We have a song in this chapter.
We start off sad, but everything will get better.
Nalia did Lloyd dirty with that comment. XD
Mission failed, Lloyd will get it next time. XD
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Nalia hummed softly to herself while leaning against the Ultra Dragon. She had gone on to check on him because she still hadn't gotten over, seeing Morro again.
"I miss him so much. I see him a second time, and the same event repeats. It's just *sobs* too much; it's not fair," said Nalia as tears began running down her face; it had already been two days since they returned from their time travel. But for her, it still felt like an hour ago.
"I mean, I at least got to say goodbye to him this time. *sobs* But it doesn't make it any easier for me." Nalia tried wiping away her tears.
The Ultra Dragon rubbed its head against her and let out a soft growl, trying to comfort her. It didn't like seeing her upset.
"I do see the ninjas as my family, but... momo will always be my one and only real brother to me. I didn't even say thank you for the scarf." Nalia hid her face in her scarf, trying to block out the world around her until she heard voices. She looked up and saw the ninjas coming down from the ship.
Nalia quickly wiped away her tears and tried acting like she was okay.
"Hey, guys?" said Nalia, giving a soft smile.
"Nalia? What are you doing down here?" Lloyd was the first to ask.
"Hmmm, what do you think I'm doing here?" Nalia asked, with her hands behind her back, acting innocent.
The ninjas looked at each other and knew she was trying to act okay, but everyone knew she was still upset about something. She hadn't told them what it was.
"Are you here to help, Lloyd, clean up the dragon?" Cole asked as the ninjas decided to act like normal until she was ready to tell them what was wrong.
Nalia looked up at the Ultra Dragon, giving a small smile before looking back at the ninjas. "Yes."
Lloyd let out an annoyed sigh as he prepared to clean up the dragon with Nalia. "I always have to do the dirty work."
"Hey, having a pet dragon requires a lot of responsibility," said Cole.
"Didn't your mom ever let you have a pet?" Jay asked.
"I don't remember my mother. She abandoned me when I was young," said Lloyd.
Nalia turned her attention to Lloyd as she listened to what he said.
"She just left? Who took care of you?" Kai asked.
"I spent my whole life at Darkley's Boarding School," said Lloyd.
"Hey, I have a mission for you guys." Nya slides down the Bounty's anchor. "It's the Museum of Ninjago! They've asked for you guys! Something really strange has happened."
"What?" said Kai.
"You're gonna have to see it to believe it," said Nya.
"Here, Nya. Hold this." Lloyd gives her the bag.
"Also, take this." Nalia gives her a shovel before running after the others.
"Wait a minute. What am I supposed to do with these?" Nya looks at the dragon. "Oh."
*The ninjas and Nalia reach the museum.*
"Oh, thank heavens you're here!" said the Curator.
"We heard there was an emergency?" said Wu.
"Yes, come, come. Quickly, this way. The exhibit opens to the public tonight, and this couldn't have come at a worse time." said the Curator.
"Uh, what couldn't have come at a worse time?" Kai asked.
Nalia stayed in the back of the group, not saying anything Lloyd had noticed. So he let the others go ahead for a bit before taking Nalia's hand and pulling her along without saying anything.
A slight blush formed on Nalia's face when he took her hand, but she didn't say anything as she got pulled along.
"Ninjago City appreciates your help in destroying the Great Devourer some time back, but it appears its toxic venom has seeped into the city sewer system and has had the most unusual after-effect." The Curator explained.
"Aargh!" shouted the ninjas.
"Ugh. It stinks!" said Kai simultaneously.
*The Curator opens the doors to the gift shop revealing the transformed merchandise*
"The toxicity in the venom somehow brought our merchandise to life! They're so unruly. I just don't know who else to call!" said the Curator.
Zane gets hit by one of the figurines. "Ah!"
"We've got this covered. I think we can handle a few toys." said Jay.
"And please, could you contain the fighting to the gift shop? The doors to the new exhibit will be opening soon. Thank you." The Curator closes the doors and let the ninjas do their job.
Nalia let out a sigh as she let go of Lloyd's hand before pulling out her staff, though she wasn't much in the mood to do any fighting. "Let's just get this over with."
"Whoa! Stupid little guy." said Lloyd as one of the figurines started attacking him.
"Alright. Playtime's over. Ninja, go!" Kai uses Spinjitzu.
Nalia rolled her eyes and swung around her staff, hitting any figurines she could while also putting up a wall of sand to block them from attacking her.
"Ninja, go!" The rest of the ninjas do the same thing, only to destroy the entire gift shop.
"Uh, oops" said Zane.
"Nice going, guys." said Nalia in a monotone voice.
"Hahaha! Whoo! Hahaha!" A figurine escapes the room. Wu chases after it.
"Come here, you little..." Wu stomps on it. "Ah. Huh?" He sees Misako come out of the other room. "Misako?"
"Wu." said Misako surprised.
"I, uh..." Wu tried explaining.
"It's been a long time." said Misako.
Jay clears his throat; the ninjas and Nalia approach them. "So, uh, you gonna introduce us?"
Wu clears his throat. "Uh, yes. This is Misako, Lloyd's mother."
Everyone gasps.
"My...my mother?" said Lloyd shocked.
"Ah. Lloyd? My little boy. You're so much bigger than I remember." said Misako.
"Yeah, well, it's been a long time." said Lloyd.
"I didn't want us to meet like this. I have a reason why I've been away." said Misako.
"Well, I don't wanna hear it." Lloyd walks away.
"Lloyd, wait. Please!" said Misako.
*Lloyd closes the door behind him.*
"I'll go after him," said Nalia since she didn't like seeing him upset. So she left the others and quickly went on to catch up to Lloyd.
It took her a few minutes until she found him in a big hole and began walking over to him.
"I don't wanna talk with anyone, so beat it already." said Lloyd annoyed.
Nalia ignored what he said and continued to sit down next to him, gently taking his hand in hers.
"Wha-Lia?" said Lloyd, surprised to see that it was her and yet also not. A small smile grew on his face when she took his hand, so he gently squeezed hers. "How are you holding up?"
Nalia looked over at him with a raised eyebrow. "Me? I should be asking you that."
Lloyd chuckled softly as he rested his head on her. "I'll be alright, Starlight, but I'm worried about you. Whatever happened two days ago is still making you upset, and I keep seeing tears running down your face."
Nalia sighed heavily, looking down at the hole, and slowly leaned against Lloyd. ".....I've been having nightmares these past few days about my brother... the way he died keeps repeating in my head, and *sobs* I can't get the images out of my head. *sobs* I miss him so much; I never got to thank him for the scarf *sobs*, and I never apologized for following him and being the cause of his dying." She explained as she started crying again.
Lloyd hugged her and rubbed her back as he tried to comfort her. "You were just a kid; it's not your fault it got out of control, Nalia. I'm sure you did what you could to save him."
"But I didn't! I couldn't do anything; I was useless and weak! All I did was watch him die right in front of me!" Nalia cried into his chest as her body was shaking.
Lloyd tried thinking of ways to calm her down without worsening her situation. "Nalia, don't be so hard on yourself. " He said, and then he kissed the top of her head.
Nalia felt something on her head and wasn't sure what, but she started blushing ever so slightly. She slowly looked up at him with teary eyes and noticed the slightest hint of green in his eyes.
Lloyd smiled softly at her when she moved her head to look at him. "Do you think your brother would want you to be like this?"
Nalia sniffled, wiping away her tears. "N-no, he wouldn't; if anything, he would try and cheer me up with a mango."
"You mean one of these?" Lloyd pulled out a mango that he had snuck with him so he could give it to her at some point to cheer her up.
A small giggle came from Nalia as she took the mango happily and began eating it. "When did you start carrying mangos?"
"When I noticed you being upset, nothing else seemed to cheer you up." Lloyd went on to have an arm wrapped around her while she was sitting next to him.
"Thanks, Lloyd, you're a good friend," said Nalia, smiling at him before she started eating the mango.
At that point, Lloyd felt like she had just stabbed him in the heart by being friend zoned. "Y-yeah, a good friend." He said through a forced smile. "Nalia?"
Nalia looked at him curiously, as it was rare for him to use her full name. "Yes?"
Lloyd went on to rest his head on top of hers again. Letting out a heavy sigh. "Do you think you could sing me a song? I might need one."
"Hmmm, sure; anything specific you want me to sing?" asked Nalia, looking up at him.
"Something nice and comfortable," said Lloyd, holding her close. "Just for us." He whispered.
Nalia started blushing from what he was saying but grew a shy smile. "Okay." She leaned against him and started singing.
(the song she is singing.)
(link to song)
"I was never right for the hero type of role
I admit it
With my heart shivering in fear
I can see today's reflected in each past tear
Even so,
It has been calling the heavens to me
But I cannot hide
All the emptiness inside
My fleeting heart
Once in my dreams
I rose and soared
No matter how I'm knocked around
Or beaten down
I will stand up, restored
All of my love has yet to wake
I know your strength is what I lack
You've got my back and now that I've got yours
I have you to thank for lighting up the dark
Because you're here with me, our dreams will soar free
Forever
I wanna always be with you
I give you everything I have.~"
Lloyd was surprised by the song she was singing; he didn't think she would sing something so touching. A small smile began growing as he closed his eyes and kept listening.
"I could never find the light to guide me through the night
And with one touch
I'd recall every memory
All too precious to not hold them all close to me
It's tempting to close your eyes and turn from the world
But it's bittersweet
Like you've somehow missed a beat
With no restart
When every wish has overlapped
You'll realize if you carry on with every dawn
Your hesitation fades
All of your scars will disappear
I will become your sword and shield
This crossing field's the path that we select
The promise we made will last for all our days
If it's our bonds we live by, I will put my faith in you
I only need one miracle
Can you not hear me call at all?
Until that day, I'll keep screaming your name.~"
Stars surrounded both of them as they moved to the song's melody, and everything else around them changed into looking like space.
Lloyd could feel his heart beating ever so slightly faster as he enjoyed listening to her voice, which made all his worries disappear.
"Once in my dreams
All of your scars will disappear
I will become your sword and shield
This crossing field's the path that we select
The promise we made will last for all our days
If it's our bonds we live by, I will put my faith in you
I wanna always be with you
I wanna hold you tight right now
I swear that I'll be whom you chose
I'll give you everything I have.~"
As Nalia finished singing, everything returned to normal, and they were again sitting in front of the hole.
"Lia, that is the most beautiful thing. I've ever heard you sing," said Lloyd, opening his eyes and raising his head to look at her better.
Nalia started blushing as she gave a shy smile. "Well, you asked for something, just for us, so I thought that might be a good song."
"I think that was the perfect song," said Lloyd, smiling at her as he moved closer. "Nalia, I want you to know that I do—" He was cut off by the sound of the doors opening and his mother's voice.
"Lloyd? Lloyd!" shouted Misako as the doors opened.
Nalia and Lloyd quickly moved away from each other, blushing as they tried to act like nothing was about to happen.
The ninjas smirked at what they had just caught them almost doing when they entered the room.
"I'd watch your step. That sinkhole doesn't have a bottom, son. It's where I found the ancient Stone Warrior." said Misako walking over.
The mood now being ruined, made Lloyd grow a little mad about it. "Uh, "son?" You've been gone my whole life! There's nothing you can say."
Nalia rubbed the back of her neck, finding this awkward, but she didn't want to leave.
"Well, I'm going to talk anyway. You wanna know what I've been doing all this time? Long before Sensei Wu ever knew who would be the Green Ninja, I knew it would be you. And I knew you would eventually have to fight your father. I dropped you off at the Boarding School so I could go learn everything I could about the prophecy, in hope of one day preventing the final battle. Of good and evil. All this time, son, I've been trying to save you and your father. Long before time had a name, Ninjago was created by the First Spinjitzu Master—"
"Yeah, yeah. We've heard this story a hundred times." said Lloyd, cutting her off.
"But you've only heard half of it. In Ninjago, there has always been balance between good and evil. So you know about how the First Spinjitzu Master created Ninjago, but what if I were to tell you in order for there to be light, there must be shadow, and within shadow, there is darkness. The blackest of darkness that existed from the very beginning. An evil spirit called "The Overlord." Misako went on explaining.
Nalia's eyes widened when she mentioned the Overlord, while she had never met or seen him. The First Spinjitzu Master had warned her about him and told her to stay far away from him, along with the Dark Island, even though she was strong. She still wouldn't be powerful enough to beat him until she was ready and at full strength.
"Did you know about this, Sensei?" Zane asked.
"I had hoped if I'd kept the secret, that name would never be spoken again." said Wu.
"The balance was at stake, and their battle could have gone on for eternity. Each side powerful, neither could conquer the other until the Overlord created his indestructible warriors: the Stone Army. The Spinjitzu Master did what he could, but he knew he would soon be defeated. So instead of losing the war, he divided Ninjago in two. And lucky for us, since then, there has been no trace of the Overlord or his Stone Army, until my recent discovery." Misako explained.
"So that's why the battle has yet to be decided. It was never finished." said Kai.
"But where is this Dark Island? I've never heard of it." said Cole.
"Disappeared, I presume. But the legend states that so long as the balance between good and evil remains even, the Overlord shall remain trapped from this world. I have always feared your father's ambition will ultimately lead to a shift in the balance. That is why he must be stopped." said Misako.
"We have each felt the power of the First Spinjitzu Master, passed onto us in the form of the elemental weapons. But now that power has been inherited by the Green Ninja, which is why only Lloyd can defeat the ultimate evil, or else all of Ninjago will fall prey to its darkness." said Wu.
"Leaving you was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. But faced with saving you and the world, I had no other choice." said Misako.
Nalia was happy Lloyd was getting closer to his mother, but she couldn't help but worry about what would come.
"Oh, yeah, by the way, Mom, this is Nalia," said Lloyd as he introduced his mother to her.
Nalia snapped out of her thoughts and quickly turned her attention to what was happening. "H-hello, nice to meet you, ma'am." She couldn't help growing a little shy.
"Aww, she is such a sweetie and very beautiful," said Misako, coming over and smiling at her. "Is she your girlfriend, Lloyd?"
"No!" Both of them quickly answered as they started blushing.
They quickly looked away from each other and tried acting like nothing.
Misako watched them and raised an eyebrow at how they acted. "What a shame, she seems like she would be a nice daughter-in-law."
"Mom!" Lloyd's face grew more red when she said that.
"What's a daughter-in-law?" Nalia asked very confused.
"I thought you said, Nya, told her everything about love stuff." Jay whispered to Kai.
"Looks like she missed something." Kai whispered back.
Wu cleared his throat. "How about we get our focus back on track."
*Some time later.*
"Have you discovered a way to prevent me from facing my father?" Lloyd asked, as he was walking with his mother.
"I'm sorry, not yet. But I have reason to believe there's still hope." said Misako.
*The Stone Warrior breaks in, shocking everyone.*
"WHOA!!!! EXCUSE ME?! Will somebody please tell me: WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?!!" screamed Jay.
"The Stone Warrior." said Misako.
"Wow, he is so much bigger than those we fought earlier." said Nalia.
"The Devourer's venom has awakened him!" said Zane.
"Oh, great! Kai, take care of him." said Cole.
"Um, me? Okay, blockhead. Take this!" Kai sword breaks from the impact. "Well, in my mind's eye, I saw that playing out entirely differently. Whoa!"
"The Overlord created his Stone Army from an indestructible material only found on the Dark Island." said Misako.
"Ah, great. You could've mentioned that earlier." said Kai.
"Lloyd, use your powers." said Wu.
Lloyd does so, and the Warrior is knocked back. The ninjas and Nalia cheer, but it wasn't damaged.
"Wait a minute. How are we supposed to destroy this thing?" Cole asked.
"You can't." said Misako.
"I could try punching it," Nalia suggested, getting the other's attention.
"It's worth a try." said Kai.
"Go, Nalia, attack!" shouted Jay, pointing towards the stone warrior.
"Okay, big guy, I don't like hurting things, but you aren't giving me much of a choice," said Nalia, walking towards it.
The stone warrior glared at Nalia and swung one of its swords down at her.
Nalia rushed at it and avoided the sword at the last second before landing a good punch on it, sending it flying into a wall, while she landed back on the floor, breathing slightly heavily. "W-what was that?" She looked at her hands, which were somewhat shaking.
"Yes! Go, Nalia!" cheered the ninjas.
"Lia! Watch out!" shouted Lloyd.
Nalia quickly looked up and put up a sand shield around herself, blocking most of the hit from the stone warrior as it knocked her back toward the ninjas, who quickly caught her.
"Lia! Are you okay!" Everyone looked at her to see if she was doing okay.
"I-I'm fine, just a little shaken." said Nalia, slowly getting back up.
"Aaahh! Hehe, easy big guy, maybe this is a sign you need to lose a few pounds, hehehe." The Warrior pushes Jay back, and he almost falls into the Hole. Wu extended his Nin-Jô for him to grab. "Close call!"
*The Team are thrown out of the room. Misako groans.*
"Ah! This is gonna be much harder than a bunch of bobble-heads, fellas." said Cole.
"Yeah, well, then it's a good thing we're in a museum." said Jay.
"Why is that?" Misako asked.
"'Cause we're all about to become history! RUN!!!!!" shouted Jay.
"The guy's got a pair of sneakers on him. Pick up the pace, go, go, go!" shouted Lloyd, as he quickly took Nalia's shaken hand and began running.
"Oh, man. He's pretty fast for a big guy!" said Kai.
*The ninjas close the doors, but the Warrior is slowly breaking it.*
"Lia, are you okay?" Lloyd asked, noticing that she had been shaking on the whole run.
Nalia looked over at Lloyd and gave a slight nod. "Yeah, I just need to catch my breath."
"Catch your breath? Lia, you can run for hours before you get out of breath," said Lloyd, narrowing his eyes at her. "Are you lying right now?"
"I'm not lying, greenie; I need to catch my breath," said Nalia.
"Ah. This thing is unstoppable!" said Cole.
"Indestructible, to be precise." said Zane.
"That door ain't gonna hold him forever." said Kai.
"Then let's settle this like men. With Rock, Paper, Clamp. Loser has to face him, so the rest can escape." Everyone, including Lloyd, joins. "Nu-uh, not you, Chosen One." said Jay.
Kai sighs. "On three. One, two—"
"Wait a minute, that's it!" said Lloyd.
"What's "it?" Wu asked.
"If you guys can keep him busy, I think I know how to stop him." said Lloyd.
"I say we give the kid a shot." said Cole.
"You're just saying that 'cause you're too afraid to face him." said Jay.
"Do you wanna face it?" Cole asked.
"I say we give the kid a shot." said Jay.
Lloyd nods before quickly picking up Nalia taking her by surprise. "Wha-Lloyd!?"
"I need your help, and I also think you need a break from this." Lloyd carried her over to an air vent and had her follow him into it.
Nalia was blushing red after he had just carried her. "So, what's the plan, greenie?"
"You remember that big hole we were sitting at? If we can lure it there, we can trick it into falling in." Lloyd explained while crawling through the vent with her.
"Huh, that sounds like a solid plan," said Nalia, following right behind him.
"So, you gonna tell me what's going on with you? You started acting weird after you punched it into a wall." Lloyd questioned.
"I don't know, Lloyd, right after I punched it. I felt like my powers were being pushed back." Nalia explained.
"Strange, did you put all of your strength into that punch?" Lloyd asked.
Nalia stayed quiet for a few minutes. "No, I didn't put my full strength into the punch."
"Why not? If you did, you might have destroyed it," said Lloyd.
"I don't wanna put others in danger if I did." said Nalia.
"Did you take the fight seriously?" Lloyd asked as he opened the air vent and crawled out before holding a hand for Nalia to take.
"Not really," Nalia answered, taking his hand as she exited the air vent.
"Why didn't you? What if something happened if you didn't get serious?" Lloyd asked, leading her over to the hole.
"I'll only get serious if the situation calls for it," Nalia told him as they reached the hole. "So, what do you need my help for?"
"I need you to cover the hole with sand; that way, the stone warrior wouldn't know there's a hole under it when it's standing on top of it," Lloyd explained.
"Okay, I can do that," said Nalia and began to cover the hole in the sand.
"I'll get its attention; you go and hide so it doesn't see you," said Lloyd before running out of the room.
"Okay," said Nalia, covering the hole before going behind a pillar.
A short moment later, she heard voices and movement.
"Over here!" shouted Lloyd.
"Lloyd!" Misako runs to him.
"Shh. Hey, loser! Paper beats rock!" As the stone warrior angrily runs towards him, he grabs his mother out of the way. "Now! Lia!" shouted Lloyd.
Nalia made the sand disappear under the warrior, making it fall into the bottomless pit.
"Of course, the bottomless pit. I'm so proud of you. I feel like the balance has brought us together." said Misako.
"I couldn't have done it without you, Lia," said Lloyd, smiling at Nalia, who had walked over to them.
"Stay with us. Help us fight the good fight." said Wu, looking at Misako.
"If that's okay with my son." said Misako.
"Hey. The more, the merrier," said Lloyd, smiling before taking Nalia's hand.
A blush grew on Nalia's face as she looked away, in deep thoughts about something else.