nya

She gave Misako a small smile as the older woman sat down next to her husband, sweat glistening on her forehead. Misako had been here for nearly a month at this point, yet Nya hadn't spoken to her guardian in what felt like forever. Nya rolled her shoulders, feeling the familiar empty rush at her fingertips and the need to ignore it. It appeared to be a common after effect from using her powers, which, as built up as they were, still only managed to sputter out water in small amounts.

She'd feel like water was rushing to her fingers, and Nya knew there was nothing there yet her body was itching to command something.

"I'm well aware of your impatience, Troya, the Blade Portal is a major issue I believe we will have to counteract quickly. As mentioned before, it is made from the Four Golden Weapons, of which Ninjago was created with. Misako can explain more." Garmadon handed the topic off easily and Misako instantly relaxed, like whenever Nya and Kai were younger and Misako would tell them tales about an explorer on wild adventures through the desert.

"The Golden Weapons were used to create Ninjago and wielded by the youngest of the Seven Deities, the First Spinjitzu Master. It's a common base myth for some, but in simple explanation, the youngest god was given a sort of canvas to play with, and for millennia, he created Ninjago carefully, maturing and aging with knowledge until he finally descended. The tools he was given to carve out this world were gifted by his siblings, divine weapons of great power." Misako looked out of place with a tablet in her hands instead of old parchment, swiping over holographic images of the Golden Weapons projected in the middle of the table.

"They are also known as the Weapons of Creation, giving them immense power. Because of it's divine background, it served as a communication relay for the First Master to communicate with his family. The Blade Portal radiated immense power and attracted many of the greedy. However, to make such a portal, sacrifices must be made. Because the First Master was immortal and a god, he suffered no consequences. But if we are guessing at Wu's plan, each of the weapons required to make the Blade Portal will need one human sacrifice. Per weapon."

Four people to create the Portal? Is Wu really willing to make that sacrifice?

"Okay, I know we've talked about this before, but can't we just bait with Garmadon? Isn't it easier for Wu than rounding up volunteers?" Astra said slowly, not at all concerned about offering up her, well, whatever Garmadon was to her.

"As much as one might point bias to this, I really don't want to bait myself up to my senile, god obessed brother. He has plenty of willing subjects to go around, hell, he could make ten Portals if he wanted to. Wu's the good guy in this. And I don't know about you lot, but I'd much prefer being the bad guys." the Lord bared his teeth, humour dancing in his eyes.

"Well it sounds as if Wu hasn't got the weapons yet. Has he?" Nya voiced her questions, pleased to find the others backing her up. "And if not, where we would find them?"

"Our scouts say he hasn't found them yet, but I suspect again, it's a matter of time. Wu has to handle efforts in the city and make sure everything is running smoothly, keep up his facade and then find time to organise this. We do have reports, however, that he is shifting duties and handing some off to Morro and his Second Harumi."

Garmadon scowled at the mention of Morro, leaving nothing for Harumi. Nya doubted he even knew her before this.

Misako carried on gallantly even though everyone had more questions on the tips of their tongues.

"The Four Golden Weapons are the Sword of Fire, the Nunchucks of Lightning, the Shurikens of Ice and the Scythe of Quakes. You may notice they correspond with four of the elements the Task Force possesses. This is because Kai, Jay, Zane and Cole are the four elements of Creation. Only they can wield the elements to their fullest potential and achieve greatness with them."

"Wu said something about the Creation elements, before we went to the monastery." Cole said, his brow furrowed. "Wow, he really has been planning this for a long time."

"What do you expect? The guy ran a shitty high school and just sat around drinking tea everyday," Astra scoffed.

Misako cleared her throat and shot Astra a look that Nya recognised from her mother. It was the silent, deadly quiet or suffer the consequences at home look. Astra ignored it but stayed silent, her strong opinion lingering in the room. Nya didn't like to think about Wu that much, knowing that if she did, it would lead to a spiral of never ending questions all starting with Why, Wu?

"The Sword of Fire is located in the Fire Temple, south-west of Ninjago City. The Nunchucks of Lightning are directly north in the Floating Ruins, and even further north is the Frozen Wasteland, where the Shurikens of Ice are. The Scythe of Quakes is a little south east, past the monastery the Hunted stayed in, in the Caves of Despair. The Fire Temple and the Frozen Wasteland are probably the furthest, but we can make one easy journey by getting the Nunchucks and Shurikens in one, the Scythe and Sword after that."

Nya watched as Misako matched every location with an image of the weapon and it's biome. The smaller map beside it backed up Misako's points. The Ruins and the Wasteland were in line with each other, but all of the weapons were far out from the city. Maybe it would be safer there, where Wu's power hadn't fully spread yet.

"When are we leaving?" Rema, the new girl, narrowed her eyes as she gazed at the map slowly rotating before them.

"We'd like to leave as soon as possible, however, there are some...complications as to how we should split our time." Garmadon sighed and swiped on his tablet, revealing a four sided holographic cube that played the same video and audio for all sides of the table.

Gayle Gossip smiled at the camera and waved vaguely behind her, the Palace of Secrets shaded in the evening light, the lanterns swaying in the gentle wind. Her iconic pink outfit had been changed a little, Nya noticed the golden dragon curled around the right side of her jacket sleeve and frowned.

"Hi everyone, I'm Gayle Gossip from NGTV, bringing you, our loyal citizens and faithful watchers, up to speed with everything Ninjago! Just announced to media companies, we have received news of the biggest occasion of the month, maybe even the year, the Emperor's Ball! Held in honour of the great Emperor Wu before his official coronation and enthronement, the Emperor's Ball invitations have been sent out to our new VIP's, and a select few from the crowd."

Nya's mouth fell open slightly. This was what the Lord was concerned over? Splitting their time over a silly ball rather than retrieving the Golden Weapons which would change everything? He needed to get his priorities straight. In her mind it was clear. Get the Nunchucks and the Shurkiens first, cross straight down to the Scythe and then to the Fire Temple. Not to mention Nya didn't do balls.

Gossip's voice carried over to an aerial view of the area outside the Palace of Secrets where markets were occasionally held on paved stone areas. "Don't worry, for those not invited, you can enjoy the festivities around the palace and celebrate at home. Taking place in exactly two weeks from now, I'm sure the Emperor's Ball will be the talk of the town, or the city in our case. That's all for now, and I hope your day is as good as ours!"

Hell, she didn't even do proms, because she would rather be hanging out with her friends somewhere else doing something fun like skydiving or going on a run with Ryu. Maybe going to the movies with Jay or looking around his parent's junkyard, which really, he shouldn't be embarrassed of because they had some of the coolest half-inventions and scrap parts lying around. The time she'd visited before all of this mess, she'd really enjoyed herself. She'd felt like a little kid with a new gift scampering on top of towering piles of metal and hood caps enjoying herself.

Misako turned to her husband as soon as the clip finished playing. "Monty, you can't seriously be planning to—"

"Infiltrate the ball?" Garmadon cocked his head at the table. "Why of course, Saki. What else would we do?"

morro

"Over there, Morro, no, over there, stupid boy," his father snapped, rolling his eyes. "Where is Harumi?"

"She's in her bedroom, I believe, Father. She requested privacy to grieve for today." Morro said slowly, letting his hair hang in his eyes.

His father lifted an eyebrow in question.

"It's the anniversary of her parent's death, Father. Her biological, and longer for her adoptive, parents, have been dead for four months. I believe she still holds emotional connection to their upbringing and status. Both sets of parents." Morro winced as he mentioned the parents he'd help kill, but his father snorted dismissively.

"Emotional connections bring you down Morro, remember that. Never get attached to anything or anyone."

"Yes, Father."

One. Cut off all emotional ties to save yourself in the future.

"Are you excited for the Ball, Morro?" His father tilted his head, the rays of warm sunlight shooting straight across his rough-shaven face. Long gone was the white beard Morro had once associated with age and knowledge, leaving a shaven beard on his face. It freed up a lot of his father's face, making his sunken golden eyes seem even further back in his face and his cheekbones sallower.

Everyone Father trusted, which was few people, suffered the same effects from countless nights of staying up and working.

"Yes, Father." Morro attempted to sound excited. "Quite."

"You don't sound excited, Morro."

Morro hurriedly plastered a small smile on his face. It's tough work, he wanted to say, I haven't slept in weeks. Instead, he said "Work should come before the extremities of life, like you've always said Father. I want to concentrate on finishing the reconstruction of the temples."

Satisfied, his father glanced around the throne room that was slowly coming together. Morro hated this room. He hated the memories, the tightness of the gas mask over his face, shallow, nervous breathes, hated how shaky his hand had been before killing Harumi's parents, hated the burning lens of the camera in his hands, setting it down, watching the room fill with poisonous gas to make sure the Emperor and his wife were truly dead.

"You may leave, Morro."

Bowing respectfully, Morro took a step back and bent over, his feet stuck together, and swept his arm grandly.

"Thank you, Father."

o o o

Morro didn't allow himself to relax as soon as he left the throne room. He didn't even stop to rest until he was inside his own suite, sagging against the door as he drew in a shaky, long breath and pressed his face into his hands.

One. Cut off all emotional ties to save yourself in the future.

He stood on wobbly legs to search the small kitchen adjacent to his room and found an extra-large cup of instant noodles. Curry flavour, his favourite as always. That flavour had been the one consistent thing in his life for, well, forever. Growing up an orphan in Stiix, a dead cheap neighbourhood, meant that his diet had consisted of a lot of fast, cheap and salty foods.

The best part of having just enough money and wind powers was that he could heat the water himself by gathering a wind current and swirling the water fast enough it would boil. The kettle whistled softly and Morro grimaced as he poured the water into the cup, followed by the packet of spices. The strong aroma no longer made his eyes water, he was used to the smell and the deliciousness that followed.

As he waited for the noodles to cook, Morro hopped onto the counter and craned his neck around to stare out of his window. His room was on the third floor of the palace, offering a pretty view of a small courtyard below. Red trees recently imported from Jamanakai Village were still growing in their roots, a few branches covering his window as the sun danced the red tinted light inside his room.

Morro grabbed a fork as he guessed correctly that the noodles were cooked and began eating, his gaze fixated on the servants scurrying in and out of the courtyard. Some struggled with a towering pile of towels and napkins, ducking under the low set beams on the exits, others were carrying trays of food and steaming dishes towards the lower rooms.

He himself had escorted a few of the new guests and members of his father's council to the palace. Apparently his presence as the Master of Wind satisfied their safety precautions, even though Morro had pointed out they may be adverse to elemental powers in whole. His father had not reacted to his doubts well, and Morro had been proven wrong upon shaking hands with the new officials and whiplash across his back. Seeing them treat his element as the superior, talk down the Hunted Seven and commend him for his efforts was a maddening experience.

His father truly had done the job well.

In fact, it was only cemented by the destruction the Seven and Garmadon had unleashed upon the city, and the small, public viewed reparations that were made by the Saviours, the team that had saved the city. Not once did the people question where they were during the battle, only admiring their respectful clean up jobs after.

Morro finished his noodles and chucked the cup into the bin, tearing his eyes away from the room directly across from his, only the courtyard separating them.

Harumi.

He knew she was lying about grieving for her parents. Her adoptive ones, at least. She was the one that killed them after all. Killed them, cleaned up the evidence, returned to hanging out with Tox and Morro who had accounted for her, came back and screamed like a banshee. Pulled off grieving for them so well if he hadn't known himself that she'd sliced their throats much easier than he had killed her birth parents.

He also knew she hated the Mayor and his wife, really hated everything about them. If there was one thing Morro had learnt about Harumi, it was that she was a skilled liar. It was effortless for her, a struggle for Morro, even though they both had blood on their hands.

So, so, much blood.

Harumi was too good at this. So good, Morro, who usually knew why everyone supported Wu, had no idea what her motive was. Maybe it was being lied to about her bio parents, or being mistreated and posed as a doll by her adoptive parents. Maybe she just liked the chaos.

Spare time wasn't really a thing at the Palace of Secrets nowadays. There was always something to do, someone to help, assist, never a moment to catch your breath unless his father said he could. When his father said you may leave, Morro knew it translated more to train until I need you.

Two. Train until you don't fail.

That led to three.

Don't fail. You know better.

Morro grabbed his training bag and set off through a maze of corridors and stairs towards the large gymnasium located on an underground floor underneath the main section of the palace. The royal red and gold theme carried even underground in much subtler tones. It became more modern the further down you went as well, something Morro was surprised to find.

Although the palace was fitted out with top tech security, improved by Cyrus Borg, the majority of the structure and build itself was very old and needed to be reinforced to really achieve top safety. However, his father was determined to not do this, in fact, he had argued against the more recent additions to the security in favour of employing more guards.

His father wanted to go back to the glory days when the Seven Deities were worshipped on the same level as the Emperor. But as always, Father wanted more. He wanted to be equal on a level no one had managed before, simply because he demanded it was his birthright. As the son of the youngest god, it seemed logical to his father. His father's plans were only revealed to Morro one step ahead of the next move, because his father, even though Morro was his son, said he trusted him, knew he couldn't truly trust anybody.

It wasn't a nice feeling, knowing your father was too caught up in his plans to trust you.

He himself was otherwise occupied with preparations for the Emperor's Ball. Morro and Harumi had been assigned to take care of the majority of the Ball, ranging from activities to food to decorations. He was having his doubts about the necessity of the Ball, because surely he should be returning to overseeing the old temples being rehabilitated. They were essential to garner good spirit and energy before creating the Blade Portal, and even then, the details released to him were sparse.

Morro would rather not dabble in the spiritual divine stuff and focus on the stuff he could see with his eyes. That, he knew, could be proved when the Blade Portal was constructed. But that meant retrieving the Golden Weapons from their hidden locations, of which only two copies existed. One in the digital database in the SOG, the other, with them. It concerned Morro that the Sons of Garmadon also had access to the map and information regarding the Weapons, but his father was relaxed about it.

When he'd worked up to courage to question his father, all he had said was;

"I have a special surprise, boy, don't fret. I have a few old...scaled friends to call in."

His father said that it was simply a race, whoever got there first would win, and that his 'special surprise' would slow them down. Morro would have liked to know what this surprise was since this was a major issue that was constantly egging him. Why the ball? They could leave right now and get to the Weapons before the Seven and make the Portal.

He just wanted to do this the easy way, because he knew the more struggle the Seven put up, the happier his father would be when they lost.

Because Wu Garmadon never, ever, lost.

Four. There is no such thing as losing.

—

A/N: This chapter is a lot shorter than the last one by maybe six hundred words, for some reason I was really struggling and didn't want to add a third pov. Anyways, you've now received a pov from Morro! Will you get more from him in the future? Yes! Will you potentially get a Harumi pov? Yes to that as well!

This chapter's song is 'daddy issues' by the Neighbourhood

This chapter's Q is: If you could have an elemental power, what would yours be?

My A: Either Astra's or Skylor's. Skylor's is just hella op but I'm working on making it a bit harder for her in this book since she's just op, and Astra is my oc ofc I'm biased.

-dommie out