~The Departed Realm~
Rashent stretched as she got up from her nap, earning a groan from a dragon laying next to her. "Your majesty, do we have to get up now?" the dragon asked.
"Twosoul, I asked you to stop calling me that," Rashent softly teased.
"I know, it's just hard when you were my queen for so long. Not only that, but you were also one of the first. You deserve the respect you've earned as Rashentclan's queen.
Rashent chuckled. "I appreciate it, but here, I hold no power, you know that."
Twosoul sighed. "Yes I do. I apologize."
"You're forgiven."
Rashent moved off her rock and over to the pond to take drink some water, feeling the sun beat on her black scales when a familiar voice echoed through the clearing.
"Queen Rashent," it's soothing sound filling her ears. Rashent turned around to see the ghostly figure of Queen Crystal, queen of the departed realm. Her white eyes met her own as the elegant dragon sat a few feet away. "You wanted to speak with me?"
Taking the hint, Twosoul flew off out of the clearing and Rashent walked closer to Crystal with a respectful bow. "Yes, your majesty. I've been watching the realms and have been keeping great attention on Ninjago recently."
"And what have you found?"
"Let me show you."
Crystal fell into step behind Rashent as the two walked towards the Moon Pool while Rashent filled in the queen on her findings.
"You're aware of Lizabeth Wolfadeer's runaway yes?" Rashent asked.
"Yes, I was told of that recently," Crystal said with a nod.
"Then you're aware of Lizabeth and Lloyd's alliance."
"Alliance?" Crystal questioned.
"Yes. The two seem to have bonded and are working together with Lizabeth being a spy for the Ninja."
"Seriously? You'd think a Ninja Hunter would keep away from the people who want her dead. Has Phantom been spotted trying to influence anything?"
Rashent shook her head. "No, but there are ghosts keeping watch."
"Good."
"Another thing I've been seeing is Lizabeth has been getting help."
Crystal halted at the Moon Pool just ahead of them and looked to Rashent in confusion. "What kind of help?"
"Visions, thoughts being planted in her head, stuff like that."
"But I haven't seen that happening? Anyone who's helping Lizabeth like this would need to be from the Departed Realm but I haven't heard of any of this, and I would've."
"That's what I wanted to show you. Look."
Crystal followed Rashent's gaze into the Moon Pool and her eyes widened.
"Is that..."
"A trapped spirit."
"But there hadn't been one of those made known in a long time," Crystal queered.
"Well get this," Rashent chuckled. "There's actually two of them."
"Two trapped spirits?" Crystal gasped.
"Yes. Both are interested with Liz but I can't recognize them."
"I think I might," Crystal muttered. "But right now, Lizabeth needs help. More help. What is she planning?"
"To have the Ninja interfere at Jamoniki village to defeat the snakes. But she's not going to have much time for the Ninja to get warned of the Serpentine, fly all the way over there, and stop Lloyd."
"Then we'll give them time," Crystal said.
"And how are we going to do that?" Rashent asked, flicking her tail.
"Don't worry," Crystal smiled, extending a talon out towards the Moon Pool, touching it with her black scales. "I've got friends in high places."
~ Ninjago ~
My heart started to race as Lloyd, the snakes, and I made our way towards Jamoniki Village. Lloyd was beside me, brushing my arm with his as he soaked up my body heat as we moved through the winter land. As we made our way to the village, the air got warmer. But it still was too cold for Lloyd.
Stick to the plan. I reminded myself. Hopefully, I'd be able to talk to the Ninja and hopefully, I can get the Ninja's hands on the General's staff. Nobody knew of this happening, not even Lloyd, but I had found a mysterious falcon that morning when I went to get some fresh air and could sense it wasn't anything like the birds we have in Molotoke. The bird was bold enough to even talk to me. Not though English however, but through dragon. So when no one was looking, I gave the falcon a letter and sent it to the Ninja, one in particular. All I could hope was that the Ninja would actually get the message and I wasn't wrong about the weird tug in my stomach telling me to trust the animal.
I took a deep breath and my lungs stung a bit from the cold. I twitched an ear as Skales walked up to me with a frown. Does he ever smile? Starting to think his face is just stuck like that. "Skales?"
The snake had said nothing as he walked beside me, Lloyd running ahead saying he can see the village.
The 2nd in command hissed, not looking at me. "I know you're not with us, Wolfadeer."
I flattened my ears. "What bones do you have to pick with my family?"
"You should know damn well what I'm talking about," Skales sneered.
"It might be news to you that my mother never talked to me about almost anything. Let alone anything about her past," I shot back, glaring up at the snake.
"Well, then you should know that it was your mother that was recruited to create the sacred flutes so that the elemental masters could imprison us!"
I snorted. "I can see why."
Skales narrowed his gaze and opened his moth to say something else, but I beat him to it.
"You're right when I say I'm not on your side, but wrong that I'm just not on Slithera's."
"Meaning?"
"I see the way you act around him. You don't respect his title when you're not forced to and you have a strong energy that just screams 'I wanna be leader'."
Skales crossed his arms. "You're point?"
"My point is that we could overthrow Slithera and make you the General and you could finally get out of here and lead your tribe to freedom."
Skales was silent and I was surprised to notice that he was actually thinking about this.
"What about your companion?" he asked, emotionless.
"He doesn't have to be apart of it," I lied.
"Fine," he hissed. "You better not mess it up, Moonblood."
I sped up my walk to pass Skales, trying to catch up to Lloyd, him looking much better now, but I could see the shake in his step. He needed a break. I hesitated before deciding to shift into my wolf body and run up to Lloyd, my charm bouncing around my neck as I padded up to him.
Lloyd looked to me in surprises and that's when I realized he's never seen me like this before.
"Wow!" Lloyd exclaimed as he looked me over. "Liz?"
My blue eyes met his and I let out a soft rumble, lowering my head towards him. I was just up to his chest at my age which was pretty small for the average Moonblood but I new I had the strength to do what I needed to do.
"That's so cool!" he exclaimed.
With another rumble, I moved myself in front of Lloyd and crouched down, making him stop in confusion.
"What?" he asked, tilting his head.
I let out a high pitched bark and tilted my head towards my back and barked again.
Lloyd crossed his arm. "I'm the son of Lord Garmadon! I don't need help!"
I growled and immediately wished that Sunbloods were more capable of learning wolf. It's certainly possible for a Sunblood to learn at least a few words in wolf or dragon but pretty much impossible to be fluent in such a language. It's easier to learn it when one is very, very young and grows up hearing it. It's a Moonblood's second instinct, not a Sunblood's. But maybe Lloyd was still capable of learning a little bit? I'd have to remember to do that later.
Or never, it's not like I'll be here forever.
I barked harshly and flicked my tail as I narrowed my piercing blue eyes at the boy. Almost as stubborn as my sister. Almost.
Lloyd finally caved as his legs started to shake again, but I sensed something else was holding him back other than his ridiculously high ego. He was afraid, I could feel it. Afraid of me. I didn't know why but that felt wrong to me. Like I didn't want him to be afraid.
Lloyd cautiously climbed onto my back with ease and grabbed onto my scruff. Once I knew he was secure, I pushed my body up from the ground, the snow sticking to my chest and I waited a beat before slowly starting to walk again. I could feel Lloyd's stress and fear start to subside as I walked along the snow, crunching with every step of my heavy paws. Lloyd eventually laid his chest onto my fluffy, soft black fur and I could feel his snores vibrating my back as we continued to walk. I glanced back towards the snakes and they started to catch up again as the village got closer and closer.
I'm coming you guys. Just wait for me.
———————
My loud bark pierced the air and I felt Lloyd jolt awake. We had just arrived at the village, the plan was set. Lloyd tiredly slid down my side as I returned to my Sunblood form again. Lloyd's grogginess fled out the window as he saw the village and he turned to General Slithera, yelling, "Attack!"
The Hypnobri cheered as they began to storm the village, beginning to hypnotize everyone that was in their path. Hopefully, the Ninja go my letter and they were either here or on their way. However, it wouldn't surprise me one bit if they were late.
Lloyd laughed with a dark evil tone as he made his entrance to the village. "I'm Lloyd Garmadon!" He never got tired announcing that, did he? "Fear me and bow to me! Or be forced by the Serpentine!"
I walked through the entrance of the village by the fountain where I first met Lloyd and I joined by his side. He smiled and nudged my arm. "Your turn, Liz! You have to tell them who they must fear!"
I hid my snort. Fear huh? That's not hard for someone like me. As I looked around the village, they seemed to fear me much more than Lloyd. The whole name thing is stupid. But when I turned to see Lloyd's face, I caved with a sigh. "Alright, alright."
For the first time in Queen Crystal knows how long, I reached up to my beanie. I took in a breath as I hesitated.
Show them who you are. Whispered the voice. Fine then. I grabbed my beanie and pulled it off, my large black ears seeing the sun for the first time in a while and man it felt good. Freeing.
Everyone gasped, giving me their attention, my gut spiraling but I could not show fear.
"I'm Lizabeth Wolfadeer, a creature from very far away! Fear us or suffer our wrath!"
Lloyd grinned . "That was perfect! You're getting the hang of it!"
I forced a smile back as I watched the Hypnobri warriors hypnotized the village with their bright red eyes.
Lifting my hands up to put my hat back on, Lloyd stopped me, his hand on my arm. "Don't hide, they fear you like this! They won't be as afraid if a girl with a purple hat is walking around."
I glared at him, my ears flattening. "Does it matter?"
"Yes it does!" Lloyd bickered back. "You can put it back on after we're done if you want."
I sighed. "Fine, you win."
Lloyd pumped his fist. "Yes!" He said with a grin.
I couldn't help but grin back but my plan was starting to fall apart. Where were the ninja? Just as I started loosing hope, my nose was filled by that strong sent of the Fire Ninja. I gasped and searched for Kai in the crowd and there he was with anger on his face, the other three behind him in shock as they stared at the snakes, the villagers, and lastly at me at Lloyd's side.
I could feel their anger from here and realized I probably should've told that mysterious falcon who's side I was really on, but the ninja probably didn't know how to speak dragon so that's what I get I guess.
I smirked. Time for some fun. I turned over to Lloyd, unaware of the Ninja's arrival and quickly sprinted over, grabbing an old, thin-ish white plastic pipe on the side of the street and stopped in front of the Ninja at the entrance of the village. Assuming a fighting position, I gripped the less-harmful-weapon in my hands, causing the Ninja to look at me with shock.
"Liz?" Kai asked. "What are you-" I cut him off as I made the first move, knocking Kai off his feet with my legs and blocking Jay's incoming attack from behind by hitting his stomach with the pipe.
Kai tried to use his sword but I quickly kicked his sword out of the way, moving out of the way in a dash before Zane and Cole could try to get a piece of me. I quickly shifted to my wolf form and the Ninja gasped in shock. I let out a low rumbling growl that shook the earth and stared the Ninja down. Before they could attack me again, I nodded my head towards the alley behind me. Fighting the Ninja was fun and all, but we had a threat to catch.
When Cole raised his arm up to try and hit me, I growled and shifted to my Sunblood form again to talk, causing him to back off.
"What is happening right now?" Jay asked.
"I have zero clue," Cole responded.
I shook my head as my furless skin came back and motioned the boys to follow me to the alley. Whatever stopped them from attacking me worked and I'm lucky I didn't loose any fur over it. When we got out of ear shot, I turned around, the Ninja and their confused expressions stopping in front of me. Kai was the first to speak.
"Liz, what's going on?" he asked. "What are you doing with that kid? Hell, what are you doing with the Serpentine?"
I sighed. "Well, your master told me to hitch a ride over here to make sure it wasn't a different kind of danger."
"You mean Princess Phantom?" Zane interjected.
"Princess Phantom?" Jay asked. Does he not know anything? Its common knowledge to know what's going on in the departed realms!
"Yes, the princess of the Cursed Realm, daughter to-"
"We don't have time to explain right now!" I interrupted. "Right now, Lloyd and the snakes think I'm on their side and I plan on keeping it that way!"
"What do we do?" Cole asked.
"Get the General's staff," I ordered. "Get the staff, free the people. I learned the staff can counter their powers. I'll make sure we retreat." I started to run past them when Kai grabbed my arm.
"Wait-"
"No time, Kai-"
"Liz," he snapped.
I looked up at Kai with a sigh, awaiting his response.
"Just be carful." The other Ninja nodded with Kai, muttering their "be safe"s.
Surprisingly to me, my expression softened a bit and nodded back before running back towards where I left Lloyd.
The streets were full of mindless villagers, their eyes red with the loss of control and I forced myself to look away. When I arrived near the fountain, the Ninja had almost beat me to it and Lloyd was losing his mind.
"Ninja!" he hollered.
I looked around as the snakes all turned their heads towards the Ninja. They all hissed as they and the villagers started going after the colored group with fury.
"Everyone go for the Ninja!" I commanded. "I'll protect the General!"
"You?" Skales hissed at me.
"Who's the trained assassin in this group?" I growled. "And who's your leader? You'll do as I say, now go!"
Skales looked like he wanted to fight back with me but changed his mind and went to help the snakes.
I came up to the General who was clutching his golden staff, the gem in it shining in the sun. His fear was so strong you could smell it as he looked over at the on going battle. I scanned the rest of the village to find Cold cornered by a bunch of Hypnobri, Skales among them as he tried hypnotizing the black ninja.
I gasped, praying Slithera wasn't watching me as I picked up a rock and chucked it towards the snake, breaking his focus. When Skales turned around, I was already gone. Cole regained his consciousness and ran towards me and the General, now behind the fountain.
He went to attack me but I blocked his Golden Scythe with my daggers, my strength protecting me from the powerful weapon and I went to slash his arm, missing just slightly, trying not to beat him up too much.
I ducked backwards as he threw a punch to my face and I shifted to my wolf form, tackling him before returning to my Sunblood's body. Before he could do anything, I got him in my guard, praying that Cole knew Jujitsu, which is what I was taught. With his legs around my sides, I pushed up with my feet, purposely making me slightly off balance. Cole noticed and pulled up his right leg into my arm pit, able to kick me over to his left, causing me to fall and let Cole get in control, him putting me in a head lock, brining my head towards his.
"Play dead," his whispered so only I could hear.
My body went limp and I closed my eyes, allowing Cole to attack Slithera, the General clearly not in a state to fight and very quickly, Cole was able to snatch the staff.
"Quick Cole! The Fountain!" Zane shouted.
I peaked out of one of my eyes as I watched Slithera debate whether or not if was worth it to try to get the staff back. He went with the later option and slithered away, calling out the beautiful words, "Retreat!"
I shook my head, cracking my neck as I pushed myself up as a familiar blond boy ran up to me in a panic. "Liz! Are you ok?" he asked, franticly.
"I'm fine," I replied, looking at the snakes following Slithera as Cole put the staff in the fountain. A sweet smelling mist ran through the fountain as the staff's antivenom ran through the streams running through the village, allowing everyone effected to gain their control back.
"We need to get back with the snakes," Liz said, urgently.
"But-"
"No. We're leaving." I bit back, taking shape of my wolf body and ushering Lloyd to get on. I didn't wait for him to get all the way on before pushing with my paws out of the village and after the snakes, hearing the village cry in victory.
I padded up to the back of the pack where Skales was stomping on the ground.
I risked a glance at his narrowed eyes, looking directly at me and I knew when we got back that I'd be in deep shit.
Lloyd sighed on my back, bringing my attention to him and I slid him off my back. Once I regained my Sunblood's body, I bumped his shoulder with mine with a grin on my face.
"You did good!" I said, encouragingly.
Lloyd groaned, holding his arm. "No I didn't, I suck at fighting."
"Grawul den vandar," I whispered, my weird and noticeable accent, according to Lloyd, getting stronger.
"What does that mean?" Lloyd asked.
"It means, 'Claws of the warrior'," I responded fondly. "We say it to each other to complement a skilled fighter."
"But I'm not a skilled fighter," he argued with a frown.
"Not once I train you some basic self-defense!"
"Really? You'd do that for me?"
"Ulfar den Oraș," I said with a smile.
"Is there a language class included in this?" Lloyd asked, annoyed by my use of my language.
"Yes, Lloyd," I said with a laugh.
The two of us laughed and I talked more about my language while giving him son fighting tips while we walked behind the tribe. Wait, was I happy to be in a Sunblood's presence? Lloyd laughed and the answer was yes, yes I was. But what will happen when I show him which side I'm really on? Would Lloyd come with me? I just made a... friend. I don't want to lose him. Not like I lost my siblings.
I meant it when I said "Ulfar den Oraș". "Wolves are family". And even though Lloyd's not technically a Moonblood, he's still something to me. I just hoped he felt the same.