 'only', oni mask."

"Oh."

The man, who Lloyd introduced as Mr. Hutchins, rolled his eyes. He explained how there were three total, and if reunited, would give the wielder tremendous, unspeakable power. What kind? Unspeakable, which meant, no one knew. (Y/n)'s mind wandered and she thought of her dream from only this afternoon. How frantic Grandfather sounded to the curious tone in his voice when he asked, 'Will you embrace what is to come?'.

Embrace what? (Y/n) was the Master of Aether, that was a no-brainer. Her element was the heavens, balance and harmony between everything yet nothing. She knew all of this, yet grandfather spoke as if there was something she didn't know.

So what was it? This mask? Did he want her to find all three of them?

Mr. Hutchins closed his explanation by inviting the ninja to oversee the Emperor's speech tomorrow, but only if they could remain hidden. It was (Y/n)'s turn to be indignant. She eyed him carefully, frowning. "Is that even a question? As ninja, it's our job."

Mr. Hutchins looked doubtful. "We'll see about that."

---

Twenty hours later
Front Gates of the Jade Palace
12:00PM

Lloyd had assigned everyone their own positions at the palace gates. Nya was undercover in the crowds, dressed in civilian clothes to not draw attention. (Y/n) and Zane were stationed on the roof with their bows for long-range attacks, while Kai, Cole, and Jay stayed below on the wrap-around balcony walkway just above the streets. Then there was Lloyd, who remained with the royal family at the front gates. 

(Y/n) let out a groan, grip loosening on her bow. With the sun beating down on her and the influx of crowds below, her body itched to move. "This is stupid." Morro took a seat on the edge of the roof, amusement flashing in his eyes. "I see you still get frustrated easily." 

"I didn't ask for your opinion, Captain Obvious." (Y/n) grumbled under her breath. She scanned the street below, lips curled down in distaste. She had been around Ninjago City more times than she could count, yet never once heard of some royal family. She chalked it up to the Time Twins, who changed more than time itself before shelving the thought.

(Y/n) had to remain focused. But with Morro standing not even two feet away, it was hard to concentrate. He was like a fly on the wall, buzzing irritably. She sucked her teeth, "'Can you go somewhere?" 

Morro raised a brow as a breeze ruffled his hair ever so perfectly. "Go where? We're stuck together, I can't leave you more than ten feet away from me. Besides, shouldn't you be more focused on the mission?" 

That irked (Y/n). A rush of adrenaline filled her veins and she spared Morro a sharp glare like knives. "I would be if you hadn't shown up. All you do is make things worse."

"I didn't choose to appear." Morro said with a roll of his eyes. "You think I asked to be brought back? I can't rest in peace because of you."

Because of her?

(Y/n) ground her teeth together, standing from her stood crouched position on the roof. She whipped around, heat creeping up her neck in anger. "Says the guy who only cared about being the green ninja!"

"Wait, (Y/n)--"

"No!" She stalked over to him, looking him in the eyes from where he stood. "I'm sick of you always telling me I don't understand. Always going off on your own selfishly, saying it's your destiny just because you can't face the truth! News flash, who can't rest in peace? Me. Why? Because of you and everything you've ever done in your stupid, pathetic--"

There was a crackle in (Y/n)'s ear and she froze, eyes wide. Zane's cool voice filled her ears, "Is something the matter, (Y/n)?" 

She heaved in a breath, quickly turning away from Morro with a frown. She couldn't believe herself, why did she go and say all those things when anyone could have been watching? "I'm fine." (Y/n) ran a hand over her hot face. "Why?" 

"You were on the wrong channel." Zane's voice was gentle, calm as winter's first snow. "Please be mindful. We will need to contact each other in the event of an emergency."

(Y/n) swallowed thickly, grip tightening around her bow. "Of course, sorry." She sent Morro the stink eye and he guiltily plopped himself down on the roof.

What was wrong with him? He should have been smarter about his choice of words. "(Y/n), I...I didn't mean any of what I said--"

"Save your breath." She muttered. "I don't need your empty apologies." Yet her chest ached at the thought of hearing Morro's tired voice. He sounded just as upset as her, as if he actually understood the weight of his actions and its consequences. 

And yes, maybe he did. But none of those realizations could soothe the aching pains of the past. (Y/n)'s hand curled into a fist as she distantly stared into the crowds below. The emperor's voice boomed through the speakers as he spoke the royal family keeping their business private, or how they held no interest in current affairs.

"But as crime rates have risen," the emperor added, "so has our concern. So it is time to step out of the shadows and into the light!"

The crowds cheered below and clapped, but it was all background noise, a song that no one cared to listen to. (Y/n)'s mind wandered to her dream, where she stood in the Void in front of that mirror. She saw Morro helping her to her feet in the monastery courtyard, him laughing and smiling wide. 

(Y/n) chewed at her lip, squeezing her eyes shut to block out the memories. 

Morro studied the way (Y/n)'s shoulders hunched over. She looked exhausted despite sleeping so soundly just last night. Her eyes, a deep purple like the sky at dusk, were clouded over like a storm, and as she bit her lip, the broken skin threatened to bleed.

"I know you don't want to hear me talk," Morro slowly said. "But I think you need to forget about me and focus on the mission." 

(Y/n)'s gaze never left the crowds below, where two friends stood by a storefront, talking amongst themselves as the speech continued. She hated when Morro was right, but when was he not? "Stop...telling me what to do." (Y/n)'s heart wasn't in her words. She couldn't muster the strength to be angry. "I don't your input, I'm perfectly focused." 

The other ninja talked loudly over the radio frequency. 

"I don't like this one bit," said Nya. "If the royal family likes their privacy, why give such a public speech? It's like..."

(Y/n) tuned everyone out. Who was she kidding? She would always be at odds, not just with herself, but Morro who stood beside her on this very roof. In the back of her mind, she saw his teasing smile again, felt the warmth of his hand as he pulled her off the courtyard floor.

(Y/n) swallowed, maybe she was being too hard on Morro. "I wanted to ask--"

BANG! BANG! BANG!

(Y/n) notched an arrow. She scanned the street as firecrackers burst into the air, where a balloon with the Sons of Garmadon logo rose into the sky. Screaming people either fled, or rushed to take pictures of it. Lloyd had the royals covered with Mr. Hutchins, leaving Nya below on her own. 

"Do you see anything Nya?" (Y/n) inquired.

She eyed the crowds, who all turned towards a storefront, where firecrackers spread the smell of sulfur and ash into the air. "False alarm, although, I don't get who would want to set off firecrackers."

(Y/n) brushed past Morro and made her way across the roof. She spotted a motorcycle taking off into the distance, back towards downtown. On the back of the biker was the infamous S.O.G. logo. "That wasn't a false alarm," she said. "Zane, I trust you can watch from above." 

"Where are you going?" 

(Y/n) tossed Zane her bow and leapt off the roof. She landed with a roll and sprinted after the bike. It made a sharp left, then a right into one of the main streets. She sprinted after it, weaving past civilians and leaping over parked vehicles.

The biker was fast, even with all the usual city traffic. And the further (Y/n) continued, the harder it was to keep up. Her legs burned and her lungs hurt as she sprinted. "He's too fast!"

Morro didn't look the least bit winded and that thought made (Y/n)'s insides burn with jealousy. "Do you need a lift?" he said. 

"I don't," (Y/n) took a big gulp of air, "need your help." 

The biker zoomed past a red light and nearly collided with a pedestrian. Before it could swerve into a car turning left, the biker slid into a bus lane and veered up a ramp into the highway. (Y/n) ripped off her mask and dabbed at the sweat on her brow. She tapped her headset, "I lost him. He headed up on I-27."

Morro placed his hands behind his back with a shrug, "I could have helped you."

"I don't need your help!" (Y/n) exclaimed. "I could have caught up if he didn't go on the highway!" Yet she heaved in a big gulp of air, struggling to breathe as Lloyd's voice crackled through the mic.

"What's your status, (Y/n)? We've secured the perimeter, but found no one." 

(Y/n) broke into a jog, scanning the area for any affiliates. She took in another gulp of air to catch her breath. "I lost the biker downtown, it was one of the Sons of Garmadon."

Lloyd hummed. "I can pick you up. Meet me by Buddy's Pizza next to the arcade."

"Copy that." (Y/n) let out a sigh and released the button on her headset. All the streets looked the same as they should have, with school kids hanging out by the local boba shop and random gangs in alleyways. "All those theatrics just to lead me this far into the city?"

Morro eyed an old, worn convenience store, grimacing. "It was a scare tactic. A warning that they're coming. W still don't know who we're dealing with, we have to be cautious." 

(Y/n) sent him a sharp glare. "Did I ask?"

Morro stared into her deep, purple eyes. They shone like stars even in the daylight. "No. But I'm asking you to fill me in on this mission." 

A scoff escaped (Y/n)'s lips. She crossed a street, shaking her head as a motorcycle nearly ran her over. "How do I know I can trust you? Need I remind you who unleashed the Preemminent?" 

"Right." Morro pressed his lips into a thin line. "But things are different now. I want to help, (Y/n). I don't need to prove anything anymore, all I have to do is make amends for everything I did. If I'm not helpful, by all means, you don't have to tell me anything ever again." 

Buddy's Pizza came into view. There was a line inside, where little kids ran about the play area and into the arcade. (Y/n) folded her arms across her chest, rubbing at her knitted brows. "Fine, whatever. I never thought I'd hear you so desperate. It's disgusting." 

The way (Y/n) loomed over Morro made him feel like the gum under someone's shoe. He hated it, but if this were the only way to regain her trust, he had to see this through. "So, what happened to Sensei?" 

A bad taste filled (Y/n)'s mouth. "Gone. He disappeared in a vortex in time. We've all been searching for him since." The very thought of her lost uncle made her stomach churn uneasily. "As for the masks, you heard Lloyd. One was stolen, and the S.O.G. are still out there looking for the other two. So long as this threat continues, we have to wait until we find Sensei."

A frown pulled at Morro's lips. "Sensei's missing?" He couldn't fathom the idea of that old man disappearing off the face of Ninjago. "Well, wherever he is, I'm sure he's fine." 

Morro wasn't someone who said something just to make someone feel better. Even without meeting his firm gaze, (Y/n) knew he meant every word. She nodded, "Or so I hope."

The familiar rev of an engine caught (Y/n)'s ears and she perked up the slightest. A sleek, green car with fresh paint pulled up by the curb. "Well, if it isn't little Lloyd." (Y/n) hopped into the car before pausing. There was no backseat, but Morro couldn't just stay at Buddy's Pizza. 

Great. Did this mean Morro had to sit on her lap?

As if reading her mind, Morro buried his face in his hands with a groan. He squeezed himself into the car, settling into (Y/n)'s lap as she shut the door with a suck of her teeth. "I have the worst luck in all of Ninjago." 

Lloyd's brows raised as the signal light clicked in the background. He pulled into the open road, steering clear of a large truck. "Uh, what did you say?"

"Nothing." (Y/n) placed her elbow on the arm rest and buried her face in a hand with a sigh. "It's just like I have this heavy weight on me, you know?" She peeked through her fingers to send Morro a dark glare. He sighed, resting his arms on the dashboard. "Weak."

(Y/n) rammed her elbow into his side. To Lloyd, it must have looked like she were only reaching over to roll down the window. "Thanks for picking me up."

"No problem." Lloyd smiled, only to pause. He felt a strange shiver down his spine, a strong sense of animosity emitting from (Y/n) in waves. "Are you okay? You seem kinda on edge." 

(Y/n) blew a raspberry, waving a hand. "No, no. I'm fine." 

"What about that weight you were just talking about?" 

(Y/n) pressed her lips together. Why did Lloyd sound so concerned? This (Morro) wasn't a big deal, and even though it (Morro) could be, she wouldn't let it (Morro) become one. Before she could open her mouth, Lloyd cut her off. 

"I know it's been a while since we've all been together, but that doesn't mean we still can't rely on each other." Lloyd tried for a smile and it was bright and warm and everything (Y/n) wasn't. "You forget I'm not a kid anymore. I can help you too, you don't have to hide stuff from me because you want to be strong." 

Which was funny because Lloyd wouldn't have said that a year ago. He was still a master-in-training at that point, slowly learning how to take command in Wu's absence. Now he was taller, older, a growing young adult who didn't need help the way he once did before. 

There was a pang in (Y/n)'s chest, cold, empty. She placed her hand over her heart, where it beat steadily, calmly. "You're not a kid anymore," she repeated. 

It was like a slap in the face. 

"Everything keeps changing so fast." And she didn't even know where to begin. "Ever since Uncle disappeared, we all went our separate ways to find him. But now that we're together again, nothing's really been the same. It's like something's missing."

The signal light clicked as Lloyd turned right. His mind wandered as the city lights reflected off his windscreen, dancing in the last rays of sun. His voice broke (Y/n)'s thoughts. "But like Uncle once said, every drop of water is a bigger motion that carves the earth. Even though time passes, we still hold our memories, and that bond we share as a family stays with us. Even when we're apart."

A small chuckle escaped (Y/n)'s lips. A faint memory, almost forgotten played in the back of her mind. She saw Wu on the front steps of the Monastery, where the sun shone against his face as dusk fell.

"Our family may be divided," he had said. "But as long as there is breath in my body and fight in my soul, I will pick up the pieces to make it whole."

A huff escaped (Y/n)'s lips and she shook her head. "That has to be the wisest thing you've ever said to me, Lloyd. I guess you really did learn something from Sensei, huh?" 

Lloyd grinned and put the car into park. "I paid attention when I had to. C'mon, the others are waiting for us. We've been personally invited as guests by the royal family."

--

The throne room was just as extravagant as the rest of the palace. With gold detailing on the ceiling and elaborate ornamentation of dragons and other creatures. It turned out, the Princess had specifically requested the ninja's presence. 

The term Hutchins used was 'guests', but by the sounds of it, their job description was more along guards until this whole thing blows over. 

When (Y/n) and Lloyd joined the group, everyone bowed respectfully to the royal family. The princess stepped down from her chair, gracefully gliding down a set of steps with a welcoming smile. "I have read much about you all. Your heroics will surely become legendary." She paused in front of the group, eyeing everyone carefully. "Kai, the hothead who acts without question."

(Y/n) glanced at Jay, brows raised high in question. He held back a snicker, biting his lip. 

"Cole, the rock and foundation of the team."

No one could argue with that.

"Jay, the joker whose mouth is fast as lighting."

Was it just (Y/n), or were these statements backhanded?

"Zane, the cold and calculating android."

Zane smiled with a bow, "Nindroid, your highness."

The princess smiled. "And Nya, the girl."

Nya raised a brow, lips pressed thin as the princess continued to smile serenely. "The girl I always wanted to be since I first heard about her. With her mastery of water, and her skill that could rival any master." Ah, if there was one thing about Nya, it was that she was easy to butter up. Her frown faded and she smiled with a bow, "I like her."

"(Y/n)," the princess met her dark eyes, "The Master of Aether with a special elemental power that requires much dedication and focus. You are a quick-witted thinker, much like myself." Morro sent (Y/n) a doubtful glance and she resisted the urge to glare. "Thank you, Princess." she said with a bow.

"And Master Lloyd, the Green Ninja. The most powerful protector of Ninjago, the Chosen One."

(Y/n)'s brows knit and she had to resist the urge to sock the princess in the face. What was her deal with these comments? 

Surprisingly, Lloyd didn't look the least bit bothered by the Princess. Instead, he smiled with a bow, an almost dreamy look in his eyes. A heartfelt frown fell upon the princess's ruby red lips. "I too have lost my parents, but we are not without family, hm?" Jay looked between the royal family with a knit of his brows. They only smiled, "We adopted Harumi and raised her as our own when her parents passed away."

More formal comments were thrown about, but (Y/n)'s thoughts began to stray. The princess was an...interesting person, for lack of better words. But who in their right mind says they also lost their parents too? And during a first meeting too? Lloyd wasn't even an orphan, and regardless, shouldn't have been pitied as such.

"You must not allow the three masks to be reunited," the Princess added. "Please, say yes."

(Y/n) turned to Lloyd, but not because she was waiting for an answer. She had completely spaced out, too consumed by her own thoughts to pay attention. Lloyd smiled and folded his hands together with a bow. "Then you have our aid."

The princess smiled. "Then Mr. Hutchins will show you the palace."

Mr. Hutchins motioned for the ninja to follow him out of the throne room. He began a tour, starting with the never-ending buffet (Cole didn't even touch the cake, what a shocker), to the courtyard, guest rooms, and finally, the library. A single display case contained an orange oni mask, where its jagged features were highlighted by the lamp overhead.

"So this is what all the commotion is about?" Morro said. "Who in their right mind would make something so ugly?" 

The mask was indeed a grotesque thing, with sharp lines and jagged teeth fit for only a monster. Even from behind the glass, it emitted an aura of darkness that threatened to eat away at the light. Still, judging by the lack of intensity behind it, this was nothing more than a display object.

(Y/n) frowned, "Where is the real one?" One look from Mr. Hutchins was the same as being pinned to the wall with shuriken. He laughed and it was hard, unfriendly. "What makes you believe this is a fake?" 

"Its energy is too weak for something supposedly made of great power." (Y/n) stared right back into Hutchins's singular eye. "Only a fool would leave the real one out."

Hutchins huffed indignantly, folding his hands behind his back and starting down towards the other end of the hall. "I suggest you watch your wirds, Master of Aether." He scoffed to himself. "My word, having outsiders strolling around as if they own the place. What was the Princess thinking?"

(Y/n) frowned. "It was just a question." Cole laughed awkwardly, giving the display case a once over. "Well, maybe he's just a little on edge. They don't have visitors often, right? Maybe he's socially awkward." 

Socially awkward was an understatement, but (Y/n) didn't fight Cole's words. She glanced over at Morro, who sifted through the library books with a frown. He wasn't much of a reader, but he did know when to snoop around. 

Guess it was time for some ninja work.

Ninjago Secrets

-contrary to what Morro says, (Y/n) is actually quite smart. the only problem? she leaps before she thinks, much like kai
-(Y/n) was about fourteen or fifteen when she joined the ninja
-for this reason, the other ninja used to have a habit of looking out for her (just like lloyd!)
-(Y/n)'s father died when she was about six or seven

Chapter Text

No path in life is ever walked in a straight line.

"Can I eat that?"

(Y/n) looked up from the little drawings she made in the dirt. A boy with ebony hair and eyes like obsidian pointed to the apple in her hand. She frowned and tossed it to him. The boy caught it like a hawk when it swooped down on its prey. His eyes were frantic as he bit into it, jittery when he hid behind a rock to devour the apple whole.

The monastery gate creaked open and Uncle Wu peeked out. "(Y/n)? The other students have already had lunch. Come eat before it's all gone." He suddenly paused, following her gaze to the little boy now perched on a rock. Wordlessly, Uncle made his way inside, only to reappear with a bowl of hot rice and stir-fried shrimp.

Uncle Wu hid behind the gates as (Y/n) watched the boy curiously. He picked up the bowl and nearly swallowed the whole thing all at once.

Wow. That boy really was hungry.

From that day forward, this boy became a student at the monastery. His name was Morro and he was an orphan, just like (Y/n). And although they were more alike than she would like to admit, she found herself watching from the shadows, quietly observing his every move. 

Morro was a shy boy and was the same height as (Y/n). He was probably about a year or two older, but with how scrawny and small he was, didn't seem like it. He was very quiet and usually didn't speak unless to Uncle Wu. The two got along swimmingly--almost too swimmingly.

Still, Morro was making an impression, and not just because (Y/n) found him in the trash. He was a quick-learner, and did exactly as Uncle Wu would tell him. 

Whether it be martial arts or helping with chores, Morro was the perfect golden child. Never once did he complain, and only ever did he stop to take a break once in a blue moon. Why was he so obedient? So...likeable for Uncle Wu?

As time passed, so did this annoyance building in (Y/n)'s chest. She hated the way Uncle looked at Morro. His eyes would soften, and he'd smile as if nothing in the world could go wrong. There was so much affection, so much adoration for this...this stupid orphan boy (Y/n) found in the trash.

Was Morro that special to Uncle Wu?

Like most days, (Y/n) found herself sitting on a rock at the front steps of the monastery. She still trained to keep whatever her father once taught her in-tact (as well as Uncle Wu's new teachings), but the more time passed, the more blurry to all became. She would think of him often, hear his voice in her nightmares that had her lying awake at night. And it would always end the same, with her staring down Uncle Garmadon before all darkness swallowed them both whole.

A sigh escaped (Y/n)'s lips and she spared a glance over her shoulder at the courtyard. Usually, at this time of day, Uncle Wu came by to check on her and ask if she needed anything. Sometimes (Y/n) found herself sobbing into his shoulder, other times, she would lay her little head on his lap.

(Y/n) pressed her lips into a thin line. Any minute now, Uncle would be here, just as he always was, that bamboo staff clicking with every step he took. 

Any minute now.

Any minute now...

The monastery doors slid open and (Y/n) perked up, only to deflate as one of her peers stepped out and began to train. She kept her gaze on the door, waiting and waiting and waiting. An hour might have passed or maybe two. The sun traversed halfway across the sky and then some more. When the moon finally began peeking across the horizon, (Y/n) decided it was time to head inside. She made her way into the main halls before stopping at the common room doors. Uncle Wu's voice faintly filtered through the thin walls. He sounded like he was smiling.

(Y/n) quietly slid open the door. "Uncle? I was looking for you--"

In the middle of the room stood Morro, who smiled up at Uncle Wu as he gave him a pat on the back. "You have been working hard and advancing at a pace I never thought was possible for your young age." There was a warmth in Uncle's eyes, an affection that was lately only reserved for his prized student, Morro. "I am very proud of you."

(Y/n) felt her heart shatter into pieces. She had waited and waited and waited until the sun set. It was routine Uncle Wu stop to check on her everyday, even if it were only briefly. With how busy he was with his students, that had been their time together.

And it was that stupid, little orphan boy who enroached on that sacred time. 

A scowl twisted at (Y/n)'s face, contorting her expression into one of pure bitterness. Jealousy burned through her veins as she shut the door, the blood roaring in her ears.

From that day forward, she promised herself to out-do Morro. Because whatever he did, she was sure to do better.

"Focus!"

(Y/n) gritted her teeth and forced herself upright. The rocks by this river were slippery, and with the ice-cold water rushing around them, it was nearly impossible to stay put in a hand-stand. "S-sensei," (Y/n) blew some hair out of her mouth, "why...are we doing this...?"

Morro loudly sighed. He was perfectly still on his rock, watching the water rush past his hands peacefully.  "We're only doing this exercise because of you. You can barely stand straight on your feet. Really, it's a womder how you're the Master of Aether when your balance is rubbish."

(Y/n)'s cold fingers warmed with the figments of her burning jealousy. It roared into rage as her gaze locked with Morro's. The damn bastard, what did he have to smile about? She gritted her teeth, heart hammering in her chest. "I'm not clumsy! You're just saying that because you can't even...!"

(Y/n)'s eyes widened as she felt her leg tipping to the left. ​ Her core strength was enough to lift herself back up, but her hand slipped on the rock and she flipped over into the freezing water. Little pebbles dug into her back and tiny fish scattered away in fear, swimming past her hands as she shivered, teeth chattering. "Th-this is y-your fault! I-if yo-you hadn't s-said anything, I-I wouldn't h-have fallen!"

Morro released himself from the handstand with a snicker. "What did I say? You suck." (Y/n) stood and droplets of water splashed Morro in the face. "T-that the b-best you got? M-might want t-to i-improve your v-vo-vocabulary!"

"My vocabulary? Please," Morro stepped onto the shore beside Sensei, "you're the one who needs to pick up a book for once." (Y/n) shot out of the water with a grunt, kicking up little rocks and mud. Before she could absolutely pummel Morro's face into the dirt, Sensei caught her arm and bonked her on the head with his bamboo staff. He sighed, "This is why I brought only the both of you here today."

(Y/n) looked up at Sensei with a frown, rubbing at her sore head. "Wait, what?"

Sensei released her arm, wiping his wet hand on his trousers. "You both will travel to Jamanakai Village and visit a tea shop. Tell the owner, Mystake, I sent you. She will know what to give you. I expect you both to return in two day's time."

(Y/n)'s eyes widened and she pointed a sopping wet arm at Morro in disbelief. "You want me to spend a whole day with him?" Morro scoffed, pushing her soggy hand out of his face. "Sensei, with all due respect, I could make the trip in half a day without (Y/n). She is terrible at directions and gets distracted easily."

(Y/n) folded her arms across her chest with a huff. "Me? Terrible at directions? Not like you're any better, Mr. Perfect." Morro rolled his eyes and stabbed a finger to her shoulder. "Need I remind you who got us all lost when we were traveling to Ninjago City?"

"How was I supposed to know the map was upside down!"

Morro shook his head in disbelief, throwing out his hands in a gesture of 'what the heck is wrong with you'. "Ninjago is shaped the same as Yin and Yang, how could you not realize it was upside down? If you weren't so slow--!"

Sensei stepped forward and held up a hand. "Enough." The two shut their mouths with a bow of their heads and Sensei let out a sigh that seemed to age him ten years. "There is nothing wrong with healthy competition, but the two of you are a...different story. Aether and Wind were once one long ago, two parts of a whole. You both have barely scratched the surface of your elemental powers and what they behold because you consistently butt heads." He shook his head and handed Morro a coin pouch. "You are to give this to Mystake in exchange for what she gives you."

Morro folded his hands together with a bow. "Yes, Sensei."

Sensei then placed a hand to (Y/n)'s shoulder, giving it a firm pat. "As for you, my dear niece, I expect more from you. I don't want to hear Morro come back and tell me how you've started a fight with him, is that clear?"

A pang in (Y/n)'s chest made her hand her head. She pressed her lips into a thin frown, gaze focused on some faraway rock in shame. "Yes, Sensei." When she didn't bow, Morro elbowed her. She sent him a death glare before folding her hands together and lowering her head respectfully.

Satisfied, Sensei handed the two their bags and motioned to the river. "Follow the currents downstream. At the fork, turn left and you will find a large lake. There will be a path that leads up to the village. Before you go, one last word of advice: Conquer the obstacles that wander and from the heart all will be true. Only together will a path open the key to what you already knew."

A sigh escaped (Y/n)'s lips as she pulled her bag over her shoulders. "Uncle, what are you talking about?" He merely chuckled and motioned to the river. "That is for you both to discover. Be well on your journey and look after each other. If anything happens, all I ask is you stick together."

Stick together? (Y/n) couldn't even begin to fathom being stuck with Morro for more than a day. Regardless, she and Morro bowed together before turning towards the river, where a long adventure would await.

If someone walked up to (Y/n) yesterday and told her she would be forever chained to her dead ex-best friend, she would have called them crazy. Standing among a stack of books in the palace library filled the air with bouts of dust that made her nose itchy and her lungs ready to burst. She coughed, throwing them back into their respective shelves with a grit of her teeth. 

"Morro, all you've been doing is kicking up dust! I can't breathe!" 

Morro waved a hand and a gentle breeze passed through every shelf and crevice of the room. Instead of fresh air to breathe, all (Y/n) got was another mouthful of dust. She shut her eyes, coughing out the clouds with a sneeze. "Morro!"

"That wasn't supposed to happen, I swear." He punched a hand forward and a hard breeze whipped across (Y/n)'s face, taking with it ever spec of dirt and dust on her body. She coughed out the last of it, and Morro snorted. Then (Y/n) sent him a stormy glare and he shut up fast. 

"Remind me again why you brought us here when I'm supposed to be patrolling?" (Y/n) stated, firmly slapping a book on the table. The golden dragon statues lining every wall glittered in the overhead lights, their emerald eyes following her every move. "I don't like this place." 

Morro felt beneath the tables for a switch. "I have a feeling the royal family are hiding something from you ninja. Why did the princess request your presence instead of the emperor or empress? She could be overly concerned, or suspicious, but don't get me started on Hutchins. I bet this all involves something more sinister."

(Y/n) pressed her lips together in thought. She didn't like being civil with her enemy, but he made a good point.  "The princess was rude, but Hutchins..."

"He doesn't seem to like you very much." Morro cracked a smile and it was mischievous, teasing. "With that ugly scowl of yours? I don't blame him." 

(Y/n) opened her mouth to retort. Her foot suddenly caught on the rug and she threw out her hands with a yelp. Her back slammed into one of the dragon statues and it wobbled as she tumbled, landing flat on her nose with a groan.

"(Y/n)!" Morro raced over and took a knee, offering a hand. "Are you okay?"

Through her disheveled mop of hair, she looked up at Morro. His gaze was soft, gentle as a spring breeze. As their eyes met, (Y/n)'s breath caught in her throat and she hit the deck to roll away, hauling herself to her feet. "You didn't see anything. I'm fine!" The image of Morro's tender gaze made her squeeze her eyes shut. "I don't need—"

Pain exploded in (Y/n)'s shoulder as she hit the dragon statue again. She yelped, rubbing at her sore limbs as Morro stared in genuine concern. He approached slowly, as if afraid she'd run away. "Are you sure you're okay?"

The heat gathering in (Y/n)'s face made her turn away. It was ridiculous how flustered she had gotten from embarrassing herself twice in a single go (or was it three times?). Still, she couldn't let Morro see, not when it made her want to crawl into a hole. (Y/n)'s gaze locked on the statue firmly and she stabbed a finger at it. "Damn stupid thing!" The head suddenly clicked and flipped back, revealing a gold-plated switch. 

Morro scrutinized the statue as it glittered innocently in the overhead lights. "Interesting. Good work. If you weren't being a klutz, we wouldn't have found this."

(Y/n) sent Morro a dark glare. "Shut up before I make you, Master of Wind!"

Morro held up his hands. "So, I wonder what this button does."

Wordlessly, (Y/n) tapped it. Morro's jaw dropped and he grabbed her by the hands firmly. His hands were cold, firm. "Why did you touch the button?!"

"Since when were you one to get worked up?" (Y/n) said, pulling her hands away with a frown. A bookcase slid to the right and she approached, pointing to it. "See? We found something. No need to thank me." 

Morro let out a sigh and rolled his eyes, giving the tunnel a once over. It was a wonder how (Y/n) even became a ninja in the first place. "What if this were a trap? Then what?"

"Thank the First Spinjitzu Master it wasn't then." (Y/n) stepped into the dark, Morro following suit as the bookcase slid closed, encasing the secret tunnel in pure darkness.

The air was damp and stale. It smelled of earth and water, like a cave out in the wilderness. (Y/n) focused on the space around her, condensing it into her palm. A ball of purple light formed, dancing across her fingertips like stars twinkling in the sky. Its light filled the tunnel, where a set of worn stone stairs descended below.

Together, the two traversed down a long, winding set of steps. The walls began closing in the further down they went until the two were shoulder to shoulder, huddled around the little light dancing across (Y/n)'s palm. She dared not glance over at Morro, not when her insides burned with both anger and…affection. 

Disgust crept into (Y/n)'s system, storming through her insides and setting it on fire with rage. She clenched her free hand into a fist, teeth grinding together hard enough for them to break to smithereens.

"Can you move over?" (Y/n) grumbled out. Morro raised a brow, pausing in his step to point at the dank and damp stone grazing his arm. "This staircase isn't getting any bigger. What, do you want me to walk behind you?"

"No." (Y/n) quickly said. That proposition was even worse. What kind of idiot let their enemy walk behind them? "You're too close." 

Morro rolled his eyes and stepped down a stair. He continued onward with what little light reflected from (Y/n)'s hand, and she had to admit, it made her feel the slightest guilt. She frowned, lips pressed tight. "Can you see?"

"I'm a ghost." Morro flatly reminded. He held up a transparent hand, where a faint glow emitted. "It doesn't really matter anyway." 

An awkward silence made the air thick like butter. There wasn’t anything to talk about to break the quiet, and even if there was, (Y/n) wasn't so keen on small talk. She thought back to the library and the little dragon head she slammed into, then the concern in Morro's voice as he practically leapt over to her to check if she were alright. 

The embarrassment only continued to flare in (Y/n)'s chest like a hot flash. She placed a hand to her face, hoping it would cool down her reddened cheeks.

Morro's grainy voice broke the quiet, snapping those thoughts away. "What did you want to say to me earlier? At the emperor's speech before the S.O.G. showed up." 

(Y/n) frowned and thought back to the rooftops. The two had been arguing, and that same memory she saw in her dream kept playing in her mind. Morro smiling, teasing her as he helped her up off the courtyard ground in the monastery.

"I wasn't going to say anything," (Y/n) quietly said. "I don't know what you're talking about."

That was a lie and they both knew. Morro replayed what happened in his head, eyes distant, faraway in thought. "When I said I couldn't rest in peace, I meant it was because of all the things I've said and done to you, not because I thought ill of you. I've been a terrible friend."

A cold laugh escaped (Y/n)'s lips. She stepped over a cracked stair, continuing down. "You can say that again."

"I won't be able to sleep at night knowing you think I don't care about you. That, above all, is something I can't get out of my head." Morro took in a breath, building up his courage to continue. "Sensei once said our elemental powers were yin and yang, and only together, would we be whole. I'd like to think I came back for that reason." 

(Y/n) fell quiet, blood thrumming in her ears. Did Morro really care about their friendship that much? He never seemed to show it when they battled, instead spitting out petty insults and arguing with her. It was funny if he thought he could convince her with his shallow lies.

Even if a part of (Y/n) wanted to believe him.

The glow from (Y/n)'s hands cast thin shadows upon her face, highlighting the stormy skies in her eyes. It was strange seeing Morro so vulnerable and honest when all he ever was was secretive and closed off. Like an impenetrable fortress made of pure vengestone. Still, there was a sliver of hope that perhaps...

"Maybe you've changed." (Y/n)'s voice was barely above a whisper. "Why?"

"Because of you." There wasn't a single moment of hesitation in Morro's firm words. He spoke as if there were no other truth. "I stole the Realm Crystal from your grandfather's grave, I threw Lloyd into the river so you wouldn't chase after me, and I unleashed the Preemminent. Even after all that, when I was about to be vaporized in the ocean, you didn't hesitate to give me your hand. You told me to come home. Why?"

(Y/n) kept her gaze firmly on the worn stone as she stepped down the last step. A pit formed in her stomach, threatening to rip it in two. The stairwell opened up into a large cavern, where three doors stood at the crossroads. "We should figure out which way to go," she quickly said. "We've been gone long enough and with no transmission, the others might panic and think something's wrong."

Morro bit the inside of his cheek, silently nodding. He had already said enough for today, it wouldn't be good pushing (Y/n)'s buttons. "Alright, I say we go left."

"Right it is." (Y/n) concluded. She ignored Morro's defeated sigh and placed a hand to the door, pushing it open. The old hinges creaked, echoing through the long passageway like a cry. Any light from (Y/n)'s palm was swallowed by the darkness, where she squinted to even see past her own elbow. "I can't see anything."

"There's nothing here but a wall, (Y/n)."

She frowned and took a step forward, straining her eyes. "What are you talking about—“ Her face slammed into something, hard. Morro caught her arm before she could fall, eyeing the wall as it slid back to reveal the corridor behind. "Oh, well, it's not a wall anymore. Your face is going to bruise with how much you've hit it today."

(Y/n) rubbed her nose, yanking her arm out of Morro's grasp. "Dully noted." The two continued on, stepping lightly. Water dripped down these walls, gathering in stagnant puddles where mice greedily drank from it. 

The tunnel faded into nothing but black. Voices like static filled (Y/n)'s head and incoherent whispers rang like a gong. She froze, the ball of light in her hand fading. Images of Ninjago flickered along the walls, where buildings crumbled and evil laughs filled the empty darkness around it. Through all the chatter, all the rubble, a grotesque creature stood atop it all, its skin dark as night gleaming like knives.

FIND IT! 

(Y/n)'s knees weakened and she threw out a hand to the wall, gripping the cold stone as she stumbled.

FIND IT BEFORE ALL IS LOST!

The laugh morphed into a group of seething voices. They shouted commands, orders that all blended into a single voice, a single sound. "CURSED!" it cried. "YOU ARE THE CURSED CHILD!"

(Y/n) collapsed to her knees, heaving on the air refusing to enter her contracting lungs. She clawed at her own neck, crying out as cold sweat trickled down her forehead. A surge of power flowed through her veins, where it called out to her from the end lf the cavern's tunnel.  She obeyed, crawling forward, where dark tendrils gripped at her hands, pulling her deeper and deeper into the abyss. It felt so right…yet wrong all the same. 

Then a firm hand caught (Y/n) by the arm, shaking her. A strong presence like a cold gale of wind shot through (Y/n)'s senses. 

"Snap out of it!" Morro's voice echoed across the damp walls like a gong. "C'mon, you have to wake up (Y/n)!"

But the voices, the power filling (Y/n) with an unknown strength. They grew louder, more desperate as its control slipped from her mind. Morro's words pulled her to the present, grounding her mind that felt as if it were about to split in half. 

"Stop!" The voices refused to stop. "Leave me...alone!" 

As if this were foretold by Destiny, the voices continued, pumping every vein and muscle fibre with power. A dark power that threatened to tear (Y/n) away from the light.

"(Y/n)!" Morro's voice was faint, as if he were underwater. "(Y/n)! You have to fight it!"

But how could she fight something that was a part of her? She felt her powers fading, felt her life force weakening. Whatever was here was no stranger. A familiarity sunk into her bones as if imprinted on her body--she knew the presence deep within the dark. Understood in that instance that it was her, yet not. 

And as the presence began to overtake the last bit of awareness in (Y/n)'s body, ice coursed through her veins, kick-starting her breath into overdrive. A nes sprout of life sprung from (Y/n)'s chest. It chased away the dark, bringing with it a cool gust of wind. A shiver ran down (Y/n)'s spine. She felt Morro's consciousness seeping into her mind. "Stop," she grunted out, "stop it!" 

Morro wrestled against (Y/n)'s strong will, forcing her down, stamping her presence to the far reaches of his mind. He hated this feeling, this cold sensation in his veins. "(Y/n)." Morro didn't try to hide the desperation in his voice. "You have to trust me!"

A pained cry escaped (Y/n)'s throat, where her soul began to crack and break under the pressure. She couldn't trust Morro, not when he left her, when he betrayed her, when he forsake everything they once had for his stupid, stupid obsession. But the voices, the tendrils now slicing her body to shreds--she was scared. Scared of letting them win, scared of letting Morro in.

"Please, (Y/n)!" Morro's voice, always so calm, broke like glass. "You have to trust me!"

The image from the Void filled (Y/n)'s mind. She saw Morro's smile in the mirror, heard his laugh as he teased her about being such a klutz. She recalled all the times they raced up the monastery stairs, where Wu awaited with a stopwatch to see who was the fastest. She thought of the last I'm sorry Morro said before he vaporized in Styx, the way his voice had been broken. So vulnerable and real. 

And she heard Uncle Wu's voice from so long ago, where he left only a cryptic riddle for an adventure through the countryside.

"Conquer the obstacles that wander and from the heart all will be true," he had said. "Only together will a path open the key to what you already knew."

As the breath continued leaving (Y/n)'s body, she realized it then--she was going to die. The storm in her mind grew into the same chaos as a hurricane, merciless, fearsome, terrifying. The faces of her friends, her family, flashed in her mind. She thought of the times they shared, the amount of horrors they faced as a team, and how her dying would mean giving it all up.

Aether and Wind were once one. For whatever reason, they were split apart, and so, only together could they be strong. (Y/n)'s hands curled into fists as she clawed at the cold, stone ground.

Together they could be strong.

(Y/n) allowed her body to fall limp on the floor, relaxing from the struggle she put herself through. Even with the tendrils wrapping around her limps, threatening to pull her away from the light, she had to trust. Not only in herself, but Morro. Another wave of cold made (Y/n) shiver and she felt her consciousness fading.

"I got you." Morro's voice had never sounded so soft, so gentle. "Rest, (Y/n)."

And suddenly, it was quiet in the eye of the storm.

Cole couldn't breathe. His hands trembled, heart hammering as he rhythmically kept a steady beat in his head. First aid wasn't his strong suit, but he had to try. No pulse, no heartbeat--what was he supposed to do when the others should have been here moments ago? He needed a doctor--(Y/n) needed a doctor--but there was no one in sight in this damned winding maze of a library.

He continued the chest compressions, cold sweat beating down his brow. "Come on, come on..." The harder Cole pressed against (Y/n)'s chest, the more lifeless she became. Her limbs were stiff and limp, her body an unnaturally pale green, and her hair darker than night. It was as if she had already crossed to the Realm of the Departed. 

Deep inside, Cole sensed it. As someone who had lost his body, he knew this feeling so ice cold and dark. There was no warmth, no sense of time or permanence with a body that was see-through. A harsh breeze zipped through the library, carrying with it loose leaf papers and small particles of dust. For a moment, all was quiet, save for Cole's heavy breaths as he continued to count. Then (Y/n) shot up like a bullet, hands clasping his own as her eyes blinked open.

Cole almost called out to (Y/n), but the stark phosphorescence of her eyes made his heart catch in his throat. They were green like the dead, numb and empty--like a ghost's. "(Y-Y/n)...?" Cole could barely hear his voice over the hammering of blood in his ears. "Are you in there?"

Her eyes snapped shut and she suddenly fell limp into Cole's arms. He cradled her in the deserted library, fingers turning red from the chilling cold.

Footsteps thundered from the library's entrance, where the other ninja and Princess Harumi appeared with a doctor. Lloyd was the first to join Cole on the floor, motioning for the doctor to follow. "What's the situation?" he said, voice low, tight.

"She's alive," Cole slowly said. "Just barely, though. I-I don't know what happened."

But in the back of his mind, the Realm of the Departed flashed in a blur of neon green. He recalled the Day of the Departed, when he was tricked into opening the Rift. How it had brought back evil into the land of the living and nearly disaster in its wake. A shiver crawled down his spine as he and Lloyd set (Y/n) down gently.

The doctor began an assessment. Zane remained on standby, scanning the room for any clues. He frowned to himself, eyes flickering blue. "There seems to be a foreign entity occupying (Y/n)'s body. The energy readings are rather familiar, but I'm not sure why."

Princess Harumi clasped her hands together, brows knit sadly. "Will (Y/n) be alright?" The doctor turned to her, nodding as he stood. "This doesn't look good, but if she has the will, she may survive. I've never seen a fever so high, it's inhuman." He paused, sighing. "You ninja really are just as troublesome as the media paints you to be..."

The group decided to bring (Y/n) to her guest room. It was a solemn walk, one that left a bad taste in Cole's mouth. Princess Harumi had bid everyone goodnight after leaving a box of medicine on the nightstand. The gesture at the least, made the air a little lighter.

The room's dim lighting warmed the chilly night air, casting long, willowy shadows against the pale walls. A lantern flickered on the nightstand, struggling to cast its light across the room. By the door, Kai leaned against the wall, arms folded tightly. "So, what happened? People don't just...die and then re-alive themselves."

A nervous laugh escaped Jay's lips, "Uh, I think you mean survive. Re-alive isn't a word."

Everyone sent Jay a pointed look and he raised his arms in defeat. "Okay, okay. I was just trying to lighten the mood."

Cole shook his head in disbelief and plopped himself into a chair. He leaned against the little table smack dab in the room, rubbing at his tired eyes. It was too warm in here, but he feared opening the window would make (Y/n)'s fever worse. "She told me to meet her in the library about half an hour ago. I don't know, something just felt...off. I rushed there as fast as I could, and when I found her, she was...you know."

Nya's nose scrunched. "Why was she in the library?"

Cole shook his head. "I don't know. I just found her there. I did CPR like Zane said to, and then she woke up." He paused, swallowing thickly. "Her eyes were green and her skin looked really, really pale. Like a ghost." A breeze filtered through the room and the lantern flickered ominously.

Lloyd shivered, gripping the edge of his sleeves nervously. "The windows are closed. That wind almost felt kind of like..."

"Morro." Zane stated. His eyes flickered blue as he scanned the room again, images and charts blowing up across his vision. "I have analyzed previous information in my database from energy signatures to wind patterns we encountered on our way to the library. According to my records, there is no other logical explanation besides Morro."

"But he's dead." Lloyd firmly stated. There was a sudden fear in his eyes, a sudden tenseness to his voice. "Even if he was back, why? He caused enough trouble last time, if he's here on more unfinished business he better scram. We've dealt with enough of him. I don't want to see his face again." 

Kai placed a comforting hand to Lloyd's shoulder. "We'll figure this out. But for the time being, we have to split into shifts for tonight's patrol."

Solemnly, Lloyd nodded. "Alright. Kai and Zane can take the west and south corridor. Nya and Jay, east and north. Cole and I will try and figure out what happened while keeping watch over (Y/n). We all switch shifts in three hours."

The door quietly closed as the groups of two filtered out of the room. An uncomfortable quiet fell over the air as Lloyd deflated, shoulders slouching. "If Morro's really back..."

"Hey, maybe it can't all be bad." Cole consoled. He tried for a smile, but it was lop-sided and sad. "I don't know if this makes you feel any better, but Morro always had a soft-spot for (Y/n). Even when you were possessed, he never intentionally put her at the center of his plans. I remember when one of his ghost friends almost shot (Y/n) with an arrow. Morro flipped and was ready to tear apart the whole mountain. It...actually caused an avalanche, but all's well that ends well, right?"

Something between a huff and a snort escaped Lloyd's lips. He took hold of (Y/n)'s hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I guess. It still doesn't explain why Morro came back, or what happened to (Y/n). Seeing her like this just makes me feel so helpless. What am I supposed to do when she's fighting a fever?"

"Give her medicine?"

Lloyd almost laughed this time and it made Cole's lips rise into a small smile. 

Cole stood, folding his arms in thought. "When our team was still new, I found (Y/n) at the front doors of the monastery all battered up. She was sick then, just like now, and didn't wake up for a couple days." A long sigh escaped Cole's lips as he opened a bottle of medicine. "During that time, Sensei was an absolute mess. I had never seen him so frantic like that before. He ran around the monastery, pacing, making tea, reading scrolls. Then, when (Y/n) finally woke up, he cried."

Lloyd's eyes widened. "Really?"

"Yes!" Cole laughed, smiling at the memory. "I just met (Y/n) so I didn't really get it at the time, but seeing them together made me so happy. She was really serious then--all cranky and rawh rawh, you know? But point is, she always pulls through. Even when you least expect it."

Lloyd leaned into the back of his chair, folding his legs criss-cross applesauce. He envisioned all the times (Y/n) had saved his behind, all the times she saved him just by being within arms reach. "You're right. I know she'll be okay, it's just jarring that she...you know."

"Yeah. She actually did look like a ghost when she woke up earlier." A cold shiver ran down Cole's spine. "Before she began breathing again, a gust of wind passed. If Morro really is back, was he the one that saved her?" 

All the questions burning in Cole's mind would have to wait, and he knew it. But as (Y/n) continued to venture on in the world of dreams, he really had to wonder when she would wake up.

--

The smell of wood filtered into (Y/n)'s nose. She lay on the cold floor, where fading rays of sun warmed her chilled skin.

"Get up, we have little time to waste." 

(Y/n)'s eyes snapped open. She barely processed the hard face of her father as he shoved a bokken in her hands. His silvery brown hair swayed as he walked, steps light as a feather, yet hard as rock. "Why are you still sitting?"

(Y/n) stood, bowing nervously under his unwavering gaze. "Father, did you bring me here?" 

Lance stood tall as he always did. He stared down from the bridge of his sharp nose, brows knit tight into a hard line. Darkness swirled in his purple eyes like a galaxy, a seemingly infinite vortex of night. "Time is running out." His voice was smooth, sharp as a blade, and pierced the air like a gust of wind. "Show me you can prevent destiny's path from taking its course. Spar with me."

Destiny's path? 

(Y/n) didn't have much time to think. Her eyes widened as Lance brought down his bokken in a powerful strike. She blocked, pushing against the force of his weapon with all her might. "Does this involve the oni masks?"

The sounds of wood against wood cut through the air. Each strike brought with it strength (Y/n) struggled to block against. How long could she remain on the defense? Her father was too strong.

"You've been trained well by my brothers," a frown fell upon Lance's lips, "but not well enough." He continued on the offense in a series of strikes until the two were at a stalemate. (Y/n) placed her hand upon the bokken's shaft and gave it a push, only for Lance to rotate his wrist and dig under her grip. 

(Y/n)'s eyes widened, and in one swift motion, the weapon flew from her hands, landing with a thud. 

"Your destiny will be the same as your bokken," Lance's purple eyes glowed ominously, "you will fall and meet your end. My daughter, you are the key to everything. It's imperative you complete your mission without fail." 

Fading rays of sun fell upon Lance's silvery hair. (Y/n)'s hands curled into fists, mind swirling into a chaos of questions. "What 'key'? Does this have to do with my power?" 

A tense silence fell upon the air as Lance set his bokken on the wall. Each step was filled with grace, yet fragile as if he were to crumble into pieces. "I'd like to meet the boy who saved you. Morro, Master of Wind, was it?" He met her eyes, a faint smile rising to his lips. "You two seem close." 

"Close? You must be joking." Annoyance made (Y/n)'s face twist into a scowl and she had to wonder when her father learned to have a sense of humour. "Why did you bring me here? I know this wasn't just for chit chatting." 

A troubled frown made Lance age ten years. He slid open the shoji doors, where the last rays of dusk flooded the training room in its fading warmth. "The Void is a gateway to the past and present, as well the future. Do you recall the bedtime stories I once told?" Lance leaned against the door frame, eyes softening with nostalgia. For a moment, he looked calm, at peace.

"Of course I do."

"Then you recall the origin of the oni and their world ruled by darkness. The First Realm, a place of nightmares." 

(Y/n) ran a hand over the hilt of her bokken in thought. "I thought you made stuff up like that to make me go to sleep. You said the oni would take me away if I didn't behave."

All father did was shake his head. "All legend has its place in truth." He opened a cabinet in the mudroom and pulled out a pair of matches. Sparks rose with a flicker, lighting up the dark as the flame found home in a paper lantern. Images flashed against the walls, shadows of long, willowy figures. Of monsters and fieresome dragons. 

The sun finally set, leaving only the cold moon across the horizon above.

"I find it rather funny how Garmadon became the Master of Destruction." Lance set the lantern on a small table, shrugging. "If anything, I was probably the better choice if he hadn't been bitten by that snake. But as I was saying, the oni are demons, things of evil that are naturally selfish, dark beings. The masks are the embodiment of that and take three different forms based on their respective warlords." 

Even as Lance continued on about the history and the mask origins, none of it answered (Y/n)'s questions. Where did she fit into all of this? And why was she bestowed a destiny she didn't even know had been prophesized? And what was he talking about--her father the Master of Destruction? That was just plain stupid. He was the former Master of Aether, of balance itself.

"(Y/n)."

She met his eyes in the flickering light. 

"You must not fail."

Ninjago Secrets!

-(Y/n) visited Lloyd at Darkley's on her off days
-Morro and (Y/n) used to compete in everything they did as kids. Wu would hold contests.
-Morro won 8/10 times
-Kai once burned (Y/n)'s favourite shirt. He took her to Mega Monster Amusement park to apologise, but the first ride she got on she threw up on him so they had to call Nya to bring the Bounty and pick them up

Chapter Text

Know thy enemy, but most importantly, know thy friend.

(Y/n) awoke with a start, eyes wide and heart hammering against her chest. The face of her father flashed in her mind, his words echoing in her head. She understood what she had to do--at least somewhat--but the question was how and why? Father must have spoken of the oni masks, else he wouldn't have brought the history up in the first place.

Alright. So, oni masks. What about this new destiny (Y/n) had to face? Her father said she must defy it, but was that even possible? Could she rewrite what had already been written?

"Are you feeling alright?" Zane's gentle voice broke (Y/n) from her thoughts. She stared at him, squinting as if in the dark. The room's dim lighting made it hard to see, and for a moment, a strange pang made her heart clench in pain. As if her very soul were being ripped apart. "W-where..." Her throat began closing, her veins flooding with ice. The evil laugh from that damned tunnel filled her ears and it grated the same as a knife to stone. 

Zane's gentle voice called out to her but it was as if she had been dunked underwater, anchored to the bottom of the ocean as she struggled for air. She felt Zane's metal hands, cool against her skin, heard the faint echos of his voice from her place below the surface. 

She couldn't breathe. But she had to or she would drown. Up and down her chest heaved as she clawed at her own body for air. Air. Air. She raised a fist to hit her own chest, but Zane caught her, instead rubbing her back. 

Oh, but it wasn't working and the more she thought about it, the less air entered her lungs. The room was beginning to fade, jumbling into a speckle of black and she knew now that she would pass out.

Then, like a gust of wind, it all blew away. Her body, as if attached to strings, was held tight and fast, bonded with Morro's consciousness that washed her worries in a still calm. Her breath returned steadily and warmth encased her icy limbs as she took slow breaths. 

(Y/n) fought against Morro's control, teeth grit as she forced him away. "Get...out...!"

"I can't," came Morro's voice. "You're too weak on your own. If I leave, you'll die." 

(Y/n)'s chest heaved as she turned on her side, a wave of panic filling her senses as she was forced to lie down in bed. "M-Morro...!" 

"You need to rest." he firmly stated, taking control of her struggling limbs. "Even if you keep fighting me, you're too weak to win." 

Like always, Morro had to be right. (Y/n) shut her eyes, squeezing them tight as the frantic sounds of her breath filled the tense quiet. She weakly thrashed against his hold, crying out as Zane caught her before she could fall off the bed. 

"You have to relax." Zane's voice was cooling against (Y/n)'s raging frustrations. She had a feeling he, too, was panicking deep inside, but hid it all for her sake.  "Allowing Morro to take possession of you is your only salvation." He propped up (Y/n)'s head with a pillow and placed a bottle of water to her lips. She slowly drank, allowing the liquid to quench her thirst.

Zane placed the empty bottle on the nightstand next to a box of medicine. He opened it, taking out a thermometer and popping it under (Y/n)'s tongue. "The others are currently patrolling. My shift will start soon, but until then, I'll continue to monitor your vitals. Your fever has gone down, but you must continue to rest."

There was a fragility to Zane's voice, a lingering sense of fear that made his brows knit as he set the thermometer aside. "I am extremely relieved to see you awake," he quietly admitted. "It was...terrifying not knowing if you were going to make it, old friend. To think we would all have to lose you too..."

(Y/n) weakly reached out a hand, giving Zane's cool one a tight squeeze. She tried for a smile, but it was tired and lop-sided. "I'm not going anywhere." 

Zane offered a smile in reply, giving (Y/n)'s hand a squeeze in return. "That assumption is highly illogical, but I choose to believe your words, (Y/n). And if it's any reassurance, I know it as fact that you are strong. Stronger than you know."

Zane released (Y/n)'s hand and his eyes looked more at peace. He uncapped a bottle of medicine, only to pause and stare at the liquid in confusion. "Hm, is this expired?" The label said it was good for another year, but the deep purple colour looked almost grey as Zane held it up against the light. He tossed it in a little waste bin, frowning. "I hope Cole and Lloyd hadn't given you any of this." 

A comfortable quiet settled as (Y/n) begab giving in to Morro's control. Her eyes fluttered shut and she listened to the lull of his grainy voice like sand. It was filled with turmoil, and fear. So much fear. Through all his guilty thoughts about the past, a single string of memories kept replaying like a broken record.

They had been buried deep in Morro's chest, nearly forgotten. But to (Y/n), it was all like it were yesterday. She distantly heard Zane's voice as he announced his leave, but it fell on deaf ears.

---

(Y/n) was cold and wet. She stood in the middle of the courtyard, gaze up towards the heavens where rain pelted down upon her clammy skin. She didn't have the energy to shiver, not when the storms of her heart refused to quell. A pair of footsteps sounded behind, but they were so quiet she nearly missed them.

(Y/n) lowered her gaze to the puddles underneath her soggy shoes. She sensed who it was, and that made her insides run cold. "Why are you here? I thought you were too busy training."

It was quiet for a moment before Morro dared to approach further. He stepped out from under the engawa, where rain immediately soaked his gi. "I know you're angry with me, but you have to understand. This is my Destiny. I have to make sure it comes true with or without the approval of Sensei." He paused, hands clenching into fists as he prepared himself for the worst. This wasn't going to be something (Y/n) took easily. "I also wanted to tell you that tomorrow, I'm leaving."

(Y/n) whipped around. Puddles splashed beneath her feet as she trudged forward, eyes wide. "You're leaving? Where?"

"The First Spinjitzu Master's grave." The fire in Morro's eyes was lit by greed and obsession, a stark comparison to the once calm obsidian. (Y/n) always thought she could find peace when their gazes met, but in this moment, all that remained was fear.

For many, many nights (Y/n) had tried to ignore this feeling. The one that would keep her lying awake in bed. Sometimes, she found herself knocking on Uncle Wu's door in the middle of the night. He would always open his door, groggy with sleep, and usher her inside with a conforting hand to her shoulder.

And Uncle Wu would act as if nothing were wrong. As if the nightmares of the future were only that--nightmares. They couldn't hurt (Y/n) because they were figments of her imagination, was what Uncle would say. They were not real, was what Uncle would say.

Until one night Uncle saw a future in the spirit smoke, a future that only laid in a curtain of darkness. Fear festered in (Y/n)'s chest as she realized it then--whatever Uncle had said were all lies. Lies to make her feel better, lies to reassure her that nothing would change.

But it already had.

(Y/n) took hold of Morro's arm, "I know Sensei made a mistake in making you believe but--"

Morro ripped his arm away, betrayal painting over his face. "A mistake? All he did was deny me my destiny! Saying I was made for greatness, that I would be the Green Ninja! He made me believe, and he lied." 

"Morro--"

"Take your beloved uncle's side. All you ever wanted was his approval, didn't you?" Morro's face contorted into a grimace, then a twisted scowl as he backed away. A dissonance in his chest told him he was wrong, but the words kept leaving his lips uncontrollably like vomit. "Don't tell me you want to be the Green Ninja too. You're just jealous like you've always been. Even before we became friends, you always wished you were me!"

Every memory beside Morro flashed in (Y/n)'s mind and she rewound it all the way back to when they first met. Her heart clenched, beating painfully in her chest. Morro was perfect, always perfect with the best kata, the best swordsmanship, the best everything.

But this wasn't about jealousy, or who was the best. It was about getting Morro to come back inside out of the rain.

(Y/n) forced her bitterness aside. "My uncle took you in after I found you. He's done everything for you because he loves you!"

"If that were true, then why did he lie?!" Morro's voice was raw and ran his throat dry, reverberating across the monastery walls like a gong. Cold, hard rain blurred his view of the world, where (Y/n) stood in the center of it as a dying beacon of light. "I have to prove myself. That way, no one can deny me my destiny!"

A storm flowed through (Y/n)'s veins and she threw her hands out. Blood roared in her ears, thrummed in her veins. "Why are you so fixated on that stupid prophecy?! You keep saying you're going to prove yourself--prove what? All you've been doing is putting yourself in danger, like with that grundal!"

Morro's expression turned dark, cold as stone. "But it was Destiny that saved me!" 

"No, it wasn't! It was me!" Heat rose to (Y/n)'s face. She felt herself slipping, her anger rising with the merciless winds howling in her ears. "I told Sensei to follow you! I told him that you were putting yourself in danger! If it wasn't for me, your best friend, you would've been eaten!"

All Morro did was back away, stepping further and only further to get away from (Y/n) as if...as if she were a monster. She watched in disbelief, rooted in place as if frozen in time.

"You don't understand," he seethed. "You don't understand anything!"

The wind continued to rise as it mirrored both elemental masters, where the already stormy skies poured more rain down from in the heavens. They assaulted the courtyard like knives, pelting hard until it hurt to stand under its wrath.

Morro's eyes were dark, his voice numb with bitterness. ​​"You don't care about me, that's why you won't even try to understand it from my point of view."

A wave of anger burned in (Y/n)'s heart and she did the first thing she could think of. She shoved Morro onto the monastery floor, towering over him as rain continued to pour down from the heavens. "I don't understand? Look at yourself!" Her voice had risen half an octave, shrill and frantic. "You're so blinded by your own obsessions that you think finding some grave is going to do you any good! And now you're leaving me! All because of some--some stupid prophecy!"

"It's not stupid!" Morro let out a growl and pulled himself up, only to yank (Y/n) down by the arm, where her face slammed into the courtyard floor. She let out a pained shout and crawled to her knees, throwing a punch across Morro's jaw. "You selfish jerk! All you think about is yourself and how great you want to be!"

Morro fought against (Y/n)'s punches, rolling on his side as her fist landed into his rib cage. He coughed, winded, and shoved her off, where she flew into the wall with a cry. Morro wrestled (Y/n) in the rain. He was always better than her, more skilled, more precise, and much, much stronger. 

Yet in this fight they were now equals without honour and with little shame. They fought like animals, biting, scratching, kicking; leaving behind only hatred, and the burning ache of betrayal.

Eventually, (Y/n) found herself feeling faint. Her head throbbed as she heaved, cheeks bruised and blooded in the skirmish. When she paused to wipe her busted lip, Morro took his chance and pinned her to the ground. She tried to flip him over, but her back slammed into the ground and he straddled her waist.

(Y/n) fought against Morro's iron grip, only for him to hold her forearms down beside her head. Morro's chest tiredly rose up and down as he searched her eyes so purple as the sky at dusk, iridescent as starlight. He hoped to see a glimmer hope, a sign that he was getting to her.

But there was none beside the pain that shot her heart like a knife.

Morro ground his teeth together. "I just--I need to prove I'm worthy." His voice cracked and it was painful to the ears. "I thought you'd understand me! After all we've been through, why can't you see what I see?"

"I do! I do understand!" (Y/n)'s eyes burned. Her vision blurred as she stared up past Morro's wet hair. "I was always jealous of you, like you said! Uncle always paid you so much attention. I had to win him over because you were so perfect. You never made stupid mistakes like me and you always learned so fast!"

She imagined his face in the day, where sunlight would warm his rosy cheeks as he smiled and laughed about something stupid she said. Then his cool hands would grasp her own after a training session out by the river, and he would help her out of the frigid waters so chilly against her skin. He would laugh, a sound that was airy and breezy as the wind. A sound that would make (Y/n)'s heart flutter.

​​​​​​"But at some point, I started seeing you as more than my rival...and more than just my best friend!"

Yet if she had seen all that, why did she miss how Morro became like this? When did he become so full of hatred, so consumed by his own obessions? When did the tidal wave crash down and sweep away the very things that made him him? 

That made him into a monster?

Guilt bubbled in (Y/n)'s gut. She cursed herself through her tears to the Departed Realm and back, wondering why she hadn't cut the line before it had caught him, hook, line, and sinker. The signs were there from the moment the seed had been planted to the time it began to bloom. It was more stark in contrast than subtle. More real than any vision Uncle could conjure in his head. 

Yet (Y/n) had done nothing to stop that sprout from growing into a twisted, contorted beast.

Through the cold rain and warm tears running down (Y/n)'s roughed up face, she stared down the ugly thing that was once her best friend. "Morro, you have to listen to me," she desperately said. "You don't have to be the Green Ninja or the best Spinjitzu Master, and you don't have to prove anything! There's more to you than what you thought Destiny would give! You're more than any of this!"

Morro roughly yanked (Y/n) up by the collar and she let out a gut-wrenching sob. They were nose to nose and she could feel his breath as it quickened. Through her tears, she saw those eyes, dark as obsidian, filling with hot, angry tears as he began to crack. "Stop trying to tell me I'm wrong!" The cracks in Morro's voice only made (Y/n) sob harder. "This is my Destiny, this is who I'm supposed to be!" 

And yet, Morro collapsed anyway, setting (Y/n)'s head on the ground. He sobbed alongside with her, head resting on her chest as he cried out in denial. "You're wrong, (Y/n)...! You're wrong...!" 

The rain fell harder still, mixing with the blood against the courtyard floor. (Y/n) couldn't see past the blurriness of  her cold tears. It trailed down her scrapped cheeks as an ugly, ugly sob wracked her body with despair. She weakly slammed her fists against Morro's shaking back, but it was futile. She had run out of strength. 

---

For a while, all was quiet.

(Y/n) sat with her and Morro's clashing thoughts, heart heavy in her chest. She swallowed thickly, gazing into the mirror on the other side of the room. In its reflection, Morro's face covered her own, where remorse made his eyes dark with sorrow.

(Y/n) swallowed thickly, "So, you still think about all that."

Morro let out a pained laugh, his voice filling (Y/n)'s head, "It was the day I lost you. When I returned for the Realm Crystal, it was hard seeing you knowing how much you hated me. How was I supposed to know peace when everything I did meant a place without you?"

Every ounce of guilt and pain Morro felt transferred to (Y/n)'s body. Her limbs grew heavy and her heart felt as if it were being squeezed half to death. She placed a hand over her chest, feeling the unsteady beating beneath her palm.

Why was it she couldn't forgive Morro? He had done nothing but help her since he got here, albeit with the occasional teasing. Yet this weight in (Y/n)'s heart, this pain she carried. She could never reverse it, never regain all that time she spent on her own looking for Morro, searching for him without knowing he had died.

"Maybe," she paused to swallow the lump in her throat. "Maybe the reason why I can't stand to look at you sometimes is because I don't know how to forgive you. I mean, you left me, you possessed my cousin, then nearly killed him. How do I--how does anyone look past that?"

The truth was, no one could. And Morro didn't have anything to say to counter that. His mind was loud despite the lack of words, where only static and chaos filled the empty void of his mind. 

"I was stupid." Morro finally said. "I should have listened to you and Sensei. You were right, in the end, it really was just a stupid prophecy. I only wish I could have realized it sooner."

There was a shout from across the rooftops and (Y/n) turned, weakly standing to pull on her shoes. She spotted a flash of green and pushed open the windows. "Lloyd?" (Y/n) stuck her foot out the window, only for a resistance to pull her back inside the room. "Morro, I have to get to Lloyd!"

"He can take care of himself. You have to rest."

(Y/n) forced her limbs to obey her, fighting the invisible strings holding her back. She shoved her weak body out of the window and onto the rooftops, searching for that flash of green.

The erratic beating of (Y/n)'s heart made her falter, clenching at her chest. She took in a breath, focusing on the calm it brought her body, and jumped. Every leap into the night made her body scream in protest as a sign to stop, a sign to go back inside and rest.

But what was Lloyd doing out here alone? What if he needed help? And much worse, what if something happened to him and he had no one to call on? A sense of duty filled (Y/n)'s body with enough strength to continue. When she finally caught up to Lloyd, her lungs were on fire and limbs heavy like lead. Across from him stood a hooded figure carrying a large, oversized duffel.

Lloyd whipped around at the sight of (Y/n) and nearly jumped out of his skin. "Why--what--you're supposed to be in bed!"

"Who's...that?" (Y/n) heaved. She jabbed a finger at the person cornered at the edge of the roof. Morro sighed in her head, "Why does everyone wear green?"

Lloyd leaned down and planted a hand on (Y/n)'s shoulder. Judging by the look on his face, he was holding himself back from yelling. "Go back and rest. You're barely in any shape to stand on your own. How did you even make it this far?"

With another heave, (Y/n) shook her head, forcing herself to stand upright. "I already...made it this far. I'm...staying with you."

Lloyd looked about to protest, but she cut him off by turning to the person in question and...woah. Those were some ugly lime green trousers. (Y/n)'s nose scrunched, "Who are you?"

The person pulled off their hood. A girl with white hair, red lipstick, and doe-like eyes smiled prettily and (Y/n)'s brow furrowed in confusion. Either she was delusional or this girl looked like--

"Princess!" Lloyd perked up, a shy smile rising to his lips. "I-I had no idea it was you, I thought you were kidnapped. I tried to save you." 

The princess let out a laugh and all (Y/n) could do was stare at the two in utter bewilderment.

"Save me?" said the princess. "From my vantage point, it looked like I was trying to save you." A slight blush rose to Lloyd's face and (Y/n)'s nose scrunched in mild disgust. Ew. Lloyd had a crush on this random girl he met like, two days ago? Urgh, teenaged love, ammiright?

The princess turned to (Y/n), brows knit in concern. "Are you alright? I heard you've been unwell the past few days. Lloyd is right, you should go back to the palace and rest." The princess's voice was silky smooth, kind. Yet (Y/n) still wasn't sure she liked the girl after what she said in the throne room the other day. "I'm fine," (Y/n) focused on her breath and swallowed the pain. "I will be an escort along with Lloyd. May I ask why you're out here alone?"

The Princess opened the large duffel to reveal an assortment of fruits, sandwiches, and snacks. "For the less fortunate. We have so much in the palace, and I want to do my part."

Lloyd frowned, staring at the food in thought. "But your room, it was ransacked." The princess pursed her lips in thought before smiling again and shaking her head. "I can be quite a slob, thank you very much." 

(Y/n) exchanged a look with Lloyd, who only shrugged. The term 'ransacked' was different from being 'messy', especially considering Jay was the most unorganized person known to man. Sensei might have put everyone in order over the years, but old habits always died hard.

"She's lying." said Morro with a scoff. "Tell your little cousin to get his head out of the clouds." Before (Y/n) could press the matter further, a loud voice echoed from behind the palace walls. "The Princess is missing!" came Hutchins's voice. "Find her!" 

Frantically, the princess unhooked two sweaters from a clothes line and tossed them over. "Quick! You can't be seen or they'll know I'm here!" 

(Y/n) pulled on the sweater with a sigh and followed Lloyd and the princess down a ladder. She would have to remind herself to return the sweater later to the rightful owner. The group emerged into a tight alleyway, where heaps of trash and rats scurried by with squeaks. A canal separating the streets, where bridges stood over them and little boats floated at the docks. Crowds of homeless, many with young children and the old, sat on the side of the canal, sickly and feeble. 

These were the slums of Ninjago City, the very place Morro hailed from.

A frown pulled at (Y/n)'s lips as she watched an old woman search through piles of trash. "If the royal family care about the safety of Ninjago, why not fix this...?" she quietly muttered.

"Because you'd have to actually leave your house to know it's here." Morro said with a sigh. "The government do a good job sweeping us out of the main streets, but it's really not that hard to find this place if you know where to look."

The group settled at an intersection and Lloyd and Harumi opened the bag. Swarms of hungry people gathered around, frantically forming a queue to grab whatever their arms could carry. (Y/n) watched the two hand out food through the dredges of sleep. She fought against its lull, gripping her own arm tight to keep herself from tipping over. As her knees began to weaken, Morro took control of her body and she snapped up in place. 

"Are you okay?" Morro's voice was laced with concern. He spoke softly, as if afraid anything else would break this strange peace between them. "Do you want me to take control?"

"No, I'm fine." (Y/n) felt Morro's doubt fill her chest. She brushed it off, instead redirecting her attention to the fond smile on Lloyd's face. He looked so content beside the princess, so...in love.

Morro sighed and his intense sense of disgust made (Y/n) almost want to laugh (at his pain). "Can that idiot focus for once? The fate of Ninjago rests in his hands and he's busy thinking about a girl?" He scoffed, and if he were more than a voice in (Y/n)'s head, would probably roll his eyes too. "That there's the Green Ninja. The greatest in all of the sixteen realms."

(Y/n) raised a brow. She felt Morro's annoyance grow into a small pit of jealousy. "What's wrong? Wish you had a special someone?" For a moment, Morro fell quiet. If he were standing beside (Y/n), she was sure he would have his arms crossed and his lips pressed into a sour scowl. "Lucky for you, no one likes you, Master of Wind."

"Shut up."

(Y/n) rolled her eyes. She watched as the queue slowly thinned as the food ran dry. There were still others without anything to eat, but with nothing to give, Lloyd and the princess had to turn away. "These people look like they don't get fed often."

"They're poor." Morro flatly said. "Why would they have food?" (Y/n) frowned and trudged after the two love-birds. Her feet dragged behind her as she made her way down a set of steps and towards one of the bridges. The people had looked ready to start a fight over the food in a desperation she had never seen. "If the princess does this for charity, she must not do it often."

"Then she's lying about doing any of this." Morro accusingly stated. "Because how did she get outside the palace walls and onto the rooftops to begin with? The royal family also mentioned how they usually never interact with people, so how does the princess know her way around here?"

"GPS?"

Morro sucked his teeth and (Y/n) rolled her eyes. The love-birds now leaned against the bridge's railing, where lanterns above lit the dark in soft, gentle light.

"Can I ask you a question?" said Lloyd, turning to the princess. "Do you like being a princess?"

The smile on the princess's ruby-red lips faded and she frowned, shaking her head. "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." Lloyd's shoulders slumped and he nodded in agreement. "Huh, tell me about it." He paused, rubbing at the back of his head awkwardly with a laugh. "Not being a princess. I mean being the Green Ninja."

(Y/n) shook her head. This was giving her second-hand embarrassment.

The princess removed her hood and stared into the water thoughtfully. "We have to live up to the roles bestowed upon us. We never chose these mantles we hold."

"I know." agreed Lloyd. "It's hard to live a normal life. At least I get to wear a mask, but you...?" 

The princess smiled again. "I wear my own masks. Sometimes painted, sometimes a kidnapper of princesses." She pulled up her hood and laughed evilly. Lloyd cracked a smile, "In my defense, it was my second day." 

Slowly, the two began inching closer, their hands centimeters apart. (Y/n) eyed them carefully, watching with bated breath as their gazes slowly met. With a damp frown, she trudged up the bridge and stamped herself between the two. "Enough already. I'm going to vomit if you two keep--"

Crash!

Glass scattered across the alleyway to (Y/n)'s left, where three kids huddled at the entrance of a small store. A group of thugs surrounded them, laughing. Without a second thought, (Y/n)'s feet carried her to the mouth of the alleyway. She peered at the gangsters, sharing a glance with Lloyd. She weakly punched him in the shoulder, "I'll handle these low-level street thugs."

"No, don't!" Harumi's sudden call made (Y/n) nearly jump out of her skin. She turned, frowning confusedly. "Why not...?" 

Harumi paused, swallowing. "Because if you go, you'll reveal us." There was a desperation to her voice, a slight panic that rubbed (Y/n) in the wrong way as she was pulled around the corner of a building.

Lloyd's nose scrunched and he began to crack his knuckles. "But these people have enough to worry about. They shouldn't have to be bullied. (Y/n), you stay here, I'll go deal with them." The princess took him by the shoulder and spoke soothingly. "No, as (Y/n) said, they are just low-level thugs. They don't know anything and only take orders. It's the person who gives them that scares me." 

Person at the top or not, it didn't matter. (Y/n) sent Lloyd a glance, who didn't need to be told twice to know she was geared up for a fight. He frowned to himself, opening his mouth to say something before shutting it in resignation. "Nothing I say is going to stop you, is it?"

"Nope." (Y/n) dragged herself into the alleyway, cracking her knuckles. Even if she was weak, these thugs definitely couldn't handle fighting just her pinkie toe. In the storefront's dim lights, the Sons of Garmadon logo illuminated off the biker jackets of the thugs. "Well, what do you know?" A smirk rose to (Y/n)'s lips, she could already taste her victory. "Seems the local slammer will have a couple new inmates to welcome." 

Without warning, (Y/n) threw a kick. Her body screamed in protest as she dodged a punch to the face and retaliated with a sharp uppercut to someone's solar plexus. Behind, one of the thugs raised a knife, only for (Y/n) to duck and slam the guy's face into a muddy puddle. She spun around, picking up the thug and tossing him into the last person standing. They all groaned from their place on the ground in a pile of sore limbs and scrapped faces.

(Y/n) gave her hands a shake, body becoming heavy and languid. A shiny car zoomed into the alleyway, where Samurai X leapt out and nodded thankfully. (Y/n) returned the gesture before making her way over to the group of children.

"Is everyone okay?" 

The children looked up at (Y/n), eyes wide in wonder. "You saved us!" one said. "I don't need to see the colour of your gi to know it's you (Y/n). The Master of Aether!" 

A small smile rose to (Y/n)'s lips and she gently punched the kid in the shoulder. "Use those observational skills and get home safe. Don't stay out after dark, it's dangerous." The three kids nodded frantically, bowing gratefully. "Of course!"

"Thank you, Purple Ninja!"

Once they had disappeared out of the alleyway, (Y/n) made her way back to Lloyd. She massaged her sore shoulder with a hiss, "Why does everything hurt so bad?"

"My fault," Morro didn't sound the least bit remorseful, "you kept fighting me."

(Y/n) sucked in a breath. Was he still salty he didn't have a special someone? "Oh, my condolences." 

"I am not salty I don't have a 'special someone'."

"Stupid, I can feel that you're lying." (Y/n) said, shaking her head. She rounded the corner just in time to see Mr. Hutchins take the princess away, muttering about how improper it was for her to go on a stroll with a ninja (Who was a boy at that! How preposterous!).

Oh, the horror it must have been for that old man.

There was a look of disappointment on Lloyd's face as he watched them go. (Y/n) placed a hand to his shoulder, sending a death glare to Hutchins as he walked away. "Forget them, let's go, Lloyd."

But Lloyd didn't move. He frowned to himself, staring at the ground with a shake of his head. Then he paused and stabbed a finger at (Y/n)'s shoulder. She hissed in discomfort as he glared down at her. "You're supposed to be resting. Why did you come?" 

"Oh, so now you lecture me." (Y/n) tiredly said, frowning. "I just beat five people up for you, you're welcome." 

Lloyd shook his head and as he spoke, his voice began to crack. "So? You literally--you died. How can you be so casual? We weren't sure if you were going to be okay!" (Y/n) sheepishly massaged her knuckles, averting her gaze to the lanterns hanging from above. "I was sleeping and then I woke up and saw you alone. I thought something bad happened and you might need my help."

The frown on Lloyd's face made his green eyes damp and sad. "(Y/n)," his voice was so kind, "you know I can take care of myself."

Of course she knew that. Lloyd wasn't that little ankle-biter running at her heels anymore. He didn't throw fake cans of snakes and steal candy from babies. All because that little boy was now the Green Ninja, the prophesied saviour of Ninjago who defeated the Overlord and brought his father back to the light. And yet, the swelling fear of losing Lloyd clouded (Y/n)'s mind in fog.

Then the face of Wu flashed like a vision and it all clicked into place, clear as day.

Lloyd seemed to be thinking on the same wavelength because his eyes softened impossibly so. He placed a hand to (Y/n)'s shoulder as she looked away, ashamed. "Letting your fears control you isn't going to help, (Y/n). You can't start being afraid of losing everyone else." he quietly said. "Until Uncle comes back, we have to move on and focus on the present."

"I know." A lump formed in (Y/n)'s throat and she squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, thinking back. "But at Borg Tower the other day, you said not everyone comes back. Don't tell me you've given up on Uncle." 

When Lloyd fell quiet, (Y/n) pulled away from him, eyes hard as stone. "What happened to ninja never quit? If any of us were missing, I know Uncle wouldn't give up. He'd keep searching."

"It's been a year." Pain filtered into Lloyd's voice. "I haven't even heard from my mom and none of us made any progress. I don't want to believe it, but if worse comes to worst, I have to accept the truth. You have to accept the truth. This could've happened to any of us, but as a team, we can still be whole." 

Those words only bounced off (Y/n)'s head like a tennis ball. She turned away, lips pressed thin as her heart filled to the brim with anguish. This cold, empty feeling was one she knew well. One she had tried so hard to push away in fear it would overtake her like a tidal wave. 

"I hate to say it," came Morro's voice. "But Lloyd's right."

(Y/n)'s hands curled into fists and she ground her teeth together, holding back a shout. Why did everyone have to be against her? This was justified, wasn't it? Her fear, her worries, her concerns about the future like she kept being told in her dreams.

A little tug in her heart told her she was being irrational. That fact alone made (Y/n)'s walls crack bit by bit. "Uncle Wu was all I ever had since my father died." she quietly said. "I just...I can't imagine life without him around." Tears burned (Y/n)'s eyes and she sensed Morro's own sorrow mixing with her own. She blinked rapidly as Lloyd placed a hand to her shoulder, giving it a squeeze. Without a word, he pulled (Y/n) into a tight hug, rubbing circles on her back as her tears dampened his shoulder.

Which was funny because this would've never happened a year ago when Lloyd could barely keep up with his title of Master. He wasn't a little kid anymore, but his voice hadn't quite hit puberty yet and he still had baby fat so it was (Y/n) who helped him up after he fell down. (Y/n) who kept her eye on him when he marched on ahead. (Y/n) who watched him grow, even if it was rapidly before her eyes.

Yet as the sun and moon rose with every day and night, so did this change that flipped (Y/n)'s world upside down. Lloyd didn't need her. Or at least, not the same way he used to.

This was only one out of many changes that kept tipping the world off its feet. With (Y/n)'s dreams of her father and grandfather, a new darkness was sure to come alongside all this dreadful change.

Change she would either fight or embrace with open arms.

Cole was the first to race down the palace's front steps. With his super strength, his hug was bone-crushing as he tackled (Y/n) into a tight embrace. She wheezed as he twirled her around like a little girl, laughing in relief that she was alive and very much breathing. "Do you know how worried you had us? I thought you were gonna die, Star!" 

The nickname brought a smile to (Y/n)'s lips. She had received it from Cole after countless nights pointing out every constellation in the night sky. During the Serpentine's rise, it was all she could do to keep her mind from wandering to the more unpleasant thoughts of tomorrow.

The others quickly pulled (Y/n) into a group hug with relieved sighs.

Nya smiled softly, placing her hands to her hips. "You really had us worried there. You might've only been asleep about a day and a half, but it was still..."

"Scary?" offered Jay with a shout. "Mind-boggling? Perhaps absolutely, positively one of the worst things to happen in our lifetimes? Which is saying a lot since that list is really, really long." 

Kai ruffled (Y/n)'s hair and she shrugged away from him as he grinned. "But nothing's tougher than you. Glad to see you up and moving again, kiddo. What happened though? Zane filled us in on a little bit, but..."

"We would prefer if you explained yourself," finished Zane.

All remaining energy in (Y/n)'s body was drained. She had slung her arm around Lloyd's shoulders, where he supported her as the two climbed up the palace steps. Mr. Hutchins and the princess long disappeared inside, leaving the group out in the cold night.

"Morro saved me," (Y/n) simply said. "We found a passageway in the library and...I don't know, it was like something had called out to me. The oni mask. It began absorbing my powers and I felt my life slipping away." A shiver ran down her spine and she forced the memories away. "I sense a connection to them. What's worse, I've been having dreams of the First Spinjitzu Master, along with my father."

A cohort of gasps rang throughout the group and Jay placed a hand over his mouth dramatically. "Your father? But he's Departed."

(Y/n) nodded with a frown. "All I've been told is that I need to find 'it' before it's too late, and bits and pieces about Destiny, and how I can't fail." A pit formed in (Y/n)'s stomach that made her grow clammy. She didn't quite know what to make of all the information besides the fact that it had to do with the masks. "What if the masks are destined to be reunited? What if that's something we can't stop?"

Kai pushed open the palace gates with a shake of his head. "If it has something to do with you, I'd rather not think this'll have a bad ending. What about Morro?"

A chill passed through the group as they entered the palace. (Y/n) sensed Morro walk closer to the front of her consciousness, just to eavesdrop. "I didn't want to trust him, but if he hadn't taken possession of me, I wouldn't have made it out alive. I think him reappearing has to do with...whatever all of this means."

Cole frowned in confusion, glancing around the hallway frantically. "So...he's on our side now? No more trying to curse all the sixteen realms deal-li-oh?"

"We're...allies until further proven wrong." The edge in (Y/n)'s voice could have just been her exhaustion, but the group knew her well enough to recognize it for what it was. Unease and...anger. She exchanged a look with Lloyd, who was just as troubled as her, and shrugged out of his hold. "I'll be honest, I don't like working with Morro."

(Y/n) felt Morro's guilt pull at the heartstrings of her chest. She placed a hand to the wall, hands curling into fists. Why did he feel this crippling guilt when it was him who made every decision that came to pass? Why was it he felt sad and angry at himself, and upset at how their fallout ended when he was the one who caused it?

(Y/n) pushed off the wall and swatted off Lloyd's attempts to help her trudge through the hallway. A wave of nausea hit and she squeezed her eyes shut with a heave. "In the library, hit one of the dragon statues and you'll find a button. That opens the passageway. I'm going to rest now."

As Jay, Cole, Zane, and Kai turned to Lloyd to consider their options, (Y/n) took the opportunity to slink away. She stumbled across the soft carpet beneath her shoes, forcing her body to obey her every command. Before she could turn the corner, a voice called out to her. Nya.

"Don't think you were gonna get away that easy. Here, let me help you." Nya's voice was cool, calm as a lake. With the reassuring smile on her face, (Y/n) couldn't argue. She allowed herself to be supported, where they walked side-by-side.

"So," said Nya. "You gonna talk about it or hold it all in?"

The guest room door came into view and Nya nudged at the knob with her elbow. It twisted and opened, surprisingly without the key (Y/n) forgot in the room. A gentle night breeze passed through the open window, carrying with it the faint sounds of the city. Nya opted to flick on the electric lanterns instead of the big ceiling light. A gentle, warm glow filled the room and it was cosy, calming.

(Y/n) carefully lowered her exhausted body to the bed. "Everything's complicated," she muttered. "Really complicated. It doesn't help that Morro can hear everything and feel all my emotions." Nya pulled up a chair and folded her feet under her with an understanding nod. "Well, I guess that's how possession works, huh? But even if what you're thinking is complicated, maybe it's something you both need to hear. Morro, and you."

A sigh escaped (Y/n)'s lips. She picked up the water bottle at her bedside and sipped the cool liquid to quell her nausea. It tasted a little grassy, but she drank it anyway. "He basically knows everything I'm thinking since he's in my head."

"Well, maybe it helps if you say it out loud." Nya's eyes sparked, as if she knew something (Y/n) didn't. "To get it off your chest."

(Y/n) pulled the blankets close, heart ramming in her chest. She thought of where to begin and it all made her head spun. "How do you let go of things that bother you?"

The ceiling was more interesting to look at than Nya's face, where elaborate golden decorations lined the corners of the walls. The paint was old, yet kept the swirling dragons as regal and graceful as they were supposed to be. "I mean...Morro saved my life, and all he's been doing since he got here was help me. Sure, we wouldn't have gotten into this mess in the first place if we hadn't started snooping around, but when we were down there...I had never felt so much fear. Not even when we faced the Overlord, or Chen, or even the Hands of Time. I was so...afraid of what was happening to me, and Morro...he made it all go away."

A moment of quiet passed before (Y/n) resigned herself to meet Nya's gaze. Her dark eyes were soft with that sort of look that made her feel like a big sister. And she always was for (Y/n), no matter the time or place. Nya let out a thoughtful hum, "Do you remember what Sensei said that one time? It was to the both of us after we held a grudge on the boys for pranking us so bad."

(Y/n) recalled the memory, cringing at how messy the monastery had become afterward. It was a stupid paintball prank that left all the walls stained blue, black, white, and red for months. "Yeah, it was terrible."

Nya laughed. "I know right? I can't believe they almost got away with it. Sensei said, holding on to anger is like trying to throw a hot rock, only you get burned. I know what you're dealing with isn't easy, but the longer you hold onto it, the worse it'll become. Still, recognizing all of this is the first step."

(Y/n)'s brows knit. "For what?"

"Forgiveness." Nya simply said, shutting the open window. She made her way to the door, an encouraging smile on her lips. "And...also recognizing whatever else you're feeling. Get some rest, we'll handle all that secret passage stuff and patrolling. Your only job right now is to get better."

The door shut gently behind her and (Y/n) was left alone to her thoughts. Cold rain upon her skin, the howling wind in her ears. She could still see that day flashing in her mind as real as the sheets clenched between her fists. The firmness of Morro's hands as he pinned her to the wet courtyard. The cold, frigid rain upon her burning face. 

Forgiveness. Was such a thing possible?

Ice filled (Y/n)'s veins with a chill and she felt Morro's consciousness fade. He left her body, where his luminous figure settled on a chair at the bedside. The lantern light cast warmth across his transparent face, making him almost appear alive again. He stared at his hands, eyes distant, faraway. "You're stable enough for me to be out here, but take it easy."

(Y/n)'s nausea hadn't gone away, nor the ache in her limbs. "I don't feel better," she grumbled, picking up the water bottle again.

Morro softly caught her wrist, fingers ghosting over her hand. He pulled the bottle away with a serious look in his eyes, "It tasted grassy and you still want more? How old is this water?" He unscrewed the lid and grimaced. "The water's brown. You sure this isn't tea?"

"It's water." (Y/n) said. "It was there when Zane was here." Morro stood and chucked the liquid out of the window. He set the bottle down and shook his head, lip curled in disgust. "Whatever it is is probably making you sick."

The faint burning in (Y/n)'s limbs refused to leave. She carefully rolled on her side, watching as Morro searched through the drawers for anything suspicious. He was hell-bent on finding some invisible clue to prove the royal family were involved with the Sons of Garmadon, and although he looked a little ridiculous, (Y/n) couldn't argue with him. Still, that wasn't what remained on her mind. Not in the least.

"Morro," (Y/n)'s voice was barely above a whisper. "I...I just wanted to say...that you know..."

Morro paused in his searching to meet (Y/n)'s gaze. There was a warmth in his obsidian eyes as he set his attention to her and only her. "What is it?"

"I...erm," (Y/n) swallowed thickly. "You're stupid and you're annoying, but...thank you...for saving me. Could you tell me what exactly happened?"

Morro's expression softened and he pressed his hands together in thought. He looked a little too happy at the simple word of thanks for (Y/n)'s comfort. "I just possessed you so we could leave the secret tunnel. But as soon as I took control, the voices you heard began to leave. I had no idea that was all happening before I possessed you because to me, there was nothing there." He shrugged and a teasing smile rose to his lips. "And of course I'd help you. If I'm correct, we're basically soulmates. It's only natural I save my other half."

(Y/n) snorted without humour and pulled the blankets close. She felt a wave of irritation bubbling in her gut, and...another feeling she couldn't quite place. "Don't push your luck, Master of Wind." Her tone was blunt and cold, yet the small specks of light in her eyes betrayed her. Morro's lips pulled into a smile and he relaxed into the chair, letting out a huff. 

"Whatever you say, airhead."

(Y/n) opened an eye with a scowl. "Who're you calling an airhead?" 

Morro grinned, "You must be hearing things."

---

"Why do you hesitate?"

A breeze blew through the dojo open doors, whipping (Y/n)'s hair against her face. She kept her guard up, circling as her father prepared to strike.

"Continue that way and you are sure to meet death!" Father swiped a leg under (Y/n)'s feet and she slammed into the ground, the wind knocked from her lungs. She coughed and rolled to the side as the bokken cut where she had been a second ago. 

"On your feet!"

(Y/n) jumped to her feet, parrying a blow to the face and neck. "How do I stop the masks from reuniting?" She swung, only to be blocked. "What happens if they are?" 

Father didn't let up in his attacks. He scoffed and the wind continued to rise. "As the Master of Aether, you would have felt it."

Memories from the underground flooded (Y/n)'s mind. She felt an invisible force pulling her into the darkness, felt the very life being sucked out of her being. She blocked a blow to the face. "I die? Tell me something I don't know." 

A humourless smile rose to father's face and he swung to the left and then the right. "And what of the darkness that will consume you, and revert you into what our ancestors once were?" 

(Y/n)'s eyes widened. "What do you mean?" The wooden clacking of weapons echoed across the training room. "I heard voices after I found a tunnel. Morro said I would have died if he hadn't taken possession of me." 

Father raised a brow, those dark eyes like the night sky lighting up. "Ah yes, the Master of Wind." He laughed and it held a flicker of warmth. "Before I passed my elemental powers to you, Aether and Wind were not seen without the other. Two is always stronger than one. Having your friend possess you filled your body with the strength it needed to survive." 

Another block, a swipe to the left. (Y/n) stayed on her toes, swift, quiet as the night. She thought of what the First Spinjitzu Master had said, how he had told her destiny were already laid out before her. "Father--"

He swiped his bokken under her and she tumbled with a thud, rubbing at her sore sides with a groan. Wind whipped through Father's hair as he knelt before (Y/n). He pressed the bokken to her neck, eyes hard and cold as stone.

"Hesitate again and you will die."

Ninjago Secrets!

-Cole, being a terrible cook, transferred that special skill to you
-if not for Zane, you would only be able to burn water and make instant ramen
-Lloyd tries to take care of you like you always had when he was little
-Lance (your dad) is said to be more evil than his brother, Garmadon
-your mother was an incredible fighter despite not being an elemental master

Chapter Text

We do not choose where we are come from, but we can decide who to become.

Tu sais c’qu’on dit
Sois près d’tes amis les plus chers
Mais aussi
Encore plus près d'tes adversaires
Mais ma meilleure ennemie c’est toi
Fuis-moi, le pire c’est toi et moi
        -Ma Meilleure Ennemie

The sound of pacing grated (Y/n)'s ears. She felt Morro shift from the edge of her bed, muttering about how loud 'these idiots are for being ninja'. The echoes of (Y/n)'s dream remained in her mind as she pulled the soft, cotton sheets closer, hoping to stay asleep for an extra minute. Until a chair clattered to the ground and Kai muttered a pained 'sorry!'. 

Wait, Kai? 

(Y/n) rolled on her side, rubbing the gunk from her eyes. Pillows were strewn on the floor around Kai's feet. He leaned against the wall, watching as Lloyd paced around the room.

Lloyd anxiously bit the inside of his cheek and set his hands to his hips with a sigh. "It's been four hours." 

(Y/n) took in a breath to soothe the last bit of nausea in her stomach. She slowly sat up, body creaking like a rusty hinge. Morro slightly shifted as the bed dipped, brows knitting in his sleep (how was he still asleep with all this noise?). (Y/n) frowned, "What happened to patrolling?" 

Kai offered a lop-sided smile. "Uh, emergency meeting. We're stuck here waiting for Jay and Cole to come back because they went to the secret tunnel--without me." 

"What?!"

"I know," agreed Kai with a huff. "I was supposed to go with them!"

(Y/n) raised a brow. "You're...kidding, right...?" Even if Kai had gone, his contributions would be below standard. Throw Zane in the mix and you have four masters of destruction, all of which were more likely to set the whole palace ablaze than find any clues in that cursed tunnel. "What made you think going down there was a good idea?"

Lloyd's brows furrowed as he continued pacing. "I...don't know. It was a last minute whim that I should have been more firm about." He began eyeing the room anxiously, as if a monster under the bed were going to bite his head off. "You got lucky and I can't believe I'm saying this, but if it weren't for Morro, Morro of all people, you wouldn't even be alive."

Kai pressed his lips into a tight line. The ghost in the room was definitely becoming harder to ignore, even if he couldn't see him. "I don't want to trust Morro either, but him saving (Y/n)'s life changes things. Even if it's only a little." He menacingly punched his palm and small flames flitted past his cheeks. "If that line's crossed, I won't hesitate to send him back to the Departed Realm. Stamped and delivered, personally."

Morro must have been faking his slumber because he was suddenly on his feet. He ran a hand through his silky princess hair and rubbed the sleep away with a groan. "Blah, blah, blah. All you ninja do is talk," he grumbled with a grit of his teeth. "Tell your stupid cousin to stop pacing. It's driving me crazy."

A huff escaped (Y/n)'s lips. "Not as crazy as you." Instead of a deathly side eye, Morro paused as if struck by lightning. He stilled and if (Y/n) hadn't blinked, she would have thought the colour returned to his face. The two exchanged a glance and quickly looked away from each other awkwardly.

Kai made a strangled sound as if he were choking. When (Y/n)'s gaze snapped over, him and Lloyd pretended as if nothing had happened. "What?"

"You hear that?" said Kai. "Yeah, that's the sound of nothing."

"Exactly." agreed Lloyd. "We didn't say anything."

There was a long quiet as (Y/n) shook her head. She gathered her thoughts, replaying her dream like a movie on loop. "I had a dream about my father. He was vague, so this is all speculation, but my guess is the mask's power has to do with Aether. If all three are united, the 'unspeakable power' might be at the cost of--"

Morro's eyes widened. "You."

"--Me." (Y/n) confirmed. The lantern's glow cast long, dark shadows across her face. "The First Spinjitzu Master also said I'll suffer a fate worse than death. Is that the consequence of all three masks being reunited? I'm not sure because my said something else. He said I'll return to what our 'ancestors were', whatever that means."

There was a fire in Kai's eyes that burned bright. He folded his arms together with a determined look on his face. "We have our work cut out for us, Storm Cloud." A small snort left (Y/n)'s lips at the nickname. She hadn't heard that one since she was like fifteen. Kai smiled reassuringly and wrapped an arm around her cold shoulders. The bed dipped as he sat down. "You may be older now, but that doesn't mean I'm still not here to watch out for you."

For a moment, (Y/n) saw the old monastery. The training course she had watched Kai run through. When the team first got together, Kai was always stubborn and unwelcoming for some 'tiny little brat' to follow them around. As time passed, he grew attached and saved (Y/n)'s behind more times than she could count. A small smile rose to her lips.

Lloyd took a seat on the other side and placed a hand to (Y/n)'s shoulder. "Don't forget me." he joked. "All you ever do is look out for me. It's my turn to do the same for you. We'll find the Sons of Garmadon, and we'll stop them."

A warm fuzzy feeling filled (Y/n)'s chest and she basked in the comfort of her family. The face of her father and grandfather flashed in her mind and she leaned closer into the warmth. Hoping, wishing it all to go away. Morro stood by the wall, a darkness in his eyes as he stared at the ground with a knowing look. "Destiny isn't so easily defied." There was a softness to his voice. A gentleness like the wind. "That I know better than anyone. Still..."

Morro met (Y/n)'s eyes so endless as the night sky. They glimmered like a thousand stars, a thousand jewels, and he could only think to himself how beautiful she was. How badly he wanted to protect (Y/n), to preserve the last light lighting in her eyes. "I'll do everything I can to help you. No matter what happens." (Y/n)'s eyes widened and she felt her heart speed up against her chest. She wondered how Morro could go around sprouting empty promises. Yet the look in his eyes so filled with conviction said otherwise.

A sudden jumble of static buzzed from the communications. Lloyd set his device on speaker, where Cole's voice sparked through the channel. "We found something!" he exclaimed. "B...st...ap! As...dap...!"

Lloyd tapped his com with a frown. "Can you repeat that? You're breaking up."

"...Blast zap!" came Cole's voice again. "The palace is rigged to explode, it was Hutchins!" 

It seemed that little trip was more useful than everyone originally thought. What a shame it was the mews couldn't have been positive for once. Kai jumped to his feet and practically ripped the door off its hinges. "Nya's at the palace gates, I'm gonna help her! Will you guys be good?" 

"Don't worry about us." said Lloyd. "I'll head to the throne room." 

As Kai disappeared down the hall, the floor shook and a rumble sounded from somewhere deep in the palace. The revving of engines could only mean one thing: the Sons of Garmadon were here. (Y/n) ripped off the covers and forced her weariness down. She couldn't linger on her dreams any longer, there was still a mission to finish. "You don't have to ask. I'm coming with you." 

Lloyd looked like he wanted to argue. He watched helplessly as (Y/n) suited up and caved in. "Alright, but don't push yourself too hard." (Y/n) pulled on her gloves and strapped on her katana. "You don't have to tell me twice."

BOOM!

It was hot. Bright red and orange flames obscured (Y/n)'s vision as she stepped out into the hallway. Another loud explosion sounded and she slammed into the ground. Her head hit something hard and sharp. A pained groan escaped her lips. 

"Watch out!"

(Y/n) looked up just in time to see a pillar colliding with the wall. It tore through a tapestry as smoke rose high into the air. The heat burned against (Y/n)'s skin as another explosion sounded. The pillar came crashing down and fiery embers exploded in the air in red specs of light. (Y/n)'s head throbbed and her ears rung. She hauled herself up, stomach churning, blood pumping. "L-Lloyd!" she cried. "Lloyd!"

The fires crackled through the deafening silence and a good moment passed as (Y/n) strained her ears with bated breath. A thousand images of Lloyd's half-dead body flashed in her mind. He could have been struck by the pillar, or thrown into the pits of fire, or even worse.

"I'm over here!" Lloyd's faraway voice filled (Y/n) with relief. She followed the sound as close as she could, where a pillar blocked her path. She bit her lip. "The hall's blocked!" 

"I'll get to the throne room, but you have to go around! There should be an exit in the west wing towards the courtyard!"

"What about you, Lloyd?"

"Don't worry about me! Just get out of here, I'm going to look for the princess!"

(Y/n) placed a hand to the back of her head. Blood stained her gloved hands as she turned away from the pillar. Everything was covered in flames. Even if she made it to the end of this hall, with how brightly everything burned, she could barely make out a clearing.

(Y/n)'s throat was scratchy. She released a cough, hacking on the smoke entering her lungs. If the throne room was on the other side of the palace, the only way to get there was by finding an exit. She was running out of time. There were little options to choose from, so she chose the easiest one: leapt first, think later. (Y/n) raced forward into the searing hot flames and it threatened to burn her gi into ash. She coughed again, covering her masked face with an arm.

Then a hand caught (Y/n)'s wrist and Morro yanked her behind his back. A flaming piece of drywall fell from the ceiling. It landed in an explosion of bright reds, and if not for Morro covering her, she would have been set on fire. (Y/n) stared at the flames reflecting in her eyes. Her chest heaved up and down, up and down, at the reality of her situation. The weight of her life that she was so careless with.

Morro's dark obsidian eyes found (Y/n)'s and they were filled with anger. "Are you stupid?" he stated. "You almost died less than two days ago and you want to run straight into that? Use your head, (Y/n)!"

Her chest continued to heave. It was as if the world had been stuck on pause. The flames licked the walls, ate at the charred carpet beneath her feet, and yet her mind remained blank. (Y/n) couldn't pull her eyes away from Morro. The flames reflected in reds and oranges across his green-tinted skin and it made him look so alive, and so, so angry.

At her.

(Y/n)'s jaw tensed and her chest burned. Why was he angry at her? The more time they spent here, the more time was wasting. "Move, Morro. I need to get to the others." Another piece of ceiling collapsed and landed at (Y/n)'s feet, narrowly missing her head. She ground her teeth together.

Morro pressed his lips into a thin line. "I can clear the smoke. But you have trust me if you want to get out of here alive." A frustrated huff escaped (Y/n)'s lips and she focused on the space around her hands. "I don't need your help." Misty, purple light formed around her fingertips and she fired them into the powerful flames before her. A pile of rubble exploded and the embers fired into the air in a flaming projectile. (Y/n)'s eyes widened. 

This was a mistake. What was she thinking, what was she thinking doing that--

Morro suddenly shoved (Y/n) behind him and threw out his hands. A wall of compressed air formed around the both of them and the flaming debris sizzled into nothing but ash. Morro turned and the distaste was clear on his face. His lip curled into a scowl, "Put your pride aside. We have to work together if we want to get out of here!"

(Y/n)'s hands curled into fists. Blood roared in her ears. There was a darkness in her heart, a pain she couldn't fight by setting her pride aside. Morro already saved (Y/n) once. She didn't want to have to rely on him again. "I can do this." she stated. "Alone. I don't need you to--"

"Maybe you don't need me, but I need you." Morro took a firm stance and pushed a fist forward. The smoke cleared and for a second, the flames almost conceded. (Y/n) took a step back, only for Morro to take her hand in his. His grasp was tight and he held on as if afraid (Y/n) would disappear.

And she wondered how someone like Morro could feel that way. How he could concern himself over (Y/n) when all he ever wanted was to erase every memory they ever shared? She thought of the darkness she faced in that cursed tunnel and the way Morro had so desperately called out to her. That was the first time he had sounded so terrified. Of losing her.

"How was I supposed to know peace when everything I did meant a place without you?"

(Y/n) didn't want to think about how soft Morro's voice had been after she had reawaken. How she felt the way his heart seemed to break in her own chest. Morro was (Y/n)'s worst enemy, yet whenever she was in danger, all he ever did was come to her rescue, like some little hero. There was an aching pain in (Y/n)'s heart. She ground her teeth together and a part of her wondered what would have happened if her and Morro had never met to begin with. If he hadn't been there that day in the monastery's rubbish bins. If never trained together and became adversaries or friends.

Yet as Morro kept a tight hold on (Y/n)'s gloved hand, she couldn't find it in her to want that change. She stared at his broad back as he led her to safety. The fires still blazed around, spreading their beautifully dangerous embers throughout the hot air. Amongst it all, Morro stood tall in the chaos as a calm within the raging storm.

(Y/n)'s calm within the storm.

The hallway ended at crossroads. It was either go left above a pile of flaming rubble, or right where a giant wall lay on the ground surrounded in black clouds of smoke. The air smelled bitter and foul. As if someone had left meat on a barbecue for too long. A tattered cloak lay beneath the rubble, the beautiful stitching and gold details covered in soot.

"Ha...ru...mi..."

(Y/n)'s eyes widened. That wasn't just a cloak, it was the emperor's cloak. She kicked a flaming table out of the way and knelt by the rubble. "Your grace!" (Y/n) called. She dug her gloved hands beneath a heavy piece of wall. With whatever strength she had in her body, she pushed against the thing and it gave a great lurch before falling back down. (Y/n) tried again but it refused to budge again. And again, and again.

Sweat soaked into (Y/n)'s mask. She heaved out a breath, hating the pair of eyes burning into the back of her head. She didn't need help. She could do this alone just as she always had from the moment Morro disappeared out those doors. (Y/n) heaved in a heavy breath. Her arms burned and her body threatened to give out with exhaustion. She hadn't fully recovered, and even if she was, the wall was too heavy. It was too heavy and (Y/n) couldn't lift it because she wasn't strong enough on her own.

Weak. Why couldn't she do it alone?

"(Y/n)." Morro's voice was firm and cool. "Let me help you."

There was a pained cough from underneath the rubble. (Y/n)'s heart ached in her chest and she squeezed her eyes shut. These were lives they were talking about, lives that could never be taken back if she didn't do something now. (Y/n) swallowed her pride and it was like chewing on a rock. She turned to Morro and he joined her side. They both set their hands underneath the wall and together lifted it. There was a thud as it fell to the ground, where flames ate at it hungrily, angrily.

(Y/n) took a knee and her stomach dropped at the sight of the emperor's burnt skin. He was almost unrecognizable with the boils seeping puss and blood across his charred face. In his arms lay the empress, whose breath had long left her body. The skin on her arms had long been burnt away, leaving bone covered in soot, raw and open. Her eyes were closed in an eternal slumber, one they both knew she would never wake up from.

"Your grace." (Y/n) suddenly felt so foolish. If she had just put her pride aside, maybe she could have gotten here quicker. "I'm so sorry, I..."

The emperor let out a dry cough and it wracked his whole body with shivers. "My d-daughter...is she...?"

(Y/n) pressed a hand to her ear. "Lloyd, did you find the princess?"

"She's with me and Hutchins! We're looking for a way out."

"Copy that." (Y/n) turned back to the emperor, pulse thrumming in her ears. "Your daughter will be safe with the Green Ninja and Hutchins."

The emperor coughed and blood ran past his reddened lips. He kept his shoulders square and his face composed. Regal despite the pain burning through his body. "That is...a relief to k-know. I...knew this day would come. E-ever since...the mask...w-we have kept it hidden...for d-dynasties. Y-you must not l-let it fall into the h-hands of evil, Master of Aether." He paused to catch what little breath he had. "I-it was long...foretold that you would...one day p-possess all three masks...and p-protect them. I...I must ask you, will you...swear that? E-even if it means...giving your life...?"

(Y/n)'s stomach felt empty and cold. Bile rose in her throat, leaving an acidic taste on her tongue she couldn't swallow. Memories of the tunnel, her dreams, and visions, all filtered back in a whirlwind of chaos.

Thump, thump, thump.

(Y/n)'s heart slammed against her chest. The emperor's jade green eyes were intense even with one foot in the grave. He retained eye contact, searching (Y/n)'s eyes pleadingly. "Y-you cannot...a-allow them to be...reunited. Master of A-Aether, you...know this...more than anyone." He weakly lifted a hand and removed the jade ring on his index finger. "S-swear it. Y-you must swear it."

Was this (Y/n)'s destiny? What she had to do to prevent those terrifying visions of darkness from coming true? She imaged the tendrils seeping across the city, the buildings crashing down into rubble. Fear seized her heart, insides compressing against the pressure as if ready to burst. "I...your grace I..." (Y/n) shook her head, but he planted the ring in her hand anyway. Blood dripped down her palm, staining her gloves and sleeves redder than the burning fires. "I...I can't..."

The emperor let out a shaky breath, "D-destiny...has foretold...this day for g-generations, you a-are meant to be here. W-will you sw-swear upon it?"

(Y/n) tried to tear her gaze from the emperor. But his eyes, so intensely green as the jade in her hand, made it impossible to turn away. She grit her teeth together and it was as if the whole realm had placed its weight upon her shoulders. The emperor closed his fist around (Y/n)'s, giving it a firm squeeze. "Please."

"I...I swear it." The words felt foreign, wrong against (Y/n)'s lips. "I will do everything in my power to protect the masks." 

The emperor's grip loosened and he let his hand fall to his side. His touch was gentle as he placed it over the empress's. "T-thank you." His face contorted into a sob, but no tears ran down his soot-covered face. He lifted his gaze once more, and all that remained on his face was relief and gratefulness as his eyes fluttered shut. "T-thank...you..." The life began seeping away from his body, leaving nothing in its wake besides an eternal slumber. Death had taken the emperor away, and there was nothing (Y/n) could do besides watch helplessly at his side. 

It was strange how the emperor looked so at peace. How could die so gruesomely and pass on so easily?

(Y/n) remained rooted to the floor on her knees. She imagined the fires as a merciless sun beating against her back, the hot sands burying her ankle-deep where her father lay still. Barely moving, barely breathing, as wildly placed her hands over the gaping hole in his chest to stop the red liquid from pouring out of his chest.

(Y/n) would cry her father's name, and even though he was callous and cold, she knew deep down how much he loved her. She had to stop the bleeding. Father would never leave out of spite, and he most certainly wouldn't go out without a fight, so she had to stop the bleeding. If he couldn't stand on his own, then (Y/n) would do it for him even if it meant carrying his dying body on her small back.

So she had to stop the bleeding.

Father's gaze flickered to (Y/n)'s face wet with tears. He smiled softly as if nothing were wrong in this world. And his eyes, purple as the sky at dusk, as a galaxy above, reflected the same as (Y/n)'s, with tears refusing to stop. Like the blood leaking out his chest so red as a sunset. In his wake were only a pair of shoes too big to fill.

The Master of Aether. What did that even mean?

The crackling fires broke (Y/n) from her memories and she stared at the body with wide eyes. Her fists curled around the bloody ring in her hands staining everything red. She saw her father's body beside the emperor's. His eyes were wide open, lifelessly staring into (Y/n)'s. The fires were so bright, too hot for her to breathe. She couldn't think when her face was slick with sweat and the fabric of her mask smelled of smoke and ash.

(Y/n) hated the world. She hated how her father died and left her all alone, she hated how Uncle Garmadon banished himself to the Cursed Realm, she hated how Morro had died, how Uncle Wu disappeared, and she hated the emperor for making her promise something she didn't know she could keep. This hatred filled (Y/n)'s veins with a fire that threatened to burn her from the inside out. She clenched her jaw, ground her teeth together as a little voice she hated, hated, hated filled her head. A voice so calm, yet sharp as a blade--her father's voice.

You must not fail.

(Y/n)'s heart felt as if it were to burst from her chest. She squeezed her eyes shut, keeling over her knees as she heaved and heaved and heaved. But the air was too hot, too dry and stale to ease the intrinsic need to breathe. Tears blurred (Y/n)'s vision as she dry coughed on the air that refused to enter her lungs, crying out painfully as if she were being strangled.

You must not fail.

Death was something (Y/n) knew like an old friend. Yet the sight of it made her want to vomit. She kept her eyes squeezed shut, bodies that lay before her flashing in her head. Bloody, burned, rotten just like the one Uncle Wu had carried on his back for miles and miles and miles. Just like the body she saw being covered in dirt and rocks and earth as rain pelted against her face and oh, breathe, (Y/n). She had to breathe, and yet the air was still too hot and dry and scratched at her throat that felt as if--

You must not fail!

A boy with dark hair and calm obsidian eyes stepped into (Y/n)'s view. He blocked the burning bodies, the sight red smeared across the carpet. "(Y/n)," the boy's voice was cool and grainy, "we need to leave before this place comes crashing down. Can you stand?"

Right, right. The palace was in flames. It was going to burn down and if (Y/n) didn't leave, she was going to die too and end up like the bodies right over there--

"(Y/n), keep your eyes on me and only me." She raised her gaze to Morro's face. She studied every curve of his cheek, to the tensing of his lips, to the way his eyes were darkened and filling with concern. She felt Morro uncurl her tight fists, leaning into him as he lifted her off the ground. His gaze focused on (Y/n) and only (Y/n) in the world burning to ash. "There's a window over this pile of rubble. You have to trust me. Can you do that for me?"

Trust. How was (Y/n) supposed to trust anyone? She couldn't trust Morro, much less herself, when all of this talk of destiny was thrust upon her in the span of a week. She didn't know what to do, or who to ask when her uncle was missing and she couldn't find him. She didn't know what to do when Morro took her hands and gave them a squeeze, or when he planted each palm against her masked face and forced her gaze to him and only him.

"Look at me." Morro's voice was smooth as silk. Tender with care. (Y/n) tried to turn away but he kept his touch firm. "Look at me! You have to trust me, (Y/n)!"

She closed her eyes, breaths quivering.

"Trust me." Morro repeated. "Please."

(Y/n) opened her eyes. With the little breath in her system, she muttered a small, 'okay'.

The next few moments passed in a blur of red. (Y/n) kept her eyes shut, blindly holding tight to Morro's firm hand as he pulled her up a mountain of rubble. She felt the flames licking at her heels, the heat in her lungs that threatened to burn through every pore in her body. Then Morro pulled (Y/n) into a tight embrace and she was pressed against his firm chest. His body was cool in contrast to the heat, a wave of calm in the chaos.

A blast of cool air hit (Y/n)'s face and her feet touched the ground. She opened her eyes to see the palace gates, where flames reflected long, dark shadows across the pavement.

Safe. They were safe and out of that flaming world of death. (Y/n) collapsed to her knees in a heap, the breath escaping her lungs. She placed a hand to her burning chest and ripped off her mask to gather even just a little bit of the fresh air. But nothing she was doing was working and her lungs felt frozen stiff.

Bile rose from (Y/n)'s gut and she choked and hacked on the acidic taste hitting the back of her throat. She planted a hand to the ground, keeling over her knees as she vomited. Tears filled her eyes and she cried as more bile hit the back of her throat.

Pathetic. (Y/n) was so pathetic.

The acidic taste didn't vanish after everything was emptied from her stomach. Her chest heaved up and down, up and down. Footsteps sounded behind her and she curled in on herself, squeezing her eyes shut. She spat on the ground, wiped her dirty face with the back of her bloodstained gloves. "Don't...look at me..." she heaved. "Don't look at me."

The brokenness of (Y/n)'s voice made her heart ache. It cracked within her chest, threatening to shatter as a comforting hand met her shoulder. Tears blurred her vision as a wave of guilt rose from within. She saw the face of the emperor, his piercing eyes as he stared directly into her soul. If (Y/n) hadn't argued with Morro, would she have been able to at least save him?

The tears refused to stop falling from (Y/n)'s eyes. She blinked them away, lowering her gaze away from Morro's prying eyes. She wanted to tell him to go away, to leave her be in her own vomit and blood, but the words stuck in her itching throat.

"(Y/n)," Morro sounded pained, "it wasn't your fault."

Her fists curled around the ring. She felt as if she were crawling in her skin. "Yes, it was! If I hadn't argued with you, we might have gotten there sooner, and if I didn't have to rely on you, I could have been there before any of that happened, but I...I wasn't. And I paid the price for my foolishness. I let them die." 

The guilt weighing (Y/n)'s chest was the same as a ten ton brick. She could barely stand, barely think with the image of blood and fire still burning into her mind. A dangerous heat filled her veins and she knew this feeling as anger. Raw and uncontrollable as she glared down at the ground. It made her insides burn, and through the heartache and the anguish she carried on her shoulders, it burst out from within like a serpent to its prey.

"I can't stand you!" (Y/n)'s voice was cracked and scratchy. "Why do you have to help me? Why when I hate you so much, you never leave? If you weren't here, none of this would have happened!" The words felt wrong on (Y/n)'s tongue, and yet they kept leaving her lips as she shrugged off Morro's hand. "You always ruin everything! First you leave, then the Realm Crystal and Lloyd, and now this?! I hate you! You keep coming to my rescue--like some--some hero when you're not! Nothing you do is ever, ever going to make up for what you've done! You're too late!"

Morro remained squatted beside (Y/n). He let his hand fall to his side. Tears streamed down (Y/n)'s reddened cheeks, staining them as she tried and tried to catch her breath. Morro didn't have it in him to yell back, not when it was all they did for a lifetime. He gently took (Y/n)'s bloody hands in his hands, squeezing them in a comforting hold. 

"I know nothing I do can reverse what's been done. I helped you because I wanted to, not because I think it makes up for anything." Morro's firm voice sounded sad, hurt. "And as much as you hate me, we have to work together. The second mask is still out there. Sensei would tell us that one door closed is only another one open. I was too late before, that doesn't mean I have to be again. We have to take this chance now to find the mask."

We. Morro hadn't said 'you' or 'me', but 'we'. As if they were both a team. (Y/n) wasn't sure whether to be angry, confused, or upset. She searched his cool, obsidian eyes so calm as the night breeze. Wondering why there wasn't a semblance of pretense hidden beneath. He wasn't lying, and she felt it in her heart as he kept a tight grip on her hands.

Oh, by the First Spinjitzu Master did (Y/n) hate Morro with every fibre of her being. 

(Y/n) squeezed her eyes shut with a grit of her teeth. She let out a breath, shoulders tensing as she ripped her hands from his grasp. "I hate you so much." she muttered, standing up. "You're the absolute worst." 

Morro didn't look fazed. He shrugged, huffing. "It takes a special kind of person to be around me." (Y/n) 'humphed' to herself. She stuffed the bloody ring into her left glove and tapped her earpiece, "Lloyd, what's your status?"

"I need backup!" came Lloyd's voice. "I have the mask! I repeat, I have the mask! I'm heading for the Bounty with a member of the S.O.G. in pursuit!" 

(Y/n) scanned the area and spotted a bike. She jogged over and lifted the kickstand, boarding it. "Copy that, where are you?"

"Passing through downtown. We're heading for the harbour."

"I'm on my way." (Y/n) turned on the motorcycle and it revved to life. She heaved in another breath and this time, it was less shaky. She patted the backseat, motioning for Morro to get on. "You said you wanted to work together, didn't you?" There was a glimmer of hope in Morro's deep eyes. He looked at (Y/n) as if she were a great warrior on a grand stead. "Wherever you go, I'll follow."

Strangely enough, that thought comforted (Y/n). Even with the anger still brewing inside, Morro's cool hands wrapping around her waist made her worries quell. 

Why? 

The engine revved to life and the two sped off into the night. The highway was swarming with cars. Even at this time of night, everyone seemed to be on a mission. (Y/n) weaved her way through the traffic, squinting at the signs with a tight frown. She sped forward and the speedometer ran past ninety. Morro held on for dear life, squeezing (Y/n)'s middle as she wildly veered down a ramp. They entered a street and the bike nearly flew into the air as they turned right. Morro's head spun. "You're a terrible driver!"

"Kai taught me," (Y/n) simply said. "Blame him." The tall apartment buildings and city lights soon dimmed. Warehouses lined the large streets, where a boardwalk led to the harbour. The Bounty's lights shone through the darkness as it lulled on the waves, where a single man with two katana stood staring up at two retreating figures.

(Y/n) veered to the left. She planted a foot to the ground and the bike slid back, kicking up dust and smoke. "Looks like we're late to the party." (Y/n) leapt forward and pulled out her katana. She spotted an orange object at the corner of the harbour all alone in the dark. "The mask! Morro, go get it."

He deflated, "What am I, a dog?"

The katana man raised his blades. (Y/n) circled him and took a firm stance, slicing high and low. The man parried and side-stepped, only to slam the flat of his blade against (Y/n)'s side. She coughed and was met with a knee to the stomach. She wavered, stumbling back as the man brought his blades down. Every block pushed her back towards a warehouse, where she would be cornered if she didn't act now. 

The world spun and (Y/n) vaguely wondered if this was what it felt like to be drunk. Her arms were like jelly and her legs heavier than lead. She ducked and the man's katana soared over her head, missing her face by a hair. Sweat trickled down (Y/n)'s brow as she heaved in a breath and sliced at the man's side. He was fast--faster than (Y/n) could be when her mind swam languidly. Urgh, this was what she got for being hit in the head earlier.

As well as yelling at Morro.

That thought brought a wave of guilt through (Y/n)'s system. She blocked again, the sounds of metal against metal screeching in her ears. Her blade was an extension of her mind, and it was far from razor sharp as she stumbled about, barely holding her own. She couldn't focus when her mind wandered to the hurt in the Morro's voice, the gentleness of his touch. 

Pain brought (Y/n)'s mind to the present. She cried out as blood burst from her shoulder, leaking against her gi. The man relentlessly continued his attacks like a machine, hitting every known combo as if it were merely a game. Hekicked (Y/n) in the face. Pain exploded in her body as she fell backward, mind fuzzy, body heavy.

C'mon (Y/n), think, think! She was stronger than this, she knew. Yet the world kept fading in and out of focus like a spyglass out of focus. She squinted through her haze, through the blood leaking down her brow. A fist collided with her jaw. She rolled to the side just as the man brought down his katana.

Purple, misty light rose from (Y/n)'s fingertips. As she released it, a voice filled her head. It echoed like a gong, reverberating within her skull until her brain was ready to explode. (Y/n) squeezed her eyes shut, a pained groan escaping her lips.

You, the child of darkness...

A shiver crawled down her spine.

We await your arrival.

(Y/n) opened her eyes and raised her katana. It faded into smoke. The docks disappeared and the clashing of metal vanished. (Y/n) ground her teeth together, eyes widening as her heart began to slam against her chest. Her breath quickened, blood roared in her ears. Then the docks came back into view and all (Y/n) saw was a foot stamping into her face.

The masked man towered above her, taking a knee to land another punch to her jaw. A wet cough escaped (Y/n)'s lips and a metallic taste filled her mouth. She choked, coughing on the sticky liquid.

FIND IT! YOU MUST FIND IT!

The docks vanished in an instant and the skies turned black as ink. Not a single star shone above, drowned out by clouds of pure darkness. A misty smoke hovered above the ground and statues rose from it. They stood frozen in time, mouths open in silent screams. (Y/n) placed a hand to a statue. She felt life pulsing beneath her fingertips, heard the breath of a person from beneath the stone. (Y/n) drew back as if burnt, eyes wide in horror. These weren't statues. They were people.

SUFFER A FATE WORSE THAN DEATH!

There was a throbbing in (Y/n)'s head and she clutched at the sides of her face. Her fingertips buzzed and her pulse thrummed with the strange energy of the mist. It threatened to drown out the light in her heart, bathing it in anger and a deep, deep hatred. A laugh echoed from the abyss and it was crazed, distorted.

YOUR DESTINY IS IN DARKNESS!

The inky mist parted to make room for a wretched looking creature. Its clawed hands were twisted and its face curled into an evil sneer. Fangs protruded from its mouth, where a set of deep, purple eyes glowed in the black of pure night. The creature seized (Y/n) by the throat.

DARKNESS!

The air escaped (Y/n)'s lungs. She clawed against the creature's iron grip, fighting for air, air, air. Then the darkness closed in and the only source of light were that set of evil, evil eyes. The world began to fade and (Y/n) wondered if this was it.

The creature released (Y/n) with a growl. She slammed into the ground and the inky black vanished.

The docks came back into view. The salty air bombarded (Y/n)'s nose. All she knew was that her katana was nowhere to be seen and her face really, really hurt. She looked up and was met with a gleaming blade coming down above her head. (Y/n)'s eyes widened. She didn't have time to dodge.

Panic should have filled her system, yet for a moment, she entertained the idea of death. The fact that maybe, just maybe, meeting her end wouldn't be so bad. Her father had been at peace when he died, and so had the emperor despite his pain. If (Y/n) died, would she feel that same peace? There would be no prophecy with her eyes closed in eternal rest, no responsibilities to weigh down her shoulders. No worries of the future, and no pain left in her heart.

A sharp gust of wind cut through the air like a knife. (Y/n)'s thoughts broke and she looked up to see Morro's broad back. He lifted an arm and the man flew back, slamming into an old, rusty warehouse. He limply fell into a stack of cargo and it collapsed underneath his weight, leaving a large dent in the warehouse door.

Morro took another stance and lifted the man back into the air, only to drop him back down like a rag doll. "Don't you dare give up like that again, (Y/n) Lance." his voice was cold with anger. "Didn't I tell you? I'm going to help you no matter what it takes."

The wind rose, whipping (Y/n)'s hair against her swollen and bloody face. She couldn't take her eyes off of Morro as he stalked forward, gaze zeroed in on his prey.

Morro was the Master of Wind, and it was forever at his beck and call. He would be damned if he walked away without giving that man a piece of his mind. He kept a tight grasp on the mask as the man slammed into the warehouse again, pinned to the wall by nothing but the wind. Its currents curled around Morro's palm, churning like the raging skies above. 

Clouds swirled in a vortex above the harbour, covering both the stars and moon like a curtain. The waves rose, angrily beating against the boardwalk beneath (Y/n)'s feet. She hauled her exhausted body off the ground and stumbled forward. Then a voice came from her earpiece and she paused.

"(Y/n)!" came Lloyd's voice. He waved a hand from the bridge. "They have backup! We have to leave!"

(Y/n) spotted her katana and stumbled over to it. She sheathed it on her back and made her way over to Morro. He stood tall, a hand curled into a tight fist. If he so wished it, he could kill the man before him in an instant. With the last strength in (Y/n)'s body, she raced forward, reaching out a hand (forever reaching even in anger) towards the Master of Wind. She caught his hand before he could finish the blow. 

(Y/n)'s touch was warm through her bloody gloves. She frantically met his eyes so wild and darkened with rage (for her). And as their gazes met, the world slowed. The raging winds eased and the vortex forming in the heavens vanished. His hair settled against his shoulders as he studied (Y/n)'s battered face. His heart ached. "(Y/n)."

She didn't let go of his hand and she didn't know why. "We need to leave. They have backup." Blood trailed down her face and Morro felt his heart growing hot with rage. He spared the masked man a glance, then turned back to (Y/n). Blood smeared her bruised cheeks red, staining her busted lip, and the wound on the back of her head leaked against her hood.

(Y/n) was Morro's first priority. Not the mask, not that man that attacked her (even though he wanted to crush him to bits). He pressed the mask into (Y/n)'s hands and nodded. "We leave now." The two fled side-by-side to the Bounty. They boarded and Lloyd started the engine The ship rose from the churning waters below, sea spray splashed against (Y/n)'s face. She cringed at the burning sensations.

But looking Morro in the face stung more. There was no hatred in his eyes, no disgust as (Y/n) forced herself to meet his dark obsidian eyes. The once calm oceans were dull and sad, unbalanced with conflict. 

Pairs of footsteps came bounding down from the bridge. (Y/n) spotted Lloyd and he opened his arms. He wrapped her into a tight embrace, burying face in her shoulder. "(Y/n)," his muffled voice shook with fear. "What in Ninjago were you thinking?"

(Y/n) weakly returned the hug with a wince, cradling Lloyd's head as if he were still that tiny bratty kid. In her eyes, he always was, no matter how much taller he grew. "I didn't mean to scare you," she said, tightening her grip. "I'm fine, and I have the mask." (Y/n) pulled away and handed it to Lloyd. He stared at the old relic in disbelief and handed it to Harumi, who exchanged it for a medkit.

Lloyd set the box down and took a seat, patting the ground in front of him with an irritated look on his face. "I don't care about that stupid thing," he ripped open an alcohol wipe, "if you died, do you know how bad that would be? You can't just--why did you--I hate when you do this. Why are you so reckless? That guy had those big swords, and you just kept fighting him even though he could've sliced you into sashimi and..."

"I'm sorry." (Y/n) pressed her lips into a thin line in surrender. She allowed Lloyd to patch her up, wiping all the blood away and sticking colourful Starfarer plasters all over her face. When he finished, she untied her shirt and pulled it off so she was only in a tank top. Cool air hit her shoulder burning with pain. 

Lloyd paled and looked about ready to faint. (Y/n) swallowed, "It's not that bad, I swear."

Harumi covered her mouth in dismay. "Well, perhaps it could be worse. I can't believe how brutal the Sons of Garmadon can be."

The more blood that left the wound, the more (Y/n) was sure she were going to faint too. She rummaged through the medkid with trembling hands and produced a needle and thread. Her nimble fingers lacked the usual deftness she was so used to. She fumbled about, nearly dropping the supplies before a hand was placed over her own.

Harumi smiled kindly. She took a seat on the ground and took the supplies. "I can help, I was trained in first aid by Hutchins."

(Y/n) wanted to argue, but before she could open her mouth, Harumi got to work on her shoulder. (Y/n) hissed, turning away as Lloyd stared at the floor. He was pale in the face and looked queasy. "Is (Y/n) going to be okay?" he shakily inquired. "That looks really, really bad."

"It doesn't look too deep, thankfully." Harumi said with a hum. "I'm sure she'll heal alright."

The cold feeling of the needle through (Y/n)'s skin made her want to vomit again. She clenched her fists, biting the inside of her cheek to keep herself from squirming and passing out all at once. She avoided Morro's gaze, hating the concern in his down turned eyes. Once Harumi tied off the knot, disinfected, and gently wrapped a bandage around the wound, she released a breath, looking rather satisfied. "All done. You were a wonderful patient, (Y/n)."

"I think I'm going to pass out." (Y/n) said, placing a hand to her bandaged forehead. Lloyd mimicked her expression, shutting his eyes with a stressed sigh. "Me too."

"You weren't the one being stitched up," (Y/n) grumbled. "Why do you feel like you're gonna pass out?" Lloyd let out a groan as he closed the medkit. "What, you think seeing you get sewn shut is normal? This doesn't happen everyday."

And thankfully not, since the only ones who seemed decent at the basics of medicine were Zane, Nya, and Sensei Wu (who was now off the leader board since he was, well, missing). (Y/n) turned to Harumi with a nod. She wouldn't have thought to ever say this after the princess left a bad first impression. "Thank you."

Harumi smiled and it almost looked genuine. "It makes me glad I could be useful. Will you be alright? We can help you to your room."

(Y/n) felt her heart clench. The face of the emperor flashed in her mind. She pressed her lips into a thin line, tearing her gaze away. She waved a hand, shaking her discombobulated head. "I think I'll stay here." Lloyd coughed into his hand and (Y/n) meekly tapped his shoulder with a fist. "Oh, yes, how could I forget about my little ninja."

Lloyd's face turned red. "Excuse me?"

(Y/n) would have laughed if not for the heaviness on her shoulders. "Thank you, too. Don't worry about me. I just...need to catch my breath. Can I see the mask? I'll find a place for it later." Harumi stared at the old relic's gruesome face before handing it over. (Y/n) thanked her and watched the two disappear back into the bridge, where Lloyd stumbled about until Harumi took his arm.

(Y/n) didn't have time to mull over her cousin's love life. Instead, her gaze focused on Morro, who had taken a seat a little ways away with his back against the sail's pillar. The conflict flowing through his veins, the sadness weighing his heart like concrete--she felt it all. Oh, how it pained (Y/n). She was so ashamed of her stupidity, her foolishness.

And today, the cost of that were two lives.

"I'm sorry." (Y/n)'s scratchy voice was barely loud enough to hear over the wind. "I shouldn't have yelled at you, or said all those things. I was just...it's hard knowing we're stuck together when everything still hurts." Because it meant looking her past in the face and finally picking up the pieces. Pieces she didn't know how to glue back together. She leaned her back against the side of the ship as it gently sailed in the wind, rocking with the cool night air.

Morro stilled for a moment before standing and taking a seat beside (Y/n). The air grew heavy as he stared off into the horizon, where city light fought against the darkness above. The moon was hidden behind clouds tonight, sleeping quietly. "I'm starting to think we both have the same problems. Not to sound pretentious, but it makes sense considering we've been fighting each other for so long. Even in death."

(Y/n) had half the heart to snort bitterly.

Morro kept his gaze glued to the horizon. "I was hurt. I hated seeing you like that because of me, but I blame myself, not you, (Y/n). I'm glad you're alive." A frown fell upon Morro's lips and his hand curled into a fist. "When that guy hurt you, all I thought about was making him pay for what he did. I didn't care how as long as I got back at him. Then I saw you, and I remembered that I couldn't let myself go down that path again. I chose you, (Y/n). And I regret not doing so sooner."

(Y/n)'s eyes widened. She lifted her gaze from the ground and hesitantly met Morro's gaze. His obsidian eyes had calmed and he looked...lighter as he stared off into the dark horizon. The wind reflected his mood, gently breezing through his silky princess hair. Colour seemed to return to his pale, green-tinted skin, returning a rosiness to his cheeks. 

In the dim lights from the bridge, it could have just been (Y/n)'s imagination. Guilt clawed at her insides. Her heart clenched in her chest and her heartstrings felt as if they were being snapped. Why was it everyone could keep moving forward but her? It was as if her feet were rooted forever in the past. Stuck to leave her in eternal damnation. (Y/n) tore her gaze away, hating how her eyes began to burn with tears. Morro was always ahead of her, even now. "You're the worst, Morro. Did you know that?"

A small chuckle escaped Morro's lips and it was light, airy. "Yeah, I know."

Through the dredges of hatred, the burning frustrations in (Y/n)'s chest, her heart betrayed her and began to warm. It was comforting knowing Morro remained right beside her, even if it wasn't always willingly. She wiped at her eyes with the back of her hands, and a familiar feeling of warmth filled her chest. 

Gratefulness. Urgh, it was a disgusting feeling.

The sun began rising across the horizon. Bright oranges and reds painted it in warmth. The Bounty hovered over a highway and (Y/n) scooted over to make way for the others as they boarded. She held up the mask between her bloody gloves, "You guys are late to the party."

The lame, half-hearted joke bounced straight off everyone's heads. Cole fell to his knees and planted his hands on (Y/n)'s shoulders. She flinched, falling on her side with a pained howl. "Cole, stop! Stop!"

"I'm so, so, sorry!" Cole was on his hands and knees, frantically trying to grasp what in Ninjago had happened. He tried to grab (Y/n)'s hand but she pulled away, only to hit her shoulder on the side on the Bounty. "Ow, ow, ow!" she cried. "First Spinjitzu Master!"

Llpyd came running down the stairs with Harumi at his side. "'What're you guys doing?!"

"I believe Cole's assistance is only worsening (Y/n)'s current condition." She didn't need to look up to know it was Zane speaking. "It seems she suffers from being impaled--"

"Impaled?!" cried Kai. "What do you mean she was impaled?!"

Jay placed his hands to the side of his face and fell to his knees beside Cole. "Who did this to you?! Who do we have to kill?! I'll get my nunchucks and I'll blast them straight into the sky!"

"Would you guys quit it?" came Nya's voice. "You're not helping (Y/n) by panicking!" And then Nya took a knee with a serious look on her face. The rising sun shone against her back, creating a golden halo above her head that made her look like a mystical goddess. "Who was it? I'll smash their face right between my fists--"

"It's okay guys." (Y/n) squinted through the light from the sun. She couldn't quite see very well, probably from her concussion. "I have the mask."

All hell broke loose and maybe (Y/n) should have expected that considering no one seemed to really care about the thing besides her, and probably Harumi.

"Why does that even matter? You could have died!"

"Risking your life for some stupid relic is...stupid!"

"Even Kai wouldn't do that and we all know he's full of bad ideas!"

"Wow, thanks Cole."

"Guys, can we all calm down?" That had to be Lloyd. "(Y/n) has a concussion, you need to be quiet."

"Quiet?! We need to beat someone up!"

"'I second that!"

"Me too!"

Zane pushed past Kai, Cole, and Jay rolling on the floor and took a knee in front of (Y/n). His cool, ice blue eyes brimmed with concern. He looked really upset. "For lack of better words, your life is not something disposable. You were lucky when Morro saved you, but that luck may never come again." His voice was kind despite his blunt words. "Thank you, for risking yourself for the mask. Regardless, we all ask you never to do that again. Or else we may 'kill' in your favour, as the others have put it."

When (Y/n) deflated, Cole army crawled over. He tapped her knee with his fist, "We're just glad you're okay, Star. Just don't scare us again. Please."

The ninja came together, pulling (Y/n) as best as they could into a warm hug. Her gaze flickered over to Morro's and she spotted a small smile rising to his lips. She quickly looked away, hating how a small bit of happiness warmed her chest.

Why did her worst enemy have to be her best friend?

Ninjago Secrets!

-you were always the last one to wake up for Sunrise Exercise on Wednesdays
-the only dish you are the best at cooking and somehow making gourmet is instant noodles. be it cup, stir fried, or soup, it looks like a 5-star course meal
-zane can see morro with infrared sensors
-jay still sleeps with mr. cuddlywump
-morro used to steal your snacks so you two used to fight over that
-wu would ban snacks altogether if you two didn't make up

Chapter Text

Sometimes everything we need is right in front of us.

No me mires con esos ojos (que me)
Me deslumbras (que me), me derrumbas
No me mires con esos ojos (porque)
Te lo doy todo, ni modo
-Impacto, Enjambre

The grasslands were dead and barren. (Y/n) stood amongst a circle of wilted flowers, beaten and trampled beneath someone's feet. She didn't need to look behind her shoulder to know who had summoned her. "What now?" The disinterest in (Y/n)'s voice piqued her grandfather's interest. She begrudgingly turned to face him head-on. "Don't tell me there's more."

The storm in (Y/n)'s eyes raged relentlessly. Grandfather hummed to himself in thought. He looked to be staring at something far, far away. "Your father looked at me with the same disdain. It pains me to know you are filled with the same hatred he has."

Hatred? The First Spinjitzu Master died a long time ago, and even if he was somehow able to watch over (Y/n) with his omnipotence, he knew nothing about her. His godliness didn't warrant staring at her like some museum exhibit.

(Y/n)'s hands curled into fists. The flames, the fires eating away at the walls. She saw the emperor's bloody face covered in bursting boils and burns, felt the life draining from his body as his eyes closed forever. (Y/n) stalked forward, trampling the already wilted flowers beneath her feet. They looked long dead. 

"I thought you were some kind of god," she spat. "There are bad people out there who want the masks for themselves. If you knew about that, why didn't you destroy them when you had the chance? Dozens of people died today! Because of that stupid mask!"

The First Spinjitzu Master stroked his beard in thought. That only called the winds and intensified the storm. (Y/n) threw out a hand, blood rushing in her ears, heart racing against her chest. "You waited this long to say something yet you're the one who made realms! You created Ninjago using the Golden Weapons! You could have stopped this before it even happened!"

"It is not my place to do so." Grandfather's expression hardened and (Y/n) took a step back. The winds rose, brushing against the wilting grass ominously. "You wish to defy Destiny instead of accepting it the same as your father, and that boy you like, Morro. All three of you carry the chaos of a storm and a great imbalance."

"Imbalance?" (Y/n) echoed in disbelief. "I'm the Master of Aether, the definition of balance. Why would I be chaos?" The anger in her eyes, the pain behind them said otherwise. There was a dissonance threatening the tranquility of her skies. No stars broke through the darkness with their piercing light, leaving only darkness. The eternal abyss of night.

Grandfather hummed to himself in thought. His hard gaze softened, yet it felt as if he were only choosing to be merciful instead of kind. "You feel it. The call of those before you." He lowered his head, hiding his eyes behind the brim of his straw hat. "If you are anything like your father, all I see ahead in your path is death."

The ground fell from beneath (Y/n)'s feet and she was thrust into the darkness of The Void. Her back hit the transparent bridges of stardust, where she stared up into the endless skies. The galaxies swirled above, where every bridge and door branched out in a maze of colours. Below the bridges was only darkness. It vaguely reminded (Y/n) of the tunnel she almost died in. She shivered. 

(Y/n) hauled herself off the ground, rubbing her backside with a hiss. A vortex rippled, casting its silvery light against the bridge. Wind howled on the other side, where a boy wrapped in a ragged, black scarf lay in the snow. He hurriedly crawled to the edge of a cliff. The Wailing Alps. How could (Y/n) forget?

She approached the mirror and gently placed a hand against its surface. The silvery light rippled beneath her touch, refracting like gems beneath the sun. The memory became more vivid, more lively like the day it had happened.

"(Y/n), stop being so stubborn!" Morro thrust out his hand with a grunt. "Just listen to me!"

No. Not to this. (Y/n) shut her eyes with a hard exhale. She turned away from the smooth surface of the mirror, shying away from its light. The wind howled form behind its screen and she felt a wintry chill down her spine.

"Why should I listen to a liar?!" came (Y/n)'s voice. The sound of it so wrought with pain made her chest ache. "You left me! You left me and now you want to save my life?!"

"Shut up and take my hand!"

"No!" There was the sound of snow falling and a yelp of fear. (Y/n) kept her back turned. She didn't want to watch herself slipping down the cliff.

"(Y/N)!" The fear in Morro's voice had haunted her for years. He was never afraid of anything. Never. She hated knowing how much he cared, how much he would throw away if it meant saving her (his sworn enemy). "STOP BEING STUPID! I'M TRYING TO HELP YOU!"

Of course he was. When did he not? Even when they were at odds, Morro never failed to swoop in to save (Y/n). The only time he hadn't was when they fought in the courtyard at the Monastery.

"(Y/n)!" came Morro's voice again. "Listen to me!"

"Shut up!" The words left (Y/n)'s lips faster than she could think. She rounded on the mirror and stared into Morro's desperate eyes on the other side. The affection beneath his fear, the warmth and pleading it held. Ah, there was a word for this. A specific feeling for this close bond.

(Y/n)'s heart felt as if it were being stabbed. She placed a hand over her chest, clutching at the beating organ. "Why do you look at me like that?" Her voice cracked with pain. "Why do you always look at me like that?"

The memory replayed on a loop. That same snapshot in time as if it were only yesterday. (Y/n) slammed a fist against the mirror and it rippled under her touch. The memory replayed again from the start. The sound of Morro's shouts, the fear he laid bare on his sleeve without so much as a second thought as long as it meant saving (Y/n), as long as it meant doing it for her.

Dammit. Dammit. Dammit.

(Y/n) squeezed her eyes shut. She thought of this strange feeling in her chest churning, swirling. It was the thought that kept her awake at night, the thing that invaded her mind as poison, the thing that filled her with this burning hatred. (Y/n) glared at her feet, hands curling into fists. "What does this have to do with anything?"

"Anything?" There was a patronizing laugh that echoed through the abyss. "It has to do with everything." 

(Y/n)'s eyes snapped open. A hand planted itself to the top bunk as she jolted upright against the hand. It softened the impact, but she groaned anyway. A pair of obsidian eyes met (Y/n)'s as she flopped down on the mattress. Her breath caught in her throat.

"Are you trying to get yourself crippled?" Every lock of silky black hair framed Morro's face perfectly. He tilted his head to the side, raising a brow. "You really are the Master of Clumsiness."

The racing of (Y/n)'s heart couldn't have been any louder. The curve of Morro's brow, the angle of his jawline as he kept his head tilted to the side. Then there were his lips pressed into a questioning frown. He puckered them in a way that made (Y/n) question her sanity. There was that warmth in his eyes, the affections he held for her.

"I know that look." Morro's lips curled into a smug smirk. "What is it you're thinking about, (Y/n)? How awful it was the first thing you see is me?" He leaned down and brushed a lock of hair behind his ear. Their faces were less than an inch apart, she felt his breath against her cheek. "Or perhaps, all the terrible things you'd like to do to me?"

(Y/n)'s heart skipped a beat and she punched Morro square in the nose. The stupid ghost flew across the room like a plastic bag in the wind, crumpling against the wall with a dry cough. (Y/n) didn't feel the least bit guilty for choosing violence this terrible, terrible afternoon. "Do you have any idea what type of implications that has?" Her face burned and she was glad it were covered in bandages. "I see you've finally gained the courage to be the court jester again."

"Court jester?" Morro wheezed, "How...kind of you."

(Y/n) rolled her eyes, watching with mild disinterest as he crawled over into his makeshift bed. He got comfortable in the blankets and dug out (Y/n)'s dog plushie from under a pillow. He made it wave to himself absentmindedly, as if he hadn't just flown into the wall at twenty miles per hour. "Did you have another dream again?"

(Y/n) stared at the top bunk and pulled her blankets close. "Why are you asking?"

Morro shrugged, not looking up from the dog plushie. He made it dance on two feet. "You were talking to yourself. Something about the First Spinjitzu Master."

A sour frown pulled at (Y/n)'s lips. She did not talk to herself. "Apparently, everyone in my family has a love for riddles because it's all my grandfather's giving me." She shut her eyes, trying to block out the memory on that cliff. "He talks as if he knows how this will end. He says things as if there's nothing I can do to change my destiny. Yet my father...he told me I had to defy it."

Morro set the plushie down, staring into its little eyes. "And what do you think about it?"

"I don't know." (Y/n) rubbed at her bruised cheeks with a huff. "If Uncle were here, he'd say something like, your life is a pot of tea, steep it too long and it turns bitter, or with proper patience and care, you will brew a perfect cup." 

Morro let out a small chuckle, lips curving upwards. "That wasn't half bad."

"You know what is bad?" (Y/n) thought back to the Void. Then her mind filled with shouts and the sound of howling wind and she shook her head. "Never mind." 

Morro turned on his side so he could properly face her. "What?"

"I..." (Y/n) bit the inside of her cheek. Curiosity got the best of her frustrations, her pain. She needed to know. "Do you remember the Wailing Alps? How you saved me from falling off the cliff?"

Morro stilled. "I do." 

"You could have just let me fall. I would've been fine with Airjitzu, and the Bounty was right there so Nya could have saved me." (Y/n) felt Morro's intense gaze on the side of her battered face. "Yet you refused to let me fall so we argued. Why?"

Morro seemed to be thinking. He set the dog plush down. "Besides the fact I owe that much to you, I'm sure you know the other answer. It's pretty obvious." (Y/n) carefully rolled on her side, brows knit. She searched Morro's deep eyes, dark like obsidian. He looked hesitant to say more, as if anything else could make or break his next steps ahead. 

(Y/n) stared at him with steely conviction. Her purples eyes were firm, calculating. "I want to hear you say it. I don't care what it is, I want to hear your own words."

A huff escaped Morro's lips and his bangs blew to the side. "Making demands like that won't give you the answers you want. I'm not here to tell you things you won't admit to yourself."

"Like what?" (Y/n) recalled the flutter in her chest, the warmth she felt but couldn't put a name to when their eyes met. When Morro's touch would linger longer than it had to. "All we do is fight. When you possessed me, I saw your memories and the things you regret. But not the reason why you care about me so much even when we're at odds." She leaned forward over the edge of her bed, towering over Morro as he stared up into her eyes.

They reflected like a storm. The purple hues muddy with clouds, dark with rain. Still--Morro thought (Y/n) were still as beautiful as the fading dusk, as beautiful as the stars above. The words caught in his throat. He swallowed hard, turning away to keep his composure. "I already told you, that's something you already know, (Y/n)."

She gritted her teeth. "And I told you I don't know--!"

There was a knock on the door. It opened with a creak and Harumi stepped in with a plate of hot food. It must have already been lunch time judging by the bowl of gyudon, miso soup, and the cup of steaming tea. She smiled brightly as the door shut.

"I thought it would be good to help out. Since you all have been so kind, it's only right I do my part." Harumi set the tray down on the little desk. "I see you've still yet to roll out of bed."

(Y/n) awkwardly sat up, rubbing at her head. It throbbed under her touch, but the frustration in her chest burned more. "Thank you, Princess. You didn't have to."

"Harumi." she corrected, brushing her snow white hair behind an ear. "Just call me Harumi, or 'Rumi. Either or. Zane said this dish is your favourite and that he used to make all the time when you were younger."

(Y/n) awkwardly rubbed the back of her sore neck. Zane wasn't usually one for nostalgia, he must have been really worried to think about old memories.

(Y/n) took a seat at the little desk, picking up the spoon. The scent of soy sauce and miso soup made her appetite come back. She couldn't be more grateful, the past couple days it was hard to stomach anything but water. "Leave it to Zane to make me feel better," she grumbled with a shake of her head. "I'm surprised he had time with the mission and all."

There was a strange look in Harumi's eyes as she folded her arms behind her back. Her gaze wandered to the makeshift bed on the floor, where Morro sat cross-legged. "Zane said it was more important to get you on your feet again." Harumi's ruby red lips widened into a smile, displaying her set of pearly white teeth. "How very kind of him."

(Y/n) took a bite of her food and exchanged a glance with Morro. As much as she didn't want to be civil with him, he was the only person she could gossip with later. "Zane has always been kind." (Y/n) distantly remarked. "It's built into his system."

Harumi didn't look like she was listening. Her gaze wandered to the cork board. She pointed to a picture. "Is that you? You're so little here."

(Y/n) eyed the picture and pressed her lips into a thin line. "It's old, from when I was like, twelve."

The picture had Wu, Morro, and (Y/n) at the top of the monastery steps. They had raced from the bottom and were both covered in sweat and dirt from trying to knock the other down. Morro had a grin on his face and held up a peace sign.

Need (Y/n) say anything more about the victor?

Harumi let out a light, dainty laugh and pointed to the sour look on little (Y/n)'s face. "You look so grumpy here. What happened?"

"A race." (Y/n) simply said, stuffing her face with rice. It tasted the same as she remembered, like a warm hug. "I lost."

"Unsurprisingly." Morro piped up with a smirk. 

(Y/n) shot him a diabolically hateful side-eye. She didn't need comments from the peanut gallery. "Morro and I were training partners and rivals. I always made sure to beat him when I could."

"Which was never."

"Oh, so this is Morro?" Harumi was blissfully unaware of the comments from the peanut gallery. She laughed brightly, a light in her eyes. "He looks harmless for someone who turned out to be so evil."

Morro sat up, raising a brow in disbelief. He couldn't help but feel insulted. "What is that supposed to mean?"

(Y/n) almost joined in on the laughter. Almost. The air grew stale as she sipped her miso soup, brows raised in question as Harumi continued talking.

"I was told you and Morro have a special connection," she said. "And that he is with us now. I find it almost endearing how the two of you were never separated, even after death."

(Y/n) almost choked on her soup. Sure, the makeshift bed was sort of a dead giveaway, but she never spoke to Harumi about any of the whole ghost-companion-situation. (Y/n) cautiously set the bowl down, "Who told you that?"

The smile on Harumi's lips didn't fade. She looked almost satisfied with the surprise leaking onto (Y/n)'s face. "Lloyd, your cousin. We've been getting to know each other recently. He talks about you every so often, I can see why. You truly are an incredible ninja, regardless of your faults." 

Harumi returned to the pictures and (Y/n)'s gaze narrowed on her back. Regardless of her faults? Wow. What an insult. Clearly, Harumi was too smart to go around saying things insensitively. She meant that.

Urgh.

What was wrong with this girl? She was sappy around Lloyd despite barely even knowing him, was curious about the strangest of things, and backhanded with her nice words.

Not to mention, too happy. The way Harumi smiled was no mask. It was genuine when it should have been fake considering her adoptive parents died yesterday. Did she feel nothing? No semblance of grief? No pain at the revelation that she was now alone?

"Oh, is this Lloyd?" Harumi said.

(Y/n) could already see the image of her stupid cousin's lovesick face. Her jaw twitched and it took every inch of willpower not to allow a scowl on her face. She studied Harumi's eyes as she stared at the photo of Lloyd. There was no warmth, no interest as her lip curled ever so slightly.

Ever so hatefully.

Something clicked in the back of (Y/n)'s mind. Her eyes widened. "You don't like Lloyd." The words left her lips before she could stop them. "You're just messing with him. Whether it's intentional or not."

The way Lloyd's eyes melted whenever he looked at the princess, the way he'd trip over his feet. Harumi never seemed to returned it with the same intensity. All she had were pretty smiles and beautiful words. Words that were probably empty, fleeting.

Harumi blinked, an awkward laugh escaping her lips. "I...have no idea what you're talking about. Lloyd and I are just friends."

"Is what you want to believe." (Y/n)'s gaze narrowed and her purple eyes were sharp, piercing. They seemed to glow ominously. "If you don't like Lloyd, stay away."

Harumi's brows knit and she frowned, looking rather offended. "And how would you know whom I like and whom I don't?"

(Y/n) set her bowl down, felt the loose threads on the ends of her sleeves. Morro's face flashed in her mind and she pressed her lips into a thin line. She saw the calm of his obsidian eyes, felt the gentleness of his cool hand in hers. Morro would wrap his secure arms around (Y/n) and pull her close, away from the evils of this world.

And like some stupid hero, came in to save the day. All for (Y/n). Only (Y/n). She heard his sultry voice grainy like gravel, smoother than silk. Her heart dared skip a beat and her hand curled into a fist.

"I just know." (Y/n) spoke as if it were simple as that. "If you play with Lloyd's heart, I'm going to make sure you pay with your own. The others are nice to offer mercy and hear you out, but me? I won't hesitate to put you in your place, Princess."

The dead look in (Y/n)'s eyes was dark as the night, purple as the sky at dusk. It made Harumi feel insignificant. As if she were nothing more than a bug beneath someone's shoe.

Harumi kept that smile on her ruby red lips. "I am sure you will have nothing to worry about, (Y/n). And please, call me Harumi." She laughed lightly and placed a hand to her cheek. The princess was standing her ground, playing along in this little game. "I wish I had paid more attention. Maybe then, I would have realized Lloyd's affection for me." Harumi frowned and her expression fell. She closed her eyes, as if pained by the very image of them. "I just...with my parents gone, I-I feel so lost."

(Y/n)'s confidence wavered. She felt the world slow and the pain in her shoulder intensify, as if she would burn from the inside out.

The burned face of the emperor flashed in (Y/n)'s mind. She felt his bloody hand as he pressed the jade ring into her palm. It now hung on a silver chain around her neck, weighing like a stack of bricks. A wave of nausea filled (Y/n)'s gut and bile threatened to rise from her throat. She took a sip of tea, hoping it would help her stomach the guilt crushing her heart to pieces.

"Is something wrong, (Y/n)?"

She stared at her fingers digging into the cup's sides. She feared it would break. "I..."

"Destiny has foretold this day for generations. You are meant to be here."

(Y/n) felt insignificant and small. Hopelessly guilty with what all the what if's filling her head. "I was there when the Emperor took his last breath," she slowly said. "I'm sorry. I couldn't save your parents, they died together in the fires."

Harumi's eyes widened. She pressed her lips into a thin line, eyes downcast. It was strange how quickly her mood had shifted, how that happiness washed off her face. "Were there any last words...?"

(Y/n) bit the inside of her cheek. She was confused. She didn't understand why Harumi couldn't seem to make up her mind on how she wanted to speak, how she wanted to act. Was this all in (Y/n)'s head? Was she overthinking because of the guilt that made her limbs heavy and her heart beat unsteadily?

"Your father had asked about you," (Y/n) quietly said. "Because you were safe, I think it was a reason that helped him pass on peacefully. Your parents must have cared for you very much, blood related or not."

There was an odd look in Harumi's eyes. A mixture between disgust and bitterness. Her hand curled at her side and she stared at the wall, teeth clenching. Then she paused, as if realizing what she were doing.

No, no. This was not in (Y/n)'s head, this was real, not some figment of her own imagination. Harumi was a faker. A liar and she--

"I-I'm sorry, this is just a lot to take in." Harumi's voice smoothed out and she looked apologetic. "Thank you for being there in their final moments. You must feel horrible after all that."

Whether that comment was supposed to be patronizing or not, (Y/n) wasn't sure. She felt as if one of her weapons were missing and she couldn't figure out which one. "I only wish I could have done more." Her voice was thin, hard. "I'm sorry."

Harumi's eyes were distant as she hummed. "Were you close with your parents? Every picture here is either with the ninja, Morro, or Sensei Wu."

(Y/n) picked up her spoon again. She swallowed the nausea, the bile rising in her gut, and forced herself to eat. To be normal. "You're forgetting my other uncle, Garmadon." She pointed to a picture in the corner of the board.

Harumi's gaze flickered over to it and she raised a brow incredulously. "Was Lord Garmadon not the one who killed your father?"

"That never happened." (Y/n) felt the air grow damp, heavy. She ignored the concerned look Morro sent her. "My father's death was complicated. Whatever you were told was either rumour, or a straight-up lies."

Harumi's brows rose high enough to fly away. "What do you mean?"

"My father wasn't killed by Lord Garmadon." (Y/n) could already see the lightning striking the sky, the heavy winds whipping through her hair. "It was him who killed himself."

---

It was stormy tonight. 

With Lord Garmadon as a guest on the Bounty, tensions were high. Every corner (Y/n) turned she thought she'd jump out of her skin. Her heart burned with anger, where the thirst for revenge filled her veins. Behind that wall of wrath were the clutches of fear. She sensed Kai's growing resentment. He had yet to reach his True Potential, the same as her. 

And behind Kai's eyes was a growing darkness. An obsessive greed (Y/n) had seen once before. That, more than the presence of Lord Garmadon, bothered her the most. She feared what Kai would do, and who he would become.

(Y/n) stood on the deck. Rain pelted against the sails, splashing water across her face as she distantly stared on ahead. No one had bothered to come look for (Y/n). She had a feeling it was because they had bigger things to worry about. Like Pythor, and saving Lloyd. She felt guilty for not being of any help to save him.

A pair of footsteps sounded through the pelting rain. "Why do you stand out here? You'll catch a cold."

(Y/n) clenched a fist at her side. The last person she wanted to see was the dark lord himself when all she wanted was to be alone. "Why are you here?"

Garmadon's crimson eyes flickered to the side uncertainly. He didn't seem to understand why he'd come here either. The rain soaked his inky black hair and it stuck to his cheeks. He blinked away a shower of rain, "I wanted to thank you for looking after Lloyd when I haven't been able to be here to do so. I can tell how much he looks up to you, you're the elder sister he never quite had."

(Y/n) slid down against the wall. She plopped down in a cold puddle and the rain seeped into her bones. She tried not to shiver from the cold. "Did Uncle Wu tell you something? Ever since you got here, you hadn't talked to me once."

"I haven't asked." Garmadon stared into the stormy skies above. There was a strike of lightning and it cast his willowy shadow against the wooden planks. "I thought it best to talk to you directly."

Directly? Who did Lord Garmadon think he was? Just because he was some evil warlord didn't give him the grace of being so casual with (Y/n). She sucked her teeth, wiped some rain from her eyes. "You killed my father. Why would I want anything to do with you?" Thunder boomed overhead, filling the raging skies with a sound that reverberated in (Y/n)'s chest. "You took him away from me. Because of you, I have to be the Keeper, and I don't have anyone here to tell me how to do it besides a bunch of stupid scrolls not even Aunt Misako can understand. Why would I want to be near you? What made you think I'd even want to talk to you?"

There was a flash of regret in Garmadon's crimson eyes. He looked sad as he distantly gazed off into the far horizon. "It pains me to see you so full of hate." 

(Y/n)'s insides burned. She stared at her hands, wrinkled from all the water. "Not like it maters. You just want the Golden Weapons. It's all anyone seems to care about--that and being the Green Ninja." She shook her head, throat dry. "You wouldn't understand how it is to not hate everyone in the world. You don't get it because you're evil and can't feel anything besides your own want to destroy."

A beat of silence passed where only the rain and the wind cut through the air. (Y/n)'s body had grown numb with cold. Rain pelted against her head like ice.

"We should head inside." Garmadon softly said over the rain. He made a move for the door but (Y/n) remained still. She hugged herself and shivered with a stubborn shake of her head. "Leave me alone."

Garmadon sighed. He looked to be in thought before turning his gaze up to the stormy skies. Rain hit his face, cutting into his skin. "Lance, do you see what you've done? Do you understand now what I had been trying to tell you?" He brushed his dark hair out of his eyes, shook a fist to the heavens as if it would speak back. "You were always so apathetic, so cold, and hard! Why? Do you not see how your own daughter is hurting?"

(Y/n) was confused. She stared in utter bewilderment, lip curled in distaste. What got Mr. Evil so twisted? It was hard to believe this same man was the one that killed her father when he looked pathetic screaming at the sky like a madman. Maybe he was just losing his marbles like any other old man.

There was a strike of lightning that cast a blinding white light across the dark clouds. Thunder boomed afterward, shaking the ship angrily. Garmadon huffed, as if that were enough of an answer. "Yes, yes. Try and strike me down for all I care! Not like you ever listen to me anyway." 

(Y/n) was about to roll her eyes. Then lightning flashed across the horizons and struck Garmadon in a bright light.

"First Spinjitzu Master." (Y/n) remained still in her spot, eyes wide as Garmadon let out a pained cry. He collapsed on his knees, heaving painfully. Rain pelted against his head, dripping water down his inky black hair. "Lance was never very forgiving," Garmadon weakly remarked. "And to tell you the truth, I could care less. His brain couldn't comprehend the simplest of things. He was a goldfish, at best."

(Y/n) wasn't sure whether to be offended or not. She hugged her knees to her chest, disdain still clear on her face. "You were almost zapped out of the sky. How are you still alive?"

Garmadon hauled himself off his knees. He stood, stretching out his sore limbs as if he hadn't just been electrocuted by three million volts. His crimson eyes, so red like blood (the blood staining (Y/n)'s hands that scorching hot day), swirled with uncertainty. Garmadon placed a hand to the wall, leaning against it with a solemn frown. "Your father made me promise not to tell you, but after seeing you like this, I can't stand for this any longer."

Oh, and was her uncle going to tell her some crazy unheard of information (Y/n) had yet to be told? She rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Uncle Wu only talks in fortune cookies. I highly doubt anything you say will be interesting." 

Garmadon didn't take well to the joke. He shut his eyes as if to relive the memories in his head. "The day Lance and I fought, we laid down our weapons long before our battle could escalate. As much as destruction coursed through my veins, I knew I could not win against him. I played my cards right, and in exchange, was forced to make a promise." 

It was hard to believe the dark lord had laid down his weapons just because of father. (Y/n) huffed to herself, wiping rain from her face. "Right, and let me guess, it's some life-altering thing that could change the course of history forever?" 

"Or rather, history itself. What if I told you the promise was to not tell you how your father died? That it was so painful Lance couldn't bare to let you know?" There was a haunted look in Garmadon's eyes as he heaved in a heavy breath. "Your father killed himself, (Y/n). It was not by my hand, I only made it appear as that."

(Y/n)'s eyes widened. She didn't understand. The memory of her father's last moments replayed in her mind. She felt the sticky, warm blood beneath her fingertips, heard her own pained cries as she tried and tried to stop the bleeding. "You're lying."

"This is the one thing I would never lie about." Garmadon's eyes were glossy with pain, but it could have been the rain. "He told me that you didn't need to know how pathetic he was. It was a coward's death, he had said."

(Y/n)'s heart hammered in her chest. She clenched her fists, chewing her lip. Father had always been a proud man. He never showed the conflict in his heart, or the pain he felt when mother died. "Father wasn't a coward."

Garmadon hummed to himself in thought. "Perhaps not, but my brother allowed his fears to control him. As the Keeper of the Void, it was his job to watch over the past, present, and future. I can only imagine what doing so for eons had done to his mind." Garmadon shut his eyes. "Your mother's death haunted him. He grew distant and out of touch with the world. If not for you, I fear he would have taken his life much earlier. He believed whole heartedly that there was no other option."

There was a cold feeling in (Y/n)'s stomach she knew wasn't from the rain. Her gaze didn't leave her wrinkled hands as she mulled over those words. "And how did my mother die?" 

Garmadon pressed his lips into a thin line. "She was sick. Simple as that." He opened the hallway door. "It's best we head inside now. The storm is worsening." 

——

(Y/n)'s skin felt prickly, as if needles were being stabbed into her flesh. She wouldn't let anyone taint the memories she had with Uncel Garmadon, the good times they had shared when he was still around. "My uncle loved us." (Y/n)'s jaw twitched tensely. "There was nothing in the world he wouldn't do for either of us. He never laid a hand to me or anyone in our family."

Harumi stared at the pictures thoughtfully. There was a sadness in her eyes, a pain she hid behind her hair and a well-trained smile. "He must have seen you as his daughter."

"Much like how the royal family did for you." (Y/n) noted distantly. She finished the last of her soup, hoping it would calm her nerves. "I don't know what your relationship with them was, but I know they cared for you."

Harumi said nothing for a long while. She stood still, tracing shapes and lines on the wall. It was unnerving watching her stare into nothing, as if possessed by the ghosts of her past.

"You remind me of myself," Harumu suddenly made her way towards the door, "or rather, what I could have been. Enjoy your meal, I'll tell Zane you liked it." She exited without glancing back, the door creaking shut behind.

A long, long exhale left (Y/n)'s lips. Her shoulders slumped and she set her empty bowl down tersely. Morro shifted uncomfortably from his place on (Y/n)'s bed. The unnerved look on her face made him want to squirm from his place snuggled in her blankets. He lay hidden behind a pile of stuffed animals and pillows, comfy yet uncomfy all the same. "That was awkward."

(Y/n) sent him a glare. She ripped off her covers and dug him out of the little home he had made. "What are you doing? This is my stuff. Who said you could sit here?"

Morro rolled onto his feet with a frown. "You really expect me to lay on the floor all day?"

(Y/n) smacked Morro in the face with a pillow. Her hands trembled around the fabric, cold and sweaty. "You stupid ghost! Yeah, how do you like that, huh?" She smacked him again and he didn't even try to dodge, much less let the pillow go through him. "That's for being annoying!"

Morro caught the pillow, brow raised as if to say, really?. He tossed it on the bed, watching the way (Y/n) wiped her sweaty hands on her pant legs. She looked shaken. "Why was Harumi asking all those personal questions?" 

(Y/n) shook her head, took a sip of tea. Adrenaline still pumped through her veins, she felt as if she had been fighting a mighty beast. "How would I know? She's nosy and that's enough reason to not like her. That and playing with Lloyd's feelings when she doesn't seem to know what she wants."

A loud sigh escaped (Y/n)'s lips. She met Morro's gaze and he looked to be thinking deeply. "What?"

Morro stared at a picture on the cork board, eyes softening. (Y/n) followed his gaze to a picture of the two of them in a river. They held a fish side-by-side, sopping wet as they smiled at the camera.

(Y/n)'s heart felt strange in her chest, as if a hole had been carved out of it. She studied the side of Morro's face. From the curve of his lips to the warmth in his obsidian eyes. "Get that stupid look off your face. This is serious." 

Morro didn't tear his eyes from the picture. "Do you ever stop talking? Let me think." There wasn't a thought behind those obsidian eyes so soft and nostalgic. It was disgusting to look at, but the very reason why (Y/n) knew Harumi wasn't interested in Lloyd.

And even with the tension in (Y/n)'s shoulders and the tightness of her jaw from that odd encounter, she had half the mind to wonder how Morro could look at her like that.

Like he loved her.

---

The bridge was busy. Nya typed away on the controls in search of the next masks. There was nothing and she let out a sigh. The others gathered around the current mask in their possession, an ugly, gruesome looking thing with crimson paint. 

The Bounty rocked gently in the ocean waves as they talked. Seagulls squawked above and Jay watched them pass by. He copied them and made a silly noise before writing something down for Nya to type in. What a weirdo.

A hand planted itself to (Y/n)'s good shoulder. "Look who decided to wake up."

(Y/n) didn't need to look over to know it was Kai. "I was eating lunch, thank you very much. Zane, as usual, is the only one here who knows how to cook a decent meal." Cole let out a baffled shout. "Hey, I can cook! My specialty is soup and you know it's--"

"The worst thing anyone could ever put in their mouths?" offered Jay with a disgusted gag. "The last time I ate it was years ago, and let me tell you the only reason why I couldn't talk for the whole dinner was because it glued my mouth shut! Who puts that much flour in stew? Who even looks at it and says, oh yes, this passes food safety?"

"To be fair," Zane chipped in, "Cole has become increasingly good at making ramen."

A round of laughs made the air grow lighter. (Y/n) joined in, cheeks hurting from moving her battered face. She rubbed at the bandages with a frown. "Did you guys find anything new?" Lloyd began to say no, but the world began to slow. It was as if (Y/n) had been thrust underwater. The air grew cold and a dark presence called out to her.

The oni mask stared at (Y/n) from the center of the room. A voice filled her head, dark and deep. You, the child of darkness. Approach.

(Y/n) untangled herself from Kai's arm. She made her way towards the mask, reaching out a hand. Morro caught her wrist in a firm grasp. "(Y/n)." He carefully searched her purple eyes, brows furrowed. "Whatever you hear, don't listen."

The voice faded and the world came back into focus. (Y/n) placed a hand to her head. Everyone had stopped talking to look at her. "Sorry," she muttered, twisting out of Morro's grip. "What were you saying Lloyd?" 

"It's not important," Lloyd said. His green eyes were clouded with concern. "Are you okay?" (Y/n) watched Cole move the mask to a far corner of the room. He stuffed it in a cabinet. "I'm fine." 

No one looked convinced. Cole placed his hands to his hips, frowning. "Yeah, and I can suddenly sing and dance," he said. "We were talking about a guy down in central. Pixal has his location now and said he's gonna be released tomorrow. We're gonna talk to him, and you're gonna stay here." 

(Y/n)'s eyes widened. "Wait, what?" Oh, she missed a lot. Definitely all the important things. "I'm not staying on the ship." 

Lloyd nodded in agreement. "And you won't. That is, if you agree not to follow us to the police station. We'll be stopping by Mystake's tea shop first." (Y/n) blinked. "We're gonna see granny? Why?" 

A smile rose to Lloyd's lips. His green eyes twinkled and for a moment, (Y/n) saw that little prankster. "You'll see when we get there. She's got anything anyone could ever need, especially for interrogation."

---

The fragrant smell of tea filled (Y/n)'s nose. She stepped into the shop and a bell rang above the door. The tea house was stacked to the brim with canisters and jars of tea, all in different colours and names. The group settled by the counter and Lloyd peered around the shelves. A woman with a straw hat shuffled through a box, muttering to herself.

"Hello?" Lloyd said. "We're looking for Mystake."

The woman stood, cracking her back dramatically as if to say she were a regular-degular old lady. "Never heard of her!"

(Y/n) raised a brow in slight amusement. Ah, this seemed kinda familiar. "Granny, I know it's you. You always say that and it never works." 

Mystake whipped around and nearly slammed her head into a ladder. She was nimble and manuevered around it before it could roll on its wheels to the wall. "Oh, apologies! If it isn't young Lloyd Garmadon and my dear (Y/n) Lance." She turned to Lloyd with an apologetic smile. "I didn't recognize your voice! Oh, it's so good to see you both, it's been years. I'm sorry to hear about Sensei Wu. He was a dear friend."

There was a pang in (Y/n)'s heart. Cole placed a hand to her good shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze. "Was?" he said. "We haven't given up on him. We just have...other things to do at the moment." 

Mystake hummed to herself from under the brim of her straw hat. Her gaze landed on Morro and (Y/n) exchanged a glance with him. He frowned uncertainly, "She's not looking at me, right?"

"Oh, I'm looking at you alright." Mystake said with a click of her tongue. She turned to (Y/n) and eyed all the bandages around her face, head, and shoulder. "It looks like you bit off more than you can chew. Let me guess, stitches?"

There was a dull throb from (Y/n)'s shoulder. The pain killers must have been wearing off. "Like you'd never believe. I was mauled by one of the Sons of Garmadon." Mystake shook her head and rested her hands on the countertop. "Oh, dear. You're about to have a buffet you can't finish."

"If I survive, that is." (Y/n) muttered with a huff. Mystake frowned. She looked troubled. "Rely on your friends. You have Morro, even if it is more or less unwelcome." 

A huff escaped Morro's lips and (Y/n) let out a snort. "Besides that, we need--"

"The Tea of Truth!" 

Zane blinked, eyes wide. "Wow. She's good." There was a glint in Mystake's. A mischievousness that cast a darkness over her face. "But be forewarned, the truth can be dangerous." 

Jay latched onto Cole's arm. He shook in his shoes, teeth grit. "She's also creepy!" he whispered. Cole leaned over to whisper back, "Par for the course in a mystical tea shop, Jay."

Granny pushed a bead curtain to the side. She smiled innocently, teeth shining. "I'll have a look out back to see if I have anything." The smile melted off her lips. "But don't--touch--anything!"

She smiled again and disappeared. Jay huddled closer to the group, wedging himself to Cole's side. "Like I said, cree-pyyy." 

(Y/n) distantly watched the beads sway. From behind the curtain, a painting with a beast and a dragon sat on the wall. She tilted her head. "I've seen that before. In my old house." Morro followed her gaze. "What is it?"

Mystake reappeared with a bag stamped with her shop's logo. Her wide-brimmed hat blocked the painting and (Y/n) frowned. "Granny, what is the painting behind you?" 

Mystake handed the bag to Lloyd and turned. She stared at the graceful paint strokes, the darkened colours around the figures. "You are not ready for that tale."

The scent of wood, the small particles of dust floating in the early morning sun. (Y/n) used to sit in the hallway of her old home, listening to the calm pattering of her father's feet as he came to get her for breakfast. He would scoop (Y/n) into his arms and point to the painting. "The tales I tell," he had said. "Will you remember them for me? They were always your mother's favourite." 

"The oni and the dragon." (Y/n) realized. "Granny, do you know about them?"

Something between a huff and a grunt escaped Mystake's lips. "Like I said, you are not ready for that tale."

(Y/n) frowned. She opened her mouth to retort, but Lloyd joined her side by the counter and stepped on her foot. "Ow!" Morro laughed behind a hand and (Y/n) shot him a glare.

Lloyd ignored (Y/n)'s cry and pressed his hands together. His big, green eyes filled with pleading. "Please. We need to know." With those puppy dog eyes, anything was possible. (Y/n) totally wasn't speaking from experience from all the times he begged her to buy the latest issue of Starfarer at Doomsday comics, or a big bag of candy. It made (Y/n) want to forgive him for stepping on her foot. Almost.

Mystake let out a sigh and (Y/n) felt a glimmer of hope in her chest. "It is a long tale. Do you have the time?"

Yes! Yes they did!

Zane looked to be checking his internal clock. He shook his head, "We only had time for a quick stop." 

(Y/n) deflated and turned to Lloyd. He met her gaze with a nod and handed the bag to Zane. "Cole and Zane, go to the police with the Tea of Truth and find out who's giving orders. Jay, (Y/n), and I will stay to learn more."

There was a small glimmer of hope in (Y/n)'s chest, as well as a pain she couldn't quite place. Her mind wandered to the Emperor's face, the firmness of his hand, and the jade ring around her neck. It hit her collarbone as she followed the group out back. Weighed heavier than a boulder as she took a seat at the kotatsu table.

Morro settled by (Y/n)'s side. It was oddly comforting to have him so close. Oddly reassuring to know he were with her every step of the way. 

Mystake disappeared down the hall to brew some tea. She walked past a pile of crates sat stacked against shelves. There were labels in messy handwriting and tape, with all sorts of mystical teas at arm's reach. (Y/n) stared at the painting from across the table. It hung on the wall, regal and elegant in the dim light from above. The same as it had in (Y/n)'s house.

"Are you okay?"

(Y/n) tore her gaze from the painting and met Lloyd's concerned eyes. "What?" 

He frowned. "You look more nervous than Jay. You also seem to be...uh, angry? Mad?" 

Jay sat beside Lloyd, fidgeting with his hands. He squirmed in his seat and looked to be vibrating with how much he kept moving around. "Not just angry," he added.  "I think something's wrong. What happened? You're usually not this jumpy." 

(Y/n) pulled a small smile to her lips. She blocked out the dead, smoldering body of the emperor, the dark voices in her mind, and the sticky warmth of blood against her skin. "Yeah. I'm fine."

Lloyd, Jay, and Morro gave (Y/n) the same, doubtful look. It made her feel vulnerable and she didn't like that. She turned the other way, resting the only uninjured part of her face in a hand. Urgh, when they all looked at her like that, it was hard to lie to their faces. "You guys know I've known Mystake since I was a kid." 

Jay blinked. "I didn't." 

"Most of you." (Y/n) corrected. She thought of the roughness of her father's hands, the smell of his gi like spring. His long, brown hair glimmering in the sunshine like strands of pure silver. "We used to visit Mystake's tea shop when it was still in Jamanakai Village. My father always told me stories of how Mystake and my mother were the greatest of friends." 

(Y/n)'s voice grew soft-spoken, grainy like sand. "Sometimes when he talked about these things, there was this heart-broken look in his eyes. He said my mother was driven into madness before she died and..."

(Y/n) paused. She thought of the dreams where she fought her father in the training room. Recalled his smooth, firm voice that cut like a blade.

"The Void is a gateway to the past and present, as well the future. Do you recall the bedtime stories I once told?" Father leaned against the door frame, eyes softening with nostalgia. For a moment, he looked calm, at peace.

"Of course I do."

"Then you recall the origin of the oni and their world ruled by darkness. The First Realm, a place of nightmares."

"All legend has its truth," (Y/n) said. "That painting is a representation of the First Realm to ever be created."

Morro shifted in his spot, frowning. "And what about your elemental powers? You clearly have some connection to the oni."

Father's words came rang clear. "And what of the darkness that will consume you, and revert you into what our ancestors once were?" 

Mystake suddenly reappeared with a pot. She set four cups down and poured steaming, hot tea. (Y/n) thanked her and blew on the hot liquid. It smelled floral, fragrant. As she sipped, every ounce of doubt and worry in (Y/n)'s mind slowly faded. The stormy skies of her mind eased and the clouds parted to shine all the clearer. She felt at peace, serene.

Jay seemed to be still now, too. He let out a sigh and stopped squirming. "Thank you for the tea. It's really calming my nerves. I feel so..." Jay took another sip. "...warm and fuzzy."

Mystake took a seat with a nod. "Good, then the Tea of Enlightenment is working...to help you see the tale." She stood and popped up behind the group with a glint in her eyes. "The original tale, the tale of the Oni and the Dragon!"

Jay's jaw dropped. "You...lied? Why, Mystake? I thought we were friends?" (Y/n)'s brows knit and her gaze narrowed on the painting. "What are we going to see?"

Mystake opened the teapot and blew on the steam. "See...the tale...!" The steam rose into the air and created a foggy cloud that transformed the painting into a theatre of shadows. The figures vanished and the outline of a dragon swam across the paper. "Long before time had a name, there was the realm of the Oni and the Dragon."

"The First Realm." (Y/n) stated. "Before the Sixteen were created."

The painting morphed into a dark being and a dragon, each of which danced around each other. Mystake waved a hand towards the painting. "The dragon had the power to create. The oni had the power to destroy! Their war was never-ending before a child arrived! Born of both worlds."

A man appeared on the page and both shadows and light fluttered around him like water to form Yin and Yang.

"The child understood the power of both. Without one, you could not have the other. But when the oni and dragon fought about which side the child should choose, the child abandoned their world to start a new one called..."

Darkness flooded the painting and the man reappeared in light. The Four Golden Weapons of Spinjitzu glowed brightly and the island of Ninjago formed--the Yin and Yang. A balance between the darkness and the light.

"...Ninjago!"

Lloyd pointed to the painting with a knit of his brows. "Are you telling me the child born of both worlds was the First Spinjitzu Master?"

Jay nudged Lloyd in the side. "Hey, you both are related to him! Wait, that means you're both part oni and dragon, too!"

Mystake nodded. Her eyes were serious and filled with mystery. "Like I said, the truth can be dangerous."

(Y/n) could feel her face pale. She clutched at her pant leg with a swallow, eyes fixated on the painting. She could already see the face of an oni curling around her neck. Feel its claws digging into her skin. Was that what father meant? Reverting back into what her ancestors once were--the oni and the dragon?

The painting began moving again and (Y/n) gulped down the rest of her tea. Mystake refilled it and continued. "After the First Spinjitzu Master created Ninjago, he fathered three sons of his own. He thought he could escape the war, but he saw the evil of the oni waiting to be unleashed in one of his sons, Lord Garmadon!"

The painting formed a man covered in darkness. Beside him stood two boys, his brothers. They raised their weapons, clashing against each other.

"It was up to Sensei Wu and Lance to control their brother's undying thirst to destroy. Foolishly Lance sought out Lord Garmadon on his own, hoping to bring him back to the light! Only for his life to be taken in a grave battle."

A body lay in the sand, where a small girl sat on her knees. (Y/n). The image vanished and Uncle Wu appeared with a hand to her shoulder.

"And eventually Sensei Wu, with the help of some others--"

Six people appeared around Sensei Wu and Jay stood up in excitement with a laugh. "Hey! That's us!"

Mystake sent him a hard, less than amused look. (Y/n) and Lloyd exchanged awkward glances.  

"Have some more tea." Mystake stated, motioning to the teapot. "Lord Garmadon was destroyed by the most powerful force of all, the love of his own son. But in his absence, a void was created. And in that void, a new darkness has arisen...!"

(Y/n)'s throat began to tighten. The pain in her face seemed to grow stronger and she ground her teeth together. "The Sons of Garmadon."

"The three oni masks are relics from the First Realm, and they wield tremendous power." Mystake firmly stated. She waved an arm, throwing it out. "The power to deceive, the power of vengeance, the power to hate!"

(Y/n) could feel bile rising in her throat. Even with the Tea of Enlightenment, her nerves began to grow and her insides began to churn. "What happens when all three are united?"

Mystake shook her head frantically. "You cannot let that happen."

(Y/n) leaned forward in her seat. Adrenaline flushed into her veins and the image of Ninjago in darkness turned her blood to ice. "Tell me, what happens!"

Mystake bowed her head low. (Y/n) sensed Lloyd's own anxieties grow with her own. "Resurrection. They will have the power to bring back Lord Garmadon! But it won't be the man you recognize. There will be no light left in him! This power comes at a great cost."

Mystake's gaze locked on (Y/n)'s. "The cost of your own life." 

A heavy quiet settled over the room as Mystake poured some more tea. Morro frowned. "Is there nothing we can do if the masks are reunited?" 

Mystake nursed her cup of tea with a solemn shake of her head. "Once it comes to fruition, there is nothing left to reverse the damage. You and (Y/n) are bound by soul. Once cannot live without the other." 

(Y/n)'s eyes widened. "So we both die, together?"

Mystake said nothing. She took a sip of tea, mulling over her thoughts. "Your father foresaw this day since the moment you were born into this Realm. He did everything he could to protect you." 

Protect? (Y/n) scoffed. The effects of the tea were wearing off, leaving only a burning pain in her veins. Her frustration rose like a storm, raging, destroying. "Then why? Why didn't he tell me any of this? It could have been stopped if I knew ages ago!" (Y/n) felt herself slipping. Her mind became foggy, cloudy with the familiar feeling of anger. "They all could have done something! Yet they chose to wait. For what? Me to take their place so they could run away through death?"

Mystake shut her eyes and bowed her head low. There was a pain on her face as she recalled the memories of yesterday. "Your father did everything out of love for you." 

Blood roared in (Y/n)'s ears. She couldn't fathom anything being done for such a simple reason as that. "Then why did he kill himself? He should be the one here. Not me." 

Because passing on your responsibilities to a mere young adult was stupid. Dare (Y/n) say, an act of cowardice. She never thought her father a coward. He was always brave, steadfast. There was nothing in the world that shook him. Nothing that made him tremble in fear.

Yet looking death in the face changed (Y/n)'s memory of him, the way she remembered his life. She struggled, clawed her way out of the pits of darkness when it should have been him.

"I didn't ask for his power," (Y/n) stated. She pulled the ring out from beneath her shirt. It glimmered in the dim light, its jade surface glistening green. "I didn't ask to be some prophesied chosen one either like the Emperor told me. I wasn't meant to be here and none of this would have happened if my father were still alive! Can't you see? This is all a mistake."

Mystake searched (Y/n)'s purple eyes so filled with anguish. So clouded over with pain and hatred. Mystake placed a hand to (Y/n)'s battered cheeks, her bandaged forehead. "My dear, you are anything but a blemish in this imperfect world." Her voice was gentle, kind. "Everything your father did lead up to this moment. He knew he couldn't be the one to do it alone. That is why he chooses to guide you even through death. Lance was foolish. There were other ways to go about this, but we cannot change what has already been done." 

(Y/n) shut her eyes solemnly. The anger in her heart still burned but she didn't have the strength to wield it. Everything she had done in the past felt like a mistake. Not being there for Morro, not being able to protect Lloyd. She couldn't even find Wu after a whole year, much less save two people from the palace fires.

"What makes you think I can do any of this?" (Y/n) hated the way her voice broke, the way it wavered. "I can barely do anything right."

Mystake smiled and there were years and years of wisdom and regret in her eyes. "You sound like your mother. There was no light in her life until she met Lance, your father. Mistakes or not, once your mind is clear, you will find your truth. Whether that is in the light or dark, will be your choice to make."

(Y/n) pressed her lips into a thin line. Destiny wasn't so easily changed. If her fate was to end in darkness, there was nothing left to do. No matter how much she defied it, no matter how hard she fought.

There was no choice to make because the path had long been carved out before (Y/n). The path that was laid in destruction. Then (Y/n) turned and met the faces of her friends, her family. They stared at her with such hope, such belief that maybe, maybe things would be okay. Would it?

Then Morro's gaze met (Y/n)'s and she found the sea of calm in his obsidian eyes. They glistened softly in the dim light, warm and sweet. She recalled the fear in his eyes at the cliff's edge. Felt the firmness of his hands as he hauled her up with what little strength remained in his system. (Y/n) had been stubborn then. She didn't want to accept his help, didn't want to look him in the eyes even if it meant seeing the affection behind that mask of anger and frustration.

(Y/n) had taken Morro's hand in that tunnel, then in the palace fires. And now again as he looked at her so tenderly, so lovingly. She knew then that she had to believe. If not in herself, then the person that was not only her enemy, but her best friend. Her other half.

The person that was Morro.

Ninjago Secrets! 

-you LOVE your uncles to every realm and back
-if you grew up around them both, they would equally spoil you together
-Lance's specialty is any type of weapon. his favourite is the katana.
-your mother was known as the Demon of Light during the Serpentine Wars
-her nickname came from her attacks at the speed of light. your father had known her before the war, but laying eyes on her fighting made him think, yeah I want her.

Chapter Text

Even in a crowded room, it's easy to feel alone.

"I hate you."

Those were the first words that left (Y/n)'s lips the moment she opened her eyes. Granny's words about how father cared (when he really didn't) were just that--words. Empty air. How could she believe in such foolishness when this was the future that awaited her? 

Darkness surrounded Ninjago city, where rubble and stone covered the ground. Not a drop of sunlight broke through the miasma of death. Frozen statues were littered through the barren streets, faint dredges of life seeping through their pores. 

It was cold and damp. No life bloomed, not even the trees that limply stood in the dark. No breathing thing besides (Y/n) who stood in the centre of what could only be a mass grave. 

Father stood a couple paces away, his tattered dark purple poncho swaying. He looked up from under the brim of his straw hat. "The only one you should hate is your grandfather." His voice was smooth, yet cut the cool air like a blade. "He was the one who left this realm as is. Because of the loose ends he refused to tie, we are all that's left to burn them." 

That wasn't any sort of reassurance, much less comfort for the raging storms of (Y/n)'s heart. She sucked her teeth, clenched a fist. "Then what was the point in killing yourself?" (Y/n) felt herself becoming lost to the wind. Fading into its all consuming darkness. "Only to leave me with what you should have finished." 

Father's eyes were distant, hard as stone. "Grief does much to those who suffer from it. There is no cure, no medicine to fix it." 

"So you thought leaving me was better?!" (Y/n) marched past the statues. Every step, every breath in unison with the cold, cold wind. "If this is Ninjago's future, if this is what's destined to be, it's your fault. Not mine. You let this happen, you gave me this burden! So fix it. I don't care what the First Spinjitzu Master said or what happened for you to be like this. Ninja never quit, and that's exactly what you did. Quit." 

Father bowed his head low. He looked pathetic sinking to his knees in a pile of broken concrete. Silence befell him and (Y/n) turned on her heel. "Don't waste my time summoning me here. I've seen this in visions, I know what--"

Something moved in the dark. A mere blur that commanded the winds and the stormy skies as one. (Y/n) felt the hair on her arms stand on end. The statues remained still, the air cold and damp with every breeze. Then a pair of luminous, purple eyes pierced the miasma of smoke and launched itself forward. 

(Y/n) let out a cry as the dark creature seized her by the neck. She crashed into the ground, kicking up dust and dirt and rubble. The thing fought against her fists, clawing into her skin and tearing through her gi. (Y/n) knew this presence that made her insides twist, her stomach churn. 

Fangs protruded from the creature's blackened lips, pearly white and shiny. Its horns were twisted like contorted branches, wrapped in tattered purple fabric. (Y/n) struggled against its incredible strength, wrestling it with little grace as it launched a series of kicks and punches. 

Father watched with bated breath on the sidelines. "(Y/n)--"

"Shut up and help me!" She kicked the thing off with a strangled breath, rubbing at her neck as she hauled herself to her feet. The oni leapt back, only to charge forward. It lifted its hands, purple mist rising and forming a gleaming katana black as night. 

"(Y/n)!" came Father's voice. "Wait!"

She disregarded his calls, dodging and sliding out of the way of the oni's deadly blade. Every motion, every breath synced with this creature as if to mirror her. The same as a shadow. 

A misty ball of purple light flashed from the oni's hands and (Y/n) rolled to the side. It exploded in sparks, a flurry of light in the dark. (Y/n) focused on the raging wind around her, the dead leaves flitting past her exposed skin. She took a firm stance. Purple light appeared from her own fists and she fired it, leaping into the air above the oni. It raised it arms to block, flipping out of the way as (Y/n) landed behind it. She raised a fist to strike. 

A hand suddenly took hold of (Y/n)'s shoulder and yanked her into the cloudy mists. She looked up to see the back of her father's straw hat. 

"You cannot fight the oni." Father's grasp was tight and firm, as if he were afraid to lose her. "We must leave." 

"Let me go! Dad, wait!" (Y/n) wrestled against his grip but he refused to ease. She spared a glance behind her into the thick mist like milk. It was hard to make out her own hand, much less the path before her. All she felt were the crumbling ground beneath her sturdy shoes and the cool winds against her warm cheeks. It seemed to guide father and her through the dark, through this maze of chaos and destruction.

The two emerged into the Sea of Sand. In this endless desert, all that remained were grey skies and darkened clouds. Whatever sun peeked through formed a pathway through the high dunes cold and empty with bones.

(Y/n) spared a dry skeleton a weary glance. She didn't understand what was going on. "I could have taken on that oni, whether you wanted to help me or not, father." 

"No, you would have lost." Father had yet to look (Y/n) in the eye as he let go of her rough hand. His long, silvery brown hair flowed in the breeze as he trudged forward through the sand. It pooled around his shoes, drifted in the wind. "That was no regular oni. I'm afraid even together we would have lost." 

Lost? The thought seemed ludicrous. "You were the first Master of Aether!" (Y/n) said, laughing incredulously. "What do you mean you would've lost?"

Father could only shake his head. He adjusted his tattered poncho, checked the single short blade at his side. "I mean exactly what I said, (Y/n)." He placed a hand to his hat and looked up to the grey skies. "Father, why have you brought us here?" 

The wind only howled in response, a familiar rise and fall like the oceans. The First Spinjitzu Master wasn't going to answer, that much (Y/n) could feel in her bones. She frowned, "What, don't tell me you have no idea what's going on."

Father exhaled, huffing irritability. He looked like he was getting fed up with either these wastelands or (Y/n) herself. "I have a foggy idea, but not a clear picture."

Great. So not only did father kill himself all those years ago, but had been giving (Y/n) random demands he didn't even know had anything to do with this whole thing in the first place? Right, because why was anyone in this family straightforward or clear with--

The wind picked up in warning. (Y/n) turned, squinting through the sand filtering into the grainy air. A large beast rose from the dunes, baring its sharp teeth. "Amazing, wonderful, stupendous. I don't suppose you have a larger blade than whatever that is you have, dad." 

Father didn't look so amused. He sent (Y/n) a wry side-eye and unsheathed his short blade. "If only your skills were as sharp as your tongue, you would've been a much better ninja than me." In a single fell swoop, he leap off the ground and raised his blade. The monster reared its head back, only for its eyes to widen as he slashed at each of them in a single motion. 

Father landed and sheathed his blade. The monster collapsed in a heap, shaking the ground like an earthquake. It dug into the pale dunes, worming a hole and scurrying underground in fear.

(Y/n)'s heart hammered against her chest. She thought of the cool blade of that masked man cutting into her skin, the pain as blood blossomed from her shoulder. She couldn't help but admire father's swordsmanship compared to her own. That was, until she realized he had called her a sub-par ninja. 

A scowl fell upon her face and she rolled her eyes. "And you killed yourself because of what now?" Her tone was clipped and snarky. "If anyone's a waste of a ninja, it's you." 

For a moment, father looked stunned. His poncho bellowed in the wind and he blinked. Then a quiet chuckle escaped his lips and a spark filled his eyes purple as dusk for a single moment. A split second. He almost looked happy, like a ray of light in this bleak dream world. 

"You'd be surprised what your old man is capable of." Father adjusted his hat, continuing onward. "Come now, there's something I must show you before you awake." 

The trek seemed endless. (Y/n) lagged behind father, steps shadowing his own as she cast weary glances behind her shoulder. It always felt strange being away from Morro, even if only in her dreams. He was her other half (against her will), her partner in crime (whom she hated). 

(Y/n) stared at space at her side longingly, imagining Morro's stupidly perfect jawline. The tenderness of his eyes as their gazes locked. The smugness of his suave smirks. 

"You will see him soon," father reassured. Gee, was he reading her mind? "And hopefully, not in death. Your mother and I were similar in that sense. We couldn't be apart." Sorrow fell over father's eyes and it reminded (Y/n) of her own reflection in the mirror. "Oni are known as creatures of destruction and evil, which is true. But what I haven't told you yet was the power of their passion, and inevitably, their love." 

The darkness began to part and a gentle light flooded the lands. An open field came into view where flowers danced and trees grew for miles and miles upon the rolling hills. (Y/n) knew this place blooming with life where the air was clean and crisp. "This is he place I always see grandfather in. How did we get here?"

Father didn't answer. He made his way through the swaying grass and down the rolling his. At the foot of a lone peach tree stood a gravestone. The growing fruit smelled fragrant and sweet, where pink petals drifted peacefully in the wind. Carved upon its sleek surface was the name, Raya. 

Father took a knee, running his fingers along the grave's weathered edge. "When your mother died, I lost my way. I made mistake after mistake and believed atoning for it all would right my wrongs. It didn't, and for that, I regret much." He raised his head and his gaze met (Y/n)'s. Their eyes were the same purple, the same dusk filled with stardust. "The only regret I don't have is you." 

Blood roared in (Y/n)'s ears. She didn't understand. "Why are you telling me all this?" Her only choice was to be angry because it was familiar and comforting as a raging storm and the wind upon her skin. "I hate you. I hate you for leaving me and I hate you giving me all these things I can't handle! Now you tell me this at mom's grave and expect me to...forgive you...?"

Father didn't bow his head this time. His gaze remained still, unwavering. "No," he simply said. "I don't. I want you to see what I've done and know the mistakes I've made, the things I've regretted." He remained glued to the gravestone, eyes distant, faraway. "Tell me, (Y/n). What are you so afraid of?" 

Afraid? (Y/n) felt her breath catching in her throat. "I don't fear anything besides what's to come." 

All father did was laugh, as if that were the most ridiculous thing he heard. "Lies." 

(Y/n) stilled. Was she lying? No, of course not. The only thing she feared here and now was that darkness upon Ninjago, the rubble and the destruction she had no idea how to stop if she failed.

"Lies again." Father limply stood, rising as if from the dead. The light drained from his eyes, leaving only empty, black holes. They swirled with stars, glimmering ominously as the sun faded until the sky was blacker than night. "You are a child of the prophecy." Father's voice fell two octaves deeper, distorted and grainy as sand. "What makes you think yourself unworthy?"

(Y/n) took a step back, heart hammering against her chest. She already knew she was unworthy and incompetent. What was the point of asking her like this?

"It's pitiful, really." The skin on father's face melted to reveal black, leathery flesh. "To think you are who Ninjago must rely on for its salvation." His body shook violently, hunching over as horns burst from his skull like thorny branches. The thing continued to morph and twist gruesomely until it was not father at all, but a demented oni.

The same from earlier in the city. 

"Weak." it said, black spit spilling from the crevices of its maw. "That is what you are! Your past haunts you, it was something you could never let go of." The oni raised its ugly face, those voids for eyes still glimmering, shimmering with stardust. "Luckily for me, that makes my job easier." It grinned and a cloud of smoke carried it away from sight.

(Y/n) couldn't hear her thoughts over the blood roaring in her ears. She took a stance, but it was as if she had been thrust into a deadly storm. Wind whipped at her exposed skin, tossing her hair violently in the wilting petals of the peach tree. Its fragrance faded, the fresh fruit falling to the ground in rotten heaps of mold. The sun vanished and the grass turned to nothing but blackened ash, where a hurricane swirled and whirled with (Y/n) in its center.

"Show yourself!" (Y/n) couldn't see past her own hands through the thick smoke, the wind, the objects flying towards her face. The air escaped her lungs as she stumbled, blindly fighting shadows and blurs of purple light. "Only a coward hides!"

There was a hauntingly familiar laugh from somewhere to (Y/n)'s left. "A coward?" echoed the oni. "My, my, aren't we hypocritical."

(Y/n) whipped around, only to be greeted with grey smoke. Her heart pounded, hands shaking in tight fists. She wasn't a coward. Never was. The oni was spewing lies and just trying to--

"Mess with your head?"

Another laugh sounded and a willowy hand connected with (Y/n)'s shoulder. She stiffened. The oni's warm breath made the hair on her neck stand on end. 

"I know your desires, your fears, and your weaknesses."

It sank its strong claws into (Y/n)'s skin, tearing the flesh from her bones. A pained cry escaped her lips and she stumbled to her knees. It was as if she were blind, unable to sense nor see where this predator was. All she felt in the wind and the air was her own energy. Her own life force.

The oni reappeared and (Y/n) fired misty balls of light. It skillfully dodged, blocking a combo of swift punches and kicks. (Y/n) stood her ground, biting back the pain, the crawling fear etching itself into her veins. Another kick, a dash to the side. 

"Your daddy can't save you now." The oni grinned its razor sharp teeth. It dodged a flying kick to the face, a barrage of purple energy, and caught (Y/n)'s hand. Its grip was like iron, unforgiving and fueled by nothing but hatred. "You know what I am."

No. What foolishness was this thing, this creature talking about? (Y/n) had no knowledge of it, only that it was evil and wanted to kill her. Even her father seemed weary of its presence. Why, what, or how was beyond her.

"OR SO YOU BELIEVE!" The oni released its grip and took a couple paces back. The winds grew stronger and as that thing (that creature) lifted its claws, (Y/n) realized that it was the storm. "YOU CANNOT HIDE FROM ME. I SEE EVERYTHING, (Y/N) LANCE. EVERYTHING!"

---

(Y/n) awoke with a shout. She fell out of bed and landed right on top of Morro, who (surprise, surprise) also began to shout. It was probably from getting his ribs crushed, but that didn't matter when (Y/n)'s shoulder screamed out in protest. She groaned, wincing painfully.

"(Y/n), what the hell?" 

She squeezed her eyes shut trying, trying and failing, to get rid of the sound of that evil, evil voice. "S-sorry..." Her voice was meek, small, and she hated how it grated her ears. "Just...give me a minute...."

There was the sound of shifting as Morro inched closer on his forearms. "What's wrong?" 

(Y/n)'s insides felt as if they would burst into flames. It reminded her of the palace, the dead body in her arms, the fires singeing her skin. Sweat gathered on her brows and her trembling hands became warm with nerves. "N-nothing." Her hands needed to stop shaking. She wasn't afraid. She wasn't. "I'm fine."

"You're clearly not," said Morro with a raise of his brow. "There's no point hiding it when you're so badly shaken."

(Y/n) squeezed her eyes shut. She focused on her breaths, the cool presence of Morro beside her. He was familiar and she liked to know what was happening and how to react because it was predictable.

"Lay down, (Y/n)."

She shook her head, hiding behind her disheveled hair. "I'm fine." There was a beat of thoughtful silence before Morro slowly placed a hand to her shoulder and eased her body down.

(Y/n) slowly opened her eyes and hesitantly looked at his face.

Morro's brows were knit together as they always were. He seemed to have the same expression of mild disinterest and wry irritation. But now, as he pulled the blankets over (Y/n)'s clammy body, there was something different about him. The softness in his eyes so dark like obsidian, the pull of his lips into a concerned frown.

"You don't hide your intentions." Morro's voice was softer than a night breeze. "But you do hide your feelings. It's a contradiction when all you ever do is wear your heart on your sleeve. It gets hella annoying."

All (Y/n) could do was huff.

Morro sat up straight, those dark locks pooling against his shoulders like water. "Your friends are in the bridge watching Zane's live feed. It seems they chose undercover work." 

(Y/n) appreciated the change of subject. She pulled the blankets off, shook out her hands with a swallow. "It must be going south, this isn't Cole's forte." She stood and made her way to the door. "And speaking of under cover, we still have the princess to interrogate." 

The two made their way up to the bridge, where the whole gang stood gathered around the monitor's screen. Its light reflected sharply against Morro's obsidian eyes as he watched Harumi distastefully. "I've always hated people like that."

(Y/n) folded her arms and plopped down on a stool in the corner of the room. She thought of Harumi's pretty smile, her empty words. "You shouldn't be talking. You're the same."

There was conflict in Morro's eyes. Memories that replayed in his mind eternally. "I know," he paused. "I'd like to think I've changed, even if only a little."

(Y/n) kept her eyes forward, focused on the monitor as the video feed continued to play. It displayed Cole and Zane parting through the swarms of SOG. "For someone who might be sent back to the Departed Realm, you're calm." she remarked with a curl of her lip. "You said you wanted to help me, no matter what it took. But if it means accepting we won't make it out alive shouldn't you--"

"I don't care." Morro's voice was firm and true. "I can't say dying with you sounds all that bad. Besides, I made a promise to you. This time, I won't break it." 

The monastery courtyard. The scent of early spring. (Y/n) recalled intertwining her pinky with Morro's, sharing a smile, a promise under the golden sunlight. Nothing will change, they had agreed. And yet, as if it were already written, Morro gradually began to slip. His obsessions deluded him, consumed him, until they were torn apart.

"Don't make promises you can't keep." Maybe this was (Y/n)'s own distorted reality, maybe she was wrong to believe in only the past. "But I can't say I'm not worried." 

"So you do care," there was a spark in Morro's eyes, "no point in the tough act if I know you're faking it. You don't really hate me, do you, (Y/n)?"

"Yes." she grumbled. "Yes, I do."

Morro laughed, a beautiful sound that was so light and airy and sweet.

The two left it at that, instead redirecting their attention to Harumi. There was one thing these two rivals could come to an agreement on: that the princess could not be trusted.

(Y/n) recalled the night spent by the canal. The soft lantern light against her feverish skin, the pleading of the hungry. "Harumi said something to Lloyd. I wear my own masks. I could be paranoid, but I don't think she meant it as a metaphor."

A breeze passed and it was piercing, cold. Morro thought for a moment, "There was also Harumi's skill on the rooftops. That couldn't have been lessons from Hutchins, same with her stitching you up. She seemed too sheltered, and the royal family were said to have never set foot out of the palace."

"Harumi also said I remind her of herself." (Y/n) bit the inside of her cheek anbd her gaze accidentally locked with the person in question. She tried for a smile and awkwardly picked up Jay's old notebook to hide her face. "I need to tell the others."

The volume was suddenly turned up on the monitor. "Shine little glow worm, glimmer glimmer!" came Cole's scratchy voice. He awkwardly raised his arms and initiated the running man. "Swim through the sea of night, don't get dimmer!"

(Y/n) slowly set the notebook down, tilting her head to the side in question. "I thought we all knew Cole's fear of singing. Who put him up for this?" Morro looked horrified. His eyes were wide and his jaw unhinged. "I would be just as afraid if I sounded like that."

Kai let out a loud laugh and planted a hand to Jay's shoulder to keep from falling. "I hope someone's recording this!"

Cole continued his attempt at the moonwalk and Jay made a face as if he had rotten milk. "Yeah." He couldn't believe his eyes. "I'll Skydrop this to everyone. And I mean everyone."

Cole was never going to live this down. A low sigh escaped (Y/n)'s lips. "Pixal, please tell me Zane's planning something good."

If Pixal were here physically, she would either be exasperated or extremely concerned. "Zane informed me he has a plan to gain the Sons of Garmadon's trust. But for it to work...we must trust him."

Morro's brows knit. That was most definitely doubt he heard. "As innovative as you ninja can be, this doesn't look like it'll go smoothly."

Right. Which was why they shouldn't have sent Cole there in the first place! (Y/n) released a sigh. Besides that, she needed to talk to Lloyd. "Uh, can I--"

Lloyd didn't even tear his eyes away from the screen. "Even if you weren't injured, we have to trust Zane, like Pixal said. I'm sure those two have a plan." He paused, staring at the walking disaster that was Cole. "I think."

(Y/n) frowned. "No, Lloyd, I need to--"

The gang members suddenly began to boo Cole. They threw boba at him, spilling milk tea all over the stage. He tried dodging, only to trip over the microphone's wire and slip in a puddle. He threw out his arms to catch himself, only to slam face-first into the sticky ground. The mustache tacked to his top lip flew off like an aeroplane and he gasped loudly as the music abruptly stopped.

(Y/n) covered her face. "First Spinjitzu Master, if you can't help me, then at least help this poor man."

"Hey, he's one of those ninjas!" said one of the Sons of Garmadon. (Y/n) watched the screen from behind her fingers with bated breath. From the bar's balcony, a woman with dark hair and tattoos pointed an accusing finger to Cole. "Grab him!"

(Y/n) could feel her blood pressure rising. She tapped a foot to the ground, chewing the inside of her cheek. "Are you sure Zane has a plan? There has to be something we can do."

The Sons of Garmadon raced forward and jumped Cole. He swung the microphone stand wildly, knocking out a row of thugs like bowling pins. "Help me, Zane!" he cried. "Where are you?"

Jay's jaw tensed. "Why isn't Zane helping him?"

(Y/n) turned to Lloyd. This was ridiuclous, how could she just watch? "Cole can't fight off all of them at once." There was the sound of a table hitting something in the background, then she turned to see Cole being dragged away, unconscious. "We have to help him."

There was a short pause as the image faded out to the monitor's screen saver. Pixal's voice filled the tense quiet. "Zane has blocked off all communication."

A bout of panic began to rise in (Y/n)'s chest. She tapped a finger to the table, ran a hand over its roughed up surface. "Lloyd, we have to do something!"

Nya pressed her lips into a thin line. Her eyes were filled with conviction, determination. "This is our only lead. We may never get a second chance." 

Lloyd nodded in agreement. "Zane wanted us to trust him."

Jay raised his hands in the air with a shake of his head. "And Zane's letting this happen!"

(Y/n) touched a hand to her injured shoulder. The stitches had yet to fully heal and probably wouldn't for a couple more weeks, but she wasn't going to wait and find out. "The longer we talk, the farther they're going to get." She made eye contact with Kai and he nodded without a moment's hesitation. It was good to know they were on the same page.

Kai pushed past the group, "Well I'm not waiting for coach to put me in. Let's go."

(Y/n) turned to join Kai, but a hand wrapped around her wrist and pulled her back. An exasperated sigh escaped her lips. "Lloyd--"

"You're not leaving," he stated. "You're injured."

A storm flashed in (Y/n)'s eyes. "But it's Cole!" The panic in her voice was hard to suppress when images of a fallen Ninjago flashed in her mind. She couldn't calm her racing heart, the roaring blood in her ears. "Even if he can take care of himself, I can't leave him."

"We're not." Lloyd firmly said. (Y/n)'s purple eyes seemed to glow ominously in the dark and it reminded him of someone. His father. "As the leader of this team, I'm telling you to stay. That's an order."

"Lloyd--"

"Pixal, watch over 'Rumi and (Y/n)."

"What?! No! Wait, Lloyd, I need to tell you something!" (Y/n) threw out her hands and turned to Kai. He only shook his head. "He's right, you shouldn't be coming with us." Kai steered (Y/n) into a chair and plopped her down. "Your priority is to get better. We'll handle this, Storm Cloud. We can talk later, okay?"

"Besides," chipped in Nya. "Who else will keep Harumi company?"

Oh, yes. Leave (Y/n) with the one she suspected of being an enemy because that was just the smartest thing anyone could do. She tapped a foot to the ground, mulling over her options as the team ran to the deck. Then she stood and sprinted down the stairs. The team were scattered on the deck, gearing up with grappling hooks and rope. 

Jay stood off to the side. He checked his weapons, muttering to himself about a rip in his sleeve. (Y/n) marched over to him and tugged him to the side. "I need to talk to you." 

"What?" Jay untangled himself from (Y/n)'s firm grip. "If this is about Cole, I know, we'll get him back. He's my best friend too and--"

"Jay, I need you to listen to me. Everyone else is too busy besides you." (Y/n) spared a glance over her shoulder, gaze rising to where Harumi stood on the bridge. She quickly looked away to avoid suspicion. "Maybe I'm overthinking, maybe I'm crazy, but I think there's something wrong with our new guest."

Jay's brows furrowed and he laughed awkwardly, patting her good shoulder. "I see how it is now."

(Y/n) raised a brow as he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her into a corner. "You do?"

"Of course I do." Jay nodded grandly, shaking his head in dismay. "I know you don't like the princess, but that doesn't mean we can just go around and point fingers, okay? She may have a cruh on Lloyd, but he's an adult. You don't have to bany him anymore."

"Jay, that's not what I meant." (Y/n) picked at a bandaid on her face, brushed some hair behind her ears. "Listen to me before you open your mouth, I'm telling you that she's working with the Sons of Garmadon. She has to be, why else would she be so suspicious?"

It was Jay's turn to look confused. "Wait, what? You're telling me our guest is actually evil and we didn't know because she's being manipulative and charming?" He searched (Y/n)'s eyes so purple as the dusk. "And you're sure you're not being paranoid?"

"Yes!" (Y/n) whisper shouted. "Jay, please, you have to believe me!"

Jay considered the thought for a moment. He glanced over at the princess, who stood in the bridge with a frown on her face. "Hm, I mean, she looks pretty harmless."

"Jay!" came Nya's voice. "Come on!"

(Y/n) chewed the inside of her cheek. "If I'm right and she really is an enemy, Zane could be in trouble. He's undercover, right? That means--"

"If Harumi is a spy, she coukd report him to their leader and rat him out?" Jay's eyes widened at his own words and he slapped a hand to his mouth. "Okay, maybe this does pose a problem."

(Y/n) could feel Lloyd's eyes against her back. Time was ticking. "Exactly my point. And if Morro also thinks she's a problem, that's gotta mean something right? He's always been perceptive and smart, so I think him vouching for this is enough."

"Oh, great, and you're gonna believe your evil ghost boyfriend? Don't fall for him, (Y/n). What if he's lying to you?"

"He's not." (Y/n) found Morro's eyes so wide in surprise. She felt her lips curling into a small smile before she looked away. "Can you promise me you won't tell anyone yet, Jay? We don't know who else might be listening, and if they find out, Zane's gonna be busted."

Jay nodded in understanding. "I promise." The firmness of his voice was relieving to hear. "Don't do anything stupid while we're gone since you're injured, though. You shouldn't be playing detective on your own when you could get hurt."

"That's coming from a certified idiot of the team." (Y/n) said, rolling her eyes. "No promises, but I'll try."

Jay punched at the air with a wink as he always did. It was his way of being reassuring. "Do your best then." He waved and joined the rest of the team on the side of the ship. It made a sharp descent, and they all leapt over the side and disappeared into the night.

Wind whipped through (Y/n)'s hair and the city lights vanished as the Bounty rose high into the clouds. Morro came into view from her peripheral. He leaned on the railing, "You think I'm smart and perceptive?" 

(Y/n) choked on her spit and coughed into her arm clumsily. "S-smart? Who said that?" she stammered. "I was just trying to convince Jay you could be trusted." 

"Uh-huh." said Morro with a smirk. His obsidian eyes twinkled and it reminded (Y/n) of the stars she used to watch every night. "You flatter me, Master of Aether. Having a positive opinion of your sworn enemy is unheard of. It makes me think you actually like keeping me around."

(Y/n) tried to get back her footing by rolling her eyes all nonchalantly. "Dream on, ghost boy." Yet her heart felt funny in her chest, warm, and fuzzy.

There was a comfortable moment of quiet before Morro decided to break it. "So why did you chose the blue one out of all the others?"

(Y/n) blew a raspberry. "Jay's smarter than he looks. A while back, he unleashed some crazy genie and it changed a lot of things. Since I'm the Master of Aether, my memory wasn't erased of what happened." She paused, recalling the sight of flying pirates and fantastical magic. "Jay is the perfect person for this job. He's a blabber mouth, but when it comes to things like this, he'll find a way."

Morro studied the side of (Y/n)'s tired face. "And so will you." He admired her beauty, her strength despite the fear in her swirling purple eyes. "Whatever you saw, there must be a way to stop it. It must have been a warning of the future."

(Y/n) released a huff. "What, you think I'm a prophet or something?"

A small chuckle escaped Morro's lips and it was that light, airy sound. "No, far from it actually. You're clumsy and panic easily, you're also like the skies and change at the snap of a finger."

(Y/n) kicked his leg lightly. "Wow, thanks."

"But no one else is as resilient as you." Morro smiled and in the slivers of moonlight caressing his pale skin, he couldn't have looked more ethereal.

(Y/n) blinked, face warming. "Flattery gets you nowhere." Yet she felt very, very flattered. "W-we should head up to the bridge. Maybe the others found something."

Waiting for something to happen quickly got stale. Morro wasn't the best company when boredom made him antsy. He tossed pencils into a cup on the other side of the room, flipped through all the old battle plans, and even looked at some blueprints.

As for Harumi, she was deadly quiet and didn't move a muscle. Pixal was on standby, bless her little heart, and after some time, (Y/n) decided to get something to eat.

Harumi--what a great, wonderful person--followed to help. 

The warm lights of the kitchen offered little warmth to (Y/n)'s cold skin. She filled a pot with water and placed it on the stove as Harumi handed her two packets of ramen. "I heard what happened," she kindly said. "How the Sons of Garmadon wish to resurrect your uncle." 

"I'm guessing Lloyd told you?" (Y/n)'s voice was clipped and flat. She didn't have the patience for pleasantries. "Despite my warning, you two seem awfully close." 

All Harumi did was smile. "I'll be frank, I know you dislike me." She picked up a pair of chopsticks and plopped the ramen into the boiling vat of water, stirring its contents. "Still, does that not mean we can't be on good terms? Your emotions could begin to cloud you and interfere with your duties if you don't. It'd be a shame."

A flare of irritation made (Y/n)'s skin itch. What audacity the princess had to lecture the Master of Aether. "I can't imagine allowing something so petty to happen." She bit the inside of her cheek, grip firm as she pulled out two bowls from the cabinet. "Do you know what else would be a shame?"

Harumi's smile tightened as she shut off the stove. "Please, I was only entertaining the thought. Why don't we have something to eat first?" She helped pour the ramen, watching with narrowed eyes as steam rose into the air. "Thank you for the food." 

(Y/n) sat down with her bowl, a cold smile on her lips. "But of course." 

There was a long pause before Harumi spoke up again. She looked regretful (or tried to, at least). "I'm sorry about Cole. You and him seem close." 

A tick marked appeared on (Y/n)'s forehead. She rubbed at her incoming headache, exchanging a glance with Morro. He shrugged and (Y/n) could only shake her head. "What gave that away?"

"When you were ill in the library," Harumi took a sip of her soup, "he refused to leave your side. For however long you were sleeping, he was there along with Lloyd. How did you two meet?"

Was this a casual conversation or some kind of mind game? (Y/n) exchanged another side-glance with Morro. "We trained together before Sensei found the rest of the team. I first discovered him climbing mountains on my way home. I had no idea he would be someone I spent so much time beside." 

Harumi's brows raised. "Climbing mountains...?" she echoed. "Why?"

"Grief takes shape in many ways, is what Sensei told me." (Y/n) mulled over the scent of dirt and sky. The sun beating down against her face at the mountain's peak. She could hear Cole's laugh, see the faint light slowly returning to his young eyes. "I think climbing mountains was Cole's way of dealing with losing his mom."

"I'd assume that was also the time you lost your father?"

"No, actually," the noodles tasted slightly bitter on (Y/n)'s tongue, "it was one of my greatest friends." She left it at that, instead mulling over why Harumi bothered to even ask about this in the first place. Nosy, curious, whatever it was set alarm bells off in (Y/n)'s head. But what stuck out the most was Harumi's lack of expression, her lack of grief. 

The jade ring felt cool and heavy around (Y/n)'s neck. She fiddled with it, mind slowly coming to pace with the words on her tongue. "We all deal with loss differently, yet you seem particularly unbothered by it. When I lost my father, I wasn't quite the same after." 

Harumi pursed her lips and took another gulp of soup. She had barely touched her noodles. "So much has been going on, I don't believe I have time to grieve. The mission is much more important when the fate of Ninjago rests on your hands." 

The emphasis on 'your' almost made it sound like Harumi knew more than she let on. The lights swayed with the ominous rocking of the ship, casting long, willowy shadows against the wall. (Y/n) steeled herself, "I'm starting to think you didn't even care about the royal family."

A small, hard laugh escaped Harumi's lips. "My parents were taken from me by the Great Devourer. The royal family was all I have left, and they too were taken from me." Anger laced her voice, sewn together with hatred. "Once again, I have lost everything in my life. How could I not be pained?"

(Y/n) continued eating with a shrug. Maybe it was just her nerves, but the soup tasted slightly off. Almost...earthy like grass. She shrugged it off.

Harumi's parents were killed by the Great Devourer, who was killed by Uncle Garmadon. Now, her adoptive family had been killed by the Sons of Garmadon.

Funny, wasn't it? Uncle Garmadon was always the center of attention. He had a penchant for theatrics as a Dark Lord, and was viewed as Ninjago's hero after killing the Great Devourer. A hero despite never being one the night before. Crazy how easy it was to have the masses swayed by a single act when--

(Y/n) paused with her mouth wide open, noodles dangling limply in front of her lips. She thought back to the rooftops above the city, the dirty backstreets, the homeless, the children being attacked. It all lined up, a simple puzzle arranged with the final piece. She quickly finished the last of her noodles and set the plate in the sink. 

"I forgot I needed to do something."

Without another word, (Y/n) exited the kitchen and made her way up to the deck. She turned to Morro frantically. "She has to be in charge. She's here with us, spying on us, is well-liked by everyone besides you and me, and will know where the final mask is if we get to it before them--which we will because we can't let them have it."

"The odds are stacked against us, (Y/n)." Morro said pointedly. "We don't have any idea where the final one is. You said you trust the blue one, right? What is he going to do to help us?"

(Y/n) pressed her lips into a thin line. She wracked her brain, only to pause. A transmission beeped from the bridge and she hurried up the steps, tapping the keyboard. "Trouble? Help? What do you need?" 

"Actually," came Lloyd's voice. "We just need a pick up. We're down in Central." 

Right. Of course, nothing new. (Y/n) made her way to the wheel, giving it a whirl as the Bounty's sails flapped in the wind. The ninja weren't hard to find, stationed on the highest rooftop and waving their hands from below. They quickly climbed aboard with a mix of triumph and worry.

"Well?" (Y/n) prompted. Lloyd pulled off his hood and produced a familiar shuriken from his pocket. The ice blue tape wrapped around it, the old scratches from all the times a familiar ninja used them.

Lloyd smiled in satisfaction, "Zane's trying to gain their trust."

"Not just their trust," Jay said, placing a hand to his chin. He took in a deep breath and everyone braced themselves for the long string of words. "I think he's trying to get to their leader. I mean, why else go through all the trouble of disguising yourself, selling out Cole, helping that masked man who tried to turn you into sashimi, and then running away into the sunset with said guy while leaving only a shuriken to give us a clue? Oh, right, that's exactly what Zane did and it worked because why should we ever doubt the nindroid, ammright?"

Jay heaved in a sharp breath, "Zane's the smart one, but hasn't he ever heard of a two weeks notice!?"

Nya placed a hand to Jay's shoulder. "You done?" He let out a long exhale. "Yes." 

(Y/n) placed the shuriken in a drawer. She spared Lloyd a glance, sensing his unease. He wanted to talk to her, but if she did, that would only make her spill all she knew about Harumi. A part of her wanted to keep it under wraps, at least until tomorrow so she could gather her wits. 

"(Y/n)--"

She sped-walked over to Jay and motioned for him to follow her. "Sorry Lloyd, I need Jay to, uh, help me with..."

"The kitchen sink!" He sent (Y/n) a side-eye, laughing nervously. "It burst and I said I was going to take a look at it." 

Lloyd's brows raised. He looked confused (rightfully so since the sink was fixed a week ago). "Uh, is (Y/n) supposed to help you with that, or...?"

"Yes." (Y/n)'s hands were getting sweaty, and it didn't help that Morro kept slapping a hand to his head in exasperation. She didn't know a lick about machinery and everyone knew. "Jay said he was...uh..."

"Teaching (Y/n) a thing or two about metalworking!" Jay wrapped an arm around (Y/n)'s shoulder with a big grin. "I'm gonna be her new teacher. Who better to ask than an inventor?"

Off to the side, Kai raised his hand. "If you need help, I volunteer. I'm sure some fire could speed up the process a bit."

"No!" (Y/n) exclaimed. When everyone paused to look at her, she offered a smile. "I mean, Jay and I thought it would be a great bonding experience. Since, uh, I haven't been able to talk to him much this week since we've been so busy."

Before anyone could open their mouths, (Y/n) disappeared down the stairs with Jay in tow. She glanced over her shoulder, searching for the tell-tale sign of white hair. 

A door suddenly creaked open and Harumi exited. She raised a brow with a wave before making her way up to the bridge. (Y/n) released a sigh and made her way down the hall. The two (plus Morro) took refugee in the bedroom. (Y/n) locked the door, peering out of the little window with narrowed eyes. 

Morro stepped through the wall. "The coast is clear. Everyone is upstairs." (Y/n) nodded, placing a hand over her beating heart. It skipped a beat with every step she took, jumped a little more out of sync with the flowing blood in her body. 

Jay settled in a chair, brows raised in question. "Are you gonna tell me what this is all about or are you just gonna stand there? I mean, no rush, except for the fact that this could mean impending doom for Cole and Zane."

There was a pounding in (Y/n)'s head. She settled at the foot of her bed, rubbing at her temples. "I think Harumi's a high ranking member of the SOG, or possibly, their leader. I wanted to tell Lloyd, but in retrospect, it might make things worse. He likes her, right? How will he react if I tell him the girl he has a crush on could be an enemy? And if I'm wrong, then what?"

Which would be insanity considering all the hints Harumi left behind. 

Jay placed a hand to his chin. "Okay, so say Harumi is an enemy, what gave it away? I mean, she's pretty nice. I don't have a reason to think she's out to turn us in." 

(Y/n) quickly went over every fact and detail she could recall. From the moment she met Harumi to the last conversation they shared. She told Jay everything, or as much as she could get out in such a short amount of time. "On top of it all, Morro agrees with me."

"Of course I do." Morro muttered with a roll of his eyes. "I was the one who proposed that idea in the first place."

Jay waved his hands around, blissfully ignorant to Morro's comments. "Woah, woah, you're saying that having the guy who possessed Lloyd agree with you is enough of a reason to think Harumi's evil?" His nose scrunched and he folded his arms. "Are we forgetting how Morro almost killed you too?"

All (Y/n) could do was sigh. "Well, he's saved me a bunch too." she slowly offered. "When the palace exploded, I wouldn't have made it out of there without him. We can trust Morro, you have my word." Despite how soft (Y/n)'s voice had become, there was still strength behind her words. "Besides that, I think anyone else would be concerned if a stranger asked about their personal life."

Jay frowned. He seemed to notice the discomfort on (Y/n)'s face. "Yeah, that's kinda weird, not gonna lie. If it's any consolation, your past doesn't matter." He tapped a hand against the back of his chair in thought. "Why don't we just tell the others now?"

"Now?" (Y/n) echoed. "If we do, what will Harumi do? She has everyone wrapped around her finger. For all we know, she's planning to sabotage us as we speak. We still don't have a read on Zane, and Cole's probably been taken to the SOG base. They very well could blackmail us, or worse, take the mask we have just to give them another leg up--"

"Okay, okay, so maybe we don't tell them. I don't wanna hear another peep out of Cole for calling me Motor Mouth when you're just as bad." Jay paused, lips pressing thin. "Remember last time I didn't tell you guys about Nadakhan? Look how that turned out. We need everyone here because above all else, we're a team. Plus, I don't want anyone mad at me for not saying anything."

(Y/n) turned to Morro for help. He let out a huff, "Don't look at me. Your friend has a point, solving this alone will only be trouble." Which wasn't wrong, but didn't make the truth any less irritating to hear. 

"Fine." (Y/n) decided. "We tell everyone tonight." There was a knock on the door and she stood to unlock it. The door creaked open to reveal a less than amused Lloyd.

"Fixing the sink, huh?" He raised a brow in question and looked between the two, crossing his arms. Jay sat in a corner whistling to himself and (Y/n) refused to make eye contact with him.

"What's wrong?" Lloyd said. "You've both been acting really weird today. If it's important, it's better just to say it than do a bad job at hiding it." 

There was a throbbing sensation in (Y/n)'s head again. She rubbed at her temples, ran a hand over the scabs on her cheek. "We're not acting weird." she said. "I'll tell you later, okay?" 

Lloyd studied (Y/n) carefully. He frowned, "Are you okay? I think you should sit down."

Okay? Of course she was okay. Why wouldn't she be?but now that Lloyd mentioned it, the room was beginning to spin. Her legs suddenly gave out and a cool hand found her own, hauling her up.

"I've got you," came Morro's soothing voice. "You need to rest, (Y/n)."

No. She didn't need to rest. She needed to figure out what to do with Harumi.

Black spots appeared in (Y/n)'s vision, dotting the world in a veil. She felt herself slipping. The world fading. Her wounds had already begun to heal at an astonishing rate, it couldn't have been that right? 

The scent of instant ramen, the warmth of the soup on (Y/n)'s tongue. Oh, it was that, wasn't it?

"(Y/n)?"

Her eyes fluttered shut. Damn, this was checkmate.

"(Y/n)!"

Everything went black.

Ninjago Secrets!

-elemental dragons don't work now because the Hands of Time (this is a dumb idea ik I just need an excuse for this not to be a thing because I miss the elemental dragons bro)
-Morro can technically eat food (like how Goultar had the puffy potstickers in s5). Where does the food go? No one knows

-Jay tried to teach (Y/n) to roller skate when she was little. She ended up spraining her ankle.

Spotify Playlist

Chapter Text

The person you were yesterday is not the same as today.

The cold, salty water of Stixx was something Morro couldn't get out of his head. It surrounded him as he fell into its depths, frigid and cold against his ghostly skin. He felt himself fading, vaporized by the very thing that any ghost feared the most.

Water.

The next moment he knew, he was awake in the Departed Realm. Withered grass, dark, starry skies, and abandoned looking buildings with drifting souls. The only light came from the moon above and the floating green lanterns dotting the pathways. 

The place looked dead, for lack of better words. 

But these thoughts escaped Morro. All he felt was the Preemminent dragging him down, down, down from the surface, away from (Y/n) who held out her hand so pleadingly. The look on her face was hard to forget, some mixture of anger and sorrow.

Morro choked on the taste of salt water on his tongue, knowing full well it was something he hadn't even tasted it in his final moments. He wiped at his mouth bitterly. There was no rest for him in the afterlife, no peace to bask in. He stood and made his way down a hill. Maybe some wandering would do him good. 

Wandering did not do Morro good. For a good month, maybe even a year, he had been tossed about in this dead land, only to be thrust into Ninjago once again on the Day of the Departed. He was ordered by some crazy guy named Sensei Yang to defeat the ninja in order to bring themselves back to life. 

Yeah, Morro wasn't going to do that. He pretended to obey, but found his way back to the old monastery, which surprise, surprise, had been burnt down. The sight sent a wave of displeasure through Morro's system until he spotted Wu by a small campfire. The old man lifted a lantern into the air, watching it float away...

...in Morro's honour. 

He shared a word with Wu, warning him about crazy old Yang before disappearing to search for (Y/n). If this was his last day in Ninjago, he had to see her even if only a glimpse. 

And he did. She sat alone by the ocean, watching the waves roll by, hitting the sandy shore. Morro debated with himself. Should he approach?

No. (Y/n) looked peaceful, even if she looked rather pathetic and sad. It was better he leave her alone instead of bothering her. So why was it his feet began to move forward? Sand pooled around his shoes, leaving footprints behind as he did so.

"(Y/n)."

She didn't turn around to greet Morro, nor did she make any move to acknowledge him. "I must be going crazy if I'm seeing your ghost," she said with a huff. "What do you want now?"

Now?

Morro frowned, maybe (Y/n) had hallucinated him before, which wouldn't be out of the question when her element gave her a close bond with the Departed Realm. He hesitated, clenching a fist and relaxing it before taking a seat a little ways away from her.

"I...wanted to see how you were and if you were alright." Morro's voice was barely heard above the wind. The breeze caressed his skin, as if to offer even the littlest of comfort to his weary soul. "You always have it the worst."

(Y/n) laughed and it was hard, cold. Everything she truly wasn't deep down. "If that's your way to joke, it's not funny." She picked up a rock and threw it into the ocean. Morro stared at the salty water ripple and his throat began to close in. He placed a hand to his exposed neck, rubbing at where the Preemminent had wrapped her tentacles around his skin.

(Y/n) threw another rock into the water and watched it disappear into the dark sea. She sighed and it sounded so, so tired. "Why do you haunt me?" Her voice was frail, barely above a whisper. "Why, when I close my eyes, you're all I see, Morro?"

The ocean rose and fell, lapping against the surface, daring to inch towards Morro's feet. He didn't move, didn't fear its lull and call. All he felt was the cool water against his skin as (Y/n)'s faint voice cried out from just above the surface. He couldn't get the taste of salt out of his mouth, the tentacles violently digging into his skin. 

And as Morro stood at (Y/n)'s bedside, it was like drowning all over again. Sure, he didn't really drown and was instead brought to the Departed Realm, but the sensation was there. That same sense of fear in not knowing what came next. Cold, salty breezes wafted through the window, offering little comfort to this aching pain in Morro's chest, this heavy guilt.

He felt like he failed (Y/n). After all that talk about protecting her and making things right, he allowed her to go and get herself poisoned.

Okay, maybe it wasn't truly his fault and maybe it was just bad luck, but it didn't matter because at the end of the day--it was all on him. Always just him making mistake after mistake.

Over, and over, and over again. 

Morro had been sat on his knees for the past hour, keeping an eye on (Y/n) as she tossed and turned in her sleep. Every breath she took had become fainter and Morro felt in his bones that her life was fading. He sensed a pull from the Departed Realm, a pull that urged him to leave the land of the living. 

But he couldn't give in no matter how strong it was. 

Morro hesitantly held out a hand and to his surprise, (Y/n) took it, intertwining their fingers. She finally settled and went still, lulling herself into a deep sleep. A breath escaped Morro's lips and he turned to side-eye the incessant noise he had tried to ignore. "Walker, stop pacing, it's giving me a headache."

Of course, Jay Walker couldn't hear the ghostly words of Morro. He continued to pace instead, shaking around a stuffed animal frantically. "We are all so dead, Mr. Cuddlywhumps! An enemy in our ranks, (Y/n) on her death bed, and Cole still missing as we speak! Calm down Jay, (Y/n) trusted you, she believes in you. You've gotta keep it together and scrap a few things like good 'ol dad taught ya. Zane is working hard chasing down the SOG, you have to do your part." He laughed to himself like a maniac. "But I am doing my part! Right? Right?!"

Morro was thankful for being taught correctly by Sensei Wu. Even with the storm in his mind's eye, he kept himself calm and collected (unlike Jay Walker). There was no point panicking. And besides, there was nothing that could knock the Master of Wind off his feet. 

Or so Morro wanted to believe.

His (nonexistent) heart raced against his chest and blood pumped in his ears, making his hands all sweaty and gross. Morro couldn't understand how it was possible to feel this level of anxiety when he was a ghost. Ghosts didn't feel anything mind you, yet here he was, barely keeping himself together while his body went on overdrive.

Which was funny considering Morro never feared anything. 

The ninja had visited earlier and concluded this was only a fever (they were swayed by Harumi, and without Zane, had no one to fact check). But Morro knew better, he wasn't naive and stupid. He opened a cabinet by the desk and pulled out a paper and pen.

"The things are moving!"

The fear in Jay's voice made Morro roll his eyes, the guy was really embarrassing himself.

"Ghost! Ghost!"  

"For the sake of the First Spinjitzu Master, could you shut the fuck up?" Morro scribbled on the paper and held it up to Jay's blabbering face. The idiot was shaking in his shoes, hands clasped in front of his chest as he prayed for mercy. "If I read this and end up cursed, I'm blaming (Y/n)." He squinted suspiciously at the paper. "Search kitchen for clues. Okay, cool. Just follow the directions from the scary floating note. Got it. Because who am I to question what in Ninjago is going on?" 

Jay sprinted out of the room with a shiver. The door closed and Morro set the paper and pen aside with a sigh. He ran a hand through his silky hair, grumbling incoherently to himself. There was a tug in his chest and he sensed a flicker in (Y/n)'s presence. She coughed dryly and tossed around in bed. 

"No...M-Morro...Morro...!"

The fear in (Y/n)'s voice made his heart drop. "I'm here." He hesitantly took (Y/n)'s calloused hand as she had done with him, intertwining their fingers cautiously. She gave them a squeeze and it felt so right, like two pieces of a puzzle connecting into one. 

"I'm sorry, (Y/n)." Morro let out a breath and it was shaky with anxiety. He hated feeling like this--vulnerable and weak. "I won't let you down this time, it won't happen again. I just...wish you could believe in me."

There was a pull in Morro's chest as he stood and made his way to the door. He passed through the walls and stepped into the hallway, heart heavy. Instead of a tug urging him to go back to (Y/n)'s side, a gentle breeze flowed towards the kitchen, guiding him onward. This was his chance.

Morro would not fail to find an antidote, he swore it. 

The kitchen was a hot mess. Tea bags lay scattered against the table, coffee grounds spilled off the counter and onto the floor, and the snack cabinet chip bags pooling out of the shelves. Jay had been here for five minutes, max. How had he turned this place into the Realm of Madness?

Morro picked up the tea bags and shoved them back into the cans. "Trust the blue one, she said. He's smarter than he looks, she said." He muttered beneath his breath with a grunt. "The water ninja would have been a better choice." 

"Uh, excuse me, you think I'm not responsible?" said Jay, whipping around to face Morro. "I'm an inventor and great at puzzles, what makes you think I'm not intelligent?"

Morro froze and dropped the tea cans. Jay wasn't talking to him, was he?

"Hello? Are you even listening to me, windbag? I just said I'm a great choice for this undercover mission. Unlike you, I've got a great track record at saving Ninjago and--" Jay slapped a hand over his mouth, as if just realizing who he was looking at. "Aren't you supposed to be invisible? Mystake said you and (Y/n) are connected. Oh my gosh, does that mean...?"

"Absolutely not." Morro was quick to recover from his shock. He scooped up the tea cans, the chip bags, and waved a small gust of wind through the air. Everything returned to its respective place, leaving the kitchen squeaky clean. "Don't ask how I'm here, what matters is finding clues on what poison was used. (Y/n) shared instant ramen with the princess, was there anything in the cabinets?"

Jay perked up and pulled out a bowl of flowers. The stems were thin and the bright, yellow petals small. "It looks so innocent, are you sure it's poison? I've never seen this before, maybe Harumi just wanted pretty flowers to pot or something."

A chilly breeze passed through the kitchen as Morro aggressively dug around in the cabinets and snatched a plastic baggie. "Nature can be deceiving, it's how it survives." He took the bowl and dumped the flowers into the bag. "The princess is the same. You silly ninja all think she looks harmless because she smiles and says nice things."

Jay took the bowl with a shrug and placed it in the sink. It was strange seeing him act so normal in Morro's presence. No fear, no burning hatred, no nothing.

"--and she seems close with everyone so, I mean, yeah. Not really suspicious y'know?" Ah, Jay had been talking this whole time. "She doesn't give me a reason to think she's evil. Wasn't she the one who stitched (Y/n)'s shoulder?"

Morro's thoughts were brought back to the present, but he still couldn't shake the oddness of the lightning ninja. "Why are you being so nice to me?" 

Jay finally shut his loud mouth. He paused, an awkward laugh escaping his lips as if he couldn't believe the answer himself. "You saved Cole. Day of the Departed, remember? Then you saved (Y/n) and brought her back to us." He raised his arms up quickly. "But that doesn't mean I forgot what you did! I'm just glad you're on our side now."

Morro didn't feel any less self-conscious. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was only being tolerated by everyone (which was true). So why did it make him feel so...uncomfortable? He sighed, distractedly returning to task at hand, a familiar scowl falling on his face. "These flowers are from the river leading to Jamanakai Village. Every local knows not to eat it since it causes shivers, body aches, vomiting, and eventually, death."

Jay laughed awkwardly, "And how do you know this?"

Morro grimaced, he didn't like thinking about how much he vomited all those years ago. It left him suspended from training for a whole week. "Because Sensei always warned us not to go near it or touch it and I didn't listen."

"So you ate it and learned the consequences of your actions like every young child would." Jay waved an arm, blowing a raspberry. "What about the surviving part? You said eventually death, so there's gotta be a way to cure it."

Another chilly breeze passed and Jay shivered. Morro clenched a fist, jaw tensed. "I would have said go to the Monastery, but you ninja let it be burned to the ground by some puny little snakes." 

Jay held up his hands. It would do Mr. Bad Guy good to learn some manners if he was going to stay as a permanent resident. "Oh, okay, I see how it is. For your information, we were busy investigating Lloyd's tree house because we followed a bird. How were we supposed to know--hey, where are you going?!"

Morro began into the hallway. It was nice having the freedom to leave conversations whenever he wanted. Unfortunately, Jay was quick to catch up on the deck while grumbling to himself about how 'stupid (Y/n)'s boyfriend was' and how she had 'the worst taste in cruddy, shady guys'. 

That last comment made Morro raise a brow. Did (Y/n) have interest in other guys?

No, that was a stupid thing to ask and really none of his business. He shook it off and focused on the warmth of the sun against his cool skin. 

It had been a long night, yet the ninja were still up and about on standby since dawn. Lloyd had been doing a sweep of the city, meaning he had yet to know (Y/n) had been poisoned. Morro wanted to say he didn't care about how Lloyd would feel by the next hour, but a part of him felt bad about the unwelcome surprise. 

He, for one, was not pleased in the least.

The ship began its descent and Jay stared down at the rooftops below. "Nya must be picking up Lloyd. What's the plan? I doubt we're just gonna stand here watching the clouds go by." 

"Mystake's Tea Shop." Morro studied the busy landscape below and mentally prepared himself for what he'd do next. He pulled on his hood. "We leave now."

"Now?!"

Morro yanked Jay towards him and leapt over the side. The two soared towards a rooftop like a meteor until Morro held out an arm and willed the wind to slow the fall. Its cool touch was comforting to his racing mind as it surrounded him, encased him.

Jay took a knee on the rooftop as they landed. "You could've warned me first!" 

Morro began down a ladder, "If I did, you would've tried to tell your friends where we're going." He continued through a narrow alleyway, jumping around garbage bags and turning this way and that. "Still, you surprise me, Walker."

"Hehe, you can just call me Jay."

"Sure, whatever." Morro wasn't really listening, too busy drowning in his own thoughts. "For someone who doesn't know when to stop talking, you're smarter than you look." 

"Thank you, that's very--hey!" Jay jogged a little to catch up. Morro was fast, faster than any of the other ninja could dream of because he was Morro. "Can I ask you something? Why are you so intent on helping (Y/n)? I mean, you clearly don't care about saving Ninjago, but as soon as it involves her you go ham on everything." 

Morro kicked a lone beer bottle and it flew to the other side of the alleyway, shattering helplessly against a wall. "What of it?" He couldn't deny what was pretty obvious to everyone, even if it made him feel icky and vulnerable. "I owe her that much after all I've done."

"That's what I mean." Jay waved a fly out of his face with a grit of his teeth. "Back then, you tricked (Y/n) into helping you get the Realm Crystal by holding Lloyd hostage, but when it didn't go as planned and your goons went after her, you threw a fit. Multiple times, may I add. You're not someone who thinks about paying debts, much less owing people stuff. You never cared about that." 

There was a bitter taste in Morro's mouth. He had enough time in the Departed Realm to think over what he did. Reminders like this weren't welcome.

"Need I also mention how you literally broke her heart when you got vaporized by water in Stixx? Sure, you gave her the Realm Crystal and whatnot, but she was depressed after that for weeks." Jay studied the way Morro stiffened, taking note of the uncertainty in his eyes. "You basically undid all her character development since we became a team, and oh, don't get me started on Lloyd. You're a terrible friend and person, Morro. Terrible. Yet here you are, helping her."

"You think I don't know that?" Morro snapped. He paused to recollect his hurricane of thoughts so he wouldn't bite Jay's head off. Then his shoulders slumped, he felt pathetic. "I've walked away from (Y/n) more times than I'd like to admit. She gave me so many chances, and every time, I blew it. I can't abandon her, and I don't care if any of you ninja believe me, you're free to think whatever you wish." 

The two emerged into the sunlit streets. Its rays did nothing to warm Morro's cold skin as he stalked over to the tea shop. He paused at the door as his gaze landed on Jay's face. The guy looked so struck with awe it was almost disgusting. "I'll admit, I was scared of you at first. But the more I see you, the more I realize you're just some guy."

Morro raised a brow. Just...some guy? Was that how all the ninja saw him now, or just Jay Walker?

"Who's smart and perceptive, she said." Jay added with a growing smile. With the way his eyes were bright with hope, he almost looked...proud. "You love her, I can tell." 

Morro almost tripped over his own feet entering the shop. He couldn't focus on all the exotic teas over the uneven sound of his beating heart. "What?" 

"Nothing, nothing." Yet Jay was still smiling from ear-to-ear like a kid in a candy store. "Just that I've a hunch Mr. Grumpy Pants might actually be more caring than he lets on. I'm starting to see why you're so closed off and bitter, and I don't mean just because of that whole Green Ninja fiasco."

Whatever Jay meant by that was cut off by the sound of shuffling. A woman with a straw hat parted through a beaded curtain and her gaze zeroed on Morro's like an angry lion. "You." she seethed. "What are you doing in my shop?"

"Mystake." Morro greeted with a bow. When Jay didn't mimic him (the guy seemed busy in his thoughts), he punched his arm. "I know you would prefer not to see me, but we need your help."

The sassy woman huffed to herself with a cross of her arms. "Prefer? Oh boy, if I had it my way, I'd throw you out this instant! What do you want from me? I'm just an old lady trying to mind her own business." She paused, as if realizing there was a missing person by Morro's side. "Where's (Y/n)? You are not to he separated."

"She's been poisoned." Morro couldn't help the way his voice wavered. He handed Mystake the bag of flowers, forcing down all his guilt. "Do you have anything that can help her?" 

A tense moment of silence passed as Mystake processed the information. She nodded, "I have just the thing. If (Y/n) was given a large amount, she won't have much time left." She disappeared out back, only to reappear with a pouch of tea. She pressed it into Morro's hands, giving them a squeeze. "If you are separated from (Y/n), that must mean she is close to death. You must hurry." 

Morro and Jay bowed in thanks. They were quick to sprint through the streets, leaping up onto the rooftops and across gaps in buildings. Jay pressed a hand to his earpiece. "Nya, come in!"

"Jay?" She sounded just the slightest bit irritated. "I knew something was wrong. I had a feeling I should have checked on you!"

"I'll explain later. I need a quick extraction, you have my location?" 

"Give me a minute, I'm fixing Zane's bike. We just got him back online, he's heading downtown and--" 

"Nya, please, you have to hurry!"

"On it!"

Thankfully, the water ninja was a quick worker. It didn't take more than five minutes for The Bounty to appear from the skies and swoop down to pick them up. Morro used the wind to lift them both to the deck. As soon as his feet touched the ground, everyone present gasped.

"How in Ninjago...?"

"Did I just see Morro?"

Morro's mind was blank as sprinted to the kitchen with Jay a few paces away. The thought of being seen by everyone on this ship didn't really give him good vibes.

The kettle was agonizingly slow to heat up and it made Morro want to throw a fit. He tapped a foot, stared at the bag of tea in his hands. "I hate waiting." he grumbled beneath his breath. Jay let out a nervous laugh and opened up a tea pot, watching as Morro dumped the leaves inside. "That's the charm of important matters, you always have to wait."

Well, they didn't have time for waiting. (Y/n)'s life was on the line and there was nothing Morro could do but what he hated most--waiting. As if reading his thoughts, Jay tried for a reassuring smile, but it looked more panicked than anything. "(Y/n)'s strong, I doubt some poison will do her in, right? I mean, my girlfriend died when she got hit by poison once, but she came back to life because I made a wish and--who am I kidding?! (Y/n)'s gonna die!"

The kettle went off and Morro hurriedly poured the water. He snatched a cup off the counter, only to pause as a slip of paper caught his eye. Judging by the tea leaves sticking to it, it must have been from the shop. He stuffed it into his shirt and raced towards the bedroom with Jay at his heels. 

"(Y/n) won't die." Morro stated. "I'll make sure of it."

As soon as Morro set foot in the bedroom, a part of him wished he never did. Lloyd stood in the center, arms folded sternly as he looked between both him and Jay. "Mind explaining what's going on here?"

The air leaving his lungs, the cold water seeping into his skin as he shut his eyes and accepted that this was his Destiny. Morro tasted salt on his tongue, the biting sensation of Lloyd's will against his own. And for a moment, Morro could see only the face he stole all those years ago, the hands and feet that weren't his as he fought against (Y/n) in the snow. 

Morro could never make up for his mistakes.

Drowning, he was drowning and being vaporized as the scent of salt and the sound of (Y/n)'s screams filled his ears.

Morro could never repay anyone for the sheer grief he caused.

Drowning, he was drowning because his Master, the Preemminent would not let him go if it meant allowing her failure to live and--

Morro was a fool for believing anyone could ever see past the evil that was him.

The very blemish in this world that was every mistake, every breath, was never (Y/n), but him. And as his dark eyes so black as obsidian met those pools of pure, green life, he felt as if he were being pierced through the very heart. There was no one in this land that would want him. He failed his teacher, his best friend, and the Preemminent who filled his head with promise, with hope.

You are a mistake.

A cough cut through the air. Morro blinked and was reminded of the one who drove him mad with anguish in the Cursed Realm. The one with eyes that sparkled like the stars at night, and a laugh that had always been music to his ears.

(Y/n). 

Morro sprang into action, pouring a cup of tea. He carefully blew on it before placing the rim to (Y/n)'s lips. She slowly drank from it, coughing weakly. A part of Morro hoped she would open her eyes and call him an ugly sight to wake up to, but he knew better. These things took time, even if it meant doing what he hated the most.

Waiting. 

"Why isn't she waking up?" Jay started biting at his nails and pacing again. "Mystake said this would work, she should be fine now, right?" Morro shook his head and set the cup down on the desk. "Settle down, Walker. We must wait."

"Oh, I thought you said you hated waiting!"

Morro sucked his teeth in annoyance, "I do. But this is the most we can do for (Y/n). She needs time to recover, even if there isn't much of it."

There was a moment of painful silence before Lloyd cleared his throat. "Can I...talk to Morro for a second?" Jay tensely looked between the two before nodding. "Yeah, of course."

The door shut. Morro was stubborn and remained still by (Y/n)'s side, sat formally on his knees. He didn't want to look at Lloyd just this second, not when the mere presence of the Green Ninja reminded him of the hatred in his voice, the feeling of grasping at a neck that was his but not really his. It all started because of the colour of his gi and the very sight of it made him want to shirk away in disgust.

But Morro wasn't a coward and never was. He had to own up to his mistakes.

"You were right, Lloyd." Morro's voice had lost the bitterness it once possessed, the anger it always held. "About everything." Morro forced himself to look at the body he had stolen and used as his own.

No, at the boy whose life he had ruined so selfishly. 

Lloyd had grown since their last fight. He had to be about two or three inches taller than Morro, with eyes that spoke of his age, and a presence that held strength. It was hard to believe they were standing in the same room without being at each other's throats.

The sight of the First Spinjitzu Master's tomb flashed in Morro's mind. He saw the destruction of Stixx, heard the cry of his former master, the Preemminent, and finally, his own grating voice.

"You want the Realm Crystal? Earn it!"

​​​​​"I'm stronger, Lloyd! Always have been!"

​​​​"I know what you're afraid of! Weak! Always needing others! But I, I need no one!"

Morro stared at his hands, hands that were once used to destroy, to kill. "If you hadn't been the Green Ninja, I don't think I would have hated you. I was...jealous and always had been because you had what I thought was mine." A breath escaped his lips. He closed his eyes, body aching, running cold.

It was eerily quiet as Lloyd took a seat on his knees across from Morro. Almost as if to say they were...equals. His green eyes so full of life were distant, washed with pain. "You clearly don't expect my forgiveness, yet you look like you want it." Lloyd stared at the ghost before him, recalling the iciness filling his veins, the anger that wasn't his own seizing his heart still. There was a sadness in Morro's eyes, Lloyd noted. A storm of regret that was almost painful to look at. "You've changed."

Morro's brows furrowed. "How?"

"You look pathetic." Lloyd was blunt and his words sharp. He really grew up from that small, naive boy. Finally confident enough to say something witty. "Did that knock the wind out of you? Go ahead, complain about how unfair life is, how you deserved being the Green Ninja, or how you're just so much better than everyone else."

The taunting didn't elicit a reaction from Morro. He awkwardly swallowed, rubbing the back of his knuckles. How many times had he thought of this moment? How many times had he played this scenario in his head to put himself to rest? Morro had a whole spiel planned, a whole speech about how sorry he was and how much he regretted his actions. But now that he sat face-to-face with the Green Ninja, he was at a loss.

"You always ruin everything!"

Morro closed his eyes to rid himself of (Y/n)'s ragged voice. It was a miracle Lloyd hadn't burst at the seams like that too. "I, uh, I'm really sorry." He sounded so, so awkward and it made him cringe. "You won't have to see me after (Y/n)'s awake. This is only temporary."

Lloyd clenched his fists and relaxed them. All the sleepless nights he lay wide awake in bed, trying, and failing to sleep. All the times he sought refuge in (Y/n)'s room just to finally rest his eyes, only for Morro's ghost to haunt him from the dead. It left him bitter, just as angry as the one who nearly killed him. "I had a feeling something was wrong since the moment I first saw (Y/n)." Lloyd's eyes were piercing and it made Morro feel very small. He now understood what it felt to be on the receiving end. "You could call it a hunch, or maybe luck, but I just knew it was all you. When is it not?"

Morro wanted to say Lloyd was exaggerating, but he had been in (Y/n)'s head. He knew how much she thought about him, how much she fought herself to either hate or accept him.

Lloyd looked rather smug as a smirk crawled up his lips. He must have noticed the way Morro shifted uncomfortably. "By the looks of it, she has you wrapped around her finger. Don't tell me, you'd do anything for her, and would have anything just to make it right."

"I--"

"Well that's not how it works with (Y/n)." Lloyd's green eyes were so overwhelmingly bright. Morro looked away, only for a split second. "You know it too and it scares you because the thought of her hating you forever is something you can't live with. Is it?"

Doubt had already begun to take hold of Morro since the start of this conversation. He was wavering, losing to the thought of all these 'what ifs'. Lloyd's just trying to get into my head, he reminded himself. The same as Morro once did to him. "What are you trying to get at, Lloyd?" The name felt strange on his tongue. "It isn't like the Green Ninja to be so patronizing."

"I have my moments," Lloyd said, shrugging. "I'm just trying to understand what she sees in you. All you've done is cause her pain, yet she can't let you go and it frustrates me." His jaw tensed, lips pulling into a distasteful frown. "But now that I look at you, even I don't get it either. You're not the same person you were in Stixx. What changed you?" 

"(Y/n)." Morro heaved out a breath, hating the vulnerability in his voice. The answer was so simple, always had been. "The Departed Realm gave me time to think and...most of the time, it was about her."

Those eyes like the sky at dusk, the smell of sky and nature. And a warmth that always drew out the best in Morro. It sounded ridiculous, now that he was saying it out loud but...

"(Y/n) made me change my mind. I just wish I realized sooner."

The laughs in the monastery courtyard, the sound of their bokken clashing. The scent of late spring and early summer so warm and gentle. Morro could already see that single cherry blossom tree blooming by the gates, its scent sweet, nostalgic. He met Lloyd's gaze and found a mixture of surprise, disgust, anger, and finally, acceptance. 

Lloyd sighed, "You being here doesn't mean you've earned anyone's forgiveness."

Morro bowed his head in understanding.

"But, that doesn't mean I can't acknowledge that you've begun to change. I don't need to see you visibly to know." Lloyd's gaze fell on (Y/n)'s sleeping face and his eyes softened with concern. "For as long as you're bound to her, you will be our guest. Now that we can actually see you, I'll be keeping my eye on you."

Of course they would. Morro was, above all, still an enemy of the ninja, even if they didn't blatantly treat him like a convicted criminal. "I understand."

Lloyd turned back to meet Morro's gaze head on. "I want to make it clear that if you hurt (Y/n) again, I won't be so forgiving. You've been in her head, you know the damage you've done to her and how long she spent searching for you." There was a look of pure anger beginning to twist onto Lloyd's face and for a moment, Morro saw himself in those green, green eyes. "Hurt (Y/n) and I won't hesitate to send you back to the Departed Realm."

There was a strange, uncomfortable feeling in Morro's gut. He felt as if he had been laid bare for all to see, leaving only his faults and his worst mistakes in its wake. He felt the tentacles of his former master seize him around the middle, digging into his ghostly body until his skin burned. The winds were salty, the taste of the ocean sharp on his tongue. He was being pulled down, down, down below.

"Don't leave me, not again. Morro, Morro, please!"

(Y/n)'s voice so full of anguish haunted Morro's dreams. He could already hear the ocean's waves, feel them churn against his flailing body, only to throw him under the foamy tides until his lungs filled with that salty, salty taste. But he had to resurface in the frigid tides. He had to fight this aching pain, this fear he had never once felt before.

Why? Why was he so afraid?

Morro pressed his hands to the floor and bowed. He had half the mind to notice the threatening shake in his fingertips. "You have my word." And by the First Spinjitzu Master did it leave him conflicted and even more scared. He didn't dare lift his head off the ground as long as it meant not being able to look into those green, green eyes. 

Because if he did, all that would stare back was another version of him.

It was quiet once the door shut. Jay's voice faintly sounded from down the hall, most likely him debriefing Lloyd on today's trip. Morro released a sigh. He thought of Wu and the last look he gave him on the Day of the Departed. They had spoken very briefly without disappointment, or anger, on his teacher's face. Only sorrow and...love.

So much love for him.

Morro wondered what Wu would say to him in this moment. He thought of the hard looks he had been given during training, the utter frown of disappointment burned into his mind. Who was he kidding?

There was nothing to say to someone like him who betrayed his teacher--his family. 

The hole in Morro's heart grew.

Morro hated waiting. For one, it was beneath him, and two, it was taking up too much time. He wasn't as bad as Jay, who seemed to have picked up a habit of pacing, or Kai, who sat in the corner of the room watching him like a hawk. But Morro did tap a hand to his leg impatiently.

It was currently midnight, exactly three hours since the ninja found both Cole and Zane. The latter was worse for wear after being beaten up by the katana guy, who turned out to be a nindroid. When fixing him up, Nya found an encoded message. The trap has been set, it said. Morro could only guess. It probably referred to (Y/n)'s poisoning.

Unless there was something more...?

"Aw, aren't you a cute one, Cole Jr."

Morro felt his brow twitch. He tried to think of all the possible ways Harumi could sabotage the ninja.

"Look Kai, he smiled at me!"

Sharing the ninja's location? Sending an ambush? No, no. They had yet to find a map for the final mask and--

"Aww, can you say Cole? C-ol-eee."

Morro sucked his teeth. He couldn't control his anger when (Y/n) had yet to wake up. "Would you stop that?" He unfolded the paper in his hands aggressively. "It's gross and we have more important things to worry about."

"Like the enemy who's been our invisible roommate for like, a week." Kai oh-so-helpfully said. "You feel grossed out because you have no feelings. Just what I'd expect from a villain."

Morro rolled his eyes, but before he could retort, Cole made his way over and held out the thing in his arms. He was a good mediator, it seemed. "Did you know being around babies and cuddling them can reduce anxiety? If you give him a chance, I'm sure you'll like him." 

Did you know shutting the fuck up reduces my anger by a hundred percent?, thought Morro. He gave the thing (child) a long, hard stare. It had two little front teeth and smiled wide at him, as if expecting something for just existing and being cute. "Uh, what do you expect me to do, exactly?"

Cole beamed. "Hold him."

Morro awkwardly fiddled with the paper in his hands, eyeing the scribbled handwriting with a shrug. "I'm not...good with kids. I mean, I literally caused the destruction of a whole realm, and you want me to hold that?"

Kai let out a hard laugh, "He's kinda right you know. What warrants someone like you to be around a pure, innocent child?" Jay nodded in agreement. "Big scary dude who could probably solo us holding a baby? Inconceivable."

A sigh escaped Morro's lips and Cole turned to glare at the two. "Ignore them, just give Cole Jr. a chance. Here, hold out your arms."

Morro grimaced but did so anyway. He felt ridiculous as Cole placed the baby in his arms. The little child was a pure bundle of joy, laughing as he held out a hand towards Morro's face. He stared at its innocent eyes so sparkly with light, lip curling in slight disgust. "Now what do I do?"

The smile on Cole's lips had yet to fade. He placed his hands on his hips and released a sigh, flopping down in his bed. "I get to sleep." 

"Wait, you want me to babysit--?"

"You're doing great, Morro. You're already uncle material." Morro opened his mouth to retort, but Cole suddenly began snoring. Ah, that was right. The Master of Earth slept like a rock. There was another laugh from the baby and Morro stared at him helplessly. "What're you looking at?"

The baby smiled wide, and raised his hands. Morro allowed the thing to touch his face, cupping his chin, and running his fingers all over his nose until it stuck a finger up there. He shouted, carefully prying the tiny hands away. "Stop, stop. Walker, take the child, I don't want it. Why are you laughing, this is serious."

Jay was out of commission. He doubled over, laughing his lungs out as Kai attempted to stifle his own. "This is...hilarious! Who knew Mr. Grumpy Pants would be looking after a baby?"

Why would anyone know?, thought Morro in annoyance. He wasn't built to handle tiny, little humans. Much less the type that was touchy and liked to stuff their fingers into his mouth and nose. He gave the bundle in his arms a long hard look. The thing was humiliating him in front of the ninja. "Stop looking at me like that--no, no, no--"

The child began crying very, very loudly. He paused to catch his breath, only to release a whine that was at least two decibels higher. Morro frantically began rocking the baby. "It's okay, I'm not mad at you. Stop crying." The child continued to whine, tears streaming down his round face. "I said stop crying!"

Kai let out a long groan. "You're terrible at this. You can't tell a baby to stop crying! You have to make it!"

Morro shook his head in confusion. "What, you want me to punch him? That's not going to work! He's a baby!"

Said child cried even louder.

"Woah, woah, not what I meant." Kai quickly said, holding up his hands. "Try rocking it more!"

Morro rocked the child more, but it only flailed its arms around and screamed. Morro's gaze darted around the room for something, anything to make the child stop this horrible, screeching sound. He spotted one of (Y/n)'s stuffed animals, a duck with an egg on its head, and held it to the baby. "Here you go! Take it, just stop crying!"

The baby froze, that incessant high-pitched sound stopping. He held out his arms and hugged the duck as Jay unplugged his ears, releasing a relieved sigh. "Thank the First Spinjitzu Master. I thought the glass was gonna break if Cole Jr. kept crying. I'm surprised Cole's still sleeping."

Morro turned, studying (Y/n)'s peaceful expression. "She hasn't woken up either." The air grew damp at that and everyone in the room deflated equally. Morro fiddled with the paper in his palm and unfolded it with his free hand.

Darkness will fall
Waking a cloud of death
A dance and call
Fated upon a final breath
Together Aether and Wind
Combine in sudden death

The faint scent of tea could be smelled from the paper. Morro breathed it in, hoping it would do something to calm the worries building in his head. He was never one to worry, yet when it came to (Y/n), it seemed there was always a new first. "You know, there's something called personal space," Morro looked up with a glare, "Kai."

Not an ounce of guilt showed on Kai's face. He folded his arms and snatched the paper from Morro's fingers. "What is it you're hiding? I bet you're planning something devious with this. Trying to contact your evil friends? Sell us out to the SOG? Or...reading a riddle? Where did you get this?" Jay peered over Kai's shoulder, squinting at the paper. "What is it?"

"A piece of paper?"

Jay sucked his teeth, "I know it's a piece of paper, Dorito head. What does it say?"

For once, Morro wasn't scowling. He stared at the paper hanging limply in Kai's hand, heart clenching uncomfortably in his chest. "A prophecy from Mystake that involves both (Y/n) and I." The baby in his arms frowned and made little noises. Morro wondered if it was trying to show concern. "We can't tell (Y/n). She doesn't need to know about this." 

Kai read the paper once, twice, then again. He couldn't make much sense of it, but the last line was pretty clear. "Are you crazy? If we hide this from her, she's going to get mad. This isn't just your destiny Morro, it's hers too."

"I know." Morro pressed his lips into a thin line and shut his eyes with a sigh. "But there are things she sees in her sleep, dreams that are probably premonitions. She knows what will happen more than anyone, having a prophecy will only confirm what she knows."

Jay held out a hand, waving it easily. "So there's no reason to hide it from her since she knows. What's the big deal?"

Oh, Morro could talk and talk about this for hours. He saw (Y/n) on her knees, crying and shouting about how everything was her fault. Heard the crackle of fire beneath his ghostly feet as the palace crumbled around them. The royal family's death was still a fresh wound in (Y/n)'s mind. She didn't trust herself, or anyone else, to carry the burden that was her Destiny.

What would she think seeing something that foretells her death?

"The big deal is (Y/n) needs less things to worry about." Morro stood and snatched the paper back, stuffing it in his shirt. "What's more, we have reason to believe the person who poisoned (Y/n) was--"

The door opened and Harumi entered with a shy smile on her face. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but dinner is ready."

Kai looked between Jay and Morro, but before he could open his mouth, Cole awoke as if from the dead. "Did someone say dinner?" He jumped out of his bed. "C'mon guys, I'm starving."

What convenient timing the princess had. Morro looked down at the baby in his arms, exasperated. All the child did was smile and grab at his cheeks.

At least someone was having fun today.

Ninjago Secrets!

-Morro still dreams of his time in the Cursed Realm. sometimes he wakes up in a cold sweat and forgets where he is
-When Lloyd was a kid, he heard stories about Morro from (Y/n), but mostly only the good things
-the less closed off Morro is, the more animated he becomes when he talks. how cute is that?
-(Y/n) is almost a splitting image of her father. it used to give Wu a jump scare when she showed up in front of his room at one in the morning

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Chapter Text

The greatest enemies we face are ourselves.

(Y/n) awoke with a scream. The sound of it was so wrought with pain it made her throat burn and blister. She stood, the sheets pooling at her feet as she blindly stumbled in the dark, empty room. A flash of lightning struck and the room was bathed in pure white before darkness settled. Thunder came after, its boom agonizing. 

Drip, drop. Drip, drop.

The sound was so incessant, so demanding. It grated against (Y/n)'s head, twisting, gutting through her brain. She held out a hand, using the wall as a guide as she slipped on her shoes. The soft fabric of her pajamas was overstimulating. She fumbled around, squinting in the dark. And as another flash filled the room in light, all she saw was red, red blood.

Drip, drop. Drip, drop.

(Y/n)'s hands trembled. She fiddled with her clothing, pulling on her gi, strapping on her katana. She needed to be ready for what went bump in the night. But there was nothing here and she knew it was only her. Always just her. Alone. The ship creaked, moaning as if in pain, and it gave a great lurch.

The ground came faster than (Y/n) could process. She slammed face-first, crying out. Pain flooded her system dully, vision a haze. She shook her head, eyes widening as something sticky and wet fell upon her knuckles. 

Drip, drop. Drip, drop.

Another scream. The lifeless body swinging from side-to-side in the cave, the echoing laughs of an invisible enemy. Get out of my head, (Y/n) thought. Get out of my head! Yet the laughs continued, filling every nook and cranny in her mind. The air escaped her lungs as if she were being strangled and she clawed at her skin, feeling it tear beneath her fingertips. 

This burning pain, this cruel, unrelenting sound--it refused to stop. Stop. Stop.

Black, silky hair, deep obsidian eyes so disgustingly loving and sweet. Why did he look at her like that? Even as his body was strangled and broken and beaten, why did he look at her like he loved her? (Y/n) forced herself to her feet, knees shaking, body trembling. The sound of squelching flesh, the sickening crack of bones. 

She couldn't get it to leave her head. 

The ship gave another lurch. The door slammed open, practically ripped off its hinges as a boy, the boy who always, always appeared in her dreams, stepped into the room. His gait was taunt, steady even as the ship swayed from side to side. He commanded respect quietly, as if his mere presence was enough to silence a room. 

And it really was. 

Then the boy's eyes met (Y/n)'s and that all crumbled down, gone with the wind. It became cooler in the room, as if a breeze had blown in. "(Y/n)!"

She stumbled towards the boy, hands bloody, so, so bloody, and planted them on his slumped shoulders. "Where...were you..?"

Morro's tattered cloak lay limply against his shoulders, that old black and green gi worn from wear and tear. There was a pathetic look on his face, and for a moment, he looked almost alive in the lightning's strike. Darkness flooded afterward with the howling wind, and all she saw was death.

Cracked limbs, broken bones, flesh barely hanging on to its bony frame. (Y/n) stumbled back, lips open, no words leaving. Stop, stop, stop, it isn't real, it's over, it's all over--

No. It's not. This is only the beginning.

Another scream, the sound of blood dripping against her exposed skin. She couldn't recall how long she had been locked away in some far corner of her mind, that same scene replaying on loop. Then there was that laugh, so evil, so hollow. (Y/n) placed her hands to the side of her head, barely registering the call of her name.

Then a pair of cool hands found (Y/n)'s own, intertwining them, taking them away from her raw skin she clawed at. "(Y/n), it's okay." The voice was grounding. "You're okay."

She shut her eyes as a pair of arms pulled her in close, rubbing circles on her back, whispering into her ear. The breath still hadn't returned to her lungs, but she felt her raging heart slow, that laugh receding. 

"You're okay," the voice repeated gently, "I'm right here, (Y/n)."

Her breath hitched and a well of hatred formed in her chest, only to shatter into relief. Morro's cool hands running through her hair and rubbing circles on her back was familiar, nostalgic. She could already see her old room at the monastery, feel the warm futon against her skin. Morro would be beside her, half-asleep as he tried to soothe her fears of monsters down the hall.

I hate you, thought (Y/n) through her tears. But she knew deep down that wasn't true.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

First Spinjitzu Master, no. To recall the gruesome scenes from her dreams, to think about it even for another second, would mean tormenting her weary mind. No no, no. She couldn't think about it. She had to forget it.

Someone shouted from the top of the stairs. Through the haze in (Y/n)'s mind, the image of blood, sweat, and tears, it was a blur. Morro quickly pulled away and his touch was loving as he swiped away the tears leaking from her eyes. The liquid didn't make him disintegrate, simply sliding off the pads of his fingertips so pale as light.

The strangle in (Y/n)'s breaths didn't go unnoticed as Morro motioned to the door. "Your friends are fighting. I have to help them." Not we, not you, just 'I'. Was he leaving her here? How was it he had been gone from her side for so long?

Morro took (Y/n) by the hand and her stormy thoughts silenced. He wasn't leaving her, they were going together, always together. "Every since you were poisoned, the line that tethered us together was severed. Still, you're not staying here by yourself. We'll be shot out of the sky at this rate if we wait here." His steps were focused, authoritative as they hurried up the stairs. It was strange. Even with the hunched shoulders, the dimness of his eyes, he looked so...regal.

Noble, almost.

(Y/n) had half the mind to almost gag at that thought. Wind whipped through her hair and cool rain pelted at her exposed skin. She basked in the arms of the sky, breathing in its fresh scent. The image of blood washed away, the sight of broken bones and flesh fading even if only for an instant.

Blades clashed on a far side of the deck, where her friends shouted and leapt around. Lloyd nearly faltered, Nya cried out (Y/n)'s name, and Jay let out a long, relieved sigh. Cole rejoiced while a bundle in his arms babbled and Zane's gaze softened before he went back to battling the mech.

Was that...Samurai X?

(Y/n) didn't have time to think before a large, metal hand painfully knocked straight into her chest. Time slowed and the rain pelting against her skin pierced it like bullets. She fell over the side of the Bounty, heart hammering in her chest.

"(Y/N)!" Morro leapt after her without a moment's hesitation. 

The two fell through the skies, pummeling down into the jungle at speeds that could have torn them in two. Morro's mind was racing, his non-existent heart beating hard against his rib cage. 

Morro's hand found (Y/n)'s. She stared into his eyes filling with steeled conviction, wondering why, why, why one look calmed her raging mind. His chest was firm, his arms secure. The winds encased them, forming a bubble as they went down, down, down. 

It was cold and it was exhilarating. (Y/n) wrapped her arms around Morro, returning the embrace. The skies filled her with strength, the wind shielding her from the pain that was soon to come next. They slammed into the treetops, tumbling below through branches and leaves as another gust soared below them and carried their bodies to the jungle's floor.

(Y/n) landed on her back. Hard. She shut her eyes, body throbbing as she tried to catch her breath. The skies still thundered with lightning, the dark clouds swirling like little vortexes in the sky. "What...happened?"

Morro took a knee himself, breaths short, laboured. "Jay and I were about to inform your friends of Harumi when Samurai X ambushed us. I can only hope those fruit-coloured clowns will be alright. Are you okay?"

The ground was wet and soggy against (Y/n)'s back. She rolled over, brushing mud off her face as she stood. Morro's dark eyes were intense, all-seeing as he studied her every move.

(Y/n) forced herself to look away. "I'm fine." She unsheathed her katana and cut through the thick, leafy brush. "Who was that baby with Cole?"

The tale was kept short and to the point, just how Morro liked things. But with that perfectly tousled hair, those deep, intense eyes, (Y/n) found her mind wandering. She shook her head, chopping through the trees distractedly. "So the baby had a map, Jay and you failed to tell the ninja the most important thing I wanted you to, and now we're stuck in Primeval's Eye because of that map Cole found with the baby? Just what I like to hear when I wake up."

Morro didn't sound like he was listening, gaze towards the sky. "I don't see the Bounty. They must have crashed. Do you know where we're going? I doubt you'll have signal if they're down."

(Y/n) released a sigh to calm herself. Her heart wasn't slowing down and just kept beating faster. "Going somewhere is better than nowhere." She suddenly paused, the muddy ground sloshing beneath her feet. Morro turned, his wet hair flopping over his dirty cloak. "What?"

Blood staining her fingertips, the beaten and broken body swinging from side to side in the dark cave. (Y/n) looked away again, stomach dropping, heart clenching. Her dreams were just that--dreams. They couldn't hurt her, and neither could that nagging voice in her head. 

But I can in more ways than one, it said. Give in to my power, let it consume you.

(Y/n) sliced through the thick bush and it collapsed at her feet into tiny pieces.

You fear being alone, yet you wish to be rid of me?, it seethed. Weak. That is what you are!

(Y/n) kicked a heavy branch and it aggressively flew into a tree, nearly severing it in two.

You mask your fears behind your own hatred, but I see your true feelings. The love you feel for Morro, the sacrifice you would do to save him from anything, even death. What will he think of you when he realizes who the true monster was all along?

(Y/n) ran her katana through the trees, the branches, the brush beneath her feet. She didn't want to acknowledge this aching voice in her head, these visions and terrible futures haunting her dreams. "Shut up!" The sound of her ragged breaths cut through the noisy jungle. "Shut up!" She brought down her katana in deadly swipes, body growing jittery with adrenaline. The voice laughed, slowly fading, vanishing.

And all was quiet.

Nothing in the path had been spared, not even the tiny bugs, and the fleeing birds. Blood soaked (Y/n)'s blade red and she stared into the reflection with terrified eyes. These hands were always used to protect, to create, so why was her heart burning in anger, her veins coursing with hatred?

"(Y/n)." Morro entered her line of view, blocking the...mess at her feet. "You need to sit down." The ragged sounds of (Y/n)'s own breath made it hard to hear anything besides the thump, thump, thump of her heart. She shook the blood from her blade, brushing past Morro with a swallow. "I-I'm fine. I already told you. Nothing is wrong with me. We have to find the others. If they crashed, I won't be able to contact them and--"

"(Y/n)." Morro caught her shoulder, spinning her around to face him. His lips were pressed into a thin line, a sign he wasn't pleased. "Primeval's Eye is not a kind place. We have to gather ourselves to have any hope of finding the mask or your family. We need to be smart."

No, they didn't need to be smart. Just quick to find The Bounty, that map, and get the heck out of here with the final mask. (Y/n) wriggled out of his firm grip, raising her blade with trembling hands to hack at the trees again.

Until a hand to caught her own.

"Morro, let go." (Y/n) spat out the words, venom on her tongue. "I said, let go."

"Give me your sword." Those obsidian eyes were dark and commanding, yet all the while, soft and loving. Morro looked wounded, as if he had been kicked in the face. "(Y/n), give me the sword."

Her heavy breaths hitched as a sharp breeze ran through her hair, signaling Morro's waning patience. He wasn't going to be so kind if he had to ask again, but she didn't care because this was her katana, not his. She bared her teeth, letting out a growl that couldn't have been her own voice.

"You always tell me what to do," she seethed between heavy breaths. "Always bossing me around, saying I'm not this or not that. This is mine! Let go!"

Morro remained still, the winds sharp against his skin. "(Y/n), give it to me."

"No."

"(Y/n)!" Morro commanded respect. He stood, shoulders square with little interest in his eyes as he studied (Y/n)'s cold expression. Her eyes had lost its glow like stars, growing a shade darker than it should have. He took her other hand in his, squeezing it firmly. "What happened to you?"

When (Y/n) remained still, Morro heaved in a sharp breath. The sound of a slap hit (Y/n)'s ears before the stinging pain and she stumbled, holding her face with wide eyes. 

"Your family is waiting for you, we have a mission to complete." Morro didn't sound the least bit remorseful, as if he had done this before (and he had). He was no stranger to strength, no stranger to using brute force to get what he wanted. Yet as he knelt before (Y/n), grabbing her shoulders and giving them a good squeeze, his dark eyes were soft, apologetic. "We can't lose ourselves. You can't let them win, (Y/n)."

The world slowly returned to its axis, spinning the same as it once was before. Colour returned, that bleak sight of sticky red fading to the back of (Y/n)'s mind. What was wrong with her? She wasn't sure, and a part of her really didn't want to know. "I-I...I'm sorry."

Morro released a heavy sigh, that dark, uncaring frown gone with the wind. "Let's go. We need to find the oni cave, wherever it is."

The walk was quiet. (Y/n) thought back to her times in the monastery, the training she under went, the amount of times Uncle drilled into her head the importance of balance. She stared at her hands, the sounds of Morro cutting branch after branch filling the emptiness. Father said she was bound to revert to what their ancestors once were--the oni and the dragon.

So which was it? 

A grunt escaped (Y/n)'s lips and she shut her eyes briefly. Ever since she had woken up, something felt off, like a seesaw tipping in the wrong direction. "I don't feel like myself, Morro."

"What gave you that impression?" he said with a raise of his brow. "Not that killing random, innocent birds was ever your thing."

A humourless laugh escaped (Y/n)'s lips and her shoulders slumped. "Neither of us have unlocked our True Potential and it...bothers me. I feel like I'm missing something, like I know what to do, but can't figure out how."

Morro kept hacking at the trees, seemingly lost in his head. "And?" He was dismissive, it was the last thing on his mind. "We have bigger problems than finding our True Potential. That doesn't have anything to do with what's going to happen to you once the three masks are reunited."

(Y/n) swallowed hard. "Did you ever find your True Potential?" 

"If you're trying to trauma dump, just get out with it." Morro stared at his reflection in the blade, where his own eye bags and sunken cheeks stared back. "You almost died and now we're not even bound together by our souls. You should be at least a little worried about that."

Ah, maybe that was why something felt strange. Still, it didn't answer the worries she had of what were going to happen if she failed. With her powers, she could only imagine what destruction she would cause if she lost herself. "You aren't being very helpful right now."

The moment those words left (Y/n)'s lips, she regretted them.

A horrid storm brewed in Morro's chest that struck quick as a gale of wind, as fast as a hurricane. He swallowed the bad taste in his mouth but it wouldn't go away. "I'm not being helpful?" he echoed, voice hollow. "Every time you get into trouble, all I think about is you. It's a distraction that drives me insane. I don't need to think about you all the time, and I don't need you is what I keep telling myself. Yet the moment you enter my sights..."

Morro turned, meeting (Y/n)'s eyes. 

"...I feel lost." Pain washed over his face, and it was then (Y/n) understood how tired he looked. Half-lidded, stormy eyes. Tousled, messy hair somehow still so perfect and silky. "You make me so angry. Yet I know it's true because whenever you're in trouble, I'm always there without hesitation."

Morro ran a hand over his face, haunting images of lonely treks in the dark, endless nights lying awake with the howling wolves, flashing through his head. "Even after I left all those years ago, the only thing I saw when I closed my eyes was you." A quivering breath left his lips, shaking like the wind. "I don't care what happens to me if it means saving you, (Y/n). True Potential or not, ninja never quit, and I'm not a quiter."

Morro went back to hacking at the trees and (Y/n) couldn't believe how he could just go around saying stupid things so easily. She placed a hand over her chest, heart skipping a beat.

Eventually, the two entered a clearing. Judging by the broken brush, someone else had been here. The leaves were still fresh and green, so it couldn't have been more than ten minutes ago. 

"Your cousin was here." Morro announced, eyeing the footprints leading towards a river. "It looks like Harumi was too." 

The river's flow was gentle in the loud, humid jungle. Birds cawed above and the bugs made their little sounds as (Y/n) swatted them away. She heaved out a breath, reminding herself how calm it felt to be in the sky's embrace. She had to hold onto that sense of balance, that sense of peace, even with that nagging voice in the back of her mind.

A gentle breeze passed, cool against her hot, sweaty skin.

"I'm sorry for snapping." Morro clearly felt ridiculous saying that by the way his gaze flickered awkwardly to the side. "I was...worried about you. In your sleep, you kept calling out to me and there was nothing I could do to help you."

A pull in (Y/n)'s gut made her feel insides flip and lurch. Urgh, here he went again, saying things that left her confused. How was she supposed to feel? Disgusted? Revolted?

Or...grateful? To have such a wonderfully loyal person by her side? The lack of connection between there souls left her feeling rather empty. It was harder now to read how Morro was feeling, much less what went on in that head of his. (Y/n) bit the inside of her cheek, rubbing the back of her knuckles that had been dyed red. "I had a dream, or vision, whatever it was. It kept replaying over and over in my sleep showing you. Dead."

Morro's brow furrowed. The river's flow was deafening. Loud. "I'm a ghost, I can't die. Even now, water still has no effect on me."

"Well, you were alive in my dream." The sight of blood and death sent a shiver down (Y/n)'s spine. "You just...you were there and every time I tried to save you, I couldn't. You died. There was nothing I could do but watch." Her voice cracked, throat closing in. She shut her eyes, going still. "Morro..."

"I can't stand you! Why do you have to help me? Why when I hate you so much, you never leave?"

"...even if it's our Destiny, even if there's nothing we can do, the thought of you dying...terrifies me." (Y/n) felt sick to her stomach. She rubbed at her shoulder, feeling the absence of stitches, just an ugly scar beneath her touch. "First Spinjitzu Master." A grunt escaped her lips in disbelief. "I can't stand you, Morro. I hate you."

He let out a huff, indifferent to the usual venomous words. "Yet here you are, afraid of your worst enemy dying. Ironic, isn't it?"

"I suppose so." (Y/n) slowly picked up her pace to join Morro's side, finally gathering the courage to look at his eyes. "Remember that time at the palace, on the rooftops the first day we were assigned there?"

Morro kept his grip tight around the katana despite not needing it anymore. He cast a glance to the side at the river, watching it course against the rocks. "You ran off to chase that guy on the motorcycle, and we lost him because you didn't want my help."

That last part made (Y/n) cringe. She bit her lip, gut twisting uncomfortably. 

"I wanted to ask--"

She had cut herself short then, hesitating before the firecrackers pulled her attention away. "I wanted to ask you something back then and I didn't have the chance to."

There was a pause and Morro raised a brow. He was being cautious, on edge. "What?"

Do you love me?

The words sat on (Y/n)'s throat and she grimaced, trying to force it past her lips. It felt like vomiting, like trying to push a rock through her esophagus. "I..." The anger in her heart flared, building unpredictably like a brewing storm. "Do you...do you still..."

For all the times she said she hated Morro, for all the times she looked him straight in the eyes and knew he meant well, only to shut him down, did she deserve the answer to her own question? 

Had she earned it?

No. Of course not.

(Y/n) held her words. "N-nothing. I'll...tell you later." She slowly began to trail behind Morro, avoiding his curious eyes. He didn't push it, well aware of the fragile peace of his companion. The two eventually found the end of the river, where it opened up into a fast-moving waterfall.  Below was a lake overlooking a large cave with a large, rocky pathway leading to its entrance. Judging by the jagged rocks and the configured way it arranged itself into the face of an oni, this was the spot.

Blood dripping, body swinging, a pair of dead, obsidian eyes--

"No." (Y/n) scrambled away from the edge of the cliff. Terror flooded her system, chilling her limbs still. "I--I can't. Morro, if what I saw was true--"

The slice of a blade filled the air. "Then I'll be sure to cut it down fast as the wind." Morro placed a hand to (Y/n)'s shoulder giving it a squeeze. She hesitantly met his gaze, blood roaring in her ears. "I know you're scared, but if you can't harness your fears, then it will control you." He sheathed the blade on (Y/n)'s back, strapping it so it wouldn't fall. "If we want to save Ninjago, we have to learn to carry the weight of ourselves. And as long as I'm here, you won't be alone, (Y/n). That I promise."

Morro held out a hand with strength and conviction. He looked so sure of himself just as he once was long ago, so confident that the next leap would be supported on the winds. 

And it was, his forever friend, his forever companion--the same as (Y/n).

"My dear, you are anything but a blemish in this imperfect world."

(Y/n) took his hand, trusting Morro, trusting in the person that was him. Together, they leapt off the cliff and soared on a gust of wind. The landing was sound, and they hurriedly made their way to the mouth of the cave. 

It was dark and dank, the air smelling of dead jungle plants and must. A ravine of pillars stood in the center of the entrance, leading to a bridge on the other side. (Y/n) heaved in a breath, releasing it slowly. 

Believe in yourself, she thought. You have to.

The voice filled (Y/n)'s head again, speaking like a coiled snake. 

Beware the sign etched in stone. 

Some pillars were marked with the face of an oni, while others were plain. (Y/n) held out a hand, watching purple light dance across her fingertips. It illuminated the cave, where she mentally marked out a path in her head.

(Y/n) then took a leap of faith and stepped on the unmarked pillar. Nothing happened, no crazy arrows from the dark, no sinking ground, no nothing. She took another step forward, and another, and another. 

(Y/n) made it safely to the other side. She heaved out a breath, turning to face Morro. "Don't touch anything with the mark on it." 

"That would be in my best interest," he waved a hand and the winds carried him to the other side, "if I wanted to waste my time jumping around like an idiot." There was a light of mischief in his eyes, a cool smirk rising on his lips. "Don't look so surprised, (Y/n). You look like you've seen a ghost."

(Y/n)'s shoulders relaxed, even if only for a second. As much as she hated the thought, having Morro here made everything better.

The two continued over the bridge, steps light as a breeze. The only source of light in this place of darkness was from (Y/n)'s hand. Shivers crawled down her spine the further they traveled, the walls seeming to close in. 

She has arrived.

After centuries, the child of darkness has come!

Centuries too late...

(Y/n) squinted in the dark, heart ramming against her chest. She exchanged a look with Morro, who frowned.

"If you're going to ask if I heard anything, I didn't." he said.

Right. These were the voices in (Y/n)'s head, the monsters beneath her bed. She heaved out a breath, forcing down her nerves, her fears for the sake of Ninjago, the sake of her family. She had to be strong. She had to fight the lulling darkness in her heart.

You still reject me, came a familiar voice. You fear my power, my anger. Your hands were made to create, yes, but also destroy!

No. No. No. (Y/n) faltered, breaths shortening. 

You know what I am. Who I am.

The walls were closing in, the darkness encasing her like a coffin. The light in (Y/n)'s hand flickered, vanishing as she blindly stumbled against the cool, rough walls of the cave. She felt a hand grasp her own, grounding, firm. 

"(Y/n), whatever you're hearing isn't real." 

"Yes, it is." (Y/n) was fighting Morro now, fighting his touch that was so loving, so dear. "She's back, she's here to get me." 

"Who?" 

(Y/n) didn't know. She didn't want to know. The sounds of her ragged breathing echoed against the walls, where the quiet gushing of water sounded from the caverns below. She grabbed at the sides of her head, clawing at her skin until it hurt. 

"(Y/n)," Morro sounded as if he had been wounded. "There's nothing there. It's just you and me. No one else is here." 

But I am, the voice seethed. And always will be as a part of you.

It was the same evil, evil thing chasing her in her dreams. The same black mass of darkness wrapping around her neck, stealing the air from her lungs. A well of tears burned (Y/n)'s eyes as she squeezed them shut, slowly sinking to her knees with a sob. "She won't go away, she's here to get me!"

Morro sank to the floor beside her, his cloak soft despite its wear and tear, its scent refreshing as a mountain breeze. He pulled (Y/n) in close, cradling her securely in his strong arms. "No one is here besides me," he reassured. "Nothing is there. Just me." 

This vulnerability, this feeling as if she had been laid bare. Trembles wracked (Y/n)'s body as she curled into Morro's embrace, hating with every fibre of her being how easily to was to fall apart in his arms. But those feeling dissipated like sugar in water, gone until one squinted really, really closely.

"I'm here," Morro softly said into her hair. "I'm not leaving anytime soon." 

And this time, (Y/n) really did believe Morro. She released a quivering breath, hands trembling as she clung desperately to his cloak. The voices began to fade, slowly leaving as nothing more than an echo to the winds. Morro didn't let go, instead running his hand through (Y/n)'s hair, whispering softly in her ear. 

A sniffle escaped (Y/n)'s lips. "I must look so pathetic." She wiped at her face, resting her head into the crook of Morro's shoulder. He kept a hand to the small of her back, leaning on the cave walls for support.

"You've seen things," he said. "Things I can only imagine compare to my time with the Preemminent. You, out of all people, don't deserve to see that kind of torture."

Another breath, this time steady, easy. (Y/n) lifted a hand, purple light dancing upon her fingers. It cast itself over the walls, illuminating murals and paintings of tales long forgotten. "You act as if you've experienced it too. I thought the Cursed Realm was only a place to be locked up in." 

Morro shook his head, the soft light casting his worm face in long shadows. "No, it's much more than that. Her realm meant being under her control. She kept us in line, kept me in line, even when I showed nothing but absolute loyalty." There was a bitterness to his voice, a pain that didn't escape (Y/n)'s ears.

She frowned, "And when you betrayed her by giving me the Realm Crystal, she ended you." A bitter taste filled (Y/n)'s mouth, she swallowed. "I'm sorry...for not realizing."

Morro let out a breath, shaking his head. "Don't be. You have no reason to be sorry."

"Let me." (Y/n) pulled herself out of Morro's arms, leaning against the wall beside him to meet his gaze. She understood now why her heart ached every time they locked gazes, why it was so painful carrying the memory of him when every lingering touch, every shared word burned her from the inside out. "My father once said that in battle, there are no winners, only survivors." 

"I did survive, the ultimate price being you." A world of hurt filled Morro's eyes, leaving him open and bare. He hesitantly lifted a hand, placing it to (Y/n)'s cheek to swipe the tears falling from her eyes like stars. He was close, closer than she had ever allowed him to be. "For every action, every decision I made, it meant taking another step away from you. I paid the toll, and for that, I always hoped one day you'd have the heart to forgive a monster like me." 

The air was thick with tension and the unsaid as (Y/n) stared into his dark eyes, lost in the presence that was him. She was being drawn in like a fish on a line, inching closer and closer until their foreheads were nearly touching. Morro's breath tickled her cheek, cool like the soft hand upon her face. "I'm sorry, (Y/n)."

"I know." Her heart rammed against her chest, a steady rhythm filled with anticipation. "I'm sorry too."

And this time, she really meant it. A smile rose to Morro's lips and his nose bumped against (Y/n)'s. Then a mischievous light flickered in his deep, intense eyes and he smirked, pulling away. "If you keep that up you'll get more than you bargained for, (Y/n)."

She immediately pulled away, eyes wide. Her face burning, heart thumping at insurmountable speeds as she jumped to her feet, coughing. "W-we should keep moving."

A ghost of a smile fell upon Morro's lips. "Of course, lead the way."

The two stopped at an intersection at a pair of doors, one with the symbol and the other without. (Y/n) pressed her lips into a thin line, another voice whispering to choose the unmarked one. She eyed the stream below the door beside it and sighed. "So if I go through that one, this whole place floods, but if I go through this one, it won't?"

Morro raised a brow. "Are you sure?"

The sound of running water down in the lower levels of the cave weren't very reassuring. (Y/n) shrugged. "No." She blasted through the door without a moment's notice, rocks flying into the air and she waved some dust away. Morro sent a steady breeze through the air, clearing away the debris with a less than amused glare. "A warning would have been nice, airhead."

(Y/n) motioned to the large room on the other side with a roll of her eyes. "Don't be so prissy, your majesty. I see the mask."

Lo and behold, across a bridge overlooking an abyss of black, stood the mask in a force-field of white energy. It sat on a pedestal, suspended in air, where a beam of sunlight leaked in through small gaps in the ceiling. Not the best hiding place for an ancient artifact, but certainly dramatic.

(Y/n) diffused the ball of energy in her hand, shaking it out. There was no need for it anymore. 

Beware!

Beware the final mask!

You, the child of darkness!

A quivering breath escaped (Y/n)'s lips as stepped forward, only for a swirling vortex to appear and plop her in the center of a bridge made of stardust. The skies were filled with stars, swirling mirrors displaying memories, past, and present. The Void? She hadn't opened any rifts to enter, and neither was she dreaming. "This...is not supposed to happen."

"Where are we?" 

(Y/n) jumped out of her skin, bewildered. Morro stood beside her, staring at the world with a grimace on his face. "It's so bright in here."

"Thanks, so very helpful." (Y/n) noted, lips pressed thin. "The only other people who appear here are my father and grandfather. You shouldn't be here, especially when we aren't tethered to each other."

Whispers below echoed throughout the abyss, where creatures of black mist roared and squired about below the bridges. (Y/n) gave them a distant glare, disinterest in her eyes. Those things never welcomed outsiders and were rumoured (by father) to eat anyone who didn't belong here. "The shadows are irritated, we need to leave."

Despite Morro's confusion, he followed after (Y/n) like a lost puppy, careful to avoid the edges of the translucent bridges.

"You don't understand!"

A flare of anger burst in (Y/n)'s chest. She kept her hands at her sides, fists clenched as those foul, foul memories played on repeat.

"Stop trying to tell me I'm wrong!"

No, no. (Y/n) was over all of that. It didn't matter and she sure didn't care. Morro was different, was he not? He changed, and she knew this. Yet...her heart still stung, that wound she wasn't sure could ever heal tearing wide open.

A hand caught her own and she paused, shutting her eyes. "I'm fine." She sensed the distress in Morro's heart, felt the shifting winds of change. "These are just...old things."

"Old things that bother you." Morro noted, turning (Y/n) to face him. She hesitantly met his eyes, frowning. "I don't care about them anymore," she said. "It doesn't matter." Yet the words felt strange on her tongue, fake. 

A sigh escaped Morro's lips, and even with those strange creatures rearing their ugly heads below, he didn't look away. Didn't blink for a second. "(Y/n)..." 

(Y/n) averted her gaze, distantly staring at the hand in her own. When had they become so close? When was it she had finally allowed him to breech her iron walls? She looked up, meeting Morro's uncertain gaze reassuringly. And she saw in his eyes how sorry he was. "I just...I need some time to think." 

To process all these feelings she couldn't quite comprehend at once. The fear, the anger, it brewed like a storm, yet dissipated the moment her eyes locked with Morro's. Nothing was making sense because she was sure that she was beginning to forgive him, beginning to trust him. 

And maybe it didn't need to make sense. At least not yet. (Y/n) had to trust her instincts and all that Sensei ever taught her.

Or you could let it all out at once, suggested the voice.

(Y/n) began to quicken her steps, eyeing the abyss before her. She lifted a hand, preparing to tear an exit through the very air, until a familiar presence stopped her. Calm as the skies before a storm, commanding as a hurricane's wind.

"Father." (Y/n) turned, sparing him a distasteful look. "Have you come to criticize me again? Or turn into that...that monster?" 

There was little acknowledgement in father's eyes as he looked (Y/n) up and down. He folded his hands behind his back, shaking his head. "That monster was...something else. I had no idea it was so powerful."

(Y/n) frowned. "What do you mean?"

"If you open your ears and close your mouth, you will understand. It might surprise you, really."

"Or terrify you." The First Spinjitzu Master appeared in a burst of light, hands folded behind his back. He stood slightly taller than father, with a lanky, yet sturdy body and his usual straw hat. "(Y/n)'s path is not one we can interfere with. She must learn on her own. Leave, Lance. Do not be foolish."

(Y/n) clasped her hands together and bowed, Morro mimicking her. "Grandfather," she greeted. "What brings you both here?" 

A pause, as if grandfather were trying to figure out what to say. He eyed the vortexes, cringing at the voices filling his ears. "Your element strengthens with the thinning of the veil." He motioned to the roaring below the bridges, where creatures of shadow thrashed around in the dark. "Those creatures, they are not what you think, (Y/n). Once the masks are reunited, you must be prepared to fulfill your destiny." 

"Or defy it." Father quickly cut in with a glare. He made his way forward, his silvery brown hair swinging with every step. "Do not listen to him. You will survive. You have to, (Y/n). Not just for your sake, but your family."

The faces of the ninja flashed in (Y/n)'s mind and she pressed her lips together, thinking on the images of blood, the creaking of bones.  "What happens if I don't?" 

Father shook his head, "There is no other option. You must live." Great. Just what (Y/n) loved the most, vagueness. She opened her mouth to speak, only for father to cut her short. "Morro, was it? The Master of Wind." 

Morro clasped his hands together, bowing. "Yes, sir."

Father's brows knit together briefly and he eyed the two. It was hard to read his expression so stoic, so cold. "I see now the issue."

(Y/n)'s nose scrunched. What in Ninjago did that even mean?

Morro held a similar expression of distaste. He frowned, standing straight. "May I ask what you speak of?" His tone held a sharp edge, curious, yet cautious. "If it has to do with what is to come, I can only imagine its importance." 

A heavy, heavy pause fell as two of the most powerful beings in all the realms stared down the Master of Wind. He was in the presence of a practical god and his son, the former Master of Aether. Worst of all? Neither looked amused at what they could only consider pure insolence. Hubris.

Grandfather was the first to speak, brow raised, lips pressed thin. "So asks the cursed soul, the defiler of destiny. You tested my patience, what gives you the right to demand answers?" 

Morro stared straight into the First Spinjitzu Master's eyes, power in his stance. "I don't have the right, but for the sake of your granddaughter, I ask of you to help us. This is not a mission anyone could face alone, and in our case, cannot be done with our circumstances. We are not bound by soul any longer, but must see this through together."

A moment of silence passed before grandfather released a heavy sigh. He looked like he pitied Morro, or maybe thought this was a simple act of mercy. "Reuniting the masks evokes resurrection, but if done incorrectly, corrupts its target."

"Which in this case, can be you (Y/n)." It was rare to see Father look so openly annoyed. He had a grumpy scowl on his face, much like Garmadon. "In short, trading yourself as a sacrifice will stop the ceremony. You will return to what our ancestors once were and what you do from there depends. The choice is yours." 

Anger. It bubbled in (Y/n)'s gut, eating away at her insides as she stared between her two family members. A part of her was disgusted to even call them that. "And you couldn't have told me this before?" she snapped. "You called me all the way here while I was retrieving the final mask, just to say, yeah if you don't get this part right, there's one other option? What does that even mean, returning to our ancestors? Urgh, you know what? I need to leave now, before anyone gets there first." 

Father let out a breath, as if he were looking down a toddler having a tantrum. "And miss what I have to say about your mother? Impatient as always, (Y/n)."

Her breath hitched, fists clenched at her side. "What of her?" 

"The power inside of you, born from both worlds, is unbalanced. You will become what your mother was, and will lose every ounce of humanity you possess." Father's steely eyes were distant faraway. He paused, heaving out a breath. "She, for this reason, was banished to the Cursed Realm."

(Y/n)'s brows furrowed. "But it was destroyed. She must be Departed." 

A strange light glistened in father's eyes, but he said nothing, as if contemplating. Before he could speak again, grandfather cut in with a glare. "We have meddled enough. If you have any hope of defeating your adversaries, you will know what's good for you and follow your destiny." He held out a hand and a vortex ripped through the air. "Go, we will settle the creatures down below."

(Y/n) remained rooted in place. It was as if she were being lit aflame and thrown into the center of a storm, tossed and bombarded relentlessly. "No. Tell me, what happened to my mother?"

Grandfather looked up from the brim of his straw hat. "Just like your parents. Impatient, angry, and ridiculously foolish." Disappointment was evident in his voice as he sighed. Before (Y/n) could retort, he stepped forward and shoved her into the vortex.

The last thing (Y/n) saw was father running over and shoving grandfather with a shout. Yikes, it seemed bad blood ran in the family.

The walls of the cave appeared, cold and dank. (Y/n) stood in the cave, fists clenched, shoulders tensed as Morro appeared beside her. The vortex closed and darkness settled, bathing her heart in shadows.

"Are you serious?!" (Y/n) shouted in frustration, kicking a rock into the abyss below. "The nerve! To think I'm even related to either of them! They called me there, only to refuse to tell me the most important things!"

Morro was oddly quiet again. He stood off to the side, his green-tinted skin less vibrant than usual. "(Y/n), I..."

She let out another shout, glaring down the mask still sat on the pedestal. "That thing over there--if they had just destroyed it, none of this would have happened!" The jade ring around her neck was heavy as she stalked over to the mask. It swung against her collarbone, cold, unforgiving. "If I destroy it, then we can end this right here, right now!"

"(Y/n)!" Morro urgently called again. He followed after her, grabbing her hands before she could crush the relic into dust. "I...I need to tell you something. When I went to visit Mystake, there was something she gave me."

"I don't care." (Y/n) ripped herself out of Morro's grasp and thrust her hands past the waves of light surrounding the mask. It broke against her touch and she ripped the thing off its pedestal. Purple energy flickered across her fingertips, like sparks.

This was it. The final thing needed to end this once and for all.

Purple burst from (Y/n)'s hands, enveloping the mask in a vengeful stream of light. It refused to crack under the pressure, resiliently staring back into her eyes tauntingly.

A burning sensation filled (Y/n)'s hands and she hissed, dropping the mask. It clattered to her feet as she ripped off her torn gloves, staring at the burn marks on her hands. "You can't be serious. It's a stupid mask, what do you mean I can't destroy it?!"

Morro released a sigh, staring at the thing with resentment. "Dark magic. That, or it doesn't like your dragon blood."

The burns on (Y/n)'s hands stung as she aggressively snatched the damned mask off the ground. The material was cool beneath her burning hands, eerily soothing as she stared into its painted eyes. "We leave now."

Power flowed through (Y/n)'s veins. She froze in place, breaths shortening as a surge of power flowed through her veins. Morro called out to her, shaking her as she numbly stared into the mask's painted eyes. 

Yes, give in to my power! Your hatred!

It felt so right, so fitting in her hands. This was meant to be, this was (Y/n)'s destiny. She lifted the masks so cool beneath her burning hands, that dredges of her hatred yearning to be released. The image of Ninjago covered in darkness, the screams of the innocent, the chaos left in its wake. 

It was like music to (Y/n)'s ears. She turned the mask, lifting it towards her face. 

Then a hand collided with her face and she was knocked off her feet. The mask flew to the other side of the platform, clattering innocently on the ground. "You're not fighting it hard enough!" Morro's strained voice was dark and filled with frustration. "You're letting them win by giving into their power, (Y/n). This isn't you!"

A laugh escaped (Y/n)'s lips and it was distorted and crazed. "I heard what I needed to hear. This is part of my destiny."

Morro coiled back and threw another punch. (Y/n) caught it, dodging as he threw a kick and swept a leg beneath her. She faltered, only to leap back and land on her feet. She was fast, faster than she had ever been in her life. And oh did it fill her with so much hunger, so much thirst for more.

"I'm finally better than you," (Y/n) cackled. "You can't win." She dodged another kick and a merciless gust of wind, flipping behind Morro and pulling his arms behind him. He was still quick and swift, elbowing (Y/n) in the stomach and creating distance between them. A whip of wind hit (Y/n) in the side and she slammed into the pedestal, only to leap to her feet and ram straight into Morro.

His back slammed into the ground, the wind knocked out of him. "Snap out of it, (Y/n)!" His voice was ragged, grainy like sand. "This isn't you!"

"Yes, it is." (Y/n) straddled Morro and pulled him up by the collar, seething, venom dripping in her words. Fangs protruded from her lips, sharp, deadly. "Stop fighting."

"No." A gust of wind whipped through the air, forcing (Y/n) down against Morro. He took his chance and flipped her over, pinning her down by the wrists as he straddled her. "The (Y/n) I know doesn't care about power. She doesn't want it because she uses her powers to protect, to create!"

(Y/n) struggled against Morro's grip, the sight of his eyes so pleading, so desperate, messing with her head. The voices cut in and out, strained against the calm within the eye of the storm. The calm that was him. "Let me go!" (Y/n) cried. She tried shoving him off, but he had her perfectly restrained beneath him.

"You saved me (Y/n)!" Morro's voice was breaking at the seams, quivering as he strained to keep (Y/n) from moving. "That time in the caves of the First Spinjitzu Master's grave, when I used Lloyd to get to you so you'd hand over the Realm Crystal? You beat me up so bad, it almost knocked some sense into me! I thought you were going to toss me into the river!"

(Y/n) shut her eyes. She hated this feeling so familiar, painful ache in her chest. This stupid, stupid want, need to get that pathetically stupid look off of Morro's face.

"In the end," he swallowed with a heave, "you couldn't do it! You couldn't because you cared too much about me! I'm not going to hurt you--I can't, (Y/n). You have to fight them because we have a mission to save Ninjago, to protect it!"

A ragged breath escaped (Y/n)'s lips as the pull to destroy, to wreck havoc upon the world, yanked at her consciousness.

You are the epitome of destruction, said the voice. This was what you were made for, (Y/n).

She let out a cry, throat burning, limbs squirming against the strong winds upon her face, the weight of Morro on top of her. Tears burned her eyes as he kicked him off and pinned him down, hands curling around his neck to crush his windpipe--

--only for a laugh, cruel and cold to echo throughout the cave. Morro laughed and laughed and laughed, as if this were the most hilarious thing he had ever seen in his life. His tousled hair lay sprawled against the cave floor, falling against the side of his face as he placed his hands around (Y/n)'s giving them a squeeze.

"You forget. " His sultry voice was bold and confident. "You can't kill someone who is already dead."

The voices burst from seam to seam, swirling like a tornado. It brewed in (Y/n)'s mind and she shut her eyes, grip failing. Morro took her hands, intertwining them with his as a pained exhale escaped his lips. "(Y/n)."

She collapsed on top of him, tears streaming down her face, shoulders wracked with trembles. A gut-wrenching sob escaped her lips and she rested her head against Morro's chest as the voices finally vanished. They had been here before, once long ago in a monastery that no longer existed as rain pelted down from the heavens above like teardrops from her eyes. 

"You scared me, stupid." Morro said into her hair with a heavy chuckle. "You really need to stop doing that."

Arms encased (Y/n)'s shaking body, pulling her close as airy whispers filled her ears. The breeze upon her hot skin was caring and cool as she basked in it with another sob. The feel of Morro's ghostly skin beneath her touch, the dying urge to simply end him then and there. It scared her, chilled her to the bone. 

A monster. 

Was that what (Y/n) was?

Ninjago Secrets!

-(Y/n) knows how to play instruments, taught by her father
-Lance was the smart one out of his brothers and a known prodigy in the family
-Wu was still the favourite regardless and Garm+Lance hated that

Spotify Playlist

Chapter Text

Never put off until tomorrow what can be done today.

This pathetic excuse of a fire was doing nothing to warn (Y/n)'s skin. She glared at it, teeth grit as she paced around and kicked at the dirt. It had been a year since she left the Monastery. She understood the in and outs of hunting, the cruelty such dangerous lands held, and even fought off bandits without breaking a sweat. 

So why? Why was it scammers became the top bane of her week? She stared at the single coin in her hands, the one piece of metal that would either save her or remain junk.

Food was hard to come by, especially with the unforgiving chill of winter. A shiver crawled down (Y/n)'s spine and she pulled her thin cloak tighter. "When I get you Morro, when I get you, you're gonna regret everything you've ever done in your pathetic life." 

The winds cut through the chilly air, biting and frigid. (Y/n)'s teeth began to chatter. "Shut up! I know you're out there somewhere, don't act like I don't exist!"

Snowflakes flitted through the frosty air, bringing with it another current of wind. They fell numbly against (Y/n)'s skin, melting quickly.

Footsteps sounded from the darkness and a man emerged from the brush. He wore a thick, fur coat, a red scarf, and a red hat to match.

"Ronin." (Y/n) plainly greeted.

The man pulled off his goggles, eyeing the snowflakes gliding through the skies. "Outta all the places, you chose the middle of nowhere?" 

(Y/n)'s face was stamped into a forever scowl. She found a dry stick and roughly tossed it into her tiny, puffing fire. "Cut to the chase, you're not one for small talk. What do you have?"

Ronin unclipped a satchel from his waist with a huff. "Well, the boy you're looking for is pretty elusive. I bet he's catchin' your scent. You gotta disappear for a while if you want any chance of findin' him." 

(Y/n) opened the satchel. She unfolded a missing person's flyer, where a small piece of green fabric was clipped to the corner. The flyer was one she made herself, a guide Ronin could use to hopefully pinpoint Morro's location.

"Say, what's a kid like you doin' out here alone anyway?" Ronin inquired, frowning. He eyed the weak fire with a sigh and dumped some old wrappers into it. "You're not gonna survive on your own, ya know. Especially not with the cash ya got."

(Y/n) took the piece of fabric and stuffed it in her bag with a grunt. "What cash?" Her voice was taunt, nothing short of aggressive and angry. She handed the flyer and satchel back. "Last time, you took sixty percent of my share. Greedy bastard."

An awkward laugh escaped Ronin's lips, one look at (Y/n) making sweat gather on his brows. "Oh, right." He shrugged, rubbing at his stubble in thought. "Well, how bout this, next job's tougher, but with your skills, it'll be a breeze." 

(Y/n) was sceptical, but one look at her weak campfire, empty rations, and singular coin made her sigh. For Morro, she thought.

Ronin was never a man of his word, but this time, (Y/n) thought he might be. She stood perched on the rooftops of this lonely village, overlooking the snow dusted lands with a frown. 

"He should be back by now." (Y/n) gave the sleek, black box a long, hard look. She had no idea what was inside, just that it was something priceless she stole from a local museum. "All this, just so I can eat another day. You're welcome, Morro."

A familiar flash of red caught (Y/n)'s eyes and she leapt down from the roof, landing silently. "Ronin." 

The poor guy jumped ten feet in the air, a shout escaping his lungs. "You damn ninja, always sneaking up on people..." He adjusted his hat, taking the box from (Y/n). "Rex is back out in the woods, keep your eye out for--"

"Move!" (Y/n) shoved Ronin and ducked out of the way of a bat. It was covered in nails, sharp ones that could turn someone's head into juice. The snow was cold against (Y/n)'s thin coat, splaying everywhere as she scrambled to her feet.

A group of men dressed in suits stepped into the alleyway, all armed with either short blades or firearms. (Y/n) yanked Ronin up by the arm, forcing him to his feet. "Run!" 

"What?" 

The sound of a shotgun shut Ronin up quick. The two sprinted through the back streets, turning this way and that as shards of stone and sidewalk exploded behind them. 

A line on the ground caught (Y/n)'s eyes and she ducked behind a stack of crates. Ronin followed her lead, watching as the suited men sprinted straight past them. "What? Why're we stopping, we need to get to Rex--"

"Shut up." (Y/n) sifted through the cool snow and held up a line. "Where's this connected?" Ronin frowned, squinting at it. "Well, if I'm right, that looks like a fuse, no?" 

The vague answer was enough to get (Y/n) sprinting into action. She pulled on the line, following it left, right, and all the way to the center of the village. It wouldn't do any good considering the snowy conditions, but the risk was still prominent.

Especially with the giant stack of dynamite bundled in the village's square. (Y/n)'s eyes widened, not long before the click of a gun sounded behind her. The barrel was cool against her temple, steely.

"Hand it over, ninja."

(Y/n) raised her hands, gaze flickering over to Ronin, who was shoved forward with his hands behind his head. "Hand over what?" 

The man in the suit sucked his teeth and made a motion to one of his mates. "When's the boss getting here?"

The man's mate held up a phone with a grimace. "Fifteen minutes."

"Great. Now I've got some kid ninja and a rogue mercenary to deal with?" The man rolled his eyes, waving his gun around haphazardly. His finger still remained on the trigger, and judging by the growing scowl on his face, he wouldn't hesitate to pull it. "Alright, ninja. Make it quick, you want your life or that tea set? Choose wisely, else you'll be caught in the explosion." 

(Y/n)'s brows furrowed from beneath her mask. She shot Ronin a glare, who stood empty handed. Where was the box? What did he do with it? 

The cool barrel against (Y/n)'s temple made her sigh. "I don't have it." The man raised a brow, grunting with a curl of his lip. "I saw you in the security footage. What do you mean you don't have it?"

"I stole it, but I handed it off to him." (Y/n) motioned eith her chin to Ronin, whose eyes widened. He stiffened, "Woah, woah. Don't drag me into this, kid. I'm just the broker, I got no other business with any of this." The guy holding him hostage raised a brow incredulously. "The hell? You're gonna sell out your friend?"

"Friend? Nah, we're just business partners!"

(Y/n)'s gaze narrowed and she bit the inside of her cheek. well, some business partner he was, getting them into whatever in Ninjago this was. "Why should we hand it over when you're gonna blow up the place?" (Y/n)'s tone was biting as the wind, barren of any warmth. "A tea set, right? How could something have any worth?" 

The man sighed as if he had just gotten off his 9-5 job. "It belonged to the First Spinjitzu Master. A priceless artefact worth billions." He removed the gun and pointed it to the stack of dynamite. "It's too bad none of us will be around to see it. Perhaps we will be greeted by the First Spinjitzu Master, in the afterlife." 

Ronin's eyes widened and he shoved the man beside him with a shout. "(Y/N)!"

She moved before her mind could think, kicking the gun from the man's hands and catching it mid-air. She pointed it to him, eyes cold, unfeeling. Then someone tackled her to the ground and the gun flew from her hands. She clawed at the snow, shouting as a foot collided with her face. Pain exploded in her jaw as she hauled herself up, hurriedly spinning into a spinjitzu tornado.

The men went flying. (Y/n)'s foot caught on a patch of ice and she did too, whirling in a blur of colour towards the stack of dynamite. She lost control, a shout escaping her lips as gun shots fired against her tornado's surface. They ricocheted, and as she smashed into the stack of dynamite, she realized then her mistake.

An explosion sounded. (Y/n) spun out of her Spinjitzu, frozen as flames erupted into the sky. Ronin stumbled over and yanked her back by the arm. They went tumbling in the snow as another explosion sounded, dyeing the houses in orange. 

Smoke filled (Y/n)'s lungs, along with a burning pain in her leg. Blood trailed from the wound, staining the white snow as a ringing pierced her ears. Ronin shouted something, but it was as if he were underwater, his figure vanishing in nothing but flakes of pure, white snow. Hands seized (Y/n) by the shoulders and she was dragged away as screams broke through the village. 

Bodies lined the streets, burnt limbs and faces as people cried for help. Ash filtered itself in the wind, nothing but specs that dirtied the snow to grey. 

Guilt. That was the first thing (Y/n) felt through the blinding pain in her leg and the digging hands against her skin. She struggled against them, kicking fruitlessly as they shoved and tossed her around. "Let...me go!" (Y/n) cried out. "I don't have your stupid tea set!" 

"Then we'll have to make up for that money some other way." said one of the men. "How much do you think she'll sell?"

"A good amount, maybe a thousa--did you hear that?"

They suddenly went quiet and the wind ripped through the air with a sharp sing. The man hauling her through the snow fell to his knees with a cry, clutching at his bloodied arm with a scream.

(Y/n) limply tumbled in the snow, hauling her heavy body up in a haze. The wind sang again, piercing her skin with a cruel cold that made her shiver.

The suited men dropped one by one like flies, spinning around and shooting at random in a hurried frenzy. Civilians screamed, fleeing the scene as a blur of dark colour knelt down in the snow. "You fucking airhead."

(Y/n) tried blinking the haze from her mind. The ringing in her ears fading as she looked up to meet a pair of mysterious obsidian eyes. They shone like the most rarest of stones, yet were cloudy with brewing storms.

Urgh, this kid wasn't Ronin. Knowing that coward, he must had ran off.

"Always getting into trouble," the boy vehemently added. "Giving me trouble."

The presence was familiar, the touch a past memory almost forgotten. The mysterious boy scooped (Y/n) into his arms, steps quiet in the crunching snow as he navigated towards the outskirts of town.

"If you ask me," the boy's voice was cool as the wind and clear as a blue bird sky, "you're better off going home."

(Y/n) held the boy as if he would disappear, clinging to the last bit of familiarity and security he provided. The smell of burnt flesh, the stench of gunpowder. It burned into her mind, weighing her shoulders heavily.

(Y/n)'s head lolled against the boy's back, falling into the crook of his neck. Her nose crinkled at a sour smell, "You stink."

"Shut up. Move your head before I drop you." the boy grumbled. "I can leave you here if I wish. I'm not doing this to be charitable."

Yet the boy made no move to abandon her. (Y/n) lay against him, still clinging like a panda to its bamboo shoots. Her eyes shut, and she surrendered to the call of sleep.

The next moment (Y/n) awoke, she was cold beside a campfire. It glowed brightly against her skin and burned a little too hot for her liking. The wind howled through the shivering trees, as if to warn her of the night's unforgiving chill.

A musty blanket had been wrapped around her shoulders, the wound on her leg neatly wrapped. (Y/n) sat up, eyeing the night skies wearily as the blanket pooled at her waist. She was all alone again. Now injured, and heavy with the weight of her consequences.

A whole village burned in flames. The terrified screams, the injured covering in nothing but blood and ash.

The trees cried out in the wind, bowing their heads low as a foreboding presence swpet through the brush. A pair of footsteps crunched in the icy snow.

(Y/n) unsheathed her katana, the one thing she hadn't sold to Ronin besides the clothes on her back. Her leg burned as she stood, pain shooting up her veins. "Come out! Only a coward hides in the shadows!"

The snow crunched again under a pair of footsteps so silent, it could have been the wind. Another frigid gale swirled through the trees and (Y/n) pulled the blanket close, shivering.

A blur suddenly leapt out from the darkness and pounced, tackling (Y/n) in one fell swoop. Hands caught her wrists and she was shoved face-first into the snow, the katana cool against her neck.

"Coward?" The voice was smooth, cool as the wind upon (Y/n)'s cheek. "You caused the destruction of a whole village and took over six hours to wake up. I don't believe someone of your kind has the right to say that." 

(Y/n) kicked Morro off with a grunt, snatching her katana back and grabbing a fist-full of his filthy cloak. She straddled him, only to falter as pain shot up her leg. "Argh!"

Morro took that as his cue to shove her off him. He was rough, aggressive as (Y/n) grabbed her leg in pain. "I'm not here out of the goodness of my heart," he spat. "I was merciful in order to repay my debts."

That sweet, sweet voice almost made (Y/n) forget how much of a jerk he was. Almost. "Then why save me if only to attack me?" She sat up, careful to avoid reopening her wound. "You're a jerk. Just admit you wanted to help me!"

"Help a murderer? Sure." Morro took a seat on an old log and tossed a bag of old newspaper clippings into the fire. "I can't believe you, working with Ronin, a mercenary? I suppose I'm not the only one who's changed."

(Y/n) studied Morro in a daze. From the growing sharpness of his jawline, to the cheekbones sunken in from malnourishment. His shoulders were slumped, nothing like the proud way he used to hold himself in confidence.

"Not to mention," Morro's gaze flickered over to (Y/n)'s like a hawk's, "you're now wanted as an accomplice in the 'great explosion of the town square'."

"What?!" (Y/n) snapped back to reality, brows knit in confusion. "I'm not a criminal!"

Morro laughed and it was all teeth and bite. "Take on a job from a mercenary, do said job, and get caught while in the act? You're a wanted fugitive. I suggest returning home so your precious Sensei can save you. After all, now that I'm gone, you're his new prized pupil."

The pain was unbearable, but (Y/n) ignored it with a grit of her teeth. She wasn't a murderer. Everything that happened today was an accident.

But was stealing that stupid tea set from the museum an accident? Was running it all the way to Jamanakai village to hand it over to Ronin an accident? Was her losing control of her spinjitzu a whim?

No. Of course not. It was deliberately, carefully planned in order to fufil today's job. 

(Y/n) buried her face in her hands, leaning her arms over her knees. The sound of gun fire echoed loud and clear in her head, a single memory on replay. If she had just reacted faster. If she had just spun iut of her spinjitzu in tine. If she had just done something, anything--

"I didn't hurt anyone." she insisted. "I'm not...I'm not like that." 

The fire crackled and popped, those flames bringing with it nothing but ashes. "You caused it," Morro reminded. "Money, food, your reasonings don't matter. You still did it. What will Sensei think of you now? You can't return to him, especially not empty handed." 

(Y/n) unfurled herself from her hands, the skies whispering above with the wind. "You can't leave! I promised to find you, and now that you're here, you're coming with me!" 

Morro's expression soured, darkness settling over his eyes. "If you truly cared, you would have been on my side!" He threw out a hand and the winds angrily howled in unison. "Why, after all we've been through, you refuse to understand?! He made me believe, yet you chose him over me! Why should I return without the title I receive?!"

A shiver crawled down (Y/n)'s spine. She went still, quiet as Morro continued to shout. His words pierced her heart like a knife, sinking deep into her flesh without mercy. 

"You didn't even come after me! You just watched me leave! If you really cared, you would have followed me, you would have told me not to go! But you didn't. All you did was stand there in the fucking rain!"

And it was true. All of it. (Y/n) shut her eyes, caving deeper and deeper into herself. She wanted to rip her gaze away from Morro, away from the sheer betrayal in his eyes, but found herself frozen solid like the snow beneath her bare fingertips. 

"I'm sorry." It was cold in this unforgiving winter. "I'm sorry, Morro."

He stared at (Y/n) as if she had stolen the very wind from his sails. "Is that all you can say?" His voice cracked, breaking as he stepped forward and crumpled before her. He grabbed a fistful of her gi, knuckles white as he yanked her towards his face. "Is that all you can say to me?!"

(Y/n)'s heart clenched ever so painfully inside its bony cage. "I didn't know what to do!" she cried out. "Even now, after all I've sacrificed, I don't know what to do! You're all I have besides Sensei! I can't lose you!"

An anguished shout escaped Morro's lips and he aggressively tossed her into the snow. His face twisted, contorting into an ugly, hateful scowl. "Look at what you've become. To think I ever..." He cut himself short with another shout. "I'm never wrong! When have I ever lied to you, (Y/n)?!"

She shut her eyes, the sound of his voice like broken glass. "Never. You've never lied to me once."

---

Because no matter what Morro said, he was almost always right. There had only ever been few instances where he was wrong, but those were rare and ever fleeting. 

This time, (Y/n) wished with all her heart that he were wrong. That this was a Destiny she could change against the will of those Writers above.

Morro's touch was cool against (Y/n)'s skin, soothing as he helped her to her feet. The water gushed beneath the cave's tunnels, swift and powerful. "Let's hurry, we need to find your friends." He was stable and grounded, a much needed steadiness to (Y/n)'s stormy mind. She held his arm, fingers trembling.

And like the wind, (Y/n) allowed herself to be swept away. The coolness of the cave walls, the damp air against her skin. Her mind wandered to those lonely nights spent by a dying campfire. The amount of crimes she racked up on her hands.

(Y/n) heaved out a breath, "Morro...what are we doing?"

He frowned, brows knitting. "Leaving." (Y/n) shook her head, pointing with her chin to the mask in his free hand. "If Destiny cannot be defied, why are we fighting? It won't mean anything when we're destined to fail. Besides...I just...I don't understand why you want to go so far for my sake." 

Morro paused, gently helping (Y/n) take a seat on the pedestal. He watched her shoulders slump, her eyes fall. "Would you rather sit here and wait to die? I refuse to do that. Not when even the smallest chance of your survival exists, (Y/n). When I lost my way, you refused to give up on me. All that sacrifice, only for me to deny your help, even after death. I don't give up, and vow to never do so when it comes to you." 

(Y/n) stared into his deep obsidian eyes, so firm with courage, so bright with the willful need to protect. "Why?" It was like a mantra. "Why when you never did things unless for your own sake?"

A small huff escaped Morro's lips, light as air. "Putting everything on the line for you has its benefits." He looked more relaxed despite the impending doom hanging near. "Destiny cannot be defied, but when I think about it, perhaps it can be bent. I managed it when I infiltrated Cloud Kingdom. I wish to believe we can do so again. And in all honesty, my reasoning is pretty obvious, even for an airhead like you."

The rhythm of (Y/n)'s heart, the sound of her breaths, it was all she could hear. "Obvious?" Warmth encased her body, chasing away the darkness, the primal need to destroy. "I don't know what you mean." 

Morro's lips curved into a genuine smile. No pretenses, no pretending. It was all real. "You, (Y/n). I'm here for you."

"Why?" 

Another long, tiring sigh left Morro's lips, yet the smile refused to vanish. Soft, gentle with affection. "Think," he tapped (Y/n)'s forehead with his fist, "you know the answer." 

"(Y/n)!" A pair of footsteps echoed throughout the cave, where Lloyd jogged across the bridge with Harumi lagging behind. His green eyes were filled with relief as he made his way over, stopping just in front of (Y/n). "I'm so glad you're okay. We were all worried when you were shoved off the Bounty. Who knew you'd find the oni temple without a map."

Morro's expression hardened as Harumi came into view. He took a step forward, as if to shield (Y/n). "We need to talk." Lloyd followed his gaze in confusion, voice becoming serious. "About what? What happened?" 

(Y/n)'s eyes widened and she stood, clutching Morro's arm. She pulled him aside, voice hushed, quiet. "We should wait. We can't just tell him right now."

Morro's eyes said otherwise, steely and cold without mercy. "And do what? Watch her rip your team apart? She nearly killed you, and I'm willing to bet it was her that targeted the explosions in front of your room at the palace. She wants you dead, I can gladly return the favour."

(Y/n)'s gaze cautiously flickered to Lloyd's, who stood awkwardly to the side. He raised his brows in question and she quickly looked away. "We wait."

Morro took her hands, touch soothing as he studied her expression. "We cannot let our fears control us, and that includes this. We have to tell Lloyd. Now."

The thought sent a chill down (Y/n)'s spine because, yes, she was very much afraid. Afraid of how Lloyd would react, afraid of what Harumi had up her sleeve if they so much as tried to corner her. She wasn't skilled in combat, but that made her all the more terrifying. "Lloyd, take the mask and go." She pried the thing from Morro's hands and shoved it into Lloyd's arms. "Harumi is working with the Sons of Garmadon. We can deal with her, but you need to find the others."

Morro glared at (Y/n), but said nothing about it. "Our enemies are likely on their way as we speak. We saw the Bounty crash, where is uncertain." But it didn't matter when Ninjago was hanging in the balance. (Y/n) gave Lloyd a gentle push towards the bridge, only for him to grab her arm with narrowed eyes. 

"What are you talking about?" He was sceptical when all this was so sudden. "Rumi wouldn't hurt anyone." Like the great actress she was, Harumi nodded meekly, hiding behind Lloyd in false fear. "Exactly. Why would I have any reason to hurt anyone?"

A frigid breeze filled the cavern, blowing mercilessly as Morro rolled his eyes. He motioned to the mask. "If you're not going to leave with it, then we will."

Lloyd stepped away, shaking his head. "No. Tell me, how do you know any of this?"

A beat of silence passed before (Y/n) resigned herself. She couldn't hide the truth any longer. "Because Harumi poisoned me." The winds remained chilly, biting against her skin. "I'm also willing to bet she didn't blow up the palace only to kill the royal family, but also to get rid of me."

Lloyd's eyes widened. "What?" His breath caught in his throat and his grip loosened around the mask. It clattered to the ground, echoing distantly in the cave. "If you knew, why didn't you tell me sooner?"

The sound of a blade unsheathing cut Lloyd short. Harumi pointed it to his neck, yanking him towards her ny the collar.

"Attack and he dies." Harumi pressed the knife into Lloyd's skin, beads of red slipping onto the metal. She picked up the mask, turning it in a hand. "Two against one sounds hardly fair. This makes it even."

Lloyd stilled, shutting his eyes with a sharp intake of breath. "I don't want to believe it." He stared at the knife to his neck as if he had already been stabbed. "You're the quiet one?"

All Harumi did was laugh, as if she had won this long, grueling game of chess. "Oh, so I'm a cold-blooded killer? Are you even hearing yourself?"

The winds fueled (Y/n) with strength, the will to fight. "Shut up!" Her voice was low, booming like a strike of thunder. "Stop trying to manipulate him!" Harumi raised a brow, that smile refusing to waver on her red, red lips. "Don't act like you wouldn't have fallen for it too. If it weren't for your boyfriend, that is."

"H-he's not--"

"Save it." Harumi spoke as if she were getting bored. "This all would've gone off without a hitch if you idiot ninja hadn't stolen Wu. (Y/n) should have kept her mouth shut, then none of you would have suspected me."

Morro's brows knit, lip curling in distaste. "The baby is Sensei Wu?"

Harumi ground her teeth together with a growl, disregarding the comment. "I wasn't trying to kill (Y/n), just incapacitate her until the ceremony. Who knew, someone special like her would be this much trouble."

The rush of water beneath the cavern made (Y/n)'s mind run wild. She didn't understand, and a part of her didn't want to. "Special?" 

Harumi's grip tightened around Lloyd and (Y/n) stilled, nails digging into the skin of her palms enough to draw blood. "I would have figured out your true intentions regardless, especially with how you pretended with Lloyd. Let him go, you've done enough."

"Have I?" Harumi placed the back of her hand against Lloyd's cheek, the knife brushing his skin menacingly. "Always there to swoop in and save the day for your baby cousin, (Y/n). How noble."

Lloyd let out a grunt as Harumi tightened her hold on him. "The Bounty crashing," he said through gritted teeth. "Zane's cover being blown, and Cole getting captured. It was all you?" The thought of it all sent him spiraling. It made (Y/n)'s heart ache.

Harumi hummed in confirmation. "Don't forget all the times I've slipped poison into (Y/n)'s drink. Her medicine, too."

(Y/n)'s eyes widened. She recalled the colour of her water back at the palace, how she thought it was tea. Then the medicine Zane almost gave her, only to discard it when he noted it expired. Morro had warned her. The evidence was all there, if she had just pointed fingers from the start...

A distorted voice cut through the air, silencing (Y/n)'s thoughts. Yet you chose to remain complacent and doubtful like a fool. These are the consequences of your actions!

(Y/n) shut her eyes to think. She pushed the voice away, the curling threads of darkness in her mind. Focus, she thought. The mission comes first above all else. Her gaze flickered to Morro's and he didn't need to be told twice before a strong wind lifted it high into the air.

"The mask!" Harumi cried.

Lloyd wiggled out of Harumi's grip, disarming her. He jumped up, easily catching the mask before throwing it over the side of the platform. 

(Y/n)'s breath caught in her throat as Morro released a long, long sigh. This wasn't going to go well.

Harumi launched herself after it. She disappeared over the side and laughed triumphantly as she climbed back up with the mask in hand.

The air grew stale as she placed it over her face, a dark foreboding energy that left the hair on (Y/n)'s neck standing on end. Purple light enveloped Harumi and her skin transformed, growing grey and lifeless.

Harumi threw her knife down. "This isn't going to be a fair fight."

The distortion in her voice, the way it fell an octave lower. It reminded (Y/n) of the voice in her head.

Who could give you that same power if you accepted.

(Y/n) bit the inside of her cheek. No, she would never.

Harumi laughed to herself, "The Mask of Hatred, a taste of invincibility." She raised her hands in fists and charged forward. "Too bad for you!" 

Without a second thought, (Y/n) sprinted head-first into the conflict. Purple light burst from her palms, shooting like whizzing arrows. Harumi dodged, only for a gust of wind to slam her face-first into the cold stone. Morro held out his hands, focusing the compressed winds as it swirled in chilling currents. 

"(Y/n)!" Morro's voice was barely heard over the winds. "You and Lloyd need to leave! If you have anything to do with the ceremony--" 

A punch in the face cut him short and Harumi launched herself forward. (Y/n) ducked to the side as Lloyd fumbled with the lone knife on the ground. He weaved past (Y/n), aiming it for Harumi's abdomen. It splintered on impact, the shards scattering into crumbled pieces.

With a growl, Harumi grabbed Lloyd by the collar and slammed him into the pedestal. He fell limp against it, face swelling from the impact. "Hurt me all you want." Lloyd's voice was strained, weak. "But I'm never going to let you get away with this." 

Harumi circled him like a shark, stepping lightly, carefully. "Physical pain can only hurt so much. I intend far worse."

(Y/n) wasn't done. Purple light crackled from her fingertips and nailed Harumi in the back. She cried out, stumbling as (Y/n) shot another volley.

There was nothing but darkness in (Y/n)'s once purple hues. They now flowed an ominous red, stormy with nothing but pure loathing. And like the winds, she was swift, throwing punch after kick without so much as a breath.

It fueled the fight in her, the need to destroy the only enemy in her path.

Morro came next, moving with (Y/n) as if he were a part of her. He moved like the wind, graceful yet deadly as a swirling tornado. And together, they were an unstoppable force. 

Victory was imminent. This was all going to be over soon, (Y/n) was sure of it.

That was until Harumi slammed into a wall across the bridge and hit a wall head-first. She let out a laugh, hauling herself up and beating it down with her fists. The rock cracked, the rush of cold water thundering into the cave with a splash.

Morro sprinted back across the bridge, taking (Y/n)'s hand. "Forget her! We leave now!"

But (Y/n) didn't want this to be over yet. Even as water soaked through her shoes and sopped across her gi, her fists remained charged with purple light. She aggressively shoved Morro aside. "I won't let her get away!"

Adrenaline pumped through (Y/n)'s veins, filling her with power and the urge to dye her fists red. She swam through the frigid waters, heaving from the strain. Her katana was weighing her down, her clothes slowing her movements. 

"(Y/n)!" Lloyd shouted this time, hurriedly swimming towards her. His green eyes had lost its sheen, sullen and dull. "Forget her! We have to get out of here!"

"No!" The water was so, so cold and made (Y/n)'s limbs ache. "I'm not letting her get away, not after what she did to you!" Yet the waters continued to rise, drowning her shouts into only bubbles. A familiar hand intertwined into her own, reassuringly secure.

In the dark waters, the light from (Y/n)'s hand  illuminated against Morro's green-tinted skin, casting gentle shadows across his face. He looked sad (why did he look so sad?) as a current took hold of them, spinning them around and around until they were spat out of the cave.

They all emerged into the daylight, where the warm sun did nothing to chase away the shiver down (Y/n)'s spine. She allowed the winds to slow her descent, watching distantly as Lloyd fell into Nya's arms.

Morro landed, catching (Y/n) in his strong arms and setting her on the ground with ease.

"Guys!" exclaimed Lloyd. "Harumi's the Quiet One!"

(Y/n) wiped the river water from her face, eyeing the circle of enemies tightening around them.

Kai pressed his lips together with a sharp intake, "Yeah, we kinda got the memo." He roughly moved the tip of a blade away from (Y/n)'s face before frowning and giving her a once over. "When did your eyes turn red?"

The question caught her off-guard and she swallowed thickly, unsheathing her own blade. "My eyes are purple, Fire Boy."

"Kai's right." Zane cut in with a concerned frown. He held his bow tightly, knuckles white as he readied to fire. "Not only have your eyes turned red, they're also changing back to purple. I sense a strange presence surrounding you, (Y/n)."

"Strange?" (Y/n) spoke hurriedly. "Nothing is strange about me."

The river water suddenly rippled, waves sloshing up against the shore. Bubbles appeared on the surface and a giant crab emerged with a pinch of its giant pincers. Shouts filled the air as it waddled forward. Someone shoved (Y/n) and she stumbled, dodging a knife to the face as she followed after the group to an island of rock. 

Lloyd's gaze narrowed. "It's back " 

Oh, great. Because what else was normal besides a giant crab?

It didn't take long for chaos to erupt, a battle of Spinjitzu and elemental powers as some of the Sons of Garmadon began to flee.

(Y/n) distantly watched them, eyes cold with nothing but pure anger. "Cowards." Her back was against Morro's. They worked like the wind and skies during a storm, seamlessly fluid. "We need to get to the ship." 

Morro punched a man in the face and uppercutted another. "Great observation. That would be easy if I wasn't being swarmed." He ran straight through one of the crab's pincers and summoned a frigid gale of wind. It cut through the air, blowing through the water and the trees with a low hum.

Zane raised his hands and a blizzard of ice shot from his palms. Ice encased the crab, freezing it in place. Over to the side, the last stragglers made a break for the Bounty, which wasted no time in whirring high into the sky.

(Y/n) released a sigh. "Morro!"

"Here." Like the wind he was at (Y/n)'s side, never once faltering, never missing a beat. The winds burst beneath them, and together, they spurred upwards. They landed on the Bounty's deck. 

Purple as the dusk and the night sky, (Y/n) spun into a Spinjitzu tornado. Its whirring filled her ears, the sky's energy infusing with her own. She knocked a couple guys off the ship, spinning out and round house kicking another few. Her back met Morro's and they were a force of chaos, a storm ready to strike like lightning.

Morro punched someone straight in the face. "There's more of them than I thought," he dodged a kick, "The masks are with Harumi, go get them!" 

(Y/n)'s gaze flickered to the bridge and she forced her tired limbs to work, work, work. The masks were there, she saw them. All that was left was to snatch them and take it away from this place.

Chains, heavy and thick dragged across the deck, clambering as a large man with a vest swung them over his shoulder. He grinned from ear to ear and whipped it above (Y/n)'s head. She jumped to the side, rolling over as the cool metal skimmed her arms.

Vengestone.

(Y/n) back-flipped as the chain slammed into the ground again, narrowly missing her. "Morro, disappear!" 

The winds raised sharply and Morro raised his brows.  "What are you talking about?!" He vanished through a lone SOG and kicked the guy off the ship. "I'm not leaving you!"

"You're a ghost!" (Y/n) leapt to the side again and smacked someone across the face with her fist. "You need to get the masks!"

"Me? But I just told you to get them!"

(Y/n) growled, the tips of her sharp teeth gnawing into her lips. "Just go!" They were never that sharp before. "We don't have time!"

Morro's gaze bounced around the ship, from Harumi, to the masks she quickly hid behind her back, and then the vengestone chains.

The world suddenly turned on its side when Morro slammed into the ground. "What the fuck." He side-eyed the heavy weight on his back, kicking a mound of green off him. "Lloyd?"

"Morro, move!" (Y/n) madly sprinted towards him, only for a force to hold her back. She stared at the chains wrapped around her legs, a shout escaping her lips as she hit the deck face-first.

"(Y/n)!" Chains suddenly caught Morro's arms and he was thrown straight into (Y/n), where Harumi towered over the two with a grin. She tied the two together, securing them with a lock. "What was that you ninja always say? That you're a team?"

The vengestone dug into (Y/n)'s skin as she struggled against it. "You can't win, Harumi." Lloyd was thrown beside her and she scowled, lips pressed thin. "I've foiled your plans once and--"

Pain exploded in (Y/n)'s face, the sound of a slap echoing across the ship. Harumi stared her down from the tip of her nose with a snarl. "You couldn't even retrieve the masks without arguing with Morro!"

The chains screeched against Morro's struggling limbs. "Don't touch her!"

(Y/n) stared at the ground, jaw tensed.

"I don't tolerate back talk, ninja." Harumi said ninja like it were a slur. "What makes you think you'll succeed now that you've broken the trust of your friends, (Y/n)? And now that your oni side has been awakened, you feel it, the pull of your ancestors."

"And what of the darkness that will consume you, and revert you into what our ancestors once were?" 

There was a metallic taste in (Y/n)'s mouth as she spat on the deck with a curl of her lip. "Everything I did was for my family's sake." she stated. "I never meant to hurt them."

Harumi's eyes narrowed fiercely and she balled her hands into fists. "Just like how you ninja never meant to release the Great Devourer? I never asked to be an orphan, but you ninja gifted me that. And now, I'll give you something in return."

(Y/n) let out a laugh without humour. "Keep your gift, I don't need it."

That pushed Harumi over the edge and she grabbed a fistful of (Y/n)'s shirt. "The truth," she seethed. "I know who you are, I know what you once did, all the mistakes, all the wrongs you've done! Admit it. Admit that you're nothing but selfish and vengeful."

Harumi released (Y/n), eyes hollow, yet all-seeing.

"Just like me."

Ninjago Secrets!

-Morro puts his hair into a half-up-half down sometimes
-(Y/n) was forced to go to school and she hated it
-growing up, Morro and (Y/n) shared a room because Wu had a lot of students at the time

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Never put off until tomorrow what can be done today, yet a lot of you this chapter seem to be doing that! Lloyd has yet to confront you, Morro has something to tell you, and boy is it getting messy.

Chapter Text

We are only as strong as our weakest link.

The eerie lull of the canal, barely a whisper to (Y/n)'s ears, made Morro's absence grow. It was lonely. More lonely than she wanted to admit. The two had been separated after being captured, where the S.O.G. tied (Y/n) up in chains to a pole. Across from her place was Lloyd, strung high in a cage above the canal. His eyes were turned down to the ground, and he still had yet to meet (Y/n)'s gaze in the dying light of the sun.

"Lloyd," (Y/n)'s damp shoes dug into the stone, squeaking as she forced herself to stand, to reach for him. "I know, I messed up, but if we don't do something now, we won't be able to stop the ceremony."

Lloyd sighed tersely, squeezing his eyes shut. "I wonder who got us into this mess in the first place." His voice was like gravel, low and rocky. "It's like you wanted this to happen. I mean, all you had to do was tell someone, but you didn't."

Guilt gnawed at (Y/n)'s chest, biting into her flesh, ripping her heart to shreds. Her veins were icy. Face clammy. "I'm sorry." Her voice was watery, pained. "I should have told you Lloyd, I should have been honest from the start."

"But you weren't, just like with a lot of things, actually." Lloyd's hands curled around the bars of his cage. It swung a little as he stood, hard eyes finally meeting (Y/n)'s. "Always so closed off, so secretive. You didn't even tell anyone about Morro until you had to. How long had you known about Harumi? How long until you decided it was high time to tell the truth?"

The winds sent a chill down (Y/n)'s spine, sifting through her damp clothes, through her matted hair. "We suspected something was off since the palace, but...I wanted to be wrong, only for your sake." She studied the look on Lloyd's face, the disappointment seeping through his skin. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry doesn't fix all this." He motioned to the ceremonial temple with a limp hand. "Now we're stuck here with no way of knowing when the others will come, all because you decided to keep something important to yourself. But let me guess, it was to protect me, right? Because all I am to you is a little kid who can't handle himself."

The patronizing tone made (Y/n) sink into herself. Her knees grew weak, the strength sapping from her body. "That's not true." Yet the face of a little boy with big eyes and stupid haircut flashed in her mind. "You're more than capable of so many things on your own."

"Then why?" Lloyd stated through gritted teeth. "Even getting poisoned wasn't enough for you to think to yourself that something was wrong? That you should ask for help from the rest of us?"

(Y/n) shook her head, chest tightening. "No! I-I just couldn't--"

"Couldn't what? Because me finding out this way isn't any better." Lloyd let out a breath, as if he were being strangled by his own frustrations. "Was Morro more reliable? Was Jay just some other option you had as a last resort? I don't understand. I don't get what made you think hiding something so important was smart!"

"Because it wasn't!" (Y/n) answered. Her voice was heavy, torn as she spoke. "Morro told me to tell you all and be done with it, but I kept refusing. I kept saying it was a bad idea, or that we could be wrong, and make a big deal out of nothing. But the truth is...when I saw how you looked at Harumi, when I realized how much you cared for her, I couldn't let myself break your heart. I couldn't ruin one of the best things you could have had!"

Lloyd shut his eyes, that anger, that frustration rising and falling like the tides. "You watched me get played." He gritted his teeth, jaw tensed, hands clenched into fists. "You watched us all get played and said nothing. Do you know how that feels? To be fooled like that and have the person you thought you could always rely on watch it happen?"

The air grew thick with guilt, pressing against (Y/n)'s throat until it was hard to breathe. "I'm sorry." She swallowed thickly, heart heavy. "I should have been honest from the start."

"Then why weren't you?" Lloyd demanded. 

"Because," it was hard to look at him, "love hurts. It's a curse that can never be undone. My father died from a broken heart, I lost myself when Morro left, and if you changed because of Harumi? I wouldn't know how to help you." (Y/n)'s eyes were glossy, the blood roaring in her ears. "I believed that Harumi was someone I could deal with before she got to any of you. I was wrong. Now you share the same pain I carry, one that cannot be healed no matter how many times it's faced. All because I failed you. All of you."

The silence was heavy as the gears rolled in Lloyd's mind. He finally turned, heart dropping to his stomach. There was nothing more haunting than the look in (Y/n)'s deep, purple eyes. The blood smeared on her face, the new bruises forming across her cheekbone. 

A shaky sigh escaped (Y/n)'s lips. "So much has been stolen from you since the day you were born into this world. Not just your childhood, but your parents, your freedom, and now this. I couldn't stand seeing you face everything in this Realm alone, so I thought maybe...I could protect you."

Like how I wished someone had done for me, thought (Y/n) bitterly.

Lloyd shifted in his cage, that anger finally washing from his face to reveal his raw pain. "What made you think I was ever alone, (Y/n)?" His voice was gentle, smoothed over with a ring of kindness. "You're the big sister I've always had. Whenever I trip over my feet, you catch me, when I need it most."

The canal's hum was gentle, a low lapping against the sides of the temple. Lloyd's green eyes were sullen and glossy, "Even if it hurt me, even if it left me feeling like...this, I would rather have the truth than live in a lie." He paused, letting out a heavy sigh. "Even if ignorance really could have been bliss."

"I'm sorry." (Y/n)'s eyes burned with tears. Tears she refused to shed for her mistakes. "I failed all of you. If the ceremony begins, I'm not sure what will happen to us. My father warned me that I cannot fail, but grandfather is against what he said. I've been told stopping the ceremony will corrupt me."

Lloyd's eyes widened, the cage swinging as he frantically gripped the bars. "What do you mean corrupt?"

"I'm not sure." (Y/n) distantly stared at the symbols and runes across the stone. "All I know is that it has to do with being part dragon and oni." She thought of the Void, its endless doorways and roads leading to nothing. The abyss below with relentless creatures waiting to break free. Her powers were a bridge between Realms, housing a deep connection with the Departed Realm. 

"What about the death part?" Lloyd's concerned voice snapped (Y/n) from her thoughts. "You said your Destiny would lead to death, but you don't sound concerned about that."

"Because I fear there are bigger problems at hand." The face of that phantom in her mind flashed in a blur of darkness, its distorted voice ricocheting in her skull. She felt Morro's throat against her hands, heard his cries as he held her down and pleaded for her to come back to him. "Lloyd, if anything were to happen to me, bad things, I hope you can remember me as is. For...who you've always known me as."

A frown fell upon his lips, but before he could question, the doors creaked open. Aunt Misako was dragged in by Ultra Violet, who shoved her into the cage beside Lloyd. The contraption rattled, the chains heavy and loud.

"Lloyd," cried Aunt Misako. "She's crazy, she's trying to bring back your father!" Her voice continued on, but it quickly became noise to the wind. Fog rolled into the temple, milky and heavy. (Y/n) blinked, breaths shortening as it curled around her skin, around her throat. A body hung above the stone, limply swinging from side to side as blood dripped from a large wound.

The sound pierced (Y/n)'s ramming heart, sending fear through every nerve of her system. She couldn't rip her gaze away no matter how hard she tried. And as the fog rolled away, the body continued to swing above the stone. (Y/n)'s eyes widened, she realized then another mistake.

This wasn't a cave. The burnt, charred walls of the palace remnants, the paved stone that couldn't have been naturally placed. A pedestal by a set of gates, a canal. 

The body vanished, the splatters of blood remaining like dirt on a white canvas. (Y/n)'s shoulders heaved, the breath catching in her throat. She kicked and fought against the vengestone, but it refused to budge against her will as a scream ripped through her throat. "NO!" Her voice was raw, hoarse. "NO!"

"(Y/n)!" 

The blood continued to pool at her feet, dyeing every stone crimson red. She let out another scream, eyes burning with tears, heart threatening to break from her rib cage.

"(Y/n)!"

Lloyd. That was Lloyd calling her. She followed the sound, meeting those green, green eyes. They shone a little brighter in the dark, a spark of life returning with strength. "I don't know what you're seeing, but it's not real!" His voice was strong, but he had never looked so afraid. "The others will come for us and we'll stop the ceremony!"

But he was wrong, so, so wrong because it was all real and it was going to happen any minute now. Morro dying, his blood spread across the ground as (Y/n) was forced to do nothing but watch over, and over again like some sick, cruel joke. She heaved, shoulders rising and falling with every breath. "I-I can't...we're destined to lose, what makes you think we can win...?"

"Because ninja never quit!" Lloyd didn't even miss a beat, responding with the one thing Wu drilled into everyone's minds. A laugh suddenly ripped through the air, taunting and filled with nothing but hatred. Harumi waltzed over, kneeling down to size (Y/n) up. The damned woman looked at her as if she were a circus freak, a thing to be both pitied and laughed at.

"Did you have fun with your little heart-to-heart? I thought I'd give the family a minute, let the pain set in to trauma bond. You were very brave (Y/n), for someone having a meltdown." Harumi smiled wide. "And don't worry, I didn't forget about your pathetic little boyfriend. Who would've thought, love truly is the most powerful force on earth."

Chains screeched against the stone as Morro was hauled in and thrown in the center of the temple. He lay still for a moment, grunting before his gaze locked on (Y/n)'s. She was dizzy, barely breathing as the image of his dead body assaulted her mind. A wave of fear rattled through her system, the faint voice of destruction rising in her gut.

It was coming. That thing was out to get her.

Morro must have sensed the change in air because he hauled himself to his knees, the chains rattling. "Listen to my voice, (Y/n)! Focus!"

Fight. (Y/n) had to fight. She feared hurting someone again, feared what it could mean if she lost against that voice in her head. She imagined Wu's voice: "Peace only blossoms in the garden of focus, not the rocks of chaos. You must remain between them, centered, balanced."

The cold river leading to Jamanakai village, the feel of Morro's cool hand lifting her to her feet. Calm. Peace. That was what it meant to be beside him, always with him. (Y/n)'s breaths slowed, her stormy panic falling into a gentle rainfall.

Harumi didn't look pleased at that. She stepped away to admire the symbols written at her feet. "Do you know what this says in old Ninjago? Hand in hand are the divided, a life for a life is given, to open a rift of guidance."

Lloyd glared down from his cage with a scoff. "A riddle? Cute." 

Harumi bared her teeth, shooting Lloyd a glare that could have killed. "Always the smart mouth. Morro will do the heavy lifting, his element combined with Aether will power the rift I need to summon your father. Always together, is what they say. But separate?" She threw out a hand, turning on her heel. "(Y/n), you are nothing without your other half! You'll lose to the darkness in your heart and play straight into my hands."

(Y/n) bit the inside of her cheek, eyes stormy with worry, confusion. "Your revenge will be empty and you will gain nothing. What do you want with Garmadon?"

Harumi curtly sauntered over, a small laugh without humour leaving her ruby red lips. "What could I possibly want?" she echoed. "That idiot of an emperor made a royal oath to someone as empty-headed as you. It's a wonder when you don't deserve the honour."

The jade ring was heavy around (Y/n)'s neck, colder than ice against her skin. "I never wanted this responsibility anyway." That wasn't the answer Harumi wanted. Her face contorted into an ugly scowl and she grabbed a fistful of (Y/n)'s collar. "Always running away. Always fleeing from the things that bother you. No wonder why you became a mercenary, the Wandering Rogue Ninja." 

(Y/n)'s jaw tensed. She glared up into those evil eyes, never once looking away, never once backing down from the fight.

"How many lives have you left in ruin? How many innocents have you roped into your conflicts?" Harumi's burning eyes were intense as a wildfire. "A selfish person like you shouldn't question the obvious when it's easier to understand me. At the end of the day, you're still that same person looking after their own interests. If only someone with that much skill, that much determination, could save the city and the torn families in it!"

(Y/n)'s lip curled into a sneer, "My past has nothing to do with who I am now."

"But your mistakes do!" Harumi's voice slowly rose, harsh and heavy. "Because of your faults, you have never, ever been good enough! Not for your own parents, your dear Sensei Wu, Morro, or even your poor, little Lloyd! The destruction of Stixx, the Overlord, the Preemminent you inadvertently helped release! Ninjago has slowly recovered but none of that destruction has been erased from their minds. That is why my parents are dead. Because of what you ninja fail to do time and time again. Protect!" 

The voice in (Y/n)'s head let out a cruel, cruel laugh. It was delighted by the chaos, the rising fear in her chest that insisted that Harumi was right. Because it was true. All of it. (Y/n) failed to stop Lloyd from releasing the Serpentine. She failed to see past Morro's deception and fell straight into his arms. She was powerless against the Overlord, a mere bystander with broken bones.

How many times had Ninjago fallen?

No--how many times had (Y/n) failed to protect what she loved the most? Her family?

"What the hell would you know?" Morro looked sick to his stomach, voice coiled like a snake ready to strike. "You act as if you're better, yet decide to summon the epitome of evil! For what? Revenge? How shallow can you be!"

Harumi let out an exasperated sigh, ignoring Morro. She smoothed out her hair with a twitch of her brow, folded her hands behind her back, and gave (Y/n) another once over. "Your transformation has already begun. Your lack of humanity, your lack of control, is all a byproduct of what's to come." 

Byproduct? What did she mean?

Harumi studied (Y/n)'s confused expression distantly, a pitying frown on her lips. "You've been lied to." She made her way to the pedestal, moonlight shining upon her white hair. "Everyone thought keeping this secret was to protect you, to prevent the darkness from being awakened within."

Ice spread through (Y/n)'s veins, blood roaring in her ears. "What do you mean?"

Harumi flipped through a spell book, scanning the pages with little interest. She was savouring the tension, the satisfaction.

"Your mother?" She finally met (Y/n)'s gaze. "She was an oni."

What?

"I'm a villain, but you? You're a monster. A mistake that should have never been born!" She motioned to Morro, Lloyd, and Aunt Misako. "They may accept you for who you are, but you? That isn't something you could live with, is it? You aren't even human."

All (Y/n) wanted to do was deny, deny, deny, but her body refused to listen. As if called, that wretched voice reappeared, faintly laughing with glee. Still, it had to be a lie. It had to be. (Y/n) was human, at least partly. She had to be, because if she wasn't, it meant all her fears were coming true.

A fist suddenly collided with (Y/n)'s face and she let out a grunt, head slamming into the pole. Another punch landed in her jaw, ears ringing, heart thumping in panic and...fear. Fear of her destiny, Morro, everything that was to come.

Morro's and Lloyd's shouts of protest were faint, faraway as (Y/n) dazedly squinted up at Harumi. The woman looked rather bored, as if it were a pain as she knelt down and smeared the blood across the stone. "I was not your enemy until you defied my will." Harumi's words were dispassionate. "This is just a taste of what I return after all the trouble you and Morro caused me."

She stood, footsteps echoing hollowly as she exited. The heavy doors creaked shut, sealing the temple in dread.

(Y/n) stared at the blood, blinking the haze like fog from her mind. She spat out the metallic taste on her tongue, tried sitting up straight through the pain. "The ceremony," (Y/n) forced her world into focus with another blink, "we have to stop it." Her gaze locked with Morro's and he remained still.

It was strange. When had Morro looked so vulnerable?

His eyes were glossy, the same as when they were in the oni temple--brows knit, eyes wide in worry. His princess hair perfectly framed his face, highlighting the curve of his sharp cheekbones (Y/n) had come to admire from afar. He dragged himself over, kneeling before (Y/n). "Are you okay, (Y/n)?"

"Do I look okay?" she quietly muttered. "My face hurts."

Morro let out a relieved breath. "Your sass is still in-tact, that's a good sign." His voice was gentle, barely above a whisper. And he looked at her as if she were a twinkling star in the sky, ethereal and beautiful. "With all these guards, we cannot escape. I fear we must wait until your friends arrive. Misako will be in danger if any of us tries anything." 

The mention of Aunt Misako made (Y/n)'s stomach churn uneasily. She refused to even look in that direction, not when it meant knowing if what Harumi said was the truth or a feeble lie.

The temple's heavy doors creaked open again and Harumi made her way to the pedestal, setting down a spell book. She flipped open a page, staring at the contents distantly. To the side, Ultra Violet, hurried over. 

"The police are working with the ninja. They've arrived."

Relief made (Y/n)'s shoulders sag. There was hope, even if it was far away.

Lloyd firmly stood, holding the bars of his cage. "What was that you said about the fight being over?" Harumi threw out a hand with a grunt, eyes burning. "Let them come! I always have my insurance policy." She sent Aunt Misako a glance, lips pulling up into an evil, evil smile. "I've been so looking forward to this...family reunion."

Lloyd frantically shook the bars, the cage swinging limply. "Let her go, this is between us!"

Harumi's smile didn't waver, and (Y/n) just felt in her bones that this was going to add more salt to the wound. "No, Lloyd. There was never anything between us." Lloyd's expression fell and he shut his eyes painfully. "It hurts, doesn't it? (Y/n) was right, there's nothing worse than a blow to the heart. How sweet of her, trying to protect her little sibling."

Harumi returned to the pedestal, only to circle around to tower above (Y/n). "Lloyd must have learned all the wrong things from you, because his weakness is the same as yours. His emotions."

(Y/n) ground her teeth together, giving the chains a hard tug. "Don't be so sure your victory is secured." 

Harumi's gaze narrowed sharply. "Empty threats won't save you, especially when your visions are about to come true. You can't fool me with that brave facade, I can see it. Your fear, your anger. Your hatred for everything and everyone who has hurt you!"

(Y/n) frowned, brows knitting. "You don't know anything."

"Do I?" Harumi said with a raise of her brow. "Because if I'm correct, being the Master of Aether comes with having visions. Your destiny has been foretold for centuries, every last fear you thought was in your head, is all about to become real. You may have protected the Masks, but you can't prevent what's to come. Even if I wasn't here, all this would have happened as the Writers have written."

"Save the monologue." Morro's voice was sharp and frigid. It pierced the quivering air, those obsidian eyes darker than the deepest pits of the Underworld. "A warning from a former villain, the ninja's persistence will prove fatal. Your victory will be short-lived."

Harumi turned, aggressively sifting through her spell book. "Bring Morro to me. For his insolence, I'll start with him first."

(Y/n)'s gaze darted to Morro's in a panic. She struggled against the chains, the pole quivering from the force of her strength. All she could do was helplessly watch as Morro was shoved face-first into the ground. He remained still, refusing to fight for the sake of everyone's safety. The chains fell to the ground and Harumi lifted a dagger, driving it straight into his skin. 

Pain coursed through (Y/n)'s veins as she watched with bated breath as purple light engulfed the knife and Morro. His transparent skin turned pale, that green-tint vanishing as he limply staggered to the ground. And as his fragile flesh body was strung up, that striking spark of will never once vanished from his obsidian eyes.

By the First Spinjitzu Master, how was it he remained so brave? So sure of himself when everything could end in darkness?

Harumi ran a hand over her spell book, chanting strange words long forgotten. A deep, green light enveloped Morro, pain twisting across his face. The night sky darkened, the winds whipping without forgiveness. Once again, Harumi drove the knife into Morro's skin. This time, his flesh broke, sloshing red, red, red across the stone.

Drip, drop. Drip, drop.

The sound so incessant, so terrifyingly familiar, was only the beginning. A scream ran (Y/n)'s throat raw. Pain shot through her system, twisting through every nerve and crevice of her system as bright, purple light surrounded her entire being. She writhed against the chains, sensing the pull of her element seeping out of her system.

So helpless and pitiful. The same as you have always been. Your last mistake, your last regret, will be here forever, (Y/n).

A rift opened up in the sky, draining the power from her veins. Voice escaped the darkness above, whispering words of evil and chaos into (Y/n)'s ears. She shut her eyes, limbs growing numb, blood roaring in her ears.

The child of darkness...

You who will allow us to pass over...

We welcome you into our open arms.

(Y/n)'s breaths caught in her throat, mind swimming with nothing but the pain searing itself into her very soul. All she knew was that Morro was going to die and if she didn't do something this would be the end. She sensed the life fading from his body, the pull that came from the Departed Realm. 

You must not fail.

Couldn't they see? It was clear already that (Y/n) was never meant to succeed.

But you could by fighting with me.

The disgusting sound of blood was like metal against metal, the visions of Morro's dead body flashing in and out on repeat. When would it end? When would this nightmare finally be awoken from?

You could end it all here. Harumi has no power, but you do! Break these chains with my strength, save your friends, your family!

Was such a thing possible against vengestone?

But of course! The power of the oni is more than you can comprehend.

The metal was cool against (Y/n)'s torn palms, bloody as she clawed at it fruitlessly.

What other option do you have?

Morro was weak, barely breathing in his new body. The life was fading from his veins, his soul drifting into the rift above. (Y/n) sensed all the souls fighting to be let out, all the ghosts inside feeding off her element. There was no other option besides waiting for the others.

Who may not even come! If letting down everyone and everything you've fought for is what you want, then so be it! Be a disappointment, a mistake who should have never been born.  Would you rather Ninjago fall? Would you rather fall into your destiny without putting up a fight?

Fog. That was all in (Y/n)'s mind as she helplessly watched Morro. She smelled his blood, his very terror so well hidden behind a wall of determination. Their gaze connected, an exchange of these feelings unsaid. Morro was resigned. He knew he was going to die for his sins, if not now, then later.

Still. Still. Still. Still. (Y/n) had to save him, if not for Ninjago, if not for her father and grandfather watching from the Realm above, then for Morro. Always Morro, because if there was one thing (Y/n) Lance was bad at, it was learning. 

Never learning, never growing from the past, or seeing anything besides what was behind instead of in front.

And by those all mighty, she would do it again. She had to or else--

The sudden whir of Spinjitzu broke (Y/n)'s thoughts. Her eyes widened as a blur of red melted her heavy chains into mush. "You had us all worried, but what's new?" Kai took (Y/n)'s hand, hauling her to her feet. "We're gonna have to patch you up again." Then he took off, striking a Sons of Garmadon guy in the face and rushing over to kick another.

The others were quick to join the fight. Cole raced over to the cages, fiddling with the mechanisms as Lloyd was plunged into the canal. Nya dealt with Ultra Violet, a clash of weapons as she shouted for Cole to hurry up and save Lloyd.

Guilt bubbled in (Y/n)'s gut, the wind cutting into her burning skin as whispers of the dead filled her ears. She focused on the rift, its power coursing through her veins as her matted hair whipped in the vortex. The voice hissed in her mind, flickering uncertainly as (Y/n) made a break to help Cole.

Only for a voice to stop her cold in her tracks.

"WHO DARES CALL ME?!" The voice, deep and dark was familiar. One that once spoke to (Y/n) with love and kindness. "WHO AWAKENS ME?!"

Harumi answered in kind, shouting for Garmadon to follow her voice. But this was not her victory, not when (Y/n) still had fight in her body and will in her soul. She focused on the rift's pull, the power threatening to leave her veins. It was a string flickering in the dark, one she held fast to.

This was (Y/n)'s power. How dare anyone try to steal it away.

There was nothing but pain and a ringing in (Y/n)'s ears as she yanked on the last tresses of her element. Purple light engulfed her hands, rising through her body as the sky lifted her up into the air. A scream ripped itself from her throat as she willed her power to work, work, work. Her hands curled into fists, fighting against the force that was Garmadon trying to escape.

Give in to my power! What makes you believe you will stop the ceremony without my help?!

The harsh winds cut into (Y/n)'s skin as her grip loosened, the vortex widening. Garmadon's voice sounded from the other side, a low seethe in the all-consuming dark.

Someone who destroys cannot fix anything! But with me, you can do and be who you envision!

The voices of the dead grew louder, filling (Y/n)'s ears with incomprehensible pleas. She kept her burning hands to the rift, arms trembling, fingers slipping. The face of the emperor flashed in her mind, his frail hand in hers, the life fading from his eyes. The jade ring was heavy with responsibility. Duty. She heard her own father's voice, so mean and cold. 

"You must not fail!"

But couldn't he see? (Y/n) was just barely hanging on, her powers slipping, the rift opening. She was paying for his mistakes and his regrets. This was not her fight, never was. What gave anyone the right to shove all this responsibility on her when she never wanted it in the first place?

"(Y/N)!" The swirling winds suddenly quieted, breaking for a fraction of a second to lift (Y/n) upwards. She sensed Morro's touch, so strong and determined in this wind. "GO!"

Even if this mantle wasn't a want, there was always a need for it. (Y/n) held fast and firm to the rift, willing with every last bit of strength in her body to take control. Her arms trembled under the force, a scream ripping itself from her throat. (Y/n) was the Master of Aether, a student of Sensei Wu, a descendant of the First Spinjitzu Master, and a ninja.

It didn't matter whether (Y/n) wanted this duty. If it meant fulfilling a role to save Ninjago, her friends, her family, then so be it. She would take her father's place and do everything he could not because she was everything he was not. 

The rift closed and the vortex of winds vanished. (Y/n)'s body went limp, the bright light returning to her veins and filling her with Aether. Zane leapt up, swiftly scooping (Y/n) out of the air and setting her down on her feet. "You have done well, (Y/n)." His voice was gentle as snow. "I am very proud of you."

The police entered the temple, fanning out to arrest the S.O.G. and ultimately, Harumi. Jay and Nya helped untie Morro, setting him down on the ground. (Y/n)'s eyes widened, her feet moving before her mind could think. She stumbled, tripping over the ground and weakly crumpling to her knees. 

"Morro!" (Y/n) crawled over, blood running cold as her hand found Morro's. "Morro, wake up, please, please, wake up!" She cupped his pale face caked over in blood, holding him as if he were more delicate than glass. She sensed the life fading from his body, felt the power in his system threatening to vanish. "You stupid idiot! Wake up! Wake up before I kill you right now!"

A cough suddenly ruptured through his body and he weakly squeezed (Y/n)'s hand. "I...told you...wherever you go, I'd follow." 

Tears blurred (Y/n)'s vision and it was hard to see him as she stifled a sob. "Shut up, you stupid idiot!" Morro raised a hand, tenderly swiping the tears away. "Crying over me?" He cracked a teasing smile, "The only stupid one is you." 

(Y/n) would have smacked Morro if he weren't bleeding out.

---

Dinner, to say the least, was the worst part of this long, miserable adventure. 

"I'm sorry." That was the tenth time (Y/n) said so in the past hour. She stared at her udon, picking at it distractedly. "I know, I should have been honest, I should have told you guys--"

"Damn right." Kai said, aggressively sipping his soup. "All of this could've been avoided if someone just decided to be honest from the start."

Off to the side Jay shook his head in dismay, waving his chopsticks around. "And who was the one who said you should tell everyone? Me! I told you and Morro, but did you guys listen? No!"

"Not only that," Kai quickly added. He was beyond angry, passionately waving his arms about. "But you almost died! Again! That's what, the third time?"

Zane gave the pot of soup a stir and took his seat at the end of the table. He smiled gently, the same as he always did. "Besides the matter of what (Y/n) should have done, I believe focusing on why she did it is most important. I believe it has to do with her own fears of not being able to do anything right."

(Y/n) glared at Zane as if he had tried to kill her. "I can do some things right, I just...I make a lot of mistakes, okay?" She stirred her soup, slowly sipping it with a frown. "They add up and don't go away. How can they when it's something you have to live with?"

Nya placed a hand to (Y/n)'s shoulder, giving it a reassuring rub. "A lot's been going on for you, like Morro and the whole Destiny thing. I'm sure we have some time to figure it out. One thing at a time." 

"Nya's right." came Cole's grounding voice. He offered a smile of his own and his eyes were warm with understanding. "You're always someone who leaps without looking, worse than Kai when you think about it."

Baby Wu let out a laugh from his cradle and Kai let out a 'hey!'.

"But, like Sensei always says, a razor sharp weapon is an extension of a razor sharp mind." Cole finished.

Which was easier said than done. (Y/n) spared Lloyd a forlorn glance and he frowned before looking away. A wave of guilt weaseled itself into her heart and she sighed, stuffing her face with the last of her soup before excusing herself. As much as she loved her family, maybe being alone would do some good. Her own presence was all she had been with for over a year while searching for Wu. What was a little more?

Being alone didn't help, not even after a shower and staring at the ceiling. (Y/n) couldn't sleep either. She tossed and turned, the bed creaking under her weight until Jay tossed a pillow at her side with a, 'I'm trying to sleep!'. With a sigh, (Y/n) slipped on her shoes and made her way to the deck. 

The cool night air was soothing against (Y/n)'s wounds, still fresh and bloody. Her sore body ached as she leaned on the railing, overlooking the rolling waves beyond the harbour. The stars shone dimly above, drowning in the city's everlasting lights. 

Every time (Y/n) closed her eyes, she saw Morro in her arms. Bloody, battered, and beaten. His frail hand in hers, the touch of his cold fingertips against her damp cheeks. It brought her back to the Caves of Despair, that awful memory of a rotting body that reeked of death. It was then she realized there was no one to blame besides herself.

And maybe, just maybe, that was why (Y/n) hated Morro so much. Or rather...thought she did.

Poor Morro, all alone in the hospital. It was a wonder they didn't allow visitors until tomorrow, when he would be discharged. What a load of baloney.

Not like (Y/n) wanted to see him though. It was just an obligation for all she put him through.

A pair of footsteps sounded across the deck, heavy and firm. (Y/n) glared at the waves, shoulders slumping. Misery just loved company, didn't it.

"I had a feeling you'd be up here, Star." came Cole's voice. He settled a little ways away, feeling the ocean breeze against his skin. "You've always liked being out here at night, especially when you were younger."

The cool tiles of the monastery's rooftop, the gentle lullaby of trees in the breeze. (Y/n) let out a huff, she was younger then, stupid and bitter. "You should be resting. I know taking care of Wu is tiresome, he's already started walking."

All Cole did was laugh, a gentle huff that came from deep in his chest. "Then why aren't you sleeping? You closed a whole rift to the Departed Realm."

"And so did you. What's new?" (Y/n) was deflecting and Cole knew. "I'm fine. I just--I'm just a little tired."

Cole sighed, that softness in his gentle eyes never once vanishing. "You don't have to beat yourself up, (Y/n). You were just trying to do what you thought was the right thing. When you're under that kind of pressure, I know it's hard to accept when things don't go right. And that's okay, we aren't perfect."

The stars remained dim, growing even darker as (Y/n) searched them for answers. "There's nothing good or great about me. I just...I keep messing up. I was so hard on Morro when he appeared out of nowhere, and I take blame for that. But hurting Lloyd? I was trying to protect him, I was trying to be there for him because..."

(Y/n) shut her eyes, covering her face in a hand. She didn't know how to put it into words, didn't understand why this was so hard on her. 

"I get it." Cole's voice was steady, grounding. "When things were hard, you took the responsibility, you dealt with all the bad stuff. Not because you wanted to, but because you could only rely on yourself. You know how it was for me when my mom died, and I know that's how you felt too. It's why you try so hard, for Lloyd."

Tears slowly fell from (Y/n)'s eyes, cold and wet. "I just made things worse, Cole." She wiped at them, sniffling. "I wanted to be there for him, like I promised Uncle Garmadon, but I wasn't. And for that, everyone was almost killed because of me." It left (Y/n) an angry, anguished mess. She couldn't get the pain out of her system, the ache in her heart from looking at her loved ones being hurt.

Because of her. Only her. Always her.

Everyone was relying on (Y/n). Not just her grandfather and father, but the other ninja--her family--and Morro. If she failed to fix her Destiny, to defy it, then it would spell the end for not just her, but everyone else.

The tears continued to fall and (Y/n) stifled her sobs, shutting her eyes. She was suddenly in Cole's arms, wrapped tight in a warm bear hug.

"Everyone is relying on you," he slowly let go, studying the shifting emotions in (Y/n)'s eyes. "But that doesn't mean you can't rely on us. I know you're scared, and that's natural, but you don't have to bury what you're feeling."

Cole smiled reassuringly, the same as any older sibling would do so fondly. "More importantly, don't push us away. You probably haven't realized it, but you've been distant after Wu went missing. You barely talk to us anymore and we worry about you."

(Y/n) rubbed her teary eyes, shoulders sagging. "I'm sorry."

Cole punched (Y/n)'s shoulder, but not enough to hurt. "Don't sweat it, I know you and Morro are, uh, dealing with couple's stuff. There's a lot going on, you guys need your own time to sort it out. Just know we're all here with you, okay?" He turned with a stretch, making his way down the stairs. "Don't stay up too late, Star!"

A sigh escaped (Y/n)'s lips as she stared off into the dark horizon. The stars remained dim, a well of constellations that reflected in her haunted eyes. She hoped Morro stared up at the same sky, where that lingering sense of darkness resided above.

Something was coming, and like that voice promised, this was only the beginning. 

A beginning of an end.

Ninjago Secrets!

-remember those pictures in the bounty of you and Morro? Yeah, they survived the monastery fires because you kept them stashed in your backpack
-when lloyd was younger, he used to overhear his classmates talk about their parents. The only face that would come to his mind was yours
-wu has many regrets, but one he can never forgive himself for was the death of your father
-morro is good at pretty much everything he does, but he never learned spinjitzu and it's something that he's kind of annoyed about

Spotify Playlist

ALSO ALSO ALSOOOOO, what would you like to see happen next? Because I'm indecisive, would you rather go to the First Realm or stay in Ninjago during the whole Resistance arc? I'm in the middle and want to hear your thoughts! 

Chapter Text

Having good intentions does not always lead to the right choices.

The heart monitor's beep was a ceaseless, grating sound to (Y/n)'s ears. She stared at the waves on that tiny screen, the very proof that Morro was breathing, and very much alive.

The colour had slowly begun to return to his pale skin, yet his sunken cheeks and eye bags remained. Sunlight leaked through the open window, a gentle breeze flowing through his hair. For once, it wasn't so perfect, its usual shine dull, the tresses matted into knots.

(Y/n) sighed and pulled up a chair, gently running her fingers through his locks. He relaxed against her touch, the crinkle of his brow softening.

Yet the feel of his bloody hands, the sensation of his pulse weakening--it burned into (Y/n)'s mind. The cool jade ring around her neck remained heavy, a reminder of her failure, her broken oath to the late Emperor.

And ultimately, the price she now had to pay for her sins.

A grunt suddenly escaped Morro's lips and his eyes shot open. "What the hell did they do to me?" He wildly sat up, the heart monitor rapidly beating with his heart. "(Y/n)! First Spinjitzu Master, (Y/n)!"

"I'm here." She softly took his cold, frail hands, directing his attention away from the needles in his skin, the pale, unwelcoming walls of the hospital room. "Morro...you're alive."

Those wild, wild eyes, always searching, always chasing more, were filled with fear. "Alive?" Morro echoed the word as if it stung his throat. "I'm supposed to be dead. You're supposed to be dead, but neither of us are, and you have the gal to, for once in your life, be calm?" 

Calm?

The word was foreign to (Y/n)'s tongue. She stilled, studying every curve and freckle upon Morro's cheeks. He looked sickly even with the slight flush in his face, weak despite holding himself so strong.

(Y/n) sighed, "I'm anything but calm. The doctors said it was as if you had breathed in poisonous gases." Her oice was numb yet even. "It's as if you had just come from the Caves of Despair. They stitched you up, but you need weeks to recover."

Morro was limp, still in (Y/n)'s hold. "Weeks? We don't have weeks! You know as well as I that none of this is over. I refuse to be so...so...weak when your life is in jeopardy!" Anger took hold of his features, twisting that usually calm expression into a familiar scowl. "I was caught off guard, and now I'm out of commission."

All (Y/n) saw was his barely breathing body, the blood seeping across the floor, and eyes that were closed shut. She sighed, trying to block out the seductive lull of evil in her ears.

You caused this, it reminded. Because of your own weakness, your own blind sightedness!

(Y/n)'s mind wandered and she saw the face of her father, his last moments as he smiled. "Make me proud, (Y/n)," he had said. Yet when she looked in the mirror, all she saw were her own haunted eyes, dark as a storm. That wasn't someone to be proud of, someone she was proud of.

"(Y/n)?"

She hesitantly looked up, meeting Morro's worried gaze as he spoke.

"What is it?"

"I..." The salt water of Stixx, the Preemminent's howl as Morro was dragged beneath the surface. Her heart ached, as if being squeezed until it popped. "I've seen your dead body, I've watched you die so many times. You were so lucky that this wasn't another."

How was she supposed to feel? What was she supposed to feel? Every inch of her body, her very soul said to hate because it was familiar. Yet when she tried to pull away, to let a scowl contort her face with rage, it refused to.

Because Morro's eyes were patient, kind, and everything more. "I put you through a lot." His voice sang like the wind, touch soothing as he rubbed the back of (Y/n)'s hands. "Thank you for looking after me all this time." 

A huff escaped (Y/n)'s lips and she slumped in the chair. "I've done nothing in need of thanks." The stillness of her voice wavered as she swallowed thickly. "I-I'm just glad you're alive."

A smile rose to Morro's lips, small, grateful. Then as soon as it came, it vanished.

The sudden tension made (Y/n) frown. "You're hiding something." The air shifted, growing tighter, colder as the heart monitor beeped faster. "Alright, so what is it?"

Morro pulled away, rubbing his knuckles like he always did when something bothered him. "There's something I haven't told you yet, a prophecy given to me by Mystake. I meant to tell you, but a lot happened."

(Y/n) made a motion with her bandaged hand, less than amused with all the indirectness. "You don't hide things...mostly. Why is a prophecy any different?" 

Those obsidian eyes, always the eye of a hurricane, were now stormy and conflicted. "I wanted to protect you, (Y/n). Even if it meant taking the pressure off your shoulders by keeping this from you."

Ah, that was a familiar feeling. (Y/n) folded her arms across her chest, eyes flickering to the window. "Protect me." she echoed, staring into the city's afternoon skyline. "From a destiny I already know of?" 

It was ridiculous, and clearly Morro knew by the way he stared at his solid hands. "Don't tell me I was being stupid, believe me, I know." His brows furrowed and he clenched his bony fists. "I'm sorry." 

It was like being eaten alive, torn piece by piece until there was nothing left but tiny, little scraps. (Y/n) was burning up. Consumed by the feelings she didn't want to ever put into words. 

You're not sorry, she thought. You don't care. You didn't even come back for me because you selfishly thought only for yourself! That was why you died, why you were sent to the Cursed Realm to pay for your mistakes!

So then why? Why did he embrace her when she was so vulnerable in the oni temple? Why did he look as though he wanted to tear Harumi to pieces for beating her up in front of his eyes? How in Ninjago could someone so evil, so unforgivable, be so kind and selfless and loving? How when someone who once knew nothing but destruction now had hands used to create?

"(Y/n)?" 

Hands that were not (Y/n)'s own, but Morro's. Morro who now picked up the pieces, who now glued them all together so it was whole--the same as Sensei would have done--the same as Sensei always taught. Why? Because unlike her, he learned. Learned how to let go, learned how to forgive, how to love.

(Y/n)'s breath caught in her throat. "I don't understand you." The anger, the pain, the pure hatred she kept telling herself was true and permanent, was fading. Vanishing before her eyes like a cloud to the winds. "Why are you better than me?"

Hot tears rolled down her face, seeping into her bandages, staining her bruised skin. "After all you've done why are you the one who's redeemed? Why are you the one who's so noble and forgiving? You just have to prove me wrong, don't you?! Like all the times where you're right!" Her voice rose into a shout, swirling like a hurricane out of control. "You've always been so much smarter, so much faster and quicker at learning--at doing things I never could! Now here you are, showing me that you've changed! That you're a better person!"

Morro's eyes were stormy. "I had a lot of time to think about my past."

"Why?" (Y/n) desperately said.

"Because I made you like this. Full of hate, full of anger, the same as I once was." There was a sadness behind those obsidian eyes (Y/n) had always loved so much. A pain that pierced her heart all the same. "Just like how you want to fix Ninjago (Y/n), I want to fix you."

Ridiculous.

"Fix me?" (Y/n) lowly echoed, tears streaming down her face. "Scream at me, tell me to go away and that I'm wrong because I could never understand you! You're supposed to hate me the same way I hate you, why in Ninjago would you want to fix me?! I hate you!"

"And I love you."

(Y/n)'s eyes widened, blinking away the tears clouding her vision. "What?"

"I love you, (Y/n)." Morro steadily repeated, meeting her angry, angry eyes. "Never once had I ever stopped loving you, either. I can never atone for what I've done in this lifetime, but I can without a doubt, show you my devotion. Push me away all you want, tell me you hate me, but I'm not going anywhere. Even if you one day were to turn your back on our Destiny and Ninjago itself, I will still be here. Right by your side."

And there was that look again. Soft eyes so starry, a gentle smile that melted (Y/n)'s hardened heart. She shut her eyes to rid herself of him, of the love he always radiated unconditionally.

"I hate you." (Y/n) saw the courtyard, the rain washing over her skin as she fought tooth and nail. Her own words echoed in her head, ​​​"But at some point, I started seeing you as more than my rival...and more than just my best friend!" Morro hadn't listened then, instead splashing rain water against (Y/n)'s skin and turning away.

Now, it was her that refused to listen to him.

"Why would I ever love someone like you?" (Y/n) couldn't look at Morro even through her tears, couldn't bare to see those eyes that reminded her of her own long ago. "You left me." 

"And that will never happen again." Morro let out a breath, eyes softening as he brushed away (Y/n)'s incessant tears. He slowly lifted her chin, their gazes meeting. "I will never leave you, (Y/n). I promise."

It was hard not to believe Morro when he looked at her with so much affection. She allowed him to embrace her, to wrap her in his secure arms. Something warm filled her heart, fuzzy with a feeling she hated to know.

Love.

---

(Y/n) wanted to jump off a bridge and dive down a thousand feet into the Endless Sea. The moment she walked into Laughy's Karaoke bar had to be something out of a joke.

All the ninja were gathered on stage with party hats singing the Weekend Whip, all while Pixal, Misako, and Little Wu stood off to the side listening (or dancing). Then there was Lloyd, who was in a little corner by the bar alone.

Was that what really got under (Y/n)'s skin? No. Only the fact that everyone had the audacity to celebrate at a time like this. 

Morro must have sensed the tension because he led (Y/n) to a table like she were a senile old woman. They sat down as Dareth handed them both glasses of boba. 

"This is ridiculous! What makes them think they can let their guard down." (Y/n) sipped her drink and coughed as a boba ball launched itself down her throat. Morro patted her back, frowning. "Regardless, you need to rest. Your powers were nearly drained, have some self preservation. Downtown is exactly what you ninja need."

Self preservation wasn't exactly (Y/n)'s strong suit. "As for Harumi, I have a feeling she has more up her sleeve. I mean, come on, destruction of Ninjago?" She stirred her drink, playing with the ice cubes. "There has to be more to her plans."

A breeze passed through the open windows, uneasy and cold. "Or rather," Morro's nose scrunched and glared at his drink strangely, "she has plans for you. Isn't there someone besides your father you can ask? Urgh, what did Dareth put in this?" 

(Y/n)'s gaze landed on Misako's and she quickly looked away before the woman could turn. "Sugar, Mr. I'm-so-perfect. You never really liked sweet things anyway."

"Aw," Morro's lips curved into a smirk. "You remembered."

(Y/n) would have shoved her fist into his face if he weren't covered in stitches. "My aunt never told me anything about my mother, and so did both my uncles for that matter. They always said, oh yeah, she was sick. So what makes you think she'll tell me now?" 

Morro raised a brow. "Ninjago is hanging in the balance, what could be so important about hiding the fact you're mostly oni?"

Hearing that out loud made (Y/n) slump. She took another swig of her drink, chewing the boba thoughtfully. "Maybe she's afraid. I'm not human, after all."

"That doesn't make you any less yourself, (Y/n)." Morro spoke so easily, without a single doubt in those obsidian eyes. It brought a warmth to her chest, a flicker of light to her darkened heart. "Urgh," she forced her eyes away, flustered. "That still doesn't change the fact that I'm...not someone I thought I was."

A someone (Y/n) was inevitably ashamed of being. She eyed Lloyd from afar, observing the way he spoke with his mother. Eventually, a small smile rose to his face and (Y/n) relaxed in her chair, sighing tiredly. That was a good sign.

Morro seemed to have been watching too. "His eyes look different." 

"Pained." (Y/n) corrected, sipping her drink. "I would know."

"We would know." There was a troubled look in Morro's eyes as he turned to meet (Y/n)'s gaze. "It doesn't suit Lloyd. He's always dealt with these things in stride."

All (Y/n) could do was shake her head. She understood how deep this pain ran, how much it tore her own heart in two. But her life had been different because the one who hurt her most was here, beside her.

"Will you talk to him?" Morro inquired. "It's clear he needs you." A huff escaped (Y/n)'s lips and she set her cup down, watching the ice settle. "And what, ruin his life again? No, I don't think I will." 

"Then you'd rather watch him fall apart." The calm in Morro's eyes were intense, unyielding as his winds. "Judging by the guilty look on your face, you've been avoiding him." 

(Y/n) opened her mouth like a fish. "W-what? No, I-I was just--"

The music suddenly stopped and Dareth turned up a nearby TV to full volume. The camera panned to Gale Gossip, who stood outside the police headquarters. The front doors had been bashed in, where a lone dump truck with cracked windows and a broken bumper sat parked on the side. Smoke rose from the hood, nearby firefighters working to put out the flames. 

The live footage suddenly cut to a video, caught on security camera.

(Y/n) stood, following the others to get a closer look. She apprehensively remained close beside Morro, nearly shoulder to shoulder.

The footage was blurry, but clear enough to make out a girl with white hair. A man with skin black as night ran in tow. He had four arms, a samurai helmet, and a familiar set of armour (Y/n) once smashed her own fists against.

Everyone turned to look at Lloyd, who stood frozen still, hands to his head. "That's...that's impossible."

Kai didn't look the least bit bothered, as if this were just another day in Ninjago. "Could be anyone." The nonchalance made Zane raise a brow incredulously. "But he has four arms."

Jay laughed nervously, slinging his arms around Kai and Zane. "So does Mr. E. Who doesn't have four arms these days?"

(Y/n) exchanged an exasperated side-eye with Morro, who sighed tiredly. "Four arms or not, I'd recognize that armour anywhere." She stepped forward, eyes hard, filled with focus. "I must have been too late to stop the ceremony. I'd assume this has to do with the prophecy Mystake spoke of, but I can't be sure what it means."

The boys, minus Lloyd, exchanged uncertain expressions with each other. 

"Oh," said Jay, tapping his fingertips together. "Did someone say prophecy? Wow, it's like someone was supposed to debrief us but never did." 

Morro held up a hand, eyes down turned. "That's my fault. As of now, it's possible the first line has to do with what's already happened. Darkness will fall, the darkness being Lord Garmadon. And for your information, Walker, I was going to tell (Y/n), but she was thrown over the side of the Bounty."

"Ahaha, right."

The mention of a prophecy didn't put anyone at ease, especially not Misako who crossed her arms and shifted uncertainly. "I've never heard of this before." Her gaze shifted between (Y/n) and Lloyd, the gears turning in her head. "Both your fathers were very close, they told each other everything."

(Y/n)'s eyes were stormy, her voice firm as she spoke. "Yet they couldn't tell me about my Destiny."

Misako frowned, placing a hand to (Y/n)'s shoulder gently. "You were too young at the time. All they wanted was to protect you, (Y/n)."

Right, because being so uninformative about future events happened to run in the family. (Y/n) wriggled out of Misako's grip, glaring at the ground. "We need to get moving." She scooped up Little Wu, who laughed as she handed him to Misako. "Take him somewhere safe. We'll handle the rest."

By the bar, Dareth tried for a smile to break the tension. "I have a flat in the upper east side, you guys can hide there for the time being." Misako nodded in thanks. Off to the side, Jay was becoming more and more apprehensive. He pointed a hand to the TV, "I'm telling you guys, that's not him. If that's Lord Garmadon, then I'm Lord of the Jig."

Gale Gossip reappeared back on screen, this time with a police officer. The poor man shook in his boots, the hat on his head trembling as he held a hot cup of coffee in the other. "T-that's when sh-she said, kneel b-before Lord Garmadon!" 

Jay ripped off his party hat and stamped it on the ground. "Okay. That's definitely him." Cole placed a hand to his shoulder, "Well, looks like you better start jigging."

(Y/n) rolled her eyes.

The drive was painfully long to the police station, even with Morro's calming presence. Up above, the skies reacted in kind to her fears, brewing a long-awaited storm of chaos. The station soon came into view and they hopped out into a messy street. (Y/n) stepped over some drywall, careful not to trip over sparking wires. "To think I failed everyone like this." 

Morro's eyes were hard, hands curling into fist at his side. "The only one to blame is Harumi. We won't underestimate her, not this time."

Zane was quick to find the Commissioner. He spoke of Lord Garmadon and how he couldn't be reasoned with, warning everyone to be careful. Above, the skies continued to darken, bringing with it a chilling wind upon (Y/n)'s skin. She stepped out into the street, lifting a hand into the air. "You feel it too, right?" Morro lifted a fist into the sky, as if trying to harness the frigid gale. "When I was in the Cursed Realm, this was all I felt. An absence of life, the heaviness of death."

A biting chill made (Y/n) tense. She could still see the purple light burning into her retinas, feel the force working against her strength as she pulled the rift closed. "As Keeper, I'm not allowed to interfere with any realms. And now that the balance has shifted because of me, I must pay the price."

"Price?" Those obsidian eyes narrowed angrily, searching (Y/n)'s own frantically. "You were used by Harumi for your element, this is not your responsibility, (Y/n). If you're thinking of fighting your uncle alone, that's plain stupid."

Morro was always right. Always the voice of reason after being nothing but unreasonable, the calm when he used to be only chaos and destruction. Still. What did it matter?

A darkness settled over (Y/n)'s features, flowing through her veins, fueling the guilt gnawing at her heart. She started this, it was her who had to finish it. "I refuse to sit around and watch Ninjago fall because of me and my Destiny. I have to fight." Morro stared at her as if she had gotten her arm ripped off. "Your powers are weak and your body tired." He authoritatively threw out a hand, an impenetrable wall (Y/n) couldn't break. "You always leap head-first into danger without thinking! Fighting your uncle who will have no mercy on you won't fix anything! He could kill you!"

"I know." (Y/n)'s bandaged hands stung, as if they were still being burned. "But I made an oath to the Emperor, I promised my father I wouldn't fail, yet look at me now." Her gaze flickered across the bandages wrapped around Morro's skinny limbs, that image of him limp on the ground etched into her memory. "Look at you now."

Morro refused to back down. Each step forward was filled with power, strength. Even with that bony, thin body, even injured and out of commission, (Y/n) thought him unshakable. "None of this is your fault, (Y/n). I may not be able to fight at the moment, but you can rest easy knowing your Destiny is ours to bare. Together."

His hands were cool against the bandages on (Y/n)'s palms, soothing to the burns on her skin. She gave them a squeeze, searching those obsidian eyes for that sea of calm within the storm.

"Together," (Y/n) distantly repeated. "Even now that we aren't tethered...?"

Morro's eyes softened. "Our elements are connected, Airhead. Nothing will ever separate us." 

(Y/n) let out a huff, "Yes, because I'm cursed with you."

Morro smirked in amusement, "Exactly, Airhead."

But what (Y/n) didn't want to tell him was that regardless of what he said, she was going to find a way to Kryptarium. Alone. If she didn't, then Lloyd would go in her place, and she wasn't going to let him.

The bridge was anything but quiet. Cole running in circles with his hands on his head, Pixal and Zane typing away in search of anymore news. The only latest clip they got was another video of Gale Gossip. A prison break-in, she said, where Harumi and Lord Garmadon had now taken over Kryptarium Prison.

Which was not where they were heading at all.

Why? Because all these scared-y cat ninja were too afraid. Ridiculous, right? (Y/n) sighed, "This just goes to prove how right Harumi was. Some protectors we are, running away instead of going to the fight."

Cole shot (Y/n) a look, telling her to be quiet before Lloyd got upset. He made his way over, planting a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, sometimes, it's better to sit back and wait. Even if they have Lord Garmadon on their side we'll figure it out." The silence greeting Cole made him let out a loud shout. "Fine, who am I kidding! This is bad. Really bad."

"Not to mention," Zane added with a frown. "We had the help of the entire police force, too."

The winds felt strange, as if they too were being strangled by the imbalance. (Y/n) wearily watched the clouds pass on the currents, quivering and dark. Morro remained by her side, lifting a hand to calm the winds to a controlled gale. He took a step forward, eyes sharp with focus, determination. "Regardless, we have to fight them anyway. You have allies, no? Call on them, form a group to resist the Sons of Garmadon."

"And then what?" Lloyd tiredly said. He delicately stashed a photo into his shirt, shutting his eyes before standing tall. "There's no time to build an Alliance right now. We go to Kryptarium Prison."

Ah. So maybe one other person was up for that plan. The rest? Not so much.

"Okay." Jay piped up, punching a fist to the side. "We take on Harumi, Garmadon, and her entire gang while they're fortified in an impenetrable bunker! Not the best idea, but let me get this straight, it's more logical than strategizing?"

Nya's grip tightened around the steering. "Jay's right, this isn't something we can rush into even if there's no time. We can't underestimate the Sons of Garmadon."

(Y/n)'s jaw tensed and she ground her teeth together. "We can't sit here and let them win, either." She glared at the horizon, the dipping sun across the clouds. "My powers are what opened the rift. I may not be able to send my uncle back, but I can fight him."

"No." There was a darkness in Lloyd's eyes, intense and painful. "I have to face him, not you, (Y/n). I turned him once, I can turn him again." 

"Again?" (Y/n) let out an incredulous laugh. Was he stupid? "You heard Harumi, your mother, everyone--your father isn't the man he was. Why would you risk yourself for something so baseless?" Lloyd forced himself to look away, shoulders tense, hands curled into fists at his side. He was a string bearing too much pressure. A string begging to snap. "I have to face him."

Kai let out a sharp breath form where he leaned on a pillar. "That sounds like a really bad idea. Think this through, guys." Beside him, Cole nodded vigorously. "And Kai knows bad ideas. He's full of them!" 

Zane was quick to jump on the hate train. "I agree. It's too dangerous, that's exactly what they want."

"And Lloyd," added Nya quickly. "You heard what the Commissioner said, they couldn't reason with your father."

The burning fire in Lloyd's sullen eyes sent a chill through the air. "We don't know that. I have to try." His gaze flickered between everyone's, challenging any of them to shut him down. Morro was quick cut in, voice curt, sharp as the wind. "You're going to get yourself killed. Letting your past cloud you will lead you straight into their hands. Why are they fortifying a prison? Why is it they've yet to make a move?" 

(Y/n) bit the inside of her cheek, catching on. "Because the only person who's ever held my uncle back is you, Lloyd. This is a trap. They're trying to set us up. If Harumi gets rid of you, she'll have full control over your father."

"Great!" exclaimed Jay with a nervous chuckle. "So we're making a plan right? We need to stay as far away from that place as possible. Nya, set a course for the lighthouse."

Cole used Jay's shoulder as an arm rest, nodding along. "Listen to Lord of the Jig. This is the best we can do."

A long silence passed as everyone waited for Lloyd to make the final call. He stared at the ground, thinking, before finally sighing in defeat. "Okay, then. What do we do?" All that greeted him was more silence and uncertainty, building and building until (Y/n) physically couldn't take it anymore.

She wanted to book it to Kryptarium. She wanted to beat up Harumi's stupid face until she was black and blue. But like the oh-so-rational and cool-headed ninja he was, Morro came to save the rescue again. How noble, he was always a great leader.

"Contact your allies." Morro motioned to the monitor and Pixal quickly got to work. "Even if we cannot form an alliance immediately, having some help is better than none. You may not have a plan now, but with new ideas from your allies, there's hope for one."

The help was greatly appreciated by everyone. Everyone except (Y/n). She knew Morro was just trying to help, but the thought of being so useless was a thorn in her side. She had to find a way to leave and go to Kryptarium, even if it meant doing so alone.

(Y/n) made her way down to the deck, lingering on the railing. She watched dark clouds part against the hull, the last rays of sunlight doing nothing to warm her skin. Then swift steps caught her ears and she sighed.

"(Y/n)." She felt Morro's eyes on the side of her bruised face. Thinking, getting a read on her sour mood as he approached. "My worst moments always came when I was angry at myself."

(Y/n) huffed, blowing some loose hairs out of her face. "Yes, I'm well aware." 

"Then you'll know that at times like this, we must be patient. This isn't something you can fix alone, you know this." Morro's voice was soft as the wind, filled with wisdom, teachings of long ago. Being bossed around by him made every inch of (Y/n) want to burst aflame. Yet the moment her eyes met his, her unsteady heart calmed. Easing with the breeze.

Morro said nothing more--he knew words were useless for (Y/n)--instead joining in watching stars dot the incoming night sky.

Not long passed before Lloyd made his way over. There was something strange about the way he eyed the empty deck, as if searching for something. "I wanted to talk to you both." 

(Y/n) raised a brow, lips pressing thin. "If this is about going to Kryptarium, it's not like Morro's letting me go anywhere." She eyed Lloyd up and down, taking note of the way he seemed to relax at her words. "Okay, spit it out. What're you hiding?" 

"Nothing." Lloyd spoke a little too easily. He motioned with his hand to follow, beginning towards the stairs. "The others are waiting. Nya said she has a plan." 

There was a sound from below deck, a muffled shout of 'LLOYD!' that made (Y/n) raise a brow.

The air shifted, breezing through Morro's princess hair from where he stood. "Going after your father will get yourself killed."

Lloyd stopped in his tracks. "Who said I'm going after my father?"

Morro rolled his eyes, as if he were looking at nothing but a child. "If either of you leave this ship, not only will you endanger yourselves, but the whole team." 

(Y/n) bit the inside of her cheek, gaze falling to the floor. "I thought I already told you, I wasn't going to leave." Morro sent her a pointed look and she slumped, raising her hands. "Lloyd's clearing trying to leave too. Just look at him, he's a terrible liar."

Lloyd finally turned, facing the two with a tired frown. "Fine, so what if I'm going to leave? You're both injured and your elements drained, how will you fight me? Much less my father?"

Morro firmly sliced a hand into the air. "Who said anything about fighting? I solo all you stupid ninja, taking one of you on is a breeze."

The winds suddenly gave a great howl and the Bounty lurched on its side. Then Morro's eyes widened and his hand dropped to his side, the winds vanishing, unfurling into a harmless breeze. He stared at the sky in disbelief. "I control the wind!" he shouted, lifting his hands. "Why won't you listen?" 

A triumphant smirk rose to Lloyd's lips. "What was that about this being a 'breeze'? I guess a living body is different than being a ghost." His victory was short lived. (Y/n) leapt forward, tackling Lloyd to the deck with a shout. "Well, I'm not letting you leave!" 

(Y/n) pulled Lloyd's arms behind his head, then he kicked her in the side, clawing against her grip. They fought like cats and dogs, wrestling each other and rolling around like two siblings fighting for the TV.

"Lloyd, be reasonable!"

"You don't understand!" he cried, shoving (Y/n)'s foot out of his face. "This is my father, I saved him once, I can save him again!" 

(Y/n) elbowed Lloyd in the stomach. Hard. "I felt the darkness when opening the rift," she shoved Lloyd's hands out of her face, "if what Harumi said is true, we can't risk rushing head-first into danger!" 

Lloyd took hold of (Y/n) gi, shoving her face-first into the deck. "What, like you always do when I tell you to think before you leap? Like Morro tells you because he's the only person you seem to listen to?!" His eyes were glossy, pained as his voice steadily rose into a shout. "(Y/n), I have to do this! Alone!"

"No, you don't!"

"Yes, I do!" Lloyd kept (Y/n) down, searching her eyes for some semblance of understanding. He found none, and that infuriated him. "See, this is your problem! No matter how hard I keep trying to tell you, you're not my mom, and you're not my dad!"

(Y/n)'s heart dropped to her stomach, she stopped struggling, freezing still in place. "What are you talking about? Lloyd--!"

"Nothing you do can replace them, (Y/n)!" He stood, ripping open the storage and strapping on a parachute. "And no matter what you say, nothing will change my mind. But I guess for someone like you who's always hated your parents, you just wouldn't understand. Don't get in my way, (Y/n). This is my fight, not yours." 

Those green eyes which always looked up at (Y/n) were now angled down, glaring at her as if she were the one who stole away his light. (Y/n) didn't move from her place on the ground, guilt gnawing at her chest, burning into her skin. 

This was her fault. All of it. She was sure of it now as she watched Lloyd approach the side of the ship, pure rage fueling his system.

Morro released a sigh, "Lloyd, you're making a mistake." 

"Am I?" Lloyd's low voice was cold. Unfeeling. "Or is that just your guilty conscious finally catching up to you?"

(Y/n) watched the way Morro's eyes fell, the way he seemed to lose every ounce of confidence he worked so hard to built. Then Lloyd jumped over the side and (Y/n) stumbled over to the railing. She watched the parachute open, that familiar car zoom down the freeway to catch him.

"Lloyd!" (Y/n) screamed. "Lloyd come back!"

All her fault. All of it. Now Lloyd was going off alone to Kryptarium to fight his father who wasn't really his father. And First Spinjitzu Master, if she had just told him everything in the first place, if she hadn't let her worries, her fears get to her.

But...if there was one thing (Y/n) was bad at, it was learning. She was bound to make that mistake.

The ninja suddenly burst from downstairs, racing up to the bridge as if their lives depended on it.

"I can't believe him!" exclaimed Jay. "Locking us up in our room like that!"

The monitor lit up as (Y/n) stumbled up the steps with Morro in tow, hurriedly squeezing her way through as the video camera popped up on screen. Lloyd kept his eyes forward, anger pulsing in his cold eyes. 

"Lloyd!" (Y/n)'s heart rammed against her chest, head thrumming with pain. "Lloyd, you have to come back! This isn't something you can do alone!"

"We can talk it out!" agreed Jay. 

Zane was quick to add on, "It's a trap! You have to come back!"

"Don't do it!" shouted Kai.

"Lloyd!" said Nya. "Please!"

(Y/n) was losing him. She felt it in her very veins, her heart as he continued to drive forward without looking back. When he finally turned to look at the camera, all she saw was her own reflection staring back. Cold, hateful eyes, torn with the pains of yesterday.

With a booming cry, Lloyd smashed the dash cam with his fist. The sound of glass breaking echoed through the mic, filling the bridge in a tense quiet.

And all (Y/n) saw was a younger version of herself speeding down the monastery steps, stumbling in the rain after Morro. He had already gone, the only evidence of his presence being a set of fading footprints. 

But this was different because (Y/n) wasn't going to lose Lloyd. Her baby brother, the one who always smiled when she stopped by Darkley's, who always embraced her so tight when she came back from a mission. She wasn't going to lose Lloyd, she wouldn't.

This is all your fault, (Y/n).

Everything you've done has led to this.

Morro's dead body, the blood dripping at her feet as words long forgotten filled the air. If (Y/n) had just stopped that damn ceremony, if she had done something, anything, instead of being so helpless.

"Lloyd!" (Y/n) could barely hear her own voice over the coursing of blood in her ears. "Listen to me, please!"

There was another shout from his end, the sound of glass breaking as he let out an anguished cry and pounded his fist against the glass. The bridge fell silent, nothing but a low beep as a window popped up, an alert that the connection failed.

Why didn't you just tell Lloyd from the start? Why did you have to keep all those secrets to yourself, (Y/n)?

Didn't your father warn you? Hesitate and you die!

Poor (Y/n). All alone with the mistakes you could never, ever hope to fix!

"Shut up." (Y/n) placed her hands to the side of her face, "Shut up, shut up, shut up!"

Silence. The voice vanished, leaving her with the eyes of her family. Kai was the first to speak up, those warm eyes cold with uncertainty. "(Y/n)," he spoke as if winded, "no one said anything."

She knew this, she knew that the voice was only in her head. Yet it sounded as if it were beside her, next to her. 

(Y/n) let out a heavy breath, forcing her trembling hands to type. The monitor glowed brightly, zooming in on a map and signaling the location of her car. It zoomed out of the city, displaying the speed and when it would arrive.

Five minutes. (Y/n) had five minutes to calm her family before they stopped her.

"(Y/n)."

She turned, brushing aside the hands trying to reach her, the voices attempting to cut into her loud mind.

"(Y/n)!"

She was suddenly pulled back, cool hands on her shoulders as she fought the voices, the images of Ninjago falling to darkness, of the realms being cursed.

"(Y/n), listen to me." She lifted her gaze from the ground, chest heaving, head splitting as Morro spoke. "You did what you could. What Lloyd does is not your fault and neither is your uncle coming back. We need you--I need you, because if we're going to make it out of this, we have to do this together."

A shaky breath escaped (Y/n)'s lips, she felt the voices breaking every seam in her heart, threatening to burst from her skin and turn her into that ugly, ugly monster. Then she saw it, that black, leathery skin bursting from her pores. The claws protruding from her hands. She frantically looked up to see the shocked faces of her family, the looks of disgust and fear.

"No." (Y/n) pulled away from Morro, stumbling down to the deck. She ripped open a closet, pulling on a parachute with a strength that couldn't have been her own. "I-I can still fix this. I can still make this right."

"(Y/n)!" Morro held his side, heaving as he held the railing for support. "You're playing right into their hands!"

"Yeah!" agreed Kai. "This isn't going to end well!"

"Stop and think this through!" Zane cried. 

Jay nodded frantically, "We have other options!"

"You could get killed." Nya stated. "Garmadon can't be reasoned with!"

"Please," said Pixal. "Reconsider, (Y/n).

Deep down, she felt it in the far reaches of her mind that this was wrong. That what she was doing was a mistake. She thought of Morro, of his voice that always soothed her. "I'm here," he had said into her hair. "I'm not leaving anytime soon." 

Yet (Y/n) shut her eyes tightly and turned her back anyway. "I'm sorry." And with a trembling breath, she jumped.

"(Y/N)!"

She drowned out Morro's voice in the wind, sensing the currents he tried and failed to control. The sky embraced her, filling her strange body with strength, her mind with enough stability to get her through the night. She landed in her car, pedal to the metal as she set the dash to silent. Her eyes burned, vision blurring with tears.

What is wrong with you? All Morro wants to do is help, yet you push him and your entire family away? Morro promised to stay, yet it was you who left him.

"I-I wasn't trying to hurt anyone." (Y/n) rubbed at her tears with those ugly, ugly claws, throat constricting, chest aching. "I just...I want to make things right. I promised my Uncle that I'd protect Lloyd. And I promised everyone that I wouldn't fail."

You can't fix what has already been done.

"I-I know." The sight of (Y/n)'s own skin made her want to hurl. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, reeling back at the fangs protruding from her dark lips, the horns twisting from her skull. "But...I have to try."

You will fail. Even with me at your side, you will never see victory.

"How would you know?" The tears continued rolling down (Y/n)'s face, a sob threatening to break from her lips. "How would you know anything?"

I know everything about you (Y/n), your fears, your regrets, all your worst mistakes. I know everything.

Kryptarium was oddly silent. With this new body, (Y/n) felt a strength like no other. Her element was weak after the ceremony, yet this body granted her enough strength to summon it. She burst through every set of doors and not a single gang member appeared to stop her. They were unbothered by the ruckus, by the merciless stomping as (Y/n) finally entered the big house. 

Then she saw it, in the center of the room.

Lloyd limply hung in Garmadon's hands, staring up into the eyes that once looked at him with love. "You wouldn't hurt me," his voice broke like glass, "your son." 

Garmadon's cold eyes were dispassionate, void of feeling. "I have no son." 

(Y/n) charged forward, purple light bursting from her fists. Garmadon turned, and before he could slam Lloyd head-first into a wall, (Y/n) caught him, setting him down gently.

"W-what happened to you?" Lloyd stammered. "(Y/n), you're an...an oni."

She didn't have time to respond, immediately stepping forward at speeds she had never known before, punching, kicking, dodging. She was relentless, light on her feet. Her fists winding, shifting with every change of the wind. Purple light suddenly rose from Garmadon's hands and he fired. 

(Y/n) didn't have time to wonder when he got powers or how. All that filled her heart was the will to fight, painful, and searing as a fire. It was as if she were being burned alive, skinned, and cut into pieces. Every punch, every kick sent her mind into overdrive, filling her with urges that weren't her own. 

Urges to kill. The scent of blood filled her nose as Lloyd hauled himself off the ground. He was so pathetically weak. A creature not worth more than a grain of salt.

Wouldn't it be better if he died right now? There was no reason to keep someone around who was nothing more than a waste of space--

(Y/n)'s eyes widened. What was wrong with her?

A punch suddenly rocked (Y/n) off her feet. She flew into a set of prison bars, the metal digging into her leathery skin, distorted from the force, ripping through her flesh. She let out a cry, those fangs brushing against her lips as she dug herself out of the hole she was digging, the grave that she was falling into.

Off to the side, Lloyd was thrown into a wall, his head nearly smashing against the concrete.

(Y/n) lifted her heavy head, catching a vague glimpse of the evil beast stalking towards her. The image of her uncle flashed in her mind, the long nights he would sit by her and Lloyd in his dojo, talking, laughing about nonsense.

But that man with kind eyes and a gentle smile was no more.

The ground shook with every merciless step Garmadon took. He hauled (Y/n) up by the collar, stared at the blood dripping against the concrete, the wounds opening on her back.

Why didn't you listen to your family?! Why didn't you listen to Morro?!

Because (Y/n) had to make this right! Because she had to fix all the mistakes she made!

But you're just making this worse!

"Why did you come here, (Y/n)?" Garmadon spoke as if bored, less than amused by this blatant display of misery. "I now remember how you've always been impatient. But this? It surprises me." He waited for an answer, watching distantly as (Y/n) coughed on her own blood. 

"My element was what brought you here," (Y/n)'s voice was weak, thin. "I'm sorry, Uncle...for everything I've done."

Those words were clearly foreign to Garmadon. He was an unfeeling beast, a monster with no emotions besides the thirst for destruction. What would he know of this guilt (Y/n) carried? This pain from everything she failed to do?

"You've unlocked your oni form, but with little control, all it does is hinder you." Garmadon frowned, as if this bothered him. "A waste of potential."

The face of a man with so much love, so much care flashed in the back of (Y/n)'s mind. It soon vanished, replaced by that power hungry beast driving his fist into her face. Pain swirled within (Y/n)'s heart, growing and brewing like a storm. 

This is all your fault!

You hurt Lloyd, you hurt your uncle, you hurt everyone you think you're trying to help!

(Y/n) shut her eyes, breaths short, laboured. 

Hate. That was the only thing blinding (Y/n)'s vision as she clawed her way forward, using hands that weren't her own to destroy. To kill. Blood splattered against the ground, seeping against (Y/n)'s shoes as she wildly attacked, relentless like a hurricane. This was all her fault, all of it, and no matter what she did there was no way to fix the rift that had been opened, the divide that now grew in her heart and ripped the balance in two.

A ball of light nailed (Y/n) in the chest and she limply crumpled, her strength fading, the anger passing. The horns upon her head receded, that leathery skin vanishing with the fangs, the disgusting claws. 

"Pathetic." Garmadon spat.

(Y/n)'s body was heavy, the power in her veins sputtering out like a light. Her mind ran a million miles per hour as she crawled on her knees, placing a hand to Lloyd's limp body. She held him close, shielding him as another volley of energy exploded in sparks. (Y/n)'s back slammed into the prison wall. It cracked, giving away as she limply flew high into the air.

The sand was hard against (Y/n)'s torn skin. She tumbled, spitting the grains out with a cough.

Even weak, even exhausted and bloody, (Y/n) refused to let Lloyd go. She failed her father and grandfather, she failed the emperor, her family, her friends. But not this one promise--to protect Lloyd. 

Right?

(Y/n) placed a hand to his wrist, checking for a pulse, his breath. Why wasn't he breathing? Why was his heart slowing?

The sand was cold against (Y/n)'s skin, rubbing against her open wounds as she gave his body a shake. "Lloyd?"

He was still.

"No, no, come on. You're kidding right? First Spinjitzu Master, first Morro, now you too? This isn't funny!" Her eyes burned with hot tears, hands trembling as she shook him again. "Wake up!"  

(Y/n) was suddenly no older than seven, knelt by her father's dead body as Garmadon vanished across the sweltering horizon. Blood stained her hands as she tried to shake her father again, pleading, begging for him to open his eyes. "Wake up!" she cried. "Please, I can't do this again, you have to wake up, father!"

Father?

(Y/n) blinked against her tears. She stared at her bloody hands, her little brother so limp and still. Why, at a time like this was she thinking about her father? (Y/n) stared at Lloyd's still face, listening to the faint sounds of his breaths. She hauled him onto her back, knees trembling, arms screaming from the strain. Where her father died, she could save Lloyd. She had to.

Because you don't want to be a failure again!

"I didn't fail!" A sob escaped (Y/n)'s trembling lips. She trudged through the sand, blood trailing behind. "My father died because he couldn't stand to live! He...he never cared to begin with, of course he left me...! Of course he killed himself!"

Then why do you blame yourself for not being good enough for his love? For anyone's?

"Shut up! T-that isn't true!" (Y/n) cried, throat constricting, arms trembling from the weight on her back. Every inch of her body burned in excruciating pain, but she couldn't stop. "I'm not--I just want to make things right. You don't know me!"

But I do, (Y/n). Things like this are why you refuse to let anyone into your heart. The same as your father.

Grandfather's face flashed in (Y/n)'s mind, that hard expression freezing her body stiff. "Impatient, angry, and ridiculously foolish," he had said. "Just like your parents." She recalled the memories grandfather showed her from the Wailing Alps. Morro holding out a hand, begging for (Y/n) to take it, her refusing, shouting that she didn't believe him.

Why? She knew Morro wouldn't hurt her. All she had to do was take his hand. Yet she refused because of her pride, her ego, her memories of father's dead body, of Morro vanishing into the rainy night.

No matter how much love she was shown, how much devotion, she knew deep down she could never accept it. She wasn't good enough, simple as that. It was why she had to fix Ninjago and the balance. Why she had to save Lloyd, why she couldn't tell Morro how much she truly cared about him.

(Y/n) loved him, the same as he loved her.

Another sob escaped her lips, tears streaming down her face, heart squeezing in her chest. (Y/n)'s knees gave out and she collapsed in the sand. Her grip remained tight on Lloyd, refusing to let him go, refusing to let this be her next mistake. But these hands she used were to destroy, to take, and never give.

And that voice in her head, that damned demon haunting her dreams knew exactly that. She now understood why.

It was not some phantom, not some ghost of her past coming back to haunt her, but a part of her, the oni side she refused to acknowledge. Even if (Y/n) lied to herself, shut her eyes to block it out, deep down the truth was clear.

That damned demon, that damned monster in her head, was her.

Ninjago Secrets!

-Harumi, being the Jade Princess, had an extensive archive of books. It was there she pieced two and two together that your mother was an oni 
-Morro liked to play tag with you as kids because he always won, but don't be fooled by his tough exterior, he always stopped to let you catch your breath, then tag you so you were it!
-Lloyd used to beg to you buy him every new edition of Starfarer. You always refused, but would come back with the comic anyway (begrudingly ofc)
-every so often, Cole, jay, and you go to this one cookie shop that's always open late. Who can ever say no to a sweet treat?
-kai was the one who taught you how to play his favourite games (Sitar Legend, Fist to Face Two, Galamorph X whatever it's called, etc, etc). You still suck at games, but there's one you're always gonna be great at, Crossing Roads (basically an animal that tries to cross the road)

Chapter Text

Being yourself is accepting the worst parts of you.

There was nothing worse than this pain in (Y/n)'s chest that burned and ached like fire. She was being consumed, enveloped in flames that refused to go out. They lapped at her skin, every wound, every scar. And there she was in the midst of it all, trudging forward by the skin of her teeth.

(Y/n) couldn't stare at her own reflection in the bathroom mirror. The sight of those twisting horns, the skin leathery and black as night, the fangs that gnawed against her lips as she opened her great maw to scream into the sand.

Blood.

That was all (Y/n) saw as she stepped out into the tea shop, eyes red as rubies, cheeks sunken, and pale. She retired in a far corner behind some shelves, ignoring the concerned looks of her family and Granny. What more was there for her to do? Lloyd had yet to wake up, somehow surviving by whatever tea and power the others offered him. 

But not because (Y/n) had tried to help him (and failed).

She ran a hand over the burns on her palms. They had yet to heal, as most her wounds did, and dully throbbed underneath the salve angrily slapped on her skin. The clock ticked, a heavy tap, tap, tap that grated against (Y/n)'s ears. She didn't like how much she could hear, how even Jay's mutters were clear as crystal. 

Another side-effect of awakening her oni side.

A pair of footsteps sounded through the tense atmosphere. Granny appeared, kneeling down to hand (Y/n) a cup of steaming tea. "To help you recover." Granny gently croaked. "I wanted to talk to you about Raya, your mother."

(Y/n) let out a strained breath, glaring at the jars of tea stacked high on the shelves. She couldn't get the disgusting feeling of wanting to kill her own baby brother out of her mind. "What is there to know?"

"Your mother was not sick before she died." Granny's old eyes shone sadly in the lantern's light. "She was consumed by the darkness within. This same poison runs through your blood and corrupts you as we speak."

(Y/n) didn't feel any more at ease. "So I've heard from my father." Her voice was airy, distant as she kept her guard up. "Why have her banished if that same curse is also mine?"

"Because Raya believed it would end the cycle once and for all. She was wrong, of course." Granny's voice became thick and watery with pain. "Your father spent many years searching for answers. When he found none, he lost all will to live."

(Y/n) sucked her teeth. "And died like a coward." Her father was never strong, never unyielding, only a fool who pretended to be all he was not. "Now he hides in the shadows, leaving his responsibilities to me."

There was a creak from the other side of the shop as Morro shifted. He needed answers. "How can this curse be stopped then?"

Granny shook her head in dismay, "I do not know, but I have faith that your destiny will not end in darkness." Her voice softened, gentle and sweet as a lullaby. "The only remedy for a lonely heart is company, and company is what you have with friends." 

The idea sounded ridiculous. What was Granny trhing to say, the solution to all their problems was the magic of friendship? She sighed, gaze flickering to Kai's.

He was oblivious, with that brotherly smile on his lips as always. "Mystake's right, we're here with you (Y/n)." Cole nodded firmly from beside him and threw a thumbs-up. "All you have to do is ask." he added brightly. "Like rock, we're solid together."

Jay let out a small laugh. "And we can tell when you're tripping up, you're not gonna escape us that easily." Zane nodded in agreement from behind the front desk, voice teasing as he spoke. "Especially when you've always been subpar at hiding how you feel."

"What they mean," Nya smiled with a roll of her eyes, "is we have your back. No matter what, (Y/n)."

Maybe, just maybe, Granny was on to something.

But these hands used to hurt, these hands dyed in red, were they even worthy of being held and supported?

(Y/n)'s gaze shifted to Morro's. She didn't need to wonder to know why he was avoiding her.

Even with her family by her side, even with them overlooking every blunder, and failure, there was no erasing the past, or the betrayal they must have felt knowing she could have prevented all this.

(Y/n) stared at Lloyd's limp body, mind wandering to the dark urges to kill him. Her mind was just playing games, telling her thoughts that were not her own and giving her unnatural and ruthless wants.

But that scared her. She could have killed Lloyd like she tried to do to Morro in the oni temple.

(Y/n) set the tea down. A rumble suddenly shook the ground and jars clinked against each other, toppling off shelves as the ninja raced outside. Pattering rain slammed against the ground, parting only to reveal a large mech-like monster sauntering through the city.

This was ridiculous. The familiarly cold and commanding presence, the strong, dark energy seeping out of the rock's nonexistent veins.

There was only one person who could have done this. "My uncle," (Y/n)'s breath caught in her throat, "he's searching for me."

Jay poked his head through the door, wiping rain from his eyes. "Searching for you? Didn't he just let you out of Kryptarium after nearly giving you a spinal injury?" 

"Yes," (Y/n) pushed the image of those hateful, red eyes from her mind, "but only as a warning!"

Granny pulled the beaded curtain apart and handed Jay a cloth bag. "In your time of need, tea to go." Her eyes were alight, sparkling with an all-knowing light. Jay stared back, laughing awkwardly. "Right. To...go. Haha."

Kai unsheathed his blade, motioning for the boys to follow. "Nya, you stay with (Y/n) and Morro. Look after Lloyd, we're going after that thing." He dashed forward, the others following in a well-trained rhythm (Y/n) wished she could match.

The door clattered shut, filling the shop with a strong gust of cold air. (Y/n) ran a hand over her sore shoulder, the joint popping as she gave it a stretch.

You're useless like this, she bitterly thought.

From the desk, Lloyd suddenly sat up. He gasped as Nya placed a hand to his shoulder, supporting him. "I...had this dream," Lloyd hoarsely began. "Of a giant, and...my father. He's looking for Wu and (Y/n)."

Granny swallowed thickly, "That was not a dream, but a vision."

(Y/n) placed a hand to her back to unsheathe her blade, only to sigh. She didn't have her katana.

Morro stood, shooting her a sharp side-eye. "Forget something?" The spite in his voice made (Y/n) roll her eyes as he spoke. "I wouldn't be surprised when you were in such a rush to leave for Kryptarium." 

(Y/n) wanted to say she was mature, but one look into those hard eyes made her insides burn in anger. She was such a joke to him, wasn't she?

"I didn't forget anything." (Y/n) grumbled beneath her breath. "I made a calculated decision not to bring a hunk of metal that would weigh me down. Why don't we leave before Garmadon finds us and does First Spinjitzu Master knows what."

Nya frowned, turning to Lloyd. "Right. Do you still have your powers?" 

Lloyd didn't look too good as he weakly lifted a hand. "I-I don't understand...what happened?" Nya tried for a smile, but it was strained and tight. "You're alive, and that's all that matters. Come on, we have to find Wu and get (Y/n) out of here."

The pain in Lloyd's eyes was familiar, a mirror of (Y/n)'s own. "But...without my powers...I'm not the Green Ninja." He stared at his hands as if they were not his own. 

And it was the same as (Y/n) had done only hours before. Questioning her own existence, wondering who she now was.

(Y/n) took a step forward to comfort Lloyd, only to freeze aashis words echoed in her mind. "No matter how hard I keep trying to tell you," he had said, "you're not my mom, and you're not my dad!"

(Y/n) stilled, slinking back into the shadows as Morro made his way forward. He always stood so proudly, unwavering as his winds. "It was never your powers or the gi, that made you the Green Ninja, Lloyd." he firmly said. "You know this, you told me this."

Lloyd was changed. Even after they gathered outside in the cold rain, he remained lifeless, as if a shadow had been shrouded against him.

"Wait!" Granny hurried forward and tied a sachet to both Lloyd and (Y/n)'s belts. An omamori, for good luck. She placed a hand to (Y/n)'s cheek, wiping the cold rain away with a fond look in her eyes. "My dear child, do not fear what you have yet to understand." 

(Y/n) searched those olden eyes for answers. "I don't fear anything." She found sorrow, wisdom, and regret. "If you have something to say, say it." 

"I'm old, I've seen much and my body is tired." Granny laughed a little but it was bitter and sad as she croaked. "All the mistakes I've made? It's how I got my name. But you? There's hope, a destiny that does not have to end in darkness if you so will it. Now hurry, you must leave before you're found."

(Y/n) usually loved the rain, but with every droplet sinking into her gi and making her shoes soggy, it wasn't pleasant. Fatigue made her limbs heavy, her tired body lagging behind like dead weight.

Nya paused in her step, keeping an arm around Lloyd to support him as she turned. "(Y/n)?"

(Y/n) gripped at her sides sore with bruises, wincing. "I won't make it." She leaned on a wall for support, voice thin from the strain. "I can get to the Bounty, but I won't make it to Dareth's."

Morro's hand curled into a fist and he firmly took her arm with a grunt. "We will get to the Bounty. Nya, go with Lloyd, we'll pick you both up."

(Y/n) bit the inside of her cheek, trying and failing to shove Morro off. "I can go myself--"

"No, you aren't." said Morro distastefully, lip curling. "Go on ahead, the both of you. We'll be fine." 

It was quiet for a moment as Lloyd studied the sour look on (Y/n)'s face. She sensed his concern, the pure fear running through his veins.

Lloyd looked rather pitiful right now. "Will you be okay?" he tiredly said. "I know you were hurt badly."

(Y/n) briefly looked up. For a moment, the Green Ninja was just a small little ankle biter with an ugly haircut and a too-baggy sweater. Then she blinked and the cold rain thrust her back into reality. "I-I'm fine." (Y/n) quickly said. "Go, you need to get to Uncle before it's too late."

"But (Y/n)--"

"Go." She began in the opposite direction, weakly hauling Morro along with her. "We'll meet you later."

The silence was deafening as the rain continued going pitter, patter. The visions of the temple, the feel of Morro's limp body in her arms. (Y/n) blinked the rain from her eyes, forcing those thoughts away. The lingering urges to run her bare hands through someone's throat made her mouth go dry.

The thought was...positively exhilarating. The first person (Y/n) could think of killing was Harumi, with that too-perfect smile, those ruby red lips, and those calculating eyes that always looked as if she knew something (Y/n) did not.

She was angry again, hands curling into fists as she glared at the dark alleyway. Her breaths were short, laboured as she seethed hatefully. "I'll kill her for all she's done."

Morro froze in his tracks, slowly turning. His eyes were colder than the rain, piercing through (Y/n)'s skull as if he hoped she would correct herself.

When she didn't, he spoke lowly. "What did you say?"

(Y/n) glared through the wet hair obscuring her vision. "You heard me." she spat. "I'll kill--"

(Y/n)'s back slammed into the wall and she cried out as Morro grabbed her face between his cold, bony hands. "Have you learned nothing from my mistakes?" His voice was low as he peered through the rain. "I suggest you choose your next words carefully, (Y/n). You almost got yourself killed, now you wish to enact that same evil onto someone else? Did you not hear what Mystake said? You have a choice, even if it's not clear, it exists! As for killing, that isn't one of them."

"Yes, it is." (Y/n) stated. "What use is this power if I can't use it? What good am I if I can't protect anyone!"

The image of blood on her hands, trailing down her claws as she ripped through Garmadon's leathery skin. The euphoric rush of bloodshed, death, and destruction. What more could she want? What more--

(Y/n)'s eyes widened.

She was burning up again. Being consumed by the hottest flames in Torchfire Mountain, and then seared alive from her ashes. Morro's fingertips dug into her cheeks, falling to her hands, and holding them tightly. He stared at her as if she were an anomaly, a mistake that ruined this beautifully cruel world.

And that angered (Y/n). 

"Don't look at me!" she fiercely cried. "I'm not a monster!" Fangs shot from her gums, sharp canines that made fear coarse into her system. She ripped her hands out of Morro's, backing herself further into the wall as the cold rain continued pelting above.

What was wrong with her? Sure, she made mistakes and hurt people, but never once had (Y/n) Lance killed someone before.

So why did the idea make her heart sing in excitement?

(Y/n) wanted to hurl. She couldn't stand to see the way Morro's eyes broke into a million pieces, or the way he kept his hand out as if to take her own as he always did.

"I'm not a monster." (Y/n)'s words held no weight, shaken by apprehension and doubt. "I-I didn't mean that! I don't want to kill anyone!"

That was a lie and it cut (Y/n)'s throat like glass. She planted her hands to the wall, as if trying to run away. But she couldn't when she was nothing more than a caged and terrified animal, wild, unyielding without an ounce of reason to ground her.

"You've changed." Morro's words hurt more than the jagged wounds on (Y/n)'s back. "Ever since you've awakened your oni side, you've lost control, (Y/n)."

She ripped her gaze away, glaring down at the ground. "I haven't changed." (Y/n)'s voice was low and raw as she spoke. "I'm still me. My oni side is something I can control, something I can get rid of! So don't look at me like that, like I'm not someone you recognize anymore!"

(Y/n) shut her eyes, hating the way her heart dared to ache painfully in her chest. Her mind was foggy, like an incoming storm.

Which thoughts were her own? Which were that wretched oni? She didn't know, and a part of her didn't want to.

Morro remained still. "You're such a pain, (Y/n), you know that?" His grainy voice was calm despite the glossiness of his eyes. "You're not a monster. Just a stupid ninja who would lose her head if it weren't stuck on her shoulders." He held out a hand, the winds whistling through the streets. "Stop blabbering, we can talk later once this is all over."

A well of shame made (Y/n)'s heart clench as Morro intertwined their hands. He began down the alleyway, towards the harbour where waves rolled against the docks. The Bounty sat anchored, teetering this way and that as sea spray rose into the howling winds.

"You're not a monster, (Y/n)." Morro said again.

(Y/n) looked up from the ground, studying the side of his face as they boarded the Bounty.

There was that fondness in Morro's eyes again. "I've never met anyone who cares about people as much as you do." he said.

As the ship whirred to life and the sails burst into the winds, (Y/n) gave the wheel a turn. Salt water and rain sloshed against her wet skin, drenching her already sopping gi as the Bounty rose high into the night skies. 

Morro pointed to the bridge's monitor. "Walker and the other stooges are closer than Nya and Lloyd." His voice was flat, yet sharper than the wind. "They might need help, considering the giant hasn't moved from central."

And as Morro said, the giant walked tall amidst the skyscrapers, where a familiar group of colourful ninjas stood fleeing said creature. (Y/n) lowered the ship for them to board. 

Zane was quick to take the wheel, forcing (Y/n) and Morro to sit down in a far corner of the bridge, away from the action. The ride was anything but smooth sailing, the Bounty weaving through buildings, swooping down then back up again. Then Kai spotted Lloyd on the monorail with baby Wu in his arms, zooming through central with Harumi beside him.

It was as if (Y/n) had been put into a trance. She stood, holding tight to the railing as her gaze zeroed on Harumi's. The princess wore the Mask of Hatred, skin grey as cement as she raised her fists to pound Lloyd into the train.

The Bounty finally closed in on the monorail.

That sense of thirst filled (Y/n)'s veins as she reached out a hand. The image of a head rolling at her feet, her hands stained red, covering in nothing but blood--

Morro caught (Y/n)'s hand. "We're here to help Lloyd and Sensei."

The ship veered to the left as Zane attempted to bring the Bounty closer. But the distance was too great and Lloyd shook his head in dismay. "It's too far!" His grip tightened around Wu as he dodged a punch from Harumi. "I won't make it!"

(Y/n) focused on the skies, allowing its freeing presence to ground her loud mind. Her body was tired, her powers drained, but she forced herself psst the pain, past her limits anyway.

The pouring rain began to slow at her command, the winds following as Morro outstretched his arms.

"I...can catch him!" Morro was also at his limit, face terrifyingly pale. "Tell him...!" 

"Lloyd!" (Y/n) leaned over the side of the Bounty with a cry. "Jump!"

Lloyd didn't hesitate.Abut as soon as his feet left the train's roof, Harumi caught his ankle and his eyes widened. "CATCH HIM!"

Wu tumbled out of Lloyd's hands, crying out as a wind swooped him up high into the night sky. The little bundle landed in (Y/n)'s arms as Morro sank to the ground in a heap. She watched the monorail zoom into the distance, breath caught in her throat.

Lloyd was on his own.

The Bounty suddenly jerked upwards. A large hand made of rock caught the ship, its veins glowing a deep purple in the dark. Its large fingers curled around the ship's middle and it splintered, cracking horrifically under the pressure. (Y/n) kept a tight hold on Wu, covering his tiny head from the debris.

Cole suddenly pulled (Y/n) and Morro to the left as a wooden plank slammed onto the deck.

(Y/n) wasn't going to be a sitting duck. She stumbled through the bridge for any rope, or a parachute, or something to get them all out of here. "We have to jump!"

Baby Wu looked at (Y/n) like she was crazy.

Cole's eyes widened. He stared at the skyscrapers below, shaking his head. "That's at least a hundred feet below! We'd die!" Morro held tight to the side of the ship, dodging another plank of wood crashing into the monitor. "Do you think being crushed to death is any better?!"

Wu leapt out of (Y/n)'s arms and toddled over to Jay. "To go!" he cried, pointing wildly at him. "To go!"

(Y/n) couldn't believe her eyes. "Great, just as we're about to die, Sensei learns how to talk!" Little Wu sent (Y/n) another side-eye and she frowned as he continued pointing and wildly saying 'to go! to go!'. 

Jay's brow furrowed and he repeated the words to himself. "To go? Oh, to go!" He rummaged in his gi and pulled out the bag Mystake handed him. "In your time of need, tea to go!"

Kai threw out his arm in exasperation. "Great, you got takeout? Just what I need when we're all about to die!'

Jay ripped open the bag, eyes alight with a newfound hope. Golden petals soared on the wind, glimmering like thousands of stars in a night. It encased the bridge in warmth as Zane stared at it in wonder. "Traveler's Tea?" he said. 

The question was left unanswered as the light intensified. It chased away the dark, the cold rain, and the howling winds.

The world vanished into nothing.

---

Sensei Wu was getting on (Y/n)'s nerves. What made him think sending two pre-teens out into the wild was smart? Sure, they were trained, had supplies, and were well-armed, but still.

This was ridiculous.

"Great, we're lost." (Y/n) groaned, plopping herself down. She stared at the rice patties below, watching dragonflies disappear over the tall grass. "Sensei gave us a map, sleeping bags, supplies for the night, and food. It's like he knew this would happen."

"Show Sensei some respect." Morro grumbled, shooting (Y/n) a sharp glare. "We wouldn't be lost if I hadn't trusted you. He said turn left at the fork, not right, Airhead." 

(Y/n) mimicked Morro in a high pitched voice, "'We wouldn't be lost if I hadn't trusted you'." She threw her hands down, voice raising into a frustrated shout. "Well, we wouldn't be even more lost if we hadn't hiked all the way up here because of you, jerk face! Not only are we in the wrong village, we're in Death Central!"

Death Central was what the locals called the mountain pass at the outskirts of this village. It was known for bandits that preyed on lone travelers, which was exactly what (Y/n) and Morro were.

The sun already began to set across the horizon, casting its golden light against the mountain's peaks. Not a good sign.

(Y/n) bit the inside of her cheek. "We're walking targets, especially at night." she muttered, picking at the callouses on her palms. "That map is useless now that we've gone in the complete opposite direction." 

Morro sighed and rolled the map, stuffing it into his backpack. "The only way back without climbing down this whole mountain is through Death Central." 

"Are you kidding?" (Y/n) said, looking up from the ground. "We'll be ambushed by bandits before we even reach Jamanakai Village! Just say you want a challenge to boost your big head." 

Morro tried not to show his annoyance, but he wasn't very good at that. "If I wanted a challenge, I would ask Sensei for a different sparring partner who isn't stupid and gets herself into nothing but trouble. We'll be in Jamanakai by sunup if we leave now."

The sun quickly dipped along the treeline, allowing the moon to rise with the stars. The lantern in Morro's hand lit the rocky path ahead, casting eerie shadows across the dark land.  

A chilly breeze whipped through the hills and (Y/n) shivered, rubbing at her arms. Tall cliffs hung on either side of the mountain pass, covered in grass and crumbling stone, where small critters watched in the dark.

Morro regarded (Y/n) with an airy huff. "Don't look so scared." He didn't sound the least bit concerned, as if he walked through bandit territory for morning strolls. "Even if we're attacked, I doubt their skill is enough to best either of us."

(Y/n) blinked. "Was that a compliment?" 

Morro turned, a smug smirk rising to his lips. "Bandits aren't known for having any technique, the same as you, Master of Clumsiness."

(Y/n) frowned, shooting Morro a cold glare. "At least I'm not a control freak who acts like he's better than everyone else." 

"Aw," the grin on Morro's face was full of it, "you think I'm better than everyone else? You're right." 

(Y/n)'s insides boiled. She was about to blow her top off, but the sharp whiz of an arrow cut her short. "What the--"

"Bandits." Morro blew out the lantern, unsheathing a dagger as arrows pierced the air. (Y/n) pulled out her katana and jumped to the side to keep from being impaled. "I can't see! What made you think blowing out the lantern was a good idea?!"

"Would you rather be a walking target?" retorted Morro with a grunt. "Four, maybe five from above!"

"Where?!" (Y/n) was blind as a bat. She haphazardly swung her katana, slicing through arrows, and hurriedly sprinting out of the way. "I can't see!" Her back slammed into Morro's and he grunted in frustration.  "Watch it!"

(Y/n) gave her katana another swing. "I wouldn't need to if I could actually see!" She bit the inside of her cheek, anxiously surveying the cliffs with a squint. 

A cloud broke above, revealing stars that shone brightly. They pulsated with life as (Y/n) focused on the sky's energy. Sparks flitted across her palm, casting a soft purple light through the dark. 

Movement in the corner of (Y/n)'s eye made her spring into action. She fired a volley of light, stepping sideways as Morro raised his hands and sent a sweeping gale through the barren path.

There was the sound of shuffling, then nothing before four figures jumped out from the dark. Morro punched at the air and a gust sent two flying into each other. (Y/n) didn't miss a beat, stepping forward and firing a volley of compressed energy afterward.

The bandits dodged, but (Y/n) wasn't done. She raised her blade, slicing down in a clean arc. The bandit blocked with a short dagger, only for Morro to appear behind. He swiped a leg under the bandit, who stumbled. (Y/n) slammed the butt of her hilt to the man's head and he fell limp, out cold.

"(Y/n)!"

She turned, only to see the glint of a dagger rushing for her neck. Her eyes widened. She didn't have time to dodge, much less block. Oh, this was it, huh? She'd return home to see the disappointment on Sensei's face in the afterlife once she was beheaded--

A strong breeze cut through the air. The bandit stumbled, only for Morro to take a wide stance and send the man flying up and down into the ground. The man slammed down face-first and stilled, out cold in a heap.

Morro dropped his hand and relaxed his stance, rushing over with a wild look in his eyes. "Are you alright?" The stars were bright in his obsidian eyes so stormy with fear. "You're not hurt are you, (Y/n)?"

It was strange seeing Morro so panicked. He was always the calm within the storm, the balance when (Y/n) was anything but that. His hands were on her shoulders and she lost herself in his mesmerizing eyes.

"I'm...I'm fine." (Y/n) wasn't sure how to respond as she sheathed her blade. Never once had Morro looked at her as if she were a flower to protect. And never once had his voice been so soft and caring.  She swallowed thickly, "Are you alright?"

Morro snapped out of whatever trance he was in. A tense silence, pregnant and long, fell. He coughed, retracting his hands as if he had shoved them into a pot of boiling water.  "Uhm..." He scooped the lantern off the ground, striking a match to light it back up. It warmly illuminated against his red face, but maybe it was just the colour of the rice paper. "I'm fine."

A growl from (Y/n)'s stomach cut through the tension and she frowned, rubbing at it. "If you're done being weird, can we go now?" Her face was heating up in embarrassment, the sight of Morro's wide eyes full of concern filling her with uncertainty.

They were rivals, enemies, and training partners. Why was she so flustered by him asking if she was okay?

The walk was silent through the rest of the mountain pass. Thankfully, no more bandits jumped out from the shadows. With the chirping crickets and the nightly woodland creatures, the night was...peaceful.

All except for the awkward tension hanging heavy. 

(Y/n)'s stomach growled again and she glared at the ground, huffing. Before she could make a comment to shrug it off, Morro shoved an onigiri into her hands. 

"If you're that hungry, you could've just asked." He didn't meet her eyes, instead staring forward with a pout pulling his face into a frown.

(Y/n) unwrapped the onigiri, taking a bite. "For someone who's so rude all the time, you're being very kind."

The pout on Morro's lips didn't fade. "Please, you're the rudest person I've ever met." 

(Y/n) chewed thoughtfully. All the times she glared at Morro and aggressively sparred against him flashed in her mind. "I'm not...rude." 

"Yes, you are." Morro spoke as if that were fact. "Ever since the day we met, you've always hated me. Safe to say, I reciprocate the sentiment."

A forest came into view, the leaves rustling gently in the wind, where starlight cast silvery light upon them.  A clearing came into view overlooking the grassy hills below. (Y/n) rubbed at her tired eyes, to which Morro sighed. He suddenly paused in his step, setting down his backpack.

"We'll camp here tonight. We've covered enough ground for one day." He unfurled his sleeping bag and started on the fire. "Knowing you, we won't make it far when you're delirious on lack of sleep."

(Y/n) couldn't argue. She helped gather wood, setting it in a pile as Morro striked a match.

The flames were warm as (Y/n) settled in her sleeping bag, the night cold despite every gentle breeze. "I had no idea you cared about your worst enemy."

Morro stared at the fire distantly, resting his chin on his knees. "I would care more if you didn't push me away all the time."

(Y/n) frowned. She didn't push Morro away, she just didn't like the idea of him being better than her (which he was). "We're rivals," she said with a yawn. "My goal is to beat you, not care about you."

Morro rolled his eyes and his lips pulled into an annoyed frown. "Sensei said I have to get along with you, no matter how much you piss me off."

"And?" (Y/n) said, cracking open an eye.

Morro tried to hide the fondness in his eyes as he absently poked the flames with a stick. "We fought well together. The only person I can do that with is you."

(Y/n) hated how she couldn't refute. "I guess we...make a good team." Her voice was tight, strained as she forced the truth from her lips. "Like two halves of a whole."

---

The air was dry. It scratched against (Y/n)'s throat as she stared at the musty skies above. Dragons soared overhead, only ever slowing to cast a hiss in (Y/n)'s direction.

The First Realm. To think Granny would choose such a strange place to drop ship them to.

The two parts of (Y/n)--oni and dragon--were at war inside her mind. A stark reminder of her ancestors before. She saw a face in her mind, with fierce red eyes, long black hair, and two blades. The woman stood among a pile of bones, expression still as she stared straight into (Y/n)'s eyes.

Welcome home, she greeted.

Home? No. Such a place so ridden with destruction and bad blood could never be home.

Follow my voice, (Y/n). And you will understand all that there is to know.

The world slowly faded, the intense sun against (Y/n)'s skin, the winds on her cheek, vanishing. She was in a trance, reaching out to grasp at something she couldn't see. Sharp, ugly claws burst from her fingertips and twisting horns from her skull, as her skin became leathery and black as night.

This was not her. She was not a monster, she wasn't.

Hands were suddenly on her shoulders as a familiar voice called her name. "(Y/n)? (Y/n)!"

Her head snapped up, eyes wide.

"(Y/n)." Morro was ragged with exhaustion as he spoke. "I'm not letting you lose yourself when we're the only ones here! I need to know I can rely on you (Y/n), I need to know you're with me!"

(Y/n) still wasn't sure she heard anything right. "What do you mean we're the only ones here?" Her voice was low, slightly distorted in her oni form. "You don't mean everyone else is gone, do you?" 

Morro didn't let go of (Y/n)'s shoulders, giving them a squeeze as the winds rose with his anxieties. "I woke up hours ago. I couldn't leave you here so I waited, but sign of anyone but us."

The voices began again, drowning out Morro's voice with the winds.

You've finally come home.

We've awaited your arrival, Child of Darkness.

(Y/n) shut her eyes as Morro's cool hands lifted her gaze. She didn't want him to see her so disheveled and vulnerable, so weakened by an enemy that didn't exist outside her mind.

But he saw through her anyway, pulling her into a tight embrace. Morro said nothing, and (Y/n) knew it was because he was just as confused and afraid as her.

They needed each other, whether she wanted to acknowledge it or not.

(Y/n)'s skin morphed into its natural colour, the fangs and claws vanishing as she rested her head in the crook of Morro's neck.

How could he be so good to her? How when she was nothing but cruel and cold?

Hours passed wandering in absolutely no direction. The sun quickly made its path across the golden horizon. It highlighted the outline of a village, less than half a mile off the coast. A simple archway came into view, where it extended around the village's perimeter in a fence.

The village looked normal until strange people with leathery red scales, wings, and fangs stopped to stare. (Y/n) felt like a zoo animal, frowning awkwardly as the strange people gawked.

From the gates, a man stood tall amidst a group of what looked to be advisors, holding a staff with golden embellishments.

The village chief.

(Y/n) was wary. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

Morro continued towards the gates. "We need food and information." He spoke matter-of-factly, which meant his mind had already been made up. "The sun is going to set soon. If there is no other village in this region, we'll be good as dead." 

(Y/n) frowned, "And what if we're not welcome?" 

Morro ignored that comment and approached the man with the staff. "We come in peace as travellers." He folded his hands together and bowed.

"Travellers?" The chief stamped his large staff into the ground authoritatively. "We are but a humble village with nothing to offer. Leave, we seek no trouble from outsiders."

Ah, this was going to be tough.

(Y/n) placed her hands together and bowed. "Please, my companion and I are in dire need of shelter. He is badly injured and malnourished, I cannot fathom what I'd do if he were to die."

Morro raised a brow and sent (Y/n) a 'really?' look. She ignored it, he could complain all he wanted later.

The chief frowned, thinking to himself as an elderly woman beside him whispered in his ear. He nodded and let out a breath. "Very well. I will be clear, any trouble you cause will be the expulsion of your stay. Follow me." 

A relieved sigh escaped (Y/n)'s lips. She followed after the strange people as Morro rolled his eyes. "You could have worded that better." he whispered. "If anyone's more injured, it's you."

"I'm not the malnourished one here." (Y/n) quietly shot back. "Like you said, some shelter is better than none. Besides, if you don't eat, you're gonna die first."

Morro, for the first time in a while, was at a loss. It was satisfactory seeing his defeat.

The village was reminiscent of traditional towns in the most rural areas of Ninjago. Slanted rooves, lanterns, open marketplaces where people sold fish and other goods. No electricity, and no vehicles besides rickshaws, or carts.

A small home came into view and the chief stopped. "You will stay here for the time being." He slid open the door and held out an arm. "I am Jinsha. My trusted advisor, Kasumi will be tending to you both. May I ask your names?" 

Morro bowed once again, "I am Morro, and this is (Y/n) Lance." 

(Y/n) bowed. "It's a pleasure, sir."

Jinsha's gaze lingered on (Y/n)'s carefully. He studied her eyes, the way the light made them glimmer like stars. "I sense there may be more to you both than meets the eye." 

The elderly woman beside Jinsha spoke with him before following (Y/n) and Morro inside. The home was quant, with a large common room, three bedrooms, a traditional kitchen with an open fire, and one bathroom with running water.

"Please," said the woman. "Take a seat while I prepare dinner. My name is Kasumi. Quite a shock seeing your kind here." Her voice was smooth like water, yet sharp and cutting. "May I ask where you both are from?"

The question felt backhanded, as if they were unwelcome. "We're from far away and would like to know more about this region." (Y/n) sensed animosity from the host. "We're just travelers."

Kasumi smiled, but it looked more like she was trying to hide her annoyance as she tended to the open fire. "Well you've found yourselves in the eastern parts of this realm." She watched the wood crackle and pop, eyes alight. "Unlike the west, we have forests and a flourishing coastline. You will always find the best fish here." 

Morro grimaced. He didn't really care for the touristy explanations. "I apologise for asking, but what exactly is this place?" 

Kasumi filled a pot with fish and vegetables, as if thinking to herself. "We are a dragonian village among many," she croaked. "What brought you here? Lost, perhaps?"

(Y/n) frowned, brows knit uncertainly. "Yes, and we wish to find our family."

Kasumi's eyes were inquisitive as she turned. "You both are terribly injured." She smiled regardless and it was toothy and wide. "Allow me to provide you with supplies."

After a full stomach, and a bath, (Y/n) and Morro found themselves holed up in the guest room. It was quiet despite some lone dragonians out in the night. 

Eerie, almost.

The copper mirror stared back at (Y/n) as she eyed the jagged wounds on her bruised skin. "It looks awful."

Morro opened a jar of salve, sniffing the minty, herbal scent. He hoped it wasn't poisoned. "Your wounds looked worse when Nya stitched you up. Cole had to hold you down because you kept fighting everyone, even unconscious."

(Y/n) didn't feel bad about that. Even unconscious, she was able to feel every time the needle pierced her searing skin.

What bothered her was Morro's exasperated tone. He wasn't angry, just disappointed. (Y/n) held the blanket over her chest tightly, wincing when Morro touched the sensitive skin. 

There wasn't an ounce of anger as he spoke, "If anything, I was more afraid you weren't going to come back alive."

A heavy quiet filled the room as he unravelled a roll of bandages. (Y/n) stared at her scarred hands, the image of them covered in blood and sand stained in her mind. "I thought I was going to lose Lloyd." The salve was soothing to the burning pain, but not enough to ease her heart. "I kept seeing my father in Lloyd's place. His dead body, his face staring back at me."

The linen was soft against (Y/n)'s skin as Morro wrapped it over her bare chest and around her back. He frowned, "Your father's death was not your doing. Turn this way, I need to make sure it's secure."

(Y/n) awkwardly stared at his deft hands. "Somehow, I can't help but blame myself."

Morro was careful not to touch (Y/n)'s chest as he finished wrapping the bandages, securing it with a clean, polished knot. "You blame yourself for a lot of things, a flaw that's proven to be fatal."

And something (Y/n) had yet to overcome. "I guess that's why I've never reached my True Potential." She touched the bandages, voice sullen and low. "Thank you, Morro. But...I could have done this myself."

"When I was hurt after training," Morro's eyes softened with fondness, "you always treated my wounds. Always scolding me, saying I should be careful to not hurt myself recklessly. Now, I'm here to do the same for you."

(Y/n) stared at her twiddling hands, suddenly very shy. "You really didn't have to help me." Her face was growing with warmth as she pulled up her yukata, sitting on her knees to fix the obi. "I can help you."

A smirk rose to Morro's lips and he tilted his head to the side. "Aw, someone's embarrassed about showing a little skin." He laughed and it brightened his disappointed tone. "It's alright, (Y/n). I can bandage myself."

She huffed, taking the medkit and motioning for Morro to pull off his top. "No, I'll help you. It's the least I can do for making you worry like that."

"As you wish, Princess." His sultry voice would have made any other person fall to their knees, but (Y/n) was immune. She rolled her eyes, only to pause as his yukata fell.

Morro was extremely skinny. Skinnier than he felt through his clothes. Ribs poking from his skin, bony arms.

(Y/n)'s heart sunk. 

"You haven't gained any weight." Her brows furrowed as she placed the salve over his chest. His skin was cool to the touch, yet warm enough to signal he was living. "No wonder you've been having trouble with your elemental powers. You don't have the strength."

"It's a miracle out of pure spite that I'm still alive," Morro quietly said with a purse of his lips. He didn't like making (Y/n) worry. "I'm fine, really."

"No, you're not." (Y/n)'s heart felt as if it were tearing in two. She unwrapped the bandages with unsteady hands. "I...I made another mistake, I should have known, I should have--"

Morro placed his hands over her own, giving them a squeeze. "Ninjago was hanging in the balance, and still is. I'd prefer not being dead weight to you, (Y/n)."

"Don't say that." She carefully wrapped his wounds. The stitches were mere inches from his heart and lungs, two painful reminders of how easily his life could have vanished.

His life that was to be cherised and loved. Not hated and scorned as (Y/n) had forced herself to do.

"Holding you in my arms like that." She swallowed thickly and wrapped the bandages over his chest. "It made me realise how much you mean to me. I love my family so much, and if anything were to happen to them, I don't know what I would do. But you? It's different."

Morro carefully met (Y/n)'s gaze, taking in every detail of the red and purple in her eyes. It was a mix of dawn and dusk, a beautiful colour like the sky she loved to command.

"I'm sorry, Morro." (Y/n)'s voice was barely above a whisper, light, gentle as the moonlight. She tied off the knot, hands lingering over his cool skin. "I should have listened to you instead of going after Lloyd. I lost control, I allowed my fears to get the best of me, and now I'm injured."

An airy breath escaped Morro's lips. "I've already forgiven you, (Y/n)." His voice was soft, a gentle whisper to the wind. "And no, you aren't useless. Having some downtime will clear your head." He kept her hands to his bandaged chest, tracing shapes over her healed skin as he held them. "You must control your power, before it controls you."

"What if I can't?" (Y/n)'s voice was meek, pained. "What if I turn back into an oni?"

"Then I'll be right beside you." Morro spoke so easily as he cupped her cheek. "Harumi was wrong about you. Maybe once you were selfish and vengeful, but not anymore. That could never be the you you are now."

(Y/n) shut her eyes, basking in the steady calm Morro's presence provided. "First Spinjitzu Master." She took in a breath, slowly breathing out as he engulfed her in his arms. "I hate you so much."

Morro let out a light breath that could have been a laugh. "And I love you, (Y/n)."

Stupidly enough, she wanted to stay there forever, buried in the crook of his neck where his scent of cold mountaintops and the outdoors filled her nose.

Yes, forever sounded nice.

Ninjago Secrets!

-Morro is a great liar, unless he is trying to lie to you
-Sensei always made Morro and you cook dinner as bonding (you always managed to mess it up somehow)
-your father was a great dancer and loved going to see the Royal Blacksmiths
-Jay and you used to play fight a lot when you were younger
-sometimes Jay took it too far and got into trouble (he was forced to do your chores on top of his own as punishment)

Chapter Text

To be loved is to be changed.

(Y/n) didn't like how close she was getting with Morro. She was sure they were becoming glued together at the hip like two peas in a pod. Wherever she went, he was also there, hands brushing against her own, fingers intertwining. They shared lingering looks, and it made her chest ache with some sort of longing she wanted to deny.

It shouldn't exist, (Y/n) would tell herself. This feeling of love blossoming in her chest. 

Especially when her family was still missing and this strange village was only becoming stranger. "That old lady." (Y/n)'s voice was almost lost to the wind. "I think there's something wrong with her." 

The sun was warm against Morro's skin, bringing life to his face as he turned. "We're outsiders, of course we're unwelcome. Not to mention, dragonians likely never see people like us." Two days had passed since their arrival, yet they were still zoo animals to be scrutinized. "Speaking of Kasumi, she's been following us all morning."

(Y/n) could feel her shoulders sag in despair. With her enhanced senses, she could smell the old lady's scent of dirt and sand. "Find us a job, I'll talk to her. Meet me in the town square in an hour, if I don't show up, let's hope I'm not in any trouble."

Morro's brows knit as he watched Kasumi duck behind a food stall. "Are you sure? I can come with you."

The winds were gentle upon (Y/n)'s cheek, nothing like the cruel sun beating down on her head. "We can cover more ground if we split up." She wanted to reach for his hands, to hold them in her own, but didn't. "Besides, we need to learn as much as we can about this place."

Morro thought for a moment before nodding, eyes overflowing with concern. "Alright."

(Y/n) began in the opposite direction as the crowds parted around her. "Don't start a fight while I'm gone."

"Oh, please," Morro rolled his eyes fondly, "you're the one always getting into trouble."

The morning rush made it difficult to spot Kasumi. She vanished within the crowds, a face among many running errands for the day. (Y/n)'s body ached with each step, her knees buckling from exhaustion. Then, from the corner of her eyes, she spotted a dragonian with salt and pepper hair, and piercing eyes.

(Y/n) slipped behind a corner, ignoring the dirty look a mother and daughter sent her way. "Good morning." Kasumi jumped, clutching her heart as (Y/n) frowned. "I didn't mean to scare you, I assume you're also running errands?"

Kasumi wiped the surprise off her face with an indignant huff. "The usual morning tasks." She was a proud woman and ignored (Y/n), who tried to help carry the groceries. "Where is your betrothed, Morro was it?"

(Y/n) almost choked on her spit, her worn shoes catching in the uneven road. "Betrothed?" she echoed with a sour frown. "We're just friends. And he's gone to look for a job, we can't accept anymore charity since you've all done so much to help us."

There was an intense glow to Kasumi's eyes akin to a predator eyeing its prey. "A little kindness goes a long way." Her steps were light, airy as she gave a flap of her leathery wings. "With those injuries you and your betrothed sustained, it's a miracle you made it so far. No hunters?"

(Y/n) wasn't sure if Kasumi was trying to be funny or not. "Hunters?"

"No one is spared from their harassment." Kasumi's voice was low as she stared off into the barren horizon. "We were pushed to the coast by them, forced from our homes like animals." 

(Y/n) couldn't quite picture what a hunter was in her mind. She thought this realm was only home to dragons and oni. "Why would they do that?"

A shadow cast over Kasumi's eyes, misty like fog. "Capturing dragons is the same as hunting for sport." she spat. "It's unspeakable what they have done to our kind. Them, and the oni." 

The voices filled (Y/n)'s head with ragged whispers as she stepped into the home. The air was thick like a vat of glue, sticking to her skin as she lingered tensely in the doorway. Fruits and vegetables rolled onto the kitchen counter, quietly falling into the sink as (Y/n)'s breath hitched.

Something was wrong. So terribly wrong that the very air squirmed in (Y/n)'s presence.

Despite being a humanoid dragon, Kasumi seemed pleasantly unaware of the change in atmosphere. Her knife slammed into the cutting board as she severed what looked to be a head of cabbage. "You reek of oni blood, (Y/n) Lance."

The room darkened as clouds rolled in outside, the electric buzz of a storm flickering in her fingertips. (Y/n) shifted from foot to foot, "I'm not sure what you mean."

"Not sure what I mean?" Kasumi's voice began to quiver as she turned on her heels, knuckles white around the large knife in her palm. "You aren't who you say you are, outsider. Your blood is dirty, tainted by an evil that cannot be erased. Who are you? Why have you come if not to torment our village?"

Kasumi didn't give (Y/n) time to answer. She lunged forward with a howl, bringing down her knife. It lodged itself into the dinner table, wrenching a hole into the splintering wood as she tried to pry it out. "You damned demon! Because of you, this realm has never once known peace! Even with their disappearance, the war has left scars upon generations."

The anger in Kasumi's voice morphed into pure hatred as she ripped the knife out of the table. "Your kind will pay for what they've done!" She brought the knife down again and (Y/n) dove to the side, her back slamming into a countertop. A pained grunt escaped her lips as her wounds cried out for mercy.

(Y/n) stumbled across the table, seizing Kasumi by the wrists. "Whatever happened in the past, I had nothing to do with it!" she cried. "We came here only for shelter, not to harm you or anyone else!"

Kasumi let out a scream and kicked (Y/n) in the shins. "I don't care!" Her voice was shrill and ragged as she heaved, eyes wet with angry tears. "You killed our kind! You made us live in fear in this barren wasteland!"

The knife gleamed as it rested against (Y/n)'s neck, cold and sharp as it dug into her skin. She kicked Kasumi in the stomach, shoving her to the side. 

The woman slammed into the wall, the knife clattering lifelessly as her eyes rolled back into her head.

Pain shot up (Y/n)'s spine as she stumbled forward, heart slamming against her chest as she eyed the body before her. The old woman lay motionless in a heap, the breath leaving her lips. 

(Y/n) picked up the knife and it was cold in her hands as she stared into her reflection. Tired eyes flickering between red and purple, messy hair from all the fighting.

The voices filled her mind with static.

This woman was old. It would be easy throwing her down the stairs and saying it was an accident, but where was the fun in that? The knife was sharp, sharp enough to make more than an indent on the body.

Kill her.

(Y/n) took a heavy step forward, kneeling down as the knife gleamed in the dark.

Kill her now.

A stab to the heart. What an easy way to go out. Quick, quiet, clean--

The front door opened and hazy light poured into the room. (Y/n) didn't let go of the knife as she turned, eyes wide, blood roaring in her ears as Morro stepped through the threshold. 

"(Y/n)?"

She met his narrowed gaze, those obsidian eyes stormy with a whirlwind of horror. 

"(Y/n), stop!" 

The knife clattered to the ground in a pile of splinters. Morro took her by the wrists, pinning her to the smooth tatami as she stared up at him, in a daze.

The pumping of her blood was too loud over Morro's words as his mouth moved and no sound escaped. All she could feel were his hands on hers, the anger and uncertainty making his voice heavy and thick, and the cold of his unforgiving winds.

Always unforgiving, always proud, unwavering. But for (Y/n), kind. Always kind.

She felt no kindness behind his winds, no warmth he always presented to her as she lay limply pinned under his thin frame. Then the voices began to fade, laughing at her, giggling, as if this were funny. It wasn't. Not when Morro looked at her as if she were out of his reach and as if he were afraid.

Morro was never afraid.

(At least not of her.)

"(Y/n)." His voice finally reached her ears, a pleasant sound that soothed the loudness of her mind. "What were you thinking? Didn't you say you could control this? That you were still the same you? Get a grip! You're better than this, (Y/n)!"

She swallowed thickly, the world focusing under her gaze as she met Morro's frantic eyes. "I...I wasn't going to..."

The words fell short on (Y/n)'s lips. That was a lie--the thought crossed her mind, the idea of it filling her heart with a thirst for blood. Fear made the pain in her body vanish, an afterthought as she grabbed Morro by the shoulders with a cry. "She tried to kill me!"

Morro frowned, brows knit. He intertwined their fingers and pulled her up to her knees. "So you tried to kill her to return the favour."

"Yes!" (Y/n) paused, grip tightening around Morro's palms. "I...no! I don't know what came over me, one second I was fighting her and she almost killed me, then I picked up the knife and everything went blank."

It was like when they were stuck in Primeval's Eye, hacking through jungle with her katana. She had killed stray birds in her path and decimated the bushes in her way.

This time, she almost took the life of another person.

Morro spared the old dragonian a pitiful glance. He stood, brushing some spliters off his trousers. "Come on, help me bring her somewhere safely. She must have passed out."

The village chief wasn't exactly pleased to see his advisor unconscious in both Morro and (Y/n)'s arms. But thankfully, they weren't banished from the village.

---

The coastline was a welcome change. Whatever job Morro had found would do good for (Y/n), since it involved helping someone.

Or so Morro said. He was ridiculous, despite how smart he was, and for once, (Y/n) wasn't sure if she believed him. Maybe he was just trying to lighten the mood.

Boats sailed off into the distance at the docks, where a lone fisherman stood by a small boat. (Y/n) stared up at the hazy, orange skies, drinking in the strength her element provided out in the open. She made a silent promise not to try and kill anyone else today.

The fisherman's eyes lit up and he waved as the two approached. "Ah, so this is your friend, Morro? It's nice to have some help, we'll be sailing out about a mile from here. All you gotta do is keep watch over the boat, don't wanna capsize from the colossal, right?"

(Y/n) frowned. "Colossal?" The ship was unsteady under her feet, swaying with the choppy waves as she stepped over fishing nets. "Sounds peachy."

Morro made his way around a large wooden crate, careful not to slip on the soggy deck. "Apparently, a giant squid's been terrorizing the coast."

The fisherman's eyes shone seriously. He pulled on a worn, grey hat and pushed his brown hair underneath the brim. "It ate three people yesterday." The docks grew distant as the boat sailed, a mere spec vanishing over the rough waves. "It'd do you both good to keep your guard up. I'm Lihan, by the way. It's nice to meet you both."

Morro bowed his head politely. "Thank you, for allowing us to come with you."

"So..." Mr. Lihan waved a hand around. It weirdly reminded (Y/n) of Kai when he wanted to be nosy. Lihan gave the wheel a turn, navigating over the shallow waters. "What brings you two 'round these parts? Can't say we have much to offer besides trees that'll strangle you, or poisonous fields of death."

Whether that was a joke or not, (Y/n) couldn't tell. "We're just travelers." Morro kept his eyes to the horizon, holding a hand out to test the unfamiliar winds. "We lost some family and were separated. We hope to find them." 

(Y/n) sent Morro a look. He was just trying to make Mr. Lihan feel bad (which worked). The man placed a hand to his chest dramatically. "I'm sorry to hear that. I can't imagine what I'd feel if I lost my mom."

(Y/n) eyed the jagged rocks below the churning sea foam, hair whipping in the unfurling winds. "We have to be careful here." The skies were howling in warning, a song that sang of death. "Morro, do you feel that?"

"Is that even a question?" His hand clenched into a fist and the winds stilled for a moment before rising again. "Keep your guard up. We don't want any surprises, especially from you, (Y/n)."

The jab made her frown. She knew it wasn't meant to be an insult, but it sure felt like one. "Can't say I can promise anything..."

"It's not your fault." Morro quickly said, voice softening. "I know you wouldn't do something--"

The waves suddenly parted, sloshing sea water and flopping fish onto the deck. A tentacle rose high into the air and wrapped around Mr. Lihan's middle. He screamed, watching helplessly as the ground got further and further away.

(Y/n) leapt over the flailing fish. Even injured, she was swift, purple sparks filling the air as she spun into a Spinjitzu tornado. She slammed into the tentacle, spinning out as she opened her arms and caught Mr. Lihan. She stumbled, nearly slipping as she set the man down. "Morro, I need you!"

"Do you even have to ask?" The stillness of his voice was a calming comfort as the winds whistled around him. The ship rocked on the high waves, nearly capsizing as the squid raised its arms again. A sharp gust of wind suddenly cut into its arms and it recoiled, eyes blinking owlishly.

(Y/n) didn't miss a beat, hands flickering purple as she fired at the creature. It brought its arms down again and she back flipped as it slammed into the sopping wet deck. Morro took a firm stance and punched a fist forward, the winds howling fiercely as the squid slammed into the churning waves. It flailed as (Y/n) shot a volley of compressed energy, only pausing to breathe when it vanished into the sea foam.

Morro collapsed to his knees with a heave. "(Y/n), are you alright?" She stumbled across the deck, nearly slipping on the water as she helped Morro to his feet. "I should be asking you that. You need to take it easy, your body isn't used to all this yet." He was trembling with strain as she set him on a crate, struggling to keep himself upright.

"I'm fine." Morro always had to play it cool. "Don't worry about me."

The deck squeaked as Mr. Lihan ran over, draping towels over the two with a thankful smile. "You both really saved me out there. I couldn't believe my eyes, you both know the ways of the First Spinjitzu Master!" His excitement made a childlike wonder glow in his yellow eyes. "Thank you both, you saved my life and helped me catch all these fish."

Once the boat was docked, the group began back to the village. The walk with Mr. Lihan was agonizing. (Y/n)'s back ached, the stitches still fresh and new threatening to snap from all her flipping around. She was sure the bandages were soaked with blood, because her vision was hazy.

Morro wasn't looking any better. His face was paler than usual (which was saying a lot), and he limply trudged forward. If not for (Y/n) supporting him, he would have fainted.

Mr. Lihan hauled his cart of fish along with a cheery smile (inorance really was bliss). "You're both heroes."

(Y/n)'s grip loosened around Morro's shoulders as her foot caught on a rock. "I'm sorry what?" He sent her a look as she adjusted her grip on him. "We aren't heroes, just...wanderers."

"Lost ones at that." Morro added with a sigh. "We were doing what anyone else would have."

"Anyone else?" The smile on Mr. Lihan's lips didn't vanish as he shook his head. "You're too humble. What kind of crazy person jumps straight into danger like that without a second thought?" His gaze met (Y/n)'s and she shied away as he spoke. "There is no person more noble than those who protect. This realm is cruel, yet you both have brought light from wherever you may have come from."

Morro shook his head, gaze flickering to (Y/n)'s. "No, we just had a good teacher."

The village came into view. Mr. Lihan led the two to his family's shop, where he wasted no time in handing them both bags of dried food, new clothes, and a couple daggers.

An elderly woman with grey hair emerged from the back rooms with a box in her arms. Her gaze landed on (Y/n) and Morro and she let out an ear piercing scream. "It's them!" Mr. Lihan raced forward and caught the crate before it could crush the woman's toes. "Mom," he awkwardly said. "It's fine, they're friends!"

"Friends? They're...they're those people who--!"

Mr. Lihan forced a strained laugh. "This is (Y/n) Lance, and this is Morro. They saved me from the colossal squid. If it weren't for them, I would've been a goner. Please, be nice." He turned to the two elemental masters. "Sorry about that, my mom's kind of skiddish."

(Y/n) wasn't sure who was more skiddish, the mom or Mr. Lihan, who looked like he wanted to run away in embarrassment. "It's alright. Thank you, we should probably leave now."

Before anyone else starts screaming again, she thought to herself.

"Wait." It was Mr. Lihan's mother who spoke. Her bright, yellow eyes pierced through (Y/n)'s skull like a spear. "You, girl. Have I seen you before?" 

(Y/n) exchanged an uncertain glance with Morro. "Uh, no?"

Mr. Lihan's mom wasn't deterred. "You remind me of her, that strange woman with the two blades." She paused, as if to replay old memories in her head. "She came to these lands with a man who looks just like you."

(Y/n)'s gaze narrowed. Uncle Wu and Garmadon always told her she was a splitting image of her father.

"I never got their names," the old woman croaked. "But that man, he was a descendant of the First Spinjitzu Master. He spoke sadly of this realm, and of the legend of his father who once wore the Dragon Armour and rode with the Firstborn." 

(Y/n) didn't want to hear whatever story this woman was going on about. She took Morro's arm, pulling him towards the door. "I think it's our cue to leave--"

"Wait," Morro placed a hand over (Y/n)'s and she stilled, "what is the Firstborn and the Dragon Armour?" The old woman hummed to herself in thought and took a seat behind the front desk. "The mother of all dragons. The First Spinjitzu Master rode side-by-side with her, not in chains as the Hunters do, but as equals. This man spoke of a child, his daughter, as the last hope for this realm, and all the others. If the prophecy is true, then perhaps..."

(Y/n) laughed without humour. "Perhaps not." Last hope? How ironic considering (Y/n) was also the Child of Darkness. "That must've been a rumour. I think it's time we leave." She thanked Mr. Lihan and his mom with a bow before pulling Morro out the door. He still leaned against her as she began through the streets, hauling their new luggage along with a sour frown.

"Can't anyone make up their minds?" she muttered with a frown. "What is it with all these different stories?"

Morro blew a gentle breeze towards (Y/n)'s cheeks, a welcome comfort she took solace in. It was nice knowing he wasn't scared of her like earlier. "Our first priority is getting back home," he spoke easily, unwavering as always. "Although, having the Realm Crystal would've been convenient right about now."

(Y/n)'s shoulders slumped. "Haha, very funny." A part of her wished her father could have dropped a hint or two, but she'd rather jump straight into the Great Devourer's mouth instead. (Y/n) didn't need his help, much less anyone's. She could solve her problems on her own, the same as she always did.

---

(Y/n) couldn't solve all her problems on her own.

Kasumi never returned, which was fine by all means since this was the last night they were going to spend in this strange village. And as (Y/n) struggled to rub medicine on her wounds, her frustrations finally broke loose.

The salve lay forgotten as (Y/n) flopped down into the futon, her shirt tossed aside as she pressed her stomach into the blankets. Kasumi's still body, the hateful words spewing past her lips.

"Your blood is dirty, tainted by an evil that cannot be erased."

It wasn't like (Y/n) chose to be born. She never woke up one day and decided to grace Ninjago with her dangerous and slightly deranged life. She never asked her father to fall in love with her mother, nor did she ask for him to be killed, and for her to grow up bitter and jaded.

But what she did think about was a world in which she had never been born. Would her father still be alive? Would Wu have lived a more peaceful life? Would Morro have had a chance at embracing the light?

(Y/n) shut her eyes, running a hand over the jade ring on her neck. Even now, she didn't have any choice in who she was becoming. And maybe that was because she didn't even know who she was in the first place. Eternally wandering with no sight had blinded (Y/n) her whole life. Her mind was rotted away with shadows and ghosts of the past. She was a shell of failures, an empty heart filled with agony.

Gentle hands were suddenly on (Y/n)'s back, rubbing the salve over her burning skin. She sighed, "Don't lecture me, Morro." Then she kept her eyes shut, bare chest in the blankets. "I know, I'm stupid." 

"You are." he agreed, brushing her hair onto the pillows. "I have a few choice words I could tell you, but won't. I don't know anything about oni, I don't know about dragons either. I know you though."

(Y/n) suppressed a hiss of pain. "Well, maybe you know me a little too much." Morro let out a laugh and it was breezy, but without ease. "Sit up, I'll wrap your wounds."

(Y/n) blindly obeyed, limply hauling her tired body up. They had been here before, only a couple nights ago, talking as he wrapped her wounds, reassuring as she listened to his soothing voice. Gentle, yet deft as always, Morro pulled the wrappings over (Y/n)'s chest and over her back. "I was worried when you didn't meet me in the marketplace." 

The scars on (Y/n)'s hands were rough as she traced them. She didn't like how close her and Morro were becoming. It was too easy to speak to him, too easy to become undone as her walls came crashing down. "You worry about me too much." (Y/n)'s voice was quiet, barely above a whisper. "Are you okay?"

"It's been almost a week, the stitches can come off soon. My body just isn't able to keep up yet." Morro tied off the knot, voice soft as he spoke. "I'm beginning to wonder if the others are even in this realm at all."

(Y/n) tried not to think about it. If she so much as stopped for a moment, she was sure to fall apart. What was more, she couldn't get the feel of that knife to her skin away. Dirty. That was what Kasumi had called her. A dirty-blooded oni. She pressed her sweaty palms into the blankets, feeling a well of discomfort grow in her chest.

"Harumi was wrong about you. Maybe once you were selfish and vengeful, but not anymore. That could never be the you you are now."

Morro's soothing words, his touch as (Y/n) had fallen asleep in his arms the other night. She slowly turned, meeting his dark eyes always so intensely narrowed in focus. They traced over her bare skin, along her face, and up to her eyes. Morro always thought her eyes looked like thousands of stars.

(Y/n) bit the inside of her cheek. "Do you fear me, Morro?"

"No." He spoke without hesitation and was breathless, as if blown away by something divine. "Unlike most, I don't fear what I don't understand. I embrace it, learn from it until I get to know every last detail there is." 

Moonlight seeped in through the lattice windows, gently settling in silvery beams over Morro's skin. He placed a hand to (Y/n)'s cheek, gentle as the night breeze. "I don't fear you." he affirmed. "I fear what you will do to yourself and how you'll one day regret it like me."

A touch so tender, a gaze so overflowing with love. (Y/n) tried to find it in her heart to push Morro away again, to look him in those eyes and say she didn't care for him at all. 

She couldn't.

Morro was close enough for their foreheads to touch. "You're beautiful, (Y/n). Just as you've always been." His breath tickled her skin as he gently ran a thumb over her cheekbone. "Nothing about you will change that."

But sore as ever, (Y/n) wasn't convinced. "What about my mistakes?" Her voice was quiet, pained as she spoke. "Why don't you hate me for what I've done? I couldn't save you, or anyone."

Morro didn't pull away, eyes all-consuming in the silvery beams of light. "And what about my mistakes? The ones I can never, ever take back?"

(Y/n) didn't know how to refute. All she could think about was the feel of his hand on her cheek and his lips close enough for them to meet. She felt dizzy, overwhelmed by his warmth. "That's mean. You know I don't have an answer."

"Is it?" Morro still hadn't moved an inch, his lips brushing over her own. "Your uncle Garmadon was the bringer of evil, your father wasn't any better, and then there's me. Your worst enemy who hurt you more times than he can count. Somehow, I sense you've begun to forgive me for all I've done. Why can't you do the same for yourself?"

"Forgiveness isn't easy." The absence of (Y/n)'s shirt made her suddenly very aware that she was half naked. The sound of her heart was deafening their fingers intertwined. Morro was right, as always, and she hated that. "I'm sure you can understand."

"I do." Morro agreed, brushing a lock of hair behind (Y/n)'s ear. "Because I have the same weakness as you. Funny, isn't it? Because we're two halves of a whole." 

(Y/n) didn't know what she was doing, getting lost in those obsidian eyes always so intense. They were soft for her and only her. She thought of all the times this had almost happened, all the times she allowed him to get close.

"I hate you so much, Morro." (Y/n) knew her words were empty, but said them anyway. "You're the worst, you know that?"

He laughed gently, "And I love you, (Y/n). You've always been the best."

Their lips connected, slightly chapped, yet warm and soft. Morro placed his hands over (Y/n)'s shoulders, pulling her close as they broke for air, lost in the expanse of union. The face of that hateful boy always chasing, always running after something he could never have, collapsed in (Y/n)'s mind. Replaced by this new image of nothing more sweeter than love.

(Y/n) relaxed in Morro's hold, sighing in defeat. She couldn't deny it any longer, even if she wanted to. This was what her heart longed for, what Destiny had promised. She knew since the moment they met, since the moment her life was intertwined with the Master of Wind. The stormy skies in (Y/n)'s heart, the turmoil always raging, stilled.

First Spinjitzu Master, this was true peace.

---

The barren lands were hot in the intense heat. Wrapped in thin shawls, (Y/n) and Morro trekked on foot across the lands. It had only been four hours since their departure from the dragonian village, yet it could have been days.

(Y/n) adjusted her new shirt, watching with little amusement as a dragon hissed at her. She bared her teeth, a scowl twisting on her lip. "Still no sign of those Hunters. I wonder what they look like."

"They capture dragons," Morro wiped the sweat gathering on his brow, "look for chains, cages, anything they can use to--hide!"

The rev of an engine roared through the air, where clouds of dust and dirt rose as it hovered above the ground. Three zooming vehicles zipped across the dunes, hauling a cage behind it. The familiar colours of red, blue, and white caught (Y/n)'s eyes as Morro pulled her into a lone ditch for cover. 

The ninja. They were here in this realm.

Relief washed through (Y/n)'s system. "They're alive!" she whispered, placing a hand to Morro's shoulder. "But if they're with the Hunters, they must have been captured." Morro didn't look surprised as he dusted himself off, squinting at the sunny horizon. "They were always incredibly incompetent. What did Sensei teach them anyway?"

The hovering vehicles vanished in a cloud of dust. (Y/n) climbed out of the ditch, wiping sweat from her hands. "Sensei was...different when you left. Less strict, even if Kai always did get smacked in the head."

Morro raised a brow incredulously, beginning after the tracks. "What happened to sunrise exercise?"

"We only did that Wednesdays." (Y/n) waved some dust clouds out of her vision. She was really starting to hate this realm with a passion. "Most of the time, the boys were playing video games. I used to train with Nya a lot because they were...preoccupied." She paused, eyeing Morro's sour scowl. "They weren't that bad. Look at them now, they're much more competent than you'd think."

"Competent?" Morro repeated indignantly. "You give them too much credit."

The sun rapidly descended over the horizon. That was another quirk of this realm, long nights with frigid winds, but intensely hot days with hazy orange skies and rarely any clouds.

It was no wonder grandfather abandoned this place.

The stars and moon brightened overhead, lighting up the dark skies with hundreds of constellations. A chilly breeze passed and (Y/n) shivered.

A camp soon came into view, surrounded by sloped hillsides and a large metal gate. Guards were posted on either side, where torches flickered in the winds. Makeshift homes made of tents were held together with bones and dirt.

Bones (Y/n) sensed were from a dragon's. A chill ran down her spine and she rubbed at her arms to soothe it.

In the center of the camp, tied to a large pole, were Kai, Jay, and Zane wrapped tightly in vengestone chains. They moped around, probably bored out of their minds.

(Y/n) bit the inside of her cheek. "They look worse for wear." Morro made his way around the perimeter with a shake of his head. "Those idiots, where are Wu and Cole? The only way we can rescue them is if we sneak in. Why is everyone awake at this time?"

As if on cue, a large cart rolled in from the other side of the camp, where a dragon lay lifelessly in chains. A large man with a hat approached it, waving a torch around with a cackle.

(Y/n) frowned. "I can't hear what they're saying." She followed after Morro, taking note of the only two exits in the entire camp. "This place is built like a fortress, if we don't have a distraction, how are we supposed to rescue them?" 

"Hold on, let me think." Morro whispered, waving his hands around for some kind of idea. "These people are hunters. They'll only leave if they see a dragon. If we wait until morning, we might have a better chance at a diversion, but less cover means no room for mistakes."

A sudden creak caught (Y/n)'s ears. In the distance, a wonky hunk of metal soared in the air, fire and lightning shooting from its mouth.

She raised a brow. "Well would you look at that. I guess the boys did have a plan after all."

Morro raised a brow, squinting at the outline of a child by the dragon's head. "Is that...Sensei?"

A sudden collection of screams burst through the camp. Hunters fumbled for their spears and arrows, shuffling along to gather vengestone chains to capture what they said was the "Firstborn".

(Y/n) rolled her eyes, beginning down the hillside with Morro beside her. The veil of night did good to hide them as they scaled the gates, slipping inside without a moment to lose.

The dragon rose high into the sky, flapping its wings under the silvery moonlight. A strange tug in (Y/n)'s gut made her pause as she turned to stare at the dragon. She sensed an old power, a strong presence that commanded her respect. "The Firstborn. Morro, we need to hurry!"

"What?" He raced after (Y/n), snatching a lone sword off the ground as she ducked behind a cart of dragon dung. "What do you mean that's the Firstborn? Did they summon it?" 

Fire seared the ground as the Firstborn zipped through the camp, knocking over tents and tossing hunters high into the air.

(Y/n) weaved behind a tent and ducked. Ice froze a group of hunters into a block of ice, where they toppled over with wide eyes. "I don't know," she turned left behind a crate, "but I sense that it has to be the Firstborn. I just...know."

Morro spotted the ninja huddled in their chains. He raced forward, raising his blade and slicing through the metal. "Hurry up. Whatever you idiots were planning, it's gotten out of control." He stepped over an unconscious hunter. "Where's Cole and Wu?"

Kai pointed to the sky, shaking off the shackles from his wrists. "Wu's supposed to be manning the dragon we built! Where did you guys come from?"

(Y/n) pointed to the chained dragons. "Talk later. Go free them so we can leave!" She stuck close beside Morro, kicking and punching anyone who stood in their way.

The warmth of the flames burned against (Y/n)'s skin, the scent of soot and burnt wood filling her nose. She was thrust back into the palace, that sickly sight of the emperor's burnt skin flashing in her mind.

(Y/n) was burning up. From the inside it was like being consumed by the very fires raging through the camp. Her breaths caught in her throat as a punch nailed her in the jaw.

Swear you will protect the masks.

She fell back, stumbling as a blade lodged itself inches from her head into a wooden pillar.

Swear it!

I promise.

Those words haunted (Y/n). The cruel winds from the resurrection ceremony, the blood dripping into her skin. Morro's body strung up above the pedestal as the rift between the Departed realm ripped open, draining the life from (Y/n)'s veins.

You failed. Again and again and again.

Where was Morro? She lost sight of him in the crowds, tripping over her own feet, lost in her memories. That ugly monster inside--the thing that was her but not really her--threatened to burst at the seams.

You call me, it hissed. Yet refuse to acknowledge me for who I am!

A dragon's roar echoed through the camp, chains slamming into the ground as its wings flapped. Wind rose from its jaw, zipping through the tents as a cloud of dust blinded (Y/n)'s sights.

You, the Child of Darkness...

We call you!

She heaved, clutching her chest, running her hands over her head. She had to control it, suppress this darkness threatening to consume her.

"(Y/n)!"

She didn't know who was calling her name as she blindly punched someone in the face. They tumbled at her feet and she stepped over them as a hand suddenly caught her wrist. Before she could throw another punch, she was yanked in a random direction, pulled through the cover of dust and night.

The dust finally settled and (Y/n) was met with Kai. He hauled her along as if she weighed nothing, kicking some random hunter who dared stand in their way. "Come on!" he shouted. "The others are this way!" They emerged into the desert plains, covered in dirt and soot. The Firstborn disappeared over the horizon with a great roar, her children following after into the darkness.

(Y/n) collapsed on her knees in a heap. She wasn't sure how far she had been pulled along by Kai, covering tracks they left, and never once stopping to catch their breaths. He placed a hand to her backpack, helping her shrug it off. "You okay? When I found you, I just saw you standing there."

Morro, Zane, Cole, Jay, Kai, and Sensei. They were all here, safe and sound. (Y/n)'s eyes were glossy, warm as they pricked with tears. She turned away, covering her face with a hand in embarrassment. "Y-yeah. I'm just...you're all safe."

A hand patted her shoulder and she looked up to meet Kai's eyes. Always the big brother, always here to look out for her. "That's what I should be saying. When we woke up in this realm, we thought you and Morro were goners. Then we were captured, and, well now we're here." 

(Y/n) felt bad for her brothers, they looked like starved animals. Skinny, ragged, dirty...

Jay began on the fire, striking a couple rocks over a pile of branches and dried leaves. "Well that's one way to put it. I haven't eaten in over three days, much less showered, and Kai's here thinking you were gooners?"

"Goners." Zane corrected with a raise of his brow. "We all thought you were goners. Besides me, of course. It was obvious from the start that we would end up in the same realm, we were transported together, after all."

When the fire refused to spurt to life, Kai let out a sigh and shot a ball of fire into the pit. "We woke up with half the Bounty, then those Hunters showed up and kidnapped us. Now Sensei keeps growing."

Off to the side, Sensei plopped down on the ground, sifting through Morro's backpack with a pleasant smile. "You guys act like I'm a lot of trouble."

Cole rolled his eyes, placing a hand to his head. "Because you are. Do you know how crazy that was, you riding that dragon contraption?" He went on and on about how dangerous it was all while (Y/n) exchanged a look with Morro.

All of Morro's stuff was now on the ground. Wu didn't stop smiling, as if this were the best day of his life. "You guys have so much food. Who even are you anyway, our saviours?" He ripped open a pack of beef jerky. "This smells good."

Jay fell to his knees, crawling over desperately as he snagged a couple pieces. "Saviours? No, that's just (Y/n) and her boyfriend, Morro."

(Y/n) shot him a cold glare. "We were stranded in the middle of nowhere and found a village. The people there helped us." Morro picked up his stuff and rolled it back into his back. "Not after that old woman tried to kill you."

Zane raised a brow in concern. "Kill you?"

And so began a long-winded story. The boys oo-ed and ahh-ed like children, listening intently as (Y/n) described the dragonians. That was until Jay so rudely interrupted, wiggling his brows.

"So," he said, taking a big bite of his jerky. "Does that mean you two shared a room?" 

Oh, great. (Y/n) let out a groan as she handed a blanket to Cole. "Yes, Jay. It was the room our host gave us."

"So you shared a bed."

Warmth crawled up (Y/n)'s face at the memory of kissing Morro on the lips. "Yes--I mean no." She blamed the campfire for making her face red. "We slept side by side and--does that even matter?"

Jay, Kai, Cole, and Zane giggled to themselves like school children.

Wu listened intently, still chewing on his jerky. "Did you guys kiss?" He seemed enchanted by the idea of love, eyes all sparkly. "Did you hug and say you love each other?"

Morro awkwardly coughed, averting his gaze to the side. "It's time we go to sleep." His face was red, and it made (Y/n)'s lips rise into a ghost of a smile. "We have a lot of ground to cover if we want to get the hunters off our tracks."

"Aw, but I want to hear more!"

"We're sleeping now, Sensei. Same goes for the rest of you ninja. So stop laughing."

That didn't stop the boys from saying 'ooo looks like someone's got a crush' as they whispered like gossip girls. As annoying as it was, (Y/n) couldn't help the small smile rising to her lips.

First Spinjitzu Master, she wouldn't trade her brothers for all the sixteen realms.

Ninjago Secrets!

-you call Lloyd La-Lloyd sometimes because it's funny
-Lloyd hates it and runs over to you and shakes your shoulders to get you to stop
-when Morro was still a ghost, he caught Lloyd picking his boogers and eating them when no one was looking
-Morro was horrified to find out the green ninja had been a nose picker since he was eight
-Little Wu thinks you and Morro are a cute couple