A/N Long chapter that I didn't split. Sorry for the wait!

Harumi's POV

My body rests against the earth. The moisture of the grass soaks the back of my clothes as I stare up at the orange and blue sea of the early morning sky. The frigid air chills my lungs as I deeply inhale, yet I let out a sigh of contentment at the feeling. It shows that I'm alive.

I lie in the field between our property and the forest. Being around someone every day for over six centuries will make anyone crabby with said person on occasion, so Lloyd and I have worked in an hour at the beginning of every day to just be alone. This is my break from everything, immersing myself in the tranquility of the forest. Death can strike at any moment. Appreciating the little things should be a priority.

Life is full of variables outside of our control. Every living thing on the planet is one, and even unliving things are variables. We can only manipulate so many variables before everything crumbles beneath our feet. Letting things outside of our control determine important decisions in our lives for a long time is idiotic.

My hands rest below my belly button before a fusion between a sigh and groan escapes my lips. My eyes close in response. I need time to refocus my brain onto my current situation and not my ideal life.

"One day...one day I can bring you into this world." Behind my eyelids, a sweet, soft hand reaches up to delicately grab my nose. The owner of the squishy little hand stares at me with their bright green eyes, evoking a warmth in my chest. My skin can feel their light form, their smooth skin.

My eyes dart open. I'm drawn back to reality. My chest empties slightly at the revelation.

The past 600 years have taught me the importance of unity and support. Had Lloyd or I been alone, neither of us would have survived. Our support was essential to the other's survival. Lloyd was essential to my survival.

I would do anything for him. I abandoned my kingdom, fought my guards, and became a criminal to be with him. He's my person. I've known that for a long time. I want to expand on that more. I want to expand on us more.

Constantly being on the run is tiring. Moving from town to town, using fake names, watching our backs at all times, it's both mentally and physically draining. It would be nice if we could just stop for once and truly enjoy our lives.

While most people are given the chance to settle down, Lloyd and I were denied the luxury. However, as the years go on, less and less people look for us. Less and less people are suspicious of us. Less and less people even think about what happened. After centuries, things are finally starting to die down.

We're engaged, but we haven't been able to get married because we can't use our actual names or else we would be figured out (a fact unbeknownst to the town we work in). We're legal citizens of Ninjago, but we can't indulge in the benefits because it would get us caught. We're kind to everyone, but we keep everyone at a distance, so they can't figure out our secret. A normal life isn't an option for us.

We need to take control of it. We will never have the perfect chance to do anything, but we'll always have chances. Only a few chances will ever come up, so we need to make them count. Considering everything is slowing down and we'll never have a "good moment" to do it, we should start our family now. It's time to settle down. It's our turn.

I've tried to convince Lloyd of this on multiple occasions, but every time I suggest it, he shuts it down automatically. "It's not time. I won't have a kid before they can feel safe in this world."

His reasoning is flawed. If we aren't actively trying to clear our names, then how will our names ever get cleared? We either need to take charge and clear our names - something that I doubt either of us will be able to do - or move on with our lives. Running forever will take all of the living out of life. He's convinced we just need to make it through until the end of all our struggles, all of our pain. There easily could never be an end.

I bet some of the others have settled down. There is no way that none of them have passed on their powers by now. There's a possibility that any of them (besides Zane) have kids now. Zane is a robot; I'm not sure how robot anatomy works, but I doubt one could impregnate a human. Kai easily could have hooked up with a girl after my darling older sister disappeared which could have easily led to an accidental child. Plus, both Cole and Jay could have found their soulmates. The odds that they're all still the elemental masters of creation are low.

Seeing as my brain drew me from my tranquility, I push up from the ground, a light layer of moisture and soil covering my palms. My feet carry me back towards our property, the hills of color flooding my vision with their beauty. As I walk next to the flowers, I feel my frustration drop again. Bright red roses sit beside my feet. I squat down to admire them closer.

However, as I go to examine the petals, there's a faint flash of green in the distance. It quickly disappears. My focus is now on that area, and when it happens again, the corners of my lips are pulled upwards.

Deciding quickly, I make my way down the path to where I saw the flash. The closer I get, the brighter it is, and the happier I get. He's finally using his powers again for something other than keeping me alive. The thought makes me so proud.

Once I turn the corner, the air is stolen from my lungs. My fiancé's blonde hair is pulled back by a green headband. Beads of sweat slowly drip down to his bare, defined chest, arms, and abs, giving him a nice shine and emphasizing his physique. Our shared dragon tattoo sprawls up his arm, glowing green as he uses his powers.

His eyebrows are furrowed as he uses his finger to draw energy from the tree, a green string of light emerging from it and entering his finger. Then, he conjures a green, glowing orb in between his hands. He throws it back at the tree with a grunt to restore the energy that he took. The sight makes me weak in the knees.

Sensing my presence, he turns his head to spot me. "Oh, Rumi, didn't know you were there," he awkwardly laughs. "I was meaning to tell you I started up again, and..."

I rush towards him. My arms find their way around his torso. Even though my clothes become saturated with his sweat, I keep holding onto him. "I'm so proud of you. This is a big step."

He lets out a sigh of contentment, wrapping his arms around me and leaning down to rest his head on mine. "After giving you energy and life for so long, I realized that I don't only have to take energy from things. I can take life, but I can also give it. It's still a lot for me to handle after not practicing for so long, but I'm working through it."

His words light me up inside. I lean back before standing on my tiptoes to press my lips against his. He lets out a hum before his strong hands grab onto my waist and bring me closer to him. Heart pounding, my hands find their way to the back of his hair where I run my fingers through it. The kiss is passionate and slow, our lips moving in a calm, meaningful rhythm together. After he pulls away, he places a kiss on my forehead.

However, worry is deeply rooted in his green eyes. He's holding something back. I can tell. "What are you hiding? You know I can see right through you," I call him out, my hands still running through his hair.

"Nothing."

"Lloyd," I counter. He sighs.

"The unnatural elemental masters are supposed to be in the area soon. They're trying to capture the girl that talked to us at our shop, the one who was looking for me," he explains, but I can still tell he isn't sharing everything.

"And?"

"And I feel like I need to help stop them," he explains. I let go of him and cross my arms.

"They don't deserve your help. Plain and simple," I bluntly state.

"I'm destined to lead the elemental masters of creation to save Ninjago..."

"Your destiny changed 628 years ago. We both know that."

"But what if it didn't? What if it was meant to be now? Think about it. This could clear our names for good, and we could finally move back to the city," he elaborates on his thought process.

"We could have the same life out here as we would in the city. No one is there for us anymore," I try to convince him. "These people are dangerous, Lloyd. The stakes are too high. It would be a waste of your life to lose it fighting for the same people who tried to ruin it. We got a second chance. PIXAL and Zane and Kai and Skylor didn't. We need to play with the hand we were dealt, not try to steal some more cards."

"This is what I was made for, Rumi," he softly tells me, reaching out and sandwiching one of my hands between the two of his. "If the unnatural elemental masters win, they'll come looking for me. Then, our lives would really be ruined. I think this is the only option."

"Even you can't take them all on by yourself. They're resilient. If you try to fight them with only that girl on your side, you're going to lose. You need the guys."

"I know that. That's why I'm back here training and not out there fighting. She's trying to find them while I get stronger," he explains.

"Lloyd, please don't do this," I implore him, now taking his hands in mine. "We have everything we need here. We can't risk it."

I know he won't change his mind. Lloyd is the most selfless person I know. He would do anything to save Ninjago, to save anyone for that matter. "People like us could lose their loved ones. They could hurt you, Rumi." His determination is clear. He isn't going to give up.

"When do you want to leave?" I cave.

"Not now. We can relax for a bit. No more going into town though. It'll just be the two of us here until it is time to go. We have time. She's still gathering the others, and they're hidden pretty well."

"You know that I'm going with you, right? If you thought that I was going to let you walk out of here without me..."

"I wouldn't think of it. We're a team, and we'll always be."

---

Seliel's POV

My body rests against the soft, satin sheets of my bed. The joints of my knees and ankles throb, the aching sensation traveling up my calves and quads. My toes and the balls of my feet swell. Letting out a groan, I grumble, "I hate high heels soooo much."

My teachers forced me to wear heels all day. I've had to walk - and run- in them to the point where my legs could basically no longer function. It was horrible, but the plus side is that they let me out of my lessons early. Although, even after resting for an hour, I'm still not back to where I was.

This break from the constant push of being a princess is nice though. There's nothing I need to be doing. Decluttered, my mind can wander. I let it reign free, drifting from possible ways to screw with Ms. Flickens to the man currently training new soldiers out in the courtyard.

The stereotype in literature that a strong woman cannot have a love interest or like feminine things is one of the dumbest things ever. The fact that a woman can be a strong individual and not be deterred by emotions is a lesson that little girls need. While you don't need a man to complete you, being open to those potential options is an important part of life. I can still be a badass while having a soft spot for my guard. There's no crime in that.

I can't tell how Cole feels about me. I've never seen him around another girl, so I have nothing to compare it to, but I like to think that he has a soft spot for me. He sometimes slips in little comments that make my stomach go wild. There's no way he doesn't do that on purpose.

"And people say girls are complicated. Pfft," I roll onto my side as I close my eyes. Closing my eyes is beyond calming, letting me use the energy to process it all on reviving my legs.

I let myself enjoy the tranquility. There's nothing to worry about. Yeah, our elemental army was recently captured by the bad guys, but Cole assured me that he wasn't going to let anything happen to me and the kingdom. Plus, the unnatural elementals haven't even touched the capital, interestingly enough. They haven't even come close. Everyone is stumped, especially since they aren't even taking over towns. They're traveling through them, sure, but they haven't looted or seized anything. They're only causing chaos.

When I hear my door slightly creak open, my eyes stay shut. "Princess," Cole's voice quietly hums. I decide that I want to have some fun. Instead of responding, my eyes remain sealed. "Princess," he repeats.

When I don't budge, he sighs, gently closing the door behind him and tip-toeing (his steps sure are soft) over to me. The bed gently dips beside me as he sits down. "Princess, it's time to wake up," he softly informs me, fondness lacing his voice. Still, I don't move.

His hand cups my shoulder, filling me with an undeniable warmth. He gently shakes my body in an attempt to wake me up without starling me.

I grumble, pretending to slightly stir. Even though I was planning on suddenly jumping up and startling him, this is a lot more fun. I slightly crack my eyes open. He looks down on me, a small smile on his face. "I'm guessing your class was tiring?"

"My legs hurt so bad," I complain, throwing in a yawn for safe measures.

He glances down at my swollen feet, "You should ice those," he advises.

A sigh escapes my lips, "I know, but the kitchen was so far away, and there's no way I was walking anywhere with these bad boys feeling how they do."

He glances at the door, "I'd take you there now, but the King requested you. He said it was urgent."

"Did he say why he needs me?" I dig, but he shakes his head. His mop of hair follows his head, whipping through the air.

"No, but he pulled me from the training yard to come get you, so it must be important," his words make me groan.

"I hate the sound of that," I admit. Rubbing my eyes, I sit up on the bed, so I'm next to him.

"It'll be fine. I doubt it's anything major."

"I can hope. Will you help me walk? Putting pressure on these babies will ensure pain for a looong time," I wiggle my toes. His laughter fills the room.

"Of course. Do you want me to carry you?" he offers.

My heart nearly leaps out of my chest at the offer. It's hard to conceal my excitement. Not only will I be close to him, but I also won't have to be in as much pain. It's a win win. "Yeah sure, I appreciate it," I say coolly.

As if I'm just a feather, he effortlessly scoops me off of my feet. I'm taken off guard by the ease of his movements. One hand supports my knee, the other cradling my back. I wrap my arms around the nape of his neck as I look at him in awe. "How are you so strong?"

"I'm not that strong. Besides, training the recruits is a lot of exercise. I probably built it up overtime without noticing," he bashfully brushes off my comment. He carefully carries me out of the room, making sure his steps are light and delicate to prevent jolting me.

The gentle power of his movement is so unique. Cole is the epitome of the gentle giant, the guy that scares strangers but is secretly in love with flowers. He's comfortable in his own skin, knowing how to control everything while exuding confidence and surety. It's alluring.

As we travel through the halls, we receive several judgy glares from our staff. One lady audibly scoffs. Her eyes roll to the back of her head while she carries laundry. I go to snap at her, but Cole whispers, "It's not worth it. If she knew that your feet were hurting, she wouldn't be so mad."

"But she was rude for no reason. My mode of transport is none of her business," I argue, wiggling my toes in her direction even though she can't see me anymore. "I'm not even going to be the queen, so she really has no grounds to even think of criticizing me." When I look up at him, he's already looking down at me. His smile is full of amusement. "What's so funny?"

"You just care so much about what a random woman thinks about you. Have you ever talked to her?"

"Well no... but what if she starts spreading rumors about me, and then it gets back around to the people I know?" I reason.

"The people who are worth it will either ask you about it or not believe it. If people don't want your side of the story, then you shouldn't be close to them. Trust me, I've faced more than my fair share of rumors about me. I let them bother me for a long time. It reaches a point where it just doesn't matter though. You know who you are, and that's what's important."

"You really have your shit together. You sure you're only in your twenties?" I joke. He lets out a laugh at my comment.

"My life has felt really long. That's for sure," he gently sets me down as we reach the door to the throne room. Once my feet touch the ground, I yelp. "Do you need help walking? I just assumed you wouldn't want me to carry you in front of the king."

"I'll be fine," the door in front of me is constructed purely out of gold. It reflects the light. It's polished every morning, so it's extra shiny. My own reflection is visible in the gold. The brown waves that frame my face are slightly messy from lying on my bed. Quickly adjusting them so I'm more presentable, I shoot Cole a quick thumbs up. At my order, he opens the door for me.

The throne room is the second largest room in the whole castle (following the ballroom of course). The ceilings are several hundred feet above the ground, making the entire room feel even more spacious. Golden pillars line the walkway to the thrones, statues of all of our past leaders marking the spaces in between them. At the end of my walkway, my brother and father sit at two thrones next to each other. However, their brows are slightly furrowed, their lips pursed. Something is wrong.

"What's wrong? Are the unnatural elemental masters nearing the palace?" I immediately assume from their expressions.

"No, no that's not it," Sebastian tells me, but there's something heavier in his voice. I can't identify what it is. Guilt? Remorse? Disappointment?

"What is it? Just tell me," I place my hands on my hips, my eyes scanning between the two.

"Please don't freak out," Seb prefaces.

"That's not helping. If anything, that'll stress me out more."

"As you know, our elemental army is compromised. We don't know where they are; they can't help us. We're essentially defenseless," my father explains. I raise an eyebrow, urging him to keep going. "Other realms have seen our dire situation, and some have offered to help. Without them, we have no protection. Their help comes at a cost though..." he pauses. An eerie silence takes over the room.

"What's the cost?" I ask with urgency. Neither of them answer. "Tell me."

"One of their leaders...he wants your hand in marriage," I'm informed.

"You said no right?" I ask between them. Neither of them can meet my eyes. "Tell me."

"We had no choice. The plan never was to marry you off..." everything crashes down around me. The future life I always envisioned suddenly vanishes. Cole and I in a cute little house where he can train future knights fades away. It's replaced with a sad, empty life spent sitting wordlessly beside a man that only wants me for my youth. Tears prickle in my eyes as my knees get weaker. My chest feels as if it's going to suffocate itself, constricting itself into a tight little ball.

"That shouldn't even be an option!" I snap, my shoulders starting to shake as the situation starts to kick in. Within seconds, tears start to spill from my cheeks. A series of words just took everything from me. I can no longer have freedom. "I'm not just a pawn, something to be traded. I'm your daughter," I point at my dad, "and your sister," I point at my brother. "You didn't even ask me. This is my choice too! You shouldn't have made that deal!"

"And if we didn't, what would have happened? Do you want us to let the unnatural elemental masters take over the land? We can't put the needs of one over the needs of the many, even if it's your needs. It's the duty of a ruler to put the people first," my dad tries to reason, but his words go in one ear and out the other.

I look over at Cole to try to get some sort of comfort, but it makes it worse. For the first time since my 16th birthday, I see something other than confidence. His skin is void of color, disbelief across his face. Fear and unsurety dominate his eyes. A hint of anger can also be seen in his clenched fists.

"Your future husband is the king of Trummeria. He truly is a nice man, and he's only thirty. That doesn't make him that much older than you," my brother tries to comfort me, but I ignore him. Dropping to my knees, I turn into even more of a mess. My hands cover my face as my entire body shakes. Teardrops spill from my eyes like they're a waterfall. The waves of brown hair that I fixed before I walked in now cover my face, blocking me from the two of them. Adding onto the already excruciating pain in my legs, my entire body feels like it's on fire. My body is a physical manifestation of my internal pain.

"Sel..." Sebastian starts, his voice soft and filled with remorse.

My head snaps up to glare at him. "D-don't talk to me," I sniffle with anger. Another dense silence absorbs the room. Until my father decides to speak up.

"Oh, Cole, once Seliel gets married, she won't need your services anymore. However, after hearing how well you did with Seliel, King Vangelis is hoping that you could take over and be Princess Vania's personal guard," he informs Cole, piercing through my heart from millions of different directions. Instead of the sadness I felt earlier, this makes me clench my jaw and stand up off the ground.

"Oh fuck no," I angrily growl at my father.

"Watch your language."

"You can't take Cole away from me! You're already stripping me of my choice, and now you're taking away one of the only people in this world I'm close to? That's sick, that's..." I fume, laying into both of them. My hand reaches out and grabs Cole's wrist, keeping him close to me

"Princesses never keep their guards once they're married. It's been like that forever," Sebastian tries to explain.

"All of this is cause we don't have anyone to protect Ninjago from the unnatural elementals, correct?" Cole verifies, his voice is strained while talking for the first time in this entire interaction. I glance over at him while wiping some of the tears off of my cheeks. I can only wonder what's going on in his mind right now because I know mine is a jumbled, confused, crushed, furious mess.

"Yes, why?"

"If I were to find a way to defeat them, Seliel wouldn't have to marry that man, and everything would stay how it is, right?" his question confuses me yet gives me hope at the same time. He won't give up.

"As long as it doesn't hurt the people, I see no problem with that," my brother looks over at our father for confirmation.

"Do you think you can? Tell me the truth," my father stares at cool, looking for any dishonesty.

I find myself standing even closer to Cole, a new hope in my system at his words. I watch his eyes as he convincingly states, "I know I can. Just give me a bit of time."

A/N Oooo dang, things are moving people! Llorumi is unofficially officially on board! Cole though...yikes that's tough

thoughts on the chapter?

updates might be slow for a little bit. it's college application season, so I'm going to be a biiiiiiiit busy. I'll always try to make time though

Any predictions?

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