A/N: Let's talk real quick about Skylor's powers. As I mentioned last week, I did have to depower her a little bit. Because, y'know, she's just really OP and this story would be over a lot quicker if I left her as is. So here's the rules:

1.) In order to steal someone's power it has to be through skin-to-skin contact, she can't just touch their clothes

2.) She can only hold onto one power at a time, so if she touches two people, she'll only be able to use the power of the last person she touched

3.) The power fades and eventually disappears after about a day or two

This will just make things a lot easier for me, and at the same time, more challenging in a good way. I think that's about all for now with any major changes I made, everything else should be pretty much like you remember it. Except, very mixed up. Because, you know, it's an AU.

. . .

Pixal reached the highest step just as the sun was setting. There were precisely one thousand steps leading to the top, and Pixal was impressed with the craftsmanship that must have gone into carving each one.

To the west, the sun was sinking into the horizon, turning the sky a pinkish-orange and setting the clouds below ablaze so they looked as if they were boiling with fire. It was a sight that even Pixal could appreciate as beautiful. The day had been rather warm, and as a result the doors to the monastery were wide open, a serious safety hazard, considering the circumstances. She could see that the courtyard was cluttered with obstacles – a training course, although no one seemed to be using it at the moment. Off to the side sat two young women engrossed in their own conversation.

"Even better, we could add voice filters!" said one as Pixal approached. "They'll make a great first impression."

"Misako said before that 'the best battles are won before they start,'" said the other. "Maybe if we can scare them bad enough, we won't even have to fight."

"Pardon me," said Pixal as she drew nearer.

Both girls looked up and she recognized the initial shock on their faces, though they tried to conceal it.

"Who are you?" The first girl asked tentatively. Her hair was colored bright fuschia, making her stand out like a torch in the dimming light. She held an unidentifiable object in her hands, and various tools and parts were scattered around the girls.

"I am Pixal. I have been sent to train with you."

The second girl nodded. "It's nice to meet you, Pixal. I'm Nya, and this is Seliel."

Pixal bowed. "Greetings. It is an honor to meet you both."

"Hey guys, Mom says dinner's re— Whoa!" A child came running out of the monastery and stopped right next to Pixal, mouth agape. "What are you?"

Pixal was prepared for questions like this, but it seemed that her new teammates had not been expecting such an outburst. Nya crossed her arms and glared at the boy. "Lloyd! Be nice!"

"What did I say?"

Pixal shook her head. "It's fine. Such reactions are natural. I know all of you must be wondering where I come from. I am P.I.X.A.L., the Primary Interactive X-ternal Assistant Life-form. I am an android created by Cyrus Borg. Seeing as Mr. Borg has no descendants, it appears that I have inherited the elemental abilities of his ancestors."

"We've got an android on our team?! Cool!"

Nya threw the boy another look. Seliel leaned back on her hands and asked, "So what's your element?"

"I possess the ability to manipulate polarity."

Both the girls exchanged a surprised look.

"Woah!" Lloyd breathed. "You can control poles?"

Pixal had to smile, and Seliel burst out laughing. "No, Lloyd. Polarity is kind of like a fancy word for magnetism.

"Oh . . . well magnets are cool, too."

"If you don't mind my asking," Nya started gently, "How does that work with . . . you know, you being all . . ." She gestured vaguely at Pixal's entire person.

Pixal listed her head, wondering why the subject made Nya so nervous. Perhaps she thought that the information could be confidential. Cyrus had never indicated that it was, and certainly Pixal's new teammate ought to be aware of her strengths.

"I do not mind telling you. Knowledge of each other's elements could be vital to our future success as a team. As Seliel explained, I can manipulate the way metals are attracted or repelled by each other. And, being that I am made of metal . . ." Pixal held out her hand as a wrench resting beside the girls shot forward and she deftly caught it. ". . . I can act as one large magnet," she finished with a smile.

Lloyd punched the air with his fist. "Awesome!"

"And you already seem to have a handle on your power," Seliel commented. "Very nice."

Nya chuckled. "Seliel and I have finally learned to use our powers," said Nya. "but we're still working on controlling them. Anyway, it's good to have you here, Pixal. I'm sure we'll all be great friends."

Pixal nodded, a small feeling, perhaps happiness or excitement, blooming inside. "Thank you. I certainly hope so."

. . . 

Skylor was furious with her father. Yet again, when she had an opportunity to step forward and have some influence in his 'Master Plan,' he refused to let her take any real responsibility.

Recently one of his generals had been removed from his position. After failing miserably to follow orders, he had been sent to feed Clouse's pet snake . . . in the not-so-nice way. Skylor was sure she could have done better.

"Why can't I be one of your generals? Don't you trust me?"

Skylor's father slouched in his throne, distractedly tossing a ball between his hands. "Because I'm the father, and I say you're not ready!" 

"Yes, I am! I've trained all my life, I know the plan inside and out, and I've taken charge before. I can do this, Dad,  just let me prove myself!"

He caught the ball in one hand and looked at her through narrowed eyes. "I know what you're trying to do. You just want to leave the island!"

"What? How does that even . . . No!" Truthfully, she did want to leave. Skylor was dying to go out and see the world. But that wasn't even what this was about. She'd learned a long time ago to stop asking about it, anyways. Still, her father was convinced that she wanted to run away and continued to use that as an excuse against her.

"I just want to be useful," she said honestly.

Her father's gaze softened for a moment. He finally stood and came towards her. "Skylor, dearest . . ." He clasped her hands in his. "You will be useful. It won't be much longer. We're close, I can feel it. Soon we will be ready, and then we can take our revenge on those that banished us here – and banish them instead! When I rule Ninjago, you will be able to go wherever you please."

"Okay, but that's not what I –"

"And what if you did go? Would you really want to leave behind your poor father when I need you most?" he asked, pouting.

Skylor rolled her eyes. "Dad, you're not even listening to me."

He dropped her hands and sighed in that way that meant he was tired of arguing and was about to shut down the conversation. "No, you're not listening to me. I said 'no,' and that is my final answer! You should really be training instead of whining." He whirled around, cape flaring out behind him. "I have more important things to do than quarrel with you. Ungrateful child."

Skylor bit her tongue and turned away, storming out of the palace. She knew he wasn't being fair, but she also knew better than to keep trying to argue. He'd made up his mind already, so there was no way she could change it. But why couldn't he at least give her a chance to prove herself?

Skylor made her way down towards the beach, wanting to blow off some steam. The sun had just gone down and the stars were coming out. A cold breeze was blowing in from the north.

Really, she didn't think she needed more training. Maybe she was as arrogant as her father always said she was for thinking that. But she was convinced that she had reached a limit, and the only way she could keep learning was through experience from a real fight. Not that he wanted to give her that chance.

When she got to the sandy beach, Skylor started running through some of her basic moves. One of the training techniques she'd come up with to challenge herself was to practice on uneven turf like this. It was difficult to fight and keep her balance, so she had to move quickly to maintain a strong defense. Skylor wanted to be able to fight on any terrain at any time.

She fought invisible foes, kicking up showers of sand. Even as she stumbled, she tried to immediately take the proper defensive stance, then strike her imaginary opponent with a force that would have knocked them down, instead.

After a while, she finally paused, breathing heavily. She was considering heading back home when she heard rustling in the trees behind her.

At first, she assumed that the sound had come from an animal. The jungle was full of all sorts of sounds, even at night. But Skylor had been taught to stay alert, even when she thought she was safe, and she soon realized that it sounded more like someone was attempting to sneak up on her.

But who?

She couldn't wonder for long, and when the leaves rustled again, signaling to her where the the intruder was, she whipped around, intending to strike them with her elbow. She hit nothing except dead air, but was struck from behind and ended up face-first in the sand.

Skylor coughed, feeling grains in her teeth, but immediately rolled onto her back, only to come face-to-face with the end of a bamboo staff.

At the other end stood an elderly man whom Skylor had never seen before. His expression was half quirked into a smile. "Skylor, I presume?"

Seeing as she was pinned down, Skylor took a moment to spit out granules of sand. But her mouth still tasted of dirt when she answered, "Who are you?"

"My name is Garmadon. I'm guessing you've heard of me?"

His name did ring a bell. A very loud, whiny bell. "You're the reason we're trapped here!" she recalled.

"Chen is responsible for his own actions," Garmadon stated firmly. "And it's his actions that led him here today."

So this was the man who was responsible for her imprisonment. He looked nothing at all like she would have expected, based on all the things she'd heard. "Haven't you done enough by banishing us here?" she asked.

"I'm not here to cause trouble," he answered, lowering his staff. "I'm here to speak to you."

Skylor eyed him suspiciously. He was lowering his guard. She might have better luck, this time around.

Slowly, she stood. She hesitated just a moment, then turned on her heel and tried to make a break for it back up the beach. But she didn't get two steps before she was tripped and landed, once again, flat on her face.

"You'll have to hear me out, first," Garmadon warned.

"Fine," Skylor growled. "I guess I have no choice."

"That's what I came to talk to you about. Unlike your father, you haven't had a chance to make your choice yet, Skylor." The old man approached a nearby by boulder and took a seat. He studied her a moment before saying, "I see you've been trained."

Skylor started brushing sand off her gi. "Of course."

"That's good. That's exactly what I need."

Skylor gave up trying to clean herself – she knew from experience how impossible it was to get sand out of her clothes – and crossed her arms, waiting for him to explain.

"Are you familiar with the Golden Weapons of Spinjitzu?"

Skylor simply nodded, remembering her history lessons with Clouse.

"Then you must know how powerful they are. And what a threat they pose in the hands of an enemy."

Not as powerful as all the elements, Skylor thought, but she knew better than to gloat out loud.

"The weapons, and by extension, all of Ninjago, are in danger."

"Your asking for our help?" Skylor asked, hardly able to believe it. "You're not going to get it."

"I'm asking for your help."

"My help?" she repeated incredulously. "Why would I help you?"

"Because this isn't your punishment." He gestured vaguely to the jungle, the beach, the waves. "This isn't your prison. You shouldn't be held responsible for the things your father has done."

"I don't just stay here because my father can't leave. I stay out of loyalty. It would be wrong of me to leave family behind."

Garmadon shook his head. "Chen is loyal to no one but himself. Being loyal to someone who is unfaithful to you will only bring you harm."

"Don't act like you understand! You know nothing about family or loyalty. I'm not just another one of my father's servants."

"Does he really treat you so differently?"

"Of course!"

"Of course," Garmadon echoed, nodding thoughtfully. "Because he love you. But is it you he really loves, or what you can do?"

Skylor opened her mouth to protest, but then she remembered what her father had said to her earlier. You will be useful, he had said as he held her hands. Because it was her power that was so important, such a vital part of making sure that his tournament went smoothly.

She shook her head, not liking the things Garmadon was making her think. She couldn't imagine turning her back on everything they had built here. "If you really think I would betray my father just like that, then you don't know me as well as you pretend to."

Garmadon shook his head. "No, Skylor, you don't understand. I'm not going to make you tell me anything. You can keep your secrets."

Skylor eyed him suspiciously, but, as far as she could tell, he appeared to be telling the truth. "You must really be desperate."

"In a way, yes. I could always find another Master if need be. But I would rather give you this opportunity and, truthfully, you are the most ideal choice."

"Oh, so I really do have a choice, then?" she snapped. "I was starting to wonder."

Garmadon sighed. "I'm sorry that it's not much of a choice. I wish I could offer you complete freedom, but even if I let you go out on your own, your father will probably come looking for you."

Skylor furrowed her brow, thinking she couldn't have heard him right. "You would still let me go? Even if I don't agree to help you?"

"Of course, if that's what you wanted. But you would be completely alone, and . . ." He gazed deep into the jungle, in the direction of the palace. "I understand that your father's reach is wide." He turned back to her. "No matter what, your father will come looking for you. But if you come with me, you'll have protection. I promise, I wouldn't let him take you against your will."

Protection? From my own father? But Skylor knew he was right. Her father was relentless, and he wouldn't be happy if she ran away.

If she ran away. Was she really considering this?

I want to go, she admitted to herself. But I also don't want to leave!

"I wish I could have come here with a better offer," Garmadon continued. "I know it's not fair to ask you choose like this. But this is all I can give you, Skylor, and I truly wish to help you. You are not guilty of your father's crimes. You don't have to suffer the same sentence."

She didn't even understand what it was he wanted her help with. He just wanted her power as much as her father did. Maybe she really should go off on her own.

Garmadon seemed to sense her hesitation and spoke again. "Look around, Skylor. Your world is so small. You've spent your entire life on this island, and that's all you know. You do what's expected of you, to make others happy. But out there you will have a choice. You can be like your father, if that's what you want, and eventually you will be confronted with the same consequences. But it's your choice. You can be anyone you want to."

Skylor wasn't sure what to say. Her gaze was drawn to the horizon, where the moon hovered above a seemingly endless sea. Truthfully, she'd always been curious to see what lay beyond, but over time, the idea of anything more became like a fantasy. As Garmadon said, this place was her entire world, and that horizon was the end of it.

He was also right that, in this little world, Skylor had never had a choice. She never got to decide what she did or who she was or what her future would be. If this island was her world, then her father was the sun burning at the center of it all, pulling everything into his orbit and refusing to let go. He made every decision for her – just like when he decided that she would never leave.

Skylor clenched her fist. This would probably be the only time she got a chance like this. Her first and biggest decision for her own life.

She let out a deep breath. She lifted her chin and looked Garmadon in the eye. "Okay. I want to know more about this task you need me for, and maybe I'll decide to help you. But I do want to get off this island."

Garmadon seemed to relax a little as she said this. "Good. I'm relieved to hear it." He stood, and for a moment he gazed through the jungle again. The light of her father's palace glowed above the treetops. 

Skylor stepped in front of him. "If I'm going with you, you have to leave my father and his island alone." She didn't know how much Garmadon knew about her father's plans, but even if she wanted to leave, she couldn't let him sabotage everything they'd worked for. She couldn't let him hurt her father.

Garmadon sighed and nodded. "Another problem for another day. Right now there are more pressing matters. Shall we go? Or is there anything you would like to retrieve to bring with you?"

Skylor thought about it. All her possessions would be back at the palace. Most likely, anything she left behind she would never see again. She might be able to pack up her most important belongings and sneak them out without anyone batting an eye. After all, who would question her?

But, it would still be a huge risk. The longer Garmadon stayed here, the more likely it was that someone would find him. And part of her was afraid she would change her mind.

No, if she was going to leave her old life behind, she would have to leave everything. Either Garmadon would provide everything she needed, or she would create a new life all on her own.

Skylor shook her head. "Let's just go. The sooner we leave, the better."

As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Skylor felt a mixture of excitement and regret. Everything was going to change now. But would it be for better or worse?