the spirit was looking at where the portal once was, not knowing what to do as reader went inside.
In the meantime time the ninjas and reader's friends were looking at the Preeminent in pure shock "Whaaat is that thing?" Kai questioned, his gaze on the giant being in fron of them "She's the Preeminent, the physical manifestation of the entire curse realm" Zane answered as he looked towards his other teammates from inside his machine "I know one thing, she ain't pretty" Cole tried to make a light joke but obviously no one laughed, too engrossed in what they're witness "ewww gross, I'm about to lose my lunch" Jay said purely disgusted "if we can't stop that, we might lose Ninjago!" Nya said, fully realising the gravity of the situation and tried to attack the Preeminent with her water powers but it didn't work as one of its tentacles went to attack Kai, and soon everyone tried using their own elemental powers against it but it was only in vain "she didn't even notice that" Zane said in surprise while jay was driving his vehicle to get back to them and away from the tentacle chasing him "aw I hate unbeatable creatures!".
In the meantime Wu, Misako and Ronin were trying to get everyone out of town "hurry on board!" Ronin said while keeping guard, holding a sword in case any ghost tries to attack "this way" Wu said calmly as he and Misako were standing next to the boat, until she noticed something "look! It's Lloyd!" She said happy, thinking it was her son until Ronin realised who it was instead "that's not Lloyd" "it's Morro" Wu finished Ronin's sentence as Morro was laughing , while holding the crystal realm "you were wrong about me Sensei, . You said destiny didn't want me to be the green ninja , but I make my OWN destiny and now yours is coming to an end!". Wu took a defensive stand, holding his staff at him "you unleashed this scourge and it won't stop until it's cursed all 26 realms", I trained you to be a ninja who protects, NOT one who destroys!" "You made me believe I was TJ become the green ninja!now I AM" then suddenly the Preeminent's tentacle grabbed Misako and pulled her up in the air as she called Wu's name in fear "the more souls tye Preeminent takes! The bigger she gets! Say goodbye to your loved ones and say goodbye to Ninjago!" Morro said, feeling like he had won.
The ninjas were still trying to fight off the Preeminent "if there's a moment to unlock your true potential, now is the time sis!" Kai said to Nya as she lands next to him "oh yes, let me just flip the switch, oh wait I'm not an android! I don't have a switch!" She said frustrated both from her brother's comment and the situation they were in "if ghost detest deepstone, maybe it's the same with her" Zane suggested while Cole gets an idea "my bike is made of deepstone, cover me!" He said as he went to go pick up speed for his bike. At the same time Strymyr has almost finished his bombs, using a spear he intentionally made for reader for later but for now is using for himself, Namir and Phytios protecting each other's backs as they fire arrows and bullets "where the hell is Reader!?" Phytios asked in almost panic. Just then, Cole threw his bike inside the Preeminent's mouth but it did nothing "well, that was a waste of a good bike" he said said as everyone went back to fight the Preeminent.
In the meantime Reader landed inside the Preeminent and walked around until she saw Garmadon "... Garmadon?" She asked in surprise at seeing him "you're alive?", he opened his eyes and sees her "my daughter...what are you doing here?" He asked as he was chained by the wrists. She looked around "where am I?" She asked as she turned town him "you're inside the Preeminent's belly, she's the cursed realm and the cursed realm it's her" he explained. "No, no...I need to get out of here, Morro has the crystal realm and Lloyd and the others are fighting him off. And you need to get out of here too" she said as she pased around the place, trying to find a solution "it's no use, we're stu-" "WE'RE NOT STUCK HERE! LLOYD NEEDS YOU, WU NEEDS YOU, MISAKO NEEDS YOU, YOUR FAMILY NEEDS YOU AND I REFUSE TO LET YOU ROT IN HERE!" She interrupted him before an idea came inside her head. She sat down and put herself in a meditation position, focusing on the energy flowing inside her hand and making it flow through her body.
From outside the spirit stopped pacing around the shack and felt reader's intentions from inside the Preeminent "..no...she wouldn't, especially knowing the consequences" it said in shock.
Reader was focusing on her powers when she felt herself falling deep in her headspace. She got up and turned around before seeing a bigger and more mature version of herself (think of aang when from avatar teg last aidbender) . She took a deep breath and walked towards the hands of the figure, of herself but hesitate at the last steps towards her bigger self's chest, contemplating her choice, thinking of what might happen but then remembers what has been happening on the outside, in the real world, everyone risking their lives: her friends, the ninjas, Lloyd and anyone who is brave enough to help them risking their lives to protect their loved ones and so, she took her last step and went inside the chest.
Suddenly her whole body started to glow as a bubble surrounded her before she steps out of it, looking at Garmadon as he stood there in absolute shock: reader's whole body has grown into what could be around Lloyd's now age but definitely taller and muscles more defined, her entire body glowing , eyes still visible as strands of energy came out of them and flowing put.
She turned towards Garmadon and picked him up, breaking the chains in the meantime and then held up her hand, creating a portal for the outside world. She tightened her grip on Garmadon and jumped inside the portal, landing on the floor of Stiix. She gently laid him on the ground "stay here" she said to him before standup up and looking at the Preeminent "no...Reader.." Garmadon looked at her in concern and worry for whatever she had in mind. She felt the spirit's presence near them and turned towards it, showing the determination on her face, and when the spirit finally nodded at her, she ran towards where the ninjas and her friends were "READER!" Garmadon tried to call her but she was already gone from sight. Upon arriving there, at high speed, she stopped and looked at the scenery of the battle.
Jay looked at her and was confused "whoa who's that?" He asked confused before narrowly escaping another tentacle "hold on.... THAT'S MY SISTER!" Lloyd said as he was busy fighting Morro but still shocked at seeing her there when she was supposed to be with dr.Borg at home, "WHAT?!" Everyone said in shock, the only ones amazed by her were Strymyr, Namir and Phytios "well damn, she really is something else" the latter said as he shoots another arrow at a ghost.
Reader took a deep breath before she grew herself to be bigger, stepping into the water and getting ready to fight off the Preeminent, getting in battle station and focusing on keeping the Preeminent's focus on her.
After getting the last civilian safe the ninjas and Lloyd went on board of the boat and went to look at the Preeminent and Reader, worried but having fate in her that she knows what she's doing.
The Preeminent went to attack reader with its tentacles but she grabbed them and destroyed them with her powers, no longer of darkness but now radiating light. She gave a kick to the side of the Preeminent and managed kick off balance, but yells when her leg got grabbed and she was pulled into the water, her back hitting the shoreline. Nya stood there on the boat with everyone else and decided to try and help Reader up by focusing her energy into making a giant wave to weaken the Preeminent.
When that worked Reader shook off the water off herself and kicked the Preeminent again and again into the water, stomping on it multiple times before looking at her hands, slowly creating a ball on light big enough and then, she blasted the Preeminent with said ball of light, temporarily blinding everyone before the light faded.
Just when the Preeminent was finally defeated it started to grab all the ghosts down with her as it was sinking down in the water. It grabbed Morro, who was trying to escape once he noticed he was losing, but he tried to fight it off in vain, not wanting to be dragged down and killed off.
Just when he was getting near the water, Reader, having made herself smaller again grabbed him, fight the grip the Preeminent's have on him with all her might and looked at him "why? Why are you saving me?" Morro asked in confusion and surprise at her gesture "...cause I know what it feels like to be wronged by the people you love...but I also know that you can continue living on through your hurt." She said to him, tightening her grip on his arm "it's too late" he said to her, feeling defeated and giving up on himself "it's never too late to redeem yourself...hey Morro?" She looked at him, eyes sparkling with a sense of determination as she got an idea but also sadness "what?" He said as he was looking at the expression on her face "promise you'll take care of Lloyd for me, and not blame yourself" she said with a small smile. He looks confused and before he could answer she finally pulled him out of the Preeminent's grip and let out a final blast of energy towards the entity.
The light of her attack blinded everyone again for a moment until it faded away once more. Just as the ninjas were uncovering their eyes, the final form of Reader was standing in front of them: her already glowing body was now purely white covered in golden marks and eyes no longer visible, purely white as the energy was flowing out of them and hair floating.
She was holding a human Morro as the latter was looking at himself, trying to understand that he was really alive now. "Morro?" Wu asked as he took a hesitant step towards him. Morro looked at Wu, reluctant in wanting to see him, especially now after the battle ended "go... you should reconcile with your master" reader said in a neutral and calm voice. Morro looked at her before walking towards Wu,and once he reached him he looked at the ground "I'm so sorry, I was so consumed by hate and resentment that...I couldn't see anything else" he apologised to him and everyone else on the ship. Reader took a step forward and looked at everyone"Morro has redeemed himself, he's no longer a threat and he has found reason, if anyone object you better tell me now" she looked around at everyone, and once she didn't notice a protest she turned around and went to walk away "wait!".
Reader turned her head around and saw how Lloyd has took a step towards her "reader...what you did, it was amazing! How come you never told me that you could do that?" He asked as he looks at his sister "I have no idea what you are speaking of green ninja, I know of no Reader, I am the embodiment of light, I am light itself and everything that comes with it, but I do hope you find her" she said to him. Lloyd looked at her confused and surprised "what? What are you talking about? You're Reader! You're my sister, my twin!" He said to her in pure shock and starting to feel a sense of dread "I will not repeat myself green ninja, I do not know you or this Reader you speak of. Now, I must go, I sure hope you and your team will be alright but I have done what I needed to do and now I'm leaving" she said bowing her head before walking to the edge of the boat "Reader? Sweetie?" Misako tried to get through her, looking at her with soft eyes and sadness "it's me, Mama". Reader didn't even bother turning to look at her "i have no mother" she said before she disappears in the air, at the same the first rays of sun started to light up the village of Stiix.
Everyone was looking at each other in surprise, but no one was looking more shocked than Lloyd, who was trying to process what just happened before his body gave up on him and he falls on the floor, feeling like his legs were jelly. While everyone went to comfort him, from inside the boat Strymyr, Namir and Phytios were crying in each other's arms, all of them have lost their best friend and felt like they couldn't do anything to bring her back. Garmadon, having been there too, was in too much shock, both at being alive again and what Reader has become, and, without knowing how to handle this, decided to go comfort Lloyd, kneeling next to him and hugging him close.
A few days later, Lloyd was literally dragged to reader's funeral as the other ninjas and reader's friends were standing there, hold candles that have been lit in honour of her., Lloyd, Misako and Garmadon holding the bigger candles . Silence surrounded everyone around them, no one daring to speak as everyone could see the toll the past few days had on Lloyd, who looked numb and not fully there.
Strymyr, Namir and Phytios stoop there with some stuff of Reader: a blanket, some games and the spear Strymyr made for her that will never be touched by the hands it was forged for. All three of them standing to the side, wearing her favourite accessories: Strymyr was wearing her necklace, Namir her ring (which can become bigger the more the one who wears it grows up) and Phytios her bracelet. All three of them were refusing to look at anyone as they all shared the same feeling of anger and resentment: it was Lloyd's fault she was gone.
Morro, in the meantime, stood aside, very far away from them, to prevent Lloyd from seeing him and attacking him again like he did in the previous days, due to his grief and anger. He knew what he promised reader but he couldn't help but feel like everything was his fault and none of this wouldn't be happening if he accepted that he wasn't going to be the green ninja and didn't try to get revenge on the ninjas.
After the funeral, Lloyd went back to reader's room, looking at all the stuff that belonged to her and all the achievements he disregarded or didn't help her with, feeling like he was the worst brother, no, twin, of all times, laying down on reader's bed, her relatively small bed due to his height. He curled himself into a ball as he went under the covers and clung to the covers, too tired to even cry or sleep, holding onto her bracelet she made for him when they were 10, when they just found out he was the green ninja but were still close to one another, but he has never worn until now, silently vowing himself a promise "I will find you...and once I do..."
"I'll never leaving you alone ever again"
And I'm finally done with S1 of my Ninjago series! Like and comment what you liked most about this series and I'm open to ideas for S2, comment or leave it in my inbox, I am FLOODED with oral tests and written tests in school but I'll try and find a way to continue writing
