Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Long before Time had a name, the realm of Ninjago was an endless sea, broken only by the Golden Peaks in the West.   

A man, half Oni, half Dragon, arrived in the Endless Sea, fleeing war in the First Realm. This man, the First Spinjitzu Master, a master of creation and destruction, crafted the four Golden Weapons of Spinjitzu from the molten lava of the Golden Peaks.   

These weapons were: the Sword of Fire, which burned with a protective light.   

The Scythe of Quakes, which shook the Earth with incredible strength.   

The Shuriken of Ice, which bonded the elements with great wisdom.   

And the Nunchakus of Lightning, which imbued all the Realm with energy.   

With these four weapons, the First Master raised the continent of Ninjago from the depths of the Endless Sea, creating life as he molded the land.  

Along the warm coast rose the Zora, people who walked both land and sea. Atop the mountains, the Rito people flew overhead, faster than anything else alive. Along craggy canyons and violent volcanoes, the Gorons lived, with skin of rock. The Gerudo people within the deserts were recognized as the fiercest of warriors. 

And in the center, Hylians. These people, though without wings, tail, or claws, were said to be the most graceful and timeless of all the races, created in the First Master’s image.   

Though Ninjago prospered for decades, the existence of the First Master brought unbalance. His creations did not die, age, or ail. There was no cycle - and without balance, the Realm created its own.  

A being of pure evil, The Overlord.   

The Overlord and First Spinjitzu Master clashed for many years, neither able to kill the other. The First Master, realizing that he could not kill the Overlord, made a choice that would shape Ninjago forever.  

He selected four special people - one from each race - and gifted them an element and corresponding Golden Weapon. He tasked these four with the protection of their people, and they promised that, when the time came, they would fight for all of Ninjago, and would hold their descendants to the same oath.   

The First Master then took his own blade and imbued it with a power unique to him - the Golden Essence. He stored this blade within a Temple to wait for its rightful master.   

He then told both his sons, an Oni and a Dragon, to look over Ninjago, and guide what he left behind.   

In what became known as the Final Battle , between the Overlord and the First Master, the First Master used all his might to seal away the Overlord in a dark dimension, ensuring that he would never again be able to harm Ninjago. This event is said to have created Time itself, and ever since, the First Master has been known as the God of Time.   

However, in the process, to ensure balance, the First Master was cast out along with him, forever unable to return to Ninjago.   

Unknown to him, moments before his exile, the Overlord cast a dark spell; he would forever haunt Ninjago, generation after generation. Only after the next Final Battle could he truly be defeated.   

Fortunately, as one final fail safe , should the worst come to pass, the First Spinjitzu Master created a spirit - the Hero of Destiny. Whenever needed, this spirit would reincarnate as a Hylian, and would wield immense power for the protection of all of Ninjago.   

Only a century after the Overlord’s exile, he rose once more. He cast an evil smoke that covered the entire continent, turning any living thing into stone. The Hero, guided by the twin sons of the First Master and assisted by the Elemental Masters, drew the Sword of Sanctuary, and like his predecessor, cast away the demon. This event yet again became known as the Final Battle, and, each time the Overlord rose, this battle would repeat. Over and over, the cycle continued.   

The Hero of Legend, again guided by the Twin Gods, founded Hyrule, and ever since, the Hero has always reincarnated as the Prince, and son to one of the reincarnations of the Twin Gods.  

A century ago, a great power was discovered; the Four Divine Beasts. Moving draconic fortresses, buried deep within the Earth, were powered by the Golden Weapons. Following the Great Serpentine War, the King of Hyrule sought out the elemental masters to pilot these beasts in an effort to permanently banish the Overlord.   

But the Overlord was prepared. He plotted his return carefully this time, and when he rose from the depths of Hyrule Castle, he sent out four terrible Blights to each Divine Beast, killing their pilots and corrupting each Beast, and soon after, he killed the young Prince of Hyrule, the Hero meant to slay him.  

In a final act of desperation, both the King and his brother, the reincarnations of the Twin Gods, used their combined powers of Creation and Destruction to trap the Overlord within the castle of Hyrule, keeping him from razing the rest of Ninjago. This fight has endured for a century, awaiting the return of the Prince.  

But the Calamity grows impatient, and stronger week by week. The Twin Gods can only do so much to hold him back. And in each corner of the world, the Champions await you, little Prince.   

Champion of Ninjago, it is time to   

WAKE   

UP   

———   

“Hrmph-“ the Prince grumbled, deep within an ancient shrine. “F’ve more minu’es…”   

Wake up, little Prince   

He returns to consciousness gradually. Awareness comes to him slowly as he stretches minutely, yawning. He’s so comfortable - but at the same time, he aches, as if he’s been in a single position for too long. His limbs protest as he stretches them out, his muscles straining. 

He sits up, groaning, and rubs the gunk away from his eyes as he cracks them open. He blinks, confused, as he takes in his surroundings. 

He’s in some sort of intricately carved cavern. The ceiling is tall and pointed, with columns supporting it, winding, legless dragons carved into them. The floor is dusty, but he can see a giant mosaic underneath the dirt. He’s on a podium in the middle of this strange room, inside a... 

A tub of water? He stares at it stupidly. He’s sat in a shallow square tub full of rippling, glowing water. 

“What…?” He croaks, hand coming up to his throat. His voice is rough and barely comes out as more than a whisper. His throat burns, so much that he briefly considers guzzling the water he’s sitting in to satiate his thirst. 

His gaze shifts from the water down to his own legs. They’re thin, wiry, but he can see lean muscle underneath that. He’s also smothered in dirt, despite the water, but what sticks out to him are the numerous scars winding up his legs. He touches them softly, but feels no pain - they’ve been healed for a while. He can tell that the majority are burn scars, and the texture of the rough, thick skin is strange on his oddly smooth fingers. For some reason, he feels like his hands should be calloused. 

These scars prompt him to get a better look at himself; his arms are similarly covered in long-healed burns and cuts, and lifting up his shirt, he can see scars shaped like lightning running across his abdomen. Tracing from his right palm, a long branching scar like a lightning strike goes up his arm and bursts across his chest at his shoulder. His strange clothes confuse him, but at least he’s not naked. 

He peers over the water next, trying to get a look at his face. In the glowing ripples, he can make out a face that isn’t at all familiar to him. 

What he assumes is himself has a soft, round face that still clings to the remnants of baby fat, and a few sparse freckles on his pale skin. His eyes, which are similarly soft and round, are a vibrant green that almost glows, with oddly thin pupils. His hair is a blond tangled mess with brown roots that reaches past his shoulders. He tilts his head side to side and finds pointed ears that flick randomly. Opening his mouth, he finds two sharp canines and otherwise flat teeth. 

And like the rest of his body, his face is covered in scars. Another scar like lightning – Lichtenburg (how does he know that, how...) – shoots across the right side of his face and down his eye. Another jagged scar covers his left cheek and reaches up the bridge of his nose and corner of his mouth. 

He softly traces his face, searching for familiar ridges or lines, but finds none. Everything about him feels utterly foreign. With exhaustion still clinging to him, and confusion muddling his mind, he feels like crying. 

What happened to him? Where is he? 

Who is he? 

He realizes in that moment - he has no idea who he is. He reaches for a memory, but all he can come up with are the last few minutes of wakefulness. Anything else - friends, family, a home, anything - comes up empty. They’re all gone, almost like they were never there to begin with. Were they? 

“Hello?” He croaks, voice breaking. Even his voice is foreign to him. He attempts to stand, legs wobbling despite their hidden muscle. “Is anyone here?” 

What language is he speaking? Who is he calling for? He looks down at his own feet, another question rising to the surface. What is he? 

A sudden feeling rushes him - the imprint of something warm and kind and sturdy and loving. Love love love-  

He gasps, stumbling back and landing in the water once more. It splashes him, soaking him once more. He cradles his head, shaking off the feeling. 

What was that? 

Little Prince   

He sucks in another breath, frantically looking around the cavern-room. Who said that? Were they talking to him? And... Prince?  

“Who’s there?” He asked, louder this time, and listened to his voice echo throughout the giant room. Nothing answers him. 

He stands back up, slowly exiting the shallow pool. The sheer cold causes him to shiver as he pads across the room, dripping water. He calls out again, hoping for an answer. This time, he gets one. 

Lloyd   

He blinks. “Lloyd?” He asks. “Is that you? Are you Lloyd?” The name doesn’t feel quite right in his mouth, but it sounds almost… familiar? And the voice, as well - it sounds old, and masculine, and wise, somehow. It reverbs in the room, making it sound deeper than it is. It envelops him like a blanket. 

“Hello? Lloyd?” He asks again. The voice responds. 

Little Prince, you must exit the Shrine.  They sound amused, for some reason.

“Shrine?” He wonders aloud, looking around him with a new understanding. The mosaic, the murals across the walls, the intricate columns - they all suddenly make more sense. “I’m in a shrine? Why?” 

The voice doesn’t speak this time. He huffs, grumbling a little. “Fine, be that way,” he mutters petulantly. 

Rubbing his arms, he makes his way to the edge of the room, tracing his hand along the walls. It gives him another look at his arm, and he’s almost fascinated by the sheer amount of scar tissue. How the hell did he survive all that? Again, he wonders what exactly happened to him. 

He walks the length of the room until he reaches a giant set of double doors. He’s not understating their size; they stretch halfway up the ceiling, easily four times his own height. 

He ponders them for a moment, taking a good look at their design - more dragons, and graceful vines, with two gleaming wyverns for handles. But when he tugs at them, the doors don’t budge. 

“How am I supposed to get out?” He continues to tug at the handles, straining, trying to get the doors to budge, but the doors don’t move at all. 

Take the Sheikah Slate.   

“The what?” He perks up at the voice, looking around. He still can’t tell where it’s coming from, but for whatever reason, he wants to trusts it. 

His eyes land on a podium to the door’s right that he hadn’t noticed before. It’s a short, round column decorated with eyes crying a single tear, and on top is a stone slate with the same symbol. He picks it up; it’s lighter than expected. He turns it over in his hands, inspecting the stone. 

The slate has a handle at its end, and strange symbols like miniature mazes. In the middle is a flat screen of glass, glowing with a blue eye. He flips the slate over to find the same symbol: an eye with three triangles mimicking eyelashes and a single teardrop. 

He taps the glass screen, and nearly drops the slate when the symbol suddenly disappears and is replaced by a new one. An eye in the middle with five rotating triangles, spinning continuously. 

“What the…” he taps the glass again, but it does nothing this time. He can hear a faint whirring sound emitting from the Slate. He looks at the double doors again, then down to their middle, right between the handles. It’s another eye symbol surrounded by a circle of triangles. 

He glances at the slate again, and feeling somewhat stupid, moves to press the glass screen to the doors. 

To his shock, he hears a loud click, and the doors slowly open, groaning under their own weight. His eyes widen as he takes a step back, staring at the slate incredulously. 

“Lloyd?” He asks. “What is this thing? What’s happening?” 

He hears a faint chuckle. 

Prince Lloyd, it says, you must find your way to the Map.   

Wait.  

Wait.  

“Are you talking to me?? Am I Lloyd?” Going off of the responding laugh, he is. Lloyd(!!) suddenly feels both stupid and indignant. “You just let me call you by my name?! Jerk!” 

Lloyd huffs and stares down at the slate again, narrowing his eyes. “You’re something special, right?” The slate doesn’t respond. Lloyd sighs, staring out the doors and into a grand hallway lined with murals and tapestries. He glances back to the pool of water. 

He’s still tired. He could just go back to sleep in that nice glowy water, mystery voices and slates and creepy doors be damned. 

Or, he could leave this room. 

“Where… where is the Map?” He asks. 

You must find the Map in the Tower. Learn the truth.   

“What tower?” He cries, frustrated. Can this guy give him a straight answer?! “What’s the Map for? What truth? Why are you calling me a Prince?!” 

But the voice doesn’t answer this time. Lloyd waits, but that seems to be all it will say. 

He chews on his lip nervously, shifting his weight as he considers the ominous hallway. This room, as far as he’s concerned, is safe. 

For now.   

He startles at his own thoughts. But it makes sense. There’s no food in here, and he doesn’t really want to drink the water he was just sleeping in. Also… 

He tugs at his shirt, which only goes halfway down his stomach, and scrunches his nose at the shorts, which do nothing for the cold. He could use a change of clothes. 

And maybe there is a truth out there. About who he is, how he got here, what happened to him. 

There’s something inside him now, itching to go forward, to tear into the unknown. It’s a euphoric feeling. 

Lloyd huffs and tightens his hold on the slate, then takes the first step forward.  

This is a long ass hallway.   

Lloyd’s been walking for what feels like forever. For the first few minutes, he’d awed over the admittedly really cool tapestries and whatnot, but after a while all the carvings and murals and general worship vibes got boring.  

Also, his feet hurt. He’s discovered that he has no callouses on his feet either, and he’s really starting to hate that.  

While he’s walked, he’d taken the time to compile what little information he’d retained from Ominous Jerk Voice. 

1: He’s a Prince. Of what, he has no idea. It could also mean something entirely different depending on whatever culture he or the voice may be a part of.  

2: He has no memories. That was apparent early on, but it’s good to know.  

3: His name is Lloyd. He actually rather likes his name, and has decided to keep it.  

4: The Slate is a Sheikah Slate, and has the ability to open strange doors and glow unhelpfully.  

5: Most importantly, he is looking for a map in a tower to find out the Truth. The Truth seems rather important, so he’s decided it deserves some respect. 

That’s about it. His knowledge of the world thus far is painfully little. 

And this hallway will not end!  

Lloyd comes to a stop, staring at the walls. He swears he’s seen these exact pictures before, and- 

Is he going in a loop?! 

That’s impossible, isn’t it? The hallway is straight, and if he were, he would’ve passed the double doors by now, right? 

He glares at the tapestry for good measure and keeps walking. 

His patience runs out when he sees the exact same tapestry ten minutes later. 

“What the fuck?!” He yells, throwing his hands (and by extension the Slate) in the air. Even that crack at the bottom of the wall is there! It looks like a bowl of noodles and now Lloyd is hungry. 

“This is bullshit.” He growls. He has no idea what these words actually mean, but they feel appropriately violent. 

A treasure is protected in this Shrine.   

The voice is back. Lloyd looks around again, hoping to find its source, but he can’t find it again. 

“A treasure?” He parrots. “What’s that got to do with the hallway?” 

Apparently, Ominous Jerk Voice is in a helpful mood. In order to protect this treasure, Prince, the Shrine has devised a method of tricking assailants. You must see what others cannot.  

“Tricking people?” Lloyd stares at the noodle crack. “You mean… it’s magic? Or sentient?” 

You must see what others cannot.   

“That doesn’t help.” 

Lloyd sighs, dragging a hand down his face.  

Add that to his List of World Knowledge: number 6, the shrine he woke up in is actively tricking him and now he’s going to die of hunger and thirst. 

‘Thirst, first. You need water more than food.’   

Oh, great. More random facts. 

“This makes no sense,” he says, “I woke up here! I’m not assaulting the shrine, I’m trying to leave!” 

You must see what others cannot.   

“That’s not helpful!” Lloyd yells. “At least this dumb slate opened the door, you creepy old-“ 

The Slate. 

Lloyd’s head jerks toward it in his hand, still glowing pleasantly blue. ‘You must see what others cannot’.  

See…   

“Holy shit!” Lloyd grins and begins to scour the walls and ceiling, looking for the Sheikah Eye symbol. He finds it on the ceiling of all places, glowing softly and blending in with the background. Lloyd scowls. He’s found the Eye (he’s decided that it also deserves some respect), but it’s on the ceiling. How does he get to it? 

Lloyd’s eyes lock onto the tapestries. They look very ancient. They’re probably priceless pieces of history.  

“Sorry, old people.” Lloyd sticks the Sheikah Slate in his mouth, and then he gets to climbing. 

He jumps first, higher than he expected to be able to, and latches onto the tapestry. He feels it rip minutely under his weight. He shimmies up, grabbing the wooden stick thing that holds the tapestry up, and scrambles up to hold onto the wall. 

His hands instinctively find purchase and grab hold, and he begins to pull himself up the wall. The carvings near the top of the ceiling are thick and make great handholds. Lloyd grunts around the Slate as he reaches the top of the wall where it meets the ceiling and scans the ceiling. Like the walls, it’s also carved with dragons and swords and other such religious nonsense he can’t decipher. 

Is he actually about to do this? Is he seriously considering crawling across the ceiling upside down like a spider out of hell and risk breaking all his bones to get to a glowing eyeball that may or may not get him out of this creepy place? 

Yes, he absolutely is. 

Lloyd is starting to think he may be a strange person. 

He bunches his legs up under him, and with a grunt, launches himself up the ceilings. He automatically grabs hold of uneven stone. For a split second, he thinks he might slip, but his feet also find footholds and he’s secure. 

He also might have been a climber. 

Lloyd breathes deeply, closing his eyes and resting his forehead against the cool ceiling. ’ Am I insane? Maybe.’   

Lloyd continues to climb.  

His hands seem to automatically know where all the perfect places to grab ahold are, and his feet are similarly intuitive. The more he moves, the more confident he becomes that he won’t fall, and the faster he gets.  

The tricky part is when he finally gets to the eye. His hand traces the surrounding ceiling, and he feels an uneven crack in the wall, a perfect square that the Eye rests in the middle of.  

He takes the Slate out of his mouth, grateful to have his jaw free, and somewhat awkwardly positions the rest of himself so that he can press the glass up against the eyeball. The same whirring from before starts up, and he hears another triumphant click from the ceiling square.  

Lloyd laughs as the stone block shifts up and the eye splits in half, two halves of the stone sliding into the ceiling.  

Lloyd sticks the Slate back in his mouth and swings up into the ceiling.  

The opening in the ceiling has taken him to a drafty crawl space just big enough for someone twice his height to comfortably stand up on. 

So not that small. Either that or Lloyd is short as hell. 

Now that he’s out of that hell-forsaken hallway, he can feel the difference in the air. When before his mind was almost muddled, senses clouded, they’re much sharper now, and he can sense that he’s no longer under some sort of optical illusion. 

Lloyd: 1, Shrine: 0.  

“Take that, creepy building,” he whispers to himself. 

The crawl space (can it even be called that? He’s not crawling) takes him down a few winding turns before he finds a ladder. He can only assume that this is where people would enter the crawl space to get to… whatever is in here. A treasure, apparently. 

Aw man, should he have tried to grab it? He’d have no idea how to get to it though… not that he’s even all that interested in treasure. 

But what if it was shiny...! 

Lloyd can only hope he finds more Fun Shinies later on. 

He slides down the ladder, not interested in the boring method (AKA using it the way it was intended) and hops down onto the rocky floor. 

He finds himself in a new room, and he immediately hates it, mostly on account of the lava. 

“Aw, what the fuck,” he whines. The room is bathed in red light, and a few feet in front of him in a ginormous pool of lava with no obvious way across. The wall and ceiling are all suspiciously smooth and devoid of the expected carvings and murals and other such helpful climbing material. 

“What’s this place got against me?!” Lloyd cries. “Yo Shrine! I’m trying to LEAVE!” 

You have completed the third trial, young one.   

“Oh hey!” Lloyd perks up, grinning. “Ominous Voice! You were actually a little helpful back there, though the riddle was unnecessary. Got any more cryptic advice for me?” He’s decided to revoke the ‘Jerk’ part of the Voice’s name. It just feels rude now. 

This is the second trial, the voice continues, unheedful of Lloyd’s, in his opinion, fun banter. You must be stronger than others.  

“Uh, I don’t think I can just move the lava, if that’s what you’re suggesting,” Lloyd says. He stores the information about trials in the back of his mind; if the hall was the third trial, then he must be doing this whole thing in reverse. 

Ominous Voice has apparently decided that that was all the cryptic advice necessary, because it does not answer. Lloyd rolls his eyes. 

He puts his hands on his hips, blowing his tangled hair out his face. “Alrighty,” he says, staring at the bubbling lava. “Maybe this is another illusion. Maybe it’s nice lava!” 

Lloyd patters over to the pool and crouches, stretching out his hand to touch the lava. 

NO!   

A gust of wind forcibly pushes Lloyd back before his hand can make continue, and he yelps as he tumbles into the back wall. He rubs his head, blinking. 

“O-kay,” he draws out the word, still in shock. Was that the voice? It almost sounded panicked. Aaaw, is Ominous Voice protective? Adorable. 

On the other hand, apparently the lava is real. “Well… thanks for not letting me burn my hand up,” Lloyd comments as he stands off and brushes off his legs. This does nothing, and the dirt remains firmly caked on. 

Lloyd hums and looks around. In a dark corner, he sees a chest with the Sheikah Eye where the latch would be. Lloyd grins and runs over, unlocking it. Inside he finds a long rope, a big silver bow, and three sharp arrows. He gathers them in his arms, tilting his head. 

Then, an idea hits him upside the head, and a sharp grin takes over his face. 

He plops on the ground and begins to tie the rope to one of the arrows, testing the knot to make sure it won’t slip. He rolls his shoulders then picks up the bow. It’s not exactly weighed correctly, and it feels awkward in his comparatively small hands - who used this bow before, a giant? 

(He refuses to entertain the growing possibility that he may just be small.) 

He nocks the arrow and turns around to the wall behind him, aiming the arrow just low enough for him to jump up and grab. He pulls the arrow back, muscles straining against the bow. 

For whatever reason, he feels almost confident in his ability to use a bow. He doesn’t know if he’s actually used one before or he just has a huge ego, but he’s about to find out. 

Lloyd lets it fly, and the arrowhead lodges itself securely in the stone.  

Lloyd tugs on the rope just to be sure, but the arrow remains firm. He grins and gets to tying the other end to a second arrow. 

This is the tricky part. He nocks the new arrow and aims for the opposite wall across the pool of lava. If he doesn’t do this right, both the arrow and his rope are about to go up in flames, and he’s got no shot (ha) at getting out of here. 

No pressure or anything. 

He breathes in deeply, focusing on the bow and arrow. He aims, careful to keep his hands completely steady, and tries to settle into a natural-feeling stance. He pulls the string back as far as he feels he can, testing the limits, and lets the arrow fly. 

And fuck, does it fly. 

The arrow whizzes through the air like a bat out of hell and practically slams into the stone wall. Lloyd can literally see the cracks forming around the arrow shaft.  

Lloyd whoops, jumping in victory. “That’s what I’m talkin’ about! WHOO!” He laughs and grabs the Sheikah Slate from where he’d left it on the floor and tugs the bow over his torso. He looks at the third arrow before shrugging and sticking it and the Sheikah Slate back in his mouth. It’s very awkward, but he’s not about to abandon a perfectly good arrow!  

Was Lloyd a hoarder, too? 

Lloyd takes a running start before vertically leaping up and grabbing the rope suspended over the lava. The rope wobbles violently and for a moment Lloyd thinks that he’s horribly misjudged the situation and is about to fall in lava, before the rope slowly stabilizes and he’s left holding a taut rope hanging over a chasm of lava. 

Thank god.  

He sighs in relief and wiggles, awkwardly shambling and repositioning himself until he’s clinging to the rope with all four limbs, hanging upside down like a koala or something. 

‘What the fuck is a koala?’ He asks himself. He has no idea. Add that to the pile. 

He starts shuffling over the chasm, deciding to take this one nice and steady. Last time he was being reckless, he only risked all his bones. Now he’s risking everything else, like his cool arrow. 

After a harrowing like, five minutes (he’s come to discover that his internal clock isn’t all that great) he reaches the other side and drops back down with an “oof”. He spits out the Slate and arrow, grateful that it hadn’t left any splinters in his mouth. It seemed like an old arrow. 

Lloyd dusts himself off, gathers his growing collection of belongings, and unlocks the new door. 

“Oh, what the fuck!” Lloyd leaps to the side, crashing into the floor and breaking his arrow in half in the process. Old arrow, indeed.  

The cause of his panicked dash is a giant swinging axe.   

This place has to be trolling him.  

Lloyd attempts to catch his breath from the floor, still hyperventilating from the closest he’s come to death so far. Which is saying something, considering he just shimmied over a lava pit.  

“Yo, Ominous Voice?!” He yells, eyeing the room suspiciously in case anymore axes decide he’s getting too comfortable. “What is this?!”  

You have completed the second trial. This is the first.   

Lloyd rolls his eyes. “Yeah, no duh. Where are the axes coming from??” He crawls over to a corner, sitting up and wiping his forehead. At least the Slate is fine. He briefly mourns the arrow, then debates the worth of the bow, but who knows, it might make a good weapon later on.  

Lloyd eyes the ceiling, finding thick grooves. Was that where the axe came from? Why?! 

“What the fuck is in this Shrine?” Lloyd whispers. It has to be pretty important if it warrants giant axes. Also, how did anyone get those axes up there? They’re huge! 

For some reason, the axe still isn’t back, so he takes the chance and stand up straight.  

Lloyd immediately regrets this decision when he has to leap back to avoid another axe flying at him like a magpie scorned.  

Lloyd yells, mostly in anger, and returns to cowering on the floor. “VOICE! EXPLAIN!” He screams, rolling back into his nice, safe little corner.  

Is it too late to go back to his sleep pool? Maybe try again tomorrow? He totally could. It would be easy.  

This is the first trial. Simply put, you must be better.   

“Better than what?!” Lloyd asks, but the voice is gone again. Is he hallucinating? Is this all a really crazy acid trip? Lloyd groans, feeling like he’s about to rip his hair out.  

“Okay,” he whispers, staring down at his hands. He traces a thin scar that curls around his palm. “Every time I stand up, an axe comes at me. Why?”  

He hums, then shrugs the bow off from around his torso, and after a moment of consideration, waves it in the air, still safely crouched in his corner. Right on cue, the axes - there’s two of them, swinging in tandem - descend from the ceiling. He quickly yanks the bow back down before it can be obliterated.  

So it’s a height thing, then. He can deal with that.  

Lloyd quickly unties the string from the wood, then re-ties the string around his Sheikah Slate and loops it around his waist. He tugs at it, and nods with satisfaction when it stays put. Finally, convenience! 

Careful to stay low, he raises the bow again, mentally apologizing. But really, it was unwieldy anyways. Then he throws it as far across the room as he can.  

The axes descend, but he can also see a dozen glowing(??) arrows rocket out from the stone walls, and literal plumes of fire roar from various points in the walls and ceiling.  

His bow is now ash on the ground.  

Lloyd swallows thickly. “…oh.”  

So that’s what Ominous Voice meant by ‘be better’. 

Be better than everyone.   

“…do I at least get a cool trick weapon this time?” He asks weakly.  

Lloyd thunks his head against the wall, groaning. He might actually scream.  

But something tells him to sit and think about it, and, well, he’s already sitting.  

Technically, he’s doing this whole thing in reverse. Any normal person would deal with the fire, then the arrows, then the axes. He gets the opposite.  

So that means that there’s a hole in the shrine’s design.  

A trap this intricate demands certain conditions. For instance, he apparently has to stand up for the axes to activate - probably to catch people by surprise.  

Normally, one would run into the axes after outrunning - or more likely, being pelted by - arrows. They would carry too much momentum to stop and think, much less look at the ceiling instead of the door. 

The solution is simple - he’ll make like a crab and crawl. 

Lloyd apologizes for what he’s putting his poor body through, then gets on his stomach and starts army-crawling across the floor. 

It’s not great. The ground is uneven and rough and his stomach has never felt so soft, and he keeps getting scratched all over. But eventually he makes it past the grooves of the ceiling, safely clear of axes. 

He lets out a short sigh of relief, then faces the new problem. Arrows. Oh how they’ve betrayed him. 

He tries to work around the problem again. Normally, one would run into the arrows after being scorched by fire, and also probably on fire. The entire trial seems designed to make its victim panicked and disoriented. 

Logically, there’s got to be some sort of workaround for this problem as well, if he stops to think. 

Lloyd is not great at thinking. 

He remembers the bow - is this another height thing? He looks closely at the walls and finds tiny holes pocketing them. That had to be where the arrows were coming from. He couldn’t count on the arrows running out, so… what to do? 

The holes would make fantastic foot and hand holds for climbing, but that would get him a dozen new piercings in very unsavorable places, so climbing over is out. 

…or is it? 

Lloyd looks back at the designated Axe Zone. 

He really is insane, isn’t he? 

Lloyd breathes in deeply, crouching just low enough that the axes don’t yet notice him. He thinks that he knows how fast the axes will descend when he’s in their field of ‘vision’.  

The answer is ‘hella’.  

His plan is simple, insane, and stupid.  

“This is so dumb, this is so dumb, this is so dumb-!”  

Lloyd leaps into the air, and the axes grind out from their little caves, swinging toward him with a vengeance. He twists midair and catches the belly of the second axe, using both his and the weapon’s combined momentum to swing around before the first axe can cut his legs off.  

Lloyd yells as the axe carries him up toward the ceiling, and braces his legs against the wood. As soon as he thinks he’s in range, he pushes off, and the momentum of the swing throws him at the wall right above the arrow holes. 

Lloyd slams into the wall and scrambles for purchase. Luckily, he seems to be descended from monkeys, because just like in the Hallway of Hell, his limbs automatically cling to the uneven stone, securing him. 

Lloyd presses his forehead against the stone, breathing harshly. His heart is about to beat out his chest, and his lungs feel incapable of keeping up. 

“I-“ Lloyd pants, blinking the spots out of his eyes harshly. “I have so many bruises.” 

He clings to the wall for another minute, slowly catching his breath as his heart rate drops to an acceptable level. He flexes his fingers and toes, testing his hold on the craggy stone, and looks down at the Sheikah Slate. Thankfully, it’s still in one piece. 

Lloyd untenses as much as he can while fifteen feet above the ground, and begins to shuffle his way across the line of Death Holes. 

He’s having a lot of fun naming the crazy stuff in this shrine. 

Lloyd gets a few safe inches across the line of arrow holes, then slides down the stone wall and crouches on the floor. He breathes a deep sigh of relief, then stares at the vague area he believes the fire is coming from. 

Unlike before, he can’t even begin to figure out the exact source of the fire, but he can see the pile of ash that was once his bow, and decides to stay where he is for the time being. 

This time, he doesn’t really know what to do. Obviously the trick is to hide the fact that there’s a trap at all, or the rest of this insane trial doesn’t work. That doesn’t really matter right now - but he doesn’t know how to counteract it. 

He briefly thinks about reverting to his go-to solution of climbing out of his problems, but then remembers the fire that came out of the ceiling and the top of the walls. 

Lloyd slumps against the wall, bending his leg and resting his head on the knee. His body aches from the utter hell he’s been putting it through, and he’s hungrier than ever. His mouth is dry and his throat hurts and- 

He blames whoever put him here. They could’ve at least left some food! When he gets outta here, he’s tracking them down and yelling at them. 

Lloyd clenches his fists. “Work around the problem,” he mutters, “then find food, then track down the moron that put me here and give ‘em hell.” 

Lloyd pushes himself up, glaring at the general Zone of Hellfire. He’d throw something to get a better idea of how it worked, but literally all he has are his own clothes and the Sheikah Slate, which he’s not risking. 

He tries to remember what happened the first time the fire was set off. From what he can recall, there had been about ten-ish different plumes of fire, all fairly linear in width, and crisscrossing one another like chainmail. Theoretically, he could just dodge the fire. But he has no idea where exactly the fire will come from, and without that information, he’d be relying on reflex alone. 

Then again, his reflexes are pretty good. 

“Option 1,” he says, “is run straight through the flames and hope I don’t die. Option 2 is to start parkouring and hope I don’t die.” Not a lot of variety. 

He opts to stick close to the right wall. Lloyd shakes his limbs loose, then jumps into the fray. 

Immediately, fire gushes from every angle, and Lloyd is forced to swerve and roll to avoid being set aflame. His legs carry him through on muscle memory and reflex alone, and Lloyd’s mind goes blank as all his energy is forced into avoiding the fire. 

He can almost feel something happening - his legs and arms twist just so, and a spark of green fills the lower half of his vision. 

Before anything more can happen, he’s stumbling to the floor, landing squarely on his back. He instinctively braces, but the fire is gone. 

He did it? He did it! 

Lloyd rolls onto his stomach, laughing. Just in front of him is another set of giant double doors, engraved with spiraling dragons. On either side of the door is half of an intricate, absolutely ginormous sword, and they’re designed so that when the doors are shut, they form the complete picture of a gleaming sword spewing sunlight. 

Lloyd feels oddly drawn to the image. He chalks it up to his impending freedom, and jumps to his feet.  

Lloyd quickly unlocks the doors with his Slate, and they grind open to revealing blinding sunlight. 

He runs out of the shrine and his feet hit wonderfully cool, vibrant green grass. The sun quickly fills every inch of his skin, and Lloyd can feel a gust of wind blow through his hair. He laughs again, unable to contain it. 

Find the Map atop the Tower. Discover the Truth.   

Lloyd closes his eyes, basking in the warmth of the sun. 

Yeah, right after he finds some food. 

Lloyd’s eyes snap open as a new voice - a real, tangible voice - calls to him just over a few yards away. 

“HO, THERE!” 

Chapter Text

“HO, THERE!” 

Lloyd’s gaze snapped to the bottom of the hill where a man stood, face covered by a wide-brimmed rice hat, waving at Lloyd.  

He didn’t think twice before he was scampering down the hill, dodging the odd rock or two. When he reached the man, he could see that he was incredibly tall, with dark brown hair and deeply tanned skin.  

The man smiled kindly around his beard. “Well, hello there, little traveler,” he chuckled, resting his hands on his hips. “I couldn’t help but notice you leaving that old Shrine up there,” he gestured at the Shrine, and Lloyd turned around to get a look at it.  

It was extremely unassuming. Like its inside, it was made of deep blue stone and rusted golden accents decorated its exterior. It was clearly old and worn by the elements, and almost partially hidden by the hill it was inlaid in. Lloyd would never guess it might contain a dozen death traps, or any treasure.  

The man raised an eyebrow. “Some say that a priceless treasure is hidden inside. Is that what you were seeking?”  

Lloyd shook his head. “No, I just... woke up in there. Do you know where we are?”  

The man seemed surprised. “Where are we? Why, the Great Plateau of course! Its only one of Ninjago’s largest landmarks, and the capital of Hyrule! Or rather, was.”  

Lloyd tilted his head. “Was? What happened?”  

The man laughed. “Not from around these parts, are you? Everyone knows that Hyrule was felled by the Calamity 100 years ago.”  

Lloyd looked around his surroundings. It seemed perfectly peaceful. The grass was healthy and green, and he could see actual butterflies fluttering around. 

“...really? Doesn’t look it.” 

The man threw back his head and laughed. “Never thought I’d meet a Hylian that didn’t know of the Calamity! But, you’re right.” He leaned on a cane Lloyd hadn’t noticed until now. “This peace is thanks to the brave royals who gave their lives to contain the Calamity inside the palace. But don’t be fooled! The Great Plateau is riddled with monsters of all kinds, subservient to the Calamity.”  

“How do you know?” Lloyd asked. “I can’t see any monsters.” 

“I’ve been on this plateau for years, now, fending those monsters off on my own. I know the Great Plateau like the palm of my hand.” He said proudly. A certain humor coloured his face, like he knew something Lloyd didn’t. But Lloyd perked up at his words – maybe this old man could help him.  

“Actually, I need to find something,” Lloyd said, rocking on his feet. “I’m supposed to find a map, on a tower.”  

The old man stroked his beard. “Is that so? Well, I suppose I could help you, but I’ll need something in return. Although I’m afraid it may be too dangerous for you.”  

Lloyd nodded eagerly. “I can help! I’m super capable!”  

The man chuckled. “I can see that, young one.” He leaned down to meet Lloyd’s eyes, and his face seemed to be overcome by a deep sadness. “You have many scars. You have survived something terrible.”  

Lloyd blinked, thrown off by the sudden tone shift. He looked down at himself. He supposed that from an outside perspective, his scars must seem horrific. But he didn’t know himself without them.  

The thought made him deeply uncomfortable.  

“Well... I guess. But I don’t remember that, or anything else.” Lloyd stuck his arm out, twisting it this way and that to get a better look at the Lichtenburg scar twisting up his arm. “Besides, I think they make me look cool.”  

The old man straightened back up. “You do seem incredibly capable. Tell me, what’s your name?” 

Lloyd hesitated. Technically, he didn’t actually know his own name. But “Lloyd” felt right, and he liked it.  

“Lloyd,” he said, brokering no room for argument. “What’s yours?”  

The old man waved him off. “My name is unimportant. It’s been years since anyone has used it, anyways. Lloyd, I believe I can get you to the map you seek, but I’ll need you to accomplish some dangerous tasks for me,” he chuckled to himself, “I’m afraid these old bones aren’t what they used to be. Are you up to the challenge?”  

Lloyd grinned. This sounded like an adventure. The thought was exhilirating. It wasn’t like he was on a time limit.  

“Yeah, totally!” 

The old man smiled wide. “I knew you would be! First, I’ll need you to retrieve a precious Dao and deliver it back to me.”  

Lloyd pouted. “There’s a super cool sword and I can’t even keep it?”  

The old man laughed. “I assure you, you may keep any other weapon you find on the way. But the Dao is rather important to me. Secondly, I need you to fill up this bag,” the man suddenly pulled a large leather bag out from behind him, brandishing it to Lloyd. His eyes went comically large. This thing was over half his size! “With gemstones,” the man finished. Lloyd was beginning to think he was a sadist.  

“Wha- how-?!” Lloyd spluttered, gripping the bag.  

“Don’t worry,” the man said, “if you can find and slay a Talus, you’ll be able to harvest the gems from its core. I’m sure it will be easy for someone like you,” his eyes glinted like an inside joke. Lloyd swallowed.  

“And thirdly, at the bottom of a deep ravine, there is rumored to be a beautiful statue. I don’t expect you to haul it back up here, but it does have the same symbol as that little slate you have there.”  

Lloyd startled, hand flying to the Sheikah Slate tied around his waist with a bowstring. “You know about my Slate?”  

The man nodded sagely, stroking his beard again. “Yes, of course. They’re exceedingly rare, and are keys to all the Sheikah tech scattered across the land. Say, if you can complete these challenges, I’ll tell you how to use it.”  

Lloyd pressed his lips together. “...alright. Where’s this Dao?”  

The old man beamed. “Very good! This Dao is actually inside another Sheikah structure. It can’t be opened without one of those Slates. The structure is across the wheat field, directly to the east.” He lifted one giant hand to point over Lloyd’s head.  

Lloyd nodded, determined. “Alright, yeah, I can do that!” Suddenly, a violent gurgling made itself known from his stomach. Lloyd flushed. “But, uh... any chance you have some food?”  

The man smiled kindly, leading Lloyd to a rocky overhang. Underneath was a modest firepit and tent. “It’s the least I could do!” 

Only ten minutes later, Lloyd was happily munching an apple roasted over the fire. It was literally the best thing he’d ever eaten.  

Also, the only thing. 

“Mm-” Lloyd paused to wipe his mouth. “’Dish ish delicious’h!” He said, mouth still full.  

The old man looked proud of his work. “A roasted apple makes for a succulent and nutritious treat,” he said. “Easy to make, too. I like them with some cinnamon.”  

Lloyd happily agreed, continuing to devour his food. He was so busy that he didn’t notice the soft, tender look the old man gave him. It was gone as soon as Lloyd looked at him.  

“So, um,” Lloyd wipe his mouth as he chucked the apple core. “What’s the deal with the Calamity?”  

The old man straightened, clearing his throat. “100 years ago, Hyrule was a beautiful and prosperous kingdom. But a terrible thing arrived. They called it the Calamity. With it came monsters by the thousands, and they ravaged Hyrule. It was contained in the castle, but the effects are still felt all throughout Ninjago to this day.”  

Lloyd cringed. “Damn, sorry I asked.”  

The man chuckled. “I’m always glad for conversation, no matter the topic. I’m afraid I haven’t talked to anything aside from Skulkin for some years.”  

Lloyd tilted his head. “What are you even doing up here?”  

“Nothing important, I assure you,” he waved Lloyd off again, dodging his questions. “Please, eat some more. You look famished.” He offered Lloyd an entire chicken leg, and the topic was forgotten.  

When Lloyd was finished eating, the sun was beginning to set. The old man offered to let Lloyd sleep by his fire for the night. “It’s dangerous to go out at night without protection,” he said.  

At the mention of sleep, every bruise and ache on Lloyd made itself known, and he yawned. After the long day he’d had, sleep sounded amazing.  

“You don’t mind?” Lloyd asked even as he shifted into a comfortable position in the grass. His eyes quickly began to flutter shut as exhaustion overtook him. The old man chuckled and took off his own cape, draping it over Lloyd like a blanket.  

“You have a long day ahead of you, Little Prince.” 

The nickname only temporarily confused Lloyd before it was completely forgotten in favor of sleep. 

Lloyd wakes up to the smell of cooking meat. 

He rubs his eyes, yawning, and sits up to see the old man roasting some form of meat over the fire. His stomach growls, and he sits up eagerly for more food. He’s still starving . 

The old man sees this and smiles knowingly, handing Lloyd a bowl of rice and chicken. Lloyd hurriedly thanks him before diving into the meal, humming happily.  

“S’ho,” Lloyd says with his mouth still full, swallowing before continuing, “where’s this sword, again?”  

The old man stands up, brushing off his pants. He steps out from under the outcropping, and Lloyd jumps up to follow.  

The sun is slowly trekking up the sky, painting the sky pink and orange. The old man points out a field in the distance to the east. “Straight east, past that wheat field, is where you’ll find a small Sheikah structure. And, see those mountains?” He points out an area of dark, mountainous rocks, and Lloyd stands on his tip toes to peak over the man’s arm. He feels laughably short next to this guy.  

“Uh-huh?” 

“You’re sure to find Talus’s there. A few good smacks to the node on its back will get you all the gemstones you need.” Lloyd soaks up the information like a sponge.  

Who knows, maybe fighting a rock monster will be cool. 

“What about the statue?” 

The old man reached into one of his many pockets and pulled out a small compass, completely dwarfed by his massive hand. “Take this, little traveler. Go straight south, you can’t miss it.”  

Lloyd eagerly snatched up the compass, turning it every which way as it caught in the sunlight, glinting pleasantly.  

Shiny.  

“Sweet,” Lloyd grinned.  

“You’ll have to climb down the ravine,” the old man warned. “Will you be able to handle it?”  

Lloyd thought back to the truly atrocious amount of climbing he did just yesterday. “Uh... I think I’ll manage.”  

The man beamed. “Excellent! You should be off, then; daylight won’t last forever.” 

He turned to look up at the man, squinting against the sunlight. “Thanks for the breakfast!”  

The old man patted him on the back. “Be careful, little traveler,” he said, though he didn’t seem especially worried. Lloyd grinned, then ran off, waving. The old man called after him, “Stop by for food anytime!” But Lloyd was already far gone.  

The old man remained where he was for some time, leaning on his cane, staring after the grassy knoll where the little Hylian had disappeared over.  

Then, he too disappeared. 

Lloyd’s departure had been swift, seeing as all his belongings – AKA his Sheikah Slate and a compass – were already attached to his person. The compass had a small ring attached to it, which he’d looped the excess bowstring through to keep his hands free.  

Of course he had questions about the strange old man, as well as why he kept running into these strange ‘three trials’ situations, but Lloyd figured he’d get his answers eventually. Right now, he was in the sunlight, wind in his hair, and an adventure was afoot.  

The soft dewy grass was a thousand times more forgiving on his feet than the Shrine’s stone floors had been, and he reveled in the feeling of loose soil between his toes. Realistically, he knew that he’d been outside before, but it felt so alien, what with having no memories of such an experience.  

Lloyd resolved to be outside as much as physically possible from this point on. 

Which is why he was really bummed when he found the Sheikah post so fast.  

Lloyd frowned at it, a little confused. Where the Shrine had ginormous double doors with an obvious lock, this one... did not. The structure was oddly conical, with giant steps leading up to a small rounded entrance inside. The small building also glowed with orange light that ran through the odd rune shapes indented into the structure. When he stepped further inside, he found nothing.  

Lloyd walked back to the entrance, thoroughly confused. Was this some sort of security measure? He briefly thought about just blowing the dumb thing up, but then shook his head. He had no idea how to build a bomb.  

Lloyd looked around before spotting a small podium, not unlike the one he found the Slate on in the Shrine. He grabbed his Slate and laid it on the podium.  

The structure responded immediately as the orange light turned blue and the circular platform Lloyd stood on began to shake. He quickly snatched his Slate back as the platform groaned and jumped before it began to descend.  

Lloyd could only stick his hands out in an attempt to remain balanced as the platform took him deeper underground.  

“Aw, shit,” Lloyd mumbled, “this was a terrible decision.” 

When Lloyd’s descent finally came to an end, he was met with a genuinely flabbergasting cavern. It stretched so far that Lloyd couldn’t see the far end of it.  

He slowly stepped off the platform, ready to jump back on if it tried to leave without him. Luckily, it didn’t, and he continued further into the cavern.  

The cave seemed organized into the giant stone walkways and cubes that stretched over a large body of blue water below. Lloyd felt incredibly confused, and tried to see into the far side of the cavern, but still couldn’t make anything out.  

...wait. 

If this was anything like the Shrine he woke up in, he was about to be met with terrifying, life-threatening and/or mind boggling trials that would test both his sanity and willingness to fling himself into danger for the sake of some arbitrary goal.  

In this case, a sword. A kickass sword, supposedly, but still.  

Lloyd hummed. Currently he stood on a wide rectangular stone floor that stretched to either wall. He had three potential pathways, and from what he could see, they didn’t intersect. Each pathway was inlaid with the same glowing blue runes from outside the structure.  

He walked to the beginning of the first path. It would take him to an individual stone slab, where he could see several targets suspended over the water and a chest, presumably full of arrows like last time. The second path was unclear – it was strangely wide, with raised edges, and seemed to curve and randomly zigzag. He moved on.  

The third path would take him to an enclosed box. A strange golden material in the shape of the runes was suspended over the stone slab like a cage. He couldn’t see inside.  

From what he could tell, every path would take him to the other side. He contemplated taking the first path, but felt like it was somehow a trick. Just shooting a few targets felt too easy. The same feeling came with the second path – he didn’t trust that something wouldn’t happen.  

The third path at least seemed somewhat obvious. He was probably meant to fight something? Or maybe open another door?  

Lloyd gave the first two paths a once-over before he chose the third.  

As soon as he stepped foot on the third path, the first two activated. The bridge to the first path crumbled into the water, and the targets began to swing from side to side at a dizzying pace, and the floor became flooded with water. Lloyd cringed; there was no way he would have been able to shoot those targets without slipping.  

The second path was terrifying . A giant stone boulder dropped from the ceiling, rolling down the rounded path loudly, slamming against the barriers. Lloyd swallowed. He would’ve been crushed. If he attempted to go down the second bridge now, another boulder would probably drop down. He wasn’t risking it. 

He stared down the only remaining path. He could only hope this wouldn’t actually kill him.  

When he entered the cage, the small doorway immediately shut, leaving him locked inside with a strange... rock? Thing?  

He tentatively inched forward for a better look. It was the same conical shape as the structure he had entered through, though much smaller. Thick black tentacle-like appendages with metal claws were attached to the bottom of the thing, splayed across the floor. The little stone... thing also had more dim runes.  

Lloyd catiously poked the flat top of it, and the thing suddenly whirred to life. The runes came to life, and the stone raised itself up on its four arms, clicking and ticking rapidly.  

Lloyd jumped in surprise, running back a few steps as he waited to see what it would do.  

Apparently, that was shoot a laser beam at him.  

“Ah!” Lloyd yelped as he dodged the laser, landing heavily on his side. He stared at the moving stone from the floor as it seemed to recalculate, positioning itself to once again charge up another laser to shoot. Lloyd’s eyes widened and he shot to his feet just in time to escape another beam of light.  

He dashed to the other side of the cage, searching for a door. He found one, but when he pressed the Sheikah Slate up to it, it did nothing. The door seemed to have an actual keyhole.  

He shifted his gaze back to the strange rock soldier, who was currently having trouble staying balanced, as it had moved too quickly trying to track Lloyd.  

“What is this thing?!” Lloyd cried, ducking under the third beam of light.  

A Guardian, a deep old voice answered.  

Lloyd startled, looking up. “Ominous Voice?? I forgot about you!” Lloyd leaped over another beam of light, dashing to the apparent ‘Guardian’s side to get behind it.  

They were made by the Sheikah to defend their treasures and people, the voice continued, heedless of Lloyd’s words. Very one-track minded, this old voice in Lloyd’s head. You must destroy it for the key.  

Lloyd’s eyes snapped to what was in fact a key, inlaid below the Guardian’s laser eye. Now with a clear goal, Lloyd grinned. “Thanks, Ominous Voice!” He yelled, running to the Guardian’s left and sliding under another beam as he did so. The Guardian was getting faster – he'd have to be quick about this.  

Lloyd jumped onto the sides of the cage, using the bars to pull himself up. He climbed up the side quickly, and grinned when the Guardian seemed visibly confused at the sudden disappearance of its adversary. Lloyd clung tightly to the curved bars until the Guardian wandered under him.  

Then, Lloyd jumped down, landing on the Guardian’s dumb little head, and punched it in the eye.  

He won’t lie; it hurt. The glass skinned his knuckles, breaking skin and drawing blood, but it did the trick. The Guardian stumbled around, but without its laser, it no longer posed any threat. Lloyd grinned like a feral cat and quickly grabbed the key, kicking the Guardian to the ground as he ran for the door.  

The minute he unlocked it, Lloyd made a beeline for the other end of the shrine, laughing as he ran, exhiliration from his most recent success flooding him. He was totally an adrenaline junkie before he lost his memories.  

Lloyd came to a stop when he reached a tall glass case. Inside was a beautiful golden Dao with a green gem in the center of the blade and a weighed tassle on its pommel.  

Lloyd found a Sheikah Eye at the case’s base and swiftly unlocked it, retrieving the sword.  

“Woah...” he breathed, taking it in. It was the most beautiful weapon he’d ever seen. Sure, that wasn’t exactly saying much: his memory covered all of yesterday and this morning. Still, it was an amazing sword.  

He was sort of sad he had to give it up.  

Lloyd made his way back to the entrance of the shrine. He passed the Guardian, which lay dim on the ground, and kicked it for good measure. That thing had worn him out, and now he was starving. Again.  

He hoped hunger wouldn’t become a constant thing.  

Lloyd exited the shrine using the same strange mechanism that brought him in. The sun was steadily reaching its apex.  

But Lloyd smiled. His first task was over. He’d have that map in no time. 

At this point, Lloyd didn’t think he even wanted that stupid map.  

He laid flat on his stomach, peering down over the grassy cliff and down into the shallow rocky canyon at the Stone Talus. The monster was more than four times his height, and built like a house. It meandered around aimlessly. Lloyd didn’t understand what it was doing, but he definitely didn’t want to get in its way.  

From his vantage point he could see the node that the old man mentioned. It was a single dark rock, almost as tall as Lloyd was if he had to guess. It stuck up from the Talus’ back, completely exposed.  

Lloyd hummed. If he timed it right, he could take the monster by surprise. The Dao in his right hand might be able to cut through the node with a few well-placed swings, but Lloyd knew that if he did this incorrectly then he’d be thrown off the Talus’ back and crushed.  

Not exactly the most enticing possibility.  

‘Keep your cool and stay focused. Rushing in recklessly is *** s thing.’  

Lloyd startled at the random thought, not entirely sure it came from him. He had no idea where it came from, actually. It sounded like a memory, almost – someone talking to him. But who? And why did it seem like they said a name - a name he couldn’t make out, couldn’t translate from his own mind to something he could understand?  

Lloyd squeezed his eyes shut, fighting off the impending headache.  

He didn’t want to think about his missing memories, or what these strange intruding thoughts may come from. At least, not yet, and not here.  

He’d figure out the truth eventually.  

Lloyd crept closer to the edge of the cliff, peering down at the Talus. He could envision it – he'd jump down onto the Talus, beating the node with his Dao as he descended. The momentum would pack a punch, and the Talus would hopefully be injured enough for Lloyd to finish the job.  

But Lloyd didn’t know if he’d actually be able to do it.  

He breathed in deep through his nose, and out through his mouth. No time like the present, right? If he failed, then he’d high-tail it out of there before he could get squished.  

Lloyd pushed himself to his feet, checking to make sure the Slate and compass were still secure, and wrapped both hands around the Dao’s green handle. He backed up a few paces, then took a running start straight off the cliff.  

He’ll say this much: jumping off of cliffs is fun.  

Lloyd can’t contain the exhilarated yell as he flies off the cliff face. He hits the Talus feet-first, instinctively rolling to absorb the impact, and his Dao slams into the node a split second before he hits the rock.  

The Talus bucks, taken by surprise, and the ground underneath shakes. Lloyd pulls himself to a kneel, clutching the rock for balance. He takes only a second to catch his breath before his feet carry him forward. The Dao, to his surprise, goes straight through the node on his second strike, cleaving off the top.  

Lloyd stumbles as the Talus shakes violently, crumbling into chunks of rock as it dies. He’s thrown to the ground violently, feeling his side explode in pain as he rolls to a stop. 

Lloyd yells, hand flying to his side. The world is spinning from the harsh landing, and he has to blink the spots out of his eyes. He didn’t expect the Talus to die so quickly.  

He groans as he sits up, clutching his ribcage. He lifts up his raggedy old shirt to see the skin already bruising. “Damn,” he mutters through gritted teeth, “this thing better have a lot of fancy rocks.”  

Lloyd limps over to the scattered remains of the Talus, grabbing his discarded sword from the ground. He sifts through the rubble until he finds a glittering pile hidden underneath the rocks.  

He grins at the sight of dozens of small red and green gems. He grabs the leather sack from his makeshift belt.  

The bag was incredibly convenient. When the ropes were pulled, the bag cinched up until it was no bigger than his hand. He pulled the bag open, piling the stones inside. This was so easy! 

Distracted as he was, Lloyd didn’t notice the snake.  

It crept through the grass silently, making a beeline for the distracted Hylian.  

Lloyd’s ears twitched at the sound of a soft rattle, and he turned his head to see a purple snake the size of his entire arm quickly gaining on him.  

Blind panic seized Lloyd at the sight, and he screamed, stumbling backward and landing on his back. He scrambled back, heart beating a mile a minute as he struggled to breathe.  

The snake reared up, fangs flashing, and Lloyd screamed, shutting his eyes as he braced for the bite.  

Instead, the snake was swiftly crushed underneath a giant rock.  

Lloyd scrambled to his feet, hyperventilating, unable to see through the sudden panic that grabbed his by the throat at the sight of the snake.  

Prince  

Lloyd sobbed, burying his head in his hands. The sight of that thing-  

The Anacondrai grabbed Lloyd by the throat, lifting him into the air. He kicked his feet, choking against the Serpentine’s grip. Tears budded in his eyes. He was going to die-  

He wanted his dad-  

Prince!  

Lloyd gasped, violently ripped from the vision. His head throbbed, but thankfully, breathing became easier. He clutched at his chest, slowly calming his heart.  

He touched his cheek – there were tears running down his face.  

Lloyd let out a shaky breath. What was that? A memory? Why did a snake trigger it? He grasped at the edges of the vision, but it was already fleeing his mind. All he could recall was a visceral feeling of fear and desperation.  

He glanced at the crushed body of the snake beneath the stone. He was lucky that the rock fell right before the snake could hurt him.  

Lloyd gathered his things, quickly stuffing the rest of the sack with gems. He wasn’t willing to push that luck any further.  

He wiped his face. “...Thanks, Voice.”  

He was given no response.  

Lloyd decides to return to the little campfire before he leaves for the ravine. He’s famished, and while he could totally forage for some apples, why would he? The old man is a fantastic cook.  

He seems to be expecting Lloyd, because there’s already a steaming bowl of rice and pork waiting for him. The old man is seated at the fire, ladling food into his own wooden bowl.  

Lloyd bounds over, dropping the bag of gems triumphantly. “I got your stuff!” He hands the man the Dao next, letting him inspect the blade.  

“Very well done, little traveler,” he says, storing the blade away. “I trust you didn’t have much trouble?”  

“Uh...” Lloyd thinks about the wound marring his side. “No, yeah, super easy!” He waved off with a nervous laugh.  

Prince... the voice warned, sounding extremely disappointed. That, combined with the pointed look the old man gave him, had Lloyd wilting.  

“I did get a little cut up, I guess...” He pulled up his shirt, revealing the growing brusie. The man leaned forward, humming to himself.  

“Then come, rest by the fire. Eat, and regain your strength,” he said, offering the bowl of rice to Lloyd. He eagerly did so, plopping down criss-cross style as he tucked into the meal.  

They ate in silence for a while until Lloyd spoke up, curious about something. “Before, you said that there were royal people who stopped the Calamity?” He asked. The old man tensed minutely, and Lloyd narrowed his eyes, but it was gone as soon as it appeared.  

“Yes, I did. Those royals I spoke of were the late King of Hyrule, and his brother. At this point in time, a century later, the tale is little more than legend.”  

Lloyd leaned forward eagerly. “Tell me!”  

The old man chuckled, setting down his own bowl. “I suppose a meal is made more satisfying by entertainment, hmm?” Lloyd nodded as convincingly as he could manage. “Well, it’s not a long story. Old legend says that after the Calamity surfaced, and the death of Hyrule’s greatest protector, the King and his brothers combined their power to contain the Calamity within the borders of the castle. They say the two are still there, locked in eternal combat.”  

Lloyd tilted his head. “They had powers?”  

“Yes, though that is a much longer tale, rooted in Hylian religion.” The man leaned back against the rock, yawning. “And I’m tired, little hero.”  

Lloyd pouted. “Who was Hyrule’s protector? How did they die?”  

The old man looked at Lloyd, shoulders sagging with a great and sudden weight. The lines on his face seemed more tired than before. He looked very, very old.  

“Hyrule’s protector... met a valiant fate. A terrible, valiant fate.”  

Lloyd leaned back, sobered. Maybe he didn’t want to know any more.  

The man shook off his sudden mood. “But, you don’t want to hear about times long past. The day is wearing on; will you find the statue?”  

Lloyd was suddenly reminded of the third task. He nodded vigorously, clearing the rest of his meal. “Thanks for the food!” He said, taking off to the southern end of the Great Plateau.  

The old man laughed at his antics, waving goodbye once more.  

He watched as Lloyd disappeared over the field once more, then settled down for a long nap.  

Lloyd wanders around for a while, making sure he’s headed south as he periodically stops to climb trees and splash around in streams.  

He has priorities, okay?  

He comes across the ravine soon enough, and peers over the side. The old man wasn’t lying when he said it was steep – Lloyd will have to be careful not to slip or lose his grip.  

He lowered himself down slowly, searching for the most secure crevices.  

He moved cautiously, seeing as he didn’t know how far he’d fall if he slipped, but he made it down to the bottom of the ravine with only a few minor scares.  

Lloyd jumped down the last couple feet to the ground, landing in a crouch as he surveyed the ravine’s bottom.  

There was a thin, shallow stream that ran through the craggy rock bottom, but the ravine was largely unassuming otherwise. He looked from left to right. The statue could be anywhere, and the ravine was pretty big. Which way to go?  

Lloyd remembered what the old man said about the statue having the Sheikah Eye symbol, and undid the string around his Slate.  

The Eye glowed faintly, and he waved the Slate in either direction. When the Slate was shifted to the right, it seemed brighter.  

That was enough for him. Lloyd set off to the right.  

He trudged along for a while in the unnerving quiet. This far down, away from the sunlight, he was becoming increasingly cold. His terrible clothes did nothing to help, and he cursed whoever gave them to him.  

Lloyd was relieved when just a few feet ahead, he discovered a faint blue light. The Sheikah Slate glowed even brighter, and he grinned, jogging to the source. 

The source was a giant statue of a man, tilted to the side and worn with age. Moss crept over the statue, and deep cracks marred what was once a beautiful work of art.  

Lloyd’s eyes raked over inch of the statue. The man had a passive face, and long, regal looking robes. His hands rested on the pommel of a sword planted at his feet, and a large crown laid atop his head. Something compelled Lloyd to keep staring, like the statue had him in a trance... 

“As always, we offer eternal worship and gratitude, forever in service to the great God of Time-”  

A chime interrupted the memory, shocking Lloyd. He blinked in confusion, staring down at the Slate. It was still glowing, pulsing periodically. He looked at the sky, shocked by what he saw. The sun was nearly set, casting the ravine in almost complete darkness.  

How long had he been looking at that statue? 

He shook away the muddled vision, returning to the statue. He scanned the base for the Sheikah Eye, and found it directly below the blade of the sword. It was surrounded by symbols of a language he couldn’t read.  

Technically, he’d found the statue. He didn’t actually have to do anything – just report back that he knew where it was. But he wanted to see what it would do.  

Lloyd’s meager impulse control once again melted in favor of the far most enticing option: steamroll ahead and deal with the consequences as they came.  

He pressed the Sheikah Slate to the Eye, watching as the Eye lit up brighter than ever, bathing the rocks in ghoulish blue light. The ground begins to shake, and rocky debris falls from the top of the ravine.  

Lloyd braces himself for something to appear, but the ground settles, and he’s left very confused.  

He gives the statue one final glance before he begins to scale the ravine, making his way back to the surface.  

When he hauls himself back out, he’s met with a truly baffling sight; in the distance is a giant golden tower, stretching for the sky. It definitely wasn’t there before.  

“How...” Lloyd says, squinting to try and see the tower better.  

Find the map atop the Tower. Learn the truth.  

Lloyd’s eyes widen. The tower. That was the tower that the Voice told him to find - the tower the old man was supposed to help him get to! Did the statue cause this? Did the old man know?  

Lloyd made a break for it, running toward the tower. He was getting those answers now.  

After a grueling quarter hour of scaling the ridiculously tall tower, Lloyd finally hauled himself up to the top, huffing and puffing the entire time. He was so sick of climbing shit.  

“You look like you could use a hand.”  

Lloyd’s head snapped up to see the old man smiling down at him, offering his large hand.  

“Wh- how??” He asked as he took the hand, letting the old man pull him up onto the solid tower floor.  

It had taken Lloyd like, forty minutes to make his way over here, and he ran half the way! He should’ve seen the man before he made his own way over, and neglecting that, what happened to having old bones?? 

The old man chuckled. “I have my ways, little one. But, you were promised a map.” He gestured his hand to reveal a podium in the middle of the tower. It was the same stone podium he’d seen in the Sheikah Shrine, and suspended over it was a large stalactite. Lloyd eyed the man suspiciously, approaching the podium.  

“How do I use it?” He asked, poking the stalactite. The man held out his hand, and Lloyd gave him the Slate.  

He placed the Slate in an indenture in the podium, slotting it in perfectly. The podium activated with that familiar, eerie blue light, and Lloyd watched wide-eyed as the stalactite produced a single drop of clear, glowing blue water. The water dropped onto the Slate, and was quickly absorbed. The Slate then chimed cheerfully, and the glow was gone. The man, satsified, gave Lloyd the Slate back.  

“Go on,” he prodded, “turn it on.”  

Lloyd tapped the Slate, but was met with a new picture on the glass screen. He tapped the pulsing icon, and a dark map outlined in blue took over the screen. Lloyd gasped softly as he traced his fingers over the screen, watching the map react to his hand. 

Lloyd gaped at it, using his finger to skim over the map. A glowing blue dot pulsed on what he could only assume was the Great Plateau – was that his location?  

“Wow,” Lloyd said, grinning. “This is so cool. But...” he turned back to the old man. He was uncharacteristically solemn, looking at Lloyd like he’d just dug his grave. Lloyd swallowed, lowering the Slate. “You knew about this. That the statue would cause this.” The old man’s expression didn’t change, and Lloyd knew he was right. “Why do I need the map? Why did you really send me on all those errands?” 

“I did know,” the old man agreed, “and I know of the truth you were promised. Unfortunately, this means that I must admit that I’ve been lying to you.”  

Lloyd’s fist clenched. “About what?” He demanded. “Do you know who I am?” 

“Yes,” he said. “But in order to tell you, you must first know who I am.”  

Without any further warning, he burst into flame.  

Lloyd shrieked, falling back into the podium. Hellish purple fire consumed the man’s body, hiding him from view, and Lloyd was so shocked he didn’t think to try to put it out. As it turned out, he didn’t need to.  

The fire died down as quickly as it began, revealing a completely different person. The man had transformed. He was several feet taller, with skin like coal and white markings under his eyes and mouth. Sharp fangs poked out from his mouth, and his eyes had become a reddish-purple. His hair had turned white, and from under it poked out two sharp black horns, accompanied by a large purple and black crown.  

Also, his ribcage was on fire. He seemed to have no skin or muscle on his chest, which now exposed his flaming ribs. A second set of arms poked out from a second set of pectorals, which was probably why he was now so tall. He wore a heavy set of black and purple armor, complete with a long furred cloak.  

The old man stood to his full height, looking down at Lloyd. “I am King Garmadon of Hyrule,” he said. His voice was lower than before, and reverbed dangerously. “For a century now, I have battled the Overlord within Hyrule’s castle alongside my brother, awaiting your return.”  

“Oh, is that all?” Lloyd asked faintly. 

“The tale I told you,” The old man – Garmadon – said, “of the two royals. I spoke of myself, and my own brother, 100 years ago.”  

Lloyd swallowed, his mouth dry. A tail flicked into view, skimming the floor. “What are you?” 

Garmadon dipped his head. “An Oni. Specifically, this is my Oni form. I am the reincarnation of the God of Destruction, son of the First Spinjitzu Master.”  

“The what now?”  

“The First Master was the God of Time,” Garmadon elaborated. “He created all of Ninjago, as well as the Hylian race.” 

Lloyd felt his breath leave him, shuddering out unevenly.  

He was talking to a God. Like, an actual God.  

“Uhm,” he said, quiet. Garmadon looked up, and his eyes softened.  

“Lloyd, please don’t be afraid. I’m the reincarnation of a god. It’s not so serious.”  

Lloyd bit his lip, looking down at the Slate in his hands. 

Awaiting your return...  

What had he meant by that? For a while now, Lloyd had encountered truly strange things. Was it beause of Garmadon? Had he orchestrated all of this?  

Well, only one way to find out.  

“Why... were you waiting for me?”  

Garmadon sighed. “You, Lloyd, are someone very special. You are the Master of the Green Element... Ninjago’s Champion.”  

Lloyd’s mind raced. Most of that meant nothing to him, but... 

Hero? And at the campsite, right before Lloyd drifted off to sleep, he heard Garmadon call him ‘Little Prince’, just like the Voice did.  

Garmadon and the voice called him a Prince, and he’s Hylian, so he’s Hylian Prince, and Garmadon’s a Hylian King, which makes him...   

“And your son,” Lloyd breathed.  

Garmadon smiled sadly. “Yes. You are Lloyd Garmadon, my son. It’s been far too long.”  

Lloyd shook his head, struggling to process. This- this demon man, with four eyes and ribs that were literally on fire, was his father? What, does he take after his mom?!  

(And did he say his last name was Garmadon? As in, Garmadon’s first name was his last name? How’d that work?) 

“I don’t understand,” Lloyd mumbled. “You have four arms. Am- am I gonna get four arms?!” He patted at his sides like they would suddenly sprout a new set of limbs.  

Garmadon shook his head, quick to ease his worries. “No, no! Well, I don’t think so...”  

“Wait, what?!” 

Garmadon sighed. “Lloyd, I wish I could stay and explain everything – I know you have so many questions. But I’m afraid I have to ask you to accomplish one last thing.” Saying these words seem to physically pain him, and Lloyd waited for him to elaborate.  

“Lloyd, 100 years ago, the Hero of Destiny died, and without him, the Overlord can never be defeated.”  

Lloyd shifted uncomfortably. “What, you want me to go find him? Where is he?”  

Garmadon gave him a flat look like he’s being purposely dense. “Lloyd, you are the hero I’m talking about.” Lloyd’s eyes widened, but before he can get a word in edgewise, Garmadon steamrolls on. “You, my son, are the Hero of Destiny. Your soul was curated by the First Master to protect all of Ninjago and wield his power in his stead. You are destined to defeat the Overlord in battle.”  

“The Overlord...?” 

“The Calamity.”  

Lloyd’s eyes widened. He didn’t mean the demon that destroyed Hyrule, did he?!  

But he did. He could see it on Garmadon’s face.  

“100 years ago,” he began, “the Calamity came. We were unprepared. It turned our Guardians against us, and those Guardians killed you, my son.”  

Lloyd looked down at his own hands. The dark scars that covered his palm like miniature explosions stared back. He curled his fingers in, biting his lip to keep it from trembling. 

“And- what?” He looked back up at Garmadon as anger curdled in his gut. “I’m supposed to fight that thing again?! I can’t do that! I can barely fight a robot, much less-”  

A spark of light caught the corner of his eye, and Lloyd instinctively turned his head.  

In the distance stood a large, dark castle. Around that castle, slowly circling the towers and terraces, was a monster like nothing he could ever imagine.  

Its form was dark and smoky, incorporeal but so very real. A maw like a boar’s opened wide as it reached the top of the tallest tower, roaring loud enough the shake the tower.  

As the monster reached for the darkening sky, a sudden golden light shook the castle, striking the beast like lightning. That same light seared his eyes, and he was thrust into a vision. 

A man. At least, he looked like one. The air bent around him, making him seem unearthly. He wore a set of golden and silver armor, sparkling in the darkness, emitting its own light. At his side was a large golden sword, glowing softly.   

From underneath his rice hat was a set of towering gold horns. From his back, two gold and white wings beat the air viciously, and a soft downy tail, white as the man’s long braid, flicked behind him.   

The man’s skin was also a tan gold, and a long white beard reached down to his torse. His right was shut tight, a large clawed scar marring it. His other eye, unmarked, was a xanthic yellow.   

The man – dragon? – growled, glaring at something Lloyd couldn’t see. Suddenly, he transformed, as a golden light spread over his body, and a giant dragon avatar encased him.   

But then he turned, and looked directly at Lloyd. Even though Lloyd wasn’t there, and he was only viewing this scene, the man could still see him. He said nothing, before his avatar shot into the air.  

The vision receded, and the last thing he saw was the golden dragon colliding with the Calamity.  

“Lloyd!” 

Lloyd gasped, his eyes flying open. He was still staring at the castle, like he’d never been in that vision in the first place.  

“What was that?” He asked, turning to face Garmadon, whose hands were clasped around his shoulders. He sighed, and a third hand – weird – came up to pinch the area between his brows.  

“That would be your uncle telling me to hurry up,” he said wearily, glancing at the castle. “It would seem that my little break is up.” 

Garmadon’s grip tightened. “Lloyd,” he said, forcing his attention back to his son. Lloyd searched Garmadon’s face for some kind of reassurance. “I’m sorry to ask this of you. I’m sorry that I can’t help more. Listen to me – you have to go to Jamanakai Village and locate Lady Iron Dragon. She’ll explain everything, I promise.” He brushed his thumb over Lloyd’s cheek. Lloyd leaned into it ever so slightly. “You’re our only hope.”  

“What do you mean? Where are you going? Come with me!” Lloyd pleaded, grabbing Garmadon’s wrist. He stood, straightening to his full height, and patted Lloyd’s head softly.  

“You’re more powerful than you could possibly imagine, my son,” Garmadon said, “And I promise you won’t be alone for much longer.” He snapped a finger, and the bag of gemstones popped into existence, clattering to the floor. Next to it, the golden dao appeared. “Take these,” Garamdon pushed the items into Lloyd’s hands. He took them, dumbfounded. “Protect yourself, and use those gems to get whatever you need for your journey.”  

Another roar shook the sky, and another, weaker burst of light smacked the smoky monster in the snout. Garmadon’s mouth flattened into a thin line. “I have to go, now,” he said, voice dripping with regret, “my brother can’t hold him off by himself for very long.”  

Lloyd blinked away the sudden tears in his eyes. He clutched the bag of gems tightly. “I can’t,” he choked out.  

Garmadon pushed a strand of hair behind his ear, smiling as the ear flicked. “Of course you can,” Garmadon said, “you were born for this.”  

A large battle axe materialized at his side. Lloyd’s eyes widened, and he dropped the sword and bag, grabbing his father’s arm.  

“Wait, Garmadon- Dad!”  

“I love you, Lloyd,” he said, and then he was gone.  

Lloyd was left clutching thin air, and he stumbling forward, catching himself on the tower’s rails. As he stared at the castle in the distance, he watched as he golden light was joined by a deep, bright purple, and the dark beast was slowly beat back, roaring in anger.  

Find Lady Iron Dragon, Garmadon’s voice echoed in his head.  

Lloyd fell to his knees, holding the sword for dear life. 

Chapter Text

Lloyd wakes up in a cave regretting everything.  

One week ago, he’d passed out on the golden Sheikah Map Tower, then had a borderline meltdown upon waking up. He’d paced around for hours, debating whether he should actually listen to Garmadon (his dad!!(??)) or write the entire thing off as a post-coma hallucination and run away forever.  

He’s still not entirely sold on the entire ‘Hero of Hyrule’ thing, but he does know that this ‘Lady Iron Dragon’ is probably his best bet for getting a real explanation. His father hadn’t offered much of one before disappearing in a puff of smoke, the asshole.  

He’d clambered down the steep cliffside of the Plateau shortly after he came to this conclusion, and paid for the hasty descent when he dropped his entire sack of gems. Really, though, what was he going to use them for? He had his Slate, his sword, and his compass.  

And a map. Sort of.  

Lloyd yawned thickly, popping his back. He’d been sleeping on the ground for days, and while it wasn’t strictly uncomfortable, he was starting to miss blankets. He was freezing.  

He wrinkled his nose at his clothes. After a week straight of climbing around cliffsides, ravines, canyons, and then trekking through the woods, they looked more like literal rags. They did literally nothing to protect or warm him. And they were itchy, which was worse. 

He grabbed his Sheikah Slate, pulling up the strange map. It outlined a lot of landmarks, like waterfalls and mountains, but all the markers of towns so far were outdated; he’d spent an entire day and a half making his way for a settlement, only to discover it was abandoned. By people, that was. There were plenty of Skulkin more than happy to chase him through the woods.  

He squinted at the landmarks. Maybe he’d have more luck closer to that river? People lived near water, right?  

Lloyd groaned in time with his stomach growling. He picked himself up, preparing for another day of foraging random fruit and hoping it wasn’t poisonous.  

He was starting to really hate adventuring.  

Lloyd was trying to make sense of the map, attempting to figure out if the river was worth checking out, when his ears picked up the sounds of a struggle. His ears perked and swiveled as he tilted his head, looking around. Distantly, he could hear someone yelling.  

“Hello?” He called hesitantly. “Is someone else here?”  

The voice immediately hushed, and Lloyd shifted where he stood, still trying to pinpoint where it might have come from. Then, from a little deeper in the woods, “Yes!” Lloyd perked up, head jerking to his right where the voice came from. They spoke again, louder, with more urgency. “Help me!”  

Lloyd immediately dashed into the woods, calling for the mystery person. His ears led him to them quickly, and he slowed to a stop, confused at the sight before him. 

A dark-skinned girl dressed all in white and red dangled above the ground in a net, looking extremely angry. Lloyd wandered under the net, looking up at her. “Are you okay?” He asked.  

The girl blinked at him, then wrinkled her nose. “Your clothes are atrocious,” she stated. Her voice had a thick accent he couldn’t hope to place, but she looked Hylian, like him.  

“Um.” Lloyd looked down at his clothes. She wasn’t exactly wrong, but still. Rude. “I didn’t exactly choose this.” He stared back up at her. “What are you doing up there?”  

She rolled her eyes. “I didn’t exactly choose this, either. Let me down, immediately!”  

Lloyd nodded, circling the tree. He found the rope that suspended the trap tied to the base and gripped his sword. “Hold on!” He called.  

The girl’s eyes widened and she yelled to stop him, but he had already swung, cutting the rope. The girl fell to the ground in a heap, groaning angrily. Lloyd winced.  

“S-sorry!” He scrambled to help, offering a hand to her. She glared and stood without taking it, brushing off the dirt from her fall. Now that she was at eye level, Lloyd could make out her features better. She wore thick white and red clothes, made for warmth and practicality. Her black hair was thick and curly. Most of it was contained in thin braids and coils, but some of it toward the ends hung free. Three red lines like claw marks marked her cheeks on either side of her face. They looked like tattoos, but he couldn’t be sure.  

“Thank you,” she said it like she really didn’t want to, then stalked off. Lloyd ran to catch up.  

“Hey, wait! Do you know where we are? I’m super lost.” She stopped, looking at him strangely.  

“What are you doing out here if you cannot find your way?”  

“I’m looking for someone,” he said, and seeing no reason to withhold the information, added, “in Jamanakai Village. Do you know where I can find it?”  

She snorted, placing her hand on her hip. “Foolish Hylian. You will not find Jamanakai – it is hidden away, and highly defended. If you are lost in the tamest of Ninjago’s woods, you have no hope of finding the village.”  

Lloyd wilted. “Please? It’s really important!”  

She considered him. “Hmm. You are a warrior, no?” Lloyd felt confused at the sudden shift.  

“Uhm.” He thought about what Garmadon had told him – apparently, before he’d died, he was Hyrule’s ‘protector’. “So I’ve been told?”  

She nodded, scanning him. “Yes. You carry a sword, and those scars-” Lloyd flinched at the mention of them. He’d spent several days staring at them, and within the context of him dying, they seemed much less cool. “You are a proud fighter,” she finished, nodding decisively. “You will help me. Come.”  

She walked off, leaving Lloyd confused. He ran to catch up again. “With what? Not that I mind, it’s just that I really need to get to Jamanakai-” 

“We are hunting,” she said. “You will help me locate the man named Vex, and I will lead you to Jamanakai Village.”  

Lloyd smiled. “Deal! Also: who’s Vex?”  

She knelt to the ground to trace what Lloyd thought was a faint footprint, pursing her lips. “A dangerous man. He has stolen my cloak, and must pay retribution.”  

“Ooooh,” Lloyd said, eyes sparkling. “A revenge mission!” 

The girl rolled her eyes at his antics, and they stopped at a dirt path. She looked either way, and huffed in frustration. “No road signs. Incompetent fools,” she muttered darkly, kicking a rock.  

Lloyd hummed. “What’re you looking for?”  

“A nearby settlement,” she replied. “That is where he would have gone.” 

“What’s nearby?”  

She looked at him oddly. “A lake. Why?” 

Lloyd pulled up his Sheikah Slate, and the girl gasped softly when she saw it. He searched the map until he found a lake, a few miles away, directly east.  

“Got it,” he grinned and stashed the Slate away. “It’s east.”  

“You have Sheikah technology!” She accused. “It is most rare. How did you get it?”  

“Found it in a Shrine,” Lloyd shrugged. “By the way – I'm Lloyd Garmadon.” He stuck out his hand, smiling in what he hoped was a friendly manner. She stared at his dirt and scar-covered hand.  

“I am Akita,” she said eventually, “and your hair is ridiculous.” Then, she started off to the east, leaving Lloyd’s hand extended.  

“Dang,” he dropped his hand, “she’s a real ball of sunshine.” 

____ 

“-and then he was all ‘you must defeat the Overlord’ and I’m still freaking out about the four arms-” 

“We have arrived!” Akita loudly announced, looking more relieved than when Lloyd cut her down from the hunter’s trap. He’d started talking after a few minutes of uncomfortably intense silence, and not having a better topic, had begun rambling about his time on the Great Plateau.  

Lloyd perked up. A few yards away was a giant wooden wall, and a gate guarded by two Hylians in leather armor. As he and Akita watched, they let in another person after they were given a few coins.  

“We need currency to enter,” Akita muttered. “I have no coins. Do you?” She turned to Lloyd expectantly.  

He gestured to himself. “Where would I be hiding money?”  

She hummed. “Good point. We will kill them.” She brandished a silver dagger and made to approach the gate. 

Lloyd hissed, grabbing her arm and tugging her back. “No! What?! No! We can’t just kill them!”  

Akita rolled her eyes. “Hylians,” she scoffed, “you refuse to solve your problems in any logical manner. What do you suggest, then?”  

“Maybe just ask them to let us in?” He suggested. “Seems a little easier than murdering them.”  

Akita crossed her arms. “Why would they allow us inside without currency?”  

Lloyd shrugged. “I mean, we’re both kids, and I’m like, mutilated. Maybe they’ll feel bad?” At Akita’s unimpressed glare, he put up his hands. “Look, we’ll ask, and if they say no, then we can sneak in! Not to brag, but I’m a pretty good climber.”  

Akita scoffed. “You are bragging? That is not impressive – it is a learned skill. Anybody can do it.”  

“Well I don’t remember learning it, okay?” Lloyd sighed. “Look, let’s just go?”  

Akita sighed. “Fine.”  

They both approached the gate, and Lloyd swatted at Akita. “Put that away!” He hissed, referring to her dagger. She scowled.  

“You are not the boss!” 

“I’m also not the one trying to murder people!”  

Their bickering continued until they reached the gate, where they were stopped by the guard on the left, a stocky male. “State your business,” he demanded gruffly. The guard to the left, a woman, scoffed.  

“They’re just kids, Terry!” She scolded, then bent down to speak to the two. “Hi, sweeties!” She said kindly. Lloyd noticed Akita bristle at the sugar sweet tone. “What are you doing here by yourselves?”  

“We’re, uh-” Lloyd stammered. Akita rolled her eyes.  

“We are cousins,” she said imperiously, “and we are stopping here on our journey to our aunt. Our parents have been killed in a Serpentine attack,” she said.  

The guard looked horrified. “Oh, you poor things!” She cooed, looking especially worried when she looked at Lloyd. “Here, take these,” she held out a handful of silver coins, which Akita was quick to snatch up. “Get yourselves a room at the inn, alright?”  

Akita brushed past her without another word, and Lloyd hurriedly thanked her, rushing after his ‘cousin’.  

“You’re too nice,” Terry said.  

“They’re babies! Have a heart!”  

Lloyd could feel the male guard’s gaze on them until the gate swung shut. 

____ 

After a hearty dinner, Lloyd collapsed into the bed in their room, sighing happily. He rolled around in the blankets, burying himself in the softness.  

“Akita,” he mumbled, eyes closed in bliss, “you gotta check out this bed. It’s heaven.”  

Akita was in the process of checking the windows, scowling as she locked them. “Hardly. You act as if this is your first time in a bed.”  

“Might as well be,” Lloyd said, poking his head out of the nest he’d concocted. “C’mon, relax a minute!”  

“I’m fine,” Akita said. “I will sleep on the rug by the fire.”  

Lloyd shook his head. “No, it’s okay! I can sleep on the rug-” 

Akita leveled him with a look. “You look pitiful enough as is, Hylian.” 

Lloyd propped his head on his hand, trying to piece together the puzzle that was Akita. “You say that like you’re not Hylian.”  

“That’s because I’m not,” she said, looking away. “My people are descended from them by thousands of years, but we are not Hylian.”  

“Oh,” Lloyd said. “That’s... cool?”  

“Yes,” Akita said, like he was being funny, “it is. Our separation was created by the spirits of this world. They always seemed to favor Hylians.” 

“Well, Rito can fly and Zora can breathe underwater. We need all the favor we can get,” Lloyd joked. Akita huffed, and Lloyd thought it might be a laugh.  

“My parents taught me much about Hylian history and mythology,” Akita mused. “Your people seem to be very connected to the spirits and gods.”  

“Gods?” Lloyd repeated. “Like... a God of Time?” 

Akita turned to look at him like he was being stupid. “Yes, of course. He’s your most prevalent god. Do you know nothing about your own culture?”  

Lloyd rolled his eyes. “Didn’t I tell you about waking up in a cave with no memories?”  

Akita’s eyes widened and she quickly averted her eyes. “I... was not listening,” she admitted. She at least had the decency to look guilty about it.  

Lloyd pouted. “Tell me about it,” he said.  

Akita rolled her eyes. “Fine. Come here.”  

Confused, Lloyd got up from the bed, padding over to the fire with the blanket still wrapped around his shoulders. Akita pointed him to the ground in front of an armchair, and he plopped down, legs crossed. He was surprised when he felt a brush tug at his hair. He made a questioning noise.  

“You will not be able to fight with your hair like this,” Akita said, tugging at his unruly tangles. “It is much too long.” 

Lloyd shrugged and shifted, getting comfortable. “Who’s the God of Time?” He asked.  

“A prevalent deity. Hylians believe he created their entire race in his image, then bestowed them with their great hero.”  

“Hero?” 

“Yes,” she roughly tugged at a stubborn mat. “Hylians seem to think their royal family is comprised of semi-divine people blessed by their gods. Their hero, a prince, is one of these people.”  

Lloyd swallowed. It could just be several hundred years of legend and growing mythology perpetuated by the royal family so they could maintain power. In fact, that was literally the most likely answer.  

But he’d seen a man who claimed to be his father turn into a four-armed demon with horns. He’d heard the voice of his apparent uncle beamed into his head. He’d seen the Calamity with his own eyes, and the fight against it.  

“What-” he bit his lip. “What other gods are there?”  

“Two important ones,” she said. “For destruction and creation. Most of their artwork and mythology revolve around these four.”  

Akita brushed through the last few stubborn tangles. “Though, it makes you wonder,” she mused, “where their hero was when the Calamity destroyed their entire kingdom.”  

Lloyd stared down at his lap, a lump slowing forming in his throat. “Yeah,” he whispered. “Where was he.”  

Akita hummed, drawing him from his thoughts. She handed him a mirror (where was she getting this stuff?). “Thoughts?” She sounded expectant.  

Lloyd beamed as he looked at his hair. It was so smooth!  

“Akita, it’s amazing!” He ran a hand through his hair, laughing in disbelief when his fingers didn’t snag on a single strand.  

She looked away. “If I had some conditioner-” 

She was cut off when Lloyd hugged her, squeezing tight. “Really,” he mumbled into her shoulder, “thanks.”  

Akita tensed, unsure. “It is just hair,” she said haltingly.  

Lloyd pulled away, still grinning. “Put it up for me?” He pleaded, putting on his best ‘I’m-a-pitiful-Hylian' face. “You know, so I can fight?”  

Akita shook her head, exasperated, and ducked her head, but Lloyd could see the smile. “Ponytail or braid?”  

“Both!”  

This time, Akita actually did laugh, and Lloyd dropped back to the ground.  

“So...” Lloyd drawled as Akita began gathering up his hair. “How’d your people leave the Hylians anyways?”  

“I told you – spirits. Frankly, it’s private.”  

Lloyd immediately clocked the cagey tone and decided to leave the topic alone. “What did you guys do during the Calamity?” 

“We’re small and nomadic. We hid in the woods until the threat passed, then went on with our lives,” she said. “We live off the land, so it didn’t really affect us. Not like you.”  

“Oh yeah,” Lloyd hummed. “Apparently I died. Crazy, right?”  

Akita paused. “You what.”  

Lloyd laughed. “I told you! Not my fault you didn’t listen!”  

Akita yanked his hair, and he yelped. “Okay, okay! When I woke up in that Shrine thing I told you about, apparently I’d been sleeping in there for like, a whole century.” He held up his arm. “Garmadon said that’s where I got all these scars from. Well, he implied it, but still.”  

“That is horrific,” Akita said, and she sounded actually concerned. 

“Yeah, he had like, four arms! And horns. I don’t think I clocked the horns, mostly because of the arms and flaming ribcage, but he had horns.”  

“...like an Oni.” 

“Yeah! That’s what he called himself, an Oni.”  

“You met the God of Destruction?!”  

Lloyd wiggled his hand. “He really emphasized the reincarnated bit, but yeah, basically.”   

Akita sighed. “Do you even realize how monumental that is?”  

“He was kind of lame.” 

Akita took the front strands of his hair and began braiding them. “Why you of all people were resurrected, I cannot fathom.” 

Lloyd stilled, chewing on his lip nervously. When he felt Akita’s vitriolic stare on the back of his head, he cracked. “So... remember that Hero guy you were just talking about?” 

“No.”  

“Yeah,” Lloyd cringed. “Garmadon said all this stuff about me having to like, fight the Calamity? I’m not convinced.” He picked at his frayed shorts. “That’s why I need to get to Jamanakai Village and find Lady Iron Dragon. She’ll help... maybe.” 

“She is still alive?” Akita wondered, brushing out the thick ponytail she’d put his hair in. “She was once a great Hylian general, and national hero.”  

“Maybe she can fight the Calamity, then,” Lloyd joked. It didn’t feel all that funny.  

Akita hummed, likely picking up on the sudden dim mood, and gave Lloyd the mirror. “Like it?” She asked softly.  

Lloyd’s mood lifted again when he saw it. His hair was pulled back into a ponytail, not too sleek, but enough to stay out of the way. The front strands of his hair were braided, and pulled back to make up the ‘hair tie’ for his ponytail.  

He touched the braids softly, careful not to mess them up. He twisted back to look at Akita, who was fiddling with her hands. “This is great!” He said honestly. He couldn’t be happier that his hair was finally out of the way. He’d been picking strands out of his mouth all week.  

Akita huffed. “You’ll have to remember to actually brush and wash it every once in a while,” she said, but it didn’t feel mocking this time. Lloyd realized – she was teasing him. Like they were friends.  

Something warm took place in his chest. He’d felt so alone since he’d woken up, and hadn’t even realized how much he craved this sort of contact until he found it.  

Lloyd suddenly hugged Akita tightly, not knowing what else to do with the feeling. She still didn’t hug back, but she did untense after a few seconds. 

“It is late,” she muttered after a while, and Lloyd sheepishly released her. “We should sleep.” 

He gestured to the bed. “C’mon, I don’t mind sharing.”  

Akita’s eyes flicked between the bed and Lloyd, who tried to look as innocent as possible under her scrutinizing gaze. “If you kick me,” she warned, “I will cut you.” 

Lloyd crossed his heart. “Promise!”  

She glared at him once more for good measure, then curled up at the foot of the bed, resting her head on her arms. Lloyd supposed she must sleep like this often, what with living in the woods all the time. He briefly thought of her family – did they all sleep together? Were they worried about her?  

Was his dad worried about him? 

Lloyd swallowed and quickly curled up at the headboard, taking the quilt with him and cuddling into the warmth. After a moment of consideration, he threw half of the blanket over Akita.  

She huffed quietly, ear flicking in his general direction, and they both drifted off to sleep.  

__ 

Lloyd woke up unreasonably warm on a soft bed. ‘Unreasonably’ meaning that he hadn’t woken up warm in a week, and he was going to take so much advantage of it.  

As he slowly came back to the conscious world, entirely against his will, awareness bled back into him.  

He wasn’t just warm because of the quilt, or the fire – Akita was hugging him.  

Oh my gods, he thought.  

Currently, the scary girl from the woods had her arms around his chest, holding his back to her front, and was snoring like a congested Goron. Every once in a while she snuffled in her sleep.  

Lloyd shifted to get a better look at her. In sleep, she didn’t look so angry and mean. She actually looked pretty peaceful, and Lloyd decided that this must be a regular thing for her and her family. The thought made his heart pang. He couldn’t quite decipher why.  

Lloyd wondered how they’d ended up like this. Right now, their limbs were sprawled in every direction, and the quilt was half on the floor. The fire was surprisingly still going, albeit barely.  

Akita’s breath hitched, and Lloyd grinned evilly. The next time her mouth opened, he poked his finger into the back of her throat.  

Akita’s eyes flew open and she yelled incoherently, flailing her limbs. Lloyd laughed even as he was kicked in the stomach, hysterical over her uncollected state.  

When Akita finally got her bearings, she kicked Lloyd even harder, this time incoherently yelling angrily. She really did only have one mode, didn’t she?  

Lloyd screeched, falling off the bed. “I had to!” He yelled, still laughing, as she chucked the pillow at him. “You were the one hugging me!” 

Akita’s face turned a bright scarlet, and she jumped up to chase him around the room. Lloyd screamed, hiding behind the armchair.  

After a minute of keep-away, Akita leaped over the chair and tackled Lloyd, pinning him to the floor. He was still laughing, breathless, as she pushed his face into the floor.  

“Never,” she said, also breathless from the chase, “tell anybody about this.”  

“What?” Lloyd said cheekily. “That you cuddle people in your sleep?”  

Akita growled, but a peek at her face told him that it was all playful – she was smiling too.  

Lloyd rolled out from under her, and after another minute of tussling, Akita ordered him to go downstairs and get food.  

Lloyd straightened like a soldier, saluting her. “Ma’am yes ma’am!” He chanted, and dodged her shoe on the way out.  

Lloyd ran down the stairs two at a time, winding into the dining area on the inn’s first floor. He could smell food cooking, and a half-dozen patrons already eating at various tables. He made way for the counter, but ducked behind a pillar when he heard people talking.  

“You saw her, didn’t you?” A Hylian woman in her early forties whispered. Stress lines creased the corners of her eyes and mouth. The woman behind the counter, a heavyset woman with a hardass face, frowned.  

“Yeah I did,” she said gruffly, tossing a towel over her shoulder. “Little demon girl had that poor little boy by his scruff.”  

Lloyd ducked further behind the wall, ears twitching. Were they talking about him and Akita?  

A man with blond hair clenched his fists on the counter. “And you didn’t throw that thing out?!” He demanded. Was that the guard from the gate? What was his name, Terry?  

The cook glared at him. “’Course I didn’t! Don’t you know turning away the fae is just inviting them to curse ya?”  

“But that little boy...” the lady went on.  

The cook’s eyes darkened. “Mutilated,” she said, “scars covering him head to toe, and dressed in rags. Meanwhile that wolf thing was all cozy and warm.”  

The man grit his teeth. “It must have taken him after it killed his parents,” he said. “That’s what they do.”  

The woman covered her mouth, horrified. “But children are so precious! Surely there’s some way to help him safely?”  

Terry and the cook locked eyes. “Kill it.” He said.  

Lloyd barely stifled a gasp, covering his mouth with both hands.  

They had to be talking about him and Akita. They’d described them perfectly. Why would they call her a fae? A wolf?  

All Lloyd knew was that, for some reason, they wanted to kill her. He had to warn her and get them out of here.  

He quickly ran back upstairs, flinging the door open. Akita was in the middle of putting her thick boots on, and she looked up at him. Her face became annoyed when she noticed the lack of food. “Need I do everything?” She said, but Lloyd quickly shushed her.  

“Akita, we have to leave.” 

Her face turned serious. “Why?” She said, already lacing up her boots and grabbing Lloyd’s sword.  

“There’s people downstairs, talking about you,” Lloyd struggled to find a way to explain what he’d overheard. “They think you’re a fae, or something. They want to kill you!” 

Akita stiffened, eyes locked onto the ground. She seemed frozen in place. Lloyd understood that it must have been a shock, to find out people wanted her dead for – what, her appearance? That next to her, Lloyd looked more pathetic than a baby bird lost on the ground? He felt anger stir inside of him – Akita wasn’t the nicest person in the world, but she hadn’t actually hurt anyone.  

Akita shook herself out of her daze and chucked his makeshift belt at him. Lloyd caught it by the Slate and slipped it on silently. Just as they made way to leave the room, the door was pounded on.  

Lloyd and Akita locked eyes, both panicking. Lloyd didn’t want this to come down to a conflict, but he knew that Akita would lash out if she felt cornered. And nothing said “cornered” like an angry mob at the door.  

“Hide,” Lloyd hissed. She must have seen the desperation in his eyes, because she complied, opening the window and ducking out. They were on the second floor, so Lloyd didn’t think she would actually be able to escape that way without risk of injury. She must be clinging to the side of the building. 

The door was banged on again, more insistently, and Lloyd threw it open, hoping his face didn’t convey any internal panic. He was met with the same man – definitely Terry, that glare was unmistakable – from downstairs. His jaw was set, and he towered over Lloyd menacingly. His eyes scanned over Lloyd’s head and into the room, narrowing in suspicion. “Where is it.” He demanded, gripping a spear. 

“Where’s what?” Lloyd asked, fighting to keep the tremble out of his voice. “If you’re looking for something you lost, I don’t have it.”  

“The fae,” he growled. “Where is it.” 

Lloyd’s eyes flicked past the man. There were about ten more angry Hylians gathered behind him – word spread fast. Lloyd didn’t want to think about any more angry people waiting outside the inn. Did the entire town think Akita was a threat?  

He shook his head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, sir.”  

“The fae, boy!” He yelled, and Lloyd flinched, nervously eyeing the spear. Downstairs, it sounded like the townspeople were worried about him... 

“Sir, there is no fae.” This time, he let a little bit of fear creep into his voice, lowering his head to seem smaller. “There’s just me and my cousin.”  

“And where is it?” A woman crowed from the hall. “That girl was no Hylian – I saw the tattoos!” 

Lloyd swallowed. Was this seriously about Akita’s tattoos?!  

“It’s facepaint!” He yelled defensively. “My cousin isn’t a fae!”  

“It has him bewitched!” A second, older sounding woman yelled. The small crowd stirred, muttering.  

Terry scowled. “If you cannot tell us where the demon is...” Without warning, he began to push his way into the room, making Lloyd back up.  

“Stop! My cousin isn’t a demon! We’re just on our way to see our uncle!” 

“You said you were looking for your aunt.” Terry said lowly, narrowing his eyes dangerously.  

Coldness like a bucket of water had been dumped on him doused Lloyd’s veins. Dammit, he hadn’t remembered their cover story!   

“They’re married, dimwits!” He yelled, still hoping to salvage the situation. As long as they didn’t find Akita... 

“Take the boy!” Someone yelled. “He’s under its spell!” 

“No I’m no- let go!”  

Lloyd’s arm was suddenly seized in a death grip by the man crowding him, and he tugged futilely. He didn’t have his sword – Akita did. He struggled harder as he realized that he had no way of defending himself. What if these people decided he was a threat too? What were they going to with him? 

As it turned out, he didn’t have to worry much longer. A furious growl interrupted the chaos, and Lloyd turned to see an incensed Akita leaping back into the room and springing at the man, fury etched into her every feature.  

In a split second her fangs clamped around the man’s wrist and tugged. The man screamed as blood spurted from his wound, releasing Lloyd and dropping to the ground, clutching his hand. Akita drove a dagger into his bicep and forced Lloyd’s dao into his hands, tugging him behind her in the same breath. Lloyd wasn’t given any time to process as she pulled him past the screaming crowd, who leapt away from her as if she would explode. A single hand attempted to latch onto Lloyd’s shirt, but Akita tugged him away, and they were off. 

The two sprinted out of the inn and through town, not caring who they ran into or what destruction they left in their wake, too afraid of the angry mob chasing after them.  

Finally, they managed to escape the settlement and retreat back into the surrounding woods, where Akita released him.  

Lloyd slumped against a tree, breathing heavily. Akita also fought to catch her breath, bracing herself on her knees. But there was something else to it – she was tense, wound like a tight spring, ready to grab Lloyd and run again at the slightest hint of danger.  

“What... the hell,” Lloyd panted. He watched as Akita’s face shuttered. “Akita, what the fuck?! You stabbed that man!”  

Anger and disbelief took over Akita as she glared at him. “What are you talking about?! He grabbed you! He was to hurt you!” 

“You tore out his wrist!” 

“He will survive.” 

“No?!” Lloyd yelled. “Do you know how much bacteria are in our mouths?! He might have to amputate his hand!” 

“That,” Akita growled, “is the least he deserves for daring to lay hand to you.” Lloyd blinked, surprised. He didn’t think she cared that much. “I do not know why you are angry. I defended us!” 

“I had it under control,” Lloyd argued. “I could have convinced them to leave without anyone being hurt!” 

Akita rolled her eyes. “You are idiotic! They were all convinced I was a fae, a wolf!” 

Lloyd frowned. “He never said anything about wolves.”  

Akita stiffened at his words, still as a statue. Her eyes were wide as she looked at him.  

Lloyd’s hand unconsciously drifted toward his sword, stabbed into the dirt to keep upright. Akita’s gaze followed his hand, and her own twitched toward her belt.  

“How did you know?” Lloyd asked. She didn’t answer. Lloyd scanned her appearance – the strange tattoos, the furry, pointed ears, the sharp fangs and slitted pupils. He hadn’t questioned the strange features before, since he also looked strange, but compared to other Hylians... it was obvious why they had immediately clocked her as different.  

“What... are you?”  

“None of your business!” She snapped, but underneath the anger was genuine fear, just like back at the inn.  

“You’re hiding something from me!” Lloyd yelled back, his hand fully gripping the sword hilt. “Why did they think you were a fae? Why did they want you dead so badly?!” 

Akita’s lips curled into a defensive snarl, but after a mere second of tense eye contact, she seemed to deflate. She sighed, looking away. 

“I am a Formling.” She said flatly. Lloyd’s expression cleared, and he released the tense stance he’d subconsciously taken.  

“A what?” 

“Formling. When my people separated from Hylians, it is because they were blessed by spirit-gods with the ability to shift. We were given the gift of two forms – one of a Hylian, and one of the world.” With every word, she seemed to grow more defeated. “They made us into bears, hawks, sparrows and elk. And, yes, wolves.”  

“You’re a shapeshifter?” Lloyd asked, genuinely curious now. “But then why were they so angry?”  

She scowled bitterly. “Nothing but urban legends. They believe us to be evil spirit-monsters who steal into their homes and devour their children, replacing them in the night and tricking them into raising parasites. They think we bring curses and illness, droughts and famines. They think we lay in wait just beyond the borders of their feeble villages to devour their young men and women.”  

“Well... do you?” Lloyd asked, tilting his head.  

Akita looked at him with outrage. “No! We are not so uncivilized!”  

“So... you don’t eat babies or curse villages.”  

“We are peaceful nomads! We fight only for protection and survival!”  

“So why are we fighting?” Lloyd asked, smiling wryly. The defensive anger flooded out of Akita. She seemed to lose her momentum in the confusion.  

“You mean... you do not care?” 

“Akita, my dad turned into a nine foot tall Oni with four arms. You turning into a badass wolf is not the craziest thing I’ve heard.” He joked. She relaxed, smiling a little in turn. “If it helps, I wouldn’t care. You’ve been nice to me, and you obviously care about me.”  

Akita glared. “I do not. You are an asset, nothing more.” 

He raised an eyebrow. “You were cuddling me this morning.”  

She blushed. “A- a warmth retaining technique!”  

“We had a fire and a blanket!”  

Akita scrambled to change the subject. “I could tell you where Jamanakai is now,” She said uncertainly. “You have saved me twice now. You... have no obligation to continue to help. You could be on your way now.”  

Lloyd didn’t even have to think about it. “Nope,” he said cheerfully. Akita seemed surprised at his answer.  

“Are you sure?”  

“Yeah,” he said. “I can’t miss out on the chance to see you shapeshift! Ooh, can you do it now?” He asked excitedly, eyes sparkling.  

Akita shook her head. “No. That is why I need my cloak back – it is what enables me to shift. Without it, I am Hylian, with the unfortunate bonus of being subject to public execution.”  

Lloyd winced. “The same cloak that Vex guy has?”  

She nodded. “He stole it. I took it off for only a second – I wanted to keep it clean as I skinned a rabbit – but he managed to grab it, and led me into that trap.” She scowled at the ground. “Had you not been there, I would have starved, or more likely, been found by my family, forced to live in shame without my pelt.”  

“Why wouldn’t they help you get it back?” Lloyd asked. “Is it like, finders keepers?”  

Akita looked at him oddly. “I do not know what that expression means, but no. They would not have let me fight Vex, because he is Yiga.” The way she said Yiga with such gravity probably meant that it was extremely important, and very bad, but Lloyd could only blankly stare.  

“Did you forget the whole amnesia thing? I don’t know what that is.”  

“Cultists,” she explained, “a malicious group that worships the demon that laid ruin to your kingdom. They would stop at nothing to ensure the death of the world.”  

Maybe Lloyd should have felt fear, or righteous anger, but he could only scoff. “Sounds like a bunch of freaks,” he said. “Now I really want to fight them.”  

Akita shook her head. “It will be extremely dangerous. Vex is likely within an entire camp. Besides, if you truly are the hero the Oni claims you are, they will stop at nothing to bring about your death.” 

“Pssh,” Lloyd waved his hand, “it took the literal Calamity to kill me, and I survived!”  

“No, you did not. You took 100 years to be resurrected.”  

“Regardless!” Lloyd pulled his sword out of the dirt. “I’m helping you get your cloak back.”  

Akita studies him until something within her is satisfied. “Fine,” she says.  

“Where to?” Lloyd asked, slinging the dao over his shoulder.  

Akita inhaled deeply, staring off to the north. “Being a Formling, I have superior smell,” she said. “I will track him.”  

“Then what are we waiting for?” Lloyd grinned. “I want to kick cultist ass!”  

“Breakfast,” she deadpanned. “ Someone failed to collect food this morning.” 

“I was saving your life!”  

“Excuses.” 

__ 

After a quick breakfast of random and hopefully not poisonous berries and apples, and another two hours of walking, they arrive.  

Akita directs him under a small grassy outcropping, where they crouch down and rest their feet.  

In the flat, slightly raised field is a camp. It’s made up of scattered tents and scaffolding, with crude wooden watch towers. Lloyd counts a dozen masked people in red body suits casually walking around, carrying things and talking. Their masks are unnerving – large and bold on the white masks is the upside-down Sheikah Eye. He can’t begin to imagine how they see.  

“There,” Akita hisses, and Lloyd follows her gaze to a pale and sickly looking man. He’s the only one without a mask, and is looking over a map. His eyes are dark and sunken in, and most of his hair consists of sideburns and a mustache. Behind him, on a rack used for drying and curing meat, is a ginormous white wolf pelt. 

“The cloak,” Lloyd whispers. Akita looks seconds away from springing up and charging the man – whom he assumes is Vex – so Lloyd gently tugs her back down.  

“Okay, what’s the plan?” He asks.  

“I kill Vex.” 

“An actual plan, maybe?” Lloyd tries. She rolls her eyes, but doesn’t press.  

“Can you kill a dozen Yiga?”  

“I’m not killing anyone,” Lloyd stresses. “Maybe I can distract them.”  

Akita groans. “Hylians and your weak wills. If you do not kill the Yiga, they will kill you!”  

“We just need them distracted enough for you to steal your cloak back,” Lloyd says. He peaks back up, scanning the camp. His eyes lock onto a barrel very obviously labeled “EXPLOSIVES” and points it out. “Look, I’ll use that.” He grins at her. “I’ll take the barrel-” he holds up one palm, then the other, “and fire, and-” he claps his hands together. “Boom! Distraction! While they’re busy, you sneak around and beat up Vex.”  

“You are sure this will be a sufficient distraction?” She questioned, looking unimpressed by his flawless plan.  

“Totally,” he assured. “Hell, they might see a mutilated kid waving around a bomb and think I’m the fae,” he joked, but Akita actually looked thoughtful. “Wait, do I actually look like a fae?”  

“No! Well...”  

“Akita!” 

“Fae are not even real,” she said, but sounded unsure. “I do not think they are, anyways...”  

“I thought you people were spiritual up the wazoo!” 

“I did not pay attention to all of my parents’ stories!” Akita said, flustered. “Not all were as entertaining as the Calamity.” 

“Entertaining?!”  

“I admit, it makes for a good scary story.”  

“Wow,” Lloyd crossed his arms. “You use the destruction of my entire kingdom as a campfire story. I’m offended.”  

Akita waved him off. “Nevertheless. Is there really no other way for you to fight them?” 

“I did kill a Stone Talus once, but only because I got the drop on it. I don’t think these guys are as dumb as a literal rock.”  

“You would be surprised,” Akita said. “The element of surprise will not last long – perhaps if you can find more explosives, however, it is a good plan.”  

Lloyd grinned, hiking up his dao. “Come on, there’s got to be more than one barrel of explosives!” 

__ 

“WHY IS THERE ONLY ONE BARREL OF EXPLOSIVES?!”  

Akita doesn’t spare a glance to her companion.  

Lloyd Garmadon is an... odd case.  

He is covered in scars, big and small. Scars like lightning marr his face – scars like rope burns and knives and stabs litter his arms and legs. His hair is naturally soft, but constantly tangled and overgrown. His eyes are a shade of green she’s never seen in anyone. He has fangs, like her, and slitted pupils, also like her.  

His eyes glow in the dark. He purrs in his sleep. He is simultaneously angrier than he realizes, and nicer than he has any right to be. He banters with her. He likes to make her laugh.  

She should be terrified of him.  

He is not lying, about what the Oni King said – he is the Hero from her parents’ stories. She can feel the air shift around him. She can sense the Earth bend to him. The birds grow quiet when he is near, and the wind carries warning of his presence.  

He is Other.  

Despite this, Akita does not care.  

He has been nothing but kind, even in the face of her anger and rudeness, and he did not care about her own Otherness. She owes him the same.  

Lloyd Garmadon is also enigmatic in the sense that he is a complete moron.  

He picks up on her every tone shift, every minute detail in her body language. He lacks tact, but somehow manages not to offend. He has no idea how to fight, but is blindly confident in his skills.  

Example: just 45 seconds ago, he’d ran into the Yiga camp, picked up a barrel as large as he was, and chucked it into an open flame.  

The Yiga had to split their objectives between swarming the insane amnesiac and putting out the rampaging fires. Akita took the chance to dash through the camp, making a beeline for Vex.  

She growls under her breath. He had stolen her pelt, her connection to her people and the spirit-gods. He had attempted to sentence her to his own life of shame and isolation. She would show no mercy – he will be dead within the quarter hour.  

Vex, the detestable coward, was attempting to run from the fight, stealing her cloak yet again. Inhuman speed shortened the distance between them, and Akita took out a dagger from her coat, throwing it.  

The dagger impaled Vex’s leg, and he screamed, going down easily. Disgust curls in her gut. Is this really the best the Yiga have to offer as a ‘leader’? A snivelling, cowardly moron who thinks himself a manipulator?  

She springs on him, turning him over to face her and slamming her fist into his face. Vex screams again as his nose breaks with a satisfying crunch, blood spurting onto her fist. She kicks him to the side, discarding his wailing body as she lifts her precious cloak from his grasp.  

The pelt sings as it is returned to its rightful owner. A warmth floods Akita’s veins as the wolf’s paws become one with her hands and its muzzle becomes her mouth. She sighs, content, as she slips the pelt back over her head. She is complete now – the irrational anger has finally left her, and the clarity she’d been sorely lacking returns.  

But this does not mean she isn’t angry at all.  

Akita draws her favorite dagger. A curved ivory blade, set within an iron hilt. She turns on Vex, who looks up at the fourteen-year-old girl in pure fear.  

“Please!” He begs, crawling backward pathetically. She stalks toward him, letting the wolf carry a snarl through her throat. “Spare me!” Vex cries, but Akita has no intention of doing so.  

Lloyd Garmadon is soft hearted. He wilts over the mere idea of a horrible man’s amputated hand. He is incapable of murder.  

Akita is capable. Vex will pay retribution in blood.  

“You,” she snarls, a mere whisper, “you stole my pelt. You stole my wolf.”  

“Please, child!” He holds up an arm as if to protect himself. As if she will not claw right through him. “I meant no harm-” 

“LIES!” The wolf snarls.  

“Do not kill me!” Vex cries, shutting his eyes.  

Akita’s face twists in rage as she raises her dagger, poised to strike and kill, when- 

“AKITA, HELP!” 

She stiffens at the sound of Lloyd’s voice, and Vex grins through the blood dripping from his nose.  

“Your friend,” he gargles, laughing. “He’s in danger~”  

Akita cannot resist turning around, and her eyes widen. Lloyd, for all his slippery-ness and wiles, has been pinned to the ground as a Constrictai winds its tail up his torso. Lloyd looks terrified. His eyes brim with tears her eyes can see from yards away, and he futilely kicks at the Serpentine to no avail.  

The wolf snarls. The object of their anger, their shame and fear, is right before them! She must kill him! 

She turns back, prepared to stab Vex through the heart, but he only grins. “Oh, little wolf,” he says, “are you so vicious as to allow his death for your revenge? You are ruthless.” 

Akita wants to kill him so badly. She wants to tear into him with her claws and teeth, wants to wallow in her rage.  

But all she can think of is Lloyd’s smile as he makes stupid jokes to get her to laugh. Of his excitement at such a simple thing as brushed hair. Of sleeping together, and feeling his warmth and purrs against her chest. Of his unconditional acceptance.  

She feels rage. It is the same rage she felt watching an angry man grab him by his arm and attempt to force him away from her. It is the same rage that drove her to bite and stab that same man for daring to put hands on him.  

The wolf agrees, now. Protecting a pack member is far more important to her than revenge.  

Akita turns tail and sprints for her friend.  

__ 

He wants his dad. Where’s his dad? He wants his mom. Where’s his mom? Where is his uncle? Where are the Champions? He’s scared. He wants to go home. The snake-  

ThesnakethesnaketHESNAKE-  

“AKITA, HELP!”  

Somebody, help!  

Lloyd feels the oppressive weight of the Serpentine lift off of him suddenly, and he gasps for air, desperately trying to locate his dao.  

He feels a large shadow evelop him, and he looks up in awe to see his savior.  

A giant wolf, easily taller than him on all fours, stands guard above his prone body, growling furiously. The wolf is pure white, with three red-tipped tails. Red markings like claw marks lay beneath its glowing red eyes.  

“Akita?” He breathes.  

She turns back to him and chuffs. Lloyd laughs, mostly out of disbelief. She’s shapeshifted! She’s a giant wolf! 

“Thanks for the rescue!” He calls, pulling himself to his feet. The Yiga nervously back up, wary of the giant incensed canine.  

Akita nods, and lowers herself down, then looks at Lloyd pointedly. He brushes her flank carefully, feeling his hand sink into the thick pelt, and when she chuffs impatiently, Lloyd pulls himself up onto her back, hunching over and winding his hands into her thick fur. 

This is so cool. He’s going to ride a giant wolf into battle.  

Akita stands to her full canine height, turning back to the Yiga. She barks, a ferocious and terrifying sound, and with a single swing of her neck, picks up a Yiga and flings them across camp.  

Most cultists have the self-preservation to run away. The few that don’t... 

Lloyd cannot possibly emphasize how cool it is to topple people like bowling pins with a golden sword from the back of a wolf the size of a horse.  

Lloyd can still feel the excitement as Akita carries him through the warm, sunny woods, at a walking pace now. They’ve been making headway like this for a while, and while Lloyd offered to get down so she could shift back, she didn’t seem to want to. She was calmer than she’d been since they met, and Lloyd didn’t doubt it was due to the return of her pelt.  

He’d taken the opportunity to doze as they traveled. Her fur was so soft, and the warm rays of sunlight made him sleepy.  

It’s when they reach a river that Akita stops and lowers herself to the ground. Lloyd jumps off, and Akita shifts back. The transition is seamless – her wolf form easily bleeds into an unassuming pelt on her head so naturally he has trouble visioning the actual transformation.  

Her Hylian form has changed, too. Her former ears are gone, and replaced by two fluffy wolf ears on the top of her head. They blend into her black hair perfectly, and if they were pinned, he wouldn’t know they were ears at all. Her three tails remain too, shifting until they look like a single fluffy tail. They’re unnoticeable under her cloak. 

She’s smiling at him, and without warning, tugs him into a hug.  

“Uh,” Lloyd mumbles. “Why?” 

“For your help,” Akita says. She pulls back to look him in the eye. “You are currently a hopeless fighter and naive to boot, but you are a good person. I might have been killed, were it not for you warning me of the mob or distracting the Yiga.” 

Lloyd rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah... sorry about that Serpentine.” He still didn’t understand his reaction. Just like back on the Great Plateau when he’d seen that snake, a panic unlike any other took over, stealing away his breath and control. He felt ashamed, remembering the way his limbs locked up and his eyes filled with tears.  

“No matter,” Akita says. “Drink?”  

Lloyd nods, and they both crouch to drink from the river. Lloyd drinks quickly, thirstier than ever. He really needs a canteen or something.  

Once they’ve both finished, Akita points out the waterfall the river is sourced from. “Jamanakai Village,” she says.  

Lloyd tilts his head, and she continues, “Behind the waterfall. It is well guarded. Follow the bioluminescent algae and you will be fine,” she says, then stands up, brushing off her pants.  

“Wait!” Lloyd reaches out, and she pauses. He lowers his arm, glancing away sheepishly. “This doesn’t really have to be goodbye. I like hanging out with you – maybe we could-” 

“I would like to,” Akita says softly. “I am sure whatever adventure you embark on will be nothing short of eventful. But I have left my family for long enough.”  

Lloyd nods, and smiles tightly. “Right. Well... bye, then.”  

Akita rolls her eyes fondly, and opens her arms. Lloyd is hugging her tight within the next second, burying his face in her neck. He didn’t want to say goodbye and be on his own again. The last week of loneliness had been worse than he realized, and he wasn’t entirely ready to lose his only friend.  

But he could tell that she was ready to go home, so he reluctantly released her. “Be safe,” he said softly. “And, if you ever need help...” 

“I know,” Akita said, smiling mischievously . “You are all too willing to do so for free.”  

Lloyd laughs. “I’ll see you around?” He asks hopefully.  

“Perhaps,” she says. “Goodbye, Lloyd Garmadon.”  

Without any further words, she shifts into wolf form, and turns back to the woods. Lloyd, in turn, begins his trek to the waterfall.  

Just before he ducks behind the waterfall, he glances back, hoping to catch a glimpse of one of those red-tipped tails, but she’s already gone.  

His chest tightens. He has no idea if he’ll ever see her again.  

But he remembers what Garmadon and his uncle told him to do. He had to know what to do, how he was supposed to fight the Overlord.  

Besides, Lady Iron Dragon was the one to put him in that shrine, and he had words for her. 

Chapter Text

As it turned out, Akita’s comment on bioluminescent algae wasn’t actually all that strange.  

Behind the waterfall, Lloyd is taken down a narrow cranny in the stone, and comes across three separate paths. They’re all littered with glowing organisms, from flowers to fireflies, and like Akita said, algae. He takes that path. The rock is at once smooth and jagged. It takes a bit of work to squeeze through at times. The rock is damp, and his fingers come away from the dark stones wet. 

Soon enough, he can see sunlight up ahead.  

Lloyd hurriedly runs for the opening, chasing the sunlight. He pushes aside a wall of vines and finds himself at eye level with a spear.  

He stops inches away from the sharp blade, stumbling at the sudden halt. A scowling man is on the other end of the spear, and beside him are two more Hylians, all with faces of stone.  

They’re dressed in simple but protective leather armor with insignias stitched onto their fronts. They’re all equipped with spears and swords at their sides, and Lloyd reflexively adjusts his grip on his dao.  

“Who are you,” the man, who seems to be the leader, demands more than asks. Lloyd eyes the spear cautiously, shifting back a little so it’s not two inches from his nose.  

“Lloyd Garmadon,” he says confidently. The Hylians all immediately raise their guard at the name, so he assumes they know about his whole ‘being dead’ situation. “I’m here to see Lady Iron Dragon. Garmadon sent me.” 

A female guard with freckles and auburn hair scoffs. “You expect us to believe that? Speak the truth or be culled!” She levels her sword at his neck and Lloyd bristles.  

“I am-” 

The leader of the group raises his hand, and the other three back off. “Lady Iron Dragon commanded that whomever claimed to be the Prince be brought to her immediately,” he said in a tone that brokered no room for discussion. He eyed Lloyd stoically. “If the child lies, she may kill him herself.”  

Lloyd swallowed thickly, feeling very small beneath the guard’s scrutinizing gaze.  

Dammit, Garmadon, what have you gotten me into?!  

The guards marched him through the village as though to his execution. They’d taken his dao and Sheikah Slate, leaving him defenseless, so he has no choice but to follow them through the village.  

Jamanakai Village is small, but nice. From what he can tell, it’s located deep within a hidden valley, surrounded by the mountain from which the waterfall is located. The houses are all simple, with curved hay thatched roofs surrounded by long, soft grass and household gardens. He can even see children run by, chasing each other and the odd unfortunate chicken.  

The adults, however, eye Lloyd’s little entourage suspiciously from their gardens and porches. Their glares are ugly and hateful. He hunches his shoulders, drawing into himself.  

After a short eternity, they reach a house far larger than any of the others, raised on wooden beams.  

More guards in the same armor are posted at the bottom of the wooden stairs, and they shore up their own spears as the group approaches.  

“What’s this about?” The first of the guards ask, a woman who sounds incredibly bored.  

The leader of Lloyd’s personal ‘fuck around and find out’ squad jerks his thumb at Lloyd, who is barely visible behind his large frame. “Got a kid claiming to be the dead Prince,” he says, and sounds disgusted by his own words.  

The female guard seems to share his sentiment, if the sneer on her face is anything to go by. Her companion, however, a young man with barely any facial hair, shrugs.  

“Guess Lady Iron Dragon will just kill ‘em,” he says, not sounding at all concerned at the prospect. “’Aight, send ‘im in.” 

Lloyd exhales through his mouth, feeling anxiety curdle in his stomach. Everyone so far has seemed to think his death is imminent, and he begins to entertain the idea that Lady Iron Dragon won’t even believe him.  

Stop that, he scolds himself. She was the last person who saw you. She has to believe you!  

But he’s starting to believe that less and less.  

The guard behind him shoves him forward, and Lloyd grumbles as he makes his way up the stairs. From there, only the guard with his belongings continues to accompany him, while the rest of the group, including the leader, leave, presumably to get back to their post so they can intimidate more teenagers.  

Yet another pair of guards silently open the door for them, and Lloyd enters the house. Actually, it’s more of a council hall, or something.  

As he walks silently, he chances a few glances at the guard escorting him. He’s got cropped red hair and stubble. There’s a scar alongside his cheekbone.  

Lloyd subconsciously starts to analyze him. He walks with the slightest limp on his right foot, coincidentally – or maybe not – the side opposite to Lloyd. Lloyd’s belongings are also in his right hand, while his left rests on the pommel of his sheathed sword.  

If he had to, Lloyd might be able to dart under the man and kick out his bad leg, then snatch his stuff and make a break for it. But remembering Akita’s words, he recalls that Jamanakai Village is heavily guarded. Besides, he’d fuck up his chance to speak to the general.  

He slots the plan away for a life-or-death situation, and keeps walking.  

The halls are lit by warm candlelight secured in glass cylinders on the walls. Aside from the sparse side table, the hall is bare.  

Thankfully, it is also short, and they arrive at a large set of oak double doors. Yet another set of two guards stand before them, and their eyes immediately lock onto Lloyd. Not for the first time, he wishes for clothes that cover more than the bare essentials. Maybe then, he’d stop getting so many strange looks.  

Both guards are female. The one on the left, with blonde hair, gestures to the door. “Is... he here for the General?” It’s said with both disgust and suspicion, like someone like Lloyd couldn’t possibly be worth her time.  

Lloyd’s friendly Death-Glare companion nods. “Claims he was sent to speak to her,” he says gruffly.  

The blonde guard nods, and slips past the double doors while her partner stays behind to complete the important task of glaring at Lloyd. After a few moments, the blonde is back.  

“She says to let him in,” she says, then holds up a hand to stop Lloyd’s escort from entering. “Alone. And with all his belongings.”  

Lloyd’s eyes widen. She wants to see him? Based on what he’s heard so far, he can only hope it’s not for a duel to the death.  

The guard looks like he wants to protest, but keeps his mouth shut and hands Lloyd his dao and Slate. He re-secures the Slate around his waist with the fraying bow string and enters through the large oak doors.  

They shut with a loud thud behind him, and Lloyd finds that he’s partially bathed in shadow. The room is smaller than he expected and circular, with inlaid shelves lining the walls. At the other end, on a raised dais, is a throne with a woman sitting on it.  

She has pale, wrinkled skin, but considering that she’s over 100 years old, looks way younger. Her graying brown hair is pulled back into a serious bun, with loose bangs framing her face.  

Lloyd can see why they call her ‘Lady Iron Dragon’. She wears a lean, shining suit of silver iron armor. Her chest plate has the image of a roaring amphithere in gold, and smaller golden accents spiral around grooves in the armor. Her legs are covered by iron boots with interlocking plates, and her arms are protected by shining gauntlets. A strange shoulder pad with sharp, overlapping plates like dragon scales protects her left shoulder. Anything not covered by iron is protected by chainmail. Atop her head is a silver circlet that frames her thin, sharp cheekbones.  

She’s intimidating. Her gray eyes look like they could slice him in two from a mile away.  

Lloyd sucks in a long breath, steels his nerves, and walks into the center of the room. He feels practically naked compared to her, but he tries not to show how nervous he is.  

“Lady Iron Dragon?” He says when he’s a few feet away from the stairs of the dais. She looks down at him coldly, silently. Her fingers – also covered by sharp iron – drum on the armrest of the throne. On her left is a shining sword. Lloyd shoves down the anxiety crawling up his throat. “I- I’m Lloyd Garmadon. You, uhm- I was told you put me in the Shrine of Resurrection, 100 years ago? Garmadon sent me, to uhm, talk to you?”  

The longer he talks, the smaller his voice gets, until it’s barely a whisper. He ducks his head, grimacing, as Lady Iron Dragon rises to her feet. He braces himself for some sort of confrontation, but he’s met with silence.  

He looks back up to see the general staring at him in disbelief and... despair? He eyes are wide, unbelieving, and her hand curls over her stomach as if she’s going to be sick.  

“...Lloyd?” She whispers.  

The tension in the room is so thick Lloyd chokes on it. Unable to form words, he nods meekly.  

Lady Iron Dragon gasps, ever so slightly, and dashes down the dais. Lloyd tenses up, but she doesn’t attack him. Instead, she hugs him.  

Lady Iron Dragon pulls Lloyd close to her, cradling his head in her hand as she sobs.  

Lloyd is still as a tree, even as the general everyone thought would kill him hugs him close, combing a hand through his hair.  

“-oh, you’ve gotten so big,” she’s saying, muttering quietly. She tucks her chin over his head, fighting back more sobs. “Oh, Lloyd, I’ve missed you.”  

“Uh,” Lloyd says, pulling away as gently as he can. The general lets him, albeit reluctantly, but doesn’t release him from her hold. Her hand brushes his cheek, tracing the scar there. He fidgets, uncomfortable. “Sorry, but am I supposed to... know you?”  

The general’s face falls as realization sets in. “You... you don’t remember me?” She asks. The quiet, scared tone of her voice doesn’t suit her at all, Lloyd thinks. She should be confident, commanding the attention of entire armies.  

He shakes his head. “I woke up with no memories. Sorry, but I thought you were just, uhm... a general?” He offers sheepishly, swinging the dao in his hand for something to do. He’d expected to meet a trusted, intelligent warrior that his father knew. That maybe he also knew, albeit a lot less. He didn’t expect her to cry and hug him.  

Maybe Hylians are just really dedicated to their royalty?  

Lady Iron Dragon wipes a tear from her cheek, sucking in a sharp, shaky breath. Her eyes move from his face to his clothes to his arms and legs, and presumably, the litany of scars present. Then, back to his eyes.  

“Lloyd, I’m your mother.”  

Oh. Oh, shit.  

Lady Iron Dragon is holding him at arm’s length, scanning his figure with scrutinizing eyes. Lloyd fidgets under them, unsure of what to say. He doesn’t have to, because Lady Iron Dragon hums and turns around with a swish of her cape.  

“Right, then,” she says, all trace of her earlier crying fit gone. “You must be starving. This way, now.”  

Lloyd jogs to catch up to her long, quick steps. She exits the throne room(?) through a subtle door, leading him through halls lined in wooden oak panels.  

He can’t resist speaking up. “Wait, you’re my mom? Why didn’t Garmadon- uh, dad, say anything?!”  

He can hear the scowl in her voice. “That’s what I’m wondering,” she mutters darkly. “I swear, your father...” her voice trails off into intense muttering under her breath, and Lloyd cringes.  

She throws open yet another wooden door to a huge library. Lloyd gapes as he wanders in. All around them, the walls are lined in shelves of scrolls and tomes. There must be hundreds in this room alone. Lady Iron Dragon – Mom? - leads him past all of it to a back wall. He glances at the large wall. It’s covered in a complex mural depicting strange, vague figures he doesn’t understand. There’s a pair of armchairs in front, and a small table. She gestures for him to sit down, and pulls a long corded rope handing from the ceiling.  

“Food will be here in a moment,” she says, sitting down across from him. She sighs as she sinks into the chair, closing her eyes and pinching the bridge of her nose. After a few seconds, she looks back at him. She looks tired.  

“Am I right in that you have no memories?”  

Lloyd nods. Right to business, then. He wasn’t expecting a parental reunion coming here, of course, but her sudden tone shift stings a little.  

“I woke up in the Shrine of Resurrection with no memories a little over a week ago. I didn’t even know my name.” He says instead of lingering on his feelings. 

“Hm,” she grunts. “Then, allow me to introduce myself. I am Misako Garmadon, Queen of Hyrule and the most decorated Hylian general in 300 years, excluding the last century.” She halts her formal introduction to offer a thin smile. “More importantly, I’m your mother.”  

Lloyd gives her a tense smile in return. Maybe this will be good?  

Misako sits up in her chair. “Alright. Tell me everything, from the Shrine to coming here.” 

Lloyd nods and braces for a long story.  

“-So then I climbed through the roof-” Lloyd said between bites of food. A girl had come in a few minutes ago with rice, chicken, and tea and wine, which Lloyd had practically pounced on. He was starving.  

“Wait.” Misako held up her hand. “The roof?” 

“Uh-huh,” Lloyd swallowed a large bite of chicken. “The voice – uh, Uncle Wu – told me to ‘see’, so I found the Sheikah Eye on the roof.” He smiles at her. “Smart, right?”  

She gives him a strange look. “You didn’t see the door?”  

Lloyd freezes. “Uh... What door?” 

“Lloyd, the door! Right behind the tapestry! It was supposed to take you straight into the second trial!”  

“But, wait,” he says, internally freaking out. “I did the Shrine in reverse!”  

Misako groans. “Lloyd, the Shrine is designed in a strange way. The passageway is not accessible from the second trial – that’s what the roof’s hatch is for, reaching the third trial. Within the hall is a door you were meant to open that led to the treasure room, or,” she gives him a pointed look. “Back to the second trial.”  

Lloyd drinks his tea to avoid making eye contact. Internally, he’s pissed off that he did so much climbing for nothing.  

Misako sighs. “Well, you got through. I assume you found the second trial easy. You were always skilled with a bow.”  

Lloyd nods eagerly. “Yep! I found that rope and tied it to the arrows, and shot them over the pit. Then I just shimmied over. It was fun!”  

Misako chokes on her tea, coughing. She looks at him with terrified eyes. “You climbed over lava?!”  

“Shimmied,” Lloyd corrected. “Why? Wasn’t that the point?”  

“NO!” She yells, then groans in exasperation. “Lloyd, you were supposed to hit the targets!”  

Lloyd brain halts. “...targets?” 

“Yes! The targets that should have been right over your head!” She speaks as if she’s had to have this conversation a thousand times. “You were supposed to shoot them so that they would activate a mechanism that would close the lava pit. I-” she stops herself. “Fine. What matters is that you made it over. Now, please tell me you had the sense to use Spinjitzu.”  

Lloyd tilts his head. “Spinjitzu? Like that guy Gar- dad told me about?”  

Misako slowly meets his eyes, looking utterly defeated. “You don’t know what Spinjitzu is.” 

“Uh, no? I used the axes to swing up over the arrows and then just kinda danced around the fire.” He smiles at the memory. “Looking back, it was sorta fun.”  

Misako reaches for the wine on the table and takes a very long drink. 

After the long story of meeting Garmadon, trekking through a forest for seven days, and fighting a cult – while omitting Akita’s wolfish nature – Lloyd finally brings the story back around to the present.  

Misako hums, staring into her teacup. “Then, you don’t know anything about the First Master.” 

Lloyd ticks off on his fingers, “well, Garmadon told me that he and Wu are reincarnated Gods, which are his sons. And Akita told me he was the God of Time. Oh, and Dad said that I was supposed to fight the Overlord.” He bit his lip. “Which is what I need to talk to you about. How do I do it?”  

Misako hums and stands up. “To understand your role in this, you need to understand everything that led to it.” She walked around their seats to the mural behind them, and Lloyd stood up to follow. She gestured to the image before them. “I taught you how to decipher these. What do you see?”  

Lloyd looks at the mural. It’s mostly golden and silver, but there are muted browns and beiges throughout. The pictures are blocky and sharp, not very detailed. It depicts a man with wings. A long braid whips behind him. His hands are open, inviting. He has no face. Behind him is a starburst shape that emits light, like he’d just come through it.  

“A man comes through a portal,” he says, and looks under the person. Beneath him are choppy navy blue waves that stretch underneath him. “And he arrives at an ocean?”  

“Yes,” Misako nods approvingly. “That is the First Spinjitzu Master. He came from the First Realm to the Endless Sea.” 

Lloyd moves on. The First Master is smaller, hovering above a large overflowing volcano and surrounded by four weapons. A sword swathed in fire, and scythe surrounded by rocks, nunchaku connected by lightning instead of a chain, and shuriken with snowflakes.  

“He has four weapons. A sword of fire, scythe of earth, nunchuks of lightning, and shuriken for snow?”  

“The four golden weapons. The Sword of Fire, Scythe of Quakes, Nunchaku of Lightning, and Shuriken of Ice,” Misako corrects, and nods to the next portion of the mural. “He used these weapons to make Ninjago, as well as the Hylian race.”  

The next portion is separated by a large pillar in the wall. “That’s the beginning. Now, what’s this?” She gestures to the sharp shapes of a swirling, violent storm in purple and black. Lloyd’s eyes widen when he makes out the face of a boar.  

“The Overlord,” he says. His words are heavy in his mouth. “He came to Ninjago and attacked it.”  

Misako nods. The mural shows the First Master appearing, sword in hand, to fight the Overlord. “They fought, but the First Master couldn’t kill him. So...” She gestures for him to finish the story.  

He traces the image with his finger. The First Master, arms open like a benevolent god, standing before four figures. “He gave away the Golden Weapons,” Lloyd narrated. “The Shuriken to the Zora, the Scythe to the Gerudo, the Nunchaku to the Rito, and the Sword to the Gorons.”  

“That’s right,” Misako answers. “Along with the weapons, he gave four champions their corresponding elements.”  

“But...” Lloyd turns to face his mother. “What about Hylians?”  

She points to the next image. 

Lloyd’s mind stutters to a halt. Before him is the image a glowing, golden sword. It emits light in great spikes. The First Master is shown placing it in a stone, his eyes closed. Lloyd reaches out to trace the sword. It’s by far the most detailed image. The hilt seems so familiar, as if his hands have fit into the grooves a million times.  

“The Sword of Sanctuary,” he says. He doesn’t know where the name comes from, but he knows it intimately. “That’s what he gave us?” 

Misako waggles her hand in a so-so motion. “Sort of. What he actually gave us was...” she walks past Lloyd to a new image. “This.”  

Lloyd stares at the new picture. It’s huge, stretching from the baseboard to the ceiling. The First Master, glowing in golden light, cups within his ginormous hands a small figure. A green form in the shape of a baby, curled up in the fetus position, rests in his palms. Green light curls around the form in sharp wisps.  

“That’s the Hero of Destiny,” Misako says softly. “Or, if you want to be really specific, the Green Element itself. Don’t ask me what exactly ‘Green’ does, because I don’t know.” She looks at Lloyd, clasping his shoulder and meeting his eyes. In hers, he can see his face reflected back him, confused and dirty. He knows why the green of the mural felt so familiar – it's the exact color of his eyes.  

“He imbued the sword with the Golden Essence, and then he made you.” 

“...me?” Lloyd asks faintly, feeling like a child.  

“Yes. Your soul is entwined with the Green Element. You were made to wield the Sword of Sanctuary in his stead to defend Ninjago. You are what he gave us.” 

“That...” Lloyd stares down at his hands. “Makes no sense. What, am I like, a clay doll??” 

“What?” Misako shakes off her bewilderment quickly. “No, of course not. Your soul is essentially the Green Element itself, automated to reincarnate into a Hylian vessel whenever the Overlord is set to return.”  

“Great! How do I cancel it?” 

Misako gives him the stink eye and ignores the comment. “In summary, he made you to act as not only Hyrule’s protector, but the champion for all of Ninjago. Your task is to defeat the Overlord before he can destroy it.” She claps her hands, looking at him expectantly. “Any questions?” 

“Uhm,” Lloyd says. “Is there anyone else who can do it?” 

“No,” Misako says in a tone that brokers no argument. Lloyd decides to argue anyways.  

“Why not? Doesn’t the sword do all the work? Why don’t you just go and grab it-” 

Misako interrupts him swiftly. “The last person who dared the touch the Sword of Sanctuary had his arm burned off upon contact, and died swiftly after.” Lloyd’s mouth snaps shut at the harsh words. “The sword will only respond to the Green Element, which resides in you. And before you ask, no, you can’t give it away.” 

Lloyd lets out a shaky breath, eyes dropping to the floor. The food in his stomach curdles. Not that adventuring wasn’t fun so far, but... he couldn’t fight a demon. He’d seen the Overlord – even miles away, it was the most terrifying thing in the world. If his father and uncle couldn’t do more than keep it at bay, what was he supposed to do? For all the big talk about this legendary sword, it looked like a toothpick next to the Overlord’s menacing figure. 

Misako sighed, placing a hand on Lloyd’s shoulder. “You won’t be entirely alone. Here, look,” she pushes an unfurled scroll into his hands. On the crinkled paper is the image of four dragons in a strange clockwork pattern. At their middles were the Golden Weapons, one belonging to a respective dragon. 

“These are the four Divine Beasts,” Misako explained, tracing the faded ink. “One for each core element and Golden Weapon. After the Overlord arrived, he sent out four Blights to kill and corrupt the Beasts. But, if you can kill these Blights, they’ll be purified, and able to help you in your fight.” 

Lloyd looked up, incredulous. “Let me get this straight. You want me to hop-skip- and a –jump across the continent, break into giant dragon fortresses, and kill their demon poltergeists?” 

“Yes, exactly.” 

“How?!” 

“They operate on an elemental level,” Misako said, “due to the nature of the Green Element, you can use the core four individually. Because of this, the Divine Beasts will permit your entrance. Unfortunately, since you’re not their actual pilots, you won’t be able to let anybody else in.” 

Lloyd groaned, dropping his head into his hands.  

“To summarize,” he said into his hands. “I’m supposed to run around Ninjago fighting dragon fortresses and... what?” 

“Come back here,” Misako said, “and I’ll do my best to help you use the Green Element and find the sword.” 

“Great,” Lloyd mumbled. He took a moment to attempt to process and condense the insane amount of information.  

1. He was, technically, a demigod. Good to know. 
2. He could use the element of Green. He briefly wondered if Wind was available instead.
3. There were four dragon fortresses he needed to break into and ‘purify’ so they could help him kick demon ass.
4. There was a sword- wait. 

“Wait, you don’t know where the sword is?” Lloyd asked incredulously, looking back up at Misako. Misako, for her part, looked sheepish.  

“Unfortunately, no. When the Guardians killed you-” Lloyd made a mental note to figure out how exactly that happened - “you had the sword with you. I was prepared to risk magic amputation to put it in the Shrine with you, but when your heart stopped, it... disappeared.” 

“It’s a magic glowing sword!” Lloyd exclaimed, throwing his hands up. “How does it disappear?” 

Misako glared at him. “It just did. You died, and the sword poofed. I searched for it in the Temple of Light, but the temple was gone as well. And no,” she held up a hand to stop his questions, “I haven’t found the temple either. They’re both gone.” 

Lloyd sighed for the umpteenth time.  

    4. The sword was missing. 

“Listen, Lloyd,” Misako said. “There’s no use in you dwelling on this. Right now, you need to learn Spinjitzu before you leave again.” 

“Right,” Lloyd nodded. If Misako wanted to spend time looking for a lost sword, he’d let her. Martial arts sounded way more fun. “So, what first?” 

Misako wrinkled her nose. “A bath, I would hope.” 

Lloyd took his time in the tub. Relief washed over him as he finally got to scrub the week’s dirt and grime off, and his hair had never been so smooth and silky. He reveled in it. It was even better than when Akita had brushed it out the day before! Unfortunately, that meant the braid had to come out, and Lloyd couldn’t manage to replicate it. Instead, he pulled his thick hair into a bun. He got dressed in a loose, breathable green training gi set on the counter, and decides he likes the color on him.  

He found Misako in a courtyard of sorts, at the very back of the house. Actually, it resembled a monastery more than a house, but he wasn’t one to nitpick.  

Misako was waiting for him, hands on her hips. Lloyd dutifully plopped down on the ground, attentive.  

“First of all,” she began, jumping straight into lecture mode, “you need to understand that Spinjitzu is accomplished through a connection to the natural world. Elemental Masters are predispositioned for it, and the stronger the element, the easier it is.” She gave him a pointed look that told him she was referencing the whole ‘Green’ thing. “It took me over half a year to form even a small Spinjitzu tornado, but of course, I’m no EM. You, however, were a natural.” Her left eye twitched a little. “Three fucking months...” 

Lloyd leaned forward, eager. “Can you show me? PLease?” 

Misako’s expression softened, and she smiled, indulgent pride taking over. “Well, I wouldn’t mind a little demonstration...” 

Misako stepped back several feet, stretching her arms out. She braced her foot behind her, and in a fluid motion, jumped up and kicked back, twisting her entire body. The next second she hit the ground, she was engulfed in an ivory and silver tornado.  

Lloyd’s eyes widened and he couldn’t stop from gaping. Where his mother once was, a swirling miniature tornado took her place, rotating quickly in place like a blurring spinning top. He could feel the wind from his spot on the ground.  

After many long seconds, the tornado died down, leaving Misako standing with a prideful grin on her face. Somehow, she seemed younger, even if she looked no different.  

“That,” she said, slightly out of breath, “is Spinjitzu. Take note, Lloyd.” 

Lloyd grinned, jumping to his feet. “You’ve gotta show me how to do that! What did my tornado look like? Was it as big as yours?” 

Misako laughed. “Green, and smaller. No less powerful, though,” she answered fondly. “As for the learning bit...” she brushed past him to the middle of the courtyard, where a circular pedestal stood, encircled in beige stones. She pressed a large button on the top, and before Lloyd’s eyes, the familiar blue glow of Sheikah technology bled through the grooves of the stone ground. A training course slowly rose from the ground, complete with swinging dummies and punching bags.  

“Wow,” he said, speechless. Misako gave him a slightly sadistic smile.  

“Complete that course,” she said, “and if you can do it quickly enough, it might work.” 

Spinjitzu training was brutal. After several failed attempts, getting knocked over by spinning dummies and rapidly displaced beams, Lloyd slowly managed to make his way through the course. Misako had, at one point, taken pity, and demonstrated the course. Following her lead, with room for adjustment, he’d managed to get all the way through. From there, his oh-so-loving mother demanded that he do it over and over until he could complete the course perfectly, and then some.  

AKA, several hours of grueling running, flipping, kicking, and spinning. 

After what seems like forever, Misako has him take a break, and he joins her at a lowered table under the roof’s smooth overhang.  

Misako passes him a canteen of fresh water, which he drinks slowly, not very keen on puking it up later. She jots down something in her notebook. 

“So,” Lloyd says, setting down the water. “Why isn’t the course working? I’m doing all the steps correctly.” 

Misako sighs and snaps the journal shut. “That’s the problem. You’re just going through the motions.” She gestured with her hands, “you have to feel the motion of yourself and the world around you. Spinjitzu can’t just be a series of steps, it has to be a reflex. It needs to be as natural as breathing, and you need high attunement to the world around you to accomplish that.” She sighs, dropping her hands. “If it were only an obstacle course, I’d have mastered it in a week. Elemental Masters naturally have an affinity to Spinjitzu due to the fact that a part of them is what makes up this world - it’s why you, as the holder of the Green Element, mastered it so quickly.” 

“But I don’t know how to tap into that,” Lloyd insists. “I’m trying to feel connected, it’s just not working.” 

Misako hums, looking past him at the obstacle course. “…it’s too predictable. For you to do Spinjitzu, it’ll have to be more spontaneous. Here.” She abruptly stood and walked to the edge of the courtyard’s walls, pressing an unassuming discolored brick. It sunk into the wall with a heavy click, and all throughout the courtyard’s walls, small holes not unlike the ones from the Shrine’s first trial appeared. 

Lloyd stood up, poking one of the holes. It was about the size of a tennis ball, and each holes had about a foot of space between any others. 

“Something I made early on,” Misako said. “Pull the lever-“ she gestured to a lever sticking out from the wall to Lloyd’s right, right next to a side gate to the courtyard, “-and it will shoot harmless playing balls. Since it’s more unpredictable, it’ll be easier for you to feel the motion. Pull it whenever you’re ready, I have packing to do.” 

The mention of packing has Lloyd lighting up, turning to face his mother. “Packing? So you’re coming with me?” 

Misako’s face fell and she shook her head. “No, Lloyd. Packing for you. Food, clothes, essentials. I can’t go with you.” 

Oh. Lloyd felt embarrassment course through him. For a moment, he’d been genuinely excited at the idea of getting to travel with his mother and continue to learn from her. He had really hoped that it wouldn’t be all on him like she made it seem. 

Lloyd scowled and looked away, disheartened. “Right,” he mumbled. “Of course you can’t.” 

“Lloyd-“ Misako sighed, reaching out a hand, but she withdrew it at the last second. It lingered in the air for a moment before she dropped it. “I’m sorry,” she offered weakly. 

“Yeah,” he said half-heartedly. “I know.” 

Lloyd pulled the lever and got to training. 

It’s about 15 minutes into the new activity that it happens. 

For the record, the strange machine - which he suspects is at least somewhat built using Sheikah Tech - is working. He can’t predict the exact timing or angle of all the tennis balls, but going through the motions of Spinjitzu helps him avoid them. They’re spontaneous enough that he can’t just work at the same pace as before, though. He really feels like he’s getting somewhere. 

Kind of. He’s still not turning into a green tornado. 

Misako entered the courtyard again only a few minutes ago. Lloyd steadfastly ignores her and the feeling of betrayal and disappointment in his gut. She seems content to ignore him as well as she continues scribbling in various notebooks and checking scrolls she brought out with her. 

Then Lloyd sees something from the corner of his eye. A Hylian figure, dressed in skintight dark blue clothes and face covered with a mask. A Yiga mask. 

Time slows down as Lloyd sees the Yiga draw a bow and arrow, jumping down from their perch on the stone wall, arrow drawn and aimed for Misako. She’s completely oblivious to it. 

He can see it in his mind. The arrow will pierce her through the skull and he’ll be helpless to stop it. 

“MOM!” He screams. 

Lloyd instantly switches from his Spinjitzu form, aiming for the Yiga. Without really realizing how, he’s across the courtyard in an instant, kicking out. His foot connects with the Yiga’s midsection. In the next second, they’re slammed into the stone wall with a violent crack, and the stone behind them slowly crumbles beneath the force. 

Lloyd wastes no time in grabbing the Yiga by the fabric of their shirt, pinning them to the stone wall by the neck. He keeps his fist poised for a punch in case they try anything, but they look solidly defeated, head lolling to the side with a weak groan. Still, he refuses to take his eyes off of them. 

“Mom!” He calls. “Are you okay?” 

He met with slow clapping. Confused, he turns his head to see his mother walking toward them, clapping with a wide smile across her face. 

“Well done, Lloyd! Your form was a little unstable, but that was a fantastic start!” 

“What-“ he drops his fist, looking between his mom and the Yiga uncertainly. “What do you mean?” 

“You did Spinjitzu!” Misako says proudly. “I knew you just needed a little push.” 

Realization dawns on Lloyd. He’d crossed the courtyard so fast because he’d actually managed to form a Spinjitzu tornado. That’s why his kick was powerful enough to throw the Yiga into the wall and crack stone. 

He looks back at the Yiga. “But-“ 

“Dareth, you can get up now,” Misako says, sounding a little bored. “It worked, thank you.” 

Lloyd stares in shock as the Yiga groans, taking off the full-face mask. He’s a middle aged Hylian with a tanned, chubby faced coated in light stubble and poofy brown hair.

“Don’t think I can,” Dareth says, clutching his rib cage. “I think your kid broke something..!” 

Lloyd drops Dareth and whips around to glare at Misako. Dareth slumps to the ground, mumbling about ‘crazy demigod kids’. “You set up a fake assassination attempt to trick me?!” 

Misako shrugs. “I prefer to call it motivation, but whatever works.” 

Lloyd splutters. “I thought he was about to kill you!” 

“Oh please,” Misako waved him off, “I’m the greatest general on the continent. Dareth couldn’t kill me if I let him.” 

“I resent that!” Dareth called from the ground, then hissed in pain as he aggravated his injury. 

“Anyways,” Misako smiles. “What’s important is that you performed Spinjitzu! A little wonky, but nothing practice won’t fix. So, you get started on that.” Misako seems to remember that Dareth is still there, and looks past a speechless Lloyd to address him. “And Dareth, really, pick yourself up. He’s a fourteen year old boy.” 

With that, she turns and briskly walks back inside. 

Lloyd, still slack jawed, shrieks in frustration, throwing his hands in the air. 

“Who does she think she is?!” He rants to nobody in particular. “She can’t just- I thought she almost died, how could she-“ he grips his hair and yells incoherently, too angry to form words. First she wants to send him on a wild goose chase around a monster-infested continent, and now she fakes her own assassination attempt?! 

Lloyd is starting to resent his parents. 

Dareth pipes up from the ground. “Rough day, kiddo?” He asks, scooting to sit up more. 

Lloyd remembers that he’s still there and goes red in the face. He breathes out heavily, trying to calm his anger. “Uh… yeah, a little. Uhm, sorry about that,” he says sheepishly, eyes catching on the way Dareth is still clutching his rib cage, albeit less dramatically now. “Thought you were trying to kill my mom.” 

Dareth waves him off with a friendly smile. “No problem! Nothin’ the local ninjitsu master can’t handle!” 

Lloyd raises an eyebrow. “You’re… a ninjitsu master.” 

Dareth grins cockily, jabbing a thumb at himself. “Thats’a right, little man! You’re looking at Grand Master Dareth, sensei of Grand Master Dareth’s Mojo Dojo!” The slight lisp in his voice ruins the effect, if there was any. 

Lloyd nods slowly, cringing a little. “…right.” 

Dareth barrels on, unaware of Lloyd’s disbelief. “Anyway, that Lady Iron Dragon really is somethin’, huh?” 

Lloyd sighs, crossing his arms. He kicks a pebble in lieu of an answer. He didn’t want to think about how frustrated he was with his parents, but it was all he could think about. 

Maybe it was disappointment. That they weren’t… more. Not more powerful - his father and uncle were magical reincarnated gods and his mother was the only Hylian without an element to master Spinjitzu. He wishes they were more… parental. He wishes his father hadn’t tricked him and played mind games just to get him to go on this insane journey. He wishes his mom hadn’t shoved all of this destiny business on his shoulders with no warning or care, and that she hadn’t made him fear losing her just to do Spinjitzu a little faster. 

Even his uncle had played games with him. It would’ve been easy for Wu to just explain everything when he woke up, but he didn’t . He let Lloyd run all over the Great Plateau like a feral cat instead of just telling him who he was and what to do. 

He knows they had their reasons, but it stings. 

“Yeah,” he says eventually. “I’m just frustrated with her.” 

Dareth pats the ground next to him, and Lloyd slumps down next to him, drawing his knees up to his chest. Even next to the plump, shorter man, he’s tiny. He resents that. Shouldn’t Ninjago’s champion be all hulking and muscly? 

Actually, that’s a weird image. 

“Your mom…” Dareth trails off, gazing into the monastery windows. Inside, Misako tosses a scroll over her shoulder. “She’s a strong lady. I wasn’t there - I’m not 100 years old, thank you - but people talk about it all the time. The Calamity.” 

Lloyd sits up. Every mention of the Calamity lately stirs an odd feeling of guilt in him. He remembers Akita’s words - where was their hero? 

“When you lost,” Dareth goes on, glancing at Lloyd sheepishly, “sorry, when you uh, died, she got all stoney. Like a statue.” 

Lloyd picks at the thread of his pants. “What do you mean?” 

“Well,” Dareth rubs the back of his neck. “She closed herself off. She had to be a general for her people - strong, and noble! She couldn’t do that while grieving, so she didn’t. Grieve, I mean.” 

Lloyd looks back at Misako through the window. The hard lines of her aging face, worn by endless scowling. He tries to imagine it - a century without a family, trying to protect what little refugees could be saved from an increasingly hostile continent. Closing himself off so soundly people see him as the kind of person to kill a kid on a whim. He can’t. 

“It was hard on her,” Dareth continues. “She had to make a lot of hard decisions. And, I mean, who would want to go back to the Great Plateau? It’s a nightmare. Probably why she stayed here - too many reminders.” 

Lloyd looked at Dareth in shock, gaping. “How did you-“ 

He smiled, laughing. “Probably what you were wondering, right? Why she wasn’t waitin’ there for ya. I can’t read her mind, but I bet it was just too painful.” 

Lloyd scowls, staring down at his lap. “What’s painful is waking up with no memories and finding out your parents don’t even care.” 

Lloyd surprises himself with the venom in his tone. He knows they care. Garmadon had seemed so sad at the Great Plateau it hurt just to remember it, and his mother had burst into tears upon seeing him. Even Uncle Wu had gone out of his way to protect Lloyd. So why was he so angry at them? 

“Oh, she cares,” Dareth said, ignorant to Lloyd’s inner turmoil. “Man, I think today is the first day I’ve ever seen the general smile.” 

Lloyd’s eyes widened in surprise. “Really?” 

Dareth hummed. “Yeah. She’s a stone-cold warrior! No one’s ever seen her crack a smile.” He smiled at Lloyd. Dareth had such a friendly, harmless face it was hard to stay angry when he was advocating for Misako. “So, she must really care, kiddo.” 

Lloyd raised an eyebrow. “‘Kiddo’? You know I’m, like, a demigod, right?” 

Dareth snorted. “Psh! You may be a demigod, but I am Grand Sensei Dareth!” 

Lloyd grinned. Ever since he’d come here, people had only looked at him in suspicion or, in the case of the few guards who knew Lloyd was really, well, Lloyd, fanatic awe. It was nice to be treated so normally. 

Dareth clutched the wall as he stood, still wobbly but much less pale and shaky. “I’m gonna go find a medic,” he said, grinning shakily. “Gotta get these ribs in order!” 

Lloyd smiled sheepishly. “Uh- right. Sorry again, about the whole-“ he waved his hand, “tornado thing.” 

Dareth smiled wide. “Don’t be! Keep it up, young pupil, and you may yet be as powerful as Grand Sensei Master Dareth!” 

“Master?” 

“Come by the dojo if you don’t believe me!” Dareth said, pointing at Lloyd, “I dare you!” 

Without another word, he dramatically sauntered off. The effect was ruined by his very obvious limp, but Lloyd couldn’t help smiling. 

He turned to look through the window again. Misako, oblivious, blew a strand of grey-brown hair from her eyes as she carefully wrote on parchment paper. 

Maybe they’d be okay. 

After hours of training, halfway through which Misako came to offer pointers, they both sit down for dinner. After a long day of Spinjitzu, combined with “brushing up on” his basic combat skills, Lloyd is more than happy to dig in. They eat in silence for a while, Misako still consumed in her notes and scrolls. 

“Lloyd, before you go,” Misako spoke up, setting her drink down on the table. Lloyd swallowed a bite of his food, looking up to meet her eyes. “I’m not sending you out completely on your own,” she said. “I told you about the Core Four Elements, but they’re not the only elements. Before the Calamity, the Master of Water trained with you.” 

“But,” Lloyd said, setting down his chopsticks, “isn’t she dead by now? It’s been 100 years.” He can’t explain it, but he knows that this Master of Water is a woman. It feels right, somehow. Must be what Misako said - he knew her, once. 

“Not quite,” Misako shook her head. “Nya Jiang-Smith…” she stared out of a window, looking incredibly sad. “She was an incredible young woman.” 

The Calamity had destroyed everything. The capital of Hyrule was in ruins. Lady Iron Dragon, along with a few dozen survivors, had fled down to the Zora’s domain, hoping that their army would protect them.  

It didn’t.  

A demon had surfaced from the water. A giant sea snake with teeth the size of horses had been awoken from the depths of the sea.  

Wojira. The ancient Zora sea beast.  

Her scales were a deep midnight blue that disguised her in the water. She reared up on her massive tail, spitting boiling water and acid down at the Zora army in disarray. Giant blue frills shook violently as Wojira wreaked havoc upon the coast. Panicked Zora soldiers tried to fight her off, but their attacks glanced off her scales like needles against a suit of armor. Blood seeped into the sand.  

Misako fell to her knees, heaving a sob. All hope had left her. Her husband and brother-in-law were trapped within her crumbling home, fighting back the demon that haunted her kingdom’s every step, and only two days ago she had practically buried her son, hoping against all hope that the Shrine would bring him back to her.  

She couldn’t bear any more disasters. The weight of the past few days pushed her deeper into the ground as tears rolled down her cheeks.  

She was Lady Iron Dragon - the most decorated Hylian general in 300 years and the Queen of a nation. But she had failed to remain strong.  

Nya Jiang-Smith, the elemental Master of Water, stood behind her silently, staring down the ocean with cold blue eyes. She wondered if the girl felt the same despair she did. All of Wu’s students were incredibly attached to her son, but her current thoughts remained on Wojira.  

Nya was half Zora. Though she had never been treated well by the Zora due to her appearance, Misako felt that she must feel some sort of grief over the ongoing battle.  

Nya quietly moved to stand at her side. Her small tail, similar to a koi fish’, swung limply.  

“Lady Iron Dragon,” Nya spoke up. Her voice was steady. If Misako could admire anything about the girl, it was her resilience. She was a proud, stubborn woman and an exceptional warrior. At times, Misako saw herself in that fire.  

Misako raised her head, not bothering to wipe away her tears. There was no point. But Nya didn’t mirror her despair. Her expression was stoney.  

“You know you’re my hero, right?” Nya asked. Her eyes didn’t stray from Wojira.  

Misako breathed deeply, struggling to control the tremor in her voice. “Yes.”  

“Then,” Nya reached around to her back where her trident was stored and held it in her hands. It was of exceptional craftsmanship. The trident was made of pure silver, decorated in elegant twists of the metal in traditional Zora fashion. The base of the prongs was inlaid with lapis gems. Nya looked down at her weapon quietly.  

“Promise me something,” she continued, “as a favor to your biggest fan.”  

Misako nodded silently, and Nya sighed.  

She seemed to carefully breathe in the salty wind from the ocean, connected to it in a way only she could be. She brandished the trident to Misako, who took it hesitantly. The silver was cool in her hands.  

“Take care of that for me,” Nya said. “And give it to Lloyd when you see him again. Tell him… tell him I loved him. That we all did.”  

“Nya,” Misako said, “what on earth are you doing?”  

Nya let her black hair loose from the ponytail she kept it in. Her hair fell in ringlets around her face, waving gently in the wind. It made her look older.  

She kicked off her shoes and undid the straps to her gauntlets, slowly undressing until only her loose shirt and pants remained. Her bare feet moved across the cold sand as she stepped into the surf. The water bobbed around her feet, but didn’t fall back into the sea. Instead, it coalesced around her ankles as tendrils of water slowly climbed her legs.  

Misako stood, alarmed. “Nya! What are you doing?!”  

Nya looked back at her with glowing cyan eyes. “I’m the Master of Water,” she said, gesturing to Wojira. “I’ve got the home advantage, don’t I?”  

“Then,” Misako held out the trident, “if you’re going to fight that thing, at least take your weapon!”  

Nya shook her head, smiling sadly. “Don’t need it.”  

The water continued to climb her form, enveloping her. The glow of her irises leeched into her pupils and sclera until her eyes were a pure cyan blue. Her face slowly grew slack.  

“Tell him…” she whispered. Her voice reverberated softly. It felt like being underwater, listening to the voices of those above as the water muffled and warped them. “Tell him I kicked ass.”  

As the water reached up her face, Misako finally knew what she was doing.  

Nya Jiang-Smith was merging with the Sea.  

Just as she reached the conclusion, Nya dissolved into water.  

Misako frantically searched for her, yelling as she ran into the surf. Before her, a column of water rose unnaturally in front of Wojira. It churned quickly as the shape of a woman rose from it. Her body was made of the salty ocean and shifting in time with the sea. The light formed ripples across her skin. Her hair whipped behind her, tips fading into spitting sea foam. Ancient Zora runes were etched into her face like tattoos, glowing as brightly as her pure blue eyes. A sleeveless dress seamlessly transitioned from the ocean pillar she rose from, curling over her chest elegantly. Sea foam curled over the bodice.  

Nya had become one with the sea. She had become Nyad.  

The cries of Zora soldiers and civilians as they bowed before the image of their goddess were muffled behind her. She only had eyes and ears for Nyad.  

The Sea Herself formed a trident, far larger than the one Misako held, from the water. Her passive face curled into a snarl as she lept at Wojira.  

The serpent hissed wildly, lunging for the Sea Goddess.  

Suddenly, from the depths of the ocean, chains of water erupted to the surface and latched onto Wojira and pulling her back violently. The sea serpent thrashed, shrieking loud enough to burst eardrums, but the pull of the ocean was stronger. Nyad’s face remained cold as the snake was slowly pulled down into the depths.  

Then, she too disappeared.  

“After that, I never saw her again. I visited the coast many times, calling her name, but she never answered,” Misako finished. 

“There’s more than the five elements?” Lloyd asked. He should probably be in a little more shock at the story, and to be fair, he was definitely in awe. He didn’t know someone could just… become their element. Nya must have been very powerful. And she saved her entire nation - she was a hero. 

But that’s all he knew about her. Sure, they were probably friends, but he didn’t know her like that anymore. He only knew this story - a distant, unreachable legend. 

Misako nodded, oblivious to his inner monologue. “Yes. We didn’t know about any elements aside from the Core Four and the Green element before she came to Hyrule to train, however. It was only when her brother, the Master of Fire, brought her with him to Hyrule that we found out about her element.” She picked up a seemingly random scroll from the cluttered table. “Since Water doesn’t have a Golden Weapon or Divine Beast, knowledge of her element - and, likely, other elements - was lost to time. Unfortunate, really.” Lloyd remembered that his mother was also a historian. All that lost knowledge must infuriate her. 

She shook her head, passing the scroll to Lloyd. He opened it up and finds it to be a map, along with several annotations and arrows. He gave his mother a bewildered look and holds up to scroll. “Did you give this to me on purpose?” He asked jokingly. 

“That’s a map to Aspheera,” Misako said, dead serious. “She’s an ancient Serpentine witch. If anyone can help you unmerge Nyad, it’s her.” 

Lloyd’s heart drops at ‘Serpentine’. He laughs a little. “Yeah, might be a problem? I don’t do well with snakes.” 

Misako raises her brows then snaps her fingers. “That’s right. A serpentine general almost killed you when you were ten. You’ve been scared of snakes ever since.” 

Lloyd paled. That… wasn’t very reassuring. Where did all that talk of being Ninjago’s greatest warrior go?! 

“And… you want me to ask this witch for help?” He asked. 

“She’ll try to trick you,” Misako warned. “She’s had a grudge against our family ever since a past incarnation of your uncle trapped her in her tomb, 1000 years ago.” 

Lloyd slumped in his seat. “So she’ll totally help me, right?” He said. “‘Hey, my uncle put you in here for 1000 years! Give me a magic spell?’“ He waved his hands sarcastically, pitching his voice. “Yeah, right.” 

“For the right price, she will,” Misako said. She tapped the golden edge of the scroll. “Follow this map. It’s the closest I’ve been able to get to the exact location of the tomb. When you get the spell, go to the Zora domain. If any of Nyad’s former self remains, it will still be there. Prince Benthomaar may be able to help you.” 

Lloyd nodded, stowing the scroll away in the bag he’d taken to carrying around since Misako had given him so many supplies. 

What can he say, he likes collecting things. 

“What if she doesn’t help me?” Lloyd asks. “What if I can’t meet her prices?” 

“She’s tricky,” Misako said. “You’ll just have to be trickier.” 

Lloyd’s going three for three on cryptic relatives. 

Lloyd sighs, staring into his bowl of beef stew. His appetite, which so far has been a roaring fire, is extinguished. “When do I leave?” He asks. 

Misako shifts uncomfortably. “Tomorrow,” she says softly. Her tone reeks of regret and things unsaid. “I’ll send you off with a horse. From there, it’s up to you to free the Divine Beasts.” 

Lloyd nods and shovels beef into his mouth. It tastes like ash. 

Misako led him to a guest room. He took the time for a bath, uncaring that the water hadn’t been heated. Despite the fluffy bed, he barely slept, turning over all the new information in his mind. It still felt surreal - him, an Elemental Master made by a god to protect the continent? But he had no choice but to accept it as the truth. He could only hope that he’d be able to live up to the standard. 

He must have drifted off at some point, because he found a new set of clothes at the foot of his bed in the morning. 

He turned over the clothes. A breathable green shirt with buckles and pockets, flared black pants with yet more pockets, and a new brown and gold belt and a pair of brown shoes. The belt seemed designed to hold his Sheikah Slate perfectly. He tugged on two thin, flexible golden gauntlets, redoing the straps a few times. Under them, Misako had given him a pair of black fingerless gloves. He tugged them all on and looked in the mirror. 

The clothes made him look a lot more put together. But his hair still fell in thick waves over his shoulders. He didn’t want to cut it, so he decided to try and emulate the braid Akita did for him. 

He failed miserably. 

Eventually, he wrangled the hair into a high ponytail with a spare hair tie on the dresser. Didn’t look as good as Akita’s braid, but it would get the job done. 

His mother was there to send him off, holding the bridle of huge horse with a thick brown mane and coat. Next to her, an attendant gawks at him.  

“Lloyd,” Misako starts, then clears her throat. “I packed up everything you should need,” she said, handing the bridle to Lloyd. He pet the surprisingly coarse mane of the horse, who huffed but otherwise didn’t react.  

On the animal’s back were four large travelling bags, secured with ropes and hooks. 

Misako stood off to the side. “I packed you plenty of clothes and around a week’s worth of food – that's as long as anything healthy will really keep, but there’s plenty of money for you. Make sure to stay hydrated – thirst will kill you before the hunger does. And make sure to eat your vegetables.” 

Lloyd smiled. Despite her generally terrified demeanor, Lloyd could see what Dareth meant. Lady Iron Dragon really was just a Hylian woman. And his mom to boot.  

“Thanks, mom-” But she wasn’t finished. 

“Make sure to take regular baths, and whenever you buy supplies, always and I do mean always buy more arrows than you think you need,” she rambled, “they run out quicker than you’d think! And invest in good boots! And Lloyd, please do try to choose the healthier meal over the tastier one, protein is more important than satisfaction-” 

“Mom, I have to go!” Ironically, Lloyd was now the one trying to get going instead of lingering. Misako seemed to realize this as well, and held up her hands placatingly.  

“Wait, wait, I have something for you!”  

She gestured for the attendant girl to come closer, and took from her a large cloth bundle. She passed it to Lloyd, who peeled back the end to see a silver trident.  

“It was Nya’s,” Misako said. “I’d like for you to give it back to her. Or, failing that, use it to free Vah Ruta.” 

Lloyd nodded and stored the trident on the horse. Misako then took a large leather-bound book from her attendant, handing it to Lloyd. It was huge, stuffed to the brim with notes, annotations, and general mayhem. 

“My journal from my days in the army,” Misako explained, rubbing her hands awkwardly. “I used it for everything. And I’ve been updating it for the last hundred years, so it’s a little disorganized... but it will help.” She quickly pointed out various pages sticking out from the book. “Proper weapon maintenance, food prep, monster info, poisonous plants you might find-” 

“Mom!” Lloyd laughed, hugging the tome to his chest. “I really have to go!” 

“I know, just one more thing!” Misako scolded, and took a small, unassuming wooden box from the attendant.  

Lloyd looked on curiously as she opened the box, looking down at its contents sadly.  

“I... thought you should have something of your father’s.” She blinked away a stray tear. “I managed to save it, before... I wanted to grab yours of course, but there was no time...” 

She shook her head, as if she could simply shoo the memory away, and discarded the box. In her hands was a thin, simple silver diadem curled over an obsidian gem. Lloyd felt a sudden tightness in his chest.  

“That’s Dad’s?” 

“Yes,” Misako replied, handing him the diadem. “It was one of the only things I managed to save.” 

Lloyd carefully slipped the crown over his head, prodding it into place when it slipped slightly, a little big for him.  

Misako reached over the adjust it, slipping the back under his ponytail as if she’d down it a hundred times. She probably had, Lloyd realized. He suddenly began to ache for that sense of domesticity, of a long forgotten time where his mother could casually readjust a crown and it didn’t represent something so terrible.  

“How do I look?” He asked around the lump in his throat. 

“Very mature,” she said, smiling, and pulled him into a hug. Lloyd squeezed back just as tightly as she did.  

“Come back,” she whispered over his head. “Be careful, and come back.” 

“I will,” he promised. 

After, he boarded his horse and left the village. Hopefully, if nothing went wrong, he’d be at Aspheera’s tomb in a maximum of three days. 

Chapter Text

The horse was dead. 

Lloyd’s nose wrinkled as he idly kicked the side of his poor – and extremely dead – horse.  

He’d been about a day and a half on his way to Aspheera’s lair when a giant Hinox – a ginormous 12-foot cyclops, as Lloyd soon learned, completely against his will – came stomping out of nowhere.  

The horse, while being bred for strength and speed, had clearly never been exposed to a single monster in its poor sheltered life. His steed had panicked, bucking Lloyd off in its frenzied attempt to escape.  

This turned out to be a good thing for Lloyd and a bad thing for the horse when the Hinox chased the much more entertaining target, took a bite out of the horse, and immediately decided that horse meat was just too unrefined for the monster’s dignified palette.  

Lloyd was very glad he hadn’t given the horse a name. 

Lloyd sighed, trying to ignore the smell of blood and guts. Did it say anything about Lloyd if he wasn’t particularly bothered by the sight of a mutilated animal? Ehh, he’d deal with that later.  

Thankfully, his supplies were intact. Some food had been scattered, and arrows had been snapped, but everything important was fine. Lloyd spent the next 40 minutes condensing his things into two bags instead of four so he could actually carry it all. He kept any food that wasn’t squashed, clothes, and some extra weapons to be safe. His personal satchel already had most emergency items, so he felt fine getting rid of the other stuff.  

When he finally situated his three bags and Nya’s trident, he pulled up the Sheikah Slate and Mom’s reference map. He was getting pretty close to the general area of the tomb – ‘general’ because the exact location wasn’t actually marked. Apparently, Mom hadn’t actually come all the way out here before, and only knew the rough area of the tomb’s location. Unfortunately, the Slate didn’t have a conveniently marked tag for “evil serpent tomb, do not touch”. Lloyd was pretty confident he could find it, though.  

Unfortunately, without a horse, that would have to wait a little longer. Lloyd didn’t even want to think about his imminent trip to the Zora kingdom. Did a dead horse warrant spending money so early?  

Lloyd’s mind wandered as he took a straight – or, as straight as possible – line to the tomb, jumping over ditches and streams as he waded through tall, perfect green grasslands and meadows. It was hard to believe that the random craters he came across every now and then were remnants of the Calamity. It was hard to believe the Calamity ever posed a threat here, of all places.  

It was easier when he came across a Skulkin. He hated those skeletons. Not because they were hard beat up, but because they had that annoying habit of reconstructing themselves every time he hit them with his sword. Seriously, it was so annoying trying to destroy a skull while it simultaneously rolled away and tried to bite him.  

Eventually, Lloyd got hungry and set up a small campfire. He grinned at some of the pre-packaged food; the dumplings in particular.  

One of my favorites for cold nights. Heat up in a pan if possible. Delicious with some sauce, a note attached to the container read. Well, Lloyd only had a small pan, but it’d do. He spent the next hour or so making and eating dinner, lazily flipping through Mom’s old notebook. He found all sorts of stuff on monsters and plants, poisonous plants, poisonous plants that weren’t poison if you cooked them right, plants that you absolutely should not eat under any circumstances whatsoever, seriously Lloyd even if they look delicious they’ll kill you and that would be embarrassing-  

Oh, and Serpentine.  

“Constrictai, Hypnobrai... ugh, Anacondrai, they look so creepy...” Lloyd mumbled around a mouthful of food. Apparently, going off of Lady Iron Dragon’s notes, the Serpentine were the only intelligent non-humanoid race, divided into five different sub-races. There’d been a whole war, with a giant snake-god and everything that ended a few years before Lloyd was born, which was apparently the same war Mom had earned her title in. Neat. The Mom part, not the giant snake.

Lloyd made a note to make a conscious effort to avoid as many Serpentine as possible. As he looked over the sketches of their anatomy, he wondered what kind of Serpentine Aspheera was... 

Lloyd yawned, and noticed that the sun was dropping. The plain was sparse of any overhanging cliffs or caves to take shelter in, and there was no way he was sleeping out in the open or traveling in the dark. Monsters, he had discovered, came out in droves when the sun set. It was miserable.  

Lloyd spotted a clump of trees a little ways away and packed up his things. He’d sleep there for the night. Probably in the branches to avoid monsters and protect his things better. 

...and maybe because he really wanted to climb that big tree. But mostly for protection, because he was the practical, smart, tactical Hero of Destiny! 

Lloyd tossed his bags one by one up into the branches of the tree before scaling the trunk himself, settling in the crook of the tree. He was completely hidden from view, he thought smugly, wrapping a blanket around himself. No way was he getting bothered by a monster tonight.  

_ 

He was running.   

All around him, fire burned through buildings and people alike, giving rise to screams of terror. His legs burned, but he couldn’t stop. Blood and soot stained his face and arms, jagged cuts oozing blood. Every inch of his body was on fire as his lungs choked on the smoke. The cobblestone streets beneath his feet cracked and splintered under the force of collapsing buildings and homes, shot to rubble by the Guardians.  

The Guardians were supposed to protect them. When the Overlord came, they were supposed to defend the citizens of the capital and fend off the hordes of monsters. But they were infected and corrupted by the Overlord, turned against the Hylians. Now, they were forced to fight past the ancient weapons to get to safety.   

Nya tugged him by his hand, her trident in the other. He was sure that if she didn’t have to be ready to fight, she’d be carrying him right now. Up ahead, Mom, dressed in her legendary Iron Dragon armor, cleaved through Guardians and monsters alike, clearing their path with ruthless efficiency.   

In Lloyd’s right hand, the Sword of Sanctuary glowed ever so softly, a useless leaden weight.   

‘Do something,’ he begged internally as he ducked beneath a bright fuchsia laser beam, ‘please, do something!’  

But the sword did nothing. All his supposed powers, all his potential... completely wasted. Useless. Lloyd was useless. 

Nya shot a straight geyser of water from her hands with a ferocious scream, busting the Guardian’s laser eye. Mom yelled for them to hurry from up ahead, shoving a Guardian Scout to the ground.   

Get out of the capital. The Champions, the ones sworn to protect and assist Lloyd, were preoccupied in their Divine Beasts, fending off demons sent to attack them, so there was no hope of fighting the Overlord right now. Their only plan was to get Lloyd and the Sword out of the capital and regroup elsewhere.   

Lloyd suppressed his tears. The cost of the plan... Dad and Uncle Wu. Because Lloyd wasn’t strong enough to fight the Overlord, they had to. Lloyd hadn’t even gotten to say goodbye.   

He was violently pulled from his thoughts when Nya shrieked in alarm. A massive Guardian descended from the remains of a house, clambering over the burning rubble on enormous rubber and steel legs. Mom looked behind her for the threat, and a Guardian Drone slammed into her. She went down with a yell, her sword skidding out of her grasp.   

Nya shoved Lloyd behind her, brandishing her trident. A horrible, angry look took over her face, and her Zora markings seemed to glow in the light of the fire.   

“Lloyd,” she growled, jagged teeth gnashing, “when I tell you ‘run’, you fucking run.” 

“No!” Lloyd yelled, lifting the Sword. “I’m not leaving you here!”  

Nya glared back at him. “Lloyd Garmadon, I swore an oath. As long as I have my power and breath in my body, I am going to protect you,” her eyes shown with unshed tears, but her voice didn’t break. “If I say run, run. And don’t stop for anything.”  

Lloyd’s lips wobbled, but he nodded.   

Nya’s jaw clenched as she turned to face the Guardian, hatred etched into her face. When it shot a laser at her, she rolled and leaped forward, aiming to stab its eye out.   

As Nya fought the Guardian, Lloyd turned to look for his mother. The cacophony of the invasion weighed down in his sensitive ears as he called for his mother, voice breaking. Where was she-  

There.   

Lady Iron Dragon was strewn on the ground, woozily attempting to stand as a head wound steadily oozed blood. A Guardian, clicking and clacking, descended down on her, its eye steadily glowing brighter.   

It was going to kill her.   

“MOM!” He screamed, spinning into a Spinjitzu tornado. He was slamming into the Guardian a second later, transitioning from the tornado into a vicious kick. His foot slammed into the Guardian’s head at the same time his sword stabbed into its Core. The Guardian sputtered and shrieked before collapsing.  

Lloyd stood in front of his mother, brandishing the Sword of Sanctuary. His bright green Spinjitzu had drawn the attention of several Guardian Drones and Scouts. His heart hammered in his chest as he stared them all down. No way he could fight every one of them...  

No. Lloyd had once beat up an entire camp of Skulkin by himself with nothing but a broadsword and a pipe bomb. He’d raced circles around Talus stampedes and made a mockery of Yiga. He was the Hero of Destiny – part Oni, part Dragon, all demigod.   

“LLOYD!” Nya yelled from afar, finally noticing where he’d ended up. Blood dripped down her arm, which hung from her shoulder like dead weight. “RUN!”   

But he couldn’t. He wouldn’t. It was his sworn, Prophecy-dictated duty to protect Hyrule. Lloyd Garmadon was created by a god to battle and defeat the Overlord and his minions, and that’s what he was going to do. He grit his teeth as every Guardian Eye before him lit up with bright, visceral pink.  

He would either win this fight or die trying.  

_  

Lloyd shot up with a gasp. His heart hammered in his chest as phantom pains raced over his entire body, burning especially harshly in a line from his palm to his shoulder. Lloyd hissed as he clutched his trembling right hand, curling into himself.  

The scar he’d been so confused by when he woke up in the Shrine burned furiously, throbbing as if it were new. Lloyd glared down at the starburst shape, lightly tracing the stark pale lines that climbed up his forearm and exploded like a stroke of lightning across his shoulder and over his chest.  

FSM, that hurt.  

The dream came flooding back, and Lloyd winced as his head smarted. Remembering his death a century ago wasn’t how he planned to spend the night at all.  

Now that he thought about it, even more memories were coming back. He’d cleaved through the horde of Guardians ruthlessly, cutting them down with Spinjitzu and the Sword of Sanctuary. They were relentless, unending in their attacks. Lloyd remembered being shot with beam after beam of horrible energy, each strike cutting straight through him. He remembered a Drone slamming into his face... he remembered a short Scout just like the one in the Sheikah Structure cutting into his left leg... he remembered a huge Guardian grabbing him by the arm, lifting him into the air. He remembered his leg being broken, dangling uselessly... dropping the Sword... screaming in agony as electricity raced through his veins as he futilely attempted to gouge its eye out... 

Nausea bubbled in his throat. Yep, putting a pin in that.  

His thoughts moved to the Sword of Sanctuary. He had a bare bones memory of its actual appearance, but the weight of its hilt in his hand was clear as day. His fingers fit into those grooves like a glove made just for him, and it was perfectly balanced. His dao paled in comparison.  

And the energy of the sword... it was like a constant warmth, sheer and utter power bubbling just beneath the surface. He couldn’t wait to get his hands on it again.  

Lloyd suppressed a yawn. That nightmare had exhausted him. He was so ready to go back to bed- 

Lloyd’s eyes shot back open. He was lying in a bed. Not the tree he fell asleep in - a bed. In a house.  

Lloyd sat back up, taking in his surroundings. He was a small room with soft brown wood floors and walls. The bed he was in was soft, with a giant quilt. There was a closed window, and a peek out the curtains told him it was a few hours until midday. A nightstand and dresser were all that otherwise took up the space. Lloyd quickly spotted the Sheikah Slate and Dad’s diadem on the nightstand, and his dao propped up against the leg of the bed. Nya’s trident was stood against the wall, his bags neatly set down next to it. Lloyd breathed a sigh of relief.  

Alright, belongings secured. Now to figure out just who the hell had kidnapped him out of a tree without him realizing. The possibility of having been drugged came to mind, and he scowled. He snatched his sword, secured the Slate in his belt, and slung the trident across his back. After a moment, he slipped the obsidian diadem over his head.  

He was going to annihilate whoever did this.  

Lloyd carefully edged open the door, peaking through the crack. Nothing but a hallway. His ears pricked at the faint sound of another person speaking.  

Lloyd slipped out the door, creeping along the hallway with his back pressed against the wall. As he got closer to the end of the hallway and the open doorway, the voice got louder. 

It was soft and feminine, lilting as the voice sung softly under their breath. They sounded distracted.  

Lloyd held his breath as he hid just behind the doorway, listening closely. His ears swiveled as the voice hummed. He could hear utensils clanging, and the intense smell of spices wafted under his nose. He grimaced. Whoever this person was, they were about to poison themselves with all the cayenne they were using.  

When he heard the voice lower momentarily, he let his breath go and shot through the doorway like an arrow from a crossbow, swinging his weapon violently. 

His victim shrieked, falling over herself as she was backed in the counter of the kitchen, knocking over jars and bottles in her panic. Lloyd just barely stopped himself from chopping her head off, and she gasped as the blade stopped inches from her neck. 

He was met with a tall, willowy woman with dark skin and a round face. Her coiled black hair was done up in a huge bun, and she wore a simple blue and white dress with a large necklace, a cloud stamped on its bronze surface. She was Rito – huge dark wings folded against her back, and dark feathers circled her wrists, fluffy ears, and even her eyes, popping like eyeliner and framing her large owlish eyes. She clutched a carved oak cane in her hands, though Lloyd couldn’t see the reason for it. She didn’t seem to be favoring either leg more than the other. 

“Oh god,” she gasped, gaping like a fish out of water. Her already big eyes were blown open like plates, darting from the sword to Lloyd. “Ohgodpleasedon’tkillme-” she spoke quickly, her voice squeaking. 

“Who are you,” Lloyd said lowly in his best attempt to be threatening, “and what the hell am I doing here.” 

“Uhm,” the woman said, gulping. Her large brown wings fluttered anxiously, feathers ruffled and poofed up from her panic. “Hi. Nice to m-meet you,” she held up a hand, gently prodding the sword away from her neck. “I’m Euphrasia. Uh, can I sit down? I have this anxiety thing and I’ll pass out if I don’t sit or something-” 

“Fine,” Lloyd glowered and jerked his head at a barstool. Euphrasia nervously slipped into her seat, and Lloyd kept his sword trained on her. “Hands on the counter!” 

She let out an “eep!”, hands flying up and her cane clattering to the ground. “Okay, okay! Clouds Rest, you’re a scary ten-year-old!” 

Lloyd faltered. “What?” 

“I just said that you’re really scary for a ten-year-old kid-” 

“I- I’m fourteen. Do I actually look ten-”  

Euphrasia laughed nervously. “Oh! Are- are Hylians getting shorter? I don’t actually know any Hylian kids...” 

Lloyd shook his head, lifting his dao again. “Doesn’t matter. Why am I in your house, Euphrasia?” 

“Oh!” Euphrasia’s hands fluttered as if she’d just realized that she had, in fact, kidnapped Lloyd. “Oh gosh, I’m sorry! Uh, I thought you were dead.” 

Lloyd stared. “What.” 

“Yeah, sorry! I was on my nightly flight, and I saw you in a tree – Rito have great eyesight, you know – and when I doubled back I thought you maybe looked a little sick, so I flew down to check on you and you had a pulse, but you wouldn’t wake up so I brought you here sorry.” She finished all in one breath, exhaling heavily. “Whew! Uh, I grabbed your stuff, by the way. Lots of bags, you’ve got.” 

Lloyd relaxed slightly. So she was just a random concerned woman. It was strange that Lloyd hadn’t woken up on the flight, but Euphrasia didn’t even seem capable of drugging anyone. Besides, if her intention was to hurt him, she sucked at it.  

“Okay,” he said, lowering his sword fully.  

Euphrasia’s big eyes blinked owlishly. “Okay?” 

“Yeah, we’re cool. Thanks for not, like, killing me,” Lloyd winced as he glanced at the broken glass from his impromptu ambush. “Sorry about... that.” FSM, he had a bad habit of attacking people. 

Euphrasia visibly relaxed in her relief, and she gestured to the pot on her stove. “Want some lunch? Spicy curry.” 

Lloyd wrinkled his nose. “It smells radioactive.” 

“Hm?” Euphrasia tilted her head, confused, but then laughed. “Oh, yeah! You Hylians and such have such sensitive taste buds. Honestly, your food is so bland...” 

The random fact slotted into Lloyd’s brain. Rito had much duller senses of taste, so their food was always over-seasoned to make up for it. It was a game Lloyd and the Champions used to play, trying authentic spicy Rito dishes and trying not to cry from the overwhelming taste. 

The Champions.  

He’d remembered something about them! He couldn’t picture them at all, but he’d remembered something. Definite proof of progress.  

Lloyd shook himself back to reality. “Uh, no thanks. That might actually kill me again.” 

Euphrasia shrugged, ladling curry into her own bowl. “Suit yourself- oh darn. What’s your name?” She looked embarrassed, smiling sheepishly.  

“Lloyd Garmadon,” he responded. She didn’t react to the name except for a small nod and hum of acknowledgement. It was probably safe to assume that she either didn’t recognize the name in the first place, or it was a common name, which was sort of unsettling when he thought about. Did people actually name their kids after him...? 

“So,” Euphrasia cocked her head, leaning against the other end of the island on her forearms.  “What’s a Hylian kid like you even doing out here? It’s dangerous, you know.” 

“Yeah, I figured when a Hinox ate my horse,” Lloyd deadpanned. 

Euphrasia choked on her curry, coughing violently and staring at him wide-eyed. “A Hinox?! How are you alive?!” Just as she asked, she seemed to become horrified, eyes growing even bigger – did all Rito have such huge eyes or was that just her? - as her hand flew to her mouth with a little gasp. “Is that why you’re all alone? Did it kill your parents?” She whispered. 

“What? No!” Lloyd made a face, waving off her concern. “No, my parents are fine-” he thought of his father and uncle, and aborted his sentence. “Well, they’re not dead. No, I’m here on, like, a mission.” 

“Oh,” Euphrasia quickly calmed, her wings drooping back down. “Then, why are you here?” 

“I’m looking for- actually, maybe you can help,” Lloyd grabbed his Sheikah Slate, and, ignoring Euphrasia’s soft gasp when it turned on, pulled up his map. He set the slate on the island, turning it to face Euphrasia. “This is a map of the general area,” he explained, and pointed to the pulsing blue dot, “and this is me– us." Euphrasia nodded along, eyeing the tablet with interest. Her ears twitched and flicked every time the dot pulsed, seemingly without her input. "I need to find Aspheera’s Tomb – she's, uh, a Serpentine. Do you know where it is?” 

“Oh!” Euphrasia stood up straight, startled, voice cracking, “in that case, no way in hell!”  

“What?” Lloyd was taken aback by her sudden swear, and even further surprised when she tossed the Slate at him, almost violently so.  

“I said, no way in hell am I taking you to Aspheera!” Euphrasia squeaked hysterically, throwing up her hands. “Why would I do that?! She’s insane and evil!” 

Ah. This must be her previous ‘Lloyd is a little kid’ mindset. And, yeah, he could understand the sentiment. He wouldn’t normally condone sending kids after evil magic snake witches, but he was the Hylian Champion! He could definitely, 100% get over his snake-phobia for an hour - not that Euphrasia needed to know about it.

“Please,” Lloyd grabbed her wrist, “I need to see her. She’s the only one who can help me.” 

Euphrasia’s expression spasmed. “What would you even want from her?” 

“I need her to bring somebody back,” Lloyd explained, “it’s important.” 

Euphrasia’s expression cracked and fell in pity. “Oh, Lloyd,” she murmured softly. Her big, expressive eyes were full to the brim with pity. “A- a lot of people go to her for that. But it’s not worth it. She’ll demand an obscene price, and... they won’t come back right. Lloyd, whoever you’re trying to bring back, it’s not worth it. You’re better off just grieving, trust me.” 

Lloyd’s face screwed up in confusion. Why was she- ohhhhhh. She thought his person was dead.  

“No, she’s not dead!” He explained, waving his hands. “She merged with the sea! I need Aspheera to give me a spell to bring her back.” 

Euphrasia blinked, suddenly looking very uncomfortable.  

“Uhm. Look, I don’t know much about Hylian idioms, but... you do know what death is... right?” 

“Yes?” Lloyd asked, confused. 

Euphrasia steepled her hands, averting her eyes nervously. “Soooo... sorry, this is giving me major ‘the dog went to live on a farm in the sky’ energy,” she cringed, “and I should know! Rito invented the farm in the sky.” 

Lloyd scowled. “No, she’s really not dead! Look- okay, listen, this is going to sound insane-” 

“More insane than ‘she’s not dead, she merged with the ocean’?” 

“But you know Hyrule, right?” When Euphrasia slowly nodded, he pressed a hand against his chest. “I’m the prince.” 

Euphrasia made a face. “Like... descended... from him?” 

“No, I am the prince,” Lloyd said, “I died during the Calamity 100 years ago, but I was resurrected in a Sheikah Shrine. Nya Jiang-Smith is the Master of Water, and I need her help to purify the Divine Beasts, but she merged with the sea. Ergo, Aspheera.” Lloyd leaned forward when he saw Euphrasia’s nonplussed face, hesitant. “D-did you get all that...?” 

“Oh yeah,” Euphrasia said faintly, nodding, “I got that you’re crazy!” Lloyd groaned as she slammed her hands on the counter in hysterics. “Oh my god, are you in a cult?!”  

“Excuse me-?” 

She nodded, eyes big. She looked crazy. “Look, tons of cults popped up after that Calamity thing – if you’re in a cult, blink twice.” Lloyd purposely didn’t blink as she seemed to stare into his soul.  

“Okay, maybe you don’t know you’re in a cult-” 

“I’m not in a cult!”  

“Okay, tell me if this sounds familiar,” she began counting off on her fingers, “are you made afraid of the outside world? Do they allow you no financial- wait, you’re a kid. Uh, is the leader characterized as an all-knowing higher being-” 

“I think I’m the higher being in this scenario,” Lloyd deadpanned, crossing his arms.  

“Are you talking about that ‘prince’ stuff?” Euphrasia zeroed in on his words, hands fluttering fretfully. “Listen, those Hylians have been going crazy over their dead prince for a century-” 

Lloyd batted her hand away with a sharp glare. “Euphrasia! I’m not in a cult, and I’m not crazy! I know it sounds insane, but I really am the prince of Hyrule, and I really am the Hylian Champion. Now are you going to tell me where Aspheera is or not?!” 

Euphrasia slumped. “Lloyd, that sounds crazy. Even if you’re not in a cult, which I find difficult to believe, there’s no way you’re a century-long dead prince.” 

“What if I prove it?” Lloyd raised a brow, an idea forming in his mind.  

Euphrasia snorted. “Yeah, right. How?” 

Lloyd grinned. “Ever heard of Spinjitzu?” 

“What is that, a weird karateeeeeeOH MY GOD MY KITCHEN-” Euphrasia dissolved into a shriek as Lloyd kicked himself into a Spinjitzu tornado, tearing his way across the kitchen. Unfortunately, the wind kicked up by it knocked over several utensils, and probably wore a path in the wooden floor. By the time he stopped, Euphrasia was openly gaping, soft squeaks leaving her mouth.  

“How’s that for Hylian Champion?” Lloyd said cockily, putting a hand on his hip.  

Euphrasia gestured helplessly. “My kitchen...” 

Lloyd rolled his eyes. “Like it was accessible in the first place,” he said, gesturing to her wings, which remained tucked. They ruffled, and she gave him the stink eye.  

“Little jerk,” she muttered, and collected herself with a deep breath. “Okay - I believe you. But I’m still not taking you to Aspheera.” 

“Oh come on!” Lloyd threw his hands up. “Why not?!” 

Euphrasia slumped in her stool, cradling her head in her hands. Lloyd, confused, lowered his arms awkwardly.  

“Look,” Euphrasia eventually said lowly, “I’m only telling you this because I need you to understand how dangerous she is.” 

Backstory! Lloyd’s brain pinged.  

“I-” She sighed, struggling to find the words. “I grew up in the Cloud Monastery in Shintaro. But I didn’t like the life of a monk. I wanted adventure, but...” she rubbed her forearm, brow creasing. “When someone is born in the Cloud Monastery, they’re given this tattoo. It binds us together through magic or some such nonsense. With it, I would always be tied to the Monastery. So, I went to Aspheera to get it removed.” 

“And... you couldn’t pay the price?” Lloyd guessed.  

Euphrasia shook her head with a snort. “No, I paid. Aspheera tricked me. When she removed it, I didn’t ask what she wanted in return – I didn’t even guess that she might be tricking me. She removed the tattoo, and I thought that was it. But... when I went back to Shintaro to visit my father, he couldn’t remember me.” 

Lloyd’s eyes widened. Euphrasia’s voice broke. “Every memory of me had been erased – from everyone. No one knew who I was! My dad, my best friends... they all forgot me. Everything I contributed to the Monastery was erased from reality. And when I met new people, they forgot me later.” She glared at the counter. “Check a book back into the library – they think I stole it. A new friend wouldn’t know my name. A lover-" she blinked, a film of tears coating her eyes. She ran a hand over her braided cornrows, nails catching on golden bands. "-would kiss someone else the next day.”  

Euphrasia wiped her eyes, and grabbed Lloyd by the hand. “You won’t even remember this conversation! You’ll forget about me, about my house! I just need some part of you to understand that getting Aspheera’s help is a bad idea.”  

Lloyd’s face set. Euphrasia was right that Aspheera was a huge threat. If he wasn’t careful, she could seriously ruin his life. But not getting her help wasn’t an option. Lloyd knew that he couldn't defeat a Divine Beast on his own, no matter how powerful everyone seemed to think he was. He needed help, and he needed an Elemental Master. And, in a strange way, Lloyd felt that he was meant to save Nya. Mom said she'd been lost to time preventing a facet of the Calamity from destroying the Zora - well, Lloyd was the grandson of Time. It was his job to find her, wasn't it? If he couldn't stop the Calamity-

When I say run, you fucking run.

-he could fix what he left behind. 

“I... I understand that she’s dangerous,” Lloyd said, “but I need her help anyways. She’s the only person who could possibly tell me how to help Nya.” 

Euphrasia’s face fell, and she sighed. “You’re... just going to find her anyways, aren’t you?” 

“Yep.” 

“Alright, fine,” Euphrasia stood, a new determination lifting her up. She pointed an accusing finger at Lloyd. “If you insist on being an idiot, I’m at least going to make sure you get out of it alive. I’ll take you to her tomb.” 

Lloyd grinned. “Great! When do we leave?” 

“When I finish my lunch, brat.” 

__ 

Euphrasia flew overhead Lloyd as he waded through tall grass. Every so often, he’d glance up to see her languidly passing through air currents, giant wings beating the winds. Looking at them now, Lloyd was amazed that they weren’t constantly knocking things over. Or maybe they were – Euphrasia seemed like the kind of person to forget about their own wings. She carried her cane on a loop in her belt. Apparently, her wings were so big that the rest of her body had trouble keeping up, and the size of them put too much weight on her back and knees. Ergo, a cane. Lloyd internally thought that if he had a cane, he’d hit someone with it. 

Lloyd kind of wished he could fly. His thoughts drifted as he followed Euphrasia. He wondered what wings were like. Did they feel like arms? How sensitive were they? But mostly, he wondered what flying was like. Imagine how many cool tricks he could do...  

Hm. Maybe if he remembered anything about the Rito Champion, he’d know. Lloyd bet they did a ton of awesome tricks.  

The trees around him grew denser, and Lloyd had to focus to find Euphrasia over the canopy. Eventually, when the woods were really dense, Euphrasia slipped down between the tree branches. “Alright,” she said, flapping her wings a few more times before neatly folding them. “This is it.” 

Euphrasia gestured to the sloped ground before them, opening into the maw of a sealed cave. The iron door, perfectly fitted to the mouth of the cave, held an orange Sheikah Eye in its front. It seemed to glare at them, daring them to come further.  

Lloyd hadn’t even noticed before, but so deep in the woods, it was dark and cold. Wind rustled the branches, and the silence of the woods felt too eerie to be coincidence.  

“This is her tomb?” Lloyd asked, stepping forward. He pressed his hand against the door, and the iron was cold to the touch.  

“It’s bigger on the inside,” Euphrasia said, hugging herself. Lloyd nodded, and pushed the door open. It let out a loud creaking sound, revealing a dark staircase that descended underground. Lloyd checked his things – Slate, sword, and trident.  

“Wait,” Euphrasia called before he descended. He turned to see her biting her lip, tapping her foot anxiously. “Aspheera was put down there because she tricked a Hylian royal a long time ago. Because she deceived everyone, there’s a powerful spell put on her tomb. It forces her to tell the truth – she's incapable of lying.” 

“Wait, seriously?” Lloyd asked. How could she be dangerous if she was forced to tell the truth? How could she trick anyone? 

“But,” Euphrasia held up a finger, “she can confuse and trick you. She’ll twist your words, imply things, take things too literally... she’ll do everything she can to make you agree to something and trick you. But she can’t outright lie. So pay attention, and don’t say anything you don’t absolutely mean.”  

Lloyd nodded. “Thanks for the advice,” he said. Euphrasia shrugged.  

“Well, I hope you remember it,” she joked. “It was nice meeting you.” 

Oh, yeah. Lloyd... would probably forget all about Euphrasia. The thought made him sad. He thought about what it must be like, to have everyone in your life forget you. It was a perfect inverse of Lloyd’s own amnesia. Actually, it might be worse. A painless death... for everyone but the dead. 

Was that what Mom felt like? Dad? Did they look into Lloyd’s face, slowly realizing he didn’t recognize them at all, and fall apart inside?  

Lloyd looked at Euphrasia one last time, determined to burn her face into his memory.  

Then he descended into Aspheera’s tomb.  

Chapter Text

The tomb is cold. Lloyd trails a hand along the smooth, frigid walls of the tomb, occasionally brushing through a cobweb. Spiders skitter across the steps beneath his feet. The further he goes, the darker it gets, and it’s only due to the remaining light of the tomb’s door that he can see anything at all. 

Just as the last of the glow fades, torches appear along the walls, sparse and old. He doesn’t really trust them not to explode, so he doesn’t light them and relies on the wall to navigate. 

Thankfully, either due to his weird biology or the whole ‘hero of destiny’ shtick, Lloyd’s eyes quickly adapt to the darkness. Ever so slowly, the fuzzy shapes become clear, allowing him to see more than two inches in front of him.  

Lloyd doesn’t know how long he walks for. The descent seems intentionally designed to creep him out, but Lloyd isn’t about to let himself be psyched out by a few spiders and ominous warnings of death. Been there, done that, got the Sheikah Slate. What Serpentine is scarier than an army of Guardians?  

Eventually, there’s an end to the stairs and a new iron door. Psyching himself up, Lloyd hesitantly tests it, and it swings open with a low creak.  

Euphrasia was totally right. It is bigger on the inside.  

Lloyd gapes as he steps into the wide, empty area. It reminds him vaguely of old Hylian temples, the roofs supported by carved columns. There doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to this place, though. There’s no obvious path to take, or any new doors to go through.  

Lloyd shivers. It’s dark, drafty despite being underground, and is really giving him the creeps.  

His hand trails over a stone pillar. It’s weathered and cracked. As he does so, he sees an unassuming door to his left. Is that where Aspheera is...?  

Man, this tomb sucks. Who built it? He’s going to file an official complaint as Hylian Prince, demigod Champion, and Super Annoyed Customer.  

“A little far from home, aren’t we?”  

Lloyd jumps at the voice, lilting and smooth. It came from somewhere above him- 

There. Above him, tail curled around a pillar, is a Serpentine woman. Her giant yellow eyes glow in the dark, narrowed down at him like he’s a particularly enticing mouse. Her scales are a deep navy blue and black, with scattering whites and teals. A Hypnobrai, then... shit. Lloyd purposefully refuses to make eye contact. According to Mom’s journal, Hypnobrai can hypnotize anyone just by making eye contact.  

Aspheera’s tongue flicks out, and a sharp grin enters her face. “Why hello there, little prince,” she purrs, slowly winding down the pillar. The ‘s’ in her voice is long and drawn out, rattling alongside her tail. Lloyd sets his jaw and steps back as she reaches the base, curving down to meet him face to face, only inches away. Her tongue flicks out again. “Pleasssure to meet you,” she grins through sharp teeth.  

Lloyd tries not to make eye contact and focuses on the scale pattern of her forehead. “How do you know me?” 

Aspheera chuckles, a light sound that’s more menacing than it really has any right to be. “I know a lot of thingssss, little hero,” she said. The rattle of her tail flicked. “What I don’t know,” her smile curved even further as her eyes became sharp crescents, “isss what you of all people are doing in my tomb.” 

Lloyd swallowed back his anxiety, though he kept a very tight grip on his sword. “I... need a spell,” he said, careful with his words. Misako and Euphrasia’s warnings rang in his head. So long as he spoke carefully, he was in the clear... but he knew that Aspheera was looking for any opportunity to strike.  

FSM, he hated snakes. 

Aspheera’s creepy grin grew manic, and she quickly wound herself all the way to the floor, straightening to tower over Lloyd. She was huge. Or, ugh, was Lloyd really that short? Why was everyone always taller than him?!  

“Well then,” Aspheera’s voice was barely above a whisper, “might I offer my sserviccessss, your majesssty?” She gave him a deep, exaggerated bow, eyes never straying from his own face. Lloyd made an aborted step back, anxiety twisting his gut tight. He cleared his throat, fighting back the carnal urge to lop Aspheera’s head off. 

“Y-” shit. Was saying yes to that some kind of loophole? Why else would she ask it like that? Was Lloyd being paranoid-?

“I need a spell,” he repeated himself just to be safe, “for Nya Jiang-Smith. She merged with the sea, and I need you to bring her back.” Straight to the point. The sooner he’s out of here, the better. 

“My,” Aspheera straightened, an elegant hand stroking her cheek thoughtfully, “what a challenge. Why, I haven’t had the chance to apply ssuch magic in yearsss.” Aspheera’s thoughtful expression switched to one of eagerness. “Pleasse,” she gestured to the unassuming door, “come inssside.” 

Lloyd hesitated, but swallowed down his trepidation. His dream, his memory of Nya... it was only one, but it made her so much more real. Lloyd didn’t just need her to purify the Divine Beasts – he wanted to save her. Aspheera was his ticket.  

So Lloyd followed the Serpent witch, feeling very much like he was walking straight into the lion’s den.  

Within the much smaller room is a laboratory, of sorts. There are counters and cabinets overflowing with plants, jars, and various ambiguous ingredients. There’s a comically large cauldron over a huge hearth, and an entire wall dedicated to excessively large and threatening weapons. Lloyd eyed the daggers warily as Aspheera slithered behind the counter, propping her chin on a curled fist, drumming the counter. Backlit by the fire, she looked even more menacing.  

Lloyd tried to draw on his usual courage. Hm. Maybe he was more reckless than courageous.  

“Tell me about thisss Nya,” Aspheera said, eyes glinting.  

“She merged with the ocean a century ago fighting Wojira,” Lloyd got straight to the point. Aspheera hummed, a look of mock-pity eclipsing her face.  

“ Sssuch a long time,” she pouted, a sadistic gleam in her eye, “why, I jusst don’t know how capable I am of returning her to a physssical form...” 

“What do you want for it,” Lloyd said, more of a statement than a question. It was a pretty weak tactic, honestly. He expected a little more from a species capable of hypnotizing peoples.  

Aspheera’s face lit up, all eagerness. “What are you willing to pay?” She shot back, quick as a gambler for the bargain.  

Lloyd knew better than to say ‘anything’, even if he meant it. “A fair price,” he said instead, trying to keep a straight face. Aspheera only laughed.  

“A concept that variesss,” she hissed, turning her back to him. She picked up an idle vial, holding it up to her eye. “For one, money. For another, a sssoul .” She turned her head, a singular eye gleaming at Lloyd. “I assk again; what isss it you are willing to pay?” 

Lloyd bit his lip. This felt like a trap. If he offered up a price, Aspheera could refuse and raise the stakes. If he agreed to whatever she decided was ‘fair’, she could seriously screw him over. What did he have that was valuable and he was willing to part with...? 

Well, he wasn’t parting with his sword, or Dad’s crown, as silly as it was. He needed every bit of his parents he could get his hands on. He certainly couldn’t give her the Slate... not Nya’s trident, not when he promised to give it back... 

Aspheera had no use for money, so that was out. What the hell did she want...  

Hmm. She had a lot of strange ingredients. And the way she stared at him reminded him of a predator stalking prey – or a greedy collector met with a rare specimen.  

This is a bad idea, right?  

Mind made up, Lloyd stuck out his arm before he could change his mind. “I’ll give you blood,” he declared. “A whole liter. That’s got to be pretty useful, right?”  

A greedy sheen eclipsed Aspheera’s expression as she lowered the vial. “My... how very generousss, your highnesss,” she hissed, coming out from behind the counter to circle Lloyd. Her tail flicked around his legs as her muzzle bent over his shoulder. He grimaced at the feeling of her breath on his neck. “Do you realize jusst what you’ve offered me, little hero?” A claw dragged down Lloyd’s throat, resting on the nape of his neck, and he shivered. A vicious grin appeared on Aspheera’s muzzle. “Ssso valuable... ssso potent...” 

Lloyd jerked away, swatting at her hand. “Only if you give me that spell,” he demanded, and as an afterthought, “by the way, I’m fourteen, so stop being weird.” 

Aspheera only laughed creepily, which was apparently how she did everything. “Deal, then,” she agreed so easily that Lloyd felt like he had still walked into a trap.  

Aspheera ignored his inner freakout, suddenly seeming far saner as she collected jars and vials from her cabinets. “Now then,” she said matter-of-factly, “firssst of all, I’ll need a persssonal item of hersss,” Aspheera raised an eyebrow, “I do hope you have sssomething potent enough after a century.” 

Lloyd bit his lip, a took the trident from his back. The silver was cold in his hands. “What about this?” He offered it to her. “She fought with it.” 

Aspheera took the trident, tracing its length. “Yesss,” she decided, “ very potent. Quite the powerful champion.” 

Lloyd felt a little bit of pride. Nya was pretty cool, wasn’t she? His singular coherent memory says yes – total badass. 

Aspheera placed the trident on her counter, tapping her chin. “Unfortunately, there’sss a bit of a hiccup. I need vengesstone for the ssspell.”  

Lloyd tilted his head, confused. “Vengestone? What’s that?” 

“A rare, powerful ssubsstance,” Aspheera said, her tongue flicking out, “it’sss capable of blocking the elemental powersss of any mortal. Very, very usseful.” 

“Okay,” Lloyd hiked his sword over his shoulder. “I’ll grab some for you. Where do I find it?”  

Aspheera’s face went carefully blank like she was holding back a laugh. “There isss a... deposssit, of ssortsss, nearby.” Her right eye twitched.  

Lloyd shrugged. “’Kay,” he said, “how much?” 

“Oh, a good amount,” Aspheera said vaguely, “ssay, a few poundsss worth.” 

“Got it,” Lloyd nodded, brain already firing. Honestly, in terms of side quests, this wasn’t so bad. Go find a cool rock; how hard could it be? He didn’t even have to do three trials or whatever this time!  

Aspheera took a large sledgehammer from her wall. Strangely, it seemed to be made of a solid black rock with deep yellow veins and cracks.  

When Lloyd tried to take it, he snatched his hand back in surprise when the hammer seemed to burn him, shocking his skin so intensely he felt ill.  

“What the fuck?” Lloyd glared at the hammer, holding his hand. Aspheera cackled, tapering into a humorous hiss.  

“Thisss is vengessstone,” she said, uncaring of his pain, “ussse it to break off whatever desposssit you find.” Aspheera dropped the hammer at his feet, and his ears pinned themselves to the back of his head in annoyance. “Oh,” Aspheera said like she was just remembering it, “and it’sss a tad poisssonousss to elemental masstersss.” 

“Wear gloves, got it,” Lloyd grumbled, taking off his fingerless gloves and using them like oven mitts to grab the vengestone hammer. It wasn’t too heavy, but he wasn’t exactly eager to carry it around.  

Get some vengestone, bring it back, and get the spell to save Nya after parting with a little blood. Nothing too difficult.  

After a moment of hesitation, Lloyd said, “thanks, by the way.” It couldn’t hurt to be nice to Aspheera, and besides, he was pretty grateful for the help.  

Aspheera only laughed. “Good luck,” she hissed, tail rattling, “you’ll need it.” 

When Lloyd exited the tomb, he had the bare bones of a plan. Which mostly included asking Euphrasia if she knew where the vengestone was.  

As it was, he didn’t see her when he came up out of the tomb, squinting against the meager sunlight that snuck through the canopy of trees. His mood dipped a little. Man, he thought they were getting along! He shrugged. He’d just find her when he broke into her house... if he could remember where it was. 

“Where’d she go...” Lloyd scratched his ear absentmindedly, pulling up his Slate. Before he could actually do anything, though, a shocked voice piped up behind him. 

“You remember me?” Lloyd whipped around to see Euphrasia sitting on the grassy roll above the tomb’s door, looking shocked. Her wings fluttered, mirroring her surprise.  

“Oh, hey, Euphrasia!” Lloyd exclaimed eagerly. “Yeah, of course I remember you- wait.” 

Euphrasia and Lloyd yelled in unison, both pointing at the other in their shock. Because Lloyd did remember Euphrasia – something he should not be capable of!  

“How are you doing that?!” Euphrasia demanded, jumping to her feet.  

“I don’t know!” Lloyd yelled, floundering just as bad as she was. He couldn’t fathom why he hadn’t forgotten Euphrasia, what with the whole curse thing. Did Aspheera’s tomb block those kinds of spells? That didn’t make any sense! 

“You shouldn’t be able to do that!” Euphrasia stressed, hands fluttering anxiously. “No one can remember me! It’s my curse! Literally!”  

“I know!” Lloyd yelled, throwing his hands up in surrender. “I have no idea how I’m doing this!” 

Maybe it was his weird genetics? Were Oni/dragon/Hylian hybrids not susceptible to evil snake spells? Was it his element? Was his amnesia cancelling itself out?  

Lloyd took a deep breath, moving his hands in a time-out gesture. “Look, this is a good thing. Let’s not look a gift horse in the mouth.” 

Euphrasia stopped making her trademarked Surprise! face in favor of looking confused instead. “Sorry, look a gift what in the mouth?” 

Now it was Lloyd’s turn to be confused. “You know? Don’t- don’t look a gift horse in the mouth?” 

Euphrasia shook her head. “No, I heard you, just- what does that mean?” 

Lloyd tilted his head. “You’ve never heard that before? It’s a pretty common saying...” 

“An idiom?” Euphrasia asked. She counted off on her finger, “I mean, when it rains really hard, we say ‘the shaman predicted a drought’, is it like that?” 

“What?” Lloyd shook his head in confusion. “What does that mean? No, it’s ‘it’s raining cats and dogs’, not that shaman stuff.” 

“That’s so weird! Who talks about cats when it rains? Cats hate rain!” 

“Well what does a shaman have to do with it?! Where did you even get that from, everyone’s heard of the horse one-” 

Euphrasia shook her head, determined to somehow undermine Lloyd’s knowledge of his own nation’s widespread idioms. “No one talks about horses like that!” 

“Really.” Lloyd put a hand on his hip, narrowing his eyes. “’Don’t kick a dead horse’? ‘Kill two birds with one stone’? You’ve never heard of those?” 

Euphrasia made a face. “Who’s kicking dead horses?! And that second one is just offensive,” she huffed. “Literally nobody- oh wait, you’re 100 years old.” 

Ohhhhh, yeah! The information clicked in Lloyd’s head immediately, and he laughed. He didn’t think of language changing in the last century, but it made sense. “So, wait, what does the shaman one mean?”  

Euphrasia laughed at him, fluttering down from the miniature hill. “Shamans infamously suck at predicting things,” she said, “so whenever something happens, like a lot of rain, we say they predicted the opposite. It’s funny... and a bit of a dad joke.” She pointed to Lloyd’s newly acquired hammer. “What’s that for? ...Aspheera didn’t hurt you, did she?” 

Lloyd was surprised to see a dark look take over Euphrasia’s face at the question. Maybe she wasn’t as timid as he thought. He shifted, thrown off by the sudden shift. “No, uh, this is for vengestone! We worked something out, it’s gonna be great. But first I need to find the vengestone – I was hoping you’d know where it is?” 

Euphrasia swore under her breath, throwing a vicious glare at the tomb door. “That snake!” An agitated chirp accompanied her wings puffing up. Lloyd blinked, bemused.  

“Well... she is a snake...” 

“No, the vengestone!” Euphrasia huffed, crossing her arms. “She’s trying to get you killed, the evil witch.” 

“Oh, is this about the poison? I figured I’d just wear gloves-” 

“It’s poison?!” Euphrasia shrieked, her wings flaring out and shaking violently. Lloyd hopped back in surprise.  

“Only for elemental masters! Which happens to be me times five!”  

“That’s worse, but not what I meant,” Euphrasia said, anxiously stroking her wings. Her eyes glanced at the hammer like it was her worst enemy. “Before the Calamity, vengestone was super rare, but after that demon came out of nowhere, it got way more common. In the form of Taluses.” 

“Oh!” Lloyd said brightly. “No problem, I’ve fought those things before!” 

“No, you don’t get it!” Euphrasia waved her hands. “Vengestone Taluses are way more dangerous. They’re bigger, stronger, and they travel in groups! You’ll be crushed!” 

“Hey, don’t sell me short,” Lloyd jabbed a thumb at himself. “I’m the Hero of Destiny! And I’ve got that Spinjitzu junk, I’ll be fine!”  

Euphrasia hummed, unconvinced, but she didn’t protest any further. Lloyd did think over her words, though. If he had to fight a bunch of monsters... 

“Hey,” he said, “do you mind if I raid your kitchen?” 

Lloyd sat atop a tall white horse as it followed Euphrasia, the lead held in her hand as she flew overhead. She’d leant him the horse per his request so he could haul the vengestone back. He planned on grabbing a lot, just to be safe.

Back at Euphrasia’s house, he’d donned thick leather gloves (thanks, Mom) and completely raided her kitchen. His tongue stuck out as he added a little more solvent to his concoction. 

Euphrasia cruised down until she was only a few feet above him and he could feel her giant wings beat wind down on his head. His hair ruffled, blowing into his face, and he swiped it back again.  

“What are you making?" She called down.  

Lloyd grinned as he held up his unstable creation. “Pipe bomb!”  

Euphrasia screeched, shooting up several more feet away from him. “What are you doing with that?!” She cried, looking at him like he was crazy.  

“Calm down, it’s stable!” He lied. “And it’s for the Taluses. See how they like being blown up.” 

Euphrasia slowly drifted back down, warily eyeing the makeshift bomb. “You’re really planning on attacking them with that?” She asked. “What if you get hurt?” 

“Well, that’s what you’re for,” Lloyd pointed at her, holding the bomb up in his other hand. “You’re gonna get really high up and drop it. BOOM!” Lloyd giggled to himself, oblivious to his friend’s horror.  

“But- that’s really dangerous!” She protested.  

Lloyd jerked the horse to a stop. Just ahead of them, he spotted a small herd of five Taluses – Vengestone Taluses.  

“Time's up!” He laughed and tossed Euphrasia the pipe bomb. She shrieked, just barely catching it with lightning quick reflexes. “Day’s a’wastin’!” He sped the horse down the hill, laughing all the while. Euphrasia yelled after him, speeding through the air. 

“Lloyd!” She yelled, “we need a plan, doofus!” 

“I have a plan!” Lloyd laughed through his manic grin. Man, it’d been so long since he fought something! And the Hinox didn’t count. “It’s called ‘Lloyd blows up a Talus’!” 

“A real plan!” 

“Alright,” Lloyd said as they quickly neared the Taluses, “I distract the biggest ones, and you get that tiny one with the bomb,” he pointed out a slightly smaller Talus meandering away from the group. “Have fun!” With a cackle he sped off toward the big Taluses, waving the hammer overhead like a flag.  

Euphrasia groaned and banked sharply to the left, driving her wings to go faster. She might not be much of a fighter, but if she was good at anything, it was flying. She was the fastest Rito since the Lightning Champion, and she put her wings to good use.  

She flew in front of the Talus, creating a gust of wind that hit it sharply. The monster groaned, blindly punching the ground with its huge leg. Euphrasia gasped, backing up. She was hyperaware of the bomb clutched to her chest. One wrong move... 

Of all the things for that kid to remember, it had to be how to build a bomb! She just hoped he remembered correctly.  

Euphrasia sent a burst of strength through her wings and shot straight up, hovering dozens of feet above. The Talus, sufficiently drawn away from the group, wandered aimlessly, still looking for her.  

Satisfied she’d done her part for now, she glanced around for Lloyd. 

Lloyd, the Prince of Hyrule, Champion of all of Ninjago, the vessel of the First Spinjitzu Master’s will and conduit of His power... was screaming obscenities like a maniac. This was the sole person capable of remembering she existed? Spirits save her. 

Lloyd was having the time of his life. He laughed as the four Taluses stampeded after him, whooping like he was on a particularly exciting zipline. They were drawn to the vengestone hammer, easily led away from their smallest member.  

Lloyd laughed as he banked to the right, urging the horse faster. This horse, unlike the one Mom gave him, knew how to handle herself! With just a thought, he felt like he could maneuver the horse any which way.  

Toward that ditch, he thought, and the horse spurred on, making a dead sprint for a deep ditch. It didn’t look natural – if anything, it reminded him of a giant laceration swathed into the earth, like a horrendous fire had cut a wound into the ground.  

Lloyd’s heart dropped as a metallic, rubbery tentacle rose up over the lip of the ditch. A fire... or a laser.  

The Guardian, ten times bigger than the one he’d fought on the Great Plateau, rose over the gash, its eye glowing a bright magenta as it zeroed in on Lloyd. 

Lasers carved into his arms, legs, abdomen. He fell on his back, desperately parrying another strike with the sword. He scrambled to his feet just to be pushed back by a Scout. Yet another Guardian lobbed a jagged rock at him. He yelped, futilely trying to keep the growing mass of automatons at bay.   

They were going to kill him.  

Panic seized Lloyd and he tugged at the reins of the horse suddenly, jerking the animal to a halt. She reared up, crying, and bucked in panic and confusion. Taluses at his back, Guardian at his front. Shit.  

Lloyd couldn’t attempt to think through the haze that overpowered his mind. It was as though the vision of his kingdom burning was overlayed with real life, and blurred together at the focus point of the Guardian. He dimly heard Nya screaming in his ear, his mother crying out, the wails of unsuspecting citizens, the pounding of the Taluses- 

So caught up in the vision, Lloyd barely had time to react to the laser. It was only instinct that had him throwing up his arm to protect his face, the beam of hot light glancing off his gauntlet.  

The force of it threw him to the ground, and he yelled out as his shoulder absorbed the impact. The horse bucked and raced off, leaving Lloyd to the ground. The Taluses, thankfully, were equally thrown off by the Guardian, and stomped in confusion, trying to both locate their prey and avoid the new predator. Their heavy, pillar-like feet made the ground beneath him tremble.

Hyrule was burning, buildings falling, the ground was breaking-

Lloyd struggled to breath, quickly drawing the sword. The Guardian wobbled forward, steam hissing from cracks in its armor, with a single-minded focus on Lloyd. It shuddered before spewing out another laser, and Lloyd swung his sword like a baseball bat, deflecting it. The force sent him sprawling again, and the Taluses stampeded. 

Lloyd heaved a shallow breath, struggling to focus or even stand. “No,” he whispered unconsciously, shaking his head. “No, no, no...” 

It’s going to kill me.  

Lloyd’s hand frantically groped the grass, searching for his sword. He couldn’t take his eyes off the Guardian. It spewed another shot of light, and instinct had Lloyd rolling to the side, covering his head with his arms as he curled into himself. 

He was completely frozen. 

“D-dad,” he muttered, squeezing his eyes shut, “I want my dad-” 

“Fuck off!”  

Lloyd jerked his head up to see Euphrasia barreling toward the Guardian. With barely two feet to spare before impact, she jerked back, sending a shockwave of wind at the Guardian. It stumbled, turning its eye to the Rito, charging up another laser.  

Euphrasia neatly dodged, spinning gracefully in the air. Even from the ground, Lloyd could see the fierce expression she wore, baring her teeth at the Guardian. She pettily kicked the metal top of the Guardian, making it spin in confusion.  

“Yeah!” She yelled, kicking it again, “not so tough when you’re not beating up little kids, Tin Bucket!” 

The distraction Euphrasia brought gave Lloyd the time he needed to recover. He forced his breath to slow down, and took stock of the Guardian. It was nothing like the ones that decimated the capital. It was rusted, cracked, and unsteady from disuse. Every time it shot at Euphrasia, it shuddered violently, spewing steam.  

All it needed was a good kick.  

Lloyd glanced back at the Taluses. They’d calmed down, cautiously pacing a perimeter. They were blind, but seemed to be able to sense the vibrations the Guardians made. Lloyd grinned and snatched his sword from the ground, bringing his fingers to his mouth to make a sharp whistle.  

His horse came streaking back, a blur of white and golden mane, and Lloyd snatched the reins as she sped by, hauling himself up in the same breath.  

He steered toward the Taluses, and hollered at Euphrasia, “Make it aim at me!” 

Euphrasia, who had drawn her cane and was ruthlessly beating the Guardian with it, yelled, “Are you serious?!” 

“Trust me!” 

“He builds a bomb and tells me to trust him,” Euphrasia snarked, but flew before the Guardian’s eye. She fluttered back and forth, forcing the Guardian to swivel as it tried to lock in on her.  

Lloyd, satisfied, began to yell at the Taluses. They stomped, slowly following Lloyd and the vibrations his horse and yelling created.  

He quickly led the Taluses closer to the Guardian, trying his best to line them up. “Okay, okay, now!” He yelled, and Euphrasia gave him a thumbs up as she whacked the Guardian with her cane. 

It shuddered, seemingly offended – as offended as a robot can be – and shot a laser at her. She dodged easily, and Lloyd quickly changed course, dodging under the laser. It hit the larger Talus head on, making the beast stumble. It stomped, quaking the ground, and all three charged the Guardian. 

Lloyd whooped and steered the horse away from the fight, finally escaping that particular nightmare.  

Euphrasia flew overhead, gliding on the wind, and slowly banked down to meet him.  

“What the fuck!” 

“Fun, right?” Lloyd joked breathlessly, still enthralled in adrenaline.  

“I’m exhausted!” She yelled, throwing her hands around. “Is this your life? It’s terrible!” 

“Yeah, basically. Did you kill that Talus?” 

“No, I was saving you!” 

“Alright then,” Lloyd surveyed the wide field, and located the confused wandering Talus a few yards ahead. He drew the sledgehammer from his back, mildly surprised it had stayed secure. “Let’s go kill it!” 

“I hate you,” Euphrasia groaned, and drew the bomb – wow, it was still stable? Maybe Lloyd made it wrong – from her side bag. “I’ll bomb it, and you knock around its node, right?” 

“Yup,” he hefted the hammer with both hands, counting on the horse to steer herself.  

Close enough to jump up, not close enough to get crushed, he thought. The horse banked, running a wide perimeter around the Talus and slowly closing in.  

Overhead, Euphrasia swooped over the Talus, still clutching her cane in hand. Lloyd wondered why she didn’t just ask him for a weapon – he had, like, three on him.  

Euphrasia made a strange bird call that grabbed his attention, and she held up three fingers – a countdown. Lloyd nodded and spurred his horse. Closer, now!  

3, 2, 1 – Euphrasia threw the bomb up and slammed her cane against it like a baseball bat, sending it down on the Talus with enough force to break wood, launching it at the monster’s node. For a split second, Lloyd worried it wouldn’t explode, but it did. The chemicals created a thick cloud, and the force of the explosion against the Talus’s sensitive node made it rock, forcing it to one clunky knee.  

With the Talus as close to the ground as it would get, Lloyd hopped to a low squat in the saddle. The horse, who was apparently the most intelligent of the three of them, grunted in disapproval at her rider’s antics. 

The second he was close enough, Lloyd leaped from the saddle and landed on the Talus’s back in a smooth motion. He swatted the smoke away from his face, ignoring the fine wounds that the airborne vengestone cut, lifted the hammer high above his face, and brought it down on the node with a yell.  

Lloyd had expected that he would need to hit it several times for it to count, but the node cracked and splintered under the weight of the hammer immediately. Lloyd swung at the base, and the entire thing crumbled. 

Lloyd wobbled on the unsteady back of the dying Talus, and was abruptly snatched by his underarms into the air. Euphrasia, who had quickly flown in to grab him, swerved up high to avoid the worst of the Talus crumbling.  

Lloyd was immediately grateful when he saw the dust that spewed from the vengestone. If he had fallen into that...  

“Wow,” he said breathlessly. “That was- why was that the easy part?” 

Euphrasia made a strangled noise and hugged Lloyd to her chest like he was a cuddly puppy. She buried the lower half of her face in his hair, struggling to control her own breathing as they waited for the poison dust to settle.  

“That was awful,” Euphrasia finally said, “and if I ever help you kill something again, I want you to slap me.” 

“No promises.” 

When the dust finally settles, they choose a chunk of vengestone to take. Since Lloyd can’t actually carry it in a way that doesn’t burn him, they have to tie a ton of rope around it and make the horse tug it along. She’s very tolerant about the whole ordeal once Lloyd promises that she’ll be his favorite horsey in the whole wide world forever. 

Which is true, for the record. The horse is awesome. 

Euphrasia takes a much-needed break for her wings as she walks alongside Lloyd and the horse, leaning heavily on the cane. Lloyd pesters her with questions about the world post-apocalypse, and she barrages him with questions about Hyrule. Apparently, his kingdom was incredible at keeping records and had the largest written catalogue in the world. Had, because unfortunately, they sucked at spreading out those catalogues, or having so much as a second library. The Great Library – which a niggling childhood memory tells him was a grand feat of architecture at the center of the capital – burned down with the rest of his kingdom in the Calamity. There were so few records left that barely anyone knew a thing about Hylians or their history. Lloyd was pleasantly surprised to find that he could answer most of Euphrasia’s questions. 

“Okay, constellations,” Euphrasia was saying, “there’s this huge catalogue of them in the Rito Arboreum – Library – but all the Hylian constellations are missing the stories! Which legends do you have?” 

Lloyd thought for a while. He stretched for a memory of the sky at night, and came up with a warm night spent in the astronomy tower with his uncle, sipping hot chocolate and begging for stories about the Hero of Legend.  

“Which constellation do you want to know about?” 

“The Hand that Cradles!” 

An image formed in Lloyd’s head. Stars aligned in a manner that, if it was the right time of year, formed the image of two giant hands cradling a smaller star cluster.  

“Okay, so the legend goes that those are the hands of the First Master,” Lloyd explained, closing his eyes to better envision it, “in the process of creating life. The little star cluster is supposed to be something like a fetus? Like, he’s creating Hylians.” 

“Fascinating,” Euphrasia murmured, “and, what about the Rainbow Arc?” 

Lloyd pictured the night sky forming a long, starry stream of nebulae, creating a rainbow river that spanned the horizon. “That’s the Scimitar of the Hero of Time,” he said. Lloyd laid back on the horse, spreading his own hand across the sky. “So, legend goes that the Hero of Time was capable of time travel, and he went back and forth between the future and past to stop these evil twin servants of the Overlord. His Scimitar was magical, and created the rifts in time he used to save the world.” 

“Wow,” Euphrasia muttered, “Rito say that it’s the river souls pass on to the afterlife. It’s supposed to be this incredible paradise – the Cloud Kingdom. Lush islands float on clouds in the sky, just like our legendary ancestral home.” 

Lloyd leaned on his side, propping himself up with his elbow. “What do you call the Rift?” 

“Rift? Oh, you mean the Great Hurricane! It’s this ginormous storm, created by the Albatross’ magical wings. It’s where evil souls go, to be imprisoned in the eye.” 

“We call it the Rift ‘cause it’s supposed to be the gateway to the Sacred Realm, where the First Master lives since he was cast out of Ninjago.” Lloyd sighed. “I always wished we had a telescope big enough to see inside. Maybe then I could talk to him.” 

They soon came to the dark, eerie area of Aspheera’s tomb. Euphrasia helped Lloyd undo the rope – then promptly snatched her hand back.  

“Are you hurt?” 

Euphrasia shook her hand, laughing to herself. “I see what you mean about poison. That stuff is nasty.” 

“It burned you?” Lloyd asked, surprised. He thought it only affected Elemental Masters – of course, Aspheera didn’t specify only. Man, he hated that witch.  

“I’m fine,” she said, “it barely hurt. More surprised than anything. Come on, let’s get this thing down.” 

With a few well-placed whacks of his hammer, Lloyd broke the vengestone into smaller chunks, stashing them in a bag. Then, he grabbed the liter bottle he’d taken from Euphrasia’s house. 

“What are you doing with that?” Euphrasia asked as he slipped a knife from a pocket.  

“Well, I promised Aspheera some blood,” Lloyd said, and shook his head at the knife, taking out a bow and arrow instead. 

“What?!” Euphrasia shrieked, curling into herself like Lloyd planned on shooting her. Then realization flickered on her face, and she somehow became more panicked. “You don’t mean- you're not giving your blood to Aspheera!” 

“Relax,” Lloyd laughed, nocking the arrow. “I’m not giving her my blood.” He pulled the arrow back, and scanned the tree line. He spotted a fat cardinal, and with a grimace, let the arrow fly. The bird dropped to the forest floor, dead in an instant, and Lloyd quickly snatched it up and held the wound over the neck of the bottle.  

Euphrasia watched curiously, barely phased by his sudden homicide, and grinned. “You tricked her!” She said, clapping like a kid. “Ooh, payback, witch!” 

“Yep,” Lloyd squeezed the bird, wincing at the squishy sound it made, and capped the bottle. He held it up, swishing the red liquid. “One liter of blood, sourced from an unspecified organism, coming right up!” 

Euphrasia giggled evilly, ecstatic over Aspheera getting screwed over. Lloyd supposed he’d be vindictive too, if some snake witch cast Reverse Amnesia on him. Normal amnesia was hard enough.  

Lloyd swung the bag of rocks over his shoulder, grabbed the blood, and once more walked down into Aspheera’s tomb. 

Lloyd trudged through the tomb, trying to ignore the drafty air, and knocked on the door to Aspheera’s creepy lab.  

“I got your rocks!” He yelled, shifting on his feet. The door swung open with a horrendous creak that made Lloyd’s ears pin themselves to the sides of his head. Aspheera was coiled by her cauldron with a sharp, toothy grin.  

“Your highnesss!” She hissed gleefully. “You’ve brought me my vengestone.” 

“Don’t forget your blood,” Lloyd held up the bottle, swishing it lightly. “One liter, exactly.” 

Aspheera lit up, and shot forward, snatching the bottle before Lloyd could react. She rose up on her tail, towering over him, as she opened the bottle. Her tongue flicked out, smelling the blood.  

“Thisss,” she said, deceptively calmly. She turned to face him, tail rattling. Lloyd crossed his arms, staring her down. “This is a bird.”  

“Yep,” Lloyd said. “I said, and I quote, ‘I’ll give you blood’. I never said where from.” 

Aspheera’s face grew dark as she slowly squeezed the bottle, hissing. Lloyd refused to break eye contact. Aspheera wasn’t the hypnotizing type, he’d realized - she probably couldn’t down here, forced to make deals with unsuspecting victims instead of ordering them around outright.

“You’re a very sssneaky Hylian, little princcce,” she said softly, bending down to meet his eyes. Her tongue flicked out, grazing his nose, and he flinched. She laughed softly. “I’m impresssed.” 

Lloyd blinked. “You’re... not mad?” 

“No,” she retreated, slithering to her cauldron. Lloyd realized that she’d slipped the vengestone off of him without him noticing. She dumped the contents into the cauldron, and threw a strange powder in the fire. 

“You’ll have your ssspell, hatchling,” she said. “Though it will take sssome time.” 

Lloyd hesitated briefly. “How does it work?” 

“Ssimple,” Aspheera said, “I melt down the vengessstone until it’sss pliable and ssoft, then coat the trident in it. I inssscribe the new vengesstone trident with runessss, and fill them in with melted, purified deepssstone.” 

“What’s deepstone?” Lloyd asked, curiously padding over to look into the cauldron. He kept his distance when the smoke filled his eyes, burning them with the light particles the vengestone gave off. Aspheera hissed at him, amused.  

“A ssstone located from the bottom of the sssea,” she said, pouring an oddly colored liquid into the cauldron. It hissed and popped when it came into contact with the vengestone. “It will isssolate the child’sss element, and the vengesstone will attack it, forcefully ssseparating the two.” 

Lloyd’s eyes widened. “Won’t that hurt her? Will she lose her element?” 

“Temporarily,” Aspheera conceded, “though true power isss never lossst.” She abandoned the cauldron to pick out a large tome with a water rune on its front, and a small pick. She set them aside.  

“Do I have to do anything? How does it work?” Lloyd asked, drumming his fingers on the wooden counter. 

“You ssstab her,” Aspheera said, uninterested.  

“What?!” 

She sighed, setting down the vial she had picked out. “Your little friend hasss merged with the sssea. Normally, sshe won’t experience any emotion or sssentience. It wasss forfeit when ssshe merged. But,” she flicked to a page in her tome, tapping a few runes as she worked, “if you can inccite an emotion in the child, or give her caussse to appear in a physssical form, you will have sssucceeded in isssolating what is left of her humanity, if any. Should you manage to ssstab her with the trident, ssshe will be forced out of the ocean.” She smirked. “That, of coursse, dependsss entirely on your succeeding in locating the girl.” 

Lloyd scowled. “I can find her,” he said. “And I’ll save her.” 

Aspheera shrugged. Lloyd rolled his eyes, annoyed, and slumped against the counter. He was tired. 

His gaze unconciously found Nya’s trident, laid on the island. He grimaced. In a few minutes, he was going to let Aspheera take the only thing left of a great warrior and corrupt it irreversibly. After he freed Nya (if he freed Nya) it would be rendered useless to her. He only hoped she would forgive him.  

Aspheera interrupted his thoughts briefly. “Sssay,” she said quietly. Lloyd looked over to see her holding a small vial filled with pure silver liquid. “I mussst know – who told you my location?” 

“...my mom, Lady Iron Dragon,” he said, unwilling to say Euphrasia’s name in here. “...why?” 

“Oh, nothing,” she said, tapping her chin with a sharp claw. “Sssimply that I can’t believe a member of the Hylian royal family would sssend their youngessst into my den.” 

“Why- why not?” 

She laughed to herself. “It’sss a funny ssstory,” she said. “1,000 yearsss ago, I tricked a sssilly young prince who asssked me for my ssserviccess. He became corrupt and evil, and hissss brother – your uncle – didn’t like that. He locked me in here, and as retaliation, I ssswore that when a future incarnation came for my help, I would turn him away. The family hasss hated me since.” 

Lloyd listened with rapt interest, caught up in the story. “Did you?” 

“Yesss. Your uncle came to me, begging for me to give him a ssspell that would ssstop the Great Devourer. I told him that I could give him the ssspell, or I could aid him in hisss time of greatessst need. He ssselected the latter, and came back when the Calamity ravaged Hyrule. He asssked me to make the people invulnerable to the fire of the Guardianssss – and I turned him away!” Aspheera descended into manic cackling, and Lloyd shivered. She curled a claw over the vial, eyes forming thin slits.  

“But of courssse, I couldn’t turn away a sssoul with nothing in return. Ssso I promisssed that when the time came,” she turned to face him, eyes glowing in the dark. “I would give you what you needed and more.” 

Lloyd stiffened. “You knew I was coming?” 

“I knew you would need help,” she chuckled. “And really, your awakening isss the mossst interesssting thing to happen in 100 yearsss.” 

“Why are you telling me this?” 

Aspheera held out the vial. It was shaped like a teardrop. The silver liquid swirled with white strands. “Thisss issss that more,” she said. “Asss promisssed.” 

Lloyd carefully plucked the vial from her two nails, cradling it in his hands. It couldn’t be bigger than his thumb. “What does it do?” 

“Your memoriesss are gone, yesss?” She said more than asked, like she already knew the answer. “That will fix it.” 

Lloyd jerked his head up, eyes wide. “Seriously? This will give me my memories back?” 

Aspheera dipped her head as a ‘yes’.  

“Woah,” Lloyd breathed, holding the vial up to eye level. “How does it work?” 

“Ssswallow it,” she whispered. “You will faint, and in the coming minutesss, your life will flash before your eyessss.” At the suspicious look Lloyd gave her, she pressed her hand over her heart. “I ssswear, I will bring you no harm ssso long asss the potion issss in effect.” 

Lloyd moved the vial between his fingers, rolling it over slowly. It was cold to the touch.  

“Don’t you want to know the truth?” Aspheera pressed, slithering closer. “Don’t you want your memoriesss back? To know who you are? To know if they’re lying?”  

“Lying?” Lloyd repeated, leaning away from Aspheera. “No, they wouldn’t lie to me. They’re my family.” But uncertainty clouded his mind. Why didn’t Garmadon and Wu tell him who he was outright? Why did Misako trick him into using Spinjitzu? He shook the thoughts away. “No,” he said, “they aren’t responsible for my memories.” 

“Maybe not,” Aspheera conceded, “but are they taking advantage of it? In another life, you might have hated your role. Are they tricking you now?” 

Lloyd bit his lip. Aspheera seized the opportunity. “In jussst five minutesss, you’ll know. Go on. What’sss the harm?” 

Lloyd’s eyes flicked to the melting vengestone and trident. If he had his memories, wouldn’t he be more helpful? He could use the elements more effectively; he could be a better Champion.  

Lloyd uncorked the vial, and slowly brought it to his lips. Just before the first drop fell, Aspheera’s eye twitched.  

Lloyd narrowed his eyes and smashed the vial to the ground.  

They both stared at each other for a long second. Aspheera’s eyes narrowed as a low hiss left her mouth.  

“What does it actually do?” Lloyd said, clenching his fists at his sides.  

Aspheera scoffed, turning away petulantly. “I told the truth," She pouted, “your life would flassh before your eyessss. Then you would die.” 

Lloyd spluttered. “If I die, the Overlord will destroy the world! Are you crazy?!” 

“In a manner of ssspeaking,” Aspheera said.  

Lloyd huffed, crossing his arms. The silver potion slowly inched through the grooves in the stone floor, lapping at the toe of his boot. To think he was so close to getting his memories back... 

Or to think that there was someone else in a similar situation.  

“Hold up,” he said, mind racing, “that ‘something more’. I still want it.” 

Aspheera’s eyes glowed. “Go on, then.” 

Lloyd met her gaze head on. “Euphrasia. You cursed her. I want you to reverse it.” 

Aspheera chuckled. “Euphrasssia? I haven’t heard of her in sssso long. It makesss ssenssse that you would remember her – your biology protectsss you from most ssspellsss.” She then shrugged, dismissing him. “Unfortunately, no sssuch cure exisstssss, and I wouldn’t give it to you anyway.” 

“Why not?!” 

“I ssssaid I would give you what you needed,” Aspheera smirked. “Not what ssshe doesss.” 

“I know you can give me something that will help,” Lloyd grit his teeth. “So let’s make another deal.” 

Aspheera’s eyes glinted. “You know what I want,” she prodded.  

Lloyd nodded, holding out his arm. “I’ll give you blood,” he agreed, the deja vu coming in full force. Aspheera raised a brow, unimpressed, and he corrected, “My blood. But only five ounces.” 

She hummed, then held out her hand. “Deal.” 

Lloyd shook, and Aspheera grinned. “Five for me,” she said sweetly, “and five for the spell.” 

Lloyd protested, but she interrupted. “I need that blood to create the ink. It’sss not like it will go to wasste.” 

“Fine,” Lloyd spat.  

Aspheera rummaged through a drawer and came up with a syringe. Lloyd pushed his sleeve up and allowed her to draw blood. The first five ounces went into a bottle, and Lloyd watched it drain with dread. Hopefully, she wouldn’t be able to hurt anyone with it too badly.  

The next five ounces, she slid into a short, rotund ink jar. She filled the same jar with water, and crushed a white feather before sprinkling it in. She whispered a few words Lloyd couldn’t make out, then closed the jar and handed it to Lloyd.  

“That’s it?” He asked, turning the jar in his hand.  

Aspheera nodded. “Tell her to ussse that ink to draw this rune,” she pointed to the rune on the cap of the jar, “anywhere on her body every 24 hourssss. Ssshould that clock run out before the next application, anyone she met will inssstantly forget her. Sssso long asss the rune remainsss, anyone she encountersss will remember her.” 

“What about people who already forgot about her?” Lloyd asked, thinking of Euphrasia’s father. 

“She will need to wear the rune and find them firssst. When they ssssee her, they will remember everything. Be warned; if your friend doesssn’t reapply the rune every 24 hoursss, everyone will forget her again.” 

Lloyd nodded and slipped the jar into the same pocket as his Slate.  

Aspheera leaned over the cauldron, hummed, and dropped Nya’s trident in. Steam rose from the cauldron as it hissed and popped. Lloyd leaned away as a horrible smell filled the air.  

Aspheera pulled the trident out again. It had gone from a pure silver with azure gemstones to a horrible, malformed weapon made of the black and veiny purple of vengestone. It glowed darkly, humming with malice. Lloyd swallowed back his trepidation.  

Aspheera chanted over the weapon and slowly, runes etched themselves into the hilt, glowing briefly as they were carved. Aspheera took a vial filled with dark blue liquid and carefully poured it over the hilt. The liquid sought out the runes, filling the grooves and setting remarkably fast. Soon, the trident was finished.  

Lloyd took the trident from Aspheera. He could feel the poison the vengestone emanated even through his gloves. “This will work?” 

“It will,” Aspheera assured him, “but only if you manage to find the girl.” 

Lloyd breathed out a large sigh, slipping the trident into place on his back. He bit his lip, looking up at Aspheera. “...thank you,” he mumbled.  

Aspheera blinked, seemingly surprised. Then she turned away to inspect the vial of blood Lloyd gave her. “Better get going,” she whispered. Her eyes glinted as they narrowed at him. “If I were you, I wouldn’t come back.” 

Lloyd quickly backed out, and left the shrine and Aspheera behind. 

Hopefully for good. 

Lloyd reveled in the fresh summer air as he exited the tomb, shutting the door firmly behind him. The runes flashed orange, signaling the lock. He breathed out, looking down at the trident in his hands. It was nothing like the previously elegant and refined weapon before. The vengestone had made it thick and clunky, a brutish pointed stick. The sickly yellow veins burned his retinas. He felt nauseous looking at it.  

Euphrasia, who sat on the lofty branches above, called down, “Lloyd! Are you okay?” 

He shook his head, trying to forget the vengestone, and smiled up at her. “Euphrasia! Yeah, I got it!” 

She fluttered down, the force of her wings sending ripples of wind through his hair. She leaned over, peering down at the trident curiously. “It’s... not very pretty,” she grimaced, poking the trident and hissing when it shocked her, “will it really bring your friend back?” 

“If I do it right,” Lloyd said. He hoped he would be able to. He didn’t know much about Nya, but she didn’t deserve to be trapped in the sea forever. Lloyd wanted to meet her, get to know her again.  

His eyes widened suddenly as he remembered the ink jar. “Oh, Euphrasia!” He stabbed the trident into the ground, digging into his pocket. He came back up with the jar and held it out to Euphrasia.  

She looked down at it, confused. “What is it?” 

He looked away. “I know I shouldn’t be so flippant about making deals,” he said, “but you’ve helped me out so much. I wanted to do something in return. Aspheera said that if you drew this rune,” he pointed to the swirling symbol on the jar’s lid, “anywhere on your skin every 24 hours, then people you meet will remember you. Your dad will too, if you go see him again! But they only remember if you apply every 24 hours so the rune never fully fades.” 

After a long moment of silence, Lloyd looked back up to see Euphrasia staring in shock, wide teary eyes flicking between him and the jar.  

“Lloyd- oh spirits-” she stuttered, rapidly blinking away tears. Her hand made aborted movements toward the jar, hesitant to touch it. “Is- will this really-” 

“Yes,” Lloyd said, absolutely positive. He pressed the jar into her hands, carefully so that she didn’t drop it. “It’s not a perfect cure, but-” 

He was cut off when Euphrasia threw her arms around him, sobbing into his shoulder. Her legs gave out, sending her on her knees. He hugged back, letting her put her weight on him.  

She sniffled, leaning back. “Lloyd, this is- thank you. Oh spirits, thank you so much-” she sniffled, brushing away the tears that clung to the feathers around her eyes. “But Lloyd, how much did this cost? Please, tell me you didn’t make a horrible deal.” 

Lloyd hesitated briefly. He didn’t want Euphrasia to worry about him. “...no, of course not! Actually, turns out because of some drama with my family before the Calamity, she actually had to give me something for free.” 

“R-really?” Euphrasia seemed stunned. Lloyd smiled and nodded.  

What was the point in telling her the truth anyways? It’s not like Aspheera could do anything too dangerous from her tomb.  

Euphrasia pulled him into another hug, laughing through her tears. “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she cried. Lloyd hugged back, smiling.  

After a while, Euphrasia pulled back, still sniffling. She held the ink jar close, looking at it in wonder. Her curse was finally lifted. Not cured – she was stuck with it for life. But she wouldn’t be completely forgotten anymore.  

She held it out to Lloyd. “Help me? I don’t think I can keep my hands stable right now.” 

Lloyd nodded, taking the jar. “Where do you want it?” 

She thought for a moment, then turned around. “My back,” she said, “right above the wings.” 

She sat down, her wings splaying out over the ground. Lloyd knelt, popping open the jar. He held it in his hand carefully, and since he didn’t have a brush, dipped his finger in the ink. It congealed strangely, cold against his skin. A soft iron scent wafted from the ink, making it smell faintly of blood. He hoped Euphrasia didn’t notice much.  

Carefully referencing the rune, he swept his finger over Euphrasia’s back, painting three swift lines. When he finished the last line, the rune glowed a soft cyan blue, before fading. When it did, the ink was completely dry, and resembled a tattoo. He stood, capping the ink jar.  

Euphrasia’s wings fluttered as she stood, taking the jar back.  

“It... doesn’t feel very different,” she said, reaching around to touch her back. 

“Why on your back?” Lloyd asked. Euphrasia smiled sadly.  

“That’s where my old tattoo was. It felt right.” She fiddled with the jar, tracing the ridges. After a moment of hesitation, she said, “Lloyd, I’m going back to Shintaro. I want to see my dad again. If you’re ever there, I promise I’ll help with whatever you want or need, no questions asked. If you need a place to stay, or help fighting more Taluses; I promise, I’ll help.” 

Lloyd shook his head, “Euphrasia, that’s not why I did it-” 

“I know,” she interrupted. She rested a hand on his shoulder, smiling. “This is just another day for you, but for me, this is... you saved my life, Lloyd. I don’t know how much longer I could’ve stood being alone. I promise, no matter what, I’ll be there for you.” 

Lloyd grinned and pulled Nya’s trident from the ground. “Does the horse come with that deal? I need a new one.” 

Euphrasia laughed. “A horse and dinner. Stay the night, okay? I don’t want you going out alone so late.” 

Lloyd could handle himself, but he didn’t say anything. Besides, a warm bed and hot meal sounded great. “Only if you tone down the spices,” he warned.  

Lloyd stayed the night at Euphrasia’s, trading stories and legends over food. At some point, Euphrasia brought out a large book full of star maps and constellations, and they poured over the accompanying stories. Even though most of the Hylian legends are ingrained in religion, Lloyd doesn’t take it too seriously. Instead, he has fun trading stories and remembering his own.  

It reminds him of something soft and warm. He can’t make it out, the edges of the memories still fuzzy and distorted, but it feels safe. Kind.  

Eventually, they both passed out on the couch, Euphrasia’s giant wings substituting blankets. When morning approached, she helped Lloyd load up the horse.  

“It’s been raining in the Zora Domain a lot,” Euphrasia warned as she secured the trident to a specialized carrier on the horse. “Be careful, alright? Monsters like to take advantage of the poor weather, so stay on open roads.” 

“Got it,” Lloyd said, adjusting the straps of his light armor. He hauled himself onto the horse, looping the reins around his wrists. “Oh, and say hi to your dad for me, okay?”  

Euphrasia smiled, nodding. “I’ll tell him all about you,” she promised. This morning, she wore the rune on her wrist.

Lloyd steered the horse away, pulling up the Sheikah Slate. If he didn’t run into too many monsters, or more plausibly, get sucked into another side quest, it was a straight shot from the Hylian grasslands to the coast of the Zora Domain.  

He glanced at the trident, silently humming. One step closer to Nya; one step closer to the Divine Beasts; and one step of a couple thousand closer to defeating the Overlord. 

Chapter Text

“Shard? Rocky? Mm, Wisp? Oh, that’s not bad. Flame? Oh, eugh. What about... Epona? That’s pretty good.” 

Lloyd tapped his pencil against his mouth, crossing out yet another name in Mom’s journal. He and the horse – who was still unnamed – rode through a light rain shower down a worn road. Lloyd used a makeshift umbrella held over his head to keep the pages dry.  

The rain created a soft patter against the forest, making Lloyd very tempted to fall asleep. Instead, he set aside the pencil and flicked through the journal, humming to himself.  

“Skulkin, boring... weather patterns... star chart... ooh, Zora!”  

Lloyd leaned against the horse’s neck, scanning the page. On the left-hand side were two sketches of generic Zora, one male and one female. Little annotations pointed out the quirks of their shared and differing biology. To the right was a more detailed explanation, once more littered with annotations and amendments. It was chaos.  

Lloyd laughed at a short note scribbled on the bottom, turning the page. To his surprise, he found two sketches of siblings labeled ‘Kai and Nya Jiang-Smith'. The pages they were written on were newer than most of the journal, indicating that they’d been added later on. It made sense, if Mom had created this journal during her days as a foot soldier, and then a general.

He found paragraphs dedicated to each sibling, listing the unique quirks of their Zora-Goron biology, and even their elements. Misako seemed to think that their elemental inheritance played a part in their biological differences.  

“Nya has a smaller tail, but is a faster swimmer than most Zora,” Lloyd read aloud, “she lacks the blue colored skin of the Zora, and the rocky patches inherent to Gorons. Kai, while shorter than most Gorons, does have these patches, albeit softer.”  

He subconsciously focused on Nya, skimming over her descriptions and everything Mom wrote about her powers. The illustration was unfamiliar.

The horse – ugh, he needed a name. Ultra? No, lame – chuffed, and Lloyd looked up from the journal. Up ahead, Lloyd just barely made out two tall figures through the rain. He sat up straight, bracing a palm over his eyes. They appeared to be holding spears, and he drew his dao, just in case.  

“Please don’t be Serpentine,” he muttered, spurring the horse further.  

As he got closer, the two figures became clearer. They were both Zora, dressed in leather armor guarding a bridge. They had dark blue skin and black hair. One had a long, thin tail, and the other had a thicker one. Each of them bore black, white, and cyan markings on their cheeks and around their eyes. Spiky, flared ears like webs sprouted from their hair.  

One of them, the taller of the two, noticed Lloyd. “Hey, what’s up?” He waved. Lloyd relaxed, lowering his sword as he approached. The shorter of the two narrowed her eyes.

“Hey, it’s a kid. What are you doing out here alone, bud?” 

Lloyd sighed, then paused. He could just... lie.  

“Actually,” he said slowly, “I’m... not a kid. Just- just really short. Which is. Normal. For Hylians.” Oh wow, he sucked at lying. He cringed, praying the guards would buy it.

Fortunately, the Zora seemed to believe him. They both nodded, and the second guard said, “oh! Sorry about that. Do you need directions, then? The woods are horrible in the rain.” 

Lloyd nodded, showing them his Sheikah Slate. Both of them looked at it curiously, intrigued by the ancient tech. “I need to get to the Zora Domain and speak with Prince Benthomaar. It’s really important.” 

The first guard rubbed the back of his head. “Sorry, but we can’t just let you walk on through. No papers, no hearing with the Crown Prince.” To his credit, he seemed genuinely apologetic. Lloyd wondered if he was just nice, or if Lloyd's hair was doing the 'sopping wet cat' thing in the rain again. Several travelers had offered him meals and blankets over the past few days. 

Lloyd drummed his fingers against the horse’s neck. He didn’t want to explain the entire ‘Hero of Destiny’ thing to these guys. It would take too long, and he ran the risk of them not even believing him like Euphrasia.  

“But,” Lloyd said slowly, “he’ll be expecting me. Because, uh, Lady Iron Dragon sent me from Jamanakai village. Definitely.” 

The two guards looked at each other, surprised. “Lady Iron Dragon? Really?” The shorter one said.  

The taller male laughed, pumping his fist. “You must be here about the serpent! Man, this is great. She has a plan, doesn’t she?” 

A pit formed in Lloyd’s stomach. Snake? He really, really doesn’t want to fight a snake. Chin up, he thought to himself, you’re the Hero of Destiny. You can handle a snake or two. Probably. I mean, I just did! 

“Can’t tell you,” Lloyd shook his head, “top secret, and all. I’m just the messenger.” 

The shorter Zora nodded sagely. “She’s wise. Well, we’re under strict orders straight from the crown to let through any messengers from Jamanakai. Selmaar, you have the papers.” 

Selmaar dug into his belt and fished out a small stone tablet just big enough for a large stamp. “This will get you straight through to the capital,” he said, pulling out a seal and sticking it to the back, “just show this to any guard and they’ll send you to the palace.” 

“Do us a favor, huh?” The short guard said with a toothy grin. “Kick snake ass. I’m tired of that giant tyrant destroying our shores.” 

Lloyd blanked, clutching the tablet to his chest. “Sorry... destroying the shoreline?” He laughed through a tight smile.  

Selmaar nodded, seemingly annoyed. “Ugh, yeah. Wojira is the worst.”  

Wojira. Wojira was back?!  

Struggling to hide the panicked edge to his voice, Lloyd laughed again, tugging on the reins. “This is fine,” he whispered as he steered the horse onto the bridge.  

Fortunately, Selmaar’s tablet got Lloyd straight to the capital. He passed through a few checkpoints, and in the outer city, was checked more thoroughly, but he was let through into the palace quickly.  

Lloyd looked around in awe, trying to take everything in at once. The Zora city was made of silver and pearl, everything practically glowing despite the persistent drizzle. The structures that made up the palace were sleek and smooth pearl and marble, decorated with lapis and sapphire. The palace towered above him, glittering spires reaching into low-hanging clouds. It was almost completely open to the elements, unlike the Hylian castle, which was made of solid brick and meant to fortify against attacks. Compared to his own home, the Zora palace was an idyllic seaside getaway.

Lloyd had to leave the horse in a stable for traveling merchants, but based on the amount of food inside, he wasn’t worried. A tall, thin Zora girl with a tail like a whip led him through the palace corridors.  

The entire time, all Lloyd could do was clutch Nya’s trident to his chest. They’d let him bring it, albeit hesitantly, but just saying his mom’s name here seemed to pull a weight. Made sense – she was a queen.  

“Here,” his escort said, gesturing to two large silver doors. Lloyd was hit with a weird sense of deja vu. It was like he was right back in the shrine, staring up at the same ginormous doors. As his escort pushed one door open, he groaned.  

“Should’ve just gone back to bad,” he muttered, then stepped through.  

The throne room was huge. Lloyd entered into a ginormous dome shaped room with a tall, vaulted ceiling. The entire chamber seemed to be made of pearl and silver, intricately carved and reflecting light at every angle. Water ran through carefully measured moats in the floor, creating elegant patterns and filling the throne room with the soft sound of running water.

Zora, all varying shades of navy blue with blue, white, and black markings milled about, all dressed in satin chitons and silver jewelry. The throne, made of silver and pearl (Lloyd was sensing a theme) rested upon a raised dais, and on it sat a Zora with swept back black hair dressed in a regal white chiton and light iron armor, more decorative than protective. A large silver headpiece, dripping sapphires and inlaid with lapis rested above his hairline. Two guards stood by his side, decked out in steel with long spears.

The Zora on the throne quickly took notice of Lloyd, sitting up straight. "Larimer! Who is this?"

Lloyd's escort, Larimer, straightened. "Crown Prince, he claims to be a messenger of the esteemed Lady Iron Dragon. As protocol dictates, he was brought straight to the capital."

The Crown Prince nodded, his previously relaxed face becoming serious. He made a quick motion at his guards, and they both began to usher people out of the room. Lloyd was quickly left alone in the room with the prince, the running water the only sound echoing in the chamber.

The Prince smiled softly. "My, where are my manners? Surely Father raised me better. I am Crown Prince Benthomaar, though I ask that you not bother with formalities. Now, child, please come forward."

Lloyd blinked, surprised. He shouldn't be surprised, but he couldn't remember talking to anyone so formal before. Then again, he was a prince.

Lloyd quickly strode forward until he was at the edge of the dais. It wasn't very tall, so he could still comfortably speak with the prince. "Uh, not a kid," he said quietly, feeling exposed in the empty room.

Benthomaar raised an eyebrow. "I know what a Hylian child looks like."

Lloyd swallowed thickly. "Look, your highness, Lady Iron Dragon sent me, and I really need your help."

Benthomaar nodded, sitting back on the throne. "Yes, I assume you're here about Wojira. She'll surely have disastrous consequences on the continent as a whole should she awaken fully, so I expect the queen general to have a plan."

Lloyd laughed awkwardly. "So… about that. She didn't didn't exactly… mention Wojira. At all. I'm here about something completely different."

Benthomaar's tail, long as sharp like a shark's, flicked sharply. It was covered in black diamond shapes, the same as the ones in the corners of his eyes. "What? I've been sending letters for two months! Wojira has been slowly awakening, destroying our shorelines! How could she not know?"

"Uhh… bad post?"

Benthomaar sighed, massaging the area between his brows. Lloyd fiddled with the trident in his hands awkwardly. "That is… unfortunate," Benthomaar finally said, sounding like he wanted very badly to use a stronger word. "But, if you aren't here for Wojira… what could be so dire that Queen Misako would send you?"

Lloyd laughed nervously. "Eugh… okay, this might sound a little insane, but," he held out the trident, trying to ignore the malicious burn through his gloves. "I'm actually… Lloyd Garmadon."

Benthomaar's eyes widened, several imperceptible emotions flickering across his face in an instant. "…excuse me?"

"Yeah, dead prince, it's a whole thing," Lloyd waved it off, "what's important is Nya - or Nyad, now. Lady Iron Dragon told me to go to Aspheera for a spell to unmerge her from the ocean. I was hoping you could help me."

Benthomaar's eyes flicked down to the trident. His mouth thinned. "…where did you get that."

"My- my mom," Lloyd answered hesitantly. His grip tightened at the sight of Benthomaar's fists clenching at his side. "It was Nya's, but I had to- well, Aspheera did this."

Suddenly, before Lloyd could blink, Benthomaar snatched the trident. Lloyd made a noise of protest, but the growing rage on the prince's face made him falter.

"You… you seriously claim to be Lloyd Garmadon? A young boy, deceased by a hundred years, murdered by a demon?" Benthomaar held the trident close, but strangely, didn't seem burned by it. Were Zora immune? Or was Benthomaar simply too enraged to notice? "Not only that," Benthomaar's black eyes turned on him, "but you expect me to believe that you can - what? Reverse our greatest hero sacrifice? I don't know who you are," Benthomaar advanced on Lloyd, forcing him to back up down the dais. The more the prince spoke, the angrier he seemed to become, the fuel of his own fire. "But I will not tolerate your insolence, your depravity, your sheer and utter disrespect of that whom sacrificed her body and soul for my kingdom!"

His words boomed throughout the empty throne room, echoing until the sound tapered off. Lloyd was surprised to find that his hands shook in the silence. "Did- did you… know me?"

Benthomaar straightened, a cold, detached look taking over his face. "I'll admit, little Hylian - you make for a pitiful sight. But you are lacking. For one, Lloyd was no blonde - for another, he knew how to braid his own fucking hair."

Surprise rippled through Lloyd. They did know each other. He would be excited if Benthomaar wasn't being so hostile. Why didn't Mom tell him? Why didn't Benthomaar know he was coming? Didn't Mom say she would send a letter-?

"Benthomaar, I can explain-"

"And another thing," the Zoran Prince snarled, sharp canines snapping together. "He never, not once, called me by my full name. I want you out of my domain, Hylian, or so help me not even Wojira could measure my wrath. To come into my domain and insult my two closest, deceased friends is an insult I will not tolerate."

Lloyd stood silent. Benthomaar clenched the trident like a lifeline. "I- I can prove it," Lloyd said slowly. "I know spinjitzu! Who else but an elemental master could do spinjitzu?"

Benthomaar raised a brow. "Are you so dense? Have you done no research whatsoever? Lady Iron Dragon, you fool."

Ah. Shit. Okay, not a great look for him. "Okay, I walked into that, but who else? And, look, I have her- her journal! See?" Lloyd thrust into his bag, drawing out the huge tome. He opened it to a random page for the prince to see. "And I have a Sheikah Slate, and my father's crown! I promise, I'm not lying."

Benthomaar didn't bother to read the page, or acknowledge the slate or diadem. 

"…Lloyd Garmadon is dead. Do you know how I know? I watched his sister kill herself believing it!"

The harsh words shocked Lloyd into silence. Benthomaar seemed to search his face, then scoffed. He turned around, stalking back to his throne. "Begone. I won't help you."

Lloyd clenched his fists. "Then give me back the trident. I still need it."

Benthomaar held the trident carefully, as if afraid it might break.

"Absolutely not. If this truly is Nya's trident, then I won't stand for your shameful desecration. I will return it to its rightful state. Now I won't say this again; get out."

"What'll it take? I can prove I'm really Lloyd. I can explain, if you'll just let me."

"If you were Lloyd, you'd know me. I'm not an idiot."

"Okay, I have amnesia-"

"How convenient."

"Just- give me a shot." It was quickly becoming clear that the prince wouldn't believe Lloyd, no matter what he said. But if Lloyd could convince Benthomaar to give him some kind of test, then he would just pass it.

The prince sat back in his throne, idly tracing the grooves of Nya's trident. He stayed silent, but the anger seemed to slowly leech from his face, replaced with cold calculation. "Hm. Alright, fine."

"Wait, really?" Lloyd blinked in disbelief. "I'm not gonna have to, like, beg you for another fifteen minutes?"

"I don't have enough patience to look at you that long," Benthomaar responded coldly. "Really, you didn't even try to look like him. A blonde, seriously?"

"The shrine bleached it!"

"Lloyd - the real one - was an accomplished warrior. The best I'd ever known. There wasn't a single enemy he couldn't beat." Except Guardians, neither of them said. "So, fight a monster. Prove it in combat."

Lloyd grinned. Was this the easiest challenge ever or what? "Kill a monster? Fine. Deal, princey."

Benthomaar's eyes narrowed at him. "Oh no, you won't be killing it. Anybody could do that. No, I want you to defeat this monster without killing it." He snapped his fingers, and two guards entered the room. Lloyd narrowed his eyes at them both, hand inching toward his sword. Benthomaar completely ignored him, turning to face a guard as he stood, still holding the trident. "Prepare the crab for the Colosseum, first thing in the morning."

The guard looked taken aback. "Uh… for him, your highness?" Benthomaar nodded. The second guard added, "Er, your highness… he's a, uh, child?"

"I'm aware."

The two guards looked at one another and shrugged. Lloyd cleared his throat. "Sorry, crab? What kind of crabs do you have here-"

"And put him in a room," Benthomaar snapped. He stared down at the trident, his eyes growing sad. "I don't care what he does from there."

The Zoran Prince briskly left the room, leaving Lloyd standing in shock and wondering what the hell he'd just agreed to.

_____

"Ugh." Lloyd collapsed backward in the bed, sending the pillows flopping off. The two guards had taken him to a room specifically for Hylians, since Zora slept in water. It was the same as the rest of the palace: silver and bright. There was a huge window to let in streams of sunlight. Currently, however, there was only the soft pitter-patter of rain drizzle, beads of water dripping from the window's arches. 

Lloyd pressed his palms into his eyes, slumping into the bed. Somehow, he'd pissed off royalty, lost Nya's trident - the only way to un-merge her - and agreed to fight a crab in the same ten minutes.

"Uuuuuugh," he groaned. "Sure, why not. A crab! What kind of crab even-" Lloyd rolled over to bury his head in a pillow. "I can't even kill it!" He yelled into the satin pillowcase. How dare that hoity-toity prince deny him the right to murder a monster for fun. It was the only entertainment he ever got!

…how did he keep messing up like this? He lifted his head, drawing a strand of blonde hair before his half-lidded eyes. Not even a blonde, huh? He couldn't imagine himself with brown hair, though. Just another way he was apparently fucking up. 

He puffed a sigh out through his nose. If Benthomaar was his friend, then he had horrible taste a century ago.

'I watched his sister kill herself-'

Lloyd clenched his eyes shut. Man, he must've come off like an asshole. Benthomaar was, in a way that only big assholes could be, right. He'd ruined Nya's trident. But only to get her back, which Benthomaar was ignoring!

One of these days, he'd be able to walk into a room and have people believe him. One could dream.

He sighed, sitting up. The sun was going down, not that it'd been all that bright before. It really did nothing but rain here. Lloyd let his eyes rove over the room, letting his mind wander. He could try to go the spinjitzu avenue again… but Benthomaar didn't seem like he would buy it. It was like he was looking for any excuse not to believe Lloyd. 

His eyes landed on his bag. Strangely, there were envelopes scattered on the floor from where he'd thrown it. He didn't remember seeing any envelopes.

Curious, he stood to collect them. He opened one at random, pulling the thin leather cord wrapped around a set of three.

Lloyd. I'm writing on a rainy day. Good for our crops, bad for my mood. I don't have much of anyone to talk to these days. It's been ten years, I think. Jamanakai Village is nearly complete, and most of the refugees are settling in. We're well hidden from monsters, and through my correspondence with the crown prince of the Zora Domain, well provided for.

Lloyd skimmed through the rest of the letter, rapt with attention. He quickly moved onto the next.

I haven't seen you in 20 years. I hope your body hasn't just decomposed. Morbid, I know, but I'm too cowardly to go and check. I justify staying away by keeping Jamanakai running, or the danger of the Plateau, but the truth is that I'm just scared. I don't want to see my kingdom in ruins, or the demon that attempts to murder my husband every hour of the day. Or your grave. By the Master, I hope I haven't made that cold place your tomb. You would have liked somewhere greener.

I wonder when you'll wake up, if ever. I wonder where you'll go first; The creek you loved to play in? Home? (I hope not). Will you find yourself climbing trees, hunting Taluses for fun, or eating every plant you find? You were so adventurous. I can't imagine you don't somehow fight something or another within the first hour. I hope you're able to find me. I find myself wishing I'd left a map, or a note, but I was too scattered at the time to think of it. Now, I'm too afraid to go back.

My firmest consolation is that if you were truly dead, you'd have been reincarnated by now. That is, if I didn't ruin things with that shrine.

…what? Reincarnated? Didn't he have to be the son of a Twin God? Maybe Mom wasn't thinking straight. She was grief stricken, after all.

He quickly rips open another envelope, ravenous for more information. Hell, maybe he could use this to convince Benthomaar he was the real deal-!

Nya Jiang-Smith is dead.

Oh.

I shouldn't use that word. It's not accurate to what she did - what she gave up. But nothing else feels so concrete. They're all dead. You all. In just a day. Nya lasted the longest. Again, morbid, but true. She was there to set you down in that shrine. She was there to lead survivors from the capital. She was there when we found that the other four champions were murdered by Blights, as I call them. And then she wasn't. She drowned Wojira, but never came back up for air. I have her trident, laid on the table before me. She wanted me to give it to you. I saw myself in that girl - achieving the impossible, clawing her way to the top for just a smidge of recognition. I tried my best to guide her in the way I never had, but I think I taught her too well. She was 19. I don't even remember being so young. 

If you ever do read this, it's only right that I tell you this: her dying wish was that you knew how cool she was, and how much she loved you.

Lloyd folded the letter and slid it back into its envelope. All of these letters… she'd written to him while he slept in the shrine, grieving him for 100 years.

He stared out the window at the slowly rising moon, beckoning the tides further and further out. He squinted at a dark figure slumped over a balcony directly overlooking the ocean. In their hands, a trident.

Someone else had been grieving for 100 years too.

__

Lloyd softly traipsed the empty halls, occasionally peeking out windows to make sure he was heading the right direction. The drafty sea breeze swept through the halls, carrying with it the scent of salt. The moon crept high above the ocean, beckoning its tides further and further out.

Eventually, he came across a breakfast nook, the lone Zora Prince leaned over the balcony. Benthomaar's headdress and armor were gone, replaced by a simple white chiton. His windswept black hair rustled in the breeze. Nya's trident, held in his hands, emitted the faintest yellow light. Benthomaar hadn't yet noticed him, the only sound between them the crashing of waves.

"…doesn't that burn?" He asked, breaking the silence. Benthomaar startled, glancing over his shoulder. He scowled at Lloyd.

"What are you doing here? I was under the impression Hylians were diurnal."

"We are," Lloyd slowly approached the balcony. When Benthomaar remained silent, he draped himself over the balcony. He had to stand on his tip toes to reach over the edge. Benthomaar huffed, staring out into the ocean once more.

"Don't be ridiculous," the prince scoffed, "vengestone only burns Elemental Masters."

"It hurt Euphrasia, though." Benthomaar ignored that. Lloyd bit his lip, then fished out his mother's letter. He held it out. Benthomaar raised an eyebrow. "What is that?"

"A letter from my mom," Lloyd said. "I thought you'd recognize her handwriting."

Benthomaar took the paper, reading quietly. His brows furrowed at first, before raising in surprise. His fingers crumpled the edges ever so slightly. "You bring me a grieving woman's letter to her deceased child?" He demanded. "Explain yourself!"

"Ugh, why are you like this?" Lloyd buried his face in his hands. "I'm just trying to prove that I'm really Lloyd! I'm sorry I don't remember you but that's not my fault-!"

"I wasn't there," Benthomaar interrupted suddenly. He stared out into the ocean, but it looked like he was seeing something else. "But I saw the soldiers coming home. Less than half of them did, and less than half of that survived the week. Nya Jiang-Smith is the only reason a single soldier made it back at all. Her sacrifice meant everything to this realm."

"I know," Lloyd said, "and I'm trying to bring her back. She was a hero, and I'm returning the favor."

"Favor?" Benthomaar spoke, detached. "It was martyrdom. She died and I-" Benthomaar choked on his own words as his eyes, shaking, grew wide with tears. Lloyd looked away, attempting to spare the prince some dignity.

Below them, waves rose up and crashed down. A single gull swooped down from the sky and came away with a thrashing carp. Lloyd rested his head on his folded arms. "Mom never told me where Wojira came from," he said, watching the gull fly away with its prize. "Did she belong to the Overlord, like the Great Devourer?"

"No," Benthomaar answered after a moment. "She belonged to Nyad, our goddess. But it was the Overlord's doing. I- had a brother," he stuttered. "We were not blood. I was adopted; he was the rightful heir. My father, the king, took me in when he found me orphaned at sea. Kalmaar hated me, though he had no reason to. He would inherit the throne. But he was purist and elitist. He believed Zora above all else, and himself above all Zora. He hated to share the title of prince, though he inherited everything by virtue of blood. All but our father's love, of which he shared equally between us."

Lloyd listened with rapt attention. Benthomaar's gaze became unfocused, like he was seeing double. "He was never kind to me. One day, however, he was. I was one of the strongest swimmers in the domain, and he asked me to lead him through treacherous tunnels to an abandoned undersea temple. I did, and he returned to hating me. I thought it was another cruel joke at my expense. A year later, he rose from the ocean on Wojira's head."

"Your brother summoned Wojira?!" Lloyd gasped, raising his head. Benthomaar dipped his head in a nod.

"The Overlord had whispered in his mind and promised power and glory. Now, Kalmaar is dead."

"I'm so sorry," Lloyd expressed. "Even if he was evil-"

"Don't be," Benthomaar waved him off, scowling at nothing in particular. "I'd have killed him myself if he wasn't swallowed by the beast he sold his soul for. He murdered my father, decimated my people, and left me with the scraps. I'll hate him as long as I live."

"Ah," Lloyd swallowed. They stood, side by side, in silence. Salty wind rustled Lloyd's bangs, slipping stray strands of hair from his hastily done braid. He looked at the trident. "I'm sorry, by the way. For the trident. But Aspheera said that the trident would work, and she physically can't lie. Still, I wish I didn't have to ruin it."

Benthomaar traced the indents of the trident. "Were… you guys close?" Lloyd asked hesitantly.

"Not in the way you might think, but yes," he said. "I treated her poorly at first. I wanted to be like Kalmaar, when I was young, and Kalmaar loved to bully Nya for being half Goron. But I grew to respect her more than anyone else. We were very close friends." His eyes curved miserably. "She loved you, Lloyd-"

Benthomaar cut himself off with a pained sound. Lloyd's hand trembled on the balcony edge.

Benthomaar's voice shook when he next spoke. "Do you understand what it's like? For everyone to turn to you in crisis? My father was dead, my brother digested, our Champion murdered, our homes flooded and army decimated, our neighbors crushed - every eye in this domain was on me. Zora can't become king or queen until their 150th birthday - nor officially crowned until 100. I was sixteen."

His voice broke at the same time a particularly loud wave crashed ashore.

"How horrible, then, must it have been," he muttered, "to be ten years old and have not only a kingdom, but an entire realm order you to take the sword that will become your guillotine?"

Lloyd's heart stops in his throat.

"It wasn't like that-" he protest, but it's empty. Did he hate being Hyrule's Champion that much, or was Benthomaar just projecting? The truth is, Lloyd doesn't know if it was like that. He was there, but those aren't his memories anymore. He can barely recall what color his Uncle's eyes are. He loved adventuring now, but did he 100 years ago? Was it even an adventure, or a chore?

"I was two years older," Benthomaar muttered, lost in memory, "we were friends. While our parents attended meetings, we played on the beach. I collected treasures from the sea floor for him, and he kept them in his room. I'd give him rides on my back in the ocean. Then he died, like- like he didn't even matter. The Overlord didn't give him the time of day."

Silence hung between them heavily. Lloyd wanted to say something, but he couldn't find the words. Benthomaar had been grieving for a century - what do you say to that?

Benthomaar closed his eyes, drawing his mouth into a thin line. "Prove it," he whispered, "Prove you're him. Tell me something, anything, about Nya. She was your sister, she'd do anything for you, surely, if you were Lloyd, you'd remember something."

Lloyd swallowed and looked out into the ocean. The breeze ruffled his hair playfully, bringing with it the smell of salt and sunshine. Flashes echoed in his mind - hands coarse like coral, a voice like being underwater and those above warped, both sharp and muffled at once. Scales that reflected sunlight like the surface of the sea, sparkling like gemstones.

"…she had scales," he muttered slowly. His eyes squinted in confusion as his mind tried to piece together an image. "That went over her arms, and across her shoulders…" he subconsciously traced a path over his own collarbones, and missed the way Benthomaar startled to attention, looking down at him in disbelief. "But they were too weak to be real armor. They went down her back… she had a fin. On her elbows, too, but they were small. She had brown- no, b-black?" The image in his mind, previously so crisp from his dream, began to warp and bend as details glitched out of place. His eyes shut as his hand came to his head. "She wore it in a bob- she had… was it- no-"

His eyes snapped open as a wave slammed into the base of the palace. Salty water sprayed into the air. "…she told me to run. And I didn't."

Benthomaar's expression spasmed violently, running through grief and disbelief. A wall slammed down behind his eyes as the trident trembled in his grip.

The ocean water lapped up the sides of the palace, retreating back to the sea.

Benthomaar breathed out shakily. "…to merge with an element is to become it, in every sense. The Endless Sea is more vast and deep than one could possibly fathom, and in every drop, every crevasse, every molecule, there is Nyad. Her mind is stretched over and into every square inch of that sea. Perhaps, if we had that trident when she first merged, it might have worked. But you're a century too late. Go. Leave here with your things and leave me to my grief."

Lloyd shook his head. "I can't do that."

"Then you'll die tomorrow," Benthomaar spat bitterly.

Lloyd narrowed his eyes, standing up straight. He wasn't about to get pushed around by some guy with fish breath. It was his parents fighting for their lives, his grieving mother, his home possessed by a demon. It was his death. "No, I won't," he retorted. "I'm going to win that fight tomorrow, and when I do, you're going to help me save Nya Jiang-Smith. Not just because I need her help, because she's a hero and you," he jabbed a finger toward the prince, to Benthomaar's shock, "and everyone else gave up on her way too fast! And when I win that fight-" Lloyd used the balcony to hoist himself up, crouching on the edge of the railing so he could meet the prince at eye level. An inch from the Zora's face, he saw his green eyes reflected back at him before the giant moon.

Nyad crashed against the side of the palace, spraying up behind him.

"-it's Prince Lloyd Garmadon to you."

Chapter Text

That night, Lloyd couldn’t manage to fall asleep. He stayed awake late into the night, the moon casting beams through his open window as he stared up into the ceiling, lost in thought. His mind parsed through information at random; his mother, Nya, his role as Champion, Wojira, Benthomaar… and the next morning’s fight. The overwhelming scent of salt-

A voice like being underwater, the sound above muffled, hands like coarse coral, markings like the ocean currents-

—didn’t help. 

Lloyd tossed and turned the entire night, finally falling into a restless sleep. He didn’t dream, but still woke up with dread in his throat. 

That morning, he gathered his things and assembled the armor Misako had given him. After a long minute of contemplation, he hung his father’s diadem on his belt, alongside his sword.

Once again, he felt that persisting feeling that told him to just… leave. What was the point, here? He shouldn't have to risk his life just to prove his identity, not when Nya was trapped and needed him. He didn't need Benthomaar to unmerge the Master of Water.

He stared out the window silently. The sun was quickly rising over the coastline, casting shimmering sparks over the calm waters. Several Zora were already awake, going about their days with no idea that soon, Lloyd would be fighting to bring back their greatest hero.

He could just leave. Hop out the window and do it himself. But he had to believe that Mom told him to come to Prince Benthomaar for a reason.

"Even if he's a stuck-up jerk-face," Lloyd muttered, turning away from the window with a sigh.

Lloyd spoke to himself as he walked through the halls, peeking through doorways to attempt to find his way back to the throne room. "Fight a monster to the death, sure, but you can't kill it yourself-" he groaned when yet another room turned out to be a boring office, "and no, you can't just do spinjitzu, that would be too easy-"

A passing Zoran woman gave him an odd look as she walked by.

"One of these days," Lloyd hissed as he finally found the gaudy throne room, "I'm gonna tell people 'I'm the Prince of Hyrule!' and they'll believe me."

The same young Zoran girl from the day before stood at the base of the throne's dais, shifting her weight anxiously. When she spotted Lloyd, she made an 'eep!' sound, rushing forward.

"Hylian! Prince Benthomaar instructed me to bring you to the colosseum." She grimaced at the sight of his sword. "He… also told me to confiscate your weapon. It's against the rules of the colosseum to bring your own weaponry."

Lloyd braced his hand over the hilt of his dao protectively. "Will I get it back?"

"Yes! But in the colosseum, you'll select an approved weapon."

Lloyd sighed, holding the hilt out to the girl. When she took it, he held on just a little tighter. "If this comes back in less than perfect condition, I'll kick your dumb prince's ass," he warned. The girl nodded shakily, holding the sword very carefully.

She led him through sparkling silver halls and into what seemed to be underwater tunnels. Lloyd gaped up through glass walls and ceilings at schools of fish and the odd shark or two. He silently prayed that the colosseum itself wouldn't be underwater as well.

She stopped him when the hallway split in two. "To the right," she directed him, "is the fighter's entrance. Wait until they announce you."

"Seems like a lot of fuss for me," Lloyd grumbled, crossing his arms.

"The Prince insisted," she said quietly, gazing downward. Her eyes narrowed, though not maliciously. She instead seemed deep in thought. "For the honor of Nyad," she said as she looked back up.

Lloyd swallowed and turned to the right hall.

As he walked, he let his mind drift with the many sea creatures passing overhead. He wished he could've explained himself better, he wished he knew more about Nya… he wished he had breakfast.

Lloyd finally neared the end of the hall, marked by a large wrought iron gate that eclipsed whatever laid beyond it, and to his surprise, a tall Zora. Prince Benthomaar.

The Prince held in his hands Nya's trident, the yellow and purple glow eerily reflected in his eyes. Lloyd walked right up to him, an unimpressed look on his face, but Benthomaar didn't acknowledge him.

"…you know, for a long time, I couldn't bring myself to hate Kalmaar," Benthomaar finally said, not bothering to look up. He instead traced over the indents of runes on the trident. "I, in the throes of political unrest and an unwanted coronation, could only hate myself. I led Kalmaar to Wojira's hidden temple. I failed to see the evil in his soul, too optimistic for my own good. I failed to save my father, and led my people to almost 50 years of unease for it. Hatred does not come easily to me, little Hylian. But now," his tired eyes found Lloyd's, "now it does. I have spent half a century despising my brother. Wishing I had fed him to Wojira myself. Now, my hatred finds you."

"I don't have to be here," Lloyd reminded him, "but I am. Because I want to prove to you I am who I say I am. Because I'm the Prince of Hyrule, and I'm not ever going to hide that. Because you said we were friends once, and I want to help my friend."

"Why get my hopes up?" Benthomaar shook his head, leaning on the trident as though he were a century older. "You don't act like him, you barely look like him… what advantage do you gain from masquerading as a dead child? What pleasure do you derive from my misery?"

Lloyd watched, shaken, as a single tear fell from Benthomaar's cheek. "I have done my best to atone. I have fought for Nya's honor, rebuilding the home that should have been hers. I have fought for Lloyd's legacy, extending aid to his mother whenever possible. What more? How much longer until the century bygone leaves me be?"

Lloyd didn't have an answer for that. He understood, though. Visions of his old life, faded memories tinged with pain, haunted him. Every small, mundane memory that came back came with a horrible, haunting pain. He couldn't have it back. Not the astronomy tower with his uncle, not the courtyards with his father, not the Great Library with his mother. He felt cursed. How many times did he have to dream of a life already ruined by the Overlord?

"Anachronism," he whispered. Benthomaar raised an eyebrow. "It means you… don't belong to this time. I don't either." He lifted his gaze to meet Benthomaar's eyes. "But I don't care. We're here now, and I can't live in the past. I have a job to do."

Benthomaar scoffed. "You're immature. I was once, too. Then I wore the crown, and it bore down on innocence until it gave way to reality. It's not too late to leave. Do you really choose to die here, in the sand?"

Lloyd appraised him. He could see himself, a lifetime ago, being Benthomaar's friend. He wished he still was. He wished Benthomaar didn't have to feel so much pressure.

He wondered if he felt that same pressure himself. Maybe Aspheera was right; maybe, once, he hated his role.

"Nah," he said easily, sticking his hands on his hips. He looked around, spotting a weapons rack, and held up a spear. "I'm just here to have fun. Just you watch; I'll kick ass."

He didn't anymore, if ever. He wasn't going to run from anything. Like Garmadon said: he was born for this.

Benthomaar shook his head, standing up straight. He adjusted his crown, and with it, his expression became stony once more. "Fine, then. I've been in need of entertainment anyhow."

The Prince briskly strode back down the long hall, leaving Lloyd in the shadows. He twisted the spear in his hands. It was far from as elegant as Nya's trident, but pointy enough. He hummed, appraising it. He could use the spear, but...

Benthomaar wanted proof, didn't he? He hasn't gotten the chance to bust out the spinjitzu in a while. Lloyd twisted, finagling the spear into his sword's normal sheath on his back.

The iron gate suddenly shuddered, slowly lifting as yells from hundreds of Zora filled in the silence. Lloyd held his hand up to the sunlight, leaning away from the noise.

"…our fighter, the imposter Hyljan!" A voice boomed, inciting the screams and jeers of its audience. Lloyd puffed out a sigh, half exasperated and half offended, popping his neck to loosen up.

"This might as well happen."

He walked through the gate, boots landing on coarse sand. The screaming of Zora filled his ears, which quickly pinned themselves to his head. He slowly spun in a circle as he walked, taking the space in.

If he could zoom out, he would find himself in an artificial whirlpool. The colosseum stood in the middle of a great coral reef, embedded in the sea floor and the center of a whirlpool, maintained by glowing runes. The colosseum was open to the sky, allowing the sun to bear down unforgivingly. Lloyd spotted Benthomaar himself up high in a shielded balcony, sat on a plush throne and surrounded by other Zora.

Lloyd stopped in his tracks when he came face to face with a statue.

It… was Nya. Not Nyad the goddess, just Nya.

Carved from opal, the statue towered above him, placed upon a great pedestal. Nya herself appeared from a great sweeping wave, cresting above her head. Her face, soft and kind, was painstakingly carved, embedded with intrinsic runes. Her eyes were closed and peaceful as her graceful hands directed a great trident following the path of the wave. She glimmered in the sun, practically radiating devotion.

Lloyd's hand found itself at the base of the wave. He stared at her silent face, trying to swallow the lump in his throat.

"I don't know you yet," he spoke softly, "but I will."

He was shaken from his thoughts when the ground shuddered, then began to tremble. Another iron gate, on the far side of the colosseum, rose, giving way to shadow. Lloyd breathed out, pulling himself into a fighting stance.

The announcer's (why did they have an announcer? Since when did Zora fight for sport?) voice boomed overhead, "the crab!"

A horrific, piercing screech struck the air as an honest to FSM twenty-foot tall crustacean entered the colosseum.

Lloyd's jaw dropped. "Be so for real."

The purple, green and beige monstrosity clicked her ginormous mandibles, dragging the rest of her abdomen from what looked like an underwater pool, shaking off excess sea water. Lloyd tugged the spear from his back, backing up slowly.

The crab - could it even be classified as a crab? - was easily twice as large as a vengestone Talus. Four huge, glowing orange eyes rested above a large, teeth-filled maw. Two stems flicked back and forth on a crown of spikes.

The crab's eyes zeroed in on Lloyd, narrowing, and she screeched as she slammed a sharp pointed leg down.

Lloyd yelped, and spun himself a spinjitzu tornado, leaping out of the way. Bright green filled his vision, and on the balcony above, unseen by Lloyd, Benthomaar shot to his feet, white-knuckling the balcony ledge. The ground shook under his feet, forcing him to let the tornado go. A giant claw swept over the ground, and Lloyd whacked it with his spear. The crab screamed, sending a second claw down into the ground like a gravel only a few feet away from him.

Lloyd grit his teeth, hissing under his breath. He took a running start before forming another tornado, spinning his way up the crab's arm. She screeched again, stomping all over the place, and Lloyd was forced to, yet again, let the tornado go to grab ahold of an armor plate.

"This is bullshit!" He screamed in Benthomaar's direction. "I didn't know it would be twenty feet tall!"

He growled, stuffing the spear in between his teeth, and slowly climbed up the crab's arm. The entire time, the crustacean was hissing and spitting, trying to throw him off.

World's most dangerous jungle gym, Lloyd thought, finding balance on her head. He spun the spear, jamming it between two loose plates. The crab screeched again, trying to buck him off.

Lloyd crouched, holding onto the spear's hilt for dear life. The force of the wind swept his hair from its messy ponytail, sending it whipping against his face.

How was he supposed to beat this thing without killing her? He might be able to knock her out…

Before Lloyd has the chance to formulate any kind of real plan, the crustacean bucked harshly, throwing him off. Lloyd had no time to react to suddenly being suspended in the air before a ginormous claw came swinging from left field, slamming directly into him. He yelled out in pain, thrown ten feet back and straight into the bricks lining the colosseum.

His body created an indent in the brick, sending pieces crumbling down around him. Fortunately, his hand immediately found leverage in the old bricks, latching on from pure instinct.

Lloyd groaned, vision swimming, as he hung from his hand, feet grappling for purchase in the new indentation through his boots. In confused, dazed frustration, he kicked them off, giving his feet the opportunity to find real leverage.

He lifted his head, trying to blink the spots from his eyes. The crab stomped wildly, sending thundering shakes through the floor. Her spindly legs hit the ground like an overexcited puppy, only exacerbated by the roaring yells of the crowd. Lloyd was pretty sure all these people were only here to watch him be humiliated.

A growl built up in his throat, and he dragged the back of his hand against his mouth, smearing blood over his lips. His spare hand scrabbled at the brick, tearing one free. He lobbed it with as much force as possible at the crab, hitting her square in an eye. She screeched, rearing up and spinning to face him.

Lloyd bared his teeth in a poor imitation of the crab's weird snarling face, laughing. He hiked his legs up, coiling like a spring, and launched himself off of the colosseum's wall. Midair, he spun into a spinjitzu tornado, drilling into the side of the crab's face. She screeched, biting at him, and he pushed off again before the teeth could make contact. He hit the ground with a smooth roll, and came back up running.

He let out a breathless laugh as he narrowly danced around huge legs. He formed emerald green tornadoes at random, tripping the monster up and confusing her before she could ever attempt to form an attack.

He fell into a rhythm, forming harsh spinjitzu attacks and dancing away, leaving no room for another attack. Despite that, he could still feel himself getting tired. Spinjitzu in such quick succession took more energy than he'd predicted. He couldn't switch to another method with his spear still lodged in the monster's head, though.

He slowed, panting, watching the crab stumble. He braced his arms on his knees, trying to blink the sweat from his eyes as dust settled on him. He watched, curiously, as the crab stumbled dangerously close to the colosseum walls to the yells of the audience. He grinned, wiping his forearm across his sweaty bangs. He wound his fallen hair back into a ponytail.

Before the crab could relocate him, he rushed forward, knocking into a front leg with a sharp tornado. He forced the crab to find balance by stumbling further and further toward to brick wall. If Lloyd could send a ton of bricks down on her, he might be in the clear. Maybe he could even knock the monster out.

But to his surprise, instead of being successfully corralled like a polite ocean monster, the crab instead let out a warbling bellow, raising her huge claws and bringing them down on the sand like two deafening gavels. Lloyd gasped, throwing himself to the ground to avoid the Talus-sized claws. The ground shuddered violently, tremors traveling up the brick walls through sharp cracks.

Before Lloyd knew it, he was on the defensive, quickly pushing himself to his feet to avoid one giant leg coming down on him. He stumbled back, just barely dodging quick strikes to his body. One hit from this thing and he was out.

A particularly violent strike sent Lloyd sprawling face-first. Ears ringing, he lifted his head, blinking dust from his eyes. He squinted, confused, when the dust cloud around him began to form shapes.

"Bentho, look! A shell!"

"What-" He spun, trying to track the small humanoid shape that was quickly whisked away in the wind. The crab, casting a great shadow over him, warbled as her claw snapped forward. He spun into a spinjitzu tornado, taking cover under her vulnerable stomach. He stumbled, still dizzy, and fell back, landing on his forearms. Propping himself up, he watched, wide-eyed, as wisps of dust form the barely-visible figures of two children crouched in the sand, intently staring at something.

"That's not a shell, it's an egg. It's a magna cancrorum. Father gave Kalmaar the skull from one for his birthday."

Lloyd groaned, turning away. He didn't have time for visions right now! They could've at least been helpful and come last night, before he had to fight a-

He slowly lifted his head to stare up at the ginormous crab as she, having noticed him underbelly, moved so that he was no longer underneath her. Her giant spiked crown eclipsed the sun. Her glowing orange eyes stared at him intensely, mandibles clicking curiously. She warbled, sending a gust of air to ruffle his hair. Realization slowly dawned on him as the pieces clicked together.

…a magna cancrorum. A huge crustacean, usually only found in the depths of the ocean, only coming to the surface to lay eggs every twenty years. But one, blown from the nest in a storm and eggshell cracked on the beach, remained surface-bound.

"Ah," he swallowed. "Well, in that case, I don't suppose you're friendly?"

With an overexcited warble, the crab bore down on him, forcing Lloyd to roll to the side. He stumbled as he ran, fighting back a sudden swarm of voices beating down the side of his skull.

"Daddy, can I keep her?"

"Father said that they can be at least 15 feet tall-"

"Daddy said that she's too big for our castle now. Can't you take care of her for me? She doesn't know how to hunt on her own. And she needs her blanket-"

"Did you ever name her?"

"Her name is-"

Lloyd stopped when he came face to face with sandy bricks, finding himself at the edge of the colosseum. He turned, pressing himself against the dusty dry brick, watching the crab zero in on him. She began to move, faster and faster, practically running at him on giant lumbering legs. As she moved, Lloyd fought with the same over-images as the fight with the Guardian, blinking away-

Faint wisps of sunny days on the beach, splashing in the shallow waters and begging his best friend for another pretty shell-

The crab roared, and on the balcony above, a Zoran woman with long flowing black hair gently brushed the Crown Prince's arm. "Your majesty, perhaps-"

"No," Benthomaar breathed, raptly watching the scene below. "No, not yet."

-a tiny blue and grey egg, dented in its side. A small little crab, two out of four eyes still glued shut-

Lloyd felt a wave of calm wash over him as the memory slotted in place.

-the tiny creature, eating a slice of lettuce out of his palm and clicking happily, legs beating the tank's sandy bed like an overexcited puppy. Lloyd laughing, light and sunny, "I'll name you-"

"CAER!"

The crab, Caer, pushed her legs in front of her, slowing to an abrupt stop. Her momentum carried her forward, pointed legs digging trenches into the ground. Her massive body stopped just a hair's breadth from Lloyd, sending a sudden gust of air blowing his hair from his face, buffeting the green gi around him.

He clenched his eyes shut, braced for impact. When the dust settled, he opened his eyes, coming face to face with ginormous form of Caer. She lifted a single pointed leg high above him. He stared up, unmoving, as she brought it down with a thundering boom. It landed just a foot to his left.

"Hi, Caer," he responded, unmoving. His hair settled around his shoulders, covered in dust and sand. He pushed it from his face, smiling up at his pet crab. "You're bigger than I remember. What has Bentho been feeding you?"

Caer warbled, slowing lowering herself to the ground. Careful of her size, she settled down to the sand, curling her massive legs beneath her. Her two pincers rested in a half circle around him. She clicked at him, lowering her head so her eyes could meet his. They were wide and dilated, focused entirely on him. He could see his own reflection, tinted orange, covered in dust and a myriad of red scrapes.

He laughed, reaching out his scarred palm. He made contact with the cool armored scales on her head, and she rumbled, closing her eyes and leaning into the touch.

"Hey, sweet girl," he cooed. He remembered now. When he was seven years old, playing on the beach with Benthomaar during a routine visit with his father to the Zora Domain, he found a malformed egg on the beach. Benthomaar had explained to him that the creature inside would not survive in the wild, damaged as it was, and he was so distraught that he begged his father to let him take it home. The little crustacean had grown in specially made tanks of increasing variety, and even at one point her very own koi pond, but had eventually gotten too large for the castle. Too attached to let his beloved pet go into the wild, he'd begged Benthomaar to look after her.

Honestly, he thought he'd be more of a dog person.

He brushed another hand over her carapace, giving her head a good scratch. She rumbled, pleased, and pressed further into him. He laughed, draping his entire torso over her face. "Good girl, Caer," he spoke in a baby voice, laughing as Caer did her absolute best to merge their bodies into a single entity, snuggling and rumbling into him with all the force of the world's biggest cat.

"You were just playing games," he cooed, stroking her head. He pulled back, staring into her big eyes with a mischievous grin. "Wanna play a prank on Bentho, huh?"

Caer clicked happily, raising a pincer and gently offering it to Lloyd. He grinned, jumping on the big claw, and carefully walked up her arm and back up her head. With an apologetic pat, he yanked the spear out, with no blood spilt. Caer only warbled up at him, rising to her feet.

She clicked as Lloyd directed her to the balcony, obediently lumbering over. When they reached the colosseum wall, she rose up on her hind legs, to the surprised yells of their audience, using her claws to easily raise her head well above the colosseum's walls. Her massive face, four eyes and toothy maw came face to face with the Zora gathered on the balcony. All of them scrambled back, pressed against their shelter.

Benthomaar stayed in place, slack-faced and wide-eyed as Lloyd climbed all the way up Caer's head. His head eclipsed the sun, created a shining halo around his flowing hair. His green eyes glowed with mirth, childish giggles falling from his lips.

He slung his spear over his shoulder in a cocky motion, hand against his hip.

"Told you I'd show you, right? What was it…? Oh, right-"

His hand slipped down his belt, sliding the diadem free. He flipped it up in the air, the sunlight catching it as it landed, titled, on his head.

"It's Prince Lloyd Garmadon, to you."

Chapter Text

"I can't believe it! You're actually back, I thought Misako was delusional when she spoke of the shrine, oh, I'm so glad you've returned and I'm so sorry about Caer I was simply so angry that someone might impersonate you and-"

"Uh, Bentho-?"

"And I can't believe you remembered the crab first-"

"Benthomaar-"

"Why didn't Misako send me a letter! I am so sorry I can't believe I tried to get you killed by your own pet- I know I said it was a test but still-"

"Bentho! This is great, but can you put me down now?"

Benthomaar, Crown Prince and acting Monarch of the Zora Domain, stopped in his tracks. Lloyd, clutched in his large arms like a stuffed animal by his upper arms, hung like a lanky cat, feet swaying as he dangled from his friend's grip. Benthomaar blinked, then quickly set him down with a rushed apology. He handled Lloyd like he was fragile, seemingly terrified of hurting the younger child - despite not 30 minutes ago having watched Lloyd get punted across a colosseum by a ginormous crab monster.

Lloyd huffed, fixing his hair. Benthomaar looked down at him with a careful fondness. "My friend," he said, laying a hand on Lloyd's shoulder, "I must apologize. I- I haven't been myself for some time. But I'm so glad you're back. Please, I want to know everything."

Lloyd gave him a wry grin. "I can explain everything. But, uh, over lunch? I haven't eaten yet." He laughed sheepishly at Benthomaar's appalled face.

"Of course! I'll have the chefs prepare as much food as you want. Please, let's speak somewhere private."

Once they were both settled in a dining nook, away from the bustle of the palace, and Lloyd had his fill of a quick brunch, Benthomaar finally toned down. He'd been frantic since Lloyd's 'fight' with Caer, probably struggling to process Lloyd's whole 'being alive'. He could relate.

Benthomaar let out a calming breath, steepling his hands on the silver table. "Lloyd, I'd love to spend hours catching up, but… Wojira."

Lloyd nodded, "and Nyad," he said around a mouthful of shrimp. "Mom sent me here because she thinks Nya can help me with the Divine Beasts."

"Right," Benthomaar said thoughtfully, hand on his chin. "But that's just it; how are you meant to unmerge her if we can't so much as summon her? Believe me, I've tried. But ever since her initial sacrifice, she has never, not once, resurfaced. Not in the wildest tempest or sunniest day. How exactly are we meant to take her attention?"

Lloyd wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, ignoring the strange look he got from Bentho. "I've been thinking about it. Aspheera made a whole fuss about the trident not working if I can't get her to manifest. It might have something to do with emotions, though. Maybe if I show up and start yelling, she'll pay attention."

Benthomaar let out a laugh, seemingly surprising himself with the noise. "Your idea is not without merit… but Nya's been the ocean for a century. It may take more than that… no offense."

Lloyd waved him off. He looked out the arched window that framed their little nook. The ocean sparkled pleasantly, reflecting waves of sunlight. He could see dozens of Zora splashing in the surf, reveling in the rare clear skies. He hummed thoughtfully.

"What if… we went in?"

"What do you mean?" Benthomaar asked, leaning forward in interest.

Lloyd gestured out the window. "I mean, let's go in the ocean! You're Zora-"

"Astute observation."

"-you should know all the-the-" Lloyd made a weird motion with his hands, "-magicky-ocean areas. If we get somewhere with a lot of, like, ocean-energy, maybe she'll show up!"

Benthomaar hummed, drumming his fingers on the table in a rhythmic motion. "It's… plausible that her conscious may be focused in certain areas. But I'm afraid that I'm not very elementally attuned." he seemed apologetic to shut down Lloyd's idea. Before Lloyd could get too disappointed, he continued, "You, however, are. You have the potential to use five different elements, if my memory proves correct. Besides, you were incredibly close to Nya. You may have the most luck seeking out any potential 'energy' in the ocean."

"Not to break it to you, but I'm exactly amphibious," Lloyd stressed, "wouldn't it make more sense for her to be hanging out in a trench somewhere? I don't even know if I can swim!"

Benthomaar smiled at that. "An easy fix."

"I'm not taking swimming lessons-"

Bentho laughed. "No, what I mean is this." To Lloyd's curiosity, he reached into his own belt, drawing out a strange sea green and purple seashell. It glittered, and emitted a strange, but pleasant scent. "This is a rarer shell. It's been proven to filter the oxygen in water, making it possible for land-dwellers to breathe underwater for a time. With this, and of course my assistance, you'll be just fine."

Lloyd looked up from the shell to Benthomaar. "You're coming?"

"Of course." Benthomaar set the shell down, his gaze half-lidded. "Too many times, I've been passive. Too many times, I've sat idle in a protected castle while others risked their lives. I never even left my room when Nya merged with the sea - I'll be damned if I'm not there to bring her back out."

"I won't blame you if you don't come. You have a whole kingdom to take care of-" Lloyd started, but his friend cut him off, wry mirth in his eyes.

"Are you doubting my capabilities, little Hylian?" he said, pointing a playful finger at Lloyd, "I'll have you know that, third only to the Masters of Water and Ice, I'm the best swimmer in this entire realm. And my combat is not lacking, either. You're not the only prodigy prince in this realm."

Lloyd laughed, nodding. "Got it. So, do you have any spots in mind?"

"I'll be relying on your guidance, I'm afraid," Benthomaar admitted. "Again, you're the most likely to be able to sense Nyad. I have some ideas, but it'll be up to you. I'll have to be careful not to take you anywhere the pressure will harm you, either."

Lloyd slumped, blowing a strand of hair from his face. There went the easy route. Lloyd didn't think he'd be so lucky as to find Nyad chilling out in a coral reef with a newspaper. Maybe he'd luck out on the genetic scale and have some weird, unprecedented resistance to oceanic pressure. Otherwise, he had no idea how he was meant to go deep enough to find Nyad.

"Not to mention…" he thought aloud, "she probably won't just let me walk up and stab her. If she's in a semi-physical form, she'll be emotional, right? Aspheera said that was probably the only way she'd surface."

"A likely scenario," Benthomaar agreed. He stood, rounding the table to stand at the window. Lloyd followed, hopping over the ledge to let his legs dangle freely against the palace side. Benthomaar huffed at the childish motion. "If we're to summon Nyad, we'll have a hard time doing so without severely angering her. She'll be violent, Lloyd, and too disoriented to recognize us."

Lloyd nodded, his gaze drawn yet again to the Zora in the surf. He spotted two small children, crouched in the shallow tide, giggling as they dug up shells and small animals. His heart twanged, suddenly reminded of himself and Benthomaar. He had to be careful not to let them be hurt in the crossfire.

Benthomaar turned away, greeted by a guard of some kind, and Lloyd drummed his fingers on his thighs. How was he meant to make Nyad emotional in the first place? Could he insult her? Do something drastic, like kill a sea monster? Would Spinjitzu work underwater-

Benthomaar turned back toward him, holding the vengestone trident. Lloyd cringed away from the poisonous aura, having grown accustomed to being without it since Benthomaar had basically stolen it. His friend shot him an apologetic look, setting it aside so Lloyd didn't have to feel the weird, prickling affects of the poison weapon.

"Lloyd… I hate to ask so much of you, especially given how I treated you, but there is still the matter of Wojira," Benthomaar rested a hand on Lloyd's shoulder, prompting the Hylian to look up at him. "I know how averse you are to serpents" — truer words had never been spoken — "but I wasn't lying when I said you were the greatest fighter I ever knew."

Lloyd let out self-indulgent whine at the prospect of dealing with another snake. "Where did she even come from?" He groaned. "Why show up now?"

"I have no idea," Benthomaar admitted, "my personal engineer believes it has something to do with a small earthquake on the Great Plateau, but I have no idea how such a minor thing so far away could prompt Wojira stirring."

Lloyd felt a sudden wave of 'oh shit' energy slam into him, cold sweat appearing on his neck. He wheezed out a strangled laugh, the not-so distant memory of activating a certain tower with a certain statue, using a certain slate. "Earthquake, you say…"

Wojira was definitely his fault, wasn't it?

Lloyd drew a knee up, resting his chin on it as he thought. He honestly didn't know how he was supposed to help with Wojira. Hero of prophecy or not, he was still five foot two, and had trouble killing Taluses without help. He didn't see himself being much more use to Benthomaar than a common soldier.

But… ugh, Lloyd couldn't refuse now, either! He wasn't planning on it, but now that he knew Wojira waking back up was probably-definitely-indirectly his fault, he felt too bad about causing even more problems for Benthomaar.

Still… he shuddered to think of facing off against another serpent, especially one as apparently large and powerful as Wojira. If it took Nyad to deal with the sea monster last time, how was Lloyd meant to help? His one saving grace may just be that Wojira wasn't fully awake yet — it was more like sleepwalking (slithering?)

Sleepwalking. They were both asleep.

Lloyd lifted his head suddenly, feeling a the bones of a plan forming in his mind. "Benthomaar," he started, not shifting his gaze from the repetitive motion of the sea. "Has the ocean been more… active, lately?"

Benthomaar, confused, replied, "well, yes, but we chalked it up to Wojira's activity. …why?" His voice became wary, eyes narrowing at Lloyd like he just knew that the Hylian was about to make horrible decisions and start fires.

Lloyd leaned forward, using his hand to make sure he didn't tumble out of the tall palace window. He gestured toward the sea, a somewhat manic grin stretching over his lips. His fangs glinted. "So let's make it active. Let's wake them up."

"Wake… Nyad up?"

"Uh-uh." Lloyd stood, balancing tip-toed on the sill, his entire body leaning out as if being pulled toward the ocean. Benthomaar squawked, reaching out a frantic hand as if to catch him. Lloyd laughed, bouncing on his feet and turning to face the other prince. "Bentho, let's wake them both up."

Benthomaar's face went slack, eyes widening as realization as to just what Lloyd was suggesting settled in. "No," he breathed, turning from Lloyd to the ocean then back again. "Lloyd, you can't possibly mean to-"

"Uh-huh!" Lloyd laughed. He jumped from the window, dashing around Bentho to grab the trident. He ignored the malicious weapon's creepy vibe and pointed the prongs toward the ocean. "Who better to fight Wojira than the hero who beat her in the first place?"

"Lloyd, this is a terrible idea-"

Lloyd's green eyes glowed as giddiness at the prospect flooded him. He loved a good fight.

"And who better to get Nyad in action… than the reason she ever merged with the sea to begin with?"

_____________

Caer rocked underneath Lloyd's feet, lumbering across the dunes of sand gracefully, completely in her element. Lloyd's dancing feet, thumping across her head with no rhythm to speak of, had her warbling occasionally, as if it was ticklish.

Caer was sidled with her own gigantic armor, protecting the rare vulnerable chinks in her armor and her eyes. Her spikes were sealed in iron, making them all the sharper and more dangerous.

Lloyd himself wore traditional Zoran armor, sized down to fit his frame and account for his lack of tail. To his surprise, it was lighter and more breathable than it appeared. Benthomaar had attempted to force him into something bulkier and more protective, fretful of how fragile Lloyd appeared next to larger Zora, but Lloyd had shooed his friend off. If he had learned anything about himself so far, it was that he depended on maneuverability. Benthomaar, stood behind him and leaning against one of the larger spikes crowning Caer's head, was dressed in full battle regalia. He'd traded his decorative headpiece for a silver and opal helmet, just as ornate as his usual jewelry.

It had been barely a full afternoon since Lloyd managed to convince Benthomaar to go along with — admittedly dangerous and ill-thought out — plan. In that time, the prince had summoned an entire army, developed a battle plan, coordinated Wojira's location, and had armor fitted for not only Lloyd and Caer, but almost a hundred volunteer citizens, eager to put an end to Wojira's torment of the coast. Lloyd couldn't help but be impressed by his friend's competency - and sort of concerned for Bentho's work ethic. Maybe he could guilt trip him into a vacation later.

At least it wasn't raining. Lloyd was somewhat surprised by the sudden turn of weather, since his entire trip to the Zora Domain was overcast by thunderstorms at worst and miserable drizzling and fog at best. He swore that at one point he was caught in an actual hailstorm. Instead, the sun was still shining.

Lloyd, too energetic about the fight to come, did a weird mix of bouncing, pacing, and spinning on Caer's head. She didn't seem to mind.

"Save your energy," Benthomaar cautioned, "you have quite the workout ahead of you."

"I can't!" Lloyd whined, overly aware of the vengestone trident clinging to his back. Every time his hair, even in its braided bun, so much as brushed the stone it sent a shiver down his spine, making him even more high-strung. Don't get him wrong — he was still stoked about the fight. There was something about battle that came naturally to him. When he wasn't panicking over snakes or guardians, he felt like he was in his element.

Of course, Wojira was a snake. So maybe he shouldn't be so excited. Still, he couldn't help it!

And maybe part of it was Nya. He was nervous, but excited to meet her. He hoped she wouldn't hold a grudge when he stabbed her with her own trident.

Caer crested a grassy dune, revealing a huge cove to the two princes and army. A long beach curved around a glimmering blue cove, a single inlet open to the rest of the ocean. Said inlet was guarded on both sides by towering stone, rocky cliffs caging the cove in.

Benthomaar straightened, striding forward. He unclipped his ornate spear from its holster, gazing down upon the cove warily. "This is where we will corral Wojira," he explained, moving the spear to gesture over the sight. He pointed with the prong to the inlet. "We will force her through the entrance, then block it off, trapping her. She will be vulnerable in shallower waters, and this time, we are prepared."

He turned to look down at Lloyd. "You're with me. I'll guide you underwater, and we'll find Nyad."

Lloyd made a so-so motion with his hand. "Eh, more like she'll find us. Wojira is the real catalyst."

Benthomaar sighed. "I do hope you know what you're doing, Lloyd." He turned away, looking down over Caer's head to speak with a general. Lloyd let out a shaky breath, clutching the edge of his armor.

"Me too," he whispered. He shook away his nerves, internally hyping himself up. 'Born for this' and all that! Nyad would do most of the work anyways. Lloyd only had to wait until she beat Wojira into submission, then surprise-stab her before she could disappear back into the ocean. He could do that.

Lloyd crouched down, inserting himself just above Caer's big eyes. "Hey, girl," he said, prompting his pet to look up with a curious warble. He grinned, patting her. "Make sure everyone is safe, okay? When Wojira comes up, buy us some time to get Nyad too."

Caer warbled, shaking her abdomen as though in agreement. He hopped up, turning to face a waiting Benthomaar. "Okay, ready!"

The prince nodded, extending a hand to Lloyd. Lloyd took it, clambering down Caer's back with the help. He didn't tell Benthomaar that he'd climbed way worse before. The guy's nerves seemed even more shot than Lloyd's right now.

Benthomaar led Lloyd down the hills and dunes to the beach, ahead of the Zora army. The soldiers began loading canons, taking advantage of the height, and running to form perimeters.

Both princes waded into the cool water. When they reached chest-height (for Lloyd, at least, Benthomaar was still barely in to his stomach) Benthomaar crouched down, prompting Lloyd to hold onto his shoulders. Lloyd felt a wave of nostalgia hit him.

"Like when we were kids, right?" He laughed, securing himself on his friend's back, careful of his large tail. Benthomaar laughed, shaking his head.

"That's what you remember? The horse-back rides?"

"Yeah, well, I also remembered Caer before you, so the bar isn't very high with me."

Benthomaar huffed, amused, wading deeper into the water. Lloyd breathed out, scooping into a pocket and fishing out the seashell. He held it over his mouth and nose, securing it in place with a string of twine tied around his head. Benthomaar looked back, checking on Lloyd. "Are you ready?"

Lloyd gave the thumbs up, and Benthomaar dived beneath the surface.

The cold hit Lloyd like a brick, forcing his eyes shut against the sting of salt and silt. When he finally blinked them back open, the water was filmy, like a second layer of clear white had been cast over it. Benthomaar, watching Lloyd carefully for any sign to surface, looked alarmed. He gestured to Lloyd's eyes, a questioning, concerned expression on his face.

"Is that normal?" He asked, his voice carrying strangely underwater. Lloyd rubbed his eye, squinting. He could still see fine… what was Bentho talking about? Lloyd waved his friend off, urging him forward. They didn't have time for whatever new weird thing Lloyd had going on.

Benthomaar nodded, and turned around. With a powerful flick of his tail, they were both shooting forward in the water. Lloyd pressed himself against Bentho's back, streamlining himself against the current. He tried to focus himself, looking for anything that appeared particularly magical or stimulated a memory of Nya.

It was kind of weird to think that technically, they were literally in Nyad. Trippy.

Benthomaar slowed, bringing them outside the inlet and into the deeper ocean. He swam lower, crossing over corral reefs. He periodically stopped, facing Lloyd, but he could only shake his head. Despite his best efforts, he couldn't feel or see anything that particularly screamed Nya.

He tried to focus on his memories of her. Her sacrifice, her voice and face, everything he'd been told. A small tug formed in his gut, and he snapped his eyes open, tugging on Bentho's shoulder to grab his attention. He jerked his head, directing Benthomaar to shoot off in that direction. As they swam, it became ever more apparent that they were gradually leaving the leisurely reefs and sea beds for the deeper, wider ocean. The tug grew, growing more forceful. The vengestone trident on Lloyd's back began to hum, as though it was hungry for something.

Lloyd instinctively jerked Benthomaar to a stop when the ocean floor suddenly just… ended. It dipped off in an almost horizontal slope, firmly marking the barrier between accessible coves and lagoons and the wide, empty expanse of an unforgiving void of blue.

They floated in place, silent. Anxiety at the sheer emptiness before him grew in Lloyd's throat. He had been wrong; the coral reefs and coves and shallow waters hadn't been Nyad - this was. An empty, vast sea, as bare as the space between stars. Deeper than he could possibly fathom, and hungry enough to swallow him whole.

Lloyd swallowed thickly. The tug in his gut pulled, urging him forward. This is where Nyad was, he could feel it.

Benthomaar touched Lloyd's hand, shaking him from his thoughts. "Wojira," he warned, "she'll have surfaced soon. The soldiers should be waking her up right now."

Lloyd swallowed again. He loosened his grip on Benthomaar's shoulders, letting himself float up. He pushed forward, much to the surprise of his friend. When Benthomaar tried to grab him, Lloyd held up a hand to stop him. I got this, he tried to say with his eyes. Benthomaar's expression shook, fear evident in his eyes, but he let Lloyd go.

Lloyd slowly swam over the continental shelf, trying his best not to look down. He unsheathed the trident from his back, holding it in both hands. He looked around, anxiety thrumming in his chest. Wasn't Wojira awake by now? How much longer-

"Lloyd!" Lloyd turned back to Benthomaar, who's face was filled with fear. Lloyd suddenly remembered that Zora heard much better in the water than Hylians could. "She's awake! I hear her!"

Fear shot Lloyd through the chest like an arrow. If Wojira was awake in the cove, where was Nyad?

Come on, come on, he thought, staring into the ocean imploringly as if he could will Nyad into being. But as the seconds ticked by, and nothing happened…

She wasn't coming.

"No no no," Lloyd muttered, holding the trident close. His heart beat faster and faster as his hands shook. As they spoke, Wojira might already be in the cove. An army of Zora could be facing her down, Caer was in danger, hundreds of men and women were in danger-

Lloyd had to make Nyad show up. He thought Wojira would be enough, but-

Lloyd looked rapidly from the trident to the empty ocean and back again. He hurriedly undid the straps of his gauntlet, throwing the armor piece away into the depths without another thought. Steeling his nerves, he lifted the trident, poising it directly at his own arm. Without any hesitation, he forced it down, slicing through cloth and his own skin.

Lloyd let out a muffled shout, bubbles erupting from the edges of the shell as he curled into his arm. The vengestone burned, sending pain up his entire arm like a hundred little fires under his skin. He groaned, shaking, as blood poured unbidden from the wound, flowing out into the murky sea. Benthomaar shouted, alarmed, and Lloyd turned away to placate his friend.

If Wojira wasn't enough for Nyad, then Lloyd had to be enough for Nya.

But when Lloyd found Benthomaar's face through blurry vision, the prince wasn't looking at him. Instead, Benthomaar's eyes stared, wide and pupils shrunk in animalistic fear, at something behind and above Lloyd.

Lloyd's body froze up, and he became very, very aware of his position. He had floated far from the continental shelf, and was surrounded on all sides, up and down, by emptiness.

He slowly turned, holding the trident close despite the burn of vengestone, and froze.

Nyad.

Bubbles left the shell as Lloyd let out a gasp. Two giant eyes, twice as big as Lloyd was tall, glowed a deep cyan blue. They came from the ocean itself, no beginning or end in sight. Lloyd stared into those eyes, and they stared back, unblinking, casting him in an eerie glow. The more they floated in silence, the more defined they became. Slowly, the ocean began to define itself- no. Herself. She grew cheekbones and a hairline. Glowing white markings the color of the crest of a wave and the froth of the tides appeared beneath and above her eyes, growing into curling runes over her cheekbones. Before Lloyd's eyes, the ocean whipped around, coalescing into a body. A bodice made of frothy white and sea blues and green, crested by underwater waves and ribbons of rippling tides curled over hips that disappeared into the blue ether. Hair, long and flowing, was indistinguishable from the rest of the ocean. She made Caer look like child's play.

Nyad rose up before him, tall and imposing, and most frightening, silent. Both princes were frozen, unable to move before the image of a veritable goddess. Her eyes roved over Lloyd, expression stone. They landed on the trident in his grasp, and terrifyingly widened. Lines formed around her eyes, appearing almost comically angry. A mouth formed, creasing into a sneer. Nyad struck out a hand, and the ocean bent to her will, churning as a gigantic trident formed in her grasp. Nyad bared her teeth, raising it above her head.

She was going to hit him.

With a scream that shook the ocean floor, Nyad brought her trident down. Lloyd was suddenly pushed out of the way, water suddenly forced to accommodate the high speed. The force of it pulled his hair straight from the bun, and the seashell's twine was ripped from his face. Bubbles escaped his mouth as he choked on the salt water, hurriedly covering his mouth and resisting the overwhelming urge to cough.

Benthomaar, arms around Lloyd's waist, having pulled him out of the way of Nyad's trident, rushed through the water at speeds Lloyd didn't think was possible. Behind them, Nyad shrieked, furious. Benthomaar rushed through the coral reefs, just barely ahead of the enraged ocean goddess. Lloyd clamped his eyes shut, eyes burning as his lungs screamed. Finally, just when Lloyd didn't think he could take it anymore, they broke the surface.

Lloyd immediately hacked up a lung, gasping for air. Benthomaar held him close, scanning the surface for Nyad. Lloyd gripped his shoulders, wheezing.

"Lloyd," Benthomaar said, alarmed. Lloyd looked up through matted bangs to find a horrifying sight before them.

—The Ocean's Wrath—

—Wojira—

The serpent was so much bigger than Lloyd ever could have imagined. She dwarfed Caer in sheer size alone. Even from so far away, Lloyd could make out the whites of her eyes. Her massive tail broke the surface of the cove several times over, and a large portion of her upper body rose high above the beach. Two long golden horns curved over her skull, two longer horns, a dark blue that tapered into bright cyan, flying out behind her head. Long tendrils, deceptively delicate looking, flowed down her body. Two wings, made for gliding through the water, were pressed against her scales.

She swayed back and forth, hissing violently at Caer. The massive crab, despite being puny next to the serpent, refused to back down. Caer screeched, stomping her legs and raising her claws in challenge. To her credit, it seemed to make Wojira wary. But every time the serpent turned to attempt to leave the cove, soldiers lining the beach sides fired canons at her head, locking her in the cove.

Lloyd coughed through a violent gasp, pushing his hair from his eyes. "Oh gods," he wheezed. He then winced, clutching at his wounded arm. Right. Nyad was coming. "Bentho," he gasped, shaking his friend from his frightened trance, "we- we need to get to shore-"

A deafening crash from behind them had Lloyd whipping around to look over Benthomaar's shoulder. Nyad, eyes glowing, broke the surface. She seemed to claw herself out of the waves themselves as the incoming tides suddenly lifted, defying gravity to spin into a humanoid form. A set of long, watery horns curled high above her. Her hair cascaded down her shoulders, as temperamental as a hurricane. She held her water trident in both hands as if looking for a fight. She rippled in place, oddly see-through as her body shifted, dripping gallons of water from her hair and arms.

Nyad growled down at them, gaze locking onto the vengestone trident. She brought her trident high above her head, pointing the prongs down at them. Benthomaar gasped, pulling Lloyd close.

The trident came down in front of them. The ocean erupted, a massive wave carrying the two princes all the wave to the cove. Lloyd yelled, clutching the vengestone trident and Benthomaar close. Benthomaar, thinking fast, just barely caught them on the stony cliffs leading into the cove. He held fast, and Lloyd grunted, reaching over the haul himself out of the water. He hopped up the rock, untangling them so Benthomaar could secure himself.

"Lloyd, go!" Benthomaar yelled. He panted, exhausted from Nyad's chase, but no less determined. Lloyd nodded, securing the trident on his back and scaling the cliff-sides. Nyad stomped through the ocean toward them as though physically drawn toward to vengestone.

Lloyd huffed, weighed down by his wet clothes and armor. "I'm gonna wring Aspheera's freaky neck," he wheezed, hauling himself up. He was met with a very surprised Zora soldier, who had just been gawking at Nyad when they were jump-scared by the psycho Hylian prince.

Lloyd yelled, "go tell everyone to get away from the shore!", unsheathing his trident and holding it at the ready. The Zora shakily nodded, booking it back down the cliff.

Lloyd took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. The plan was simple: let Nyad and Wojira duke it out, wait until Wojira kicked the bucket, and before Nyad could disappear again, Lloyd would stab her. Easy-peasy. He repeated this like a mantra in his head as Nyad came closer and closer.

Wojira, however, didn't seem keen on waiting. Thoroughly fed up with all the puny fish people running around shooting her, she rose up even taller, hissing and spitting. Her tail thrashed through the water, sending giant waves cascading over the shore and drenching any unsuspecting soldiers. Caer let out an ear-piercing screech, digging her claws into the sand. The crab launched herself forward, pure muscle slamming into Wojira.

Caer and Wojira wrestled in the surf, Caer having the advantage of opposable limbs. The crab held Wojira down, the snake thrashing and gnashing her fangs at Caer. With a furious hiss, Wojira wrapped her mile long tail around Caer's back leg, yanking the crab's feet out from under her. Caer went down hard, and Wojira used the leverage to pull herself up and slam her own head into the crab. Caer screamed in pain when Wojira went down a bite.

"CAER!" Lloyd screamed, lurching forward. His poor pet warbled, thrashing in Wojira's giant jaws. With great struggle, the serpent physically lifted Caer out of the water before violently slamming her back down.

Caer laid, shaking in pain, and barely made an attempt to stand again before slumping back down. Wojira hissed, shaking her tail as black venom and purple blood dripped from her fangs. She leisurely turned to leave the cove-

-only to be met with Nyad.

The sea goddess seemed just as shocked as the snake. Somehow not having noticed Wojira, probably still looking for the original sources of her ire, she stood still. For just a moment, the sea stilled. Everything was frozen in place as the two ginormous beasts locked eyes, staring each other down.

Then Nyad narrowed her eyes. Her runes began to glow with blinding intensity. The surf beneath her bodice began to swirl, waves becoming choppy as they started to slam against the cliff-sides and even Nyad's own torso. The color of the ocean darkened, no longer a pleasant summer blue.

Nyad bared her teeth, growing out of the water, taller and taller as her form began to ripple with sheer rage.

"WOJIRA!"

—The Endless Sea—

—Ocean Goddess Nyad—

Nyad's furious voice was unlike anything Lloyd ever heard, before or after his death. It wasn't like being underwater - it was like a gigantic wave crashing overhead, making ears ring and head pound. If Nya was a tidal wave, Nyad was a tsunami.

Wojira hissed, deceptively calm in comparison, undoubtedly recognizing her century-old foe. Black venom dripped down Wojira's chin and neck, staining her dark sea-blue scales. The large magenta gem, imbedded in her head like an anacondrai's, pulsated.

The sea churned. Nyad's chest heaved, and she raised her trident, poised to strike. Wojira lifted up on her tail, throwing out her wings in challenge, meeting Nyad in the eye. Nyad screamed, shaking the ocean floor, and launched herself at Wojira.

All at once, the calm broke, and the storm came in with a vengeance. The Ocean crashed violently with Wojira, pushing the snake back. Wojira screamed in rage, sinking fangs into Nyad's solid shoulder.

The goddess snarled, dissolving her own shoulder and taking advantage of Wojira's faltering to slam her fist into the snake's head. Wojira fell back, her tail launching over the shore, sending sand and soldiers scattering. Lloyd caught sight of Benthomaar, atop a wobbling and limping Caer, yelling down at his soldiers. Several cannons fired at once, slamming into Wojira. The snake shook her head, slithering lowly over the sea floor. Nyad bared her own teeth, sharp and wicked, and struck her trident down.

Wojira took advantage of Nyad opening up her chest, and faster than should be possible for something so unfathomably large, darted up and around the trident. She slammed in the Ocean, sending Nyad stumbling back with a yell.

Lloyd watched them wrestle in the surf, back and forth, neither gaining or losing ground for more than a second. He crouched, holding the vengestone in his grip steadfast. "Come on, Nya…" he muttered, urging his sister on.

Nyad screamed, slamming a fist in an uppercut against Wojira's jaw. Bright purple blood poured from the wound. Not letting up for even a second, Nyad summoned her trident from the sea. It shot to existence in her hands, gleaming sharply. Wojira still shaking off the punch, Nyad ferociously stabbed the snake straight through the stomach.

Wojira screamed, shaking the sea and sky. She thrashed violently, sending up waves high enough to drench Lloyd on his cliff-side perch. He gasped, diving to the side to avoid being washed away. Despite that, he raised his fists, whooping and cheering Nyad on. "Get her ass!" Lloyd cheered, pumping his fists.

Wojira shrieked and thrashed, and Nyad brutally twisted the trident before yanking it back out. Blood sprayed from the wound. Wojira heaved, curling into herself protectively. But despite that, she wasn't backing down.

Nyad formed legs, the bodice of her torso extending into a flowing dress that seamlessly merged in and out of her barefoot legs. She stepped out of the sea floor, stalking around Wojira, glowing eyes narrowing. She stopped, taking a wide stance in front of the beach as though protecting the land and people beyond it. Her trident, previously solid, dissolved. The water swirled around her wrists and climbed up her arms in elegant ribbons. It flowed around her neck and head before solidifying into a dripping, curling crown upon her head, winding around her horns. Her face runes pulsated as her entire body glowed.

"Wojira," Nyad hissed, her voice casting darkness over the cove. Steam, water boiling her own mouth, hissed and rose above. More and more, rising high above Nyad's head and darkening the sky. Nyad raised a hand, then snapped two watery fingers. Suddenly, the clouds of steam collapsed, raining down in hot boiling droplets over the entire cove. Lloyd hissed, wincing as droplets hit his face. Nyad watched coldly as Wojira groaned at the boiling water soaking into her wound. The Ocean reached out a hand before her, and a waterspout swirled to life before her. Churning faster and faster, the water sharpened into a monumental trident decorated in glowing giant pearls and coral curling over the base of the prongs.

Nyad spun the trident, creating a turbine of water that swirled around the prongs, forming a gigantic, boiling, glowing sphere suspended at the points of her weapon. She arced the weapon, pointing Wojira down. She screamed, making the ocean bubble. "I'LL MAKE YOU SUFFER!"

Wojira hissed, flicking out her tongue. She curled up her tail, slowly swaying as she rose up. Her blood dyed the sea water, staining her scales. The gem on her head glowed, eclipsing the beast's head in a pink glow. Wojira roared, her wings convulsing behind her, sending winds scattering through the beach.

Quick as a whip, the serpent launched forward, slamming her golden horns into Nyad's chest. The goddess stumbled, beating her hand against Wojira's head. The serpent sank her teeth into Nyad's neck, and the goddess yelled. The ocean swirled, waves growing unnaturally high, before Nyad dissolved into the surf all at once, water suspended in the air for only a second before dropping, hundreds of gallons flooding the beach.

Lloyd became alarmed, scanning the surface for Nyad. Wojira flicked her tongue, narrowing her eyes. Then Lloyd spotted her. Head just barely peeking the surface, almost indistinguishable from the rest of the churning waves. Her eyes glowed as she slowly moved through her element like a shark. From the corner of his eye, Lloyd saw a glint of metal.

He turned to see Benthomaar, limping and armor half-eroded from errant venom, screaming and waving his arms, desperately trying to catch Lloyd's attention. He was covered in blood, and Lloyd couldn't but wonder how he could have possibly missed it. It must have been Wojira's thrashing, her venom flying into the beach. Benthomaar was strong, but he was only human.

Lloyd made a confused face, wondering what Benthomaar was trying to say. The prince made a panicked gesture at Wojira, and Lloyd realized what was happening.

Wojira had, in the midst of fighting and looking for Nyad, positioned her back to the cliff Lloyd was stationed on. Her back was to him, completely uncaring of him. But Lloyd knew that Benthomaar didn't want Lloyd to take advantage - he wanted Lloyd to run.

Nyad, having snuck close enough, erupted from the ocean's surface with a tidal wave. She slammed into Wojira, pushing the snake's head back. Lloyd yelled, scampering back in panic as Wojira was forced backward over the cliff-side. The two kaiju's force made the cliff start to crumble, shaking the earth beneath Lloyd's feet. Lloyd ran faster than ever before, heart in his throat as he desperately tried to outrun the cracks running down the barriers of the cove.

Hair whipping behind him, he called down, "Caer!" His pet, despite limping and bleeding, came running through the violent waters. Just as the earth beneath Lloyd's feet began to fall through, Nyad slamming Wojira once more into the quickly falling cliff, Lloyd jumped down.

He hit Caer's back with a thump. Caer warbled, bringing up her own giant claw to block the falling stones from hitting Lloyd. She chittered, offended by the audacity of the rock. Lloyd panted, patting her head gratefully. He glanced back to see Nyad raise both arms, putting her fists together and bringing them down as one giant hammer on Wojira's gullet. The snake screamed, sending water cascading in a giant wave over the cove with her tail. Lloyd grit his teeth, watching the fight.

…wasn't this over faster, last time? Of course, last time… Nyad wasn't aiming to kill. But he needed this fight over now. He didn't know why Nyad wasn't ending it yet - was… was Wojira actually stronger this time around?

"Think quickly. That's how we win."

Lloyd whipped around, and the flickering image of a dark silhouette stood before him. Their body language was casual and playful, hands on their hips. Two large wings were flung out behind them. Their silhouette flickered with the wind and drizzle of rain. They stood high above him, but Lloyd somehow knew that they weren't truly so tall - instead, this is how he remembered them.

Their shoulders shook with laughter as Lloyd reached out. They held out their hand, and lightning danced in their palm. They curled their fingers over it, and the lightning traveled from their palm up their arms and through their wings.

"We strike quickly," they said, "trust your gut. Instinct will carry you."

Then they were gone with the wind, laughter ringing in Lloyd's ears. Lightning crackled overhead, paired with the crash of waves. Caer shifted warily, clicking her mandibles.

Lloyd blinked, trying to process the vision. Why would - was that the Rito champion? - a vision come to him now of all times?

Then he slung the trident from his back. He looked back at Nyad and Wojira. Nyad slammed her trident into Wojira's face, then stabbed down, pinning the snake to the sea floor. Wojira thrashed like a fish caught in a net, brutally knocking Nyad off her feet. The Ocean collapsed, landing with force that shook the entire cove. Wojira rose up and darted down, slamming into Nyad with her horns. Nyad screamed, punching her face away.

They wrestled, matching each other beat for beat. Lloyd watched, and understood. They were too closely matched. Even with the Zora attempting to sway the tide in Nyad's favor, nobody could measure up to Wojira. They were ants to the serpent. Only Nyad stood any chance, and Wojira was too closely matched to her in power. In a fight of this proportion, skill didn't matter. Only utter, raw strength. And Nyad wasn't interested in a quick fight. She wanted pain.

He had to intervene if this was ever going to end without nuking the entire cove.

"Caer," he crouched down, pressing his hand to his pet's head. She warbled, wary of the two kaiju stumbled back and forth in the surf. "Girl, I need your help. Take me over there, as fast as possible." He pointed to the other end of the inlet. Nyad had her own back to it. Lloyd's mind raced as he quickly sketched up a plan in his head.

Caer, bless her, instantly began to run. She crossed the crashing waves easily, more than capable of traversing an unforgiving sea. Lloyd held onto a spike, wedging the trident down under his foot. He pulled his hair up as Caer ran, tying his hair into a knot. He breathed out deeply, wiping the water from his face.

Another shadow. Lloyd looked up, surprised. They stood, tall and straight, serious. A long tail swung behind them. "We don't win without preparation," they said, "think, always, before acting recklessly." And then they were gone again.

Lloyd puffed out an exasperated sigh, rolling his eyes. "Yeah, yeah," he muttered, "creepy foreboding visions and warnings, got it."

Caer reached the other end of the inlet, and rose up, clambering up the cliff. Lloyd slung the trident over his back, and climbed up Caer's pincers. He jumped up, latching onto the rocks slick with water, pulling himself up the rest of the way. Wind whipped against his face as he stood on the cliff, trident in hand.

Nyad and Wojira still wrestled back and forth. Nyad strained to keep solid footing as she held Wojira's ginormous jaw open, barely keeping the snake from biting down on her. Venom worked down her blue arms, bleeding into her body like an infection. Wojira pushed more and more, only for Nyad to push back, bearing over the snake. Neither gained or lost ground.

"Terrible plan," Lloyd mumbled, bouncing on his feet, watching the goddess and monster fight for even an inch on each other. Nyad fought to keep Wojira's maw open, continuously kneeing Wojira in the stomach. Wojira coiled around Nyad, squeezing the Ocean's torso, locking them together.

This was Lloyd's chance. While they were both locked in place. One strike was all it would take.

This is what Lloyd was born for.

Act fast.

He grabbed the trident, breathing deeply.

"I am the prince of Hyrule," he said under his breath. He adjusted his grip, lowering his head.

"I am the Hero of Destiny." He moved his stance, and began to walk, then jog, then run, then sprint. He quickly built up speed, beating the ground with his feet. Water slammed down diagonally, a torrent of rain beating him back. The wind behind, like wings of lightning, pushed him forward with laughter. Ice built in his lungs, a calming balm. He raised the trident.

"I am Nya Jiang-Smith's brother!"

Lloyd leaped off the cliff in the same second a trident erupted from Nyad's very arm and stabbed straight through Wojira's head, the prongs erupting out of and shattering the gem of her head. Wojira let out a scream that pierced the sky, her glowing eyes going dark.

Lloyd fell, trident poised, and before Nyad so much as unsheathed her own arm from Wojira's brain, he crashed through Nyad's chest, stabbing her through the heart.

Nyad arched, eyes going wide. A wet, pained, choking sound reverberated from her throat as glowing cyan tears poured from her eyes. Wojira's venom dribbled from her mouth like blood. The vengestone ate through her body, seeping into every droplet. Her entire form glowed, brighter and brighter until it completely eclipsed the cove with light. Then all at once, she collapsed, the vessel of the ocean ripped from her mortal soul.

And Lloyd fell through-

-straight into Wojira's open maw.

Benthomaar, half collapsed in the sand and surrounded by field medics, venom eating through his armor and leg, screamed. Not from the pain, not from the venom corroding his bones. For Lloyd. He reached out his hand helplessly, falling further into the sand and heaving a sob.

"NO!"

Not again-! Even present, he was still too powerless to save his friend-! He sobbed, clawing at the bloody sand.

Wojira's body, suspended in place from tensely coiled muscles despite her dim, dead eyes, suddenly jerked. Benthomaar watched, enthralled, as blood began to spew from Wojira's neck. Glowing purple prongs brutally cut through sinew and muscle and scale, carving a jerking line through Wojira's neck. The serpent swayed, jerking more and more as blood poured like a faucet.

The snake fell, dead body collapsing into the water. The sea quickly turned purple with her blood, seeping into the shore and out to sea. Benthomaar struggled to stand, his leg collapsing out from under him.

But Lloyd stood.

The young prince cut his way out from Wojira's neck, clawing his way through sinew and tissue, covered in blood and venom from head to toe. He gasped, coughing and hacking, hunched over and his eroding armor falling from his body. The clouds parted, a single beam of sunlight shining down on him.

Lloyd cast away the trident, the vengstone too much for him. It crumbled into dust, disintegrating in the water. He coughed, spitting out venom. Blood ran down his face, practically gluing his eyes shut. He wiped his face, gasping as he crawled from the visceral wound in Wojira's neck. He stumbled across the corpse, slipping on slick scales.

He fell to his knees, stumbling, trying to push himself back up. "Nya!" He yelled, his voice raw. The wind was rapidly calming, the sea slowing. Please, he thought, it had to have worked.

"NYA!" He yelled, straining to lift himself. His entire body shook as his tears finally fell. He waded into the bloodied water, calling his sister's name.

Then he saw her. The ocean slowly lifted, forming a rippling humanoid shape. Then the water slid back down, revealing the bare form of Nya. Her black hair, long enough to reach her feet, cascaded down her dark tan shoulders, covering her chest and front. The ends of her hair, two thick clumps that hung over her hair, were dyed white like sea foam. Two horns, short and nubbed, made of water, poked out of her bangs. White and black runes curled around her eyes and over her cheekbones, still glowing and casting her skin in blue and white light. A short tail, blue and white and brown like her skin, flopped limply behind her.

Nya's eyes fluttered, and she swayed. Her legs gave out, and she fell forward with a weak groan.

Lloyd rushed forward through the water, ripping off his own tattered shirt to cover her. He wrapped the cloth around her torso, struggling to lift her.

Nya's eyes fluttered open. Glittering blue scales lined her eyes. She groaned, standing shakily. She slumped on Lloyd heavily, legs shaking. Lloyd held her as best as possible, despite being much shorter and weak himself.

Nya looked down at him. She squinted, examining him.

"…Lloyd?"

Lloyd laughed through tears. "Yeah," he breathed, "I'm back."

She reached out a shaky hand, slowly bringing it to cup his cheek gently. Her breath became jilted, and she squinted down at him. "…how…?" She looked down at herself. "I'm… alive…?"

"You are."

Glowing tears poured from Nya's eyes, running down her slack face. She shivered. "The Ocean…" She looked back, reaching a hand out for the sea. It just barely lifted, reaching back. Lloyd tugged her back, staggering in the direction of the shore.

"Come on," he gasped, pulling Nya along, "we- we need to get you to shore."

Nya made a weak sound. "…Wojira…-"

"She's dead, she's dead," Lloyd voice broke as he broke through choppy waters, stumbling, "come on, Nya, we- we need-"

They stumbled through blood, tripping over more than one nauseatingly melted body. Lloyd made a beeline for Benthomaar, tripping over his own feet.

Finally, they made it to solid land. Lloyd nearly sank to his knees, staggering forward. Nya followed, practically draped over him. He refused to fall over, not when he was still holding her.

"Lloyd," Benthomaar gasped, relieved. The prince made to stand from his place slumped down, but fell again, unbalanced. He groaned, forced to lay back again. Lloyd gasped, staring at his leg.

Benthomaar sighed, touching the stump with a wince. "Wojira's venom. It was amputate or die. But- that doesn't matter now. You two need medical attention."

"But-" Lloyd's lip trembled, "your leg…" he sobbed, leaning on Nya just as much as she him. Benthomaar stared at Nya, starstruck.

He reached out a hand, hesitant to touch her. "Nya…" he smiled. "I'm glad you're alive."

Nya stared at her own hand again. Her gaze was flat and distant, even as tears still streamed down her face. "Is… that… Bentho…?" She whispered. Benthomaar smiled, tears brimming in his eyes.

"Yes," he said. "It's been a hundred years, Nya."

She only hummed, eyes fluttering. Her legs gave out, and Lloyd fell to his knee from her weight. His vision swam, and Benthomaar yelled in alarm as he collapsed, falling face first into the sand. Nya thumped down next to him, and he heard Benthomaar screaming at medics.

"Take them to the palace! The Prince and Champion take complete priority! Quickly!"

Then Lloyd saw black, and fell into blissful sleep.

Chapter Text

Lloyd blinked his eyes open with a hoarse groan. He struggled to wipe away the grime built up in his eyes.

The first thing he saw was Benthomaar. The blue prince was sat up in a hospital bed, legs covered in soft white linen, reading a book. His hair, usually spiky and windswept, was curled around his face. His usual crown was abandoned to a bedside table, and his armor replaced with white bandages and a soft, oversized shirt.

He looked up when Lloyd made another soft groan, setting the book down in his lap. "Lloyd," he said, voice dripping in relief. "Are you feeling alright?"

Lloyd smacked his lips, gagging as the taste of stench of venom filled it. "Urgh… like a radioactive rat crawled into my mouth and died," he groaned, voice hoarse. He tried again to sit up, but only managed to lift himself on his forearms.

Benthomaar tsked, "That's what happens when you jump into snake mouths," he scolded, glaring at the younger prince. "What were you thinking?"

Lloyd looked away, scowling at the shining marble floor. "That Nyad and Wojira were in one spot, and I could get them both," he insisted.

"Had you stopped for even 30 seconds, Nyad would have handled Wojira, and you-"

"Could've just thrown the trident, I know." Lloyd clenched his eyes shut, staving off a headache. It was stupid, he knew. But he saw Nyad's form breaking apart, and he couldn't take the chance of her losing, or disappearing before he could unmerge his… sister. Huh. He hadn't really thought before he'd suddenly declared Nya his sister.

"Look, I'm sorry," Lloyd said, meeting his friend's eyes. Benthomaar's face softened, and he breathed out a sigh.

"Just, please, be more careful," Benthomaar said, "I don't want to lose you again so soon."

Lloyd's shoulders slumped. He didn't mean to worry his friend. But he was the hero of destiny! Wasn't that kind of thing his entire purpose? He was just trying to end the fight. He wasn't even hurt.

He looked at the bandages around his ribcage.

He wasn't even hurt that badly!

Lloyd looked around the infirmary. Several empty hospital beds lined the walls, and there were a few water fountains every few feet. A table equipped with medical equipment stood by a large fountain, dribbling relaxing streams of water.

"Wait," he said, panic mounting as he tried to force himself up. "Wait, where's Nya-"

Benthomaar pointed behind him, poorly hiding a smile.

Lloyd looked over his shoulder, immediately met with the sleeping face of Nya Jiang-Smith. He stared, wide-eyed. He hadn't gotten a good look back in the cove, being covered in blood and venom and also half-conscious. Nya's inky black hair fell over her face and all down the covers, like its own blanket. Her skin was a dark tan, and spotted in glittering blue-green scales around her eyes and shoulders, running down her arms. Two small fins poked up from her forearms, the same color as her skin. In the light, though, they seemed to turn hues of purple and blue.

White and cyan colored runes curled over her eyes and cheekbones. A set of ears like fins poked out from behind her hair, brown and blue. What was really weird were the set of horns.

They rippled, reflecting thin sunlight. Lloyd squinted, and realized that they were literally made of water, making the strands of hair underneath damp.

"D-did she… always look like this?" Lloyd asked.

"Well, she's grown out her hair," Benthomaar joked. His voice remained soft with affection.

Lloyd made to back up and give Nya space, then immediately realized that the Master of Water had her arms wrapped around him like an octopus, grip firm. Lloyd made a helpless face at Benthomaar.

The Zora Prince laughed. "Thirty minutes ago, Nya woke in a frenzy, exploded six water fountains, threatened a nurse with a scalpel, picked you up, and passed out. We couldn't separate you two, so we just left you. She's been sleeping for a while now."

"…okay?"

Nya snorted in her sleep, pulling him closer. Lloyd sighed, accepting his fate as a living stuffed animal, and turned back over. His throat still tasted like Wojira's mouth, and he shivered. He couldn't believe he'd willingly jumped into a snake mouth. Did he have brain damage?

But he hadn't even thought about it. Something in him had said it's worth it, and he'd jumped without another thought.

"Here," Lloyd looked up, having closed his eyes without realizing, to Benthomaar holding out a cup of water. The Prince had stood from his bed, the blanket falling to the floor.

His leg was gone. The limb was amputated just above the knee.

Lloyd gaped, the memory rushing back. "Bentho-"

"Please," Benthomaar shook his head, "don't mention it. It was an accident, nothing more."

"But-"

Benthomaar sighed, setting down the cup of water so he could ruffle Lloyd's hair. "Don't worry about me. There was nothing you could have done about it, and I wouldn't have wanted you to. I'll live, and that's good enough."

Lloyd swallowed back his protests, blinking away tears. Benthomaar shouldn't ever have been hurt so much on his account. If he'd just gone straight to the ocean, he could've avoided Benthomaar altogether, and the other prince never would have been hurt.

Benthomaar held out the glass of water again. Lloyd took it, letting the cool water slide down his ruined throat like a balm. He sighed, rubbing his throat. Benthomaar hummed, satisfied, and struggled back to his own bed.

"Take the time to rest," Bentho said, picking his book back up. "I'll see about getting you more armor, and Nya some clothes and armor as well."

"Armor?"

Benthomaar gestured out the window between them, letting fresh air in. "Only a few miles away is Divine Beast Vah Ruta. You have another challenge ahead of you."

Lloyd groaned, slumping into the overstuffed pillow. "Great," he griped, "can't wait. I'll just go and fight a- whatever a Divine Beast is."

"A mechanical dragon, capable of manipulating its core element."

"Not helpful," Lloyd hissed. Benthomaar laughed at his plight. He was lucky he was injured, or Lloyd would throw something at him.

Lloyd sighed, letting his muscles relax as he slipped back into sleep. He could worry about Vah Ruta later.

"Hi," a girl with deep brown skin and glittering blue-green scales and a short, spotty tail looks down at him with a soft smile and sharp eyes. She's tall, but not like everyone else feels like. His father is tall like an immovable force, his uncle tall like a statue, his mother tall like a general. But this girl — part Zora, he thinks — is tall like a bouncy spring. Like she could pick him up and make him tall too.

He blinks up at her through tears, and he doesn't know her, but she feels safe. "Hi," he whispers, brushing brown hair away from his eyes. He looks around, and curls further into the safe girl, cringing away from fire.

"Don't be scared," she says, holding him securely. "The fire is safe. He won't hurt us. See?" The girl with pretty fin ears sticks her hand into a flame. He yelps, throwing out his hand as if to protect her, but she isn't in pain. The flame licks around her skin, tickling it playfully. At her prompting, he hesitantly touches the flame too. It's soft, warm and light and friendly. He laughs near-silently, breathless. He sits closer, brushing his long hair from his face. The nice girl keeps her hand on his back protectively.

From the ground, she lifts up his crown, and sets it back on his head. "That's my brother," she continues. "He's going to make sure we get back to the castle safe, okay?"

He looks up, and sees a tall Goron boy with spiky hair, swinging a huge, glowing golden sword at the serpentine who took him. He gapes, sparks of fire like stars shining in his eyes as he lays eyes on the coolest person ever. The girl laughs, the sound like tinkling water.

"Come on, kiddo," she stands, drawing her silver trident up beside her. She holds out a hand to him. "Your uncle and parents are waiting."

He gnaws his lip. These siblings feel safe, but…

"Who are you?"

She smiles as he takes the hand. "I'm the Master of Water. Nya Jiang-Smith."

Lloyd woke again, pulled from soft darkness. The sun had dipped, casting pinks and oranges over the calm ocean beyond the palace. Hands carded through his hair, gently untangling knots. He blinked, turning over in confusion.

Nya. She's awake, humming to herself. Her fingers moved softly through his hair.

"Nya?" He asked. She startles at his voice, unfocused, but her face quickly falls into an affectionate gaze.

"Hi," she said softly. A blank look crosses her face. "Who are you?"

Lloyd blanched, sitting up in a sudden panic. If Nya didn't remember him-

But her face twitched, and she busted out laughing at him. He stared, dumbfounded, as the half-Zora shook with laughter, tears springing to her eyes.

"Oh…" she wheezed, giggles still falling from her lips. She sighed, cupping his face softly and brushing a thumb over his cheek. "I'm just messing with you, bud." She pulled him close, hugging him tightly. Well, as tightly as a girl who'd had a real body less than two days could.

Lloyd's brain was still rebooting. He tentatively gave her a pat on the back, pulling back. She didn't seem to mind, letting him go and gazing at him with an expression dripping love.

"I'm glad you're back," she whispered, eyes roving over him, drinking him in. She touched a lock of blonde hair. "Suits you," she muttered. She sighed, leaning back into her pillows with a breathless giggle. Lloyd wondered if she was drugged.

"Haha… can you imagine? If you brought me back and I didn't remember anything?" She laughed again, like it was the world's funniest joke. Lloyd felt sweat prickle on the back of his neck.

"So… about that…" He said slowly. Nya looked down at him, confused.

"WHAT?!" The yell shook the palace, sending birds flying and servants jumping.

Lloyd grimaced as Nya shot out of bed, stumbling when her bare feet hit the floor. Benthomaar watched, lips pursed, from his bed.

"What do you mean you have amnesia?!" Nya yelled, eyes wide.

Lloyd shrugged helplessly. "Sorry? I mean, I'm getting stuff back! Sort of."

Nya ran her hand through her hair, dazed. She became confused when she realized how long her hair had become, lifting the strands away from her body helplessly. When she discovered the water horns, she jerked her hand away. Lloyd reached out a hand to try and calm her down, but Nya jerked away.

"This- this is crazy," Nya gasped, holding her head. "How- how can you not remember me? I'm your sister!"

"If it helps, I don't really remember anyone else," Lloyd said, sitting cross-legged in the ruffled covers. Benthomaar facepalmed behind him.

"How is that-?!" Nya sucked in a deep, calming breath, steadying herself against the wall. "Just… you remember some things about me, right?"

"Well…" Lloyd dug around in his memory as Nya grew more and more stupefied. He snapped his fingers. "Did you used to have a bob?"

Nya nodded. "When we first met," she said. She seemed relieved, and Lloyd didn't mention that he saw an old picture of her in mom's journal.

"If it makes you feel better," Benthomaar piped up, "he remembered the crab before me, too."

Nya looked at Lloyd, like, are you serious?

"The crab-?"

"Not my fault!" Lloyd defended, then pointed at Benthomaar. "Blame him!"

"No bullying the wounded, Lloyd."

"I'm wounded too?!"

"And who's fault is that?"

Nya groaned, burying her face in her hands. "You… really don't remember me, though…?" She mumbled. Lloyd bit his lip, looking down at his lap.

"Well… I remember the last time I saw you, I think."

Her expression fell. "You mean when I failed to protect you, and you died."

Lloyd didn't have anything to say to that. Nya fingered her hair with downcast eyes.

"Nya," Benthomaar said, sliding his leg over the side of the bed to face her. "I understand how you feel. But this isn't something we can do anything about. Instead, let's be happy. You're alive, Lloyd is alive, and Wojira is dead."

Nya sniffled, nodding. She sat down next to Lloyd with a thump. She faced him with a sad smile, but she was distant now. Like she knew how weird it would be to say what she wanted to.

"So," she started, "what about everyone else? Any memories there, or…?"

"Work in progress," Lloyd admitted, shrugging. "I sometimes hallucinate, but that's a whole other thing."

Nya blinked, looking between him and Bentho. "He whats?"

Benthomaar shrugged. "I believe it."

Nya drew her legs up, sitting criss-crossed. Her knee knocked into his. Her hair fell like a waterfall around her. "Well… how about Zane?"

"Uh… which one is he?"

Her face fell. "He- the Zora Ice Champion," she stuttered. She gestured to the palace around them. "This was his home. What about Kai? You remember him, right? You love Kai!"

Lloyd hesitated, scared to disappoint her. Benthomaar made to intervene, but Nya glared at him until he backed off.

"Nya, I- I don't remember any of them. I'm sorry."

"Oh." They lapsed into silence again. Lloyd hated it. He wanted Nya to be happy, he wanted them to be a team. Why couldn't this be as easy as Akita, or Euphrasia? He fiddled with his bandages, trying to figure out how to alleviate the situation.

He kept feeling like he was… well, kind of disappointing. Nya had obviously been expecting a heartfelt reunion, only to be slapped in the face with 'oh, I actually don't know you at all, sucks for you'.

Lloyd perked up. "Hey," he nudged Nya. She looked up from her hair with a questioning look. He smiled. "I heard you were pretty cool," he said, and Nya's brows went up. "When you beat Wojira the first time? And this time, too. It was sick."

Nya looked at Benthomaar, and the prince nodded in agreement. "It was incredible," he assured her. "Almost beats seeing my brother get swallowed."

Nya laughed, shaking her head. "You have issues, Bentho," she said. Then she looked back to Lloyd, and wrapped her arm around his shoulders. "I'm glad you think so highly of me, blondie. You know what? I'm not even upset."

"You're not?" Lloyd asked, confused by the sudden tone shift. She shook her head with a sunny smile.

"Nope! Bentho is right - we're alive, Wojira's dead, and you still came for me. Even though you didn't remember me, you still came to get me. That's something, huh? We'll be fine."

Lloyd made a face, hunching his shoulders. "Uh, right."

"What? What's wrong?" She became confused again, grabbing his hand. She paused momentarily, caught off guard by the amount of scars, but it quickly passed. "Hey, you can tell me, Lloyd."

"I-" he swallowed, "didn't actually… do it on my own. Mom told me to. She said you could help with the Divine Beasts."

Nya stared, still as a statue. Benthomaar looked between them, cringing. She swallowed thickly, letting his hand drop.

"You-" she stood suddenly, holding her arms tightly. Lloyd watched her, guilty. "You didn't even- you only brought me back because someone told you to?"

"Yes, but it's not that I didn't want to!" Lloyd tried to grab her, but she jerked away, glaring at him.

"So, what, I'm just- I'm not even worth being unmerged because I'm a Champion? Because I'm your sister?"

"That's not-"

Benthomaar shook his head, motioning for Lloyd to stop talking. Nya scoffed, wiping her eyes roughly. Her hair splayed out behind her, draped over her clothes and legs.

"Fine. I'm- I don't care. Doesn't make a difference to me- ugh, get-!" She wrestled with her hair, throwing it aside. Lloyd stood, trying to figure out what to say. He didn't mean to make her upset, he just didn't want to lie, or let her think that he remembered things he didn't.

"Nya-"

"No, I'm fine, I-" she made another frustrated sound. She stopped then, glaring down at the floor as her muscles coiled tightly. "I don't care, Lloyd. It's fine." She said tightly. Then she whirled around, stomping out of the infirmary.

"Nya, wait-" Benthomaar called, making to stand. He lost balance, having forgotten about his missing leg, and fell back into the sheets. He looked to Lloyd, who nodded.

"I'll make sure she's okay," he assured, and rushed after Nya. Benthomaar watched him go with a sigh.

As the week went by, Lloyd stayed only a few feet behind Nya. She didn't acknowledge him, stoutly ignoring the Hylian. They were soon discharged by nurses, and Lloyd watched, day in and out, as Nya trained in the courtyards.

He would stand at the sidelines as she went through katas like a woman possessed, despite knocking knees and shaking arms. Only a day or two after being released from the infirmary, she'd fallen back into the rhythm of spinjitzu. He'd watched, astounded, as a gigantic blue whirlwind swept through the training grounds. It had ended with a nearby fountain exploding from the sheer proximity to the Master of Water. He tried to join in a few times and initiate a conversation, but Nya seemed to break every time she looked at him. So he trained alone.

He could tell she was getting antsy. He was too. After a while, he was ready to face Vah Ruta. He'd done everything he needed to - he'd found Jamanakai, learned exactly what he had to do, gotten Aspheera's spell, beaten the Sea Prince's challenge, and unmerged Nya. He was finally ready for the first Divine Beast.

If he could get Nya to actually acknowledge him, that is.

It was when Lloyd was again in the training yard with Nya, watching her beat up a training dummy with spinjitzu, when Benthomaar made his appearance.

The Sea Prince had made a swift recovery once all the venom was flushed out of his system. He'd been wheelchair bound, so both Lloyd and Nya were shocked when he appeared in the doorway on two feet.

The Prince bore his crown, standing tall on a leg made of metal. It shone in silver, made of twisting metal legs made to keep balance around the hollow center. It had a flat, shoe-like foot for added balance, and decorated with sapphire.

"Bentho!" Lloyd laughed, shooting up from his spot on the ground fiddling with his dao. "You have two legs again!"

Benthomaar chuckled at Lloyd's antics, leaning against the doorway. "Much to my delight," he replied, "it was just finished. My engineer made it perfectly. In fact, I'd like for the two of you to meet him."

Nya perked in interest, brushing her bangs from her face. "Wait, is he still…?"

Benthomaar just smiled, beckoning for them to follow. Nya rushed forward eagerly, and Lloyd trailed behind.

As they walked, Lloyd fell silent as Nya and Bentho spoke. Their conversation flowed so easily it almost made Lloyd jealous. They traded anecdotes, common memories and inside jokes he couldn't hope to understand. Is this what Nya was looking for from him?

He hunched his shoulders, holding his sword close. Whatever. It wasn't like they weren't allowed to catch up. Just that… well, Nya had barely looked at him since that morning in the infirmary.

They reached a set of double doors, rising high above them. Benthomaar pushed them open with a grunt, revealing a large, sprawling laboratory. Lloyd gaped as he wandered in behind Bentho and Nya. The ceiling was high and vaulted, and machinery hung from it. Nya trailed a hand over complex blueprints, her grin growing.

They found a large, circular desk, covered in blueprints and papers and small metal trinkets. Behind the desk was an elderly man, hunched over his desk muttering to himself. His hair, stuck up like a mad scientist, was stark white and gray. His skin was a pale, graying blue, and he wore a white lab coat and the strange combination of both a bow-tie and long tie. His face was dotted with sparse black and white markings and a scraggly white beard.

Nya gasped, a smile spreading over her face. "Dr. Julien!"

The engineer jumped, pushing the eccentric goggles over his hair and revealing… another set of glasses. They were so tiny they barely balanced on the tip of his nose. No way they actually helped him see?

He squinted, looking for the source of the sound. "My… that voice. Might it be… ah! The idiosyncratic Master of Water!" Nya laughed, running forward to hug the elder Zora. The engineer laughed jovially, giving her a pat on the back. He adjusted his glasses, leaning in close to Nya's face. "Now, don't tell me - ah! You've grown out your hair, eh?"

Nya touched her impossibly long hair, done in a high ponytail that was still somehow long enough to nip at her ankles, and sighed in exasperation. "It's good to see you again, Dr. Julien," she replied. "How have you been doing?"

"Ah," Dr. Julien settled back in his plush seat, letting out a heavy, weary sigh as he removed his tiny glasses. "As well as can be expected, I suppose. Designing our prince's new leg - now, that was a pleasant challenge!"

Benthomaar nudged Lloyd forward, and the Hylian hesitantly approached with a little wave. "Doctor," Benthomaar said, catching his engineer's attention, "I'd like to introduce you to Prince Lloyd Garmadon of Hyrule."

The doctor sat up straight, leaning forward over the desk. It was then that Lloyd realized that the glasses really didn't do much — because Dr. Julien was near-blind. His eyes were a milky white spotted in cataracts. The doctor hummed as he 'looked' at Lloyd.

"Now, don't tell me!" He joked, "the young prince is a… blue-nette!"

"What?" Lloyd laughed. Nya smiled from the side, apparently used to the doctor's jokes. Benthomaar clapped a hand on Dr. Julien's shoulder.

"Lloyd, Dr. Julien is a dear friend of mine. He's my most esteemed inventor, and has been working in this palace since I was young."

"Crown Prince, you understate!" Dr. Julien leaned forward secretively, whispering, "I'll have you know, I made this boy his crib."

Lloyd snorted when Benthomaar flushed in embarrassment.

"It's nice to meet you," Lloyd said. The inventor gave another smile, settling back into his seat. He pointed a pen in Nya's general direction.

"Now, children, how may I be of service? Oh, Prince- I trust the new leg is up to standard?"

"It's perfect, Doctor," Benthomaar inclined his head gratefully. "But I wanted to-"

"Yes!" The doctor exclaimed, "the new trident, don't think I've forgotten. This-a-way, come now, come now." The old man grabbed a cane that leaned against his desk, standing on shaking legs. They trailed behind as the doctor hobbled through his lab, tapping the floor before him to steer clear of loose projects or papers.

Lloyd peeked through cases and shelves, intrigued by all the technology. The lab was filled to the brim with weapons and pipework and bird fountains alike. It was as if the doctor made whatever caught his attention first, flitting from project to project.

He tapped Bentho's arm. When the prince looked down, he asked, "hey, how does Nya know Dr. Julien?"

"Ah," Benthomaar turned back up to the doctor and Nya, who spoke quietly together. "Dr. Julien is - or, was - the father of our Champion of Ice, Zane Julien. It was rather hard on him when his son passed."

"Oh," Lloyd said, at a loss for words. Benthomaar patted his shoulder.

"Don't worry about him. It was a hundred years ago. The hole never fills, but it becomes smaller. He's alright."

Lloyd bit his lip, lowering his voice so neither the doctor nor Nya couldn't hear. "Do you think it's possible to bring them back? The Champions?"

Benthomaar pursed his lips. "Honestly? I have no idea. I didn't think Nya could ever return to us, but look who's here. Anything is possible, but I don't know how. But I wouldn't get your hopes up."

Lloyd hummed, but the thought kept spinning in his mind. Maybe, maybe, maybe.

The doctor finally led them to a long work bench. It was littered in scraps and notes, but in the center lay a large black and blue trident. Nya gasped, a smile flying over her face.

"For you, dear," Dr. Julien held the weapon out in shaking hands. Nya took it gratefully, tracing her hands over inscribed runes. "It's made with deepstone, to aid you in recovering your powers. I call it the Bounty. Rather thematic, eh?"

"Thank you, Dr. Julien," Nya said gratefully, holding the new weapon carefully. "It's perfect."

"Don't mention it," the engineer insisted, "a welcome home gift, for our national hero. Quite the legend you've become. I remember when you could barely hold a handful of water…"

Nya's face grew strained. The doctor turned to speak to Benthomaar.

Benthomaar cleared his throat. "Over here, Doctor," he said. Dr. Julien, who had been looking almost directly opposite the prince, readjusted.

"Right, then. Anything for the princes? Oh, yes, the armor! This-a-way!"

Benthomaar chuckled as the doctor spun, headed off in a seemingly random question. Lloyd wondered how he knew where he was going. Then again, he'd been in charge of this lab for over a century. He probably knew it better than his own hand.

Nya lagged behind the doctor to speak to Benthomaar. "He's doing well," she said, noting the pep in the inventor's step. "How's he been, since… Zane?"

Benthomaar sighed through his nose. "As best as can be expected. I gave him an extended leave. He's recovered, slowly. Nothing quite like losing a son, I imagine."

Nya's eyes inadvertently found Lloyd, and the Hylian, surprised to have her attention, averted his eyes. He… did not want to think about the implications of that look.

The doctor soon found a large table. A white cloth covered something, raised tall above them all. He gripped the cloth in shaking hands, taking a few moments to find his grip. He pulled the sheet away with a flourish, revealing two sets of armor.

Lloyd gasped in excitement, stars in his eyes as he bounced on his feet. The first set of armor was obviously Nya's; it was tall, a dark metallic blue, cyan, and black. The skeleton of a tail hung from behind it, matching the size of Nya's uniquely small tail perfectly. A helmet like a crown sat atop the breastplate, two long antler-like horns curving behind it. The breastplate and gauntlets were decorated in sapphire and lapis.

The second was smaller, Lloyd's height exactly. It was a dark green and gold, complete with another crown. Lloyd noticed it looked almost exactly like his mother's helmet - a golden metal that framed the face. The image of an Ouroboros was depicted on the chestplate. Lloyd wondered how the blind inventor managed to create something so intricate.

Dr. Julien held out a shaky hand. "If I may, your young majesty?" He asked Lloyd. Lloyd tilted his head, confused, until Benthomaar gestured to the diadem on his head. He hesitantly handed it to the engineer. The doctor treated it gently, and secured it carefully on the helm of Lloyd's armor. It fit perfectly, rounding out the crown.

"My best work yet, I believe," he said, leaning on his cane. "Armor for our esteemed Champions. Nya's, the Water-Dance armor. Made with deepstone and ingrained with runes. And the Hylian Prince's, the Ouroboros. Sculpted in bronze and emerald. Quite the rare material, here in our domain."

"They're incredible," Nya gushed, running a hand over the boot of her armor. "How did you make these in such short time?"

"I'm a motivated man, miss Jiang! Ah, but, Prince Garmadon, if I may make a request?"

The doctor lowered himself to a knee to meet Lloyd's eye level. He sighed heavily as he balanced on his cane. His wrinkles were more pronounced, his milky eyes downcast and weary with age and grief. "I don't presume to understand the exact workings of the elements. But, if I could ask something of the Time God's Champion?"

"Of course," Lloyd said.

"Right then," he reached out a hand, resting it on Lloyd's shoulder. His limb shook, unstable. "My son was the Ice Champion," Dr. Julien explained, "I remember how excited he was when he first piloted Vah Ruta. It pains me, that his Beast has become his tomb. But this is not the fault of our Divine Guardian. It was the hellish Blight that killed my beloved son. Please, for an old man's conscious, be rid of that thing. Purify my son's final resting place, young Prince of Hyrule."

Maybe, maybe, maybe

Lloyd felt a lump of ice build in his throat. Behind the doctor, Nya blinked back tears, white-knuckling her trident. Benthomaar rested his hand on Lloyd's other shoulder, silently providing support.

Lloyd sucked in a tight breath. "Of course, Dr. Julien," he said, "but, can I ask you for something, too?"

"Anything for Ninjago's Champion."

"I'm told that I was friends with your son," he said, fiddling with his green gi, "but I don't remember anything about him. Or anyone else, really. I have amnesia."

"Ah, I see," the doctor stroked his scraggly beard. "I'm afraid I'm not in the practice of medicine, young prince."

"No, I don't mean that," Lloyd bit his lip. "I just… want to know what he looked like. Do you have a picture? So I can see his face."

"Ah." Dr. Julien stood, relying heavily on his cane and pushing back a sound of pain. He reached into his lab coat and drew out a folded parchment paper. He handed it to Lloyd, pressing it into his scarred hands. "Please, keep it. Let a piece of my son be by your side as you travel our realm."

Lloyd carefully unfolded the paper. A young man looked back. Drawn in long, dark brown strokes, the picture was colorless, but full of life. The Zora Champion smiled brightly, eyes sparkling like snowflakes. His eyes were framed by crescents, and upon his forehead was a pattern of curved diamonds. His hair was short and cropped military style, but stray strands fell over his hairline. The frilled fin-like ears every Zora had fanned out the sides of his angular face.

Maybe, maybe, maybe

"My dear Zane," Dr. Julien said, near-silently. His voice dripped with grief and adoration. "Blind as I am, this picture is of no use to me. But his face is burned into my mind forever. Do treat it kindly."

Lloyd carefully folded the picture again, sliding it into his gi. "Thank you," he said. The doctor dipped his head. Benthomaar looked on, and gave Lloyd a short nod of approval. But when Lloyd met Nya's eyes, she looked away, eyes thin.

Maybe, maybe, maybe

Dr. Julien seemed lighter as he turned to the Zora Prince. "Anymore that I can assist with, Crown Prince?"

"Just one," Benthomaar said, "the Divine Beast's prints?"

"Ah, of course. How could I forget? Come, Champions." He gestured them closer, and Nya moved to stand beside Lloyd. The doctor turned, scooping up a rolled-up blueprint. He held it out to them, and Nya took it, unfurling it. "A century ago, my son invited me into Vah Ruta to study the machinery. I took the most detailed notes I could, and replicated the interior map. It won't match up to the map a Sheikah Slate could conjure, but it should suffice for your purposes."

Lloyd poked his head over Nya's arm as they both studied the parchment. A large mechanical dragon looked back. It had no wings and only two front legs — a lindwyrm. Several rooms were detailed, and specific structures labeled 'nodes' were highlighted. The exterior was detailed below the interior.

"What's this?" Lloyd pointed to the largest interior room, located in the lindwyrm's head.

"The base of operations," Nya explained, her voice somewhat strained but otherwise relaxed. At least she was talking to him. "It's where the Golden Weapon stays, to power the Beast. Right at the center, see?" She pointed to a circular image, labeled 'Central Node'.

"Then… that's probably where the Blight is, right?" It made the most sense. To corrupt something as powerful as a Divine Beast — well, everyone else seemed to think they were pretty strong — you had to go straight to the source, right? He turned back to Dr. Julien. "Doctor, do you know how I could kill the Blight?"

The engineer put a hand to his chin in thought. "I'm afraid not, Prince Garmadon. A Divine Beast has never before fallen to evil and corruption."

"It might have something to do with the other nodes," Nya speculated. "I've been inside Vah Ruta, Vah Medoh, and Vah Rudania before. All three used nodes to circulate power and control specific portions of the Beast."

She rolled the parchment back up. "We won't really know until you're inside. Speaking of-" she looked pointedly at him and Bentho. "We need to be going soon. I'm sick of laying around while these demons kick around in my brothers' and boyfriend's dragons."

Lloyd nodded to Benthomaar as well. "The Divine Beasts were my original goal, ever since the Great Plateau. Now that I've got everything — and everyone — I need, I'm ready to actually start."

Benthomaar hummed, crossing his arms. He looked at them in concern. "I understand your eagerness, but Nya, you only just got your body back. Are you sure?"

"That's what I have deepstone armor for," Nya said. "Just because this body is fresh doesn't mean I can't use it. I'll give that Blight the beating of its life."

Benthomaar closed his eyes, nodding. "Then it's settled. You two will head off in the morning. Lloyd, would you like to bring Caer?"

"No," Lloyd declined, "she's still recovering. I don't want her hurt again."

"Just the two of you, up against a Divine Beast?" Dr. Julien laughed, "What a sight! Do describe it to me in great detail."

"We will," Nya assured him. "Thank you, again, for the Bounty and armor."

"But of course," Dr. Julien gave her a pat, and a respectful inclination to Lloyd. "I wish you both luck. Oh, and do say hello to Zane."

Nya gave Lloyd a pointed look. "O-of course, we will," Lloyd said.

Benthomaar jerked his head toward the exit. "We should leave doctor to his work. You two have a big day ahead of you. I'll find you both supplies, and my chefs will prepare food."

"Ah-ah!" Dr. Julien chided. "Shame on you, young Benthomaar of the Zora! A prince shall never be without a crown." He turned, unfastening Garmadon's diadem from the Ouroboros armor. He handed it to Lloyd. "There. Now, be off with you!"

Lloyd secured the crown over his head, feeling something Pavlovian settle at the weight of the diadem. Benthomaar led them out of the laboratory, and Dr. Julien settled back at his desk. The door creaked shut behind them, leaving the old man to his solitude.

The sunny weather had stopped. Nya and Lloyd both walked through wet grass, rain drizzling on their heads. Both were dressed in Dr. Julien's armor. Nya wore a navy blue cloak embroidered in silver, the hood over her head. Lloyd didn't see much point, since her horns just made the inside of the hood wet anyways.

He wore a green cloak with gold detail, but let the rain fall onto his face anyway. It help cool him down from the preemptive adrenaline in his system. His dao was clutched in his hand, his Sheikah Slate at his hip. Nya walked ahead, knocking aside bramble and hanging vines with the Bounty.

Lloyd thought silently as he trailed behind. His thoughts should have been on Vah Ruta. He should be studying Dr. Julien's blueprint. A good prince-hero would be thinking up battle plans and strategy, devising the best way to take down a weapon of war several hundred times his size.

But Lloyd was thinking about Nya. He didn't want her to be mad anymore. But he didn't know what to say either. He didn't know how to mend the weird rift between them, because he barely knew a thing about Nya.

But he wanted to. He wanted to get to know her, he wanted to be friends and even family again.

He stopped walking, letting his boots sink in the damp mud. "Nya?" he asked a voice smaller than he intended.

Nya turned, stopping. He swallowed, eyes downcast. "Uhm… are you still mad?"

"Oh." Nya blinked, and her stony face softened. "Oh, Lloyd, I- ugh." She sighed, running her fingers through her bangs. She leaned against a tree, gesturing for him to come over. He did, standing beside her.

Nya looked up into the treeline. "Look," she nudged him, nodding her chin up at the branches. He looked up to see fruit, bright green and pink. Nya swung the Bounty overhead, cutting one down and holding it out for him. "Dragon fruit," she said, "your favorite."

Lloyd poked the skin, peeling it back to reveal white, juicy endocarp with black seeds. He bit into it, and made a face. "Blegh," he said, sticking out his tongue. It was bitter.

Nya's face fell, and her jaw tightened. Wrong reaction. "I like apples," he said, looking down at the ground. He saw a worm poke its head up, then dip away again. "It was actually the first thing I ate when I woke up."

Nya's bright blue eyes flitted across the treeline. "…every time I look at the sky, I think I'll see Jay. Laughing. Making me light shows."

"He's the Rito Champion, right?" Lloyd doesn't mention the sudden change of topic. "I met a Rito a few days ago. She was really nice."

Nya nodded silently. She opened her mouth to speak, then shut it again, at a loss for words. Lloyd could kind of relate. How did you talk to someone who you were supposed to know, but didn't? Someone who should be able to understand you without words, but couldn't anymore?

He twisted his hair. It was done in a loose braid over his shoulder, his bangs pushed back by the crown and diadem combo. "You said the blonde suits me?"

"It does," Nya shrugged, "you used to have brown hair. Like your parents."

"I've been told."

"Well, I never thought it fit. Too dark for you. You looked plain."

"Gee, thanks."

Nya snorted, finally meeting his eyes for the first time in days. "That's still the same, at least." She reached out a hand, hesitant. But she made the jump, and brushed a blonde lock from his cheek. "I don't know what I'd do without some humor around here."

"What was I like?" Lloyd asked. He flipped the dao in his hands, his reflection staring back. "And don't tell me I was brave and a prodigy or whatever. What was I actually like?"

Nya hummed in thought. "You liked dogs," she said, "and I'm told you liked snakes, before one tried to kill you. Your favorite color was green, and you loved Gerudo cuisine, because you didn't have to eat vegetables. You hated history class, because it was almost all about the previous Heroes, and you loved archery, because you got to show off. You liked ambushing Skulkin because you thought it was funny. You once beat up a Hinox by throwing a bomb down its mouth when it was sleeping. It was disgusting." She looked down with a wry, crooked smile. "Does that answer the question?"

Lloyd thought about it. "Yes, actually," he said. He still liked green. He still liked to fight, but he liked a sword better than a bow and arrow. He still liked dogs, he thinks, even when they weren't shape-shifters. And he definitely thought it was funny to mess with Skulkin.

"I remember," Lloyd began the very short list, "I used to stay up in the astronomy tower with my uncle. And I think I remember that you stuck your hand in fire to prove it wouldn't hurt. And I remember you told me to run, and I didn't, and I don't think I was sorry."

Nya wiped her eyes bitterly. "You did. And I did. And I did, and you didn't, and you weren't."

"I am now."

She raised a brow. "Why?"

Lloyd puffed out a sigh. "Because maybe, if I was, then I wouldn't have died. We would've been fine, and I could've uncorrupted the Divine Beasts a century ago, and beat the Overlord, and," he closed his eyes, "I would've had my memories. You might not have merged, if we could've fought Wojira together. And my family would be okay. And Hyrule would be okay. I kinda blew it."

Nya put a hand on his shoulder. "I definitely wouldn't have merged if you were alive," Nya said, "not for anything. I didn't do it for the Zora - I wish I did, because that's the heroic thing, but I did it because I wanted a reason to give up. If you were there, I wouldn't have had one."

"Oh."

Nya bit the inside of her cheek, her gaze becoming distant. "And yeah, maybe, if you'd stopped trying to be this perfect, glimmering Hero of Destiny, because that's what Hyrule wanted, if you'd let us help you, then you're right. Maybe it would have been okay 100 years ago, and we wouldn't be here now. Sucks, right?"

"Yeah." Lloyd kind of hated this. Knowing that one little choice - the choice to not run, like the person tasked to protect him said, spiraled into all of this… it sucked. But maybe he wouldn't have met Akita. And maybe he wouldn't have helped Euphrasia. "You know, you were like a legend, the way Mom talked about you. But she's not the only reason I came for you. Like, yeah, at first I was doing it because I was told to, but then I started remembering these little things. And I knew you deserved to come back, and I wanted you to."

Lloyd looked up at Nya, holding her gaze. He held the wrist of the hand on his shoulder. "Because you're really cool."

Tears welled up in Nya's eyes, and her chest hiccuped. She sniffled, and stuck the Bounty into the sand. "Lloyd, I- oh, by Nyad, I missed you." She stooped down, pulling him into a fierce hug. Tears flooded Lloyd's own eyes, and his face scrunched in defiance. He leaned into the hug, burying his face in the crook of her shoulder. The armor may as well not exist for all that the two seemed determined to fuse into a single body.

"Isn't it weird to swear by yourself?" Lloyd joked through choked up tears, sniffling. Nya laughed, voice wet.

"I love you," she said, "and don't forget it again. I love your weird need to climb everything all the time, and I love your little fangs, and I love your fluffy hair, no matter what color it is."

And Lloyd-

Wants to say it back.

But he can't really. Not quite yet. Because it's easy to say, "I love you," when it's your parent, and it's easy to say, "I love you," when it's a brand new friend. But it's not easy when it's a sibling-not-quite-a-sibling. Not when it's the sibling turned ocean goddess turned stranger turned maybe-we-can-be-family-again. If-we-try.

So instead he says, "I won't," because he won't. He won't forget anything ever again. And he thinks that's enough.

"I'm sorry," Nya pulled back. "I just needed some time to readjust. But don't ever think that I'll leave you, okay? I won't. Not for anything."

And somehow, I'll-never-leave and I'll-never-forget is easier than I-Love-You. "Me neither," Lloyd says back, "you're stuck with me now. Super-glued."

"Wouldn't have it any other way," Nya said, and meant it. She stood up, brushing the mud from her boots and armored legs. "Now, we've got work to do. Think you can handle a Divine Beast?"

"Psssh," Lloyd hiked his dao over his shoulder. "I was born for this."

When they continue through the wood, they continue side-by-side. And Lloyd tells Nya how he tricked Aspheera, and she tells him how he once scared Cole - "the Master of Earth. He was like, eight feet tall. Taller." - by dropping a fake spider from a doorway.

The woods eventually thin out, until the trees have grown sparse by the shore of a cove. Unlike the one Nyad and Wojira wrecked, this cove was almost entirely cut off from the ocean. Lloyd had barely noticed it going in, but now it felt obvious. It's cold. Too cold for a cove in the midst of summer.

He looked around, noting frost gathered on dead leaves and frozen icicles hanging from branches. The ground is white with frost. He snapped a frozen leaf from its branch. "How is everything freezing?" He wondered aloud, "it's summer."

"Vah Ruta," Nya said grimly, nudging the ground with her trident. "She's turned this place into a snow globe with the Blight corrupting her."

She stopped him with her trident when he made to step into the icy water. "Let's stay out of the water until we find it," she warned, "we want to get the jump on it."

Lloyd nodded. They crept alongside the bank silently, footsteps crunching softly in frost and snow. The cove was freezing, and Lloyd drew his cloak closer around himself. A tall, dark stony cliff-side slick with water and ice rose above them, becoming a barrier of the cove and blocking it off from the world at large. The cliffs circled almost the entire cove, making it more akin to a valley.

They soon rounded a curve in the cove's shore, and Lloyd gaped at the monstrous sight before them.

Laid on its stomach, eyes dim and half submerged in a frozen waterfall, was the mechanical dragon, stiller than stone and dripping in ice.

—Bane of the Zora—

—Divine Beast Vah Ruta—

Chapter Text

Nya crouched beside her little brother, holding her new trident in a tight fist at her side.

Nya was… well, there wasn't exactly a word for her right now. Imagine everyone you love dying, hundreds of miles away, and not being able to do a thing. Then imagine that one of those people is right in front of you, and you can protect them! Then imagine trying, and failing. Then imagine dying yourself, but you're not dead — you've become the Ocean. Not an ocean goddess, the actual literal Endless Sea. And you stay that way for a century, and sort of fade away. You remember a hurricane here, a typhoon there — all feelings, too distant to grasp. Then you wake up for real, because there's poison inside of you, and it's touched what you love.

Ȟ̴̝̬̲̝̙̒̽̀̕͝ͅȌ̴̎̑͜W̷̼̰͉̣̪̺̠̌͛̑̽͘͝ ̴̨̬̼͕͙̬̬̰͆́̈́̔̔̾̒̕̚͝ͅͅD̵̢̠͉͎͉̙̱̘̬̥̓͂̏̋̕͝Ȃ̷̧̝̲̯̻͓͂̎ͅR̸̢̻͛̈́E̸̢̧̡̙͓̖͍̲̰̎̉̿̄̅̃̕-̷̱̱͒̓͌

Then imagine what you love doesn't love you back.

Then, imagine not so much as being able to walk without almost passing out.

Point is, Nya Jiang-Smith, ex-Actual-Literal-Ocean, isn't having a great time.

Her hands were scrubbed of their hard-won callouses, leaving her with painful welts after training. Her knees knocked together, uncoordinated. Her hands trembled and her arms ached and her chest burned. Nya wasn't quite used to having a body again, and it weighed on her. But Nya hadn't ever let anything stop her before, and her sore muscles were nothing compared to Zane.

Oh, Zane. Maybe she wasn't as close to him as Kai, Lloyd, and Jay, but she loved him just as much. Her most observant brother, always capable of telling what she was feeling (second only to Kai, who raised her). Staring down the Divine Beast that killed him… the rage was enough to drown someone.

Lloyd crouched beside her, wide-eyed. He was different, now. Gone was the nervous, shy, obedient young prince she'd met over a century ago. He was a little taller - not by much - but he stood like he'd grown ten feet. He smiled more - his shoulders didn't hunch from the weight of Ninjago's expectations. He ran like the wind, and fought like something wild.

He was still a little nervous. Still a little shy. But he was different.

Nya sort of hated it.

She'd never say so - Nyad FSM knows she could never hurt him like that. But was it so wrong to just want her brother back? She'd lost so many of them already. Why did he have to come back Wrong?

Their conversation helped, a little bit. He was still a little the same. He was remembering her - he still cared about her. But really, it only solidified one thing: Nya had to step up. Lloyd needed her protection and guidance. Her little brother had been stranded in a strange world, and ran to her for help. She couldn't let herself be bothered by Nyad, or her new body, or her brother's amnesia and the others' deaths. She had to pull herself together.

So she pushed all of it to the back of her mind, and focused on the problem at hand.

Divine Beast Vah Ruta was huge. The lindwyrm lay on her stomach, half-submerged in icy blue waters. The long, armored tail of the Beast, around half of the Beast's size, was trapped within a completely frozen waterfall. The upper half was propped up on a rocky outcropping, leaving Vah Ruta's eyes - blessedly closed - above water. A large crest, almost crown-like, curved above the Dragon Guardian's head. Two gigantic clawed forearms, larger than the trees around them, rested by her head. Water calmly lapped at the Beast's sides.

Just like the other Divine Beasts in her memory, Vah Ruta was made of a strange, almost stone-like metal, thick and rusted. The metal formed harsh scales and armored plates, giving Vah Ruta the appearance of a harsh whip. Her body was broken up by deep groves, forming glowing patterns around Vah Ruta's eyes, claws, and crown. But they were… corrupted. Instead of the soft, steady icy white she remembered, the light glowed a menacing deep purple and black. A thick physical aura spilled from it, particles of tar-like flakes polluting the water.

Lloyd seemed to notice it as well, if his expression was anything to go by. "…what's wrong with it?" He whispered, as if afraid too much noise would disrupt the fragile atmosphere of the cove.

She felt it too. Even going in, the weight Vah Ruta tossed around had a physical effect on the environment. The cove was completely, eerily silent. Not a single bird, fish, or even bug dared to come close to the corrupted waters. It was felt in the frost on the dead grass, the ice clinging to leaves. She couldn't imagine what the other Beasts were like now, if such a gentle element had been twisted to become… this.

She let out a slow breath. It puffed in front of her, visible in the frigid air. "She's corrupted," she answered Lloyd, raising a single finger to direct him toward the purple-black tar. "See that? It's that thing. The Blight."

Lloyd pursed his lips with a serious nod. "If I kill it, then Ruta's fixed, right?" Nya hummed in affirmation, carefully standing. She gestured Lloyd over as she pulled Dr. Julien's blueprint from her thick cloak.

Snapping off a conveniently large icicle from the branches of a tree, she stabbed the pointed end through the blueprint and into the trunk. It shouldn't have been able to penetrate wood, but the ice here was unnaturally strong.

Lloyd peeked over her shoulder as she stood back. "Well? Tell me what you see."

Lloyd made a confused face. "What? Why?"

Nya gestured vaguely at the scribbles and annotations, none of which made very much sense to her. "You'll be doing this three more times, Lloyd. Might as well get in the right head space."

Lloyd stepped closer, studying the blueprint intently. Hesitantly, he lifted a hand to Vah Ruta's skull, hosting the center 'console' of the Beast - aka, the Golden Shuriken. "It's here. Isn't it? The Blight."

"Probably," Nya shrugged to disguise the way she full-body shivered at the mention of the demon that culled her brother.

It was just the cold. Her muscles were tense. She was on edge.

"But that's not what we need right now. Figure out how to get inside."

"I thought you knew?"

"I do," Nya said simply. When she offered no further help, just a mirthful smirk, Lloyd huffed and turned back to the paper.

He bit his lip, squinting. Then, he tapped right below Vah Ruta's chin. "Here. On its neck."

"Bingo," Nya ruffled Lloyd's fluffy hair. He grinned at her. "That's what you're aiming for - while I keep her down, you'll have to get inside."

"Wait, keep her down?" Lloyd looked up quizzically, "can you even use your powers that much? Besides, how will you get inside?"

Ah, shit. Of course Lady Iron Dragon neglected that bit of info. Lloyd had horribly cryptic parents.

She shook her head grimly. "Lloyd, I can't."

"But you said you'd help-"

"No, Lloyd, I can't." She frowned, glaring down at her own hand. She curled it into a tight fist, watching her scales reflect icy light. "It's just the way they're built. Look." She tapped the central node of the blueprint. "Each Divine Beast is powered by their Golden Weapon, which only responds to the correct Champion - the Shuriken listen only to Zane, just like the Scythe will only respond to Cole. But there's one exception - you." Lloyd's eyes went a little wide when Nya tapped his head. "Since you've got this weird center thing going on - and because your magic gramps made the damn things - they'll let you inside. But since you're not the true pilot, you can only let yourself in. Nobody but Zane could invite another inside."

"Dammit," Lloyd scowled, scuffing the sleet underfoot. "It's baby-proofed."

Nya had to try very, very hard not to bust out laughing. Still, it's a close thing.

She noticed Lloyd's expression falling, and bent down. "Hey, it's alright. I'm able to help from the outside, at least. And Vah Ruta may be icing this whole place out, but she's still camping out in a body of water." She jabbed a thumb at herself with a confident smile she didn't feel. "She's in my territory right now. Think of this like a trial run."

"But can you really fight her? You had to merge to beat Wojira!"

Nya gave him a thump on the head for that one. The prince yelped, holding his head with a scowl. She straightened up, hands on her hips. "I'll have you know that I had to merge to save a thousand lives, and actually keep Wojira in the ocean. I put her in a whole trench! Vah Ruta won't be that difficult. The Blights are strong, but not entirely sentient… I think. She's still just a machine. As long as it can't see an actual threat, it'll lay back down. I only have to distract Ruta as long as it takes you to jump in a door. You're fast, aren't you?" Nya knows the answer to that - Lloyd was inhumanely quick and light on his feet.

Lloyd bounced on his feet, ever-quick to rise to any challenge. "Yeah! I'll get in before she even sees me!"

"Eh, you're tiny. It'll take a lot for her to spot you." Lloyd pouted. Snickering, Nya plucked the blueprint from the tree, handing it to Lloyd rolled up. He took it, storing it carefully on his belt alongside the Sheikah Slate and Zane's photo, tucked into a pocket. She tapped the Slate. "Use that to open the door, okay? It does this weird energy signature thing."

"So," Lloyd trotted behind her as they stepped away from the line of trees, "how do you plan to hold her down?"

"You'll know," Nya assured him. "Just get ready to run when I give the say-so. Oh, and Lloyd?" Lloyd looked up, tilting his head.

Nya's eyes literally darkened, removed of their bright cyan and replaced by the colors of a typhoon. Her face grew stony and grim. "This time," she said evenly, "when I say, run-"

"You fucking run ."

Lloyd swallowed thickly, ducking his head. He gave her a tiny nod, barely meeting her eyes through his bangs. Satisfied, she patted his head, turning back to Vah Ruta.

No more mistakes.

"Go there," she pointed to a line of dark, jagged stones jutting from the water, leading to Vah Ruta's makeshift pillow. "And be ready. Be quick, be careful, and don't try to help me. I got it, okay? Just focus on getting inside."

Lloyd looked like he wanted to protest that last part, but when she gave him a pointed look, he grudgingly sighed. "…okay."

Well, that was the same. Lloyd still hated not trying to do everything himself.

Lloyd, after a moment's more hesitation, ran off, crouching silently across the cove. Nya took the time to steel herself, drawing in a deep breath and letting it freeze midair.

Alright. One fight - one distraction. Just a few minutes of fighting through the murky haze, gripping onto the water in her soul.

In her lungs. In her eyes. In Nyad's everything.

She was Nyad's everything.

Nya closed her eyes, fighting back visions of oh how wonderful the Sea could be to you-

"Stop," she whispered, feeling her fists clench at her sides. She clutched at her trident like an anchor, her tail lashing behind her. The metal armor clinked, bringing her back to the present.

Nya doesn't want to. But she takes the plunge.

Slowly, her boots sunk into the frigid waters. The water, greedy, lapped at her ankles. She breathed slowly, focusing on the river in herself. Just like Master Wu always said; she was ever-moving, ever-changing. She was as fluid as fire and as all-encompassing as ice. She was

W̴̤̠̣̙̯͖̰̰̎̆̽Ą̴̜͖̫͓̑͐͑͐́͑̋̽͋T̶̳̠͖̺̩̩͓̰̪̭̂̈́̀́́̕͠E̵̪̼̿̀͐̄̋͗̆̚̚R̴̡͙͖̫͚̫̳̾̈́̑̀̿͘̚͘͠͠

In a single quick motion, Nya spun the trident over her head, calling on the waters in the cove. Perhaps these waters were ruled by ice, but she was the end-all-be-all when it came to her element. Core elements be damned, Nya Jiang-Smith was the Master of Water.

She slammed the trident down, prongs-first, and the waters erupted. Icy water spewed up from every crevice like hot geysers, spraying several feet into the air.

It wasn't exactly subtle. It wasn't meant to be.

Divine Beast Vah Ruta's eyes snapped open.

There's something about the Divine Beasts, Nya thinks, her cognitive senses dimmed in the awakened presence of the Beast. Most people dismissed their names — they heard 'Divine Beast' and thought nothing of it. Just a pretty, intimidating, regal title. But just like most people dismissed the 'Vah' — meaning something akin to 'powerful' or 'great' in some long-dead language —they tended to miss the Divine.

Because yes, they were certainly Beastly. Vah Ruta was about the same size as Wojira, except made of pure metal and elemental power. But they were also Divine. Vah Ruta had this presence about her, an aura that demanded respect and borderline worship. Nya could see how this was a machine — a weapon, a veritable fortress — made to slay entire armies at the flip of a switch.

Vah Ruta rose slowly. Her eyes, a deep solid glowing white, corrupted by magenta on the edges, scanned the area slowly. Nya held her breath, praying it didn't see Lloyd. Then came her body. Her head rose up, metal creaking as it moved for the first time in a century. Icy water slid from her as the water level visibly sank, no longer as displaced by the sheer weight of the Beast. Her upper half, neglecting the tail trapped within the frozen waterfall, stood up straight.

All was silent. The waters reluctantly smoothed down again. For a moment, Nya thought, maybe she'll go back to sleep.

Then Vah Ruta twists, metal body screeching, and locks onto her. With a simple flick of her tail, the frozen waterfall shattered like glass, thick chunks of ice pouring into the water. Her two upper arms, clawed and bigger than entire houses, slid through the water silently until the Beast was towering directly over her. Nya stiffened, gripping her trident for dear life. Vah Ruta only had to move a few feet to make her fear for her life.

The magenta flickered on the edge of Ruta's eyes. Nya's heart contorted and twisted itself into a knot. She didn't used to be afraid of Vah Ruta, did she? The Beast used to make her feel safe, with Zane at its helm.

This thing killed Zane.

K̸̫͍̦̓̈͠i̷̬̾̉̍͝ļ̷̭͠l̴̡̞̺̤̏͌̂̊ ̶̦̄̉̈́i̸̲͛̆t̴̨̰͝ ̷͙̺͑̓̔͗b̷͇̚ầ̸̛͖̎c̶͔̭͈̗͆̈́̄̔k̸̡̨̳̻͊͆͌

Nya saw Vah Ruta's neck tense, for just a second, and on instinct forced the water beneath her feet to launch her entire body to the side. Not a second too late, for Vah Ruta immediately dove down, quicker than should be physically possible for a machine of her size. Her massive jaw snapped on air and water, missing Nya by an inch. She choked on her own breath as time seemed to slow. Vah Ruta's eye, larger than her entire body and then some, shifted ever so slightly to stare at her mid-strike.

Then time sped back up, and Nya swept her trident in an arc behind her, directing the water to carry her to safety. Her cloak whipped behind her, the hood dragged from her head. Her watery horns bubbled as if reacting to her panic. She breathed heavily, eyes never straying from the Divine Beast. Vah Ruta rose back up, shaking her head to relieve herself of the water. From the edge of Nya's vision, she could just barely spot a small green figure speeding along the water's edge, but she didn't dare to look more closely. If she drew Vah Ruta's attention to Lloyd, this already shaky plan would fall through.

So instead, she plants her feet and levels her trident at Vah Ruta. At the Blight.

It stared back, humming with power. In the back of her mind, she thought that Vah Ruta seemed… slow. Too slow. These Beasts were made to bury for centuries on end, and rise again to flatten armies in the same minute. They shouldn't lag, or falter. So why did Ruta?

It was the Blight. It corrupted every inch of the Beast, slowing her down like a physical weight.

Good. She could use that.

Nya swallowed back the divine fear imbued into her. "You killed Zane," she gritted out, not bothering to stop the tears welling in her eyes. Lloyd could come back; she could come back. But Zane would never return to their family. This Blight had irrevocably broken and crushed a portion of her heart for all eternity.

Eternity wasn't much in the face of the Endless Sea.

Vah Ruta seemed to hesitate. She couldn't fathom why. She didn't care.

With a scream, she stretched her weakened powers to their absolute limit. She forced every molecule in the cove to come together, to thicken and harden and shape themselves into something forceful.

Chains of water and ice shot up from the cove's floor like cobras striking their prey. At Nyad's command, they latched onto Vah Ruta's neck and arms. The Beast screamed, lashing out to free itself. Nya bared her teeth and forced the water to hold.

Lloyd, tiny from her vantage point ankle-deep in water, scurried up the side of the Beast like a green little bug. Her heart lurched, watching him almost fall, and despite the way her body screamed for mercy, she compelled her powers to work overtime.

Vah Ruta screamed, and she fell forward, legs slamming into the water. It sent up a huge wave that froze as it moved, unnaturally strong and thick ice speeding at her like a brick wall. Nya gasped, and swept her trident to redirect the water in an arc that sent the ice in a wide, horrifically elegant arc behind her. Her chest stuttered, body aching from the strain.

Vah Ruta snapped a chain. She choked, and hurriedly sent another out. But Vah Ruta only snapped at it, biting the solid water in half. She yanked the chain around the Beast's neck down, forcing Ruta to tip to the side. Lloyd, a little leech halfway up its neck, hung from the raised metal guards, swinging midair. Nya swore beneath her breath.

She forced the connection to run deeper. And in that moment, she felt Her.

Nya gasped, feeling a physical shock to her system. But instead of weakening from her lapse in focus, the water holding Vah Ruta in place only strengthened.

S̷̥̈͆e̷͕̺͂͐e̵̛̙̱̾ ̸̨̇́ͅḫ̷̫̔̿ő̶̞̅͜w̵̛͈͗ͅ ̶̥̇͑͜g̶̮̒ǒ̷̮͗o̵̼̐͝d̷͉̓̈́͜ ̸̺̎͛à̶͉̙̊ ̵̹̀t̸̮́̕é̵̩͜a̵̭̅͊m̷͕̀ ̵͍̣͗͑w̷̘̱̔e̴͕̒ ̴͇͝m̴̛̤ą̴̫̀̆k̸̨͊̇e̷͕̙͠?̵̛͎̻̄

Nya shook in place, desperately clawing back control of the water. Around her feet, tendrils of water slowly wrapped around her ankles, tugging at her boots and armor. "No," she whispered. Her horns dripped, water sliding down her face.

Vah Ruta roared, and slammed her tail against the water. It broke through a particularly thick layer of ice, sending chunks like a hailstorm toward Nya. She gasped, incapable of moving in time. But the water rose up in a protective shield, deflecting the ice and spearing a large chunk back. It slapped Vah Ruta in the jaw, sending the serpentine machine rearing back.

"̵̺̫͔́͋̎͂C̶̡̍̆͠ȯ̶̢̜̲̌̇͛̕ṁ̵̙̬̔͌̕ͅȩ̸͕͙̔ ̴̛̮̲̠͚͛͜ḇ̸̻̾̀ä̴̧́̓̆ć̸̹̫͔̤ͅk̷͚̂̒,̴̲̜̟̳̀́́́̔" Nyad whispered in the back of her mind, soft and lilting and oh-so loud. That voice sent shivers down her spine and trembles to her lips and tears to her eyes. She remembered it so clearly. A helping hand, an extended Hail Mary. I can help, Nyad said, a century ago. I'll give you what you need. For your heart. For your soul.

"No," she whispered, "please, stop."

Nyad extended her hand again, but it was no longer an invitation. She wrapped her presence around Nya's mind like a drug.

"̶̘̖͒̚C̶̢̤̈͛͠ọ̷̞̦̉̐m̷͉͇͒̎ẽ̶̞̰̱́ ̸͖̮̀b̷̩͕̣̈́ȧ̸̛̩̣̞̿c̶̻̈́̑k̵͓̈́ ̶̞̭̑͑͝t̶͔̜̑͊ọ̴͑̾͜ͅ ̸̝̼̒m̸̳̘̃e̸̠̮̒,̵̥̃͆Nyad begged, sorrowful, "I̶̛͍͖̒͛͜ ̸̩̾́̚ḉ̵̭͑ͅà̴͚͖͓͊̓n̵͚̣̿̑̿͜ ̵͎̜͗m̶̞͔̿͆̑͜ą̵̠̲͋̄̓k̶̛̩̤̽e̶̱̽͊̏ ̴͇̆y̸̞̺̪̔̎o̵̧̱̮̅ų̵͖̯͒̈ ̴͔͛̊s̸͉͊̈́ò̸̖̯̱ P̴̮̮͖̳̯̓̌̿Ơ̴̰̣̓̽ͅͅW̸͎̱̾͊̏̿̏E̵̡̼̟̯̖̫̘̰̘͒̓̍̄Ř̴̡̗̫͓͉͙͈̬͉̱̩̿̾̅̊̊̎̈́̌̎F̶͚̱̯̟͕̰̤̜̮͉͔͂͂̆͋̀́̈́̿̚Ū̸̲͔̺͔͍̱̍Ļ̵̬̫͈͚̳̿̅̐̑̆̀̎̈́̑͘̕ͅ ̸̰̝̱̀̐̋̅̌͊̌̈́̄̅̆Ä̴̱̼̪͍̣́̽̚͘G̸̟̺̥̦̟̒̄̊͌̑͛̀͘͜A̸̛̛̖͙͉͍̺̠͓̱̭͛͒̉͛̈́͆͘͝ͅͅİ̸̲̘̩̭N̷͎͉̫̞̜̠͚̭̿̓̅̐͗̒̌̾͝ͅ!"

"Stop!" Nya screamed, eyes shut as if to block Nyad out.

Vah Ruta snapped through another chain. Nyad grew louder.

"I̴̗̎'̷̰͈̈͆l̴͇͔͎̄̃̚l̷̫̊̂ ̸̺̝̌̀d̶͛͘̕͜e̷͖̐f̸̳͌̄̓ẻ̵͚̘̔͗à̶̤̌͂t̴̢̽͐͜ ̷̯̺̈́t̷̨͎̼͘ḫ̸̤̑̈ǐ̴̛̤̠͙̀ś̵͇̮ ̴̛̎̾ͅb̵̢̥̼̿ē̷̮̦̌̇ạ̸̌s̵̟͕̈́̉͂ṱ̶̡͆̌́͜ ̴̛̬̬̗̈́̓f̸͙̣͓͐̿̍ö̴̬͂̑ͅr̷͕̒̓ ̷̰͇͛y̷̜̌̑ơ̷̘u̵͔͉͋.̴̨̩̑͗ ̵̄͜I̸̜̜̝͛͐͂'̸̘͇́̔̕l̷͚̼̽́̋l̴͚̱͇͆̓͊ ̶̦̞̼͝f̷͓͙̺̿u̵̫̗̦͗l̷͎͓͒͝f̶̢͇͘͠ḯ̵͖͖͓̿̔l̸̛͍̃l̸̺̥̑͆͑ ̸̹̙͛͝m̴̹̳͇͌̈̕ẏ̶͓̝͙ ̶̟̣͓̓ë̷̗͕̹́̆ṋ̸̛͒̌d̷̝͑̒̚ ̶̲̥̄̑ͅą̷̪͆̀ģ̵͕͍̇́à̶̦͝i̸̧̤̅̾͌n̶͚͖̈́,̵̟̬̈́̅̒͜ ̷͖̱̮̕ặ̵̝͘ņ̸̗͘d̴͇͎̄͜͝͝ ̸̩̭̤̽͑y̶̦͍̬͛̓o̶̝̻̙͐ų̴̼͓̈́́͘ ̸̛͔̲̋͜͝y̶̗̓̐o̴̹̞͊͗́ũ̴͈r̸͉̟̉s̶̹͆͐."

Nya planted her feet, growling. The runes on her face flashed, bathing her face in an eerie white and blue glow. "I don't need you this time!"

"I̸̡̤͛ͅ'̶̬̦̟̾͜l̸̹̝̪̦͔̊͑͋͗̈́l̷̦̥̆̿ ̸̣͋̄p̸̫̮̦̎̓̓̊̚͜r̴̛͔̎͋͐o̶̦̝̩̝͂́́t̶̫͖̄̒͋̽͝ẽ̵̺̹̬̦̇̓c̶̰͋̂t̴͚̆ ̵̥̪̙̍̈w̴̪̑̐̍̏̓h̸̢̯͖̦̥͋à̴͖̺̬̲̽́̔t̴̟̫̞̞͚͐̀̀͂ ̵̡͎̳̘͓̊͛͛̕y̶̢̛͔͔̆͐͆̎o̴̧͖͓͍̭̊ư̶̡̟̘͚͂͛̈̔ ̷͇̟̯͍̅̂̐͝l̵͔̭̫̻̦͊́̅̏͝ȏ̷̺̪̬̉̐v̸̯͉̀ê̸̛͕̈̃̄,̷̢͕͠ ̶͖͉̗͆̏̚͝m̸̞̝̄͛͐̊̍y̶̻̾ ̵̝̳̠̪̱͐S̴̫͚̊͐͝ͅȍ̵̗̰͖͐͗̓̽ȗ̸͉̙́l̶̹̖̞̽̄̔.̸͎́̋͋̊̕ ̷̢̨͊̊I̵͕͖̲͝'̸̰̤͂͂̀̃̚l̶͓͈͗̃̿l̵̮̉̆ ̴̲̪́ḁ̸̢̛́̍̀v̶̟̀̿̕͠ē̴̋̏͜ṋ̷̬͉̲͌͆̋͘g̵̗͔̟̣͜͠e̶̤͊̂͘ ̸̗͖͇̝̆͗̈́̆̓w̶̢̛̲͕͇̾̇̑h̴͍̬̰̦̒̓̅̚͝ã̴̱͓͓̰̟͊̌͐̚t̷̲̳̲̖͌͐̎̔̎ ̴̢͇̯̻̃̀́̄́y̶̺͚̆ơ̵̲̻͈̝̜̈́͊̐ú̴̢̬̽̿͜ͅ ̴͉̫̯̒̒l̸̡̙̖̈o̵̦͝v̸̠̳̍̈́e̷͇̽,̶͚͑̒͋͝ ̷̦̳̎m̸̨̩̘̱̺̉̌y̴̦̲͗̓̎̕ ̸̦̬̒̓̚͠S̵̙̰̰̺̤͌̑͆̚ő̸̼̂u̸͈̲̝̯͠l̸̢̬̄̐̃̿͋ͅ."

Nya sunk in the water to her knees. The water lapped at her waist, pulling at her clothes.

"C̸̨̡̛̮͔̗̘̖̩͖̰͚̻͔̼̠͇͇͗̏̇O̸̟̮̼̐̈́͋̽̀̑̀̅͐M̴͓̙̈̈̔͑̈͛̅̒́̊̀͗̉̅̐̚E̸̤̘̘̠̘̐͑͑̽̈́̀͐̃̄̔̄͌̽̑̉͘͝ ̶̞̱̟͈̘̹̘̣̭̘͍͊̐̐͊̽͂̆̎͗̀̍̅̊̿̄͘B̵͔͔͇̯͒̑Ä̸̛̬͖̝̹͎̖̫͍́́̔̈̈̎ͅC̵̻͓̤͍̈́̀̑̐́̐̔͒̕K̸̨̻͎̥̫̝͎͔̗͓̜͐̓̉͛̏̈́̀͋̐͌̋͊͛̚̕."

And Nya tried. She tried so hard to block out the voice of the Ocean, but she's surrounded by water and it wants her back. She was wrong - when it came to her element, the only thing that was ever in control was Nyad. She couldn't tell where she began and the Ocean ended anymore, and the Ocean didn't seem to give a shit. It was never a kind thing. The Ocean took, and rarely gave back.

And to the Ocean, Nya was the kind of thing it never wanted to return. She'd used her element, and Nyad was taking it as an invitation to reel her back in.

Her eyes locked onto Lloyd's small frame. He's almost inside, just a few more feet… really, he doesn't need her so bad, does he? Nya can rest, can't she? Just lay down, and let it take her back?

NO, part of her wanted to scream, but that part was being drowned out.

Vah Ruta snapped the final chain, and Nya fell beneath the waves.

"̵̧̤͕̪̩̩̹̖̻͚̲̖͈̼̝͈͙͍͗̆̓̃̿̀̽̋ͅͅͅY̸̛̛̼̲̽͂̊͌̈̎͌̈́̂̎̆̀͑̔́̾͒̓̾͛̂̿͑̋̿̂̅̓̽͌̓̽͒̄̚̕̕͝͝O̶̢̨͕̳͕͉͍͉̅͆̾̊̉̎̓̾̔̎͛̍͒͗͒̍͌͑͝͝Ṷ̵̡̧̧̖͈̪̺̤͇̠̥̲͖̞̳͙̯̹͍͚͓͎̼̯̳̜̖̓̄̃̋̍̐̓̋̿̃͛̀͆̍̍͐̑͆̍̄̀͋̇̇̒̔̾͋̉̀͑̃̈̋̏̔̚̕̚͜͜͜͜͝͝ͅ'̴̢̨̢̧̛̮̣̠̜̹̝̟̼̖͈̖̪̩̭̝͇̘̥͙͖̥͓͈͖̖̣̘̤͐̏̏̑͂́̈́́̏̀̂̈́͑̊̔͊̌͂̽̊̇͌̔̋̐̐́́̐̒̚ͅR̵̨͙͇̻̜̰̣̫̗͙̜̱̼͓̙̫͚̤̘̪̜̙͉̟̫̤͓͚̮̃͌͐̐̎̒̄͋́̾̓̀̂͜͜͜͠͝Ę̷̢̛̩͎̜̦̳̩̩̦̣͓̘̠̰̤͍̩̬̜̰͙̘̫̤̒͂̋̉͌͊̀̉͛̚͜͜͝ͅͅ ̸̣̬͂̇̎̑̀̒̈́̂̾͋͊͋͑͋̈̓́̋̎̇͊̀̆̈́͗̾̇͋̓̽͗̆̀̾̀̀̃̅̚͠͠͝͝͝M̵̡͙̖̲̰̞̠͓̖̘̤̹̗̫̤̫͔͍̺̎͑̐̽͐̾̉̓̄́͂́͐̃͐͑͗̋͛̈́̇̍͐̕̚̕̚̕͠ͅĬ̵̡̨̢̛̛̥̮̼̼͙͕̟̙̹̗̜̥̝̹̩̮̺̯̩̱̮̠̰͇͔̗̭͙̝̓͗̎̽̐́͐͗͋͐̈̎̽͊́̋̇͊̈́̊͑̓̈͑͋̊͗͛̇̕͘̕͜͝Ñ̶̡̛̛̥̝̩̭̖͙̻̖̘̤͈̤̥̲͇̭̥̰͔̹̪̦̣̝͒̍̈͌̍̎͗͂͊̈́̂̍̈̓̀̋́̒̑́̂̋̽́̓̋̅͑̃̇͝ͅͅͅE̸̢̲͙̳̠̭̪̮̝͕͍̬̭̟̞͉̪͖̗̝̬͎̮̪̽̆́̈͒̀̄̓͆̋̈́͂́̈́̇̈̈́̑̓͂͊̾͒̀̒͘͘͜͜͠͠͝͠ͅ.̸̢̛̛̛̛̲͖̫̟̩͙̱͖͚̜̟͎̳̳̤̺͇͕̹̿̇̓̉̓́͐̃̽̽͆͗͗̍̏̎͑̇͛́̑̀̓͛̀̎͐̇̓͛̃̿͆̃́̾͊̚͘͝͝"̷̧̡̧̧̪̫̬͈̝̯̲̹͈͔̦̘̠̖͙̘͚̞̤̹̣̩͚̲̟͉͍̩̘̹̮̱̮̲̮̭̻͕̉͋̒̐̈́̌͌̉͐̏͋͒͐͊́͘̕͜͠ͅ

She didn't know how long she floated under the surface. The water latched onto her like a leech, tugging at her skin and armor as if it wanted to burrow inside of her. Nyad seemed like a physical presence, caressing her face with obsessive, twisted affection.

Deep down, she knew she couldn't quantify the Ocean by mortal standards. There was nothing 'obsessive' about the Endless Sea — it was what it was. Nothing more to it. It was in the Sea's nature to sweep one off their feet, and keep them in her depths forever. The Ocean longed to possess and cherish and covet, and it didn't like to let things go.

Nyad wasn't solid or visible, but Nya could feel her. She was pleased. Hungry, in a sense.

But before Nya can decode anything more, or the waters can finish filling her lungs, she's abruptly and brutally snatched away from the Sea. Nyad shrieks in rage, lashing out like an animal, but it's no use. Nya is swept away, and brought to shore.

It takes a minute for Nya to catch her breath, hacking up salt water as she bent over the freezing grass. Her ears rung with the vignettes of Nyad's voice. She gasped, choking on air and she shivered. Finally, she just collapsed. Her hair, stringy and soaked, did its level best to turn into a wadded gum ball in its ponytail, completely ruined.

"-Nya!" Lloyd's voice, concerned and panicked, flooded back in. "Nya, Nya get up-"

She reached out to press her hand into his, breathing heavily. "'m fine," she whispered. Her vision gradually returns the more she blinks salt and silt from her eyes. Lloyd is crouched over her, big green doe eyes fluttering over her like she'll pass out. She might. He's dripping wet, hair plastered to his face.

She groaned as she sat up, holding her head in her hands. She ached from head to toe. "What happened...?" She muttered. They're both well behind the tree line, hidden from Vah Ruta's line of sight. She must have lost interest when they disappeared. Either that, or the Blight thought it had successfully killed Nya.

"You almost merged again, that's what!" Lloyd exploded, throwing his hands up. "What was that?! I thought you said you had your element under control!"

Nya didn't respond. She took her trident from the ground and used it like a cane, leaning heavily for support as she shakily stood. Lloyd, offended, tried to move into her line of sight. She turned away.

"Nya!" Lloyd said. He grit his teeth when Nya continued to do her best to ignore him. "Why didn't you say you couldn't control it? I don't exactly have another magic vengestone trident to get you back again! Why would you-"

"I wasn't trying to," Nya snapped, her voice rough. Lloyd snapped his mouth shut.

"Nya, I need you," he said. "I'm not crazy enough to think I can fight that thing alone! I mean, it's huge!" He let out a breathless laugh, a tight smile on his face. Nya felt ice drip down her back.

And it's illogical and stupid. But Nya hasn't had a body for a century, and she just almost lost it again. And Zane Julien is dead, and she just wants someone else to give a damn.

"Do you think this is some kind of game?" She snapped, turning to face her little brother. He balked, surprised. She didn't let up. "That this is just another big monster to fight? Another cool battle? Another chance to swing around a sword?! You could've gotten inside, and you gave it up!"

"You were going to disappear again! I had to-"

"You should have done your fucking job!" Nya screamed. Her voice broke and her heart cracked but there isn't much left of the latter anyway. Every Blight took something and smashed it beneath a heel, and the one, tiny, Lloyd-shaped sliver isn't enough to hold her together right now. Not when there's four different holes eclipsing him, and they're fresh like they fell through yesterday.

"You- you're immature!" She screamed, and she doesn't even have a basis for her words anymore, she's just screaming and screaming. "You could've done something for once, you could've kept your fucking promise, you could've given a shit about your brother!" And she's in his face and screaming down his throat and he's on the ground and he's-

scared.

Of her.

Nya stops. Her voice cuts out and her vision comes back and she looks at her tiny little brother. Her baby brother. The ten-year-old with brown hair and soft doe eyes. The fourteen-year-old with blonde hair and wide, scared eyes.

She'd never scared him before.

"Nya-" his voice breaks, and he swallows and tries again. "Nya, he's… Zane isn't my brother. I- I don't know him like that."

Nya's heart lurches and she can't take any more. Nyad and Wojira and dead Zane and dead Cole and dead Jay and dead Kai-

And dead Lloyd. Her baby brother is dead. And her big brothers, and her fiance. Only one of them is looking at her now, and denying his own family, and she can't decide if she wants to fall on her own trident or stab him with it.

Because it's twisted and she hates it, but there's a part of her that says, faker. Imposter. That looks at Lloyd and only sees something that came back wrong. Because he changed.

She was wrong. She couldn't handle this. She couldn't deal with Lloyd's amnesia, or the others' deaths, or Nyad.

So she turns and runs instead.

He finds Nya in a tree, of all places. She'd run deeper into the woods, and he'd waited almost an hour before following. He still hadn't quite shaken off her words, but he doesn't want that to stop them from doing what they came here to do.

But maybe trying won't be quite enough. Maybe they can't really fix or repair any kind of relationship. The thought hurt.

Lloyd hadn't meant to throw Zane's death in her face. He only meant that he didn't remember Zane Julien, but he did remember bits of Nya Jiang-Smith. And he chose to save her first. That he couldn't choose a stranger over someone he was finally remembering and bonding with.

Nya is sat on a thick branch, hidden in the canopy. One leg hangs down, the other bent. She's removed her hair from its ponytail, and held a dagger against it, poised to cut.

He probably shouldn't startle her while she held a dagger, but he's never been a very thorough thinker. "I think it looks cool."

She blinked, distant gaze focusing on him. He shifted awkwardly. "I mean, the white bits. They look cool. But I guess if you want it gone, it's not up to me. Just… a thought." He shrugged.

Nya scoffed and dropped the dagger. It stuck into the ground by the blade, directly in front of his boots. Lloyd bent down to retrieve it. It was silver, like literally everything was in the Zora domain, with a deep blue hilt. He tested it in his hands, then threw it back into the trees. It struck right through the stem of an apple, which fell into Nya's lap. She just stared at it with no reaction.

A more direct approach, then. Lloyd jumped up, quickly scaling the tree. He lifted himself onto a branch just a little above Nya's, so they were about eye level sitting down. He made himself comfortable, sitting cross-legged.

Lloyd tapped his fingers on his armor, waiting. But Nya didn't seem eager to speak first.

"I met a shapeshifter once," he said, mostly because he had nothing else to say. The sheer absurdity of the sentence draws Nya's attention, if only a little.

"…you… what?" Her voice is hoarse. Lloyd doesn't know if it's the near-drowning (can Masters of Water drown?) or if she'd been crying.

"Yup," he said, popping the 'p'. "She could turn into a wolf the size of a horse. Bigger. It was so cool."

"Of course you'd think that," Nya muttered bitterly, glaring at the branch she sat on. But she's talking, so Lloyd keeps pressing.

"What do you mean? Was I somehow anti-wolf before I died?" Mentally, he rolled his eyes. If that's actually true, he doesn't even want his memories back.

Nya tugged at a hangnail. "You changed."

"I thought you liked the blonde?"

"It's not the hair!" Nya yelled, "and it's not the fucking fruit!" At that, she launched the apple at him. He caught it in two hands, bringing it to his own lap. He rubbed the surface, watching the dewy fruit shine.

"Then what is it? My favorite color? The way I do my hair? My voice, my eyes, my scars?" He sighed, leaning back on the trunk in defeat. He watched his own warped reflection in the fruit, just barely visible. "Nya, I know I changed by now, okay? There's too many things to count. I don't know what you expect from me."

"I expect you to care." Nya reached up and yanked the dagger back out of the trunk. Bloody sap ran down the wood. "I expect you to give a shit about your family, even when you can't remember everything about them."

"Nya, I can't remember anything about them," Lloyd said. "I'm sorry, but I just don't know them anymore."

Nya is silent for a while. Lloyd idly tosses the apple up and down like a ball. This far from Vah Ruta, life has started to return. A bird flits from branch to branch. A curious little lizard skitters over Lloyd's branch. He cups it in his hand carefully.

"…how?" Nya finally croaked. "How can you just… forget? They were your family, Lloyd."

"So was Mom. And Dad, and Uncle, and you."

"But you remembered us!"

"No I don't." The little lizard clambers over his fingers like a treadmill as he plays with it. "I don't know your favorite color. I don't know what books you like, or food, or music. I don't remember training with you, or even just sitting next to you. I remember kind of meeting you, and I remember dying."

Nya let out a shaky breath. Lloyd knows it's cruel to throw his own death in her face, but he desperately needed someone to get it. To get the message, get the memo. He couldn't remember jack shit, and he needed her to understand that.

"And that's- that's more than my own parents!" He exclaimed, his voice cracking. "I can barely remember interacting with my own dad! I don't know anything about him, I barely recognize my own mom, and all I know about Uncle Wu is a-an astronomy tower!" He wiped at his face, forcing the tears away.

"…I didn't expect to come back," Nya whispered. "I saw Wojira, and I knew what I had to do, and I was okay with it. Because you were all gone, and I- I could take it. I could take that burden, just that one, and do what you all did and die. And- and fuck, Lloyd, I didn't think I'd ever come back! But I did, and I- I didn't fall asleep like you did. I didn't lose my memories. I didn't feel 100 years. To me, I just… I just came back the same day. No time at all has passed for me, and I guess I just didn't- didn't expect anything to change."

"But I did."

"But you did," Nya sobbed, and looked directly at him for the first time this entire conversation. Her eyes were bright, glowing cyan with ghoulish oceanic light and tears. Her horns bubbled, the water responding to Nya's state. "It's not the hair, or the eyes or scars or anything! It's that you don't love us anymore."

Oh. He didn't want to say it, before, because he was afraid of being dishonest. Of claiming family he didn't remember, so didn't deserve. But there wasn't any difference between Nya and Misako, except one was his blood parent, and the other was his not-blood sister.

But blood doesn't mean much to an Ocean that can't bleed, and a demigod that bleeds ichor.

Fat tears are rolling down his cheeks before he can process them. "I'm sorry," he sobbed, voice hitching. The lizard flicks its tongue out at his cheek. "I- I'm sorry. Nya I- I-"

Not quite yet, though.

"You were right," he says once he's under control. He looks down at his lap. "I was treating this like a game. I should know how important it all is, though. I should care more."

Nya shook her head. She thudded her head against the tree trunk with a heavy sigh. "You're not the only one who's changed," she said bitterly. "I never would've yelled at you for- what? Having fun? Not being stoic and scared and feeling like everyone in the entire world needs you to succeed? I never would've been mad that you finally smiled again." She laughed, not a hint of humor in her voice. "I'm kind of a bitch right now."

"Still," Lloyd said, "I should take it more seriously. Someone still died - someone I knew, and who you care about. I promised Dr. Julien I'd fix this, and I shouldn't be so flippant."

"No, you shouldn't," Nya agreed. "Zane was a hero, and… I want you to smile, I do. But his Divine Beast isn't just another big monster. Save the hijinks for Skulkin, alright? That's all I ask."

But she's asking for more. He can feel it - she's silently asking for more. So he tries to give a little more. It's the least he can do, since everyone he's met (with a few exceptions) has done more than enough for him.

"You were pretty cool," he offered up. She gives him a questioning look. "Fighting Wojira, I mean. I thought I had to help, but you had her right where you wanted!" He jumped up, mimicking Nyad's pose prying open Wojira titanic jaw. "You totally just wrestled her to the ground and you just- just speared her whole head open!"

Nya lets out a startled, if suppressed, laugh. "Really?" She's more present now, fondly indulging his antics. Lloyd isn't sure that she doesn't just see whoever he used to be, but he'll take what he can get.

"You were epic," he assured her. "The coolest person I've ever met."

"You mother is a general queen and the only person without an element to learn Spinjitzu," Nya reminded him, "and your father and uncle are literal reincarnations of gods."

"Yeah sure," Lloyd shrugged, "but have any of them turned into the ocean?"

It has the opposite intended reaction. Nya's lips pursed as she looked down. Lloyd bit his lip.

"…you know, I think you're cool without Nyad," Lloyd said. "And I would've come for you- eventually, I would've come for you, even if Mom didn't tell me to. I promise, I would've. Because… b-because-"

He doesn't want to be a coward about this. He doesn't want to lose a potential relationship, a potential family, because he's too scared to fuck up. If he can be reckless and stupid about everything else, he can take one little leap. He'd already accepted this, deep down.

"Because you're my sister," he says simply, "and I love you."

Nya stares at him, wide-eyed and crying yet again. Her chest hitches, her breath catches, and she's suddenly standing and pulling him into a tight hug. "I love you too," she whispers into his hair like a breath of fresh air.

Lloyd hugs back, clinging so tightly he might as well just fuse into the hug. "'m sorry," he babbled, tears still crawling down his face, "I jus' didn't wanna mess it up or- or-"

"I'm sorry," Nya sobbed, "I never should've made you feel responsible for any of this. Nothing was ever your fault, I promise." She sniffled. "I just want you to be happy and safe, and I wanted revenge for what they did to us, and I forgot- I forgot who I was supposed to be here for. I'm sorry."

Lloyd pulled back to look up at her. "Nya, I didn't just come for you because you can help me. I would've come for you even if you couldn't. If- if you're upset, then I can handle it. You don't have to pretend to not be upset."

Nya sighed fondly, smoothing his hair back. "You have changed, haven't you?" She says it like it's not entirely bad. "I remember a little boy who cried at every scrape. When did you get so big?"

Lloyd shrugged. "You changed too," he said, and it's not entirely a bad thing. He thinks he knows enough to tell that she's a little angrier. A little more volatile. Less passionate about some things, and more tired.

But he's less of a lot of things, and more of a lot of things, so he doesn't really mind.

"Hey, Lloyd," Nya says after they're about done crying on each other. "My hair's pretty long now. It's kind of inconvenient, so…" she held out the dagger, the hilt offered to him. "Cut it for me?"

"Really?"

"If there's anything I trust you with, it's a blade. Oh, and leave the white parts. They look cool."

Lloyd smiled as Nya undid the rest of her tattered ponytail, letting her hair spill out behind her like an inky river. "Only if you braid my hair."

"Sure." And later, when Nya's hair is shorter and Lloyd's braid is tighter and prettier than he can ever get it himself, they split the apple for lunch.

Vah Ruta was definitely awake now. The Beast slunk through icy waters, eyes narrow, methodically freezing the water. Most of the surface had become slick with thin ice, ready to crack at a light tap.

"So," Nya puffed out, pushing her choppy bangs from her face. Her hair now only came to her lower back, instead of dragging behind her. "Bad news. I can't use my powers properly without Nyad getting possessive, so I won't be much help here."

Lloyd, cross-legged on the ground next to her, hummed. "How much can you control?"

Nya hefted her trident, pointing it at the water's edge. "With the deepstone…" a small, wobbly sphere of water about the size of Lloyd's head rose out of the water, drifting in a ribbon to twirl around Nya's trident. Lloyd oohed at the display, but Nya seemed disappointed. She sighed, letting the water go about its business twirling around the Bounty. "About this much," she finished, lips pursed, "it's not much. I won't be able to hold Vah Ruta back. Best I figure, all I could do is distract her a little bit. She'd just crush me, though."

That wouldn't do. Lloyd was confident that he could make his way up to the Beast's entrance with little trouble, but that was really only if she held still.

"I don't suppose the weapon of mass destruction has any weak spots?"

"Ha. You're funny."

Then that was out. Lloyd planted his face in his hands, pouting. Nya's element meant they had a home advantage, but that was only if she could use it. Lloyd couldn't climb Vah Ruta if she was thrashing around, but it would need to be distracted for him to get close in the first place. Maybe if they had more deepstone… but no, that wouldn't work. It helped Nya's element along, but she was ultimately the catalyst.

"What about the Slate? Maybe I could get her to sit still from a distance? Short circuit it?"

"Nope. You have to actually get inside to connect the Slate."

Nya scowled, leaning against a frozen trunk with her arms crossed. The water, not yet released, playfully curled around her horns. It got him thinking. Nya said she could only control so much, but Lloyd had seen her make water react, to a violent degree, without even meaning to.

"Spinjitzu," he realized, sitting up straight.

"What?"

"Mom said that Spinjitzu was an extension of an element!" Lloyd said, hopping to his feet. "I've seen you do it! At the palace, you made fountains explode by doing Spinjitzu near them!"

Realization dawned on her face. "That's right… I- I didn't even notice…"

"Do you think you can do Spinjitzu here?"

Nya thought about it. "Yeah… but it won't be perfect. I won't be controlling the water - just making it reactive. I can't, for example, ask for a water rabbit-" the water curling around her horns suddenly coalesced, forming the silhouette of a round rabbit. It drifted through the air, and Lloyd reached out with pet it. "-I won't be able to keep it from hurting you."

Lloyd was still stroking the floppy ears of the water. "I'll be fine," he promised, "I'll barely be in the water to begin with."

She nodded. "Then go. I'll get her attention."

Lloyd snatched up his sword and bounded off through the thick brush. "Don't die!" He called cheerfully behind him.

Lloyd crept along the bank, pushing through icy bushes. He jumped onto slick black rocks to avoid the ice and water, his boots clicking against the stone. He kept low, his sword at his side, as he made his way across the cove. Vah Ruta's back remained turned to him. He watched the remains of the waterfall float along the quickly forming glaciers and shivered. He didn't want to imagine what the Divine Beast could do to a person.

As he watched the water, it suddenly became choppy, sloshing against icy and stone violently. He looked up to see a bright cyan tornado fling itself into the water, sending a cascade of water into Vah Ruta's side.

Just like that, all hell broke loose.

Water swirled violently, creating chaotic fathoms. Glaciers and chunks of ice the size of boulders slammed against stone and the cove bank, colliding with each other with abandon. Vah Ruta reared up, her maw opening up and a concentrated beam of pure ice freezing the water beneath Nya's Spinjitzu as she hurriedly spun out of the way. Lloyd took the opportunity to leap onto the thin sheet of ice, skidding across it in a half-run half-glide. Cracks ran after him, the ice falling in on itself as the choppy waters broke it up even more.

Once he was close, Lloyd spun into his own emerald green tornado, leaping onto the metal rim of the Divine Beast. He grabbed on with one hand, hanging from the metal sheets. He breathed in deeply, sliding his sword on his back and he got a better grip. He grunted as he pulled himself up, hooking his feet on the silver rims.

Vah Ruta jerked, her entire body twisting as her tail lashed out at a tiny blue tornado. Lloyd yelped, pressing his body into the Beast and holding on for dear life. A giant wave retaliated, sending frigid water cascading over them. Lloyd shivered, blinking water from his eyes.

He shook his head, and began climbing. Finding footholds and leverage was easy enough, but Vah Ruta's constant jerking made it difficult. Thankfully, the Divine Beast seemed to be having trouble hitting such a tiny target, and Nya constantly skirted by its attacks by the skin of her teeth. Lloyd found a tentative rhythm, clambering up the Beast's side and pressing himself between the armored plates when it lashed out.

But then Vah Ruta got wise.

The Divine Beast had realized that the pesky little tornado had fallen into her own pattern, rhythmically skirting around her ice and tail, using the stormy waters to distract it. Instead of immediately attempting to shoot Nya with a beam of ice, she waited. Vah Ruta let another miniature tsunami slam against her side, and when Nya instinctively skirted to the right, Vah Ruta swept her whip-like tail under the sheet of ice. Just as Nya's Spinjitzu skirted over, Vah Ruta's tail erupted from beneath the ice, slamming into Nya's abdomen.

Lloyd screamed when he saw it, helplessly watching Nya's body sail through the air. She flew through the air, eyes wide, as her hand thrust out toward the water. It responded, but too weakly, making a flimsy attempt to reach its master.

Nya was going to slam into the cliff. Her armor wouldn't protect her from that - it probably hadn't even protected her from the initial blow.

Vah Ruta reared up in the same second, a beam of ice charging in the base of her mouth.

Lloyd reached out desperately, his feet sliding from their position on the ridges of metal, and something clicked.

Protect those who cannot protect themselves.

Time sped back up as instead of slamming into the rocky cliff side, the water froze mid-way on its path to Nya, and a stream of ice extended from it. The ice from Vah Ruta's maw redirected to the water, creating a curve that caught Nya's body and formed a slide to carry her back to shore. Vah Ruta's blast hurtled harmlessly into lifeless rock as Nya slid onto the grounded ice, bent over as she hacked up bile, clutching her stomach. Hurt, but alive.

Its job done, the ice slide, sharp and sloppy and already melting, collapsed in thin shards on the ground.

Lloyd panted, his hand still extended. It tingled, the tips of his fingers freezing. He couldn't feel his nose or ears. His other hand, still holding onto Vah Ruta, was frozen solid in a sheet of ice. It was the only thing keeping him from falling, the rest of his body in free fall. His feet dangled dozens of feet above ground.

"Oh, okay," Lloyd breathed. It came out in a visible cloud like smoke. This was fine.

Nya stood up shakily, her legs wobbling. "Lloyd!" She called, voice hoarse again. "I'm fine! Keep going!"

Vah Ruta was still, silently inspecting the crumbling rock from her diluted blast, and Lloyd took the chance. Finding his balance again, he tugged his hand free, sending shards of ice flying up, and kept climbing.

Vah Ruta figured out her prey wasn't as eviscerated as previously thought and rattled with frustration. Nya, though still banged up, spun herself into another round of Spinjitzu. The water responded accordingly, brutal waves slamming against Vah Ruta. The Beast roared, a sound meant to instill the fear of gods in its victim. Lucky for Lloyd, he apparently had a god on his side. Supposedly. He wasn't really feeling it lately.

Lloyd was almost at the base of her jaw. The entrance, a slim doorway with a small platform, just big enough to stand on, glimmered enticingly. Lloyd, with a tight grip on the glistening scales, swung himself until he gained the momentum to jump around the Beast's neck. He grabbed back on before he could fall far, now clutching the underbelly of the Beast. He panted, wiping cold sweat from his forehead.

Nya's braid was holding up great, though. He'd have to ask what she did to it later. His braids always fell out by now.

Emboldened by how close he was, Lloyd abandoned caution, climbing recklessly. He barely grabbed one ledge before jumping from another, his boots skidding and his fingers slipping.

He reached up, straining, as his fingers just barely grasped the ledge of the platform to Vah Ruta's entrance—

And it was then that the Divine Beast went down.

She reared up, and instead of thrashing out with her tail or shooting waves of icy vengeance from her maw, her upper body darted down like a striking serpent, jaw sprung open to bite.

Lloyd, his grip uneven and with little real leverage, tipped backward with the dragon. His breath left his lungs silently as his eyes widened.

Vah Ruta's muzzle slammed into the thin veneer of ice, and Lloyd crashed beneath the waves with it. He floated weightlessly, dazed and whiplashed. His chest burned as water crushed its way into his lungs, frigid and unforgiving. A scream from above the surface resonated through the fathoms, and a bright cyan tornado slammed into the side of Vah Ruta's jaw with enough force to shove the dragon's head to the side.

An armored hand shot through the water and grabbed Lloyd's cloak, hauling him from the depths. He was pulled onto a glacier, temporarily hidden from Vah Ruta's sight. He turned over on his knees, hacking up water and bile. Nya crouched beside him, a secure hand on his back and the other keeping his hair out of his face.

"It's okay," she whispered, glowering at the dragon. "I got you. Catch your breath."

Lloyd shook, teeth chattering as he spit out the remains of sour acid from his mouth. He glowered at the dirty ice beneath him. Just past the surface, the glacier glimmered with putrid magenta.

He slammed his fist into it, cracking the ice. "I was so close!" he yelled, eyes shut in frustration. "I was right there!"

"Lloyd, stop," Nya said. She stood, offering him a hand up. "We're not on a time limit. We can go again. I'm getting the hang of this."

But her legs were shaking. Her breath was coming in quick bursts, the evidence in small cloudy puffs in front of her mouth. She was drenched in sweat, cold shivers racking her entire body. Even her grip on the Bounty was weak.

"W-we need another plan," Lloyd said, shakily taking the hand. Now that he wasn't holding on for dear life, he could feel his own body aching from the strain. This was the second time he'd failed to climb Vah Ruta's armor up to the entrance.

Nya made a frustrated noise, her eyes roving around the cove. The water was still violent, stirred up by her repeated Spinjitzu and goading. It would be near-impossible to actually fight, even if they weren't up against a Divine Beast. Her eyes locked on the cliff side, and they darkened.

"Lloyd," she looked back down at him, "do you remember what I told you?"

Lloyd felt unease in his stomach. "…if you say run, I run."

"As fast as you can," she said.

"Nya… what are you going to do?"

"Something inadvisable," she replied, sticking her trident in the water. It coalesced in a rippling second skin, glistening on the deepstone. "You're going to run up that cliff-" she pointed the prongs at the long cliff side, "-and pull that dumbass move you came up with, alright? You've got to trust me on this."

"I do," Lloyd replied without hesitation. She nodded, placing her hand on his back.

"Remember," she said, "as fast as you can. Don't look back, not for anything. I can only give you this one shot."

"Got it."

Nya breathed in deeply through her nose. The small gills on her neck rippled with the action.

The water of the cove erupted in tall jets, and the hand on Lloyd's back pushed him forward. "Run!"

A pathway opened, the water separated to reveal the muddy, half-frozen earth beneath. He dashed forward, the water rapidly closing up behind him. Nya spun into another tornado, drawing Vah Ruta's attention.

Lloyd leapt to shore, hauling ass for the base of the cliff. It was remarkably similar to the cove they'd summoned Nyad and Wojira in, a large curved cliff rounding out the body of water. He stumbled over loose rocks and sticks, but he kept running. His chest burned, but he kept running. His legs ached, but he kept running. His cloak, soaked with cold water, weighed him down, pulled back by wind. So he unclasped it, letting the fabric whistle and fly back through the air, abandoned to the mud.

Run. Run. Run.

As fast as he could. No waiting around, no debating. He promised, and he was going to keep it this time.

His boots beat the ground mercilessly as the earth before him quickly ran out. Vah Ruta had been turned to face the cliff, and the glint of Lloyd's armor caught her eye. The dragon shifted its attention from Nya to him, rumbling dangerously.

Lloyd was getting war flashbacks. You'd think jumping into one serpent mouth already would desensitize you.

The cliff was quickly coming to a stop. Lloyd didn't slow, and the second he reached the ledge, he jumped, legs still beating thin air. Vah Ruta opened her mouth to bite down.

A jet of water in the shape of a fist slammed into the Divine Beast's jaw. The dragon reared back, and the Sheikah Eye of the entrance to the Divine Beast was exposed. The Sheikah Slate on his belt glowed and beeped. Lloyd fell into the door, his hand hitting the Eye. It flashed a brilliant emerald green, and before the rest of his body could fall, he was enveloped in a sparkling green light.

With a cut off yelp, he disappeared in a blink of green particles. His cloak fluttered down from the whirlwind above, abandoned to the ice below.

Lloyd groaned. His entire body felt like one big bruise. Slowly, he blinked his eyes open and sat up. He fixed the lopsided crown on his head, bracing himself against a wall as he stood. His wrist twinged uncomfortably. He must've landed on it weird.

Unlike the torrid storm outside, the inner caverns of Divine Beast Vah Ruta were blessedly silent. He was in a large, open chamber, lined in silver and bronze. There were square pools of still water on either side, and from what he could see, several different pathways. It looked like he was in a main room of sorts. Magenta and black slime hung from the walls and at the bottom of the pools like an infestation. Eyeballs with black sclera and irises and white pupils stared down at him.

He stepped back, trying to catch his breath as he took it all in. The Divine Beast was once a pristine place, he could tell. It could rival Benthomaar's palace for all its intricate architecture.

He slid his sword from his back, holding the gleaming blade in front of him. A sensation that vividly reminded him of waking up in the Shrine of Resurrection hit him as a low, panicked voice resonated in his mind, sending shivers down his spine.

"Who are you? How are you here? Please, for your own safety, you must leave! Leave, now, before the IceBlight realizes you're here! I can't protect you!"

"…Zane?"

Chapter Text

Lloyd hated this.

He was cold, and his clothes were itchy, and he was just so frustrated with this stupid, useless, pointless training. What was the point, sitting out here in this stupid lake, touching ice? It's not like that would actually help him use the dumb element!

He ticked his jaw, valiantly trying to keep his eyes shut as Zane instructed. His hands were submerged up to his elbows in frigid water that sent goosebumps up his back, making him shiver. The fluffy, warm clothes he'd been stuffed into didn't help much.

Much to his chagrin, Zane Julien was completely unfazed. He wasn't even wearing a real coat! He had the audacity to sit, submerged to his waist, in a sleeveless gi. While Lloyd could barely keep his teeth from chattering!

"I can feel you overthinking," Zane's calm, assured voice said. Lloyd's eyebrows twitched in annoyance.

"Am not."

"You are." Lloyd puffed out a sigh, opening his eyes. His breath floated in a frigid little crystal cloud before him. Zane, floating on a slate of ice beneath the surface, fixed him with a knowing look.

It wasn't fair. Zane was basically everything a good champion should be - strong, confident, skilled and smart. He always held himself with dignity and assurance, he always said the right things, and he was literally perfect with his element. Meanwhile Lloyd, with his big mouth and apparent failure to do literally anything useful with a single element, could barely get through a dinner with his own father these days. Zane even wore the right things, always dressed in perfect silvers and whites. Lloyd had shown up to his own stupid party missing a sock and hair a mess.

Hylian princes were supposed to be better than that. He was supposed to be effortlessly graceful, unscarred and unmarred, always shimmering with the divinity his people borderline worshipped. How was it that he was born to be the best, and somehow ended up the worst?

The Zoran champion's gaze softened, and he compelled his icy seat closer to shore. "Lloyd," he said softly. "I know this isn't the easiest thing in the world-"

"It's impossible!" Lloyd snapped, unable to hold himself back. "Th-this is stupid! How is touching ice going to help me use it? Why can't I do an obstacle course, o-or fight a monster-"

"In order to use an element," Zane interrupted calmly, "we must first understand its place in the natural world. Only then can we manipulate it to our will." He'd given Lloyd this spiel a dozen times, but Lloyd always came up short. Plain and simple, he was awful at the only thing he was meant to be good at. "The elements aren't swords or Spinjitzu," Zane continued. With a sharp flick of his wrist, he compelled snowflakes from thin air, urging them to trickle down Lloyd's nose. He grimaced, wiping the icy flakes off.

Zane frowned at the reaction. Such a simple thing used to have Lloyd grinning like a child on their birthday. He sighed. "To use an element, an integral piece of our world, you need patience, focus, and discipline."

"For Ice," Lloyd bit out, "for Fire I need determination and hope, for Earth I need strength and confidence, and for Lightning I need to be fast and smart! You tell me to slow down, Jay tells me to speed up, Kai tells me to strike first, Cole tells me to stay on the defense, you tell me to wait for my moment, Nya tells me to make a moment-" He cut himself off, feeling frustrated tears sting his eyes. He glared down at the frost slowly forming on his hands. "I can't do everything!"

Zane smiled sadly, holding Lloyd's much smaller hand in his own. Zane had built up the same callouses as Lloyd had. "I know this is all very overwhelming," Zane soothed, "and no one expects you to be perfect right away. All I ask is that you try."

"I'm perfect at everything else," Lloyd muttered. It was true! When it came to a fight, there wasn't a single thing Lloyd couldn't do. He could fall from a dozen feet and hit the ground running, he could take on a Talus with nothing but his own mind and a sword, he'd accomplished a perfect Spinjitzu tornado in under three months- everyone said he was a prodigy. Just a few months into training, he could best his father's entire royal guard and then some. So why wasn't he good at this? If the legends were true, the Hero of Destiny was supposed to be the most spiritual Elemental Master of them all. He was supposed to wield the Green Element itself! How could he, when he couldn't make so much as a snowball?

"Nobody's perfect at everything," Zane said. You are, Lloyd thought to himself. "Now I know that you're capable of this. It may not come as intuitively to you, but it's your element as much as it is mine. Now, close you eyes and try again. Remember to listen to the ice."

Lloyd glared down at the ice. It was freezing, and silent, and useless. He should just listen to Zane and suck it up the way he'd done with everything else in his life, but he couldn't. He hated this pointless training. Sitting here with his eyes closed like a moron wouldn't help him bend the universe to his will. It wouldn't save his kingdom from certain doom, it wouldn't kill a deity of death and chaos, and it certainly wouldn't give him the Green Element.

Everyone wanted him to be some perfect prince. Elegant, graceful, with skin like porcelain and words like silk. Yet he had to be rough and tumble, a powerful warrior who could go toe-to-toe with demons. He had to train day and night, but couldn't be late to a lesson. He had to be perfect with every weapon, but Time forbid he develop a callous or - oh, horrors! - a scar on his perfect demigod face. He had to fight like a god, but wear clothes of silk and somehow not ruin them.

He was tired. He hated this, every part of it. He was supposed to be on an adventure, not sitting in cold water listening for something that wasn't there!

Lloyd clenched his jaw until the joint popped. His hands, too calloused for a prince and too weak for an element, curled into fists, shaking from both frustration and the cold. Zane, who was oh-so perfect and everything Lloyd was supposed to be, of course noticed the action, surrounded by his element, and frowned.

It wouldn't ever be Lloyd's element. He was just borrowing skill from the people around him, compiling it into a puzzle. That's all the stupid Green Element was - a Frankenstein power, broken up and put together using everyone who was better than him.

He stood suddenly, sending cold water spraying off. The frost gathering around his hands melted away immediately, slipping off and back into the water. He trembled, barely able to hold himself in place.

Zane reached out, blue face etched with concern. "Lloyd-"

Lloyd's eyes snapped up to Zane's face, and then, further behind him, Divine Beast Vah Ruta. She was majestic, made of beautiful bronzes and steels, decorated with silver and pulsing with white light. Ice and frost curled over the lindwyrm's form like beaded pearls.

That's what Lloyd was supposed to be better than. Better than Zane, than Kai and Cole and Jay and Nya, better than Lady Iron Dragon, better than the Twin Gods of Creation and Destruction, better than four Divine Beasts. Better than everything and everyone.

"I'm training somewhere else," Lloyd bit out. Then he turned and walked away, away from the cove, away from the Divine Beast, away from the Ice. Zane watched him go, slumped in defeat.

"Oh, Lloyd," he whispered, long after the Hylian Prince was gone. "What are we going to do with you?"

"…Zane?"

There was no logical reason Lloyd should recognize that voice, but he did. It was calm, steady, always a reliable shoulder to lean on.

It was- it was really-

"I know that voice…" Zane's voice floated through the frigid halls. It was uncertain, as if searching for something. "Oh, I know that voice…"

"Z-Zane," Lloyd gasped, eyes roaming the vaulted ceilings like he would spot Zane. "Zane, it's me! Lloyd!"

"…no," the voice breathed in disbelief. "But- you died."

Lloyd rubbed the back of his neck. "You saw that? It was kinda lame… but I got better!"

"I- I can't believe it," Zane whispered, "you're alive! You're really here- why are you here?!" Zane suddenly yelled, as if accusing Lloyd of capital crime. "You should know better! Vah Ruta has been corrupted by the IceBlight, it'll kill you! Again!"

"That's pessimistic," Lloyd grumbled. "It took a whole army of guardians to kill me last time!"

"Lloyd," Zane said, very slowly and patiently like a parent with a stubborn child, "with all due respect, of which I have for you in spades - the IceBlight killed me at my best. Last I checked, you could barely form a snowball. Do you plan to kill it with Spinjitzu alone?"

Lloyd flushed. Zane wasn't exactly wrong, but maybe he'd been hoping for a bit more confidence here. Or, well, he actually hadn't expected Zane at all. But if his father could send out a physical spirit to talk to him, and Uncle Wu could beam words in his head, why couldn't Zane talk to him from beyond the grave? It made total sense, definitely. Lloyd was positive he hadn't just hit his head on the way in.

"N-no," he said, "I have a sword too!"

Zane went silent, and Lloyd could almost picture the man pinching the bridge of his blue nose.

"I cannot stop you, can I?"

"Nope," Lloyd chirped cheerfully, resting his blade on his shoulder, "not verbally or physically. Since. Y'know. You're dead."

Zane let out a very long, very exasperated sigh. "…very well. If I cannot stop you from risking your life, I can at least make sure you do so wisely. You have a Sheikah Slate, correct?"

Lloyd carefully unclipped the Slate from his belt, holding it up. "Right here."

"Good. You'll need it for what you need to do. Look to your left."

Lloyd did as Zane said, turning his head. He was met with a lattice-work gate in a pool of cold, sparkling water. The surface bubbled with purple and black. He walked closer, trying to see behind the gate. There was a node, not unlike the one on the tower back on the Great Plateau. It was ingrained with deep channels that formed runes around its base, glowing the same malicious purple and black that Vah Ruta's exterior did.

"That's a node," Zane informed him, "in order to defeat the IceBlight, I believe you will need to weaken its corruption first. Do so by rebooting the nodes with your Sheikah Slate. Since you possess uncorrupted Sheikah Tech, it should be able to cleanse the nodes."

"Really?" Lloyd tilted the Slate back and forth, "this little thing?"

"Yes, I believe so. Or, I hope so. You plan to face the Overlord, don't you?"

"I have to," Lloyd said, "he destroyed my kingdom. My dad and uncle are trapped fighting him. I have to save them."

"Then you know you need the Divine Beasts to do so."

Lloyd nodded. Everything up to this point had been building up to the first Divine Beast, the first real measure of his strength. The entire world rested on his ability to uncorrupt the Beasts.

No pressure or anything.

He toed around the edge of the pool, tapping the bronze bars of the gate with the tip of his sword. He couldn't see a lever or button anywhere, or the usual Sheikah Eye that seemed to be the signal to open stuff. He peered into the water. It was murky from the pollution of corruption.

Eh. Worth a shot.

With a deep breath, he dove in. The water was freezing, but he ignored it in favor of swimming deeper.

Wow. He was not a good swimmer. No wonder Bentho insisted on carrying him in the water, he sucked at this.

Lloyd squinted through the dirty water, finally reaching the bottom of the pool. The gate went all the way down, as expected, but he still couldn't see a Sheikah Eye, or keyhole or lever. A black eye, stuck to the gate's bottom like a little parasite, stared at him. Lloyd glared and poked it with the tip of his sword, sending it poofing in a cloud of dust and black tar.

Lloyd hooked his fingers on the lattice work, trying to tug the gate up. It didn't budge in the slightest, and he grunted, kicking the bars with his boot. He swam back up, gasping for air as he finally reached the surface.

"-Lloyd!" Zane was yelling frantically. Lloyd grunted, draping his arms over the side of the pool.

"This gate sucks," Lloyd informed the Champion. "It doesn't have any levers."

"Why would you just jump in like that?!" Zane was ranting, his voice pitched, "that water could have been poisoned! You could have drowned, you could have been caught off guard by a Guardian-"

"There are Guardians in here?"

"For the Master's sake, don't you ever think?" Zane sighed in a way that made Lloyd want to hunch his shoulders. "This is why you never mastered an element, Lloyd."

A flash of hot anger ran through his chest. "Maybe," he grit out, "I never mastered an element because I was too busy being perfect at everything else. Maybe I never mastered an element because all them are complete opposites of each other!" The words seemed to leave him automatically like muscle memory, a long re-hashed argument.

Zane hesitated. "…I know they don't come easily to you. I understand that it was a lot of responsibility. But Lloyd, you cannot afford to throw fits about this any longer. You need Ice to navigate Vah Ruta and kill the Blight."

"Fits?" Lloyd repeated slowly. He hauled himself up, rising out of the water. His hands trembled at his sides, and he curled them into fists to make them stop. "That's what you think I'm doing? Throwing a tantrum?"

Zane was silent. Lloyd's throat worked around the lump of ice he felt forming. "My father," he said, "is fighting the demon who killed me. My uncle is fighting the demon who murdered me. My mother has been reduced to living in a shack because of the demon who destroyed my home. You don't think I want to use the elements? You think I don't care?"

"If you want to be useful," Zane said, not unkindly, "then you need to listen to me. I know you want solutions now, but being reckless and not thinking will get you killed. Again."

He didn't have to act so high and mighty. Zane was dead too.

He'd been doing just fine so far anyway. And he was not reckless for thinking there was a key or lever at the bottom of the pool!

But… ugh, Zane was right. He was the seasoned Master of Ice, after all, and this was his mega-powerful weapon of untold destruction.

"Fine," he grumbled, crossing his arms, "how do I open the gate?"

"On its bottom is a sensor. You need to freeze the water beneath the gate, and use the ice to lift it up."

"Okay… how?"

Zane laughed as if he was in on some joke. "Promise to listen to me this time?"

"Promise."

"Sit at the water's edge. The bottom is covered in a layer of ice. Put your hands in the water, and close your eyes."

Skeptical, Lloyd sat down, swinging his legs over the ledge and letting them fall in the water. He set his sword and Slate down next to him, then lowered his hands into the water.

"You need to take off your gloves and gauntlets."

"Uh… why?"

"To master an element, you first need to understand it in its natural state," Zane said, "connect to the element."

Sure. Why not? He could summon an ocean goddess with his blood, why would this be any less weird?

Lloyd unlatched his armor, setting them on the cool stone next to him, and plunged his bare hands into the cold water. He closed his eyes, slowly breathing out.

"Alright. This will take some time, so be patient. I want you to listen for the ice. Find it, in every crevice. Once you can sense it, tell me."

"How will I know?"

"You will."

Cryptic advice, his favorite. Lloyd sighed, shuffling in place to get comfortable.

The minutes ticked by slowly. Lloyd tried to focus, he really did. But all he could hear was the eerie hum of Vah Ruta, the cold winds sweeping through the vast halls, the ticking of his own heart. He didn't even know what he was supposed to be listening for!

His brows furrowed. "What am I supposed to be focusing on again?" he asked, eyes still closed.

"The ice, Lloyd," Zane responded. "Just try to listen to it."

Lloyd clenched his jaw. "Ice doesn't make noise."

"Just focus-"

Lloyd's eyes snapped open, and he stood, spraying water from the still surface. "On what?! You know what, this is pointless. I bet I can just force this dumb gate open." He snatched up his sword, ready to beat the stupid gate into submission. He was getting to the node, element or no element.

"Lloyd, stop!" Zane yelled, "I know you don't want to wait for it to come to you, but you need to listen to me for once! I know you, Lloyd. You rush into everything, and that will get you killed here. Please, for once, be patient. We're not on a time limit."

"Aren't we?" Lloyd asked, lowering his sword. "The Blight is still here. How much longer until it notices me?"

"Let me deal with the IceBlight. I've held it at bay for a century now, I can manage a few more hours for my little brother."

Lloyd winced. He remembered, quite suddenly, that Zane didn't know he had amnesia. It felt wrong to let him call Lloyd his brother when Lloyd couldn't do the same for him. But he kept his mouth shut. If he'd learned anything from Benthomaar and Nya, it was that the whole 'amnesia' conversation could wait until after the danger passed.

"Lloyd, please. I'm only trying to help. I can coach you through it again."

"…Fine." Lloyd sighed, dropping his sword. He sat back down, dipping his arms into the water. The cold hit him instantly, and he shivered.

"Ice forms very slowly," Zane began, "it's strategic, in a way. It expands outward, covering every inch it needs to. Ice that doesn't go all the way down and through is weak, and shatters easily. We can feel this ice, and encourage it through the cracks. Try to find a space where the ice is weak, and coax it to become stronger."

Lloyd closed his eyes, letting out a slow breath. The cold prickled at his arms, but he tried not to focus on his own body, but the body of water in front of him. Ice was just so… rigid. He didn't see how something so slow and set in place could ever match his own style of fighting. He could admit there was nothing particularly 'slow' about him.

"The cold isn't always a bad thing," Zane went on, "It provides relief in the heat, and is essential for most life to maintain homeostasis. In order to use our element, we need to connect to and understand it in this way. Did you know a good 69% of the world's freshwater is stored in glaciers?"

Lloyd didn't reply, since he was supposed to be focusing, but he supposed it was a cool fact.

Zane cleared his throat, which was ridiculous for someone who didn't have a throat. "Try to find a space for it. Feel for where the cold is strongest and weakest, and connect the two. Let it reach out to you."

Lloyd swallowed. His fingers unconsciously splayed out, as if physically searching for ice. The cold went all the way down, but the water wasn't frozen completely through. But a good few inches at the bottom were encased in a solid layer of ice, near unbreakable. He tried to feel it.

Slowly, Lloyd felt himself slip away. His body relaxed as his mind began to filter out the noise of the Divine Beast. Following Zane's advice, he let himself tune out the rest of the world.

It was strong at the bottom, but there was a crack. The gate blocked the ice from forming, creating a disruption in the ice. It attempted to climb the lattice, but ice couldn't properly form in such fragile, sparing conditions. It wanted to become solid and whole.

If he could just encourage it to rise up a little…

The ice at the bottom of the pool shimmered, creeping along the base of the gate and clambering up the stone walls. Faster and faster, it creeped up the lattice, spilling through the cracks.

Lloyd bit his lip. He needed it to be solid. A little slower, and little calmer, a little more organized…

Like bricks, the ice piled onto itself, slowly building up higher and higher until-

"Lloyd! You did it!" Pride filled Zane's voice as it cut through Lloyd's trance, and he snapped his eyes open.

The floor around his legs was covered in a layer of frost like gilded gold. Ice like thin vines curled over the edges of bronze lattice, dripping down like teardrops. And a thin, but solid, block of ice rose up as a column directly underneath the gate, lifting it a precious few feet.

Lloyd blinked, eyes wide in disbelief. He stared down at his hands. They shimmered with blue-white ice, frost like henna patterns in a thin layer on his skin. Tiny teardrops hung from the edge of his crown.

"I… I did it!" Lloyd gasped, running a hand through his hair. Soft white flakes, having covered his hair, shook down from the motion. He broke out into a bright grin, jumping to his feet giddily. "Zane! Zane, did you see that, I used Ice!"

"You did!" Zane's voice was oddly choked up, but bursting with pride all the same. "Lloyd, I am so proud of you. Go, hurry, reboot the node!"

Lloyd quickly jumped into the water, sinking to the thick layer of ice at the bottom. He crawled forward, using the lifted end of the gate to pull himself through to the other side.

He came up for breath, cold water sloughing off his form as he pushed himself onto the dais holding the first node. He pressed his Sheikah Slate to the Eye. It chimed, the Eye on the Slate spinning. The node shuddered, the light flickering, before a brilliant white shone through the alcove. Lloyd shielded his eyes as it faded, and the node glowed a soft white, free of the corruption.

Lloyd let out a whoosh of breath. "One down," he whispered to himself.

He slid back through to the other side, kicking down the ice column propping the gate open in the process. The gate quickly slammed back down, and Lloyd left it. Better to make sure nothing else could get through, just in case.

"Lloyd," Zane said. "You have three nodes left. You will find that your Slate now holds a map of Vah Ruta's interior; use it to locate the other nodes. I cannot stay by your side indefinitely, but if a problem arises, call for me."

"Got it," Lloyd said, tapping his slate. He selected an icon of a white lindwrym, and was greeted by a perfect model of Vah Ruta's insides. He scooped up his sword and gear, reattaching his armor.

Three more nodes to go.

"One more thing," Zane said. He sounded oddly hesitant, something Lloyd found jarring in him. "I believe I can help a little more. This weapon may be able to assist you in using the element of Ice. Think of it like a conduit for the power."

Lloyd blinked. "Weapon-?"

Several feet above his head, seemingly from thin air, thin flakes of ice and snow began to rain down. Lloyd gaped at the miniature snow storm as ice swirled in a snake-like pattern, coiling down toward his hands. A bright light shone from the construct. Lloyd shielded his eyes, and when he opened them again, he held in his hands a long, silver and white kusarigama. Instead of the standard rod-like handle, it was a silver handle surrounded by a guard of ice. The chain seemed to be made of sharp, interconnected spikes of ice, shards poking out like barbs on a whip. At the weapon's end was a sharp, curved blade like an pickaxe.

Lloyd blinked, holding the coiled weapon in his hands. It radiated cold, seeping into his skin. Strangely, it felt refreshing instead of painful. He gaped, stars sparkling in his eyes.

"Woah…" With a flick of his wrist, the kusarigama rapidly uncoiled and struck the air with a powerful crack! A bright flurry of snowflakes rained down from the impact. Lloyd laughed, hopping on his toes excitedly. Oh man, he could do so much damage with this thing!

He looked up, trying to figure out if he could spot those snowflakes again. "Thanks, Zane! I'm gonna hurt a lot of stuff with this!"

Zane didn't respond. Lloyd could only guess that making magic weapons for zombies (did. Did he count as a zombie?) took a lot out of someone who'd been dead for a century.

He secured his dao on his back and slipped the Slate back into its pocket. Armed with his kusarigama and new, barely awakened element, he stared down the long hall of Divine Beast Vah Ruta.

"Alright," he breathed. Three more nodes to go.

Vah Ruta didn't disappoint. Her icy caverns were reminiscent of a temple. It was cold and eerie in a strange, ethereal way. Stalactites of ice hung down from the arched doorways and slow-moving waters flowed through channels on either side of the marble and silver pathways.

Unfortunately, for all its beauty, Vah Ruta was still heavily corrupted. He came across clumps of slime and tar in every corner, clinging to columns and hanging like parasites on gateways and lattice work. Black eyeballs stared at him with malice, tracing his every move.

Fortunately, Lloyd had a magic kusarigama made of pure Ice and wasn't afraid to use it.

He couldn't say for sure if poofing the visible corruptions into dust and powder helped at all, but it did fill him with smug satisfaction.

Using the Slate's map and his incredible sense of direction, he made his way to the second node, located in a large icy cavern, easily accessed with his Slate.

Lloyd stared into an empty, smokey abyss, deeply offended.

"Alright, what the fuck."

He cupped a hand over his eyes, staring up into the shadowed ceiling. The node he needed to get to was hanging, upside down, in a dip in the ceiling, protected by a geometric dome, also upside down.

What about the element of Ice suggested he could fly?

He groaned, inching closer to the edge to peer down into the chasm. He couldn't see the bottom, blocked by odd white smoke. He could only guess there were a ton of very sharp spikes at the bottom.

"Yay…" he muttered, backing up with a sigh. Alright, think. Zane said their element was all about patience and focus, right? Setting up a solid foundation, filling cracks, stuff like. Basically, no weak points allowed.

Hm. Maybe he could shoot the dome. With, like, his own magic ice spike thing.

He wasn't too super positive he could actually do that, but it was worth a try. Except… what exactly would that accomplish? Also, why would Ice be associated with shooting stuff? It was pretty land-based…

He looked along, hoping for something to point him in the right direction. It was smooth, clear walls of ice all around.

Sighing, he gave up. "Hey, Zane?" He called, cupping his hand around his mouth. He looked up in the general direction of the ceiling, since just staring in front of himself felt weird. "Little help with this one?"

"Lloyd! Are you hurt-?"

"No, but what am I supposed to do here?" He gestured vaguely at the chasm. "Also, I'd really like to know what's at the bottom of this thing."

"Well, that's easy. The bottom of this pit is covered in dry ice. Should you fall in, it will give you severe and debilitating freeze burns."

Lloyd stared blankly at the pit. "Noted. So what do I do?"

"You'll need to use ice to make yourself a way across. It doesn't actually matter what you do - build yourself a staircase, a bridge, a ladder… anything you can think of. Then simply climb into the dome, and deconstruct the ice."

"What does building staircases say about patience and focus?" Lloyd wondered aloud, pacing the edge of the pit. He didn't think he was nearly skilled enough to actually make something like that from thin air.

"Our element isn't rigid, Lloyd," Zane explained patiently, "all the Core Elements require a level of creativity and flexibility. Also, it's a very smart defense against intruders."

"Well, I'm glad I get to suffer for the sake of smart defense."

Lloyd hummed, idly swinging the kusarigama at his side. Maybe he could use it as a sort of grappling hook? He didn't think it was long enough… yeah, definitely not. Unfortunately, this trial seemed designed to counter that. If he had a bow, he could probably rig something up, but alas.

Something as complicated as a staircase or ladder was out of the question. Lloyd may be confident when it came to fighting monsters, but it took him, like, thirty minutes to make a single little column. No way, no how.

He glanced at the walls, covered in ice, a solid blanket over the walls and ceiling. Not a ladder… but maybe a climbing wall. Zane did say it didn't actually matter how he did it, right? Well, he was good at climbing.

Lloyd hooked his weapon over his shoulder, bracing his palms against the cold wall. He closed his eyes, trying to focus on what Zane said about manipulating the growth of ice.

Slowly, his hands were completely encased in ice, gluing him to the wall. He pulled at them, testing the strength of the ice. "Alright," he breathed, bracing one foot against the wall, "now to see if I can melt the stuff."

He did try to melt it, by the way. Alas, he did not yet possess the element of fire, so he must've looked pretty stupid. He really hoped Zane wasn't watching at this particular moment. However, he did manage to thin the ice out, and wrench his hand out that way. Crude and somewhat painful, but doable.

Slowly, freezing his hands to the wall, he managed to scale the ice, creating lumps beneath his boots and gluing his fists to the ice as he went. It was very, very weird. Several times, his boots slipped on the slick ice, but having his hands physically frozen into the wall kept him from falling.

"I have to admit, I was… not expecting this," Zane piped up, sounding fondly confused, "but you never do fail to surprise me. You'll be at the node in no time."

"Thanks," Lloyd grunted, tugging his hand free and reaching up for the bazillionth time. He was starting to lose feeling in his fingers. When he finally reached the crux between the wall and ceiling - the armpit of the ceiling, one could say - he paused.

"Hm. Didn't think this one through." He unfroze his right hand, awkwardly placing it on the ceiling monkey-bars style. Then, with both hands securely frozen to the roof of the cavern, he swung both legs up, freezing the toes of his boots for extra security.

Well, now he looked like some weird cave-crawling creature. It was… not an inaccurate description of his overall activities, actually.

He slowly made his way across the cavern's smooth top until he finally reached the dome. He carefully unfroze his legs, bending them backward to hook around the gaps in the ribs of the dome. Then he unfroze his hands and fell upside down.

With a grunt of exertion, he managed to get his upper body high enough to actually grip the bars of the dome, twisting around until he faced the node. Sitting outside the dome, and technically hanging over an apparently very dangerous chasm, he peeked through the dome, smushing his face against the bars.

"Aight," he mumbled, grappling around for his Slate one-handed. The gaps were thankfully large enough for him to fit his hand and Slate through. With a quick beep, and a blinding light, the second node was uncorrupted and glowing a pleasant white.

"Fantastic job, Lloyd!" Zane praised. "Only two more nodes left! Though I warn you that they will be a little more difficult, I believe you're up to the challenge!"

Lloyd squinted at the air around him. "Zane, it's okay, you don't have to hype me up." When he was met with awkward silence, he broke into a grin. "Because I already know I'm great!" He flipped his braid smugly. "Ha, gotcha."

He took his kusarigama and carefully wrapped the end around the ice bars,securing it with the sharp hook. Then, holding the handle, he dropped down until he was hanging over the chasm. He swung himself, gaining momentum, until he could fly over the chasm and land safely back on the grounded ice.

Way easier than doing the whole climbing thing again.

He tugged his ice kusarigama back, coiling it up over his shoulder.

Two more to go.

Lloyd eyed the 'obstacle' suspiciously. The node was on a circular dais in the middle of a slick, shining floor of ice. There wasn't an obstacle or trap in sight. He hummed, tapping his boot against the floor cautiously. Nothing happened.

It was possible that the floor would crack beneath him, plunging him into frigid glacier waters. It was equally possible that the ceiling would fall on him, though, so he didn't really know what to expect here.

He unraveled the kusarigama, holding it at his side cautiously. He inched forward, sliding his boots on the ice-

And immediately slipped. He fell head over heels, literally, back colliding with the ground painfully. He glared at the ceiling.

Then the ground, as predicted, crumbled.

Lloyd screeched as the ice beneath his back cracked and splintered, giving way as he suddenly fell, a pit opening in his stomach at the sudden feeling of weightlessness. With a swift motion, he flung his kusarigama and managed to snag onto a hurriedly formed bar. He clung to the handle of the weapon as he swung midair, panting. Glancing down, he found the bottom of the pit riddled with sharp, glittering spikes.

"I hate this stupid dragon," he grumbled, slowly hauling himself up.

When he rose back above the broken floor, he found that the ice had fallen through all across the room, aside from evenly spaced thin bridges of ice. They all reached from the entranced to the dais like the spindles of a wheel, just close enough for him to jump from one to another.

"…okay?" He didn't understand this place at all, truthfully. Cautiously, he tried to inch along the thin bridge toward the node.

And, at this point, he really should have been expecting it. A giant spike the size of his entire torso erupted from the pit, aimed straight at him. With a shocked scream, Lloyd jumped back, landing on a different bridge. As if he'd activated something, the entire circular cavern erupted with traps of all kinds. Spikes jutted out from the walls and floor, shining menacingly.

They moved deceptively quickly, aimed straight for him. He quickly swung from one icy bar to another, quick on his feet. He drew his sword, shattering one sharp blade from piercing his head.

"Zane!" He yelled, forced backward as a stalactite darted down from above, piercing the ice between his feet. "Zane, what do I-" He yelped, slipping backward and into the pit. He lashed out with his kusarigama, the pick plunging into a spike of ice, and he swung forward until he was back on his feet.

"It's an obstacle course," Zane informed, "you need to think quickly. Remember, ice may appear rigid, but it can be malleable as well. Mold it to your needs - whether it be an assist, or simply deflecting the attacks."

Lloyd jerked his head in a nod, spinning out of the way of another attack. First, he needed more room to move.

He hopped from one thin bridge to a depressed spike, and back up again. He used them as checkpoints, connected thin beams of ice to the bridges. The ice rapidly connected, creating one large section he could freely move in. It was thin, but he was light.

All at once, three sharp icicles beared down on him from above. He grit his teeth, throwing his hand up as if to intercept them. All three shattered into little pieces, falling around him in harmless shards. He ran forward, jumping over and sliding under icicles meant to rip him in two. When they got too close, he violently shattered them.

Just when he was almost at the node, a ginormous spike pierced straight through his bridge, too big to dodge around. He jumped to the side, a column of ice rising up from the pit to meet him. It was immediately shattered the second his feet hit it, and he was forced to keep jumping from one flat column to another, practically sprinting midair. Finally, he was able to leap onto the dais.

All at once, the attacks stopped. The spikes paused midair, then slowly receded back to wherever they came from. Lloyd slumped to his knees, panting heavily as cold sweat dripped into his eyes.

"Lloyd," Zane said, "that was incredibly impressive. You're improving very quickly - keep it up. You're close to victory."

Lloyd shakily nodded, flexing his hands. His core felt frozen solid, his body wracked with shivers. "I-I don't suppose you have stuff to make a fire with?"

"I'm sorry, no. Typically, Masters of Ice don't suffer from the cold - I certainly never have. You'll have to keep warm by staying on the move."

"G-got it," he said, standing. He pressed the Slate to the node's Eye, blocking his eyes from the routine flash of light.

One more node. Just one more.

The lattice gate rose up slowly before him, creaking as it went. He entered the new cavern slowly. He was getting a feel for the Divine Beast now - it had a dozen different rooms, and nodes located in a way that vaguely circled the head node. Each node was in its own unreasonably large icy cavern, with a weird puzzle attached to it.

Lloyd was getting a little better with the element as he went. He wasn't exactly great at it - all he could really do was make the ice grow from a preexisting starting point, and break weak spots, but he was definitely getting faster. He stunt with the whole column-jumping thing just proved it.

Still, this cavern was dark, and he wasn't risking it so close to the finish line.

He squinted into the darkness, trying to make out the tell-tale maleficent light of a corrupted node. "Y'know, if I had Fire, this place would be a breeze."

His ears pricked, twitching minutely in an attempt to make up for his lack of sight. The darkness was completely unnatural - usually, his eyes would've adapted by now.

He thought very briefly of asking Zane for help, but the Blight would be keeping the Champion busy by now. Three nodes down, and its apparent mortal enemy gaining ground on the corruption, the stupid monster wouldn't be giving Zane any leeway. Lloyd couldn't afford to distract him right now.

He unraveled the ice kusarigama and cracked it against the air harshly. A flurry of bright snowflakes illuminated the darkness in a sphere around the point of contact.

Using the sparse light, he could just barely make out a node across the room. It was oddly dim, not glowing or giving off the same tar substance the others did. Was there something wrong with it? Had it gotten broken during the Calamity?

He snuck closer, keeping his footsteps light and briefly using the kusarigama to create sparkly snowflakes so he could see. He sincerely hoped that whatever trap was here was broken, and also somehow fixable. A guy can dream, right?

He ran his hand over the chilled stone, tilting his head curiously. Before he could investigate further, he heard it.

A Guardian.

Soft, eerie metal gears and sparking wires whirred near-silently just behind him. Lloyd's entire body stiffened, as though lightning had been shoved through his spine.

His palm all the way up through his arm and bursting PAIN across his shoulder and his chest and creeping up his neck like a horrible little PARASITE-

Lloyd whipped around, expression completely slack as he swung out with the kusarigama. The Guardian clattered back, shaking angrily.

It was a Scout. Not as big as the things that killed him, but not very small either. It held a glowing blue sword in hand, its Eye glowing a dark pink. Lloyd swallowed, but forced the instinctual panic back. He'd fought Guardians before - he'd even broken one, in the Shrine on the Great Plateau. He didn't freak out that time, and he wouldn't now.

"So," he breathed out, "you're my trial? Piece of cake. I happen to be great at breaking stuff that pisses me off."

The Scout wasn't attacking. Instead, its Eye seemed fixated on something behind Lloyd. The sound of crumbling rock rang through the cavern, and Lloyd glanced over his shoulder to see the node breaking. Ice ran through his veins. "No!" This was his only chance, he couldn't beat the Blight if it had Vah Ruta-

To his horror, it was another Guardian that rose up. The node's Eye became the Eye of another Guardian, spinning as the rest of its body tore itself from the stone. It was a fake. It adjusted a sharp, glowing blue shield in the shape of a shuriken at its side.

"Dammit," Lloyd backed up, drawing his sword as he glanced between the two machines. He wasn't quite used to fighting more than one enemy, but he could manage. Especially with an element and extra weapon.

The Guardian's glow, apparently activated by Lloyd's uniquely aggravating presence, illuminated the cavern, but it was still dark. So Lloyd thinks he can be excused, between the darkness and barely contained fear of death laser machines, for not noticing the death laser machine on the roof.

A beam of light trickled down from the ceiling. Lloyd shakily looked up to see a third Scout, hanging upside down, staring straight at him. It clacked almost curiously, spinning its freaky upper body as it tracked his movements slowly backing away from the machines.

The third Scout dropped down from the ceiling, landing perfectly on long wirey legs. All now accounted for, the three Guardians turned their Eyes toward Lloyd.

Ice creeped up from the floor, clinging to his boots in sharp, thorny tendrils. Lloyd shook in place, holding onto his weapons for dear life.

"Okay," he whispered. His heart was a trapped canary in his chest, beating back against his ribcage. He adjusted his dao in his right hand and kusarigama in his left. "Alright. Come at me."

The Guardians instantly shot forward on rubbery legs. Lloyd used the ice to his advantage, slipping out of the way. He lashed out with his kusarigama as he slid under the sword-wielder's legs, pulling it down using his own momentum. He spun himself into a Spinjitzu tornado, groaning in exertion as he used the force of it to throw the Sword Scout (name pending) at the Shield Scout. The third Guardian, which he is going to call the Node, clambered after him. Lloyd was forced to let the Sword Scout free to escape its metal claws.

He slid backward, creating distance between them all. He spun his sword over his head, slamming it down into the ice and creating a massive crack that raced toward the Guardians. The Node easily jumped above it all, skirting right around the danger. Lloyd was again forced to run from the advancing Guardian, and his attack was cut short.

That's how it continued. Lloyd would race to create distance between them all, form an attack, and be foiled by a Guardian somehow perfectly equipped to deal with it. He couldn't hit them properly, because the Shield Scout just deflected everything. He couldn't form a ranged attack, because the Node jumped over and around everything. He couldn't get in close, because the Sword Scout would meet him while the other two closed in.

He couldn't fight them.

Lloyd screamed in frustration as yet another attempt with his kusarigama failed, deflected by the Shield Scout. The Node's top spun rapidly, glowing. Lloyd backed up, a defensive hiss building in his throat as his ears pinned back. The top suddenly froze, and a bright light emanated from the Eye.

Lloyd screamed and instantly brought up his gauntlets just in time to block the laser-beam headed straight for him. It deflected off his armor, knocking his on his ass. But instead of disappearing, the beam was instead reflected off of the icy walls, over and over. The Guardians seemed unsure of what to do, but because the universe hated Lloyd Garmadon specifically, the Sword Guardian got in a lucky block with the laser, and it was reflected straight back toward Lloyd with the same intensity.

His eyes widened, filled to the brim with bright pink and blue light. He curled back, braced for impact.

An ice wall shot up from the floor, blocking Lloyd from view and taking the beam's attack. It shattered on impact, but the laser was gone.

Lloyd didn't stick around to wonder after it. He turned tail and fled the cavern.

Lloyd retched into the frigid waters, coloring them dark with rank bile. He shook, trembling head to toe, and tried to pretend it was the cold. Hot tears slipped down his frozen cheeks, the difference in temperature like a chemical burn.

His fist slammed into the pathway, cracking the layer of glimmering ice. "Goddammit!" He screamed. His yell devolved into a sob, and he pressed his fist to his mouth to stop it.

It wasn't fair. How could he be the most powerful mortal in the world, and still so weak? How could he possess five different elements, superhuman strength and speed and endurance, and somehow manage to fall flat to a machine? How could he be so cowardly?!

It wasn't fair! Those things killed him over a century ago, and despite being stronger than ever now, he was still weak to them! This was such a sick joke.

"Fuck," he whispered, sniffling, "fuck, Zane, I-"

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry," he murmured to nothing. Zane remained silent. He choked on his own voice, "I- I can't. I'm sorry, I can't fight those things."

"The Guardians? Why not?"

"Don't you get it?" Lloyd sat back on his ankles, utterly defeated. "They killed me. They shot me to death."

"Oh- Lloyd, I didn't know," Zane sounded horrified, clearly unaware of the true source of Lloyd's death. He must've known that Lloyd died somehow; he probably thought it was the Overlord. You know, like a good Hero of Destiny. A Hero who died facing real evil, not its non-sapient minions.

"I'm so sorry," Zane continued, "I should've warned you. How can I help?"

"Y-you have the Blight to deal with. Don't… don't worry."

"Lloyd," Zane said firmly. Lloyd looked up, searching for anything to show him where Zane was. "I'm here for you. I am positive now, this is the reason my spirit remained within Ruta's walls all these years - for you. How can I help?"

Lloyd shakily stood up. If Zane could be this stubborn in death, he could go a second round. Maybe. Probably.

"How do I beat them?"

"Each trial represents an essential element of Ice. The first represented your patience and focus; the second your creativity; the third overcame the natural rigidity of Ice, and you became malleable. This trial tests your ability to strategize. You need a plan, Lloyd. No more reckless fighting, no more hoping for the best and winning based on sheer luck. So let's make a plan."

Lloyd stared down at his own hand. The lightning scar was covered by his glove, but he could feel it searing through his skin regardless. Zane was right. A century ago, he rushed into a hopeless fight trying to prove something. He didn't pay enough attention in the Shrine of Resurrection. He barely had a plan with the Taluses back in the Hylian fields, and impulsively made a deal with Aspheera on a whim. He didn't have a plan for properly dealing with Benthomaar, and he jumped into Wojira's mouth. All because he didn't want to wait, or slow down. All because he craved the adrenaline of a fight, and then got too scared to make good on it.

For Time's sake. He needed to get himself together.

Lloyd loved a good fight. He enjoyed using Spinjitzu, he enjoyed wielding a weapon. But things like snakes and Guardians kept scaring him out of them.

Maybe he could be less scared with a backup plan.

"Alright," he said, curling his hand into a fist. "Let's make a plan."

Lloyd sprinted down the ice, a ghost at his side.

Figuratively, of course.

The three Guardians turned toward him, but he didn't falter. He slipped beneath the Shield Scout's wide-armed strike, sliding down the icy path. The Node, sensing some form of weakness, shot a bright beam of heat at him. He brought up his dao, deflecting the light up into the ceiling. It pierced through the stalactites, sending sharp spikes bearing down.

"Tell them where to land!"

Lloyd threw out his hand, and the spikes imbedded themselves straight through the Node's wirey tentacle legs. It shrieked, fizzing as its circuitry was disrupted. Successfully dealt with for the moment, Lloyd turned his attention to the other two.

The Shield Scout struck at him, bearing down with a serrated blade. He blocked it, pushing the Scout back just in time to backflip away from the Shield Scout. He danced in front of the Node, and just as predicted, it fired up another laser. Just before it hit, he bent his knees and shot upward, cracking the ice underneath him. The laser struck at the Shield Guardian, and when the beam was reflected, Lloyd was there to use his dao as a baseball bat and strike it back at the Sword Scout.

While the Sword Scout was struck, shaking with the force of the laser-beam, Lloyd lashed out with his kusarigama and stole its sword. He reared it back, and threw it like a javelin straight into the Node's laser-wielding Eye. The Node Guardian screamed, electricity burning through it, before it slumped.

"Behind you!"

Lloyd ducked down just before the Swordless Guardian could grab him with a three-fingered metal claw. The attack just barely skimmed the fine hairs above his braid.

He pressed his hand to the floor for balance, freezing it in place, and swung out with his legs. The curving motion drew up a spindle of sharp ice that pierced through the Guardian's legs. He pushed forward, running back out from under the stupid thing, and was met with the Shield Guardian. He struck the ground with his sword, displacing sharp shards of ice that he sent flying into the Guardian. It deftly blocked them with its shield, and Lloyd took the opening to shoot forward and sever its arm.

The tentacle holding the shield fell to the ground, and the sudden shift in balance let Lloyd kick the Guardian down. He snatched up the shield and found the mechanism that caused it to spin so rapidly it blurred. He lifted it up and brought it down on the Guardian like a chainsaw.

The Guardian spluttered, then dimmed, lifeless.

Unfortunately, his cool shield was now useless without its core power source, but whatever.

"One more! I rather like that first idea you had with my kusarigama, if you're looking for suggestions…"

Lloyd grinned, fangs poking out over his lips, and began to swing the weapon at his side like a lasso. "Oh, you mean like this?"

He struck out at the Swordless Guardian, catching it around its leg. It had been held in place by rapidly growing ice, sourced from the handy spindle Lloyd summoned, but now that ice shattered. The kusarigama wrapped around the rubbery leg, pick embedding in the stone and spikes slicing through the material and latching on like barbed wire.

With no interruptions, Lloyd spun himself into a green tornado of light, and used the slippery floor to make the Guardian spin around him in orbit. Gaining more and more momentum from the tornado and weight of the Guardian, he suddenly stopped, and that momentum carried his movement as he jerked his kusarigama down, launching the Guardian into the far wall.

It slammed into the back of the cavern, shattering ice and stone alike. It crumbled in on itself, broken beyond repair.

Lloyd panted, slumped, as he surveyed the destruction. All three guardians were broken.

"I see why you find fighting entertaining. That was quite the show!"

Lloyd laughed breathlessly at Zane's commentary. "Don't you have a demon to be dealing with?"

"I think you may have scared it a little with that display."

"Har har," Lloyd scoffed, stashing his weapons away in their respective slots on his person as he took out the Sheikah Slate. He approached the spot where the Shield Guardian had been disguised as a node, and found an Eye glowing in the floor. He pressed the Slate to it, and the same bright flash of light accompanied the newly uncorrupted node.

"Alright," he said as he stood. "All done. Where's that Blight?"

"Are you sure you don't want a break?" Zane asked. "Once you enter the head, you can't leave. The IceBlight won't let you. It's a fight to the death."

Lloyd shook his head. The fresh win had him ready to fight again, and he had some experience using Ice in an actual fight this time around.

"I'm ready now. I want to see what everyone's been hyping up this whole time."

"Alright then. Come to the head."

"The IceBlight is waiting for you."

"It is important to understand," Zane spoke into his mind, "that the Blight was made to counter me, specifically. Objectively speaking, in terms of raw potential, you have more power than me. This means you have a good chance of beating it."

Lloyd pushed the double doors, high and vaulted, rising far above him like a temple's, open. "However, it's also important to note…"

Lloyd drew his sword as a dark miasma of purple and black coalesced around the Golden Shuriken of Ice, stood upon a pedestal on a high dais.

"That the Overlord will stop at nothing to end your life again. And he knows you're inexperienced."

Sharp, jagged arms like a skeleton's clawed their way out of the cloud of tar, dripping black slime as the barely-formed skin layer sloughed off like a sheet of slushy ice. A second arm, identical to the first, formed and both gripped at the edges of the huge pedestal. They pushed up a malformed body, made up of broken runic stones and dripping tar.

Its head entered last, preceded by two horrible horns, hulking far above its one-eyed skull and pulsating with a deep icy glow like molten lava beneath rock.

The IceBlight rose up a great, horrible height, its skeletal arms lashing out at its sides. It didn't have legs - only a triangular shape like an iceberg as it floated midair. Its one eye roved the chamber until it landed on Lloyd.

The IceBlight shook with a terrible roar, making Lloyd wince. Its skin erupted with glowing cracks with the sound, and a huge, glowing serrated spear formed above in its hand.

—Scourge of Divine Beast Vah Ruta—

-IceBlight Overlord-

"Fight for your life!"

Lloyd screamed back, running forward. A barrage of icy spikes met him, and he thrust out his own hand, shattering them as they came within range. He ducked beneath the cover the cloud of frost brought, sliding down the floor and rushing behind the Blight. He lashed out with the kusarigama, latching onto the spear.

The Blight's swiveled, glaring down at him.

Then it grinned.

The Blight wrenched its spear back, carrying Lloyd with it, and as Lloyd flew through the air from the sheer strength of its pull, the Blight pulled its skeletal fist back.

This thing's hand was the size of his entire torso. It would rip him to shreds.

Lloyd called for Ice, and it responded. Frozen stalactites fell from the ceiling, beaning the Blight in the head. Lloyd twisted his body until it was his feet pointed at the Blight, pulled on the kusarigama for leverage, and delivered a harsh kick to its neck.

Lloyd skidded backward, spinning his dao in his hand. While the Blight took the second to brush aside the icicles, he called out, "Zane, any ideas?"

"It won't give you an inch! You need to find a crack, and exploit it!"

"Done," Lloyd responded, and shot forward in a tornado. The Blight struck out with its long-reaching spear, a weapon three times Lloyd's own height, and swept it in a wide arc, chasing Lloyd around the circular chambers.

Lloyd abruptly let his leg give out, and he slipped right under the spear like the world's most dangerous game of limbo. The spear's momentum carried it further, and Lloyd used the moment to swing out his kusarigama and wrap it around the Blight's neck. The sharp blade plunged into the back of its neck, spewing slime.

He pulled the whip-chain with all his strength, jerking the IceBlight to the side and slamming it into a wall. The chambers shook from the force, raining down icicles.

The IceBlight gripped the edges of the crater its body formed, wrenching itself forward. It roared, spinning its spear over its head. Suddenly, glowing squares cut themselves into the floor, and large blocks of solid ice rose out of the cuts.

Each one slammed down on Lloyd, and he was forced to dodge the random attacks. They were ridiculously fast, leaving him scrambling. He leap-frogged over one, and slid under another in the same breath, fighting just to stay upright.

Just as he wasn't looking, the IceBlight returned him the favor of his very own crater. The flat side of the spear's blade punted him across Vah Ruta's head, throwing him into the far wall.

He groaned, slumped down in a small crater of cracked, crumbling ice. His fingers weakly hung onto his dao, the other hand wrapped around the kusarigama.

"Get up!" Zane's frantic voice appeared in his head, "You can't give it an inch! You need a plan!"

Lloyd groaned as he lifted himself out of the wall, swaying on two legs. Yet another cube of ice was headed right for him. He glared, and it shattered to little pieces at the tip of his nose.

The disappearance of the ice revealed the end of the Blight's spear, pointed right at him and coming closer. Lloyd's eyes widened.

He recognized that spear.

"How dare you?!" Lloyd screamed, shooting forward with superhuman speed. Instead of dodging the spear's attack, he jumped on, running down the length of the blade and metal. The Blight attempted to claw at him with its second hand, but he shot over it. He leaped up, coming down spinning. "That's a Zoran spear!" He screamed as his dao cut down the IceBlight's face.

The demon roared in pain as Lloyd hit the ground with a roll. He bared his teeth at it. "That's Benthomaar's spear! How dare you?!"

The Blight's face turned down at him, one hand clutching the deep wound etched into tar. It spun its spear, and struck the floor with it.

The ground itself began to warp, cracking and splintering. Lloyd threw his kusarigama upward, wrapping around a decorative ceiling beam, and tugged himself up like a grappling hook just before the floor exploded.

"Alright, why not," he panted, hauling himself onto the rafter.

The Blight caught sight of him and screamed, shaking with the force of its own yell, and directed the broken ice straight toward him. Lloyd gasped as several tons of ice sought to pierce his heart.

With no time to react any other way, he rapidly spun the chain of the kusarigama, close to the sharp pickaxe, until it formed a sort of artificial shield. He grunted, wincing as ice rapidly struck the makeshift shield, shattering on impact but pushing him further and further back.

"Ice is versatile, but it is no shield!" Zane yelled. Lloyd could practically feel the ghost's hands on his shoulders, icy yet supportive.

With a yell, Lloyd shattered the beam he was on, strangling it with the ice that coated it. He fell down, and summoned a column of ice to meet him. He sprinted forward, now on much taller ground, trusting the columns to rise up in time to catch him appropriately.

He met the IceBlight with a strike to the chest, cutting deep and ripping out tar and slime. The demon roared and swiped at him, but its arm was so long it had trouble bending enough to reach him. Lloyd threw up his kusarigama, catching it around the neck and pulling its head down. He delivered a swift knee to its face, then another and another.

"Like this trick?!" He screamed into the demon's ear, a feral, serrated grin etched into his face. "I picked it up from my sister the ocean goddess!"

"Wait, what-?"

"I'm not giving you an inch!" Lloyd screamed as he threw the Blight into the broken ice. He jumped in after it-

Only to be caught in its outstretched hand.

He struggled, kicking out uselessly. Its bony hand slowly tightened around his torso, forcing a pained gasp from him.

"Lloyd! What did I say about having a PLAN?!"

"I got it!" He grit out. He drove his dao into the demon's wrist, and it threw him across the chamber. He landed in the opposite corner of his original crater, forming a brand-new one.

His hands trembled on the broken edges, leaving behind thick ice. Black spots danced in his vision.

"Lloyd, get up. Please, get up!"

Despite the pain in his head and torso, a toothy, bared-teeth imitation of a smile crept onto his face. He stood up out of the hole his body created, shaking stray icicles from his armor.

He stared down the Blight as it leveled its spear at him, like some horrible deity delivering punishment. "I don't think you get it," he whispered, stalking forward. Columns of ice carried him up until he was the same height as the Blight. "I'm the divine reincarnation in the room. I'm the one who's going to hurt you."

This entire time, Zane had sounded so scared. Scared for Lloyd's life.

It was all this thing's fault.

The IceBlight killed his brother.

K̵̙̐̚i̵̡̛͚̾̈́l̶̥̖͗l̴̡̢͎͋̄́ ̷̱̹͊ȋ̴̢̺̘ẗ̴̨̟͉́̔͆ ̶͈͎̥̊̏̕b̸̮͕̆̔̚a̶̰̮̲̋c̷̜̺͙͋k̸͖̪̅

Lloyd tugged on the remains of the broken floor. He thinks he knows what his original problem with this element was: too slow. Too rigid. Too much thinking, not enough fighting. But Ice wasn't, really. He's seen how quick it can be, how dangerous and sharp. Maybe in the real world, under natural conditions, things were quick to freeze.

Not here. Not when it was his to control.

He turned his hand toward the sky, twisting it into a claw. Every block and shard of ice responded, rushing to collect behind him. It coalesced into a spiral, sharp and thin like a horn. The IceBlight stared him down silently.

Lloyd's eyes glinted, reflecting the light off the dozens of icy surfaces. "Scared yet?"

The IceBlight flew into another fit, shooting forward with the speed of an arrow shot from a Rito's bow. Lloyd twisted his arm, and the spiral of ice, just as long and sharp as the Blight's spear, rushed forward to meet it. The Blight and Lloyd parried blows, trading cuts and savage rips into flesh.

Lloyd just barely managed to stay out of reach of the Blight, keeping his distance by attacking with the spindle of ice. It was thin, sharp and quick, but it took every ounce of Lloyd's concentration just to keep it in one piece. He was tiring, fast.

The IceBlight sliced off the point of Lloyd's elemental weapon with a swathe of its spear. Lloyd grit his teeth, jumping onto the ice itself and using it to get in close to the Blight. Small and quick as he was, he was able to get in close and cut deep.

They were both wearing thin. Lloyd had delivered dozens of cuts to the Blight, but it could throw him around like a ragdoll all the same.

One more time.

Lloyd leapt up, shattering his ride in one swift curl of his hand. It exploded in a cloud of ice and frost, and he used the cover to attack.

He spun down, gaining momentum, sword poised to cut and kusarigama prepared to manhandle-

Only to be slapped down like a fly by swatter.

"LLOYD!"

Lloyd was struck into the stone floor at the edge of the double doors. He laid on his stomach, trembling as he tried to lift himself up on his forearms. He groaned, slumping back down weakly.

"LLOYD! Lloyd, get up! Get UP, it's coming, get up NOW!"

Lloyd shivered, his head falling into the cool, soothing stone. Zane screamed bloody murder into his ear, but he couldn't acknowledge it.

He heard the Blight creaking behind him, arm raising its spear.

He's fighting. Fighting so, so hard. He's battled this demon for hours now, and yet it prevails. It derives such strength from its Master - the magnanimous Overlord. It will not wear thin, but he does.

He's been cut deep. He trembles, face down, unable to stand. His fingers can barely twitch. The Blight is behind him, raising its spear. It will kill him now, he knows.

Oh, his family. His four wonderful brothers, and his sister. Who will cook for Cole? Who will calm Kai's ire? Who will entertain Jay's boundless whims of invention? Who will teach Nya what it means to be Zora? Who will protect Lloyd?

Well, the last is obvious. The others will. They will survive.

He knows they will not.

The spear comes down on his back in slow motion. From the corner of his eye, he sees a brilliant, golden light. It comes from the center of the world, and stretches in four different directions. One such direction is himself. He is struck, all at once, by both spear and Time.

Yes. That is what he needs. Time.

Lloyd blinked, staring at frozen stone. Zane… he thought weakly, fingers twitching in front of him. Is that… how you died?

"STAY AWAY FROM HIM!"

The spear comes down in slow motion. Lloyd forces himself to move. He turns over, throwing his glowing hand out at the IceBlight.

"Gotcha~"

All at once, ice shoots in. From the first crater of impact Lloyd created, thrown into by the Blight's attack. From the ceiling rafters where he blocked its attacks. And from the second crater, across the first.

All three, put together, form a perfect triangle of checkpoints for his ice. And the Blight stands directly in the middle.

Ice raced in, three different sources to freeze the Blight in place. It's trapped as ice encased its body all the way up to the neck. The Blight strains from within the ice, but it's futile.

It can't move. Not even an inch.

Lloyd shakily stood up, leaning on his sword for support. He limped forward, knocking the spear from the Blight's grasp. It shattered on the floor.

"T-told you I-I had a pla-plan," he said, shivering violently. His body was completely taxed.

"…you actually won."

"D-did you ev-ever d-doubt?"

"I certainly worried. Quickly, kill it."

Lloyd hefted his blade, eyes glinting. "I p-plan to."

Then something happened. He couldn't describe it if he tried. It was like the entire world just went dim, and everything stopped moving and breathing and being alive for that split second.

The Blight's eye flickered. It glowed a horrible, nauseating purple and black and even yellow.

Little Prince. You're BACK.

Energy and adrenaline shot through his bones.

He knows that voice. Over a dozen millennia, a galaxy's turn of fights, a star's breath of blows, he knows this voice. He has faced this voice. He has heard it gloat and cry out and scream and rage. He knows this voice. Every atom of every molecule of him knows this voice.

He has felt this voice over every single lifetime he's ever lived and experienced and died and been reborn in and he knows this voice.

And every single incarnation in his soul is screaming K̷̨̢̧͈͎͚̼̝̟̟̅͆̈́̈́̔̾̐̉̅ͅİ̷͕͇̔L̴̝͓̘͍͍̱͎̺̻̀̅̆͂͜͝ͅL̸̢̨͖̦̯͇͚͙̤̳̄͒̀̒ ̶̨͓̭̪̪̗̹͋͊̏̏̇͝H̸̢̢͎̳̠̙̼̦̻̱̃̾İ̷̺̣̗̱͇̮̱͚͑̒͜͝M̵̺̩͖̗̗͍͝

Lloyd screamed, eyes glowing a solid green that overtook his sclera and pupils, and he threw out his kusarigama. It tightened around every inch of the Blight's body, and he pulled the weapon taught until it shattered into a million pieces, breaking the Blight's body.

Its head rolled across the floor, laughing.

I look forward to killing you again, Godling.

Lloyd panted, his entire body still buzzing as he stared down the corpse of the Blight. He raised his sword, and stabbed the eye straight through.

He hunched over his sword, eyes unfocused. It was like every atom in his body had been zapped, primed to kill in an instant.

He closed his eyes, breathing slowly. He… he's pretty sure that was the Overlord. His voice, more specifically, speaking through his creation.

Now the Overlord knew he was alive again. That's what he meant, right? 'You're back'. For some reason, Lloyd hadn't thought of the possibility of the Overlord figuring it out… or the consequences.

He breathed in again, trying to calm his heart. That could all wait, probably, until he was somewhere less cold.

He'd done it. He'd- he'd actually killed the IceBlight.

He stared down at the dim eyeball of the dead Blight, his sword's end still plunged into it. Sinew and tissue ran down his blade, blackened with tar. He jerked his dao back, spraying up more black residue.

In his other hand, he felt the kusarigama's weight grow lighter. He looked down to find it's pick and whip-chain slowly disappearing, dissolving into snowy particles. The handle and guard melted away, leaving him with only his sword.

He blinked. "Yeah, why not."

He… hm. What did he do now?

His eyes found the Golden Shuriken. He hadn't gotten the chance to look at them properly, being attacked by a demon and all, but now their glow was undisturbed. A wide staircase led up the dais to what Lloyd could only call a helm, a command center in Vah Ruta's skull. He walked forward, ascending the staircase. The Golden Shuriken floated on a pedestal, glowing in warm light. Each point was perfectly sharpened, icy to the touch. Little snowflakes curled from the blades, dissolving almost immediately.

He reached out tentatively, hesitating. He scooped both weapons up, holding them to his chest.

"I-" he swallowed, feeling the Golden Weapon press into him with a force that was undoubtedly divine. This was a weapon the God of Time used millennia ago, before Time had so much as a name, to carve out the entire continent. It felt impossible to hold them in his arms, smaller than his own sword.

He looked down at them. "First Master," he whispered, "please, help me fix this. Show me how to make them whole again." Divine Beast Vah Ruta wasn't wholly free yet, he could feel it. There was still corruption in these weapons, parasitic magic seeping into their star-metal.

They glowed pleasantly. He choked on his own breath, exhaustion weighing on him. "Please," he repeated, eyes slipping closed, "for your Champion. For Zane Julien."

A bright light seared his eyelids, growing steadily. He opened his eyes to find the Shuriken brimming with divine light, snow and ice pouring out from them. The metal began to chill until it burned, worse than frostbite, and he let them go in surprise. Instead of clattering to the stone, they floated midair, and began to spin. Faster and faster, until their ends blurred into a glowing turbine of golden light.

Lloyd backed up, eyes wide. "What the-"

The Golden Shuriken shot up into the vaulted ceiling. A bright beam of golden light filled the entire chamber, forcing Lloyd to cover his eyes as a gust of cold wind blew his braided hair back.

When it finally dimmed, Lloyd could make out the forming, sparkling white and gold silhouette of a person. Two arms formed, then a long torso, legs, a tail, a head with two fins for ears-

The silhouette flashed golden and white, filling in with the form of Zane Julien.

Lloyd watched, dumbfounded, as Zane's limp body floated down from the ceiling. The Golden Shuriken slipped over his wrists, molding into two golden bands laced in white spirals resembling snowflakes.

Zane hit the floor on his knees, slumped over and head bowed. Lloyd's breath caught in his throat at the sight. The Zoran champion was dressed in white, his top folded and secured with silver pins, his middle tied off with a pale blue sash. A spiked silver guard covered his right shoulder, and two lightweight silver gauntlets protecting his gloved forearms. His skin was blue, lighter and almost purplish compared to Benthomaar. His fingers were dyed a painful white, and more frostbite scars bit at his skin. His hair was pure white, cropped and ruffled. A silver crown stood upon his brow, perfectly framing the white and black crown-like pattern of markings on his forehead. Two crescent moons, icy blue, framed his eyes. A long, muscular tail hung behind him, pale blue diamonds running down its length.

Lloyd swallowed, jerking forward but hesitating to actually move. "Z-Zane?"

Zane groaned, his eyes fluttering open. They were unfocused and cloudy, a brilliantly clear icy blue. They moved up, locking onto Lloyd and widening.

"…Lloyd?" Zane blinked, a hand coming up to rub at his eyes. He balked, staring at his own hand. He began to pat his own body, astounded. "I'm-" He stared at his own hands for a long moment, and then at Lloyd, eyes brimming with emotion. "I'm alive?"

Lloyd let out a short, breathless laugh of disbelief. "I- yeah, yeah you're- Zane, you're alive!"

Tears poured from Zane's eyes, freezing the second they hit the ground. He stood on shaky legs, amazed at the action. "After 100 years…" Zane whispered, still staring at his own hands like he couldn't believe they were solid.

He laughed, rubbing at his tears. "Lloyd," he gasped, "thank you."

Lloyd could only stare. Zane's brow furrowed in confusion, clearly not expecting his dimmed response. "Lloyd? Are you alright? I know the Blight was very nerve-wracking…"

Lloyd shook his head, staring at the floor. "Uhm, Zane I…" he breathed out, setting his face into something less nervous as he met Zane's eyes. "I don't remember you. I woke up with amnesia; I'm sorry."

Zane blinked. "Oh." Lloyd bit his lip, hunching his shoulders. Zane hummed thoughtfully. Lloyd watched him step down the dais, boots clicking against stone, until the Zoran Champion stood before him. He was tall, Lloyd only coming up to about his shoulder. Zane knelt down so they were eye-to-eye and gave Lloyd a soft smile.

"Look," he said kindly, tapping Lloyd's scarred cheek and then his own frostbitten skin, "we match."

Lloyd's breath hitched, once, twice, and he was suddenly falling into Zane's chest, crying into the engraved fabric. Zane held him close, arms tight around him.

"Thank you," he whispered, "thank you so much."

Lloyd wiped his cheek. "You're not upset?"

"How could I be? You saved me."

"But…" Lloyd pulled back, sniffling. "I'm not the same anymore. I'm really not."

Zane shook his head. "That's not what I saw. You're still you. Besides, there's nothing wrong with change. It's something we all do."

Zane stood, his hand on Lloyd's shoulder. "Let's go," he said. "I don't know about you, but I'm a little tired of this place. I suppose a century spent here will do that."

Lloyd nodded, before his eyes snapped open wide. "Nya!" He exclaimed.

Zane gave him a puzzled look. "What? What about Nya?"

Lloyd grabbed Zane's hand, a wide smile breaking his face. "She's here!" Zane's eyes widened. "She's in the cove right now, she'll be so happy to see you!"

Zane turned, looking out the vaulted windows of Vah Ruta's eyes. "She- she's here? How?"

"I unmerged her from the ocean a while ago," Lloyd said. Zane spluttered, even more confused, but Lloyd just tugged his arm insistently. "Come on, how do we leave?"

Zane shook himself, standing straight. The golden bands on his wrists widened, and warped back into the Golden Shuriken. Zane gripped them as they glowed, and the ground beneath their feet began to shake. Zane fixed him with a bright, toothy grin.

"Want to see something really cool?"

Zane held him around his shoulders, and in a flash of light they were both warped onto the exterior of Vah Ruta's head, surrounded by her crowned horns. Lloyd gasped, stumbling as they landed. Zane was unfazed, raising his Shuriken. They spun rapidly at his fingertips, and Vah Ruta responded.

The Divine Beast snapped into motion, smoothly moving on two arms across the icy cove, circling the waters. Her upper body raised up, maw opening to the sky. A burst of ice spewed from her mouth, lighting up the sky.

Lloyd watched with stars in his eyes, screaming in excitement at the display. Zane watched him with a fond smile. Vah Ruta lowered back down. Lloyd raced to the edge, peeking over Vah Ruta's crown, and saw Nya staring up at them, waving her arms. Lloyd waved his hand back.

"Nya!" He hollered, cupping his hand over his mouth. "Nya, I did it!"

Zane nudged him. "Go show her your new element," he said. Lloyd gasped, grinning.

He hopped over the edge of Vah Ruta's horns, and a slick slide of ice formed under his feet. It was thin, and crumbled quickly as he slid down, unstable, but it held itself up long enough for him to reach the groundwater safely. Nya made an excited scream, running forward to meet him. She caught him as he stumbled off the edge of his crumbling slide, picking him up with a spin.

"Lloyd!" She exclaimed, a bright smile on her face. "You have Ice! You're using Ice!"

"It's rather impressive, right? I'm astounded he picked it up so quickly."

Nya froze at the voice, her eyes tracking behind Lloyd. Zane slid down his own not-crumbling ice slide, much more neatly than Lloyd had — show-off — and stepped into the water.

Zane broke into a smile. "Hello, Nya."

Nya set Lloyd down behind her, staring at Zane. She stepped forward, her eyes narrowed. "…Zane?"

Zane simply held his arms open. Nya sobbed, running forward to throw herself at him. He caught her easily, holding the smaller Zora tightly.

Nya sobbed into Zane's shoulder, hands practically clawing at him. "Zane," she choked, "you're alive, I can't believe it-"

Zane's lip trembled as he cradled the back of his sister's head. "It was all Lloyd," he said, "he freed me. I have no idea how, but he did. The Golden Weapon brought me back."

Nya lifted her head, touching the frostbite on his cheek. "You're hurt…"

"Superficial," Zane said simply, "I don't feel them at all. I must have been healed."

Nya shook her head in disbelief. "But how?" She glanced back at Lloyd. "Was it the Green Element?"

Lloyd shrugged. "Don't ask me! I just talked at it until it started glowing."

Nya rubbed her eyes dry, sniffling. She tugged Zane into another tight hug, crying and laughing at the same time. "Thank the Master," she said. She laughed breathlessly, bowing her head. She traced Zane's frostbitten fingers, slumping against him. "You're alive," she murmured. Then her eyes widened, and she shot up straight. "Zane, you're alive!"

Zane made a face at her. "That's been established."

Nya hit his armor. "No, I mean- he's waiting for you!"

Zane sucked in a sharp breath. "You mean… he's still-?"

Nya nodded. "Yeah. He's back at the palace now. Zane, your dad is still alive."

Vah Ruta raced through the ocean's surf, skimming over waves like they were mere pebbles. The panicked screams of Zora quickly turned to cheers and yells of excitement as the population realized Vah Ruta was celebrating, free for the first time in 100 years. The sky was perfectly clear, clouds breaking to reveal beams of sunlight, shining down on the sparkling sea.

Ice sprayed up in Vah Ruta's wake, and Zane knelt at Lloyd's side, carefully directing the younger elemental in guiding the ice in different directions. Nya sat atop one of Vah Ruta's massive horns, breathing in the salty air as she kicked her legs, content. Every so often, she looked back at her brothers, happier than ever.

Benthomaar was waiting for them, standing on a balcony facing the sea. Vah Ruta slowed, her arms resting on the rocky base of the palace.

"Bentho!" Lloyd shrieked, jumping down to the balcony. He bounced on his feet, shoving sparkling hands into his friend's face. "Look! I have an element now!"

Benthomaar made the appropriate sounds of awe and astonishment. "Lloyd, that's incredible!" He looked up at Nya, who jumped down as well. "And Nya! How did it go?"

"Smooth as it could," Nya said, pulling Lloyd into a side hug. "Greenie here was perfect."

"And!" Lloyd announced, "We got Zane!"

"Wait, what-?"

Zane stepped down, standing at their side. Benthomaar gaped as the resurrected Champion lowered himself in a respectful bow. "Your majesty," he said. "I'm sorry to leave so suddenly, but my father-"

The balcony door was thrown open, and Dr. Julien hobbled through. Nya tugged Lloyd and Benthomaar to the side to give them a little privacy.

Dr. Julien stepped forward slowly, adjusting his glasses with a shaky hand. He had to crane his neck to meet Zane's face.

"Come closer," the doctor said quietly, "don't make me wear my legs out, now."

Zane's back straightened, his shoulders pushed back in perfect posture as he met his father in the middle. He trembled, lip wobbling. Dr. Julien's hand blindly felt his shoulder, tracing the fabric.

"Speak," the doctor said softly. "I can't see you."

"Father," Zane gasped, tears spilling over his eyes. He clutched his father's hand desperately. "F-Father I-" he choked, bowing his head.

Dr. Julien cupped his cheek, fingers deftly tracing Zoran markings and frostbite. He squinted, tilting his head as his hand found the familiar lines of his son's face. For the first time in decades, his cataracts cleared with his growing tears.

"I know this face," he murmured hoarsely. He abandoned his cane to the ground to reach up and cup both cheeks. His thumbs brushed Zane's tears away. "The last face I ever saw. Oh, my son. My beautiful, beautiful son."

Zane cried into his father's hands. "I'm so sorry," he whispered, "I swore to be safe. I'm so sorry-"

"Hush and hug me, Zane."

Zane lurched forward, falling into his father's embrace.

Nya pulled Lloyd away, led by Benthomaar, to give them both privacy. Lloyd realized with a start he was crying himself, and quickly wiped his eyes.

Benthomaar breathed out when the doors shut behind them, running a hand through his hair. "Honestly, Lloyd, when you asked if there was a chance of bringing him back, I really didn't think you'd actually pull it off." He clapped his hands, looking down at the two shorter Champions. "Who wants lunch?"

Chapter Text

Lloyd stuffed seafood in his mouth like he hadn't eaten in five days. In his defense, he'd just spent several hours non-stop fighting.

Benthomaar had brought up an entire banquet remarkably quickly, filling an entire long table with food, piled high on silver platters. Rice, fish, noodles and broth, and steamed vegetables were served to the group. Lloyd piled shrimp and salmon on a spoonful of rice and swallowed it practically whole. Nya, sat next to him and eating more reasonably, looking down in mild concern.

"You're gonna choke like that…"

Zane, Dr. Julien, and Benthomaar were consumed in their own conversation. Zane was explaining what had transpired inside of Vah Ruta, recalling Lloyd's performance in the trials and defeating the Blight. Dr. Julien looked like he was barely paying attention, looking upon his son in adoration, one hand on Zane's arm.

Benthomaar nodded along attentively, a hand on his chin. "What I don't get," the prince said, calling everyone's attention, "is how you're back. If I'm speaking plainly - you still died a century ago. Your body was never recovered, and I have trouble believing it was left whole in the first place, much less preserved… so this certainly isn't resurrection."

Nya shot Benthomaar a look. "Hey, Bentho? Maybe we don't bring up people's deaths at the dinner table."

Lloyd shrugged at Zane's helpless look. "You get used to it," he said, stuffing another bite of noodles in his mouth. Zane grimaced.

"You're going to get sick…"

Dr. Julien adjusted his glasses. Lloyd had noticed that for some reason, his vision had seemed to clear up. Not by much - he was still basically blind. But he seemed to see much easier now. He wondered if it was really just Zane's return, or something else.

"Son, do you remember anything before you died?"

Zane set down his chopsticks, deep in thought. "Honestly, not much. I fought the IceBlight for hours on end. When it finally struck me down… well, I remember this strange golden light. But I have no idea what it meant."

Lloyd blinked. Yeah, he'd seen the same thing, from Zane's perspective somehow. He didn't know if their shared element had something to do with it, or if it was something else that allowed him to see those precious few seconds of Zane's memory.

Nya leaned forward. "What does it matter? Uncorrupting a Divine Beast means getting you back!" Her eyes sparkled with unfettered hope. It was genuinely the happiest Lloyd had ever seen her. "This means we can get everyone back! Like Kai!"

Lloyd decided not to mention the Overlord. He didn't want to squash their hope by bringing the guy up. Besides, it wasn't like the Overlord could somehow power up his Blights from hundreds of miles away. Still, the itch beneath his skin hadn't gone away.

Benthomaar tilted his head. "Champion Zane, is this true? Do you think all the dead champions are still inside their Divine Beasts?"

"I'm sure of it," Zane said with no hesitation. "My brothers are just as stubborn and determined as I am. So long as there is work to be done, they will there to do it."

"Great!" Nya clapped her hands. "Then tomorrow morning, we leave for Ignacia to get Kai. We're only about a week away on horseback, but between the three of us, we can shorten that down easily."

Lloyd wiped his mouth, turning to face her. "What was Kai's Divine Beast?"

"Vah Rudania," Nya said, a nostalgic smile on her lips. "She was a Wyrm. She was beautiful - I used to spend hours watching her on the volcano."

Zane cleared his throat. "Nya, we… can't go to Ignacia yet."

She whipped her head up, surprise on her face. "What? Why not? Kai is in Ignacia! Where else would we go?"

Benthomaar wisely ducked out of the conversation, turning to his food. Zane crossed his arms on the table, brows furrowed. "I've been thinking about this. Nya, purifying Golden Weapon essentially resurrects their wielder - obviously," he gestured to himself at that, fair blue skin and frostbite scars, "which means that wherever we go next, that will be who we decide to save. We need to think about this logically."

Nya slowly stood, her chair scraping marble floors. Her hands splayed out on the table as she stared down at Zane. "Are you seriously asking me to weigh the lives of our brothers? Our brothers, and my fiance?"

Zane calmly met her flickering glare. "Yes."

Nya's pupils shrunk in surprise, and her mouth contorted in a half-snarl. "I didn't take you for such a robot."

"I'm thinking long term. Cole is the correct decision - his element will be easier for Lloyd to learn, and he was our default leader. Aside from that, Ignacia is too dangerous for us right now."

Nya rolled her eyes. "I grew up in Ignacia. I know you Zora have a thing against Goron-" Benthomaar winced, and Zane's eyes flattened in his own tight glare, "but Ignacia is not dangerous. We can handle it!"

"No, we can't." Zane's ears flicked. "Our elements are virtually useless in Ignacia, and Lloyd doesn't have enough experience to fight Vah Rudania."

Lloyd swallowed, raising his hand hesitantly. "Uhh… what's so special about Vah Rudania?"

Benthomaar leaned down, whispering from behind his hand. "She's inside an active volcano."

Lloyd blanched. "Ah."

Nya's tail twitched in agitation. "He doesn't need experience. He has us!"

"Again, our elements are useless. If we get Cole, then Jay will be right after. They'll both be leagues more useful in helping Lloyd."

Nya's hands curled, scraping the blue tablecloth. "I'm more than capable of handling my brother's oversized dragon, with or without an element."

"You could barely handle mine."

Zane's own chair screeched against the floor as he stood, meeting Nya head on. His eyes burned with hidden fear.

"Vah Ruta almost killed the both of you, inside of your own element. How exactly do you think two Zora will fair inside of a volcano? It's not as though Fire will be particularly easy for Lloyd to control at this point either."

"The hell does it matter?! He figured out Ice in a single day! And in case you haven't noticed, I'm Goron too!"

"I'm just trying to think about this logically. We need to do what will be easiest for Lloyd, and will make the easier journey for us as well."

"Oh, fuck off," Nya rolled her eyes, "you just want to get to Cole because you used to like him." Zane blushed furiously, his skin burning purple as frost crept up his cheeks.

"T-that's not true! Earth will be the easier element for Lloyd, and the desert is less dangerous than an active volcano."

"I thought the volcano was dangerous because we're Zora," Nya mocked, "how exactly is a desert any better?"

"We can keep each other hydrated. And, again, the Divine Beast itself. Even with the both of us, Vah Rudania is too dangerous right now. You only kept Vah Ruta back because you were inside a cove."

"Don't act so high and mighty about your damn Beast," Nya growled. "I seem to remember it being pretty fucking useless during the Calamity."

Zane balked. Benthomaar leaned forward, one hand on the table. "Nya!"

"I kept the Blight from using Vah Ruta to destroy this domain for 100 years," Zane said tightly, "so I'm sorry if I was a little preoccupied."

"I don't want to hear a fucking word about being preoccupied!" Nya yelled back. The liquid in their glasses began to slosh in tune with Nya's bubbling horns. "I was the one who actually managed to protect the Zora!" Nya spat the word like a curse. Lloyd wanted to reach out and stop whatever was happening, but Zane interrupted as ice began gluing the chairs to the floor.

"Don't talk about my people like that!" Zane snapped, "Just because you've had poor experiences-"

"I'll talk about them all I want! I was the one who actually did something for the jerks-"

"Nya!" Benthomaar gaped, his fins pinned to his head.

"-while you sat pretty in your robot! I was the one who was actually there to protect Lloyd!"

"Yes, and that turned out so well."

"Zane!" Dr. Julien gasped.

Nya's eyes widened with shock at Zane's words. Zane himself seemed surprised at his own words, a blue hand coming up to cup his mouth. Everyone in the room was perfectly silent, all except the sloshing of drinks and the crack of ice creeping along the table.

Nya shook in place, her hand twitching. Zane swallowed thickly. He slowly backed up, back ramrod straight as his arms pinned themselves to his sides. "I… am going to remove myself," he said tightly. He bowed shortly to Benthomaar, "Your majesty." Then the Master of Ice swiftly exited the room.

Nya watched him go, jaw clenched. She swiped her bangs out of her face angrily. Hot, salty tears pricked the corners of her eyes. "I'm going to train," she muttered, pushing in her chair, "we leave for Ignacia in the morning, whether Zane likes it or not."

Then she left too, stomping out of the silent room. Benthomaar and Dr. Julien, shocked silent by the violent escalation, didn't say a word.

Lloyd, hunched over, took a meek bite of rice. It was cold.

Lloyd idly kicked his foot, dangling over the high walls of the palace. He sat wedged on a windowsill, face turned toward the sun. The salty sea breeze brushed against his skin, tickling his cheeks and ruffling his hair. Ever since Vah Ruta had been freed, the weather had cleared up, the sun freed from its prison behind thick clouds. He could see dozens of Zora, in shades of blues, greens, and even purples swimming around the Beast. Small children clambered up her sides, jumping off into the ocean with little splashes. Vah Ruta sat, unresponsive, calm and peaceful in the deeper half of the reef.

Lloyd watched them idly, toying with miniature snowflakes in his hands. They sparkled like tiny little stars, dusting his fingers with white powder. He was still amazed at the sight. He felt giddy with glee - him, using a real-life element. And soon, he'd have three more. He wondered how they would feel - Ice was a sort of calm presence in his collarbone. Where would Earth sit? Fire, Lightning?

"Lloyd?" Benthomaar, holding a few rolled up scrolls in his arms, stood behind him. Lloyd looked up at the other prince. He seemed just as tense as Lloyd felt, though he hid it well. A few hours after their disastrous meal, neither Zane or Nya had cooled off much. Zane was practically icing out everyone but his father, and no one wanted to get close to Nya when she was this angry.

Benthomaar smiled wryly like he could sense what Lloyd was thinking. "Come on," he offered, jerking his head, "walk with me."

Lloyd dusted his hands off and hopped off the windowsill. He padded behind Benthomaar, quiet in thought as they walked through the halls. The happy shrieks and calls of Zora filtered in through wide open windows. Every so often, Lloyd would peek outside to find people happily celebrating in the courtyards, running down cobblestone streets to get their own glimpse of the Divine Beast. Benthomaar noticed it too, smiling to himself.

"In times like this," Benthomaar suddenly spoke up, interrupting the easy silence, "I'm reminded of how grateful I am for both our Champions. Nya saved us from Wojira, and Zane has kept the ever-present threat of Vah Ruta at bay for a century now."

"What do you mean?" Lloyd asked. "I thought… well, no one knew he was still around."

"No," Benthomaar said simply, "we didn't. But I guess I've always known that if there wasn't something holding Vah Ruta back, the Blight would've destroyed this place with it long ago. So, yes, I'm extremely grateful to the both of them. They've done so much more for this realm than should have ever been asked of them."

"Then why does Nya hate it so much?" It was a weird trend with her. Nya honestly seemed to have this weird, intense hatred for the Zoran realm. She'd outright admitted she didn't merge with the ocean to save them; it was just an excuse to give up. Just a few hours ago, she talked about Zora like they were awful people.

Benthomaar sighed. "I love my people, I do. But a century ago - and even now, still - they weren't the most… open-minded, especially in the capital. My brother was not the only person who saw other races as inferior, especially Goron. Many people looked at Nya and saw only impurity. She was too Zoran to fit properly in Goron life. She was especially too Goron for any Zora to see her as anything but… well, forgive my wording, but 'dirty'."

"But… she's an Elemental Master," Lloyd said quietly, "I thought everyone loved Elemental Masters."

"We do," Benthomaar assured him, "but back then, we didn't know water was an element. To many close-minded individuals who loved to laud over 'uncultured' societies like the Goron and Gerudo, she was a threat. They didn't see her as equal to them, and she was treated poorly for it. She's never had much fondness for this realm because of it. Myself and Zane are the few exceptions to her rule."

"…it must've been awful," Lloyd concluded. The ocean was Nya's element. The Zora Domain should've been her personal paradise - a cool, tropical realm where water leaked from every orifice. She was visibly built for it, not the volcanic regions of the Goron. To arrive somewhere that should have been home, and be treated like dirt…

"It was," Benthomaar said sadly. "Following her sacrifice, most of those views changed. Too late, though. She never saw it."

Benthomaar continued down the hall, leaving Lloyd to catch up. They swept down the long, arched halls. Lloyd hadn't noticed before, but there were alcoves embedded in the walls, holding grand woven tapestries. He stopped, staring up at one. It was undoubtedly Nya and Zane both. Zane held his shuriken, glowing with power, and Nya her trident. They spun around one another, curled up around a star and dripping moon, respectively. Nya cradled a moon, pouring a waterfall that sloshed up against the end of the fabric, while Zane held a star close to his heart.

Benthomaar hummed behind him. "It was commissioned after the Calamity. Art is how we honor our warriors."

"I don't know what to do," Lloyd admitted, craning his neck to look into the imitation of Nya's closed eyes. Sparkling blue runes curled around her eyes, little waves spilling down her cheeks. "I want to go to Ignacia and make Nya happy, but… I mean, I spent hours figuring out that I'm supposed to think things through! Zane's right - shouldn't we pick the most useful element? But how am I supposed to- to treat them like that? I can't just pick and choose from real people!"

Benthomaar hummed, holding his chin thoughtfully. "This sounds like a leadership issue. Right now, it looks like both Nya and Zane consider themselves the de-facto 'leader' at the moment. Which, obviously, is an issue when they both have conflicting opinions."

"So what do we do?"

"Lloyd," Benthomaar smiled sympathetically, "you're a prince. Lead them."

He blinked, dumbfounded. "No way. I'm just their little brother, they wouldn't-"

"They will," Benthomaar rested a hand on his shoulder. "I know this, because I was in your shoes at one point. Come on; let's talk somewhere more private."

Benthomaar led him through winding halls until they arrived in a round office-type room. Benthomaar dropped his scrolls off on the desk as he looked out the window behind it. Lloyd hopped onto the sill, sitting criss-cross.

"When my father and brother died," Benthomaar began, as you do, "this kingdom was in dire straits. Mostly due to Wojira and the Calamity, but without their King or Crown Prince, the responsibility to lead fell to me."

"You told me about that," Lloyd said, drawing up his knee to rest his cheek on, "you said you were crowned at sixteen. It was early, right?"

"Yes. Since we live so long, the Crown waits until their Prince or Princess is at least 50 to officially give them the title. Then, 100 to become King or Queen. So crowning me at sixteen was akin to giving a 10-year-old the power to declare war."

"Was it hard?"

"Very. I never attended the lessons Kalmaar did - I was never expected to rule in any fashion similar to him. I didn't know how to run a country, and I certainly didn't have any worldly experience. My duties at the time amounted to making appearances in lieu of Kalmaar or my father. I was the one who attended your party, actually, when you were ten. Kalmaar hated the idea of going."

"Benthomaar, I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but I'm kind of glad your brother is dead," Lloyd deadpanned. Benthomaar had to choke back his own laughter, shoulders shaking from it.

"Ha! I am too. The point is, I was vulnerable. Many people tried to use that."

"How?"

Benthomaar's brows furrowed, eyes clouding with the memory. "Politicians. Nobles. I was a child, and had just lost everything. They were selfish, power-hungry people who saw a chance to take advantage. They attempted to coerce me into war, despite our minuscule army - attack the Goron for their resources, attack the Gerudo before they came after us on their own… it's no coincidence that my country viewed both races unkindly, back then." He gave Lloyd an unhappy smile, strained around the edges. "I can understand that there was fear. The entire world was in shambles, and no one wanted to be the ones who ended up at the bottom of whatever food chain filled Hyrule's collapse. Still, it was hard. Honestly, it was really only thanks to people like Dr. Julien who helped me through the process that my kingdom is prosperous now."

"How did you do it, though?" Lloyd asked, leaning forward. "How'd you get them to listen to you?"

"At first, I tried threatening them," Benthomaar admitted sheepishly, "even then, I emulated my brother. I tried to throw around my power. It just made me easier to manipulate. It made me look immature and unconfident. So, instead, when something needed to be done, I came up with a plan." Benthomaar turned to root around in his desk, and came back up with a papyrus notepad and pen. He leaned on the edge of the desk, and gave Lloyd a wave of his hand. "So. What should you do?"

Lloyd blinked, shifting uncertainly. "Can't you tell me? You're the experienced one."

"Experience only comes through challenge," Benthomaar said with a smile. "So I'll coach you through this, but I won't hand you the answer. Now, tell me: what should you do?"

Lloyd groaned loudly, pressing the heels of his palms into his eyes. "I don't know! I don't want to upset Nya, and they both have a point, but…"

Benthomaar hummed sympathetically. "Then let's draw up a list. Recall why they each want to go to Ignacia or the desert."

Lloyd pulled his legs to his chest. "Well… Zane thinks Earth will be easier for me to learn than Fire. And he thinks the volcanoes are too dangerous for the three of us."

Benthomaar scribbled on his notepad, nodding along. "And Nya?"

"She wants her brother back. And she has a point - Fire would be a really powerful element to have, wouldn't it?"

"All the core elements are technically equal in terms of raw power, but yes, the old Master of Flame was a particularly strong fighter. And, I'll be honest, you were also very close to him." Benthomaar smiled nostalgically. "You thought he was one of the coolest people you'd ever met. I'd be offended if it weren't true."

"What about Cole?" Lloyd asked. "Zane said he was their old leader - so, shouldn't we get him to avoid this type of thing?"

Benthomaar shrugged. "Honestly? Maybe, maybe not. A good leader certainly helps, but it doesn't make or break a team. Cole was only the 'leader' because you were too young, and he was trained for it."

Lloyd blinked, somewhat surprised. Him, leader? It made sense. He was royalty, and his element was supposedly this weird… center of the other four, a collection of their power combined.

"Would Earth be easier to learn? Is that what I should focus on?"

Benthomaar tapped his metallic foot. "It depends on what you think you need. If you want to build a strong team quickly, focus on the Champions and who they were. If you want this to go as quickly as possible, then choose whichever Divine Beast will be comparatively 'easiest' to best. For safety; the domains you travel. And for your own progress, then as Zane said; which element will be best for you to learn fastest."

Lloyd hunched his shoulders. "That's… a lot. Are you sure you can't just tell me where to go?"

Benthomaar chuckled, ruffling his hair. Lloyd pouted, righting his disturbed diadem. "Time to start making your own decisions, Lloyd," he said fondly.

Lloyd chewed the inside of his cheek, deep in thought. There were too many factors to weigh in. He really didn't want to upset Nya, especially seeing how hopeful she was, but he couldn't afford to mess up this time. The Overlord knew he was back now, and though Lloyd doubted his ability to interfere too strongly from Hyrule Castle, he couldn't risk not being as careful as possible now.

Fire might not be harder to awaken, but Lloyd wasn't suddenly a master just because he beat one Blight. He was a novice at best with his new element, and another element that was so inherently contradictory to Ice could make both elements that much harder to perfect. The volcanoes also didn't seem particularly friendly… but two Zora, both with water-based elements, in the desert wasn't very appealing either. Besides, he didn't know what monsters lay in either region.

Benthomaar noticed his dilemma easily. "Don't worry about resources," he said kindly, "I'll give you more than enough supplies to traverse whichever domain you choose. Clothing, food and water, and weaponry."

"Thanks," Lloyd mumbled. "Okay, if it were you, where would you go?"

"Lloyd…"

"I'm not asking for the answer!" Lloyd hurriedly waved his hands. "I just want your opinion."

Benthomaar gave him a look, but thought about it. "Well, both have their merits. Personally, I agree with Zane. All Divine Beasts are incredibly dangerous and powerful, but I can't say I'm more comfortable sending you to one in an active volcano than a desert."

"So, Ignacia is more dangerous."

"In some regards," Benthomaar acquiesced, shaking his hand in a so-so motion, "but the desert will have its own dangers."

Lloyd took in his words, staring out the window. From here, the view of Vah Ruta was much closer. He could make out her glimmering eyes, the smooth, slow motion of her tail gliding along the currents. Zora of all kinds happily swam around the Divine Beast, petting and hugging her silver armor. Just below the high castle walls, children ran along the beach, pointing and shrieking.

Lloyd's fists trembled in his lap. "I… I don't know what to do. I wish Mom had just told me where to go from here."

"She couldn't account for every factor," Benthomaar said. He rested a hand on Lloyd's shoulder, prompting the younger prince to look up. "No matter which you choose, I'm confident you will succeed. And don't worry about Nya. She's just…"

"Tense?"

"Exactly. Give her some time to get used to everything, and she'll come around. Now, go do something fun."

Lloyd raised a brow skeptically. "Shouldn't you be telling me to train, or, like, strategize?"

"Yes," Benthomaar admitted sheepishly, rubbing his neck, "but you're fourteen. So go do something fun."

Lloyd grinned, hopping up on his tip-toes to give Benthomaar a tight hug. Benthomaar laughed, hugging him back. "Be back before dinner!" he called as Lloyd ran out the room.

Lloyd hefted a large melon in his hand, throwing it up high into the air. He held his dao in both hands, and with a sharp crack, hit the fruit as it came down like a baseball. The melon sailed into Caer's wide-open maw. She chomped down happily, crunching the thick fruit between her teeth. Lloyd stooped down to grab another fruit.

"It's, like-" he said, smacking another melon into Caer's waiting mouth, "I can't make Nya upset by voting to leave her brother for last, right? But I can't just ignore that, objectively, Earth is the better element, right? Because, like, duh. It's Earth. I could do so much damage with that! But then I gotta think-" Caer warbled as yet another fat melon fell into her mouth, stomping her spindly legs happily. "-whoever I save is coming with us! So is it better to have Kai in Shintaro, and Kai and Jay in the desert, or Cole in Shintaro, and Cole and Jay in Ignacia?"

Caer, oblivious to his plight, settled on the ground with a heavy thud, her legs curling beneath her like a cat's. Lloyd sighed, drooping. His sword, covered in fruit juice, trailed on the dirt behind him. He slumped down in the crook of Caer's massive knee, patting her face.

He couldn't make Nya upset. But he'd spent hours inside of a Divine Beast being told that he needed to start making plans and being smart. Objectively speaking, wouldn't Earth be easier to learn? Wouldn't having their old leader back make them better? Wouldn't it be safer, and easier, and faster?

Lloyd hugged his legs to his chest, mumbling into his knees, "she's gonna be so mad at me."

Caer rumbled sympathetically, pressing into his side. He sighed, patting the chitin next to her eyes. With a sigh, he stood, and went to find Nya and Zane.

He found them both in a small sitting room. It was more like a gazebo, actually, columns supporting a dome-like roof and the rest open to the elements. They sat on opposite ends, silently. Nya had her arms crossed grumpily, while Zane was apparently trying very hard to pretend he was a statue. Their emotions were given away by the ice creeping up Zane's boots and Nya's horns hissing and bubbling.

Lloyd cringed. They didn't seem to have calmed down much. Tentatively, he knocked on a column, drawing their attention. They both flicked their gazes over to him. Zane sat a little straighter, while Nya uncrossed her arms.

"Lloyd," she smiled, strained, "what's up?"

He scuffed the floor with his boot. "I need to talk to you guys."

Her brows furrowed. "Is this about our fight? Because-"

"No," Lloyd cut her off. "W-well, not really. But, uhm… me and Benthomaar talked about… where to go from here." Zane leaned forward with a questioning expression. Lloyd breathed out, looking up at Nya from underneath his bangs. "And… I think we should go to the desert, first."

Nya's face crumbled, though she tried very hard to hide it. Her horns sunk, slimmed down over her head like they were trying to hide from sight. She clutched the fabric of her pants, stilling the shaking in her hands. She swallowed tightly, "and you… both think it's the right call?"

Lloyd ducked his head. "Yeah. I- I really do want to go get Kai, but-"

"No," Nya said, standing suddenly. She breathed deeply for a few moments, closing her eyes. When she opened them again, she was calm, and offered Lloyd a small smile. "It's okay. It's not like he's going anywhere. Cole is good choice."

"I-" Lloyd reached out to her, but she left the room without another word. He watched her go, dejected. At least she wasn't yelling.

To his credit, Zane didn't look smug. If anything, he looked even more upset, watching Nya go sadly. When he caught Lloyd looking at him, he tried for a small smile. "I'll check on her later. It was the right decision, Lloyd. I'm proud of you."

Lloyd rubbed his arm. "Yeah."

Zane stood up, walking over to pat his arm. "I'll draw up a map, and speak to my father and Prince Benthomaar about supplies."

"Bentho said he'd get whatever we need," Lloyd answered.

"Excellent. We should be ready to leave by tomorrow morning."

"Wouldn't you rather stay with your dad a little longer?" Lloyd asked, curious. He himself would've taken the chance to stay with his dad on the Great Plateau just a little longer. Zane sighed.

"I wish. But we can't leave our brothers waiting any longer than necessary. Get a good night's rest before tomorrow; I want to leave early."

"Alright," Lloyd mumbled. With another smile, Zane left as well, ice trailing in his wake. Lloyd bit his lip. He held up his own hand, watching as shimmering ice flakes formed in his palm. They melted slowly against the heat of his skin, too weak to remain naturally.

He curled his fingers into a fist and dropped his hand. Might as well go work off his energy. His skin was still itching.

Late at night, when the moon had risen high above the ocean, Zane approached Divine Beast Vah Ruta. She remained steadfast in the ocean, deep enough so as to not disturb the homes and businesses of the Zora beneath her protection.

Zane calmly froze the still waters, creating a smooth bridge of ice for him to walk down. When he reached his Beast, he raised his arms. The golden cuffs around his wrists shone brightly, widening as their ends formed the blades of the Golden Shuriken. Spinning, they commanded Vah Ruta to lift one large, clawed hand. Zane stepped onto her palm, waiting patiently as the armor of the Beast creaked as he was lifted to her crowned skull.

Nestled against the sharp spines of Vah Ruta's crown, he found Nya, curled up with her knees to her chest and her face buried in her arms. Her cloak, a dark blue lined in silver, was draped over her shoulders, the hood pulled up to hide her head. Her black hair, choppy and out of its usual ponytail, spilled over her shoulders.

Zane silently sat next to her, drawing his own knees to his chest. He craned his neck back, staring up at the moon. "Does it call you?" He asked quietly. Nya didn't move, but he felt her question. "In Zoran mythology," he explained, "there are tales of another goddess, similar to Nyad. The moon itself, which called down to Nyad, pushing and pulling Her tides endlessly. I wonder if you felt it."

Nya lifted her head, just enough for her cyan eyes to peek over the crook of her arms. They glowed in the night, casting a ghoulish glow over her runic tattoos. "No," she mumbled, eyes flat and deadpan. "I didn't hear the moon."

Zane hummed. "I've just… always wondered, a little. To the Goron, they believe their Flame comes from the sun. The Zora believe the moon controls our tides. And the moon reflects the sun's light. It's like you, in a way. A blend of Goron and Zora - fire and ice to create water."

Nya glared at the silver and stone they sat on. "Is there a point to this, Zane?"

"Not really. I just miss talking to you."

Nya's pupils shrunk almost comically as she lifted her head, staring at Zane. "Oh, you- I didn't realize-"

"It wasn't that bad," Zane said quietly. "Really."

"You felt it. 100 years… in there, with that- that thing-"

"Yes."

Tears pooled in Nya's eyes. Zane frowned. That wasn't the reaction he wanted. "I only mean that… I know they're all okay, too. They will be okay until we get there. Besides, I…" he breathed out deeply. A trick, taught to him by his father. When he felt too overwhelmed, he could send out his breath through his mouth, and watch it pool in the air, visible from the cold he naturally emitted. "I know that Kai would want us to save the others first."

Nya swiped her forearm over her eyes roughly, sniffling. "Yeah, he would. Idiot never cared about himself enough."

Zane smiled wryly. "Not when there were others who needed help."

Nya wiped her eyes again, and Zane turned back to the moon to give her a little privacy to pull herself together. "Is it weird for you, too?" Zane asked quietly. "I'm so… unused to this body." He fingers flexed, spasming the tiniest bit. "Maybe it's just because it's been a century, but it's so… foreign. Even though it's mine."

Nya huffed out a short, mirthless laugh. She tipped to the side, landing against his side. She leaned her head on his broad shoulder. "Yeah. I get it. I couldn't even walk properly. I think Lloyd is the only one who got out of this with a normal body."

"He's blonde and covered in scars. I wouldn't call that normal. How does he not have nerve damage?"

Nya barked a short laugh, this one from real humor. "Man, magic? Being a demigod chosen one? Where is the sprout, anyway?"

"Asleep. I checked to make sure he wouldn't follow me out here. I figured you would appreciate it." He had. Lloyd was curled up in a massive bed, covered in silks and snoring away on fluffy pillows. The image was adorable.

"Thanks," Nya murmured. See, Zane knew his little brother and sister. Lloyd would always hunt them down like a little bloodhound, determined to solve their problems so he didn't have to solve his own. And Nya would always put on a brave face for the little prince she'd pledged to protect with her life. That they'd all pledged to protect.

It was a shame that things had been so horribly reversed.

Nya was special to Zane. As a child, he didn't share much of anything with anyone. He grew up in the palace, but didn't interact much with either of the two princes until his status as Master of Ice was revealed. But even so, Zane was often viewed as a… strange child. He was interested in all the wrong things, too stupid to pick up on the right micro-expressions, then too smart as he spent hours combing them over, just to creep people out when he began to read them like books. He felt alone, most of his life, and only truly at home when he was at his father's side.

Then, he met the other Elemental Masters. It was as though something in the depths of his soul had clicked, a puzzle he didn't know was broken finally intact. They made him whole and complete. But even so, he didn't share much with them. Not like he did with Nya. She was out of place, too, too Zoran to be Goron and too Goron to be Zoran. Her element was an enigma, not powerful enough for a Divine Beast or Golden Weapon, but too powerful to ignore either. She was another Zoran Champion, someone else with a similar power to his own. He'd always felt a kindred sort of connection to her.

Nya sighed, her body untensing. "I'm sorry," she said, and Zane could tell she was being sincere, and not just apologizing for the sake of it, "I know I was being… unreasonable. It's just that he's my brother. I- I can accept this, but please don't ask me to be happy about leaving him."

"We are not leaving him," Zane insisted, "like you said; he isn't going anywhere. We'll be in Ignacia soon."

"Thanks, Zane," she said. She breathed in the cool night air deeply, her gills rippling with the action. "I… kinda needed that. Zora to Zora."

"Of course," he said simply. He had trouble reading others sometimes, but never his family. And in return, they would always be able to see him too.

Nya smiled at something, and looking up at him. A hand came up into her own hair, twisting around white-dyed ends. "Hey, Zane, look. We match."

Zane's heart stuttered. His breath hitched, once, twice, as cold tears pooled in his eyes. All at once, 100 years of purgatory, of the Blight's taunts and utter hell, of desperately using his own dwindling power to defend his kingdom, all came rushing to the surface. His thin icy veneer on his emotions cracked, and a century of hell came pouring out. For a century, all he'd wanted was his family.

Nya hummed sympathetically, drawing him close as he shook with sobs. He leaned into her arms, hands scrabbling to hold on as tight as he could. "It's okay," she murmured, "let it out. I've got you."

Zane just cried, and cried, and cried.

The next morning, all three Champions are up bright and early. Lloyd, holding his bag and dao, side-eyed Zane and Nya. They both seemed different, like something had changed in the time between this morning and when he'd last seen them. It seemed to be a good change, though.

Lloyd had changed into light traveling gear with minimal armor. Nya was dressed in linen blues, and Zane in white. They each held their own bags of supplies, and behind the group, Lloyd's horse - who he's decided to name Pillow Mint - and two others stood at the ready, traveling bags secured on their flanks.

Dr. Julien and Benthomaar met them on the wide bridge to the palace. The prince was dressed formally, his silver crown perfect on his head. Dr. Julien held a large box at the prince's side, and a bag on the ground.

"First of all," Benthomaar said, "I am eternally grateful to all three of you. Champion Zane Julien, for keeping us safe and serving this kingdom," Zane bowed his head, "Champion Nya Jiang-Smith, for defeating Wojira twice, and aiding in purifying Divine Beast Vah Ruta," Nya rolled her eyes fondly at her friend's formality, "and Prince Lloyd Garmadon of Hyrule, for bringing Nya and Zane back to us, and finally killing the IceBlight. To show our gratitude…" He took the box, an ornate black lined with golden runic design, and opened it. "I've had the doctor prepare gifts for you all."

He approached Zane first, and pulled a shining pendant from the box. It hung on a silver chain, and was circular. The crest of the Zoran royal family was engraved into the silver, elegant and shining. "Tokens from the Zora Domain. Wherever you go, all will know you have our favor." Zane bowed, letting the prince drape the necklace over his head.

"Crown Prince Benthomaar, thank you."

Benthomaar smiled. "It's Bentho, to you." He beckoned Dr. Julien, who offered the heavy-looking bag to his son.

"Armor," the doctor rasped, "to keep you safe." Zane smiled and took the bag, holding it close.

"I'll keep it in good condition. Thank you, father."

"Thank me by coming home," Dr. Julien said sternly, eyes glimmering with unshed tears. "I won't have you gone for another holiday, understood?"

Zane pulled his father into a hug. Benthomaar moved to Nya, pulling out an identical pendant to Zane's from the box. He draped it over Nya's neck as well, exchanging a few quiet words.

Then Benthomaar crouched to meet Lloyd's eyes. "I wish I could help a little more," he said, "but I hope these get you three whatever you need." He draped the silver chain over Lloyd's neck, brushing his hair out of the way. "You've grown up so much," he said wistfully, "it feels like we were just children. You were only a few years younger, then…"

Lloyd sniffled. "I'll miss you," he said wetly, wiping his eyes. Benthomaar hummed, cupping Lloyd's cheek.

"You'll be alright. Come visit once you've banished the Overlord, alright? We'll celebrate."

Nya set her hand across Lloyd's back. "Time to go," she said, "we don't want to keep Cole waiting."

Zane and his father exchanged a final few words, and they all boarded their horses. Benthomaar and Dr. Julien stayed on the bridge until they faded from view. Behind the palace, Vah Ruta stood steadfast, a watchful eye over her domain.

Chapter Text

The sun, high above, beat down on their backs. It wasn't yet unpleasant, thanks to the breeze and natural cold emanating from the two resident Masters of Ice, but it would be soon. The ground underneath them was red and cracked, small shrubs breaking through the rock. Flowering cacti scattered through the desert, and tall plateaus and mountains rose in the distance. Soon, they would officially enter the Sea of Sand, where the dunes were taller than the treetops. There would be nothing but endless sand for miles and miles.

Thankfully, they were still on the scenic route.

Nya sat atop her horse, having already shed her long-sleeve top in favor of something cooler. Zane traveled next to her, looking down at Lloyd's Sheikah Slate map intently. He carried all the water, since he would be needing it the most. Nya was half Goron, so she could take the heat a little longer. Her horns kept her cool as well, endless water dribbling down her scalp and neck.

Lloyd shrieked ahead, laughing as ice shot out of his hands. He had abandoned his horse in favor of running around like a lunatic, creating column after melty column of ice to jump from. Nya had to keep herself from hovering every time he nearly landed on his neck.

Lloyd toppled to the ground ahead, his newest attempt at parkour failing. "You're going to break your neck!" Nya yelled. Lloyd didn't even hear her, running ahead to jump from more icy pillars. She sighed, rubbing her temples. Why did her little brother have to be so reckless?

Zane chuckled at her plight. "Let him have fun," he said, "he needs to get all that energy out somewhere."

"He knows we're going to be in this desert for days, right? That's what he needs his energy for. It can't be good for him to use Ice in the desert."

Zane, who was usually the first to hover over his teammates' health, just smiled wryly. "It will give him experience. The challenge will make him better in the long run."

Nya jabbed a finger in his direction. "When he gets dehydrated from this, I'm not going to be the one dealing with it." Nya smirked when Zane grimaced. When Lloyd got sick, he was very clingy, and very emotional. Neither wanted to see if that of all things was the same.

"I… will stop him before that happens."

"That's what I thought."

Nya leaned back, folding her legs criss-crossed in the saddle. She closed her eyes, letting the sun tan her face. In Ignacia, Kai loved to sunbathe, basking in the alleged source of his element. Nya could never do the same for long, or she would dry out. Ignacia had never exactly been a utopia for her. Still, she appreciated the warmth just like any other Goron did.

They followed the winding desert paths for hours. Beneath them, the crumbly red stone swiftly became sand. The breeze began to die, the sun glaring bright above them. Ahead, Lloyd barely seemed to notice, running through the new terrain with ease. Nya considered calling him back, at least to hydrate. Then she looked at Zane, and thought better of it - Zane needed to water more.

The Zora had begun to sweat, fanning himself irritably as he tried to ignore the heat in favor of the map. Nya took pity and uncapped her own water flask, drawing out a ribbon of water. "Zane," she called. When he looked up, she guided the water to form a sphere above him, slowly sprinkling down cool droplets. Zane sighed in relief. His skin immediately began to trap the falling water in a thin layer of ice, preserving it for longer.

"Thank you, Nya," he said. "I forgot just how bad the desert could get."

Nya hummed. "Yeah… it's kind of weird, though, isn't it?"

"What do you mean?"

She gestured to the empty sand around them. "Where is everything? I know it's the Sea of Sand, but it shouldn't have come on this fast. The plateaus, the hills… it's like it all just crumbled."

Zane looked around and hummed. He looked back down at the Sheikah map, rubbing his chin. "That is odd," he muttered. He drew his horse a little closer to Nya, handing off the Slate. She took it, inspecting the blue and black map. Zane pointed to several geographical structures. "The map should update with the land - that's the purpose of the Towers they get their information from. The map says that there should be plateaus, hills, ravines… but they're just not here."

Nya hummed. "Could it be broken? I mean, the Slate and Tower were buried for a century. Maybe it's malfunctioning."

Zane shook his head. "Not possible. If it was, Vah Ruta would have rejected it, or at least made me aware. The Slate works… it's the desert that's all wrong."

Nya felt cold sweat down the back of her neck when the map reloaded. According to the map, the glowing blue dot that represented their group was traveling directly over a plateau several miles high. But all she could see beneath their horses was soft sand.

She handed the map back. "Maybe there was a bad sandstorm. Geography can change a lot in a century."

Zane took a swig of water from his own flask. "It's possible. But my suspicions are with Vah Naboris."

"How?"

"Think about it," Zane pointed to himself, "Vah Ruta wreaked havoc the Zora Domain's weather for 100 years. It hailed in the summer. What if Vah Naboris has gone wild as well, and disrupted the natural geography?"

If that had happened, they were screwed. They were following the map straight to the Gerudo's capital oasis, and if the oasis had been destroyed, or covered with sand… they'd have nowhere to go. She glanced at their water reserves warily. They couldn't afford to run out. Zane was extremely susceptible to heat, especially as arid as the desert was. She herself wouldn't last long without water. There wasn't enough moisture in the air for her to pull on. And Lloyd, for all his insane genetics, was still Hylian. They weren't built for the harsh heat. His species of humanoid was made for rolling spring grasslands, plentiful with fruits and streams. Aside from that, his element would quickly become useless once it began dehydrating him.

"…fuck," she muttered. They were screwed if that was true. She drummed her fingers against her boots. "If Vah Naboris is doing this, then not very well. Everything has only been covered in sand, not destroyed. The geography still exists, we just can't see it."

Zane nodded once. "And Prince Benthomaar would have informed us if the Gerudo were gone or moved," he said, reading her mind. "So they must still reside in their oasis."

Nya sighed in relief. She straightened her choppy ponytail - her little brother wasn't exactly a stylist - and brushed the loose white locks from her face. "Then we're still on track for Gerudo Town," she said. They still had hours to go, but they had enough supplies to make it.

She glanced at Zane out of the corner of her eye. He'd been sort of quiet since that night. On top of Vah Ruta, he'd cried on her for a while. They'd both accidentally ended up falling asleep up there, and got back to palace just before Lloyd woke up. She didn't think Zane would appreciate her airing out his emotional episode.

Still, it made her wonder, in a morbid sort of way… what was it like? Neither she nor Lloyd had actually experienced the full century of their own 'deaths'. To her, it was a weird lucid dream - to Lloyd, it was all he knew, his old life more like flicking through a book told from everyone else’s perspectives.

But Zane had apparently been fully conscious and sentient the whole time. Her heart ached at the thought - then got worse when she remembered her big brother. She breathed steadily through her nose, trying to ward off the natural anger. Kai would want them to save everyone else first. He'd happily go through the torture as long as it took if it meant Cole and Jay would be spared more torment. That's just the sort of person Kai Jiang-Smith was. Still, she wanted so badly to see him again.

She loved all her brothers, and her fiance, but Kai was special. He had raised her, protected her and provided for her. Before they met Sensei, he would travel hours with her through the awful volcanic paths to get to Hyrule, just to find her a lake or stream to cool off in. Kai didn't have the same Zoran genes as Nya did, but she had suffered from the volcanic environment. It was a pain in the ass to make the trip every week, or several times a week depending on the weather, but he'd done it without complaint.

FSM, she missed him.

Maybe that was why she turned her face toward Zane. "…hey, Zane?"

He looked up from his Shuriken, having spent the time slowly creating a thin stream of snowflakes. Apparently, he needed practice getting used to his element again. "Yes?"

She fidgeted. "What was it like? You know… being in there."

Zane's expression became closed off. He sighed. Nya could hear the soft, barely perceptible tremble that came with it. She drew herself back. "You don't have to answer, Zane. I just… I just wanted to… I don't know," she gave up. She squinted down at her hands. Blue-white scales dotted the outside of her forearms, creating a path to the thin sheer fin on her upper arms and elbows. They were a different color, now. They'd been darker before, almost the color of her skin. She sighed through her nose. "I just. Well. Kai is in there. And he's… probably dealing with the same thing."

Zane swallowed. Frost had naturally crept up his cheekbones, and he brushed it off. "It's fine," he said, stilted. He cracked a wry, mirthless smile. "It might help to talk about. What do you want to know?"

Nya cracked her own half-smile. Zane had a tendency to bottle things up sometimes. "I guess… what's a century feel like?"

Zane shrugged. "The passage of time itself wasn't awful. Zora live so long, I'm built for it anyways. But it was… difficult. Being stuck with it for so long."

"Did it talk?" Nya felt bad about pressing, but that morbid curiosity was in full force. Zane shook his head.

"No. But I could feel its malice." He was silent for a moment, lost in thought. Then he breathed out through his mouth. His naturally cold breath created a white cloud in front of him. "Anyways, I zoned out after the first few months. It only took about a year for the Blight to give up trying to completely take over, and after that, I stopped paying attention to the outside world. It was… weird. Hazy. Honestly, I don't even remember most of it."

Nya gave her brother a deadpan look. "You mean you dissociated for a century?"

Zane blinked, drawing up straight as he looked at Nya. "Is that what that was?"

"Yeah, man," she winced.

Zane stared into the distance for a while. "…huh."

She sighed. It didn't sound like a vacation, but she knew Kai would be fine. Hell, he was probably having fun taunting the Blight right back. Her brother was a petty, petty man.

Ahead, Lloyd yelped as he slipped. She shot up, eyes wide. "Shit!" She swore. Could she take her eyes off that kid for even a minute?!

Zane threw out his hand. Immediately, the ice Lloyd had been jumping around on warped into a slide, catching the Hylian and depositing him safely on the ground. Lloyd jumped back up, shooting Zane a grin and thumbs up. Nya pinched the bridge of her nose.

"He's going to break his neck at some point."

"I'm just impressed he still has that much energy," Zane murmured, sounding somewhat awed. It surprised Nya too. For some reason, Lloyd had been antsy. Maybe it was how real their mission had gotten. Fighting a Blight probably tended to hammer in the 'mortal danger' factor.

Still, it was kind of weird. It wasn't like he spent all his energy training or anything - or, at least, she didn't think creating giant pillars of ice to jump off of counted as training so much as it did playing - he was just running around like it physically hurt to sit still.

She squinted. "…we need to get this kid diagnosed."

"With what, demigod-itis?" Zane asked, but he wasn't paying much attention. His hand was braced over his eyes and leaned forward, raising himself above his saddle. Nya tried to follow his gaze to the distance, but saw nothing.

"What is it?" She muttered, immediately on edge. They shouldn't be to the Gerudo oasis yet. Zane said nothing, still squinting at something in the distance. Nya waved her hand at Lloyd.

"Lloyd! Lloyd, come back!" Lloyd perked up at her words, immediately racing over the dunes. He jumped on Pillow Mint - why the hell he chose that name, she had no idea - leaning over.

"What is it?" He tilted his head. His hand twitched toward his dao's scabbard.

Nya hushed him, looking to Zane for direction. They had slowed to a near stop. Nya followed Zane's gaze again, and spotted something glinting in the sunlight. She squinted, trying to make out what it was. Metal? No… she stretched out her senses.

Water.

"That shouldn't be possible," she murmured. There shouldn't be an oasis anywhere near here, especially not without its own town full of Gerudo ready to take advantage of the meager water source.

"And yet," Zane responded. He flicked the reins of his horse, trotting down the dunes toward the water source.

Nya waved a hand at Lloyd. "Hey, stay behind me," she said sternly. Lloyd pouted, but obliged. They followed Zane at a distance. To Nya's surprise, there was an entire oasis just sitting there, basking in the shade of a cave-like structure that stretched out of the sandy dunes. The red rock formed a shallow bowl in the earth, creating all the shade necessary for plants to flourish. The basin held deep, crystal-clear water.

Zane had departed his horse, crouched at the edge of the shallow pit. Nya followed him, jumping off her own horse as well. She crouched next to him. The water didn't seem at all dangerous. In fact, everything was perfectly peaceful.

She reached out with her senses again. The water was just… there. It wasn't filled with poison or the malignant aura the Overlord's monsters produced.

Zane glanced at her. "This feels too convenient," he muttered. Nya silently agreed. They hadn't encountered a single monster so far, which wasn't unusual for the desert, per se - most of them resided in the mountains and hills, or in the transition between the other, more habitable domains and the Sea of Sand. There should be something here, though. If not Gerudo, then a monster.

She ticked her jaw. "It is kind of suspicious," she said. But it honestly didn't look like anything was here. Any monster big enough to claim the basin for itself would leave behind bones, but the shallow bowl was perfectly clean. There wasn't sign of so much as field mice.

"Who cares?"

Lloyd leaned over her shoulder, eyes sparkling. Nya squawked at the teenager. "I thought I told you to stay behind me-!"

Lloyd ignored her, jumping over the edge. Nya rolled her eyes and followed. She didn't think the water was dangerous, but Lloyd could have at least gotten the go-ahead.

Zane led the horses down the rocks gently, taking care to make sure they weren't injured. "It seems fine," he commented, "we should rest here for a while."

Nya gave him a look. "And that's definitely not just because you want to go for a swim."

She had to hand it to him, Zane had a fantastic poker face. "Not at all," he said, tone not betraying him in the slightest. She rolled her eyes fondly. Honestly, she'd be happy to get out of the sun as well.

She crouched down, leaning against a tree that bent over the water, making it the perfect shade. "You guys do that," she said, undoing her ponytail, "I'm taking a nap."

"You don't want to swim?" Zane asked, undoing his boots and layers. Nya's jaw ticked. Honestly she… wasn't too fond of water at the moment. Her incident in the cove hadn't done her any favors when it came to her element.

She wasn't scared of it, because that would be ridiculous. She just didn't really want to get in it either.

Of course she wasn't scared. It was just that, well, why invite the memories of Nyad? She wasn't as susceptible to heat as Zane was anyways, so she would be fine not taking a swim.

She folded her hands behind her head instead, closing her eyes. "Nah. I'm taking a nap - you have fun with that, though."

The tip-tip-tap of an over-excitable Hylian dashed past her, and Lloyd leapt into the water with a splash. The water hit Nya in the face, and she gave her brother the stink eye, flicking the water back into his face.

Lloyd laughed at her, kicking off the edge of the water. Nya raised a brow. "…do you even know how to swim?"

Lloyd opened his mouth to protest her lack of faith, before he frowned, clearly struggling to tread water. "Oh- nope, no I don't-"

Nya went to get up before Zane nudged her back with an exasperated smile. "I've got him," he said. Zane slid into the water smoothly, relaxing as it soothed the dryness of his scales and skin. He patiently held Lloyd above water, helping him relax.

"It's not that hard-"

"I don't exactly have a tail, Zane!"

"You don't need a tail to doggy paddle."

Nya left them to it, relaxing back with a sigh. She would take all the calm she could get before their next Divine Beast. That fight would not be pleasant with all the elements on hand at such a disadvantage. Maybe the chief of the Gerudo would be willing to help out on that front…

Before she knew it, she was drifting in and out of consciousness, the pleasant, shaded sun lulling her into a light doze. Assured by Zane's presence and knowing nothing would ever get past him to Lloyd, she let herself become unaware of their surroundings.

Distant memories of Ignacia flooded her mind. The volcano, constantly leaking lava into the canals. The sweet, spicy smell of jalebi cakes, the constant clang of metalwork, the rush of men coming home sweaty and covered in soot from a long day in gemstone mines. She remembered dancing in the rare rain, dragging out her water-loathing brother into the storm. Those storms were the only times she wasn't forced to wear thick-soled shoes outside, the heat of the volcanic stone ground finally cooled.

FSM, how she missed Ignacia. It wasn't built for her, but she loved it. Those days were the simplest of her life. Before the Champion Oaths, before her reality-defying element, before the Overlord and Divine Beasts… it had been so simple. Just her and her big brother, making do.

She woke suddenly, not knowing why. She stared up at the thin leaves of the tree, blinking in confusion. Her chest was sort of heavy, but not in a painful way. She hadn't heard anything.

The cave-like basin was silent.

She couldn't hear anything.

There was an itch in her chest, the something is wrong itch. She sat up, looking around. The horses were where they'd been left, resting in the shade. There wasn't a single sign of disturbance.

But Lloyd and Zane were nowhere to be found. She narrowed her eyes, hand slowly curling over the handle of her deepstone trident. The spark of water in the back of her mind spiked, just in time for Zane himself to break the surface.

The Zora gasped, sucking in air greedily. Water mixed with bile fell from his lips as he hacked it up, wheezing. His gills gaped on the sides of his neck, fluttering weakly. Nya's blood ran cold. Zora breathed water. If Zane was somehow struggling to process it…

She shot up, running to Zane. He could only wheeze as she pulled him out of the water by his forearms, supporting him as he finished hacking up water. "Zane," she said urgently, "Zane, what happened?!"

A thin layer of weak frost coated his skin, a surefire sign that he'd been using his element. A thin gash, leaking red, ran down his jaw. The Zora wheezed again, eyes drooping almost painfully.

"Ny-" he coughed, slumping further into the dirt. Nya's panic spiked. What had happened that he couldn't even talk?!

She lifted him the best she could, slapping his cheek lightly. "Zane, come on! What the hell happened?! I fell asleep for like 30 minutes-!"

Zane struggled to keep his eyes open. His face was rapidly paling, taking on a dull, unhealthy gray sheen. Even his eyes seemed to flicker. Like a fire cut off from its oxygen.

Zane weakly pointed to the seemingly innocent surface of the water. "It- it took the Shuriken," he gasped. His rib cage rattled with another wheeze. "Th-there's something… in the water."

Nya felt tidal waves echo in her ears the next Zane spoke.

"And it took Lloyd."

Nya shook Zane by the shoulders, urging him to get the hell up. "Why didn't you go after him?!" She shrieked. Zane shook his head.

"Tr-tried," he muttered, "but I- I couldn't breathe." Nya hovered for only a moment over him before Zane coughed again, "go after him."

She nodded once, trusting that Zane wouldn't die in the meanwhile, and shot to her feet. She turned to the water, prepared to dive in.

But something wouldn't let her move. She jerked forward, but her feet were glued to the ground. The surface of the water rippled tauntingly, as if mocking her for her inability to just move already.

There's something in the water, whispered the back of her mind, darker than the deepest ocean trenches, what if it's her?

No. No, this wasn't the ocean. Nyad couldn't get to her here - she was free. Nya was free. Her foot slid forward, but still she couldn't enter the water. She could practically feel it, the way the water would seep through her skin and into her lungs. It would grip her throat like a vice, strangling her as useless, too-small gills worked futilely to find the oxygen. It would chain her down and strip her of her skin until she was one with it.

She was trapped, staring down at the water like a viper would leap out at any moment to tear her throat out. Zane coughed behind her, struggling just to stay conscious. How much longer could he hold out?

There's something in the water, it whispered again.

Then, a second thought.

Lloyd can't swim.

There's something in the water, and Lloyd can't swim.

The thought is finally enough to shock her from her reverie. Nya gasped, as if struck by lightning by the realization that her little brother is trapped underwater and can't swim.

Without another second's hesitation, she dove into the water. It slid over her like a cool blanket. For a split second, she almost forgot the breathe, reflexively holding her breath. But soon her gills began working, and she let out a breath.

She opened her eyes to a seemingly normal lake. Oases in the desert weren't as full of life as anything in the Hylian grasslands or Zora domain, but they had their fair share of plant life lining the bottom, and usually a few crustaceans. Her eyes glowed in the water, roving over the scene like beacons. She narrowed her eyes, slowly twisting in the water. The Bounty was clenched in both hands, ready to lash out at any moment.

There.

She whipped around, feeling the remains of a bubbly current along the skin of her tail. She saw nothing but a trail of bubbles. They popped under her glare.

There was no sign of Lloyd.

She bared her teeth in a snarl, turning her glare to the darker corners of the water. "Where is he?!" She screamed. Underwater, her voice was warped and echoing. To her anger, a giggle followed her demand.

"Hi there."

Nya whipped around to find a monster. It had the imitation of a woman's upper body and the tail of an eel, almost triple its torso's length. It wore no clothes, leaving Nya with full view of its chest, a pale brown belly and dark navy blue scales lining its too-thin arms. Its chest was gaunt, ribs practically fighting to escape the skin.

Nya pointed her trident at the monster. "What are you," she growled, subtly moving the water beneath her to raise her higher than the monster.

It giggled again, swimming back and forth like it was pacing. "A siren," it answered in a silky-smooth voice that didn't match the spiky, pin-thin and dagger-sharp teeth in its too-large mouth. Its eyes - two large, round things that closed horizontally, solid black like a bug's - eyed her like a piece of meat.

Nya kept her trident trained on the siren as it slowly circled her. Its tail was long enough to wrap around her entire body if the siren wanted to. It swam around her like a shark around its prey. She kept her teeth bared, a clear sign that she wouldn't hesitate to attack.

Sirens were, in short, a weird mix of human and animal. Not like Serpentine - like a parrot. Something animal that had learned to speak, and was all too excited to mimic its own prey. They were too intelligent to call simple monsters like Skulkin, but certainly weren't human.

Nya swept her trident out when it came too close, making it back away with a hiss. "Where is he?" she demanded again. The siren tilted its head, staring at her with unblinking, beady black eyes. Nya snarled, sending a current out to hit the siren. It wailed, hissing all the while.

"I said, where is he?!" She screamed. The siren bowed its head, backing away slowly. Its tongue, way too long to belong on such a humanoid face, flicked out.

"You mean… the cold thing?"

Nya narrowed her eyes. "I mean my little brother. The Hylian. Give him back, or I'll kill you." She adjusted her grip on the Bounty, ready to strike at any point.

The siren smiled, the spines in its mouth glinting. It suddenly darted down, faster than she could track. Nya grit her teeth and dove after it, making the water propel her faster. The siren swam through a dark tunnel in the sandy bottom - that must be where it lived. She crawled through after it, her eyes providing enough light for her to see.

When she emerged from the tunnel, now well underground, she was suddenly struck. She gasped as she was slammed into the sandy bank, thrashing under the siren's sharp claws.

It grinned down at her, practically salivating. Nya formed a tight fist, and a wave of water swept the siren off of her. It screeched, too stupid to process that she was the one controlling it. Nya pushed herself off the sand, lunging for the siren. Its fin-like ears flared out as it screamed at her, claws aimed for her extremities.

The fight was short and quick. The siren fought like a rabid animal, screaming and hissing and clawing at everything it could reach. Nya parried its attacks on her face and throat as best as she could, but in her efforts didn't notice the tail curling around her ankle. She yelped as the siren threw her down by her ankle, barely rolling out of the way of another attack.

"Alright, that's enough," she growled. The water around her solidified until she was surrounded by sharp daggers. She sent them speeding toward the siren, aimed to kill.

The siren grinned, and Nya was quickly forced to dissipate the attack a split second before it hit Lloyd.

She panted, staring wide-eyed at the veritable coffin her little brother was trapped in. He was unconscious, a line of blood trickling from his temple. He was encased in a hollow block of ice, breathing shallowly. The siren hid behind the ice, laughing to itself.

"Uh-uh," it hissed at her, claws dragging down the ice along Lloyd's face as though she were caressing him, "don't hurt the cold thing."

Nya's tail lashed behind her, mirroring her sheer rage. She was not about to let some two-bit, D-list monster take her little brother from her.

She leveled her trident, a storm swimming in her eyes. "Give him back," she said lowly, "and I swear to Nyad, I'll make your death quick."

The siren narrowed its own bulbous eyes. It looked over her, as if contemplating. "Not Zora," it hissed, almost curious, "not like this," its claw ticked over Lloyd. Then it grinned at her. "Can't win."

Nya launched herself at the siren, slamming it to the floor. It hissed, scrambling out of the way of her trident. She sent a funnel of water to drive it off course, leaving the monster unable to regain its balance.

Nya spun her trident overhead, gathering water in a growing hurricane at her feet. The siren scrambled back, fear leeching into the jagged lines of its face. "Can't win?" Nya repeated. Her horns bubbled in time with her beating heart, faster and faster as rage built up. "Can't win?! Don't you know who I am? Don't you know w̷̜͈̘͘͜͠h̷͔̱̜͂͋ạ̴̛̇̊̓ͅt̷̙͖̩͗ ̵̘̲̟͎̄̃̍̆̚I̸̗̤̺̾̒̄̀ ̸̛̤̍̈́̌a̸̟͓̙͑͝m̴͔̮̼̳̬̿̂?̵̢̳͖̼̟͆̐!̷̢̢̣͋"̸̫̼̻́͒̐͒̃

Her words reverberated in the water, carrying with them the force of tidal waves and typhoons. The siren gaped, pressing itself into the ground.

Nya poised her trident, prepared to spear the monster through, when she was shaken by a sensation like being stabbed.

"Į̷̡̦̻͕͒̏̆͗͋͠ͅ ̴̨̮͔̘̣̫̌̒͋̽c̸̫͈̱͎̀͌a̵̞͕̥͖͆̿̓̚n̸̙̥͇̖̝̰͐̅͑ ̷̨͕̘͉̼̮̆͆̐ĥ̶̩̂̽̈́̈́e̸͖̮̋͑͛̃̚l̷͉̝͈̅̆̀̓́̇p̷̧̧͚̖̪̣̿͝,̷̖̩̖̲̇̐̌͝ ̸̨̧͈͌̓̑̃͊̈́m̴̛̥̽̂̓̄̓ŷ̶̲̦͍̦͈̍ ̸̨̣͎̱͉̻̈́̎̕̕S̶̡͍̘͑͂͋o̵̹̖̤̱̣͂̀̽̽u̵̩͓̟̜̿̃͜͝l̴̢̟̜͈̏̓̋̓̓̏ͅ."

Nya gasped, rearing back as she clutched her head. Fear coursed through her blood at the sound of Nyad's voice.

The siren took its chance, darting up to slam into Nya. She kicked out, scraping her own hand across the monster's face. It threw her down, aiming to disorient her. Nya raised her hand, willing the water to strangle it.

"L̷̰͋̕e̴̳͒̐͜t̵͙̘̀ ̶͇̊m̸̡͙̌͘e̵̬̩͊ ̵̲̦̿͝h̵͔͔̒ē̷̹͑l̷̰̆̈p̶̱̄ ̴͚̍y̸̥̥͋o̷͇̪̐̽u̵͎͕̇̓,̴̢͒̚ ̸͇̉̓m̸̪̞̃́y̴̟̪̆̕ ̷̹̫͆͗S̸͉̒̃o̵̺̭͝ṷ̵͇͛l̴͙͙̑̍."

Nya's hands flew to her head as she bent over, bubbles flying her mouth. The siren's claws raked down her chest and Nya screamed from the pain, slashing out with the Bounty blindly.

She hit a cave wall, panting. Her hand clutched the wound on her chest. The siren kept low, pressed close to the sandy bottom as it studied her.

Nya pushed herself up with a groan, hand trembling around the wound. She breathed out as her hands readjusted on her trident.

All that mattered was Lloyd.

The cold tendrils of the Sea tried again to reach her mind. Nya clenched her eyes shut, trying to block her out. "Get out of my head," she whispered, "get out."

The watery hands closed around her throat. "Į̵͔͈͖͋'̷̹̫̱͙̺̗̾̄̃͊͋l̸̜̞͎̈́l̶͕̝͙͑̓͛͝ͅ ̷̧͕̲̼͙̻̓̈́̾̈͝m̴̩͉̲̺̻̅͐̅̇a̸̲͓͔͚̿̓̾̄̋ǩ̶̖̮̺̣͔̏ê̸̡̨ ̷̨̪̰͓͙̍̓͆̆̚͜y̴̨̥͙͗͊̒̑͛ȍ̴̢̪͕̰̮̂̔͘ų̸̺̓̄̓̇̚ ̷̳͊̿̄͗̈ṕ̷̫͙͎o̷̡̫̙̯̊ẅ̷̡̟͇̤̱̚͜è̵̖̱͚̌r̷̭̳̯̓͠f̷̫̊̋̄̈ȗ̶̡̱̗͈͈̜̄̏͠ḷ̵̡̮͑͑̔̚ ̷̦̇̐̃͜ả̵̙̬̺̜̣̲̽͘g̴̢̛̹̞̟̜̍̓̕a̸̰̖͉̰͊͝i̷͎͒͝ń̶̺̲̼̄̓͑̉͘͜~̴͕̼̿̈́̽̃͛͛" The Ocean whispered in her ear.

Goddammit, no. How was Nyad even here?! They were in the middle of the goddamn desert, she should've been safe! Nya grit her teeth and pushed the Sea back out. She wasn't merging again. She refused.

She opened her eyes again, meticulously tamping down the Ocean. Blood idly floated from her wound, leaving the scent of iron in her senses. "I won't say it again," she growled, "give him back."

The siren's eyes flicked from its opponent to its meal. One hand came up to clutch its sunken stomach, framed in gaunt ribs. Drool seeped from its mouth.

"…no."

Nya's eyes narrowed into slits. Ribbons of water swept around the spears of her trident, forming a typhoon on the end of her weapon. "Fine then," she growled.

Water pushed her forward as she slammed the flat end of her trident into the siren, sending it sprawling. It recovered quickly, darting across the cave's bottom. Its tail kicked up clouds of dust - she cleared it with a wave of her hand.

The siren attempted to creep up from behind her. Nya whipped around and sent it sprawling again with a concentrated funnel of water. It screeched, thrashing as the torrent kept it solidly in place.

Nya spun her trident overhead, poised again to stab down.

It wasn't Nyad that stopped her this time. The siren's eel tail, too long for Nya to see in its entirety, wrapped itself around her leg. She only had time to glance down before electricity arced up her leg and body. Nya screamed as what felt like a thousand volts coursed through her body. She seized, eyes rolling into the back of her head as the water died down.

Finally, she slumped. Her body went slack and limp as she drifted into the cave floor, chest heaving shallowly. Her hand twitched, losing grip on the Bounty.

The siren laughed to itself, the sound like a hiss. It slithered past Nya, dragging its weakened body along the cave floor toward her unconscious brother. "No," Nya gasped weakly. She tried to push herself up, but only managed to make her shaking limbs ache. The siren's tail curled around Lloyd's thin layer of protection, dragging it deeper into the cave system.

She-

She lost him.

No. No, no, goddammit, no! She wracked with sobs, both from the pain and aftershocks of that stupid fucking tail.

She tried again to get up. Her back arched, and she cried out, forced to go limp as pain shot down her spine. Her hand futilely twitched toward her trident, like if she could just get to the deepstone, she would be able to stand again.

How long did she have? How long had Lloyd been trapped in ice, relying on air that was quickly running out? He might be some kind of demigod, but he wasn't immune to drowning or suffocation. How long before her little brother choked to death? How long until Zane passed out and didn't wake up? Had he already?

She was the only one who could help, and she couldn't move.

Nya hiccuped, unable to do anything else.

"Not the only one," a smooth voice whispered, crystal clear.

Nya slowly turned her head. Right next to her, an inch away from her nose, the watery form of her own face smiled back at her. Nya blinked blearily, her cheek smushed into the cave ground.

"Go away," she whispered. Nyad tilted her head.

"Why? I can help."

Nya grunted as she tried to scooch back. "I don't- don't want your help," she groaned. Nyad sighed, laying the mirror of Nya's face on a watery hand. Nya narrowed her eyes. "Take off my face, creep."

Nyad carded a hand through Nya's hair. "I can help," the Ocean repeated, "I will return the Hylian to dry land, alive and well. I will return to the Time God's Ice Champion his paltry weaponry. I'll even kill the siren that hurt you. Why won't you let me?" For a moment, Nyad looked genuinely sad. "Have I upset you?"

Nya grit her teeth. "Yes," she spat out, "you've upset me. You tried to take me away from them again! You tried to make me merge again!"

Nyad glared. "We made a deal, Soul. A mere century ago, I extended a hand to you - in return for your soul forevermore. You cheated."

Nya jerked back. "Deal's off," she said, "I was unmerged. You did your part, and I gave myself up for one-hundred years. Now we're done."

Nyad shook her head. "No, we are not. A century is a pity offer and you know it. A century is nothing. Come back. Be One with me again. I will make you powerful."

Nya groaned as she slowly managed to get an arm under her, lifting herself up so she was no longer laying on the ground. "I don't need your power," she grit out from behind clenched teeth. She gasped for breath as her hand scrabbled for her trident. "I don't fucking need you anymore," she repeated.

Nyad hummed. Her form thinned and lengthened until a snake was wound around the ends of the Bounty. "Yes, you do," she said simply. Her head shifted again, until it was the maw of Wojira that stared back at her with far too intelligent eyes. "With my power, you defeated a divine scourge in five minutes. Now you can't save one little boy from a parasite. Underwater, might I add."

Nya avoided the goddess' gaze as she slowly stood, leaning on the trident for support. She stumbled forward, eyes locked on the path the siren took. "I would've," she muttered, "if you hadn't completely nuked my element."

The snake wound out from the trident. Her form warped again, and it was the siren staring back at her. Nya gave Nyad a flat glare. Nyad stroked a long, blue claw down her watery chin. "Do you hope to be electrocuted again? Maybe torn to shreds."

Nya's eye twitched. "I don't remember you being this annoying," she muttered.

Nyad dragged a clawed hand down her face. When the hand came away, it was Nya's face that looked back. Nya stopped, glaring at the Ocean. Nyad leaned her cheek on her knuckles. "Why are you fighting me? I'm only trying to help."

Nya limped around her. "You're trying to possess me," she snapped. She stumbled, and gasped as she barely managed to stay upright.

Nyad tsked. "A Master of Water, incapable of swimming in a lake. This is sad. Take my help, and I will make the siren pay for this."

Nya stayed silent. She wasn't going to entertain Nyad any longer. The goddess could try to humanize herself all she wanted, but Nya wouldn't bend a knee to her. She was getting Lloyd and leaving, hopefully after killing that siren.

"You keep denying me because you want to stay with your mortals. But do they want you to stay?"

Nya stopped. She said nothing to Nyad, but could feel the goddess smirk. She swallowed thickly. "O-of course they do," she finally whispered. She blinked rapidly, stuttering, "they-they love me. They love me."

"Right," Nyad cooed. Those sharp hands curled over her shoulders. One clawed finger ticked against the lining of her throat. "But… he came back different. And that made you upset."

"Not anymore," Nya said. Her hand trembled around the Bounty.

Nyad hummed. "But he's not the only one. You came back wrong, too. Who's to say they still want you?"

Nya jerked away, tearing herself from Nyad's claws. She spun around to face the Sea, eyes flickering with a cyan glow. "Of course they do!" She yelled, her voice hoarse and cracking. "We're family, and they love me. Get the hell out of my head!"

"How can you be sure?" Nyad hissed in her ear, "you were too Zora for Ignacia. Too Goron - too dirty - for the Zora. Even your element doesn't belong. No Golden Weapon, no Divine Beast - are you even a Champion? You were never supposed to be. Destiny never had you in mind."

Every word struck Nya to the core until all she could do was stand in place, trembling. All she wanted was to block Nyad out, but how could she? The goddess had been in her head. She'd given herself to the Sea, and the Sea had seen every inch of her. Nyad knew all there was to know. And she was right.

Fire belonged to the Goron. Ice belonged to the Zora. So where did Water factor in? Where did she go? Her entire life, she'd been this mish-mash of cobbled together parts. How many times had she been barred from simple games in Ignacia for fear of dehydrating to death? How many times had a Zora given her a stinking look, like she was the dirt beneath their rich shoes? How many times had she proudly proclaimed herself the Master of Water, a Champion, only to be asked if her element was just the sad, mistaken result of her biology?

Was that really all it was? Fire and Ice put together made Water? Was she really just… not her own? She'd taken the oath like her teammates, yet she would never be seen on the same level as them.

Was her body even hers anymore? Had even that, already a Frankenstein creation, been warped by Nyad's hold?

Didn't any piece of her belong to her?

Nyad coalesced into being before her, one hand extended. She was absolutely divine, radiating power. This was a deity that had existed before the Time God was a thought in his dragon mother's mind. Nyad smirked. "Let's merge. I will turn all you hate to rubble, and hold all you love close."

Nya stared at the hand. A century ago, she'd begged for that hand. She pleaded with Nyad, desperate for the power the goddess had to offer. Desperate for the escape.

But she was only desperate for escape because she had nothing left. But now…

Lloyd, and Zane, and Cole and Jay and Kai.

Her face went flat as she slapped Nyad's hand aside. Nyad balked, offense clouding her delicate features. Nya should have known - there was nothing delicate about the Sea. She turned her eyes up to the goddess, cyan piercing the murky waters.

"You can take your help and shove it up your ass," Nya growled. "My element is my own. My body is my own. I don't care if all I am is a couple dozen puzzle pieces anymore, because there are people who need those pieces. Get the hell away from me."

Nyad's face contorted in rage, her form breaking and rippling like the wild fathoms out at sea. "No! No, you are MINE! MY vessel, MY soul, MINE MINE MINE!"

Nyad's hands seized her by the shoulders, fingertips digging into her skin even as they actively bled back into water. "You are NOTHING without ME! I made you powerful! I made you a GOD! You have to come back! You HAVE TO-!"

Nyad's form suddenly stiffened. The goddess slowly brought her gaze to Nya's hand, extended in a claw. Sheer rage, bubbling just beneath the surface, shone in her eyes. Nya clicked her teeth.

"You're water," Nya said slowly, and twisted her hand. Nyad's form seized again. "And I am the Master of Water. You do not tell me what to do." Nyad's body crumpled to the ground. Her form bubbled violently even as the water that made up her lower half began to disintegrate, the water returning to its original, incorporeal form. Nyad wailed, her hands wrapping around Nya's foot. Nya kicked her away.

"The deal is over," she spat, "you had your fun."

Nyad snarled, her face contorting into something hellish and ugly. The goddess sneered at her, a ghoulish cyan glow eclipsing the sharp angles of her face. The runic patterns shifted like the tides, fast and mean. "I am a GODDESS! You, Zora, should WORSHIP ME!"

Nya brought up a hand, slowly curling it into a fist. Nyad gagged, the water inside her physical form pooling from her mouth. "I'm Goron too, aren't I?" Nya glowered down at Nyad. "I'm too dirty for the Zora, remember? You might be a goddess, but you're water. I control my element, not you. Go back to the ocean before I make you."

Nyad clenched her jaw. She jabbed a finger in Nya's face accusingly, "There will be more. You weren't the first, and you won't be the last. You were just lucky. I'll have more souls."

"Choke on it."

With a huff, Nyad disappeared. The solid water she'd crafted around her sentience fell back into the water as her presence returned to the Endless Sea. Nya shivered, sweat dripping down her neck.

She couldn't know if that was the end of it all. If Nyad was truly gone from her mind. Honestly, she could barely tell if it was really Nyad that appeared at all. But it certainly felt like the goddess - the all-consuming Ocean, angry that the soul it'd claimed for itself had been taken back.

But… she felt free. She felt whole. Like an anxious, turbulent weight in her chest had finally settled down and slotted back where it belonged.

She breathed in the fresh water, letting it filter through her gills. Nya turned her gaze to the tunnel the siren had disappeared through.

On a certain level, she could understand Nyad. Right now, she even related to the goddess.

Nobody took what was hers.

He's falling.

The wind is whipping past his ears, rustling through loose hair as he free falls. There is no panic, despite the way he tumbles head over heels through cold wind whistling past. Flying has never scared him - it's the landing that he never sticks.

He brings his hands up to block his face as the ground comes up underneath him, rising faster than he can react. He crashes straight through, as if the dirt and rock were nothing but a thin sheet of paper, and lands instead on a grassy hill.

He stands, but doesn't register actually getting up. It's more like he just… teleports up. Weird. But of course, what about it is weird? Hm. Is it weird to think that it isn't weird?

He glances around, slightly intrigued. He is in a field, grass rising around him. Far in the distance, the spires of a stone castle reach for the moon, blood red. The moon casts an eerie red glow over the field.

Before the castle, steadfast, is a person. He cups his hand over his eyes as if to get a better look. Even though the distance is great - him on top of a hill, the figure but a speck against the backdrops of the castle's dark silhouette - he can see them perfectly.

They are not quite a person.

They are… green? And golden. Their body is a single color, emitting green light around a golden core. Their eyes pierce the black, an emerald green that seems all too ethereal to come from the earth. Golden horns curl over their head like a crown, elegant and threatening all at once. They hold in their hands a golden sword.

All of the sudden, he understands. He needs that sword. That sword fits in his hand like they were molded together. It pierces the darkness, gleaming in the light it makes.

The ground rumbles. He stumbles, not particularly worried despite the apparent earthquake. A foe for the green figure appears. It it hulking, monstrous in its size. A serpent. Instinctively, though he did not live when it did, he knows the name of this being.

The Great Devourer.

The serpent, even bigger than its sea-bound counterpart, snarls at the figure. The person with horns does not falter, steadfast before the castle. They raise a hand, and ice erupts out from beneath their feet. Columns made of ice rise from the ground, circling the Devourer until they are inside an open colosseum. The serpent opens its maw, rising high, high above its opponent. The Great Devourer's head raises until it blocks the moon. Its eyes are slits, locked onto its prey.

Then it darts down, its monumental body rippling as hundreds of feet worth of muscle lunge for the figure in green.

They still do not falter. They raise their sword, brace their legs, and split the Great Devourer in two. The serpent's body falls onto the sword and splits perfectly in half, the force of it making the halves slide away from the figure. Finally, the serpent's entire body rests in two halves on either side of the figure. They lower their sword in a definitive arc, and the Great Devourer disappears in a puff of purple-black smoke.

The figure turns their head, and he knows that they are staring right at him. Those celestial green eyes narrow, and they raise their sword again. The tip is pointed directly at him. "Kill him," they speak, their voice carrying for miles.

Finally, he moves. "Who?" He calls. Their eyes turn to slits, as if disdainful.

They raise their sword high above their head, and it slams down. Cracks appear in the ice, racing across miles of grass to reach his feet. He looks down, backing away as cracks grow bigger around him. It is only when the ice begins to fall through that they speak again.

"Kill him."

'Kill who?' he doesn't have the time to ask again as he free falls once more.

Lloyd woke up on his back with a pounding headache. He groaned, slowly blinking his eyes open. The crease in his forehead felt tight, and he brought up a hand to his temple. It came away with flakes of dried blood. He opened his eyes wide, leaning forward just to be met with a wall of ice.

He brought his hands to the ice, tapping it. He was encased in a block of the stuff, a few inches thick. It was barely big enough to accommodate movement. He pounded his hands against the ice again, trying to see through it.

He was in some sort of cave. Above the surface of the water. Then… an air pocket? Where was he? He tried to recall what happened, but his headache only got worse. The last thing he remembered was swimming with Zane, ducking below the water to explore the oasis floor. Then- nothing.

"Zane!" He yelled, pressing his face against the ice. He couldn't see much on his back, forced to crane his neck just to get a peak of the water. Lloyd grit his teeth, prepared to break the ice, when a sound called his attention. He shrieked at the sight of a warped humanoid, sliding on the slick rock. It had huge black eyes that stared at him hungrily. The monster had a tail like an eel's, thrice as long as its upper body of a woman, gaunt and thin.

Lloyd leaned back as far as he could when it slid over the ice, baring spike-like teeth at him. He bared his teeth right back, a hiss rising in his throat. The monster brought a hand down, pounding on the ice. Lloyd splayed his hand out, creating sharp spikes that emerged from the surface of his ice block. The monster shrieked, falling away hissing and spitting.

Lloyd breathed out, secure in his protection. He didn't have any weapons on him, but he could probably beat the monster with just his element. But what if it retreated into the water before he could kill it? He was a terrible swimmer, and freezing the surface of the water would just leave him stranded.

Ugh, where was Zane?!

A cold object pulsed at his side. He tilted his neck to try and find it. Against his chest were the Shuriken of Ice. He grunted, shifting awkwardly to grab them. They glowed pleasantly.

Did Zane give them to him? Why would he do that?

Lloyd tucked them back to his side. He couldn't use them in an elemental sense, but a weapon was a weapon.

The monster slammed against the ice again, screaming in rage. Lloyd grit his teeth, eyes darting back and forth from the monster to the water. He didn't want to fight it on its home turf, but he may not have a choice. He would run out of oxygen soon.

He huffed, adjusting the Shuriken in his hands. He prepared to break the ice again, ready to fight, when something caught his eye.

Nya.

Relief flooded him at the sight, but… she looked different.

Nya emerged from the water as if climbing stairs until she walked on the surface itself like it was as solid as any floor. The water rippled beneath her footsteps, further than it should. The monster hissed, backing up in front of Lloyd's block of ice as if guarding a kill.

Oh wait, that's exactly what it was doing. Was this thing trying to eat him?!

Ugh, and it knocked him out?! He killed a Blight two days ago, how'd he lose to this thing?!

Lloyd brushed his indignation aside. "Nya!" He yelled, pounding on the ice. He pressed one of the Shuriken in front of him. "Nya, I have Zane's Shuriken! Is he okay?!"

Nya spared him a glance, looking over him to make sure he was alright. She didn't answer, turning her gaze once more to the monster. The butt of her deepstone trident touched the tip of the water, creating more ripples.

"Give. Him. Back." She said lowly. The monster dipped down. It shuddered, making a clicking noise. Its clawed hand came up to cup its sunken stomach, and it snarled lowly.

"…no."

Lloyd blinked. "What the fuck, you can talk? Where did you learn to talk?!"

Nya's lips curled in a sneer. Slowly, the water beneath her trident began to rise, curling around the Bounty. The second the water hit Nya's fingertips, it began climbing up her arm, creeping along her skin like a suit. The cyan of her eyes grew brighter alongside the wavy patterns of her markings, pulsing with an otherworldly glow.

The monster lowered into the rock as Nya's watery avatar grew several sizes larger than her, hulking over the monster.

The avatar's face contorted in an angry look. It brought its spear forward, directly under the monster's chin. "I am the OCEAN. Give him back, before I drown you."

The threat wasn't an empty one. If anyone could figure out how to drown a water-breathing monster, it was Nya Jiang-Smith.

The monster glanced between the trident and Lloyd, and clearly deciding it wasn't worth it, dove away. Nya watched it go with slit eyes full of disdain.

Then her avatar slid back into the water as she stepped ashore. She bent over Lloyd's block of ice, skimming over him worriedly. "Lloyd!" She gasped, "Are you okay?! Sorry it took me so long, that stupid thing electrocuted me-!"

Lloyd pressed a hand to the ice, shattering it with a thought. He groaned as he sat up, popping his neck. "I'm fine," he muttered, rubbing his neck. He glanced at the Golden Shuriken in his lap. "But uh… why do I have these? What was that thing…?"

Nya huffed, tying her hair back up. "A siren," she said, "I don't know how it got into the desert. Come on, we gotta go, like, now."

Lloyd scrambled to his feet. "What happened? Is Zane okay-?"

Nya pursed her lips. "I hope he is. Hold on." She pulled him close and tugged him into the water. Lloyd sucked in a deep breath just before she pulled him under. Nya swept her trident behind them, making the water propel them forward faster than even Benthomaar could swim.

Nya sped through underwater tunnels until they reached the open space of the oasis proper, and the surface soon after. Lloyd sucked in a greedy breath, winded from the quick swim. He hauled himself out of the water, but the sight before him made his blood run cold.

Zane.

The Zora was laid on the sand, half-conscious and barely breathing. His skin was pasty and pale, an unhealthy sheen of sweat clinging to his brow. Nya ran forward past Lloyd to get to Zane, dropping to her knees. She shook him frantically.

"Zane! Zane, wake up, come on-!"

Lloyd's heart pounded in his chest. Zane was supposed to be untouchable. How could he be so injured? Had the siren poisoned him? Stabbed him? But there was no blood!

Lloyd stumbled forward, trembling at the sight of his older brother struggling just to take in another breath. Nya still shook Zane, yelling at him to wake up. In Lloyd's arms, the Golden Shuriken pulsed again. He looked down at them, then at Zane, then to the Shuriken again.

He took a deep breath, kneeling beside Nya. "First Master, please, fix him," he murmured in prayer. He pressed the Shuriken against Zane's chest. Both Champions reeled back as they lit up with golden light, seeping into Zane's body.

Zane gasped, his eyes flying open. He shot up, clutching his chest. Nya blinked, shell-shocked. Zane stared back, the color slowly returning to his face. "W-what happened?" He asked, carding a hand through his hair. "The last thing I remember was swimming with Lloyd…"

Nya turned to Lloyd. "How did you do that?!" She demanded.

Lloyd shrugged helplessly. "Don't ask me! I just told them to do what they did last time!"

Nya made a strangled noise and shot back to Zane. "Do you die without your Golden Weapon?!"

"Apparently?!"

Nya groaned and fell onto her back, arms spread out next to her. She groaned again, very loudly. Lloyd, exhausted, slumped next to her. He still had a headache.

Zane helplessly looked between them, clutching the Shuriken to his chest. "What happened down there?"

Nya groaned again. It sounded cathartic. Lloyd patted her shoulder sympathetically. Zane clutched his head. "Did. Did I lose to a sea monster? I lost to a- a single monster?"

"Welcome to the club," Nya said, "I almost died to that thing! Underwater! I had to kick a goddess out of my head!"

"A goddess-?!"

Lloyd covered his face with both hands. "I killed a Blight two days ago," he cried, "and a siren took me out. I've never even heard of sirens!"

Zane stood up with a heavy sigh. "Well, I do not want to find out if there's more of them. We should head out before it gets too dark."

Nya groaned again. "Oh, great," she griped, "out into the cold desert night."

Lloyd tilted his head. "The desert is hot, though, isn't it? Like, obviously? It's hot?"

Zane shook his head. "Sand is a terrible insulator. A good conductor, yes, but it doesn't trap heat at all. Once the sun sets, the desert will get very, very cold." Zane didn't seem half as upset about that as Lloyd and Nya were.

Nya sighed as she stood up, kicking Lloyd's abandoned boots toward him. "Long way to Gerudo Town," she said, "we might as well get started. Ugh, who knows how much time we've lost…"

"Worst side quest ever," Lloyd complained as he walked over to Pillow Mint. Zane couldn't help but notice the way the Hylian kept itching his arm.

Chapter Text

Zane lagged behind his siblings on his horse, studying the Sheikah Map as well as keeping an eye on his sleeping companions.

The moon was dipping back down into the Sea of Sand, the bright sun rising to the east. Nya had jokingly shooed him away as the desert became gradually colder, citing that he was making her shiver. This logic was evidently flawed from the way she let Lloyd, the secondary Master of Ice, fall asleep on her shoulder.

Zane didn't mind. From behind them, he could easily guard their rear and keep an eye on them both. Besides, it gave him a little peace and quiet.

He idly tapped the Slate's surface. If he was correct, Vah Naboris was using the power of Earth to destroy the desert's environment. There was no telling what a Beast of her magnitude and power was capable of if it were true.

All four Divine Beasts were equally powerful, yes, but in different ways. For example, Jay's Beast, Vah Medoh, was the only one capable of flight. Vah Naboris… she was a tank. Easily the largest in physical size, her every step carried the power of earthquakes.

Zane tried to push away the worry he felt at the idea of letting Lloyd and Nya fight such a thing. This was their duty, and none of them could shirk it. Whether or not they asked for it…

Zane frowned at the sight of his little sister's swaying horns. His tapping fingers scratched at the Slate at the memory of seeing his little brother's horrific collection of scars.

Whether or not they asked for it was, unfortunately, irrelevant.

He sighed through his nose, letting the puff of air crystallize in front of him. He could only hope they rescued Cole quickly — the Gerudo, raised for the fight they endured, always understood their duty better than the others.

Zane squinted as light glinted off of something up ahead. If this was another empty oasis, they were skipping it, no matter how badly he wanted to refresh his dehydrated scales.

He squinted, cupping a hand over his eyes. As they moved closer, structures began to rise from the sand. A towering wall made of clay and sandstone bricks surrounded the bustling capital of the desert.

They'd reached Gerudo Town.

Zane urged his horse faster, coming up beside the horse Nya and Lloyd shared. They were both asleep, Lloyd tucked under Nya's cloak. Zane lifted a hand and sent a little flurry of snowflakes toward them both.

Lloyd snorted, eyes fluttering open in confusion. Nya, predictably, didn't budge. That girl slept like a rock.

Lloyd grumbled, rubbing his eye. "Wha…?"

"Wake up," Zane said, "we're here."

Lloyd blinked, sitting up. He squinted at the shining capital of the Gerudo, still tired and confused, before consciousness rapidly returned to him. He gasped, popping up straight and rapidly hitting Nya's shoulder. The other Zora snorted awake blearily.

"Nya! Nya Nya Nya! Come on, wake up, I want to go look at their weapons!"

Zane blinked. "How did you remember their weapons-?"

Nya groaned loudly, making a valiant attempt to keep her eyes open. "Ugh, nooooo-"

Zane smiled to himself. "You'll want to make a good impression on their chief," he said. Nya made a face, and then made a rude gesture. Well, she tried to. She couldn't quite make her fingers do as they were told, so she ended up giving him a weird claw motion instead.

Lloyd, eager to get moving, squirmed out of Nya's hold and jumped on his horse, aptly named Pillow Mint. Zane couldn't possibly fathom the reasoning behind such a name, but he wasn't judging. The horse barely blinked at its hyperactive cargo.

They passed through the gate without incident, despite Nya's barely awakened state and the odd looks the guards at the entrance gave their group. It wasn't unexpected — Zora and Hylians weren't exactly known for their undying appreciation of dry heat.

Even so early in the morning, the marketplace was bustling with Gerudo. Stalls were set up, sweet-smelling goods lured in foot traffic, and wagons were dragged down the street. The Gerudo were a lively people.

Unfortunately, they were all also very tall.

Now, Zane is not short. In fact, he is considered on the taller side in the Zora Domain. However, most Gerudo averaged an even seven feet. It was difficult just to not get swept into the crowd, much less get the veritable sea of people to part way. The horses were already growing nervous, unused to people taller than them.

Zane tugged on Nya's arm. "I'm going to find a communal stable," he said, having to raise his voice over the general cacophony of the marketplace, "make sure he doesn't get trampled." Both siblings eyed their very short little brother.

Nya sighed. "Yeah, I got it. I'll go find some hydromelons — we'll need them." She handed off the reins of the other two horses, and Zane led them away.

When he returned to find his two siblings, Nya was arguing with a vendor and Lloyd was holding a comically large battle axe.

Zane breathed in very, very deeply. Nyad save him from hyperactive little siblings.

Actually, Zane thought to himself as he dragged Lloyd away from the weapons seller, remembering the sparse information Nya had offered of her experience merging with the Ocean, Nyad could go drown Herself for all he cared.

"-I know hydromelons aren't this expensive," Nya pointed an accusing finger as a very annoyed looking Gerudo woman. Zane interrupted before the fight could go anywhere.

"Nya," he said calmly. She spun around, gesturing to the stall in offense.

"She's overcharging us!"

"Nya, it's been a century."

Nya stared at him. "What's that got to do with anything?"

Zane breathed in very deeply, then let it back out. "Nya. It's been one-hundred years. Inflation."

Nya's face grew hot from embarrassment as the realization sunk in. She facepalmed, silently handing the vendor her money and taking the melons. Zane patted her shoulder sympathetically.

Then he turned and found Lloyd trying to sneak back to the weapon's shop.

On second thought, Nyad owed him a blessing or two.

After finally corralling his siblings, Zane managed to get directions from the baker. Lloyd did force them to sacrifice a few gold coins for the baked goods, but Zane certainly wasn't complaining about that part. If the Gerudo knew how to do anything, it was cook.

And if he snuck a chocolate pastry into his bag for a certain cake-loving teammate later on, well, that was his business.

The Gerudo's palace stood in the very center of the capital. It was made of sandstone and hardened bronze. It was nothing like the sleek, polished look of the Zora's palace — this was a veritable stronghold. Thick columns held up open courtyards and training grounds. In a place as hot as the desert, sometimes one was better off with less insulation.

"Alright," Nya said, one hand on her hip and the other on Lloyd's shoulder. She'd taken to keeping a hand on him after the third time he'd almost been separated in the crowd. "We flash our fancy medallions, talk to their chief… and then what?"

Lloyd absently messed with the thick necklace against his chest. "Well, Mom told me to find Bentho because he knew more about Vah Ruta. We should ask the chief if they know anything about Vah Naboris."

Zane nodded. "Exactly. If there is any danger acquainted with Vah Naboris, the chief will know. They may also require our help in other places."

Nya groaned. "Oh, come on. They're warriors, can't they deal with their own monsters?"

Zane raised a brow. "The same way the Zora could 'deal with' Wojira? My father told me about that excursion." He gave Lloyd a flat look. "By the way, don't jump into a snake's mouth ever again."

Lloyd shrugged. "It worked, didn't it?"

"It did not."

Nya ignored their exchange, huffing at the mention of Wojira. Even her horns got testy. "That was different. No offense, but the Zora aren't exactly the fighters Gerudo are."

"And Gerudo aren't the fighters we are," Zane said simply. He understood her feelings — they were here in the desert for one purpose only, and that was Cole Brookstone. If they spent their energy on problems that paled in comparison, it felt like they were wasting time that could be better spent getting Lloyd ready to fight the Overlord. However, they had a duty. Not just to their own domains, but to the whole of Ninjago. As much as Hyrule's Champion was promised to the continent at large, so was the rest of their team. He said as much to Nya. "We have a responsibility to help wherever we can. If the chief has a problem we can solve, then we will."

Lloyd didn't seem bothered by the prospect, but he wasn't as antsy to rescue the rest of their brothers as Nya was.

It… didn't bother Zane so much as it made him feel off-kilter. Before their respective deaths, it sometimes felt as if their family was spent in orbit around Hyrule's Prince. It made a kind of sense — destiny had assigned their group of four, soon five, to become Lloyd's protectors, teachers, and team. There was a reason even four Divine Beasts weren't enough to defeat the Overlord.

So, to see Lloyd so blase about the rest of their family made Zane feel as though some important, intrinsic portion of the universe had shuffled three inches to the left. Not enough for a correction, but enough to make his skin itch.

He breathed in through his nose, and slowly through his mouth. His breath crystallized in front of his face in a small cloud, then dissipated.

They had a job to do, so he shouldn't waste time being upset. That energy was better spent being productive toward things he could control — Lloyd's amnesia was not something he could control, so he shouldn't bother with it.

"Come on," he told them both, "We want this done as soon as possible. If we're lucky, we may be able to defeat Vah Naboris this evening."

Lloyd made a deadpan face. "You mean I can defeat Vah Naboris."

Zane hummed. "Same difference." His hid a grin at Lloyd's look of outrage.

Their group of three approached the huge entrance of the palace. It rested on a ginormous sandstone platform, a series of steps leading to the arched doorway flanked by guards and braziers. The entire palace was built like a fortress.

Three guards leaned against the wall, chatting with one another. They were dressed more casually than a guard in the Zora Domain would be, and if it weren't for their spears and tattoos, they would pass for just another market-goer.

Each Gerudo wore upon their right bicep the inky image of the Gerudo crest, a scorpion with a barbed tail poised to strike. Every Gerudo ever inducted into the army or guard force was given one. Cole himself had one, though it was more honorary in his case.

The one to the right, a woman with coily black hair interspersed with gold beads took notice first. She smiled. "Hey, check out the Zora," she nudged her friends. Nya grumbled under her breath.

"Here we go…"

Zane also grimaced. It wasn't unreasonable for them to be shocked at seeing Zora in the desert… but still.

The guard in the middle, a man with an orange goatee, grinned at them. "What can we do for ya'?" He asked. "The bathhouse is just down that way…"

"No thank you," Zane cut him off before that train of thought could become embarrassing, "we need to speak to your chief immediately. We're emissaries from the Zora Domain, and it's very important." He dug out the Zoran medallion from beneath his shirt, holding it up. The third guard, a round-faced woman with laugh lines, leaned in for a closer look.

"Huh… fancy necklace. Yeah, we can get you in. Chieftess ain't all too busy these days…" She slowly trailed off as her gaze skirted to the side. Zane glanced behind him to see what she was looking at. The woman was staring straight at Lloyd, who began to fidget when the other two also noticed him.

"Hey, uh…" The male guard said, "…that your kid?"

Nya narrowed her eyes and stepped in front of Lloyd. "Our brother, actually."

"Oh, that poor thing!" The third guard cooed, her face oozing the kind of sympathy one would exhibit for a puppy, "Now why would you two bring a little Hylian into the desert? You must know how fragile they are!"

Lloyd spluttered, his cheeks puffing out. "Oh, come on! I do better in the heat than these two!"

Zane held up his hands placatingly. "Really, it's alright. Thank you for your concern, but we were adequately prepared for the journey. Now, if we could speak with your Chieftess…?"

The first guard wasn't convinced. Silent until now, her face was hard as rock. She pointed a finger at Lloyd, but looked at Zane. "Hey. The hell did that kid get all those scars?"

The other two also seemed to notice Lloyd's scars — he wasn't wearing long sleeves and had rolled up his pants, so all the burn scars, lacerations, and lichtenburg figures were on full display. And the Gerudo were glaring at Zane and Nya like it was their fault.

That was something about Gerudo: they were extremely protective of children. It was something Cole had explained to them once, when they'd grown tired of other Gerudo treating them like glass figurines.

"It's a culture shock," Cole had said, "In the desert, we're all used to roughing each other up, y'know? We can take it. But when you go to, say, Hyrule, and everyone is so small… it's hard not to take 'small' as 'fragile'. We're stronger than the other races, and it's easy to slip up and hurt someone. We have to treat you guys like our kids. Sometimes it's hard to remember you're not, like, actually little kids."

Sometimes Zane got the same feeling. As an Elemental Master, he had to be careful not to exert too much strength with those without powers. The Gerudo felt that on a massive scale. Their protective nature for their children, naturally acquired from the dangers of the desert, often extended to the other four races. He supposed when you spent all your time literally looking down on others, it became hard to remember they weren't all children in comparison.

Unfortunately, that meant they were all too willing to exert force when they thought somebody else was abusing their power.

Diplomacy, Zane, he thought to himself.

"Those scars are old," He said. He decided to forego the story of Lloyd's literal death — not only would it not go over well, the guards weren't likely to believe it. "But he's perfectly healthy. We really do need to speak with the Chieftess."

They exchanged glances between one another. Zane could see Nya anxiously fidgeting behind him, her hand constantly twitching in Lloyd's direction. Lloyd had his arms crossed, hands skirting over the raised patches of his skin.

Alright, he wasn't putting up with this. Zane raised one hand, summoning a flurry of ice to extend from his palm. Each guard quickly fell silent, shocked at the sight. To them, ice was probably little more than a children's story. "We are Elemental Masters," Zane said coldly, "And we require a presence with your Chieftess. If you strictly cannot comply, then fine, but please do not waste our time here."

The first guard with the hard face sighed through her nose. She rose from her position leaning against the wall, towering over Zane. "Alright. Elemental crap ain't my department anyways. You wanna duke it out with yer' fancy powers, do it inside."

Zane blinked. "We don't want to fight-"

She waved him off, already turning to open the wide gates. Nya patted his shoulder. "Nice one," she said, "I was about ready to deck somebody."

Lloyd was still pouting. "Why does everyone think I'm weak?" Nya just ruffled his hair.

"Ah, we know you could kick their asses."

The guard led them through the open halls of the palace. Alcoves crackled with warm fire that burned incense, masking any unpleasant scent born from the heat. They were stopped just in front of a set of double doors, painstakingly engraved with the images of mountain ranges. "Wait here — I'll get the Chieftess." She eyed them like they would suddenly decide to become terrorists in her absence. She disappeared behind the doors.

Lloyd spun in a slow circle, looking around the palace. "Woah," he said, "did Cole live here?"

"No," Zane answered as Nya leaned against a wall, fingernails lightly picking at the scales of her arms, "He lived elsewhere in the capital, with his…" he and Nya each exchanged a glance. "His father," he finished lamely.

Unlike Zane, Cole would not have a father to come home to. Gerudo did not live for over a century, and the man was old even before the Calamity. He wouldn't have anybody from his old life to return to save for their small group of three, at least until they could free Jay and Kai.

Lloyd seemed to pick up on the tension and fell silent. Before the mood could dip any further, the doors opened again. The guard pointed straight at Lloyd. "The Chieftess wants to speak with the Hylian, first. Alone." she tacked on the last part when Nya began to move forward. She scowled, opening her mouth to say something probably ill-advised, before Zane cut her off.

"He's fine," Zane said quietly. He turned to Lloyd, who looked a little bit like a deer caught in headlights. "Be polite, and explain our situation."

Lloyd rolled his eyes. "I can handle talking to royalty for a few minutes."

"No you can't," Nya said, "Last time you ended up fighting a gigantic crab."

Zane blinked. "Excuse me-?"

Lloyd quickly ran past them with a hurried, "Okayseeyouguyslater!"

Zane turned to Nya, utterly befuddled. "What have you two been doing without me??"

Nya groaned into her hand.

Lloyd ran into the circular room before Zane could grill him for getting into fights with crabs. Fires crackled in braziers in each corner. The floor was made of thick, polished stone carved to look like a mosaic of the sun, and woven tapestries hung on the walls. In the back of the room, flanked by two sets of decorative armor, was a stone dais and throne with lush carpets running up the steps.

A tall, muscular Gerudo woman with golden bronze skin and red hair sat on top of it. She wore her hair in thick braids that hung with chains of gold, matching her golden headpiece. It was shaped like the sun, decorated with red gemstones that hung to her forehead. She wore rich silks in orange and red with decorative golden patterns. The bottom half of the Chieftess' face was covered by a sheer, flowing mask with hanging jewels and golden chains. Behind the mask, her face was lined in white tattoos.

By her side, a guard decked out in armor with short black hair and a gruesome scar over her right eye stood pin-straight.

Lloyd swallowed. He really didn't want to mess up like he did last time. He stepped forward, waving awkwardly. "Uhm… you asked to see me?"

The Chieftess smiled kindly, and Lloyd felt himself relax a little. "Yes, hello. You're not in trouble — I just wanted to talk. What's your name, child?"

Lloyd ignored the 'child' bit. For diplomacy, he told himself, and definitely not because the whole 'little kid' bit was starting to get really old. "Lloyd Garmadon," he said instead, "Prince Benthomaar sent us here."

The Chieftess sat back thoughtfully. "Hm. I didn't get a letter from the Zoran King… why don't you tell me why you're here?"

Lloyd nodded, walking further into the room so he wasn't talking to her from several feet away. He stood at the bottom of the dais and tried to remember literally anything about how one went about talking to royalty. He was a prince, he should know this.

"Well, Chieftess… uh…"

"Skylor," the Chieftess filled in patiently, "You can call me Skylor."

"Right. Well, you remember the old Prince of Hyrule, right? The one who died in the Calamity?"

Skylor hid her confusion well. "Yes…?" She said slowly.

Lloyd pressed a hand to his chest. "That's me. I'm the Prince of Hyrule — like, the same one, not just a reincarnation. I died a century ago, and was resurrected a few weeks ago. I just got done uncorrupting Divine Beast Vah Ruta, and now I need to free Vah Naboris from the Overlord's control and rescue Cole Brookstone."

Skylor stared at him like he'd grown three extra heads and a set of horns to boot. She opened her mouth to speak, let out a strangled noise of confusion, then closed it again. The same action repeated several times with increasing levels of offense.

Finally she shook her head, slumping against the golden armrest of her throne. "What the fuck? I was going to ask if you were being trafficked or something, kid, what the fuck?"

Lloyd blinked. "You thought I was being trafficked?"

Skylor absently shook her head, rubbing her temples. "Happens more often than you'd think," she muttered, "though the Zora were a surprise… they must be, what, Elemental Masters? How on Earth is that possible? There haven't been any Elemental Masters in a century…"

Lloyd shrugged. "I have a tendency to make a lot of stuff that 'hasn't been seen in a century' crop up. It's an occupational hazard, I think."

Skylor let out a sigh through her nose. She pointed one hand at Lloyd. "So, you're not being kidnapped or trafficked by those Zora? I'm right on that? A little kid isn't being trafficked through my capital?"

"No, and it's disturbing that you thought I was."

Skylor waved him off, still rubbing her forehead like she was nursing a severe migraine and he was a bright light. "In my defense, the desert is crawling with Yiga and you're a Hylian covered in scars. Normal Hylians aren't covered in scars. Normal Hylians aren't even in the desert."

Lloyd shrugged. "I'm not a normal Hylian."

Skylor sighed and sat up straight. "I'm starting to see that," she grumbled, mostly to herself. She crossed one leg over the other, golden sandals tapping against her leg in thought. The chains that hung from the straps made light jingling sounds.

"Hm. Alright. This isn't what I expected to wake up to, but sure." She raised a hand to the bodyguard at her side, who looked equally gobsmacked despite her best efforts. "Hey, let them in. They're good to go."

The guard shook herself from her daze and went to open up the doors. Zane and Nya both rushed in, looking uncharacteristically nervous.

"We good?" Nya said quietly to Lloyd, not-so-subtly scanning him for any sign he'd somehow been injured.

"Yeah, Skylor's chill," he said, gesturing a hand to the Gerudo Chieftess. Zane gave him a disapproving look.

"Lloyd, manners. She's a Chief!"

Nya swallowed, her face weirdly flushed as she stared at Skylor. "Hell yeah she is," Nya muttered. "Hoooo girl."

Zane gave Nya a stunned look. "Nya, you're engaged."

Nya gestured at Skylor. "Dude, she's so hot. Jay would understand," she hissed. Zane shook his head, utterly disappointed.

Lloyd looked between them both. "What are you guys talking about??"

"Nothing," Zane said very quickly with a glare at Nya, who didn't look at all sorry. He cleared his throat, turning to the still confused Chieftess. "Chieftess Skylor, I'm Zane Julien, the Master of Ice. This is my sister, Nya Jiang-Smith-"

"Master of Water," Nya said with a proud grin, "In case the horns didn't give it away."

"-And we've come to ask for your aid in uncorrupting Divine Beast Vah Naboris and freeing Champion Cole Brookstone. We also offer our own aid, should you need any."

Skylor held up a hand. "First of all," she said, "Explain everything. Elemental Masters haven't made so much as a peep since the Calamity a century ago, and now there's three of you. Where did you even come from?" She looked at Nya, staring at the flowing horns. To someone who lived in the desert, Nya must look like a literal alien. "And since when is Water an element?"

"Since, like, forever," Nya grumbled, "the Endless Sea was here first, y'know."

"I was recently brought back to life a few days ago after Lloyd defeated the Blight that killed me during the Calamity," Zane said. The golden band around his forearm lit up, and in his hand he held a Shuriken of Ice. Skylor's amber-colored eyes went wide at the sight. "We're going to do the same for Cole Brookstone."

Skylor blinked. She pointed an accusing finger at Nya. "And where did you come from?"

"I turned into the ocean for a century."

"What?!"

Lloyd suppressed a laugh as Nya winced. "I merged with the Ocean for a century straight. Lloyd brought me back, like, a week ago. Terrible experience, might I add. Nyad is so clingy."

Skylor made a strangled noise in the back of her throat. Her face was a mix of confused outrage and disbelief. She pointed at Lloyd, "So you died and got resurrected — how did you-?!"

"Magic shrine." Skylor made another sound of outrage.

"You were resurrected by a magic shrine, you-" her finger moved to point at Zane's face, "-also died and got brought back by a magic circlet-"

"Shuriken, yes."

Skylor twisted to Nya. "-And you turned into the Ocean?! How do you even come back from that?!"

"Magic tridents and snakes the size of canyons."

The Chieftess immediately lost all of her composure, dropping her face into one hand. "Ridiculous," she said, her voice muffled, "it is Tuesday. The audacity to show up here on a Tuesday." She breathed in deeply, sitting back up and much calmer. "Well. If you're all here to destroy my world view and cause me an existential crisis, you may as well explain why you need my help."

Nya nodded. "We figured you would know where Vah Naboris was. We can't really afford to wander the entire desert."

"As well as any hazards Vah Naboris may pose," Zane added, "We don't have the environmental advantage like we did in the Zora Domain."

"You mean I had," Nya teased. Zane rolled his eyes.

"Yes, yes, I was veritably useless that entire time, thank you for the reminder."

Skylor ignored the exchange, tapping a ringed finger against her chin thoughtfully. "Well, I can tell you this much; it's impossible. You may as well fight a mountain."

"Look, we've fought a Divine Beast before," Nya said, one hand on Lloyd's shoulder. "They're difficult, but not impossible. Besides, we don't have to actually beat it — just get Lloyd inside."

Lloyd nodded. "Yeah, and then I can beat it up from the inside. Like punching its guts, sorta."

Zane gave Lloyd a strange look, then turned to Nya. "You know, I think we actually do need to have him diagnosed."

"I told you!"

Skylor shook her head. "No, I don't mean her size. Well, yes, she's humongous — but it's her power. Everywhere Vah Naboris goes, giant columns of rock rise from the earth," Skylor emphasized her point by raised one hand, clenching her fist, "If you get anywhere near her, those rocks will come crumbling down. As fast as you think you are, you can't dodge."

Zane looked troubled, exchanging a glance with Nya. They spoke quietly over Lloyd's head, voices tense.

"Maybe we could sneak up on her?"

"No," Zane shook his head, "She'd be able to sense us through the earth."

"An aerial attack," Nya suggested. "We get the drop on her."

"We can't fly, Nya."

"Hey, at least I'm coming up with ideas!"

"Uh, guys?" Lloyd piped up. They both turned to look at him. Lloyd pointed to himself. "I'm technically a Master of Earth. Why don't I just try and, like, break the boulders?"

Nya clasped her hands. "Lloyd, I mean this in the kindest way possible, move that pebble." She pointed a small little rock a few feet away. Lloyd flushed, crossing his arms.

"It was just an idea…"

"Yeah, we'll come back to you breaking boulders the size of wagons when you can move pebbles with your mind." Zane gave Lloyd a sympathetic pat on his shoulder. Lloyd just felt frustrated. He knew learning elements was hard, and he'd royally sucked at it before he died, but it wouldn't hurt to let him try. It wasn't like an 'aerial attack' was any more likely than Lloyd using an element that belonged to him anyways.

Skylor interjected into the conversation. "If I may… there might be something that can help," she said. Both Zora turned to her expectantly. She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You know, if you three weren't here, I wouldn't even be entertaining this…" She rose, the numerous chains on her person jingling as she did so, and walked down the dais toward an arched window. They followed. Skylor pointed out into the distance. "You see that mountain range, over in the distance?"

A short mountain range, barely tall enough to be of note from this distance, created a dark silhouette against the sun. Skylor grimaced before continuing. "I believe there could be something there that can help. It's more of a legend, really, but considering," she squinted at them, "you three, there may be merit to it."

Nya dipped her head. "Honestly, you're probably right."

Skylor hummed, brushing a hand through her red hair. "Alright," she sighed, "from the beginning. During the Calamity, a traitor allowed Yiga Constrictai into our territory. They occupied the greater desert for decades until I rose to power." She looked smug at that part, and Nya whistled appreciatively. "Yes, thank you, I was a badass. Anyways, during their retreat, they stole a sacred statue — one of a previous Earth Master. Seeing as I had better things to worry about, such as a recent coup, I didn't waste resources going after it."

Nya interjected. "Wait, you stopped a coup?"

Skylor blinked, then laughed. "Oh, oh no, no, I was the coup." She laughed again, like they were discussing a fond old memory. She tapped her crown with a sharp grin. "I did not get this thing legally. No, I- I stabbed that motherfucker," she trailed off, almost speaking to herself. "Felt great, actually. I'd do it again. Granted, it wasn't hard. He was like half-blind…"

Zane cleared his throat, interrupting Skylor's… reminiscing. "Why exactly does the statue matter?" He asked.

Skylor blinked a few times, nodding along. "Oh, right. Well, there was some old legend surrounding it. The statue held two swords — one white, one black — and it was said that those blades held the power of the Earth inside them. One to raise mountains, and one to cut them down: the Blades of Deliverance. Some stories say that the swords held by the statue are the real deal — that the swords became the statue after their master's death. I never bought into it. I thought it was just a story."

"So why do you bring it up now?" Nya asked. Skylor gestured to the mountain range.

"I have seen miles of the desert totaled by Vah Naboris' storms," she said, face pensive. "I've seen that Beast destroy entire oases. And yet no matter how many sandstorms, tornadoes, or land typhoons are thrown at that specific mountain range, it's never even touched. It's like there's something defending it."

The pieces clicked in Lloyd's head. "Like the swords," he muttered, "if they have the power of the Earth, they could deflect Vah Naboris' storms."

Skylor snapped her fingers at him. "Exactly. It all lines up a little too well, especially considering the exceptionally large Constrictai encampment on that mountain. I truly believe those swords are real, and can help you."

The three Champions all exchanged glances. Both Nya and Lloyd eventually turned to Zane. The Zora thought for a few moments.

"…I believe so as well," he eventually said. "We should travel to find them."

"Fantastic." Skylor clapped her hands together with a smile. "I'll take you."

Both Nya and Zane gave Skylor a weird look. "Uh, Chieftess, shouldn't you remain here to look after your domain?" Zane asked. Skylor waved him off.

"That's the coward's way out. I proposed this mission, and seeing as its success may very well determine the future of my desert, I will be the one to accompany you. It would be dishonorable to elect someone else. I'll leave a general in charge — shouldn't take more than two nights."

Nya pumped her fist none-too-subtly. "Alright! We'll wipe the floor with those snakes." She winked at Lloyd, and he grinned back. Ever since Wojira, he'd been feeling particularly brave when it came to snakes, especially since he'd defeated those Guardians inside Vah Ruta.

Zane bowed his head respectfully. "Thank you, Chieftess," he said with a smile.

"Uh-huh, yeah," Skylor said. She held up one finger. "But I'll only do it on one condition: the kid stays here." Lloyd froze. The other three stared at him, Skylor not even trying to look apologetic. She crossed her arms over her bare stomach. "I don't take kids to battle, no matter how many superpowers they have."

Lloyd couldn't help the offended look on his face. "Oh, come on! I can fight!" Thankfully, Nya backed him up.

"Yeah, there's no reason to leave him behind," Nya said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Lloyd is crazy competent. Besides, aren't you guys warriors? This is, like, your whole deal."

Skylor raised a brow. "Oh, yes. My people are warriors — my adult people. My adult people enlist in my armies, and my adult people fight wars and monsters, and my adult people protect children. I don't do child soldiers — that era of this domain is over." Her voice became serious in a way Lloyd hadn't heard it before. At this angle, the sunlight illuminated a previously invisible scar, pale enough to go unnoticed, over her right eye. "Any army that relies on the bodies and blood of those who don't even fill out their boots is an utter embarrassment to my culture. Either the child stays behind, or I throw you out on your asses in the desert."

Lloyd gaped at her. "I'm not a little kid!" He protested. "I can take care of myself! I spent like, two weeks alone in Hyrule and I was fine." Skylor gave him a flat look in return.

"That does not instill me with confidence. You will stay here."

Zane finally decided to speak up. "Leaving Lloyd behind poses no benefit," he said, "regardless of whether we want him to fight, he has to. Lloyd is the only one of us who can access Vah Naboris and kill the Blight inside."

Skylor hummed, nodding along as if she agreed. "Really? All the more reason for him to stay here. He should conserve his strength for that kind of monster — better for us to retrieve the blades while he prepares."

"I'm right here," Lloyd snapped. "And I don't need to train! I'm an Elemental Master, I can help!"

Skylor didn't budge. "My decision remains. The Hylian will remain here, and you two-" she looked between Zane and Nya, "-will accompany me to the mountain. I'll be ready to go in fifteen minutes." With that, Skylor smoothly left the throne room, leaving no more room for argument.

Lloyd gaped at her shrinking form. Were they really just going to leave him behind?! He whipped around to his siblings, who were both dumbfounded. "Guys, tell her I can fight!"

Zane sighed, shaking his head. "It's her desert, Lloyd. The Chieftess has given an order, and we can't disobey her."

Lloyd huffed. He adjusted the straps on his person, making to leave the room. "Fine, then! We don't need her help — let's just go by ourselves." He drew his finger in a circle, gesturing to their group. "Between the three of us, we can handle a few Constrictai."

Zane knelt, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Lloyd. The Chieftess has, very graciously, agreed to help us. We should not make ourselves her enemies by blatantly disobeying her."

Lloyd turned to Nya. "You agree with me, right?"

Nya crossed her arms. "Yes. But Zane's right — we can't just disobey a Chief in her own capital. Besides… I mean, Lloyd, they're Constrictai. You hate snakes."

Lloyd huffed. "I can take a few snakes! I tricked Aspheera—"

"You did what-" Zane gasped.

"—And I jumped into Wojira's mouth—"

"You did what?!"

"—I can handle it!"

Nya sighed, hanging her head. "Lloyd, believe me, I want you to come too. Leaving you alone in a city that makes weapons like bread is not my idea of 'responsible'." She made air quotes around the last word. "But Skylor's right. Not about the 'child soldier' bit-" she interjected when Lloyd opened his mouth to protest. "About the training part. Fighting a Divine Beast is hard, Lloyd, and you'll need to be in perfect condition to deal with another Blight. It's better that you get rest."

Lloyd's hands clenched at his sides. So he needed rest, but the other three didn't? Nya was the one actually fighting Vah Ruta last time, all Lloyd had to do was climb! And what about Zane? Shouldn't he conserve his own energy? Just the other night, he almost died! Again!

Zane caught his attention before he could protest again. "Lloyd. What did we say about thinking things through?"

Lloyd deflated with a sigh. He scuffed the ground with the toe of his boot, glaring down at the mosaic patterns. "Alright," he muttered, "I'll just stay here while you guys get to beat up snakes."

Nya suppressed a laugh. "Yeah, hanging out in a palace is so hard."

Zane stood back up, adjusting the golden bands on his wrists. "I'll get the horses," he said.

"No need." Skylor reappeared in the throne room. Her hair had been put up in a tight ponytail, and she wore thick red and orange travel gear. Her right arm was covered by a full gauntlet. She'd traded the rich crown for a simpler headdress, a single red gem resting on her forehead. By her side, she held three strange helmets. She tossed two of them at Zane and Nya. "You should probably change," she said, scanning their thin clothes. "You'll want to protect your skin."

Nya turned over the helmet, a grayish color with a thick, tinted visor to cover the entire face. "What are these for?" She asked. Skylor smirked.

"Get changed, and I'll show you."

The three followed Skylor outside. Both Zane and Nya wore new clothes, provided by Skylor. They were loose enough to provide ample movement and prevent overheating, but thick and sturdy. Both wore loose pants and boots, and cropped shirts covered by flowy open over-shirts. Nya adjusted the fingerless gloves, humming to herself.

"Man, these people know how to dress. Hey Zane, why aren't Zoran clothes this cool?"

Zane huffed, stretching his shirt down. "These clothes are not fit for fighting…"

"I hope that wasn't an insult," Skylor called. She stood by three strange machines, almost like bicycles. They were made of Sheikah tech, and modeled to look like miniature horses. Nya skimmed a hand over the seat of one.

"Woah," she whispered. "What are these things?"

"Sheikah tech, right?" Zane asked, crouched by the wheel of one. "But they're not Guardians."

Skylor hummed smugly, throwing one leg over the seat of her own. "Nope. Scavenged from them, though. I got a kid, little genius, who makes 'em. Calls them 'Master Cycles'. They're twice as fast as any horse, and don't need food or water."

"A child made these?" Zane perked up. "That's extraordinary."

"Sure is," Skylor said. She clapped Lloyd's shoulder sympathetically. "Sorry, kiddo. Next time." Lloyd sighed, staring at the cycles jealously.

"Man, they look so cool…"

Skylor laughed to herself, pulling the helmet over her head. She revved the handles on either side of the machine horse's neck, and runic Sheikah patterns glowed orange. Nya and Zane copied her, and their cycles lit up as well.

Lloyd watched them all get ready to drive off, biting his lip. He couldn't stand sitting around doing nothing while they went out and fought monsters.

For you, a parasitic thought came to life. They wouldn't have to do this if Lloyd could just use Earth properly. He glared down at a pebble next to his foot. It, predictably, did nothing. He kicked it.

Nya snorted from behind him. "Yeah, show that rock what-for."

Lloyd turned to her miserably. "You'll be okay, right?"

Nya's expression softened. She ruffled his messy hair fondly. "Of course. Two nights, tops. I'll bring you a snake weapon or something, 'kay?"

Lloyd sighed. "Okay. …Be safe."

She smirked. "Right. I just won't do anything you would do." Lloyd leveled her with a glare, and she chuckled. "I'll see you in a few days. Do not leave the city, eat healthy meals, and try not to blow something up. Love ya, kiddo."

"I love you, too," Lloyd whispered. She smiled at him and pulled the helmet over her face, revving her cycle and falling in line with Zane and Skylor. Zane turned to speak to her, and they exchanged a few words before Skylor waved them on.

The Gerudo Chieftess led the front as all three sped off into the Sea of Sand. Lloyd watched them until they disappeared from the horizon. After a few minutes, the general Skylor had left in charge, a tall woman named Faith, led him back inside, citing sunburn.

Two nights, tops. What could happen to them in two nights?

Absently, he itched his arm.

Chapter Text

The scope of the desert whizzed past them at an almost dizzying pace. Skylor, on her own cycle, led their small group through dunes taller than houses. Nya was grateful for the visor — as smooth as the ride was, it still kicked up a shit ton of sand.

Up ahead, Skylor slowly came to a halt. Nya and Zane followed her lead, though their stop was clunkier than hers. Skylor lifted her visor, fixing them with a serious look. "Careful up here," she called, voice muffled, "the land is unstable. Stay close." Nya nodded, and Zane directed his cycle directly behind them both. If anything happened, he'd be able to create enough ice to catch them quickly.

Nya rode beside Skylor, their pace notably slower than before. She took off her own helmet entirely, shaking out her hair. That thing was stuffy.

"Thanks again for taking us," Nya said, "I know Lloyd was… less than cooperative."

"Don't mention it," Came Skylor's muffled response. "I'd be the same, in his position. Never did appreciate being left out."

Nya let out a low laugh, eyes fixed on the sand in front of them. "Yeah… I know how that is."

Skylor lifted her visor again. Her eyes looked thoughtful, concentrated on Nya. "I imagine you do. How did…" she gestured a vague hand at Nya. "Well, this happen?"

Nya snorted. Everyone was always either outright rude or walked on eggshells when it came to her 'unique' features. Well… everyone except Jay. He had just asked, plain as can be, without even considering if he was being rude. Which, at the time, had irked her a bit. But honestly, it was one of the best ways anyone had ever treated her.

She breathed out slowly, throat suddenly tight at the memory. Just a little longer, Yin, she thought.

"I couldn't tell you," she finally said to Skylor, "My parents dipped before they could tell me. My mother was Zora, though. My dad was Goron — I grew up in Ignacia with my brother."

"And why not the Zora Domain?" Skylor asked, not unkindly. "Surely that would have been healthier for you."

Nya shrugged. "Yeah, probably. But Kai was deathly afraid of water, and the Zora themselves weren't exactly kind anyways." She laughed mirthlessly. "The first time I saw the ocean, I was fifteen. The people there treated me like dirt — their Prince treated me like shit. Personally, I think he was jealous."

Skylor hummed, fixing her eyes on the path ahead. "But they had no problem using you to fight off their demons."

Nya pursed her lips. "No, I guess not. …Is that normal? I mean, they hated me. Hated that a 'filthy half-breed' had the element of Water. But then I come back to discover I'm some kind of savior to them. My face is plastered on half the statues in the capital, hell, they wrote entire songs about me!"

Nya sighed, rubbing her temples. "It just feels so… I don't know. Fake, I guess."

"I get it," Skylor said. They took a sudden right, and Nya soon discovered the reason when the sand, deceptively solid-looking, began trickling down into an unseen sinkhole. Nya heard Zane grow a little closer to them after that. Skylor didn't bother to acknowledge it. "People have no problem trading for our silks, food, and weapons. They have no problem asking for our help winning their wars. But then they turn around and make us out to be barbaric warmongers." She rolled her eyes, as if annoyed by just the idea of it. "Ridiculous, honestly. Even after so many years of peace, they still think we're monsters."

Nya skimmed a hand over her Master Cycle, feeling the steady hum of machinery. "Honestly? If anything, these things make me think you're pioneers. Who would've thought of turning Guardians into bikes?"

Skylor's eyes widened as if surprised. Then she laughed, shaking her head. "A pioneer, huh? No one's ever called me that before. The Sun Queen, the New Dawn… never a pioneer."

"Those are some fancy titles," Nya whistled, "All I've got is 'Master of Water' and 'Champion'. Now you've made me jealous."

Skylor winked at her. "They all are, in the end. Hurry up — I want to get there before dark."

She flicked down her visor and revved her cycle, speeding off. Nya and Zane followed close behind.

They kept up a steady pace for the next few hours. It was tedious, especially given how empty the Sea of Sand was, but they made good time. During their slower moments, Nya and Zane tossed around idle small talk to fill the time. Zane mostly focused on getting better at actually driving — Nya did her level best to pop as many wheelies as physically possible.

Eventually, they reached the mountain range. It wasn't half as tall as Shintaro's, but that didn't stop Nya from groaning at the scale. "Ugh," she muttered, pulling the helmet off of her sweaty face. She took a quick swig of water from her flask. Zane, who was looking both flushed and pale, took a much longer drink. "What're the chances these guys are only halfway up?"

"None whatsoever," Skylor called over her shoulder. She'd already gotten off her cycle, looking up at the mountain with both hands on her hips. "But I like your optimism."

Nya grimaced as she glanced at her brother. Yeah… 'optimism'. She nudged him. "You good?"

Zane wiped his forehead, nodding. "I will be fine."

Nya hummed. She glanced at the sky, using one hand to shield her eyes. "The sun's starting to lower," she noted. "Take off your over shirt — you'll cool down faster."

Zane nodded, shrugging off the thick fabric. He cupped a hand over his eyes as he looked up the mountain range. "It will be dark before we reach the top," he said. "We should find shelter somewhere halfway up and rest for the night; it would be unwise to attack in the dark."

"And give up the element of surprise?" Nya joked. "Ah, you're right. Those snakes will know the place better than us. I don't know about you, but I don't really feel like stumbling around in the dark."

"Then it's settled," Skylor said, clapping her hands together. "We'll take the cycles halfway up, and rest for the night. Be careful, it's steep." She slung a leg back over the cycle and steered it along the base of the mountain, looking for a solid entry point. They followed close behind.

The path up the mountain was narrow, so the trek was slow going. They ended up having to push the cycles up rather than ride them in some places. Zane yet again covered their rear, poised to catch them if they slipped. Nya worried a bit about placing too much pressure on his element, but they had plenty of water still, so he should be fine.

Before long, the sun was steadily sinking down the horizon. Nya huffed, taking a breather to wipe the sweat from her face. She scanned the Sea of Sand behind them, but couldn't make out the silhouette of Gerudo Town.

"…you think he's okay?" She asked quietly. Zane followed her gaze. He placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sure he's fine. Gerudo Town is safe."

"Right… safe." But Nya couldn't shake that antsy, anxious pit in her stomach. What if he got in trouble, or lost? What if a monster showed up, what if Vah Naboris suddenly set her sights on the capital? What if he injured himself somehow? She'd barely spent a minute more than ten feet from his side, and only when she was sure he was safe. Being so far away from Lloyd for an indeterminate amount of time was starting to fry her nerves.

Ugh. She shook her head. Get a grip, Jiang. Lloyd isn't a little kid.

"Let's just get this done quick," she muttered, steering her cycle up the rocky slope. The sooner they had those swords, the sooner she could get back to her little brother and keep him safe.

Skylor, a ways up, turned back to them. "Hey, hurry up! There's a storm coming!" Both Zora followed her line of sight. Sure enough, far in the distance, dark clouds were rolling in.

"Of course," Nya grumbled, deadpan. "Of course there is."

Zane looked wary. "We should find shelter," he said, "if those winds are too strong…"

Nya nodded, and as an extra precaution, put her helmet back on. Storms could move deceptively quickly, and she didn't feel like getting blinded by a thousand grains of sharp sand. "Got it." Both hurried to push their cycles up the slope.

Skylor, who had a much easier time dragging around a heavy metal vehicle, was far enough ahead to have already spotted a small cave carved into the side of the mountain. She gestured a hand to them, waving them over. Nya watched, gobsmacked, as she raised her bike over her shoulder to better climb up.

She shot Zane a look. "She knows we can't do that, right?"

Zane hummed. "Maybe I could make a slope…"

"No need!" Skylor called, "Just pass them over, I'll do it." Well, as long as she was offering. Skylor took care of hauling the cycles into the cave while Nya and Zane made their own way up.

Once inside, Zane immediately slumped against an uneven cave wall, wiping sweat from his face. Nya grimaced in sympathy. She was doing a lot better than he was, but she was starting to feel the effects of the heat as well. She traded flasks with Zane while he wasn't looking — hers had more water in it.

Skylor was stood at the mouth of the cave, hands on her hips. Nya, taking a swig from her flask, leaning against the uneven arch of the entrance. "How's it looking, Chieftess?"

Skylor's narrowed eyes flickered in the light of the dusk. "A sandstorm is definitely coming," she decided. "It may be a while before we can leave."

"A while being…?" Nya trailed off, taking another sip of water.

Skylor turned to her cycle, digging into the bag parked on its back. "Ideally, a few hours. More likely, a day or so."

Nya choked on her water, coughing. When she finally regained control of her lungs, she turned to Skylor. "A few days?! We can't wait that long! We can't just leave Lloyd alone that long!"

Skylor waved her off. In her arms she'd gathered matches and kindle — mostly excess fabrics and small sticks — to light a fire. "Your Hylian will be perfectly safe until we return. Faith is an exceptional leader."

Nya shook her head. "That's not what I'm worried about. If we're gone too long, Lloyd will think we're in trouble and come after us himself. I don't want him roaming the desert alone!"

But Skylor still paid her no mind. "I accounted for that as well. I told Faith to make absolutely sure the Hylian never makes it five feet out the border wall as long as we're gone."

Zane snorted from his spot on the floor. "That won't stop him."

Skylor arched a brow. "And why exactly not? My guards are the most well-trained people in the entire capital."

"True," Zane said, "but Lloyd could beat them all with his bare hands if he put his mind to it. As well-trained as they are, Lloyd will always have the advantage."

Nya nodded sagely. "We're calling it demigod-itis. Kid's crazy."

Skylor blinked at them. "…how long has he been training?"

"Since he was ten years old," Zane said quietly. As expected, Skylor's face dropped in a rare show of emotion.

"Ten?"

"Trust me, nobody liked it," Nya said quickly, holding her hands up placatingly. "No one in Hyrule wanted him training so soon. But we didn't have a choice."

A shadow crossed Zane's face. "Without that training, he wouldn't have lasted half as long during the Calamity." His words stunned Nya. Zane hadn't been there during the Calamity, and she hadn't explained the events in any amount of detail. But the answer was obvious anyways; if Lloyd hadn't begun training at ten, he wouldn't have lived long enough to destroy even one Guardian, much less dozens.

She sighed, brushing a hair from her cheek. "And he wouldn't have lasted this long either," she admitted. Lloyd had a butt-load of natural talent, that was for sure. But muscle memory and ingrained instinct had carried him this far, and those came from four years of grueling training.

Skylor scowled at her kindling. Nya worried for a second if they'd pissed off the Chieftess, but she seemed more pensive than angry. Finally, she dropped her kindling and matches in a small pile in the middle of the cave.

"The Calamity made us all grow too fast," she said, shaking her head. She brushed past Nya, hesitating at the mouth of the cave. "…I'll be back. Start a fire for me, please."

Nya watched her go until her red hair disappeared from sight. She sighed, her eyes instinctively turning back toward the incoming storm. Just as expected, the clouds were much closer than before.

"…I guess it's a good thing Lloyd isn't here," she muttered, mostly to herself. "He's been so antsy lately, he'd go crazy being stuck in here."

Somehow, she doubted being stuck in a palace was much better.

She sighed, stooping down in front of the pile of kindling. "You get first sleep," she told Zane. He looked like he wanted to protest, but just sighed and let his head fall back against the cave wall.

"Wake me up in a few hours." Nya snorted. Yeah, right. Zane liked to act like he was somehow invincible to the limits of his own biology, but she knew he'd need more than few hours of sleep. She would trade off shifts with the Chieftess instead.

Nya picked up the matches and struck them, watching flame burst to life in her hand. She stared at it a few seconds too long, letting the warmth sink to her fingertips, before she dropped it into the kindling.

She settled down to wait out the storm.

Rolling fields of green filled his vision. Perfect, scenic pastures encompassed the landscape, stretching as far as the eye could see. Bright yellow wildflowers dotted the grasslands, bringing pops of color to the picturesque country. Green on yellow on green on gold…

"…madon! Prince Garmadon!"

Lloyd jerked in his seat, startled. The thin, stern face of his tutor tutted down at him from the bridge of her angular nose, thin glasses nearly slipping off if not for the overly fancy chains holding them in place. Lloyd blinked, his vision clearing as he looked between his tutor and the window he'd been zoning out on.

"Er… yes?" He said, ducking his head sheepishly. She made a hmmph sound, straightening as she tapped her ruler on his desk.

"It would do you well to listen, young Prince," she tutted. "Hyrule would much prefer a ruler that does not distract himself."

He averted his eyes, chastened. "Yes, ma'am," he mumbled. He couldn't help it, though. This class was so boring, and borderline useless anyways. He was best friends with Bentho, and all the other kingdoms were already their friends — why did he need to know anything about 'peace treaties'? And his clothes were uncomfortable, and it was so sunny outside… and his dreams had been horrible. An old nightmare he hadn't been able to shake since what felt like birth, but couldn't for the life of him recall. Something about… the fields drew his attention again.

Green on yellow on green on gold.

His tutor sharply rapped her ruler against his head. He yelped, realizing he was zoning out again. "Prince Garmadon!" She chastised. She sighed, shaking her head in disappointment. "Oh, spare me from boys with short attention spans. Need I report to your father and tell him how you neglect your duties?"

Lloyd pouted, despite how many times his etiquette tutor had told him not to. "What's the problem? The other Domains are our friends."

The tutor — why couldn't he remember her name? — made an exasperated sound, throwing her hands in the air. "Friends! Oh, by the Time God's Grace, the boy calls them friends! They are our allies, young Prince, and you'd do well to remember that allegiances can be swayed."

Lloyd slumped in his seat, embarrassed. His teacher continued shaking her head, ranting to herself about boys who paid her no mind. He blew a strand of brown hair from his face and dropped his chin into his hand, looking out the window with a scowl.

Green on yellow on green on gold.

His teacher sighed again, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Oh, may His blessings be upon us," she moaned, "if you do not even pay attention in a simple class, how will you kill him?"

Lloyd blinked, slowly turning his head to look at her. "…what?"

"How will you kill him?" Her voice grew distorted, a high-pitched whine bleeding into it. The walls behind her began to melt, sloughing down as the colors blending into one another like melted ice cream. The ceiling began to leak molten wood, coalescing in a viscous mixture on the quickly softening floor. Lloyd stood, his chair screeching back.

His teacher, her face slowly distorting in a spiral shape, slammed her bony hands on his desk, staring him down.

"Kill him."

The window shattered behind him. The green pastures were gone, replaced by a roiling sea of green and gold light. Golden streams fell from the sun, melting into the miasma of light that eclipsed his palace. His breathing picked up, panicked, but he couldn't seem to get enough air. Even the light outside the window seemed to be screaming now as the high-pitched whine began to grow, pulsing in his ears and behind his eyes.

The tutor began to corner him, forcing him backward until he bumped up against the windowsill. "Kill him," she demanded, despite her complete lack of anything resembling a mouth.

Lloyd wheezed, clutching both his chest and the sill. He chanced a glance behind him, and terror erupted at the sight of the Green and Gold nearly lapping at his fingertips. The sun was twice as bright as it should be, humming painfully. He turned back to his teacher, terrified to see her face dripping.

"Kill who?" He whispered.

That same exasperated sound, completely out of place on her melted face and in the choppy tones of that high-pitched scream. Her bony hand snapped out and gripped the collar of his shirt. He yelped as, with strength a woman her age shouldn't possess, she lifted him several feet from the ground. His kicked his legs futilely, scrabbling at her wrist.

She stepped forward, heels clacking against the distorted floor, and stretched out her arm until he hung out of the window, suspended only a few feet above the roiling sea. He gasped.

The tutor tilted her head, as if inspecting him. Her face was a complete blur now, bare of any discernible features.

"Kill. Him."

Her hand retracted, and for a split second, he thought she would pull him back in. But then it flung out again, and he was thrown backward.

The ocean of Green and Gold recoiled around him, and its edges began to sharpen until it emulated the maw of some great beast with a thousand Green eyes. He couldn't even manage a scream before the maw lunged up and swallowed him and the sun both.

Skylor returned just before the winds came. The Chieftess had picked their shelter well — the angle protected them from the harsh storm beating against the mountain side. Nya turned, craning her neck to look at the tall Chieftess from her spot on the ground. Skylor had a pensive look on her face, thin eyes narrowed.

"Alright?" Nya said. Skylor hummed in lieu of response. She sat on a large outcropping of rock at the entrance, staring out into the storm.

After a long beat, she finally said, "I hope I didn't offend you, Nya."

Nya raised an eyebrow. "How would you have offended me?"

"Walking off. I just… needed a minute."

"You don't like kid soldiers," Nya said, trying to keep her voice light. "Which I get. When we first met Lloyd, we didn't know he was only ten. When I saw him…" She breathed out through her nose. That day had sucked in more ways than one. "It was fucked. I guess I just mean that I get it, Skylor."

Skylor hummed again, not sparing her a glance. Nya definitely shouldn't be prodding, but when has that ever stopped her? She shifted, turning herself to face Skylor. "But it's personal for you, isn't it?"

Skylor stiffened slightly. Her eyes closed as she took a deep breath. Nya frowned. "You don't have to talk about it-"

"You're right."

Nya blinked, surprised. Skylor didn't seem like a very open person. The Chieftess took another deep breath, carding her armored hand through her hair. "I… jeez," she whispered. "I haven't talked about this to anybody before. …I shouldn't, you know. I'm a Chieftess. How will people look up to me if I… well."

Nya stood, walking closer to the cave entrance. The winds were muffled, but loud enough that Zane shouldn't hear their conversation. He was still asleep, anyways.

"Well, I'm not your citizen," Nya said. Skylor turned to her, amber eyes raised in surprise. Nya shrugged. "It might help."

Skylor laughed mirthlessly. "It's only fair, isn't it? You gave me your whole spiel, after all."

"Exactly. It's like we're trading backstories."

Skylor hummed. She stared down at the golden armor eclipsing her right arm. "…when I called the old Chief a motherfucker, I wasn't joking. I was being very literal, actually."

Nya blinked. Her mouth formed an 'o' as realization dawned on her. "Wait, then…"

Skylor hummed. "Yes. My father…" Her eyes narrowed. "My father was not a good man. He wasn't even a halfway decent one. He was a tyrant. He was Chief, but that wasn't enough."

She craned her neck back, eyes shut tight. Nya hesitated. "…you killed him."

"For good reason," Skylor responded quietly. "He was Yiga. The traitor who let the Constrictai in during the Calamity. They promised protection. Promised the Gerudo would be kept safe when the Overlord came for the rest of Ninjago. Nearly 90 years later, and no Overlord."

She scowled at the ground. "Chen made them his advisors, his secretary, his cabinet and state and generals. He let those snakes infest every square inch of our cities, and cannibalize our culture. Chen was a fucking snake." To Nya's horror, she swore tears pooled in Skylor's eyes. The Chieftess quickly swiped them away, and Nya didn't mention it.

"…how?" Nya asked quietly. "If he was alive during the Calamity, then…"

Skylor laughed again, bitter. "He was favored by the Overlord. He was one of that demon's favorites. He…" she swallowed thickly. Then she turned her back to Nya, and her hand slowly reached for the shoulder of her shirt. It lingered there before she pulled it down.

Nya recoiled, surprised. Her eyes widened in horror at the sight revealed before her. The image of a purple snake curled over Skylor's shoulder blades, a gaping maw dripping blood. Instead of two eyes, however, the visage of a Yiga Sheikah Eye was implanted on the snake's forehead.

For the Gerudo, tattoos were important. They represented their place in society, their jobs and accomplishments, their family and friends. It was perhaps their most important cultural practice. Skylor herself wore tattoos that marked her as a Queen, one of their most revered.

And she'd been branded.

Nya's hand flew to her mouth. "Oh god- Skylor-"

Skylor slumped. "It's hideous, right? I've always thought so."

Nya swallowed. "Was it… I mean, your father…"

"Yes. …my father was worse than a Yiga. This-" She pulled the fabric back over her shoulder, hiding the image of the snake from view. "-the Great Devourer, it was his fault. He made that thing. Raised it, fed it. Set it loose on a fragile kingdom."

"Hylians aren't weak," Nya said automatically.

"Next to us they were," Skylor snapped. "He made the thing that destroyed half of Hyrule's land, killed half its people, desecrated half its monuments. And when they finally killed it, he- fuck, he sat at their table and toasted their victory!"

Nya swallowed. When she started this conversation, she hadn't expected this. But Skylor sounded like she'd been needing to get it off her chest for a long time. "Lady Iron Dragon told me about it," she said, "The Great Devourer. She said that something like that should've warranted a Hero of Destiny, but Master Wu and Garmadon didn't have any kids yet."

Skylor scoffed. "Kids. Of course. You know, he used to brag about it, to me. Used to boast about how they never even thought to blame him. Chen was the sickest man I ever knew. Just being Chief wasn't enough, no, he always needed more. When the Constrictai came, he erected colosseums and gladiator rings. Promised glory to those who fought willingly, and beat those who didn't. He would starve our people for days, and promise a five-star meal if they murdered their own sibling!" Skylor suddenly stood, eyes wild as her voice steadily grew. "But did they ever see that reward?! He would torture them within an inch of their lives for entertainment! And he just went lower and lower. Took children off the street until they were mauling each other in the ring. Took wild boars and hogs and starved them too, just to see them eat his own citizens!"

Skylor's voice hitched, and she pressed a hand to her face. "Just to see them eat children. You- you hear of evil that bends. That halts, and stalls, and- and restrains itself. For principles, loved ones, children."

"Skylor…" Nya reached out her hand, face slack in horror. Why hadn't Benthomaar mentioned any of this? Why hadn't she known?

Skylor took a long, deep breath, and removed the hand from her face. She drew her shoulders up, tight, until she resembled a Queen. "Well, my father had a daughter, but he had no principles, and he had no loved ones."

"So you killed him."

"I did. I led a coup, and I made damn sure he saw me drive out every single snake he brought into my goddamn city. I took his tongue first, then his life." She laughed to herself, swiping the back of her hand across her eyes. "You know, in the end, he did do something for me. He lent me the blood for my tattoo ink."

Nya's eyes flicked to the black crown-like tattoo on Skylor's forehead and felt her mouth grow dry. "How… old were you?"

Skylor's hands formed tight fists at her sides. "Thirteen."

Younger than Lloyd. Younger than all of them. Nya reached out a hand and hesitantly landed on Skylor's clothed shoulder. "So it's personal, for you."

"Yes."

No wonder Skylor didn't want to bring Lloyd along. No wonder his scars set her off. Nya sighed, shaking her head. Why hadn't she known how much the Calamity affected the rest of the world? Why hadn't the other Domains done something? After Hyrule fell, they only had each other. How much had the Calamity divided Ninjago?

"Skylor, I… I can't even imagine. I'm so sorry."

Skylor suddenly shrugged Nya's hand off, brushing past her and back into the cave. She stood in front of the crackling fire, stiff. Nya frowned. "I promise, I won't tell anybody-"

"Mind if I change?" Skylor interjected in a forced light voice. Nya hesitated.

"I, uh, I guess-"

"Thanks." Skylor unlatched the armor around her right arm, grunting slightly as it fell to the wayside. "This stuff's heavy, and we'll be here a while…" She was still forcing a light air to her voice. Nya didn't mention it.

She was still trying to process all that Skylor had revealed. Suddenly, everything she knew about the Great Devourer and Serpentine war was re-contextualized. She couldn't believe it had been the Gerudo's own Chief that had decimated half of Hyrule. And why? Had it really been an omen of the Overlord's impending return, or had it, somehow, been what brought the Overlord to Ninjago? What had been the game plan?

It was all so fucked up.

Skylor paused. She ran a hand through her hair, huffing. "…fuck. You know, I thought I was done. I thought I had- had ended this all, that I could leave my fucked up dad and fucked up childhood in the past. But here you three come!" She turned, splaying a hand out. "And now I find out that the Calamity is right around the corner, again! Now I'm fighting Yiga Constrictai, again! When is it going to end?" She shook her head, shoulders drooping. "Please, tell me it's going to end."

Nya walked forward. Though she was more than a head shorter than Skylor, she did her best to meet the Chieftess' eyes. "It will. Skylor, I swear, it's going to end. We-" She paused, then started again. "Lloyd might not be strong enough yet, but he's getting there. And he's going to beat the Overlord. We'll make sure of it."

"And make another child soldier?" Skylor shook her head. "I spent my entire life fighting battles in a ring. I can't ask your brother to do the same."

"None of us have a say in the matter," Nya said quietly. "Trust me, if I could kill the bastard myself I would."

Skylor sighed. The sound of the storm outside filled the silence between them. Everything was so messed up.

Eventually, Skylor cleared her throat. "Pass me a shirt? I've got a few on my cycle." Nya nodded, and turned away. She heard Skylor sniff, and knew the Chieftess had just wanted privacy. So she kept her back turned when she handed Skylor an orange nightshirt.

"Thanks. …you can look now." Nya turned back around, and Skylor's face was once again clear and calm. Her eyeliner wasn't even smudged. The Chieftess smirked, though it was strained. "And thanks for not looking. I know I'm 'so hot'—"

Nya groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Oh man, you heard that?!"

Skylor laughed, more genuinely this time. "Yes. And I'm afraid I must reject your passionate advances-"

"Oh god shut up shut up-"

Skylor grinned, lowering herself to the ground in front of the fire. Nya sat across from her. "You weren't exactly being quiet. So, who's Jay?"

Nya felt a warm blush grow on her face as she smiled. "My fiance. My Yin."

Skylor smirked. "Oh, so you're the Yang in the relationship. You know, I could've guessed."

"You know about Rito courting customs?"

"A bit. So, he is, or was? I recall the whole 'dead for a century' bit."

Nya smiled. "Is. Jay is a Champion too — he's still in his Divine Beast, like Zane and Cole. And Kai. I'll be able to get him back."

Skylor whistled. "Engaged for a whole century. I don't think that's what they mean by 'taking it slow'."

Nya leaned forward, shaking her head. "Oh no, you don't get it. This absolute maniac proposed to me literal seconds before he flew off to his Divine Beast! I barely had time to say yes before half the castle collapsed!" She paused, and her hand drifted to her neck. All that hung there was the medallion Benthomaar gifted her. She sighed nostalgically. "He made me a necklace. I… I lost it. But it was perfect." She looked back up, mouth crooked. "I guess I'll have to ask for a new one, huh?"

Skylor leaned back on her hands. "He's lucky to have you. But, can I ask something?" Nya nodded, and Skylor continued. "You said Kai is your brother. Is that metaphorical, or…?"

"Kai raised me," Nya said, "Don't get me wrong, Zane, Cole, and Lloyd are my brothers, but Kai is actually related to me."

"The Goron Domain is just East of the Zora. Why didn't you get him first?"

Nya stiffened. Her hand fisted the fabric on her legs. Behind her, Zane snored away.

"I…" She hesitated. Would it be fair to vent to Skylor, after all the Chieftess had told her? Her problems paled in comparison. But Skylor gestured for her to go on, so Nya did. "I think I'm a bad sister."

He's falling.

The wind is whipping past his ears, rustling through loose hair as he free falls. There is no panic, despite the way he tumbles head over heels through cold wind whistling past. Flying has never scared him — it's the landing that he never sticks.

He brings his hands up to block his face as the ground comes up underneath him, rising faster than he can react. He crashes straight through, as if the dirt and rock were nothing but a thin sheet of paper, and lands instead on a grassy hill.

He stands, but doesn't register actually getting up. It's more like he just teleports up. He glances around, slightly intrigued. He is in a field, grass rising around him. Far in the distance, the spires of a stone castle reach for the moon, blood red. The moon casts an eerie red glow over the field.

Before the castle, steadfast, is a person. He cups his hand over his eyes as if to get a better look. Even though the distance is great — him on top of a hill, the figure but a speck against the backdrops of the castle's dark silhouette — he can see them perfectly.

They are not quite a person.

They are… green? And golden. Their body is a single color, emitting green light around a golden core. Their eyes pierce the black, an emerald green that seems all too ethereal to come from the earth. Golden horns curl over their head like a crown, elegant and threatening all at once. They hold in their hands a golden sword.

This is familiar.

The ground rumbles. He turns, not particularly worried despite the apparent earthquake. Just as expected, a foe for the green figure appears. It it hulking, monstrous in its size. A serpent. Yes, he knows it.

The Great Devourer.

The serpent, maw dripping blood, snarls at the figure. The person with horns does not falter, steadfast before the castle. They raise a hand, and ice erupts out from beneath their feet. Columns made of ice rise from the ground, circling the Devourer until they are inside an open colosseum. The serpent opens its maw, rising high, high above its opponent. The Great Devourer's head raises until it blocks the moon. Its eyes are slits, locked onto its prey.

Then it darts down, its monumental body rippling as hundreds of feet worth of muscle lunge for the figure in green.

They still do not falter. They raise their sword, brace their legs, and split the Great Devourer in two. The serpent's body falls onto the sword and splits perfectly in half, the force of it making the halves slide away from the figure. Finally, the serpent's entire body rests in two halves on either side of the figure. They lower their sword in a definitive arc, and the Great Devourer disappears in a puff of purple-black smoke.

The figure turns their head, eyes boring into him. Those celestial green eyes narrow, and they raise their sword again. The tip is pointed directly at him. "Kill him," they speak, their voice carrying for miles.

Finally, he moves. "Who?" He calls. Their eyes turn to slits, as if disdainful.

They raise their sword high above their head, and it slams down. Cracks appear in the ice, racing across miles of grass to reach his feet. He looks down, backing away as cracks grow bigger around him. It is only when the ice begins to fall through that they speak again.

"Kill him."

'Kill who?' he doesn't have the time to ask again as he free falls once more.

The sky bleeds a gruesome red and orange, smoggy with smoke from raging fires as he lands again on his knees. The scene has changed, and he stands amidst the burning square of Hyrule's capital. He looks around, and even the horror of the sight before him can't bring him to feel much of anything. It's all too hazy.

His eyes are drawn again to a figure in green. The same figure, a glowing green silhouette with a golden sword. They're surrounded by Guardians on all sides, and yet they don't falter. He watches, astounded, as they swing their blade in perfect arcs, cleaving robotics arms and lasers in two. Every Guardian that approaches falls, twitching on the ground.

Finally, each and every opponent has been slaughtered. The figure doesn't even seem winded as they lower their sword. They pause, taking in their own carnage. From behind, a Guardian creeps over the rubble.

He stretches a hand out. "Look out!" He calls. The figure doesn't even turn as they swing their sword behind them, and the Guardian's Eye is stabbed out. They pull their sword back, and turn their eyes to him.

"Kill him."

He steps forward. "Kill who? I don't understand! The Guardians? The Great Devourer?!"

The figure raises their sword, and points it directly at him. "Kill him."

Before he knows it, the burning cobblestone beneath his feet is crumbling, and he falls into darkness yet again.

"What?" Skylor's voice is stunned. "What are you talking about?"

Nya stared into her lap. "I mean, I think I'm a bad sister. I've- jeez, I've been such a jerk since I was unmerged. I can't stop arguing with them, and starting fights…" She rubbed the bridge of her nose between her eyes. "I keep fucking things up!"

Skylor raised a brow. "And this has something to do with not going to get your brother? Seems counterproductive."

Nya sighed. "We… had a big fight about it." She glanced over her shoulder at Zane. Even in sleep, the desert heat was still getting to him. She reached out for water, and directed a thin stream to his skin, letting the liquid slowly seep in and hydrate him.

"I wanted to get Kai. Zane thought Cole made more sense — he was our leader, and Zane thought Earth would be easier to learn than Fire, for Lloyd. Which- it makes sense. But I wanted to get Kai, so I fought it."

"And it didn't end well?"

"No. Lloyd ended up being the tiebreaker. And he- god, he looked scared. Scared to tell me. Like I would hate him or something! And he wasn't even wrong to think that!"

"I don't believe that," Skylor said. "You seem too close."

Nya shook her head. "It's true. I almost ruined our relationship because I couldn't accept the fact that his favorite fruit had changed."

"Come on, it can't have been that bad," Skylor said.

"Okay, I wasn't that petty, but it's true!" Nya dragged a hand down her face. "If he wasn't so understanding, I… I don't even know. I scared him, and I nearly pushed him away, and he wasn't even the only one!" Her legs drew up until her knees pressed to her chest. Her tail curled around her ankle as she drew herself tighter. "Fuck, I… the same day, the same day we rescued Zane, I called him useless. I yelled at him for, for what, dying?! All because I wanted to get Kai first."

She fell backward, dropping to the cave floor. Her hair splayed out behind her head as she stared at the stalactites above. "I was so awful to them both. I've been such a dick. And they just keep forgiving me." Her arm covered her eyes as she took a breath. Even just recalling how awful she'd acted to both her brothers made her feel sick. Part of her wanted to blame it all on Nyad and her influence, but she knew that wasn't the whole story. Was it fear? Anger, over everything changing and her complete lack of control?

Or had she changed too, and for the worse?

"So," she finished lamely, "I guess that's why. I don't want to argue with them anymore, so… the desert it is. If it means taking a little longer to get to Kai, then I guess that's the price I pay for being a world-class dick. It's a straight shot anyways. Here, Shintaro, Ignacia." She laughed mirthlessly. "What could go wrong?"

"I'm not sure you want to know."

"Ugh," Nya groaned, "Don't get me started. With our luck, we'll get roped into three different missions on the way there. …what do I do? They've forgiven me, but I was still awful."

"Well," Skylor said, "If you're asking for my 'queenly wisdom', then I'd tell you to formally apologize. It would help. But, if you're asking as a friend-"

Nya propped herself on her elbows, looking at Skylor from across the fire. "We're friends?"

Skylor gave her a flat look. "I just dumped all my childhood trauma on your head. Yes, we're friends. And as your friend, I say you're already in the clear. Forgive yourself. You're the only one still angry."

Nya hummed, laying back down. "I guess you're right," she said. But if she forgave herself, would that make the anger go away? What then? What would she use as her fuel, except for the anger? And if not at herself, at who would she be angry?

It wasn't something she wanted to figure out.

He lands on his hands and knees in water. It's cold. He stands, looking around. He's in the cove. And in front of him, larger than a mountain, is Wojira. He stumbles back, eyes wide. She's hissing and spitting, spraying venom into the fathoms below. He turns, searching.

There. A glowing silhouette in green runs up the length of a grassy, steep cliff. Sleet rains down against them, but they don't falter or even slow. A slate of ice aids them as they skate up, and raise one hand to block and shatter the hail assaulting their face. He watches, stunned, as they don't even pause at the sheer edge of the cliff. They jump, higher than should be possible, raising their sword high above their head.

Wojira catches the glint of light from the glowing golden sword, and turns. She roars, maw opening wide. The figure falls straight in, swallowed whole as Wojira's mouth snaps shut around them.

Immediately, a bright golden halo shines from the serpent's neck as the sword cuts straight through in a perfect glowing arc. Wojira screams and flails as her body collapses to the side, spraying up tidal waves of water. The figure stands atop her neck, sword dripping dark blood. They place the blade in the crook of their elbow, using their glowing arm to wipe it clean.

They turn glowing green eyes on him. "Kill him," they say.

He walks forward in the water, paying no mind to the thick, viscous blood and venom clinging to his legs. "Who?" He glances at Wojira's dead eyes. "…her? No. She's dead. Who?"

Their eyes narrow in frustration. They spin their sword, slamming the tip into the water. Every inch immediately freezes, and traps him in. The figure doesn't care, and walks atop the waves, frozen in place. Their sword draws up until the tip just barely skims his forehead. "Kill him."

The tip presses in, and the ice shatters, and he falls again.

The air becomes colder and colder as he tumbles through the inky black. Finally, he collapses on solid ground.

He stands, and finds what he's looking for immediately. The same solid green figure, arms and legs and torso swirling with rivers of gold, two regal horns curling over their head, and a sword.

A sword buried in the eye of the IceBlight. The sword presses in deeper, and pink blood spurts from the dead body. The figure seems more hostile, the most emotional he's ever seen them. They raise their sword, the edge dripping blood, and slam it back down. The IceBlight's body spasms.

They stand there, still and stiff, for a beat. Their head bent over, hands tight around the sword's hilt. Then they lift their head, and glare at him with green eyes.

"Kill him."

"The… Blights," he says quietly. They shake their head, and press the sword deeper into the wound.

"Kill him. Kill him back."

Realizations finally dawns on him. "The Overlord."

They nod. "Kill him."

"I can't," he protests. "He doesn't die. I can't kill him, it's not possible."

They don't like that answer. The sword jerks out of the Blight's eye unceremoniously, spraying blood. He preemptively looks down, and sure enough, the ice underfoot is already breaking apart.

The culprit raises their sword. It glows with burning intensity, as if emboldened by its wielder's rage. "Kill him BACK!"

And yet again, he's falling.

Lloyd woke with a scream caught in his throat. He flew up, heart racing as he clutched the thin shirt against his chest. He panted, cold sweat dripping down his neck despite the breeze from the open window.

He tried to recall what had made him wake up so suddenly, but it was like grasping at straws. The details of his dream slipped awake like water from his fingertips, leaving him oblivious to what had made his heart beat so fast.

He rubbed his head with a groan. Just as well. It was probably something he didn't want to remember, like his death at the hands of Guardians, or that crazy siren, or Wojira, or one of the hundred other things that kept him awake at night.

Still, it didn't make him feel any safer.

For a split second, Lloyd almost got out of bed, planning to go find Nya. Then he remembered: Nya was like a hundred miles away, on a mission, without him. He was completely alone in the palace.

Lloyd shivered, drawing his knees to his chest under the satin blanket. The sheer size of the bed didn't do anything to make him feel comforted. It completely dwarfed him, leaving him practically drowning in the sheets. It just made him feel small.

He thumped his forehead against his knees. "It was nothing," he muttered to himself. The warm breeze at his back did more to calm him than anything else. He glanced over, staring out the window. The mountain range the others had disappeared to was a dark silhouette against the horizon, barely visible without a full moon. His hand tightened against the blankets. Were they okay? Had they found the Constrictai yet?

Why hadn't they taken him with them? He was going stir-crazy in the palace without them. With a frustrated huff, he threw the blankets off. He had to crawl just to reach the edge of the ginormous bed, muttering to himself all the while.

"Sure, leave the demigod Hero of Destiny behind, not like he's fighting demons anyway… noooooo, snakes are too scary…"

He rolled his eyes, jumping onto the cool floor. It was so stupid. How come he could be trusted to fight Wojira and not Constrictai? And, whatever, he didn't actually really fight Wojira, but he'd killed a Blight! Surely that counted for something.

"I do not look ten," he grumbled.

Wind whistled through the arched window. The room was large and empty, and too dark around the edges to be comfortable. He folded his arms, trying to block out his discomfort. He didn't see himself going back to sleep anytime soon, but he didn't know what else to do.

His attention drifted to the bag he'd left on the floor. Well, Nya and Zane weren't here, but maybe somebody else could be.

He stooped down at the bag, ruffling through it and the random junk he'd stuffed inside, before he finally found the stack of old letters. Every single one was addressed to him, in Mom's handwriting. Back in Benthomaar's palace, he hadn't had the chance to go through them all. Mom had a century to do nothing but write — there were a lot of letters.

His finger skimmed over the edges. Maybe running to the comfort of his mom's letters after a nightmare proved he was a kid like Skylor thought, but he couldn't bring himself to care. Besides, it was more productive than laying awake in bed.

He chose one at random. It wasn't very thick, so he took a second one out of the stack. In the corner of the room was a simple desk and chair. He carefully lit the vaulted candle on the wall and sat down with his letters.

He opened the thinner letter first, smiling at the sight of Mom's curly handwriting.

It's your birthday, today. This is the first I've been able to bring myself to write during it. You would have been 30. Can you believe that? I can't. I can't imagine anybody but my little boy. But it's true. You would have been 30 years old today.

Lloyd wrinkled his nose. He didn't exactly want to be thirty.

Usually, I bake a cake. We always had chefs for that, but I insisted. You had such a notorious sweet tooth. Your father indulged it too much — he always snuck you candy before dinner. Every year, your father spoiled you rotten. He could never say no to you, but the birthdays were the worst. I had to stop him from buying you a sail boat once.

These days, I wish I had just let him spoil you. You deserved it.

Anyways, today I baked a cake. For what, I'm not sure. You're not here. It hasn't made me feel any better. I'm sure I'll just dump it in the trash. But the world keeps turning, so I'll have to make do with useless cake.

Happy birthday, Lloyd. One of these days, I may get to celebrate it with you again.

The letter ended there. Lloyd folded it back up. It was nice to read his mother's words, but like the other letters, they were sad. It dawned on him that he couldn't actually remember when his birthday was. He flipped the letter back open, but there was no date written.

Maybe he was already fifteen. That was a weird thought. Weren't you supposed to feel different when you aged? He didn't feel too different.

Of course, according to everyone else, he already was. Maybe that was it; the day he woke up, he was suddenly fifteen and a century more different.

That was dumb. He rubbed his eye. The late hour must be making him weird. But he still felt too antsy to go back to sleep, so he opened the second letter. This one was much, much older, yellow and crinkled in his hand.

You're dead.

This again. Lloyd paused, debating with himself over how much he actually wanted to read this. But it was Mom.

I haven't slept since the Calamity. Between you and the shrine, then the Zora and Wojira, and finally finding this empty valley, I haven't had the time. I haven't wanted to either, but the second I entered my tent, I collapsed.

I was sure I'd dream of you. I still remember your little body, your limp face, every wound you suffered. I was so sure that image would haunt me tonight. But I found something worse.

A monster, I believe. It had to have been. A familiar one, too. When you were a child, very young, you would come to mine and your father's room at night, crying about a monster. You insisted that it was real, and you couldn't sleep again until we got rid of it. Well of course, your father took this very seriously. He would march to your room, playing up the act to make you smile a little more. But sometimes, he felt it too. Sometimes, he really was serious. Sometimes, we did fear a real monster.

Even before we knew, we knew.

We would search your room. Under the bed, in the wardrobe, in the dark corners of the room. And every time, no monster. So we tucked you back in and told you to sleep. It was just nightmares, after all. At times, your uncle suggested we figure out why you had nightmares to begin with. But he knew. Even before we knew, we knew. Knew what you were, and why.

The dreams wore off by the time you were 8, and I forgot about them. But tonight, I remembered.

What could a monster look like, to a sheltered toddler? Much like an old toy, I thought. A puppet in the wrong lighting. You were young, and had barely ever scraped a knee. I didn't think you could even conceptualize a monster, then.

But I know it was this one. In my dreams, I saw it. The demon. What else could it have been? A strange figure with no features except two sharp horns and glowing eyes. It stared at me a long time, and I was paralyzed. It spoke only two words to me, and I will never forget them: "he dies".

I've killed you.

Lloyd stiffened, staring down at the paper. What was she talking about? A different letter had said something similar, but… no, this didn't make sense. Mom put him in the Shrine that saved his life.

That must be it. This is a vision from the Time God, and He is angry at me. Angry for letting His champion die, His sword shatter. I must have angered Him. Was it learning His sacred art? Even with Spinjitzu, I let you die. Then I killed you again. This is His anger, telling me that I've killed you.

I ruined everything by putting you in that shrine. I've broken the cycle. Now you'll never return. I was too selfish, and now you're dead forever. I can't even fathom it. That you'll never return, in any body.

Which would be worse? For you to come back to me changed, or not at all? I've killed you. You're dead, and I killed you.

Lloyd couldn't handle reading any more. He pushed against the desk, his chair rapidly screeching against the floor. A heady buzz was steadily taking place in his chest, lungs, head. He blinked, trying to ward off the static crowding the edges of his vision.

"I'm not dead," he told himself. He backed away, stumbling over his own uneven feet. "I'm not dead. I- I'm not dead, I'm not-" He found himself on the floor, still clutching his chest. Tears blurred his vision further. He wasn't dead, because he'd come back, and just because he was a little different didn't mean-

For you to come back to me changed, or not at all?

Was that what people thought of him? That he was better off dead than a little different?!

"I'm not dead!" He yelled, bent over. He wasn't dead, or reincarnated, he was the same! Just to prove it, his fingernails dug into his arm, pressing in angry red crescents. The pain just barely managed to ward off the static in his head.

He panted, sweat and tears dripping to the floor. "I'm- I'm here," he whispered. "I'm not dead."

Wasn't he, though? Lloyd Garmadon was a person whose entire purpose was to reincarnate. He had died, a million times over. Did resurrection count? Was he a completely new person, just a little too similar to the old one that no one had really noticed?

The old one. Was he ever alive, if all he did was reincarnate?

The panic came back. He whined, pressing his eyes shut tight as his nails dug further into his skin. "I'm not, I'm not…"

A distant thud came from behind him, but he was too caught up in just trying to force air into his lungs to care. He only flinched when he felt hands on his own, tugging them away from his arms.

"Breathe. Deep breathing now." He couldn't recognize the voice, but tried to listen anyways. He sucked in more air, wheezing at the burn in his throat. A large, warm hand rubbed his back slowly. He blinked, the force of his breathing slowing down.

It took a minute, but the tear tracks eventually dried and his heart eventually returned to a normal beat.

"Okay, now?" Lloyd looked up to see a large Gerudo woman with black hair slicked back into a ponytail and thick eyebrows. Her sharp face seemed concerned as she crouched over him. He backed up, staring at the floor.

"Yeah, I'm… fine." Dead, apparently, but fine.

She didn't seem to believe him. She stood up, towering over him, and fixed him with a look. "And you are on the floor, for what reason? Seemed upset. Was a bad dream?"

She spoke with a thick accent, like the language she spoke wasn't her first. Lloyd shrugged, refusing to meet her eyes. "I guess. That and… other stuff."

"No sleep, then."

"Nope."

The guard — a tattoo on her shoulder marked her as such — hummed, nodding in understanding. She reached down a hand for him to take. "Come. Will do you no good, alone in dark."

Lloyd raised an eyebrow, wiping his sticky cheek. "Where?"

"To spar," she said enthusiastically. "We will fight the problem."

Lloyd frowned. "This isn't really a problem you punch," he said, but took her hand anyways. The guard shook her head, grinning with uneven teeth.

"Everything is a problem to punch, if you punch hard enough. We will spar, yes?"

Lloyd blinked, then smiled a little himself. Finally, someone here who didn't treat him like a little kid. "Then I hope you're ready to lose."

She thumped him on the back, making him stumble to remain upright. "Ha! The Hylian is funny. You will call me Murtessa, yes."

"I'm Lloyd."

Murtessa led him through the halls of the palace, dimly lit by braziers. They emerged in a large square in the middle of the palace. It was mostly sand, training equipment lined up at the edges against sandstone walls. Murtessa took to the center, and slid her legs back, bringing her arms up like a boxer. She grinned at him from behind two closed fists. "Come, Hylian! Show me how hard you hit."

Lloyd was barefoot, wearing an over-sized shirt he definitely didn't steal from Zane's bag, and running on two hours of sleep. He put his own fists up, and began the spar.

Skylor couldn't fathom what had pushed her to pour her heart out to a Zora she'd just met. It genuinely flabbergasted her. In all the years she'd served as Chieftess to the Gerudo — their Sun Queen, their New Dawn — she'd never talked about her past. There were people close to her who knew of it — Faith knew the most, being the woman who'd undone the Yiga's brainwashing in the first place — but she'd never talked about it. Not even to Faith. It was too hard. The Gerudo needed her to be a flawless leader, vaulted in how untouchable she was. They were only a decade out of a 90-year-long tyrannic rule. Longer, if you knew about her father's actions toward members of their Chiefdom even before the Calamity.

Maybe that was it. Nya wasn't her subject. She didn't depend on Skylor to keep her safe, fed, healthy and protected. Nya didn't know her as the warrior queen who had struck down the worst tyrant in the desert's history.

She let the thoughts stew as she sat before the entrance of the cave. Both Zora slept behind her. She'd insisted that Nya go to sleep, citing dehydration. The girl thought she was immune, but there was a difference between Ignacia's humid heat and the desert's arid climate. The girl was already starting to get pale.

She breathed out deeply through her nose. The events of the day were getting to her, despite how tame it had all been. She'd always known, deep down, that nothing was ever truly over until the demon storm in the Hylian castle was gone. Striking down one mortal tyrant wouldn't change anything for the rest of this broken world. But a woman could hope, right?

The storm had died down half an hour ago. She'd just been staring into blank dunes of sand, disturbed by the wind but ultimately the same as a few hours ago. It had always irked her, how the desert could change so much and matter so little. An entire sea of sand could fold in on itself, and ultimately change nothing at all. Some part of her had thought that when she took the throne, her kingdom would reflect that. That the dawn would truly rise anew, blessing her reign.

She'd always been desperate for change. Maybe this could get her there.

She stood, dusting off her pants. She took another beat of blessed silence to pack everything back up, stamping out the fire and condensing their belongings into bags. She changed her clothes again, resolutely refusing to brush against the snake branded on her back. It was phantom pain, but the burned skin still hurt, all these years later.

She took another few minutes to sit down and do her makeup. She took white paint to the tattoos that marked her as Chief, touching up the edges so they looked brand-new. She swept gold khoal over her eyes, painting delicate spirals into her skin. Then black paint, to her arms and biceps. It dried quickly.

The sun was rising, just in time. Skylor knelt before the cave's entrance, feeling the first rays paint her face gold. She closed her eyes, breathing out. She hadn't truly prayed since the morning she took the throne, but she'd followed the routine of doing so silently for a decade. She waited until the sun bathed her entire body in its warmth, flooding into the rest of their shelter. Then she opened her eyes, standing back up.

Routine was important to her. Sometimes, it was all that got her through the day.

She turned, grabbing the handles of her Master Cycle. Nya and Zane stirred as the sun hit their faces. Nya grumbled, turning over. Zane, apparently the more disciplined of the two — she'd seen Nya popping wheelies — woke up much faster. He blinked, taking in the sun, and sighed.

"I told her to wake me and switch shifts…"

Skylor snorted to herself. Yeah, as if. "We're heading out," she said curtly. "I want to get back to my city before night falls.

Zane nodded, quickly waking his sister. She grumbled, but got up, still rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

Once they were both ready to leave, Skylor led them out on her cycle. Nya, thankfully, didn't acknowledge the night before. Skylor didn't think she could stand the mention of her father right now. Not when she was preparing to deal with his old subordinates.

She scowled at the thought. Fucking snakes, her mind spat. She'd spent enough of her life surrounded by snakes — literal and figurative. She should have done this ages ago. Her father didn't deserve to cannibalize any more of her people's culture.

Skylor stops them when they get close to the top. "We'll go on foot from here," she told both Champions. They nodded, dismounting their cycles.

"What's your plan?" Nya said, falling into step beside her. Skylor slipped through a thin passage in the way.

"Who's to say I have a plan? Maybe I'm just going to start swinging," Skylor responded. Nya laughed under her breath.

"Man, Kai would love you. Of course you have a plan."

Skylor smirked. "Ah, you're right. Your," she pointed at Zane, "job is keeping those suckers from burrowing. Can I trust that your ice is strong enough?"

Zane thought, looking down into his blue hand. Snowflakes fluttered in his palm. "I can definitely slow them down," he said.

Skylor turned to Nya. "I'll need you to watch my back. I don't care if I have to boot every snake off this mountain to get to those swords, just make sure I get to them."

"No problem," Nya said. Skylor, assured that they had enough preparation — what was the use of an element if one couldn't use it on a dime? — turned back to the rocky path. It was quickly growing steeper and steeper. They were close.

Skylor hauled herself over the last hurdle, crouching behind thick rocks. Nya and Zane silently followed her lead. She peeked over the rock, narrowing her eyes at the sight.

Constrictai were scattered across the camp, sunbathing or fighting or doing whatever the hell snakes did in their free time. Skylor never really understood why they sat up here. Did they think they would be able to take her capital back? She should punt them off this damn mountain for the audacity alone.

She scanned the camp, searching for their target. There. Across the mountain, shunted to the side like an abandoned trophy collecting dust, was the statue. A tall Gerudo woman in armor holding two gigantic swords. They were encased in the same stone as the statue.

"Do you think they're real?" Nya asked quietly. Skylor pressed her lips together.

"I'm confident enough to be here, aren't I?"

Zane leaned forward. "They're real," he murmured. Skylor raised a brow.

"How do you know?"

"The core four elements — the ones with Golden Weapons — are connected," Zane said quietly. "I don't have Cole's ability to sense the power of his element, but I can tell that the statue has some measure of Earth inside of it."

Skylor stared at him for a few seconds. Then she shrugged. "Good enough for me." She turned her forearm over, messing with her cuffs. She pulled the inlaid knives from a thin slit, unwinding the attached chains. Nya gave her an awed look.

"You have got to get me a pair of those." Skylor smirked, gripping both knives in her fists.

"One of a kind, I'm afraid," Skylor said. "Us normal mortals have to get by somehow."

Zane braced his palm on the rock, getting ready to leap forward. The Shuriken of Ice spun to life in the palm of his hand, a delicate breezing following. "Give the word, Chieftess," he muttered.

Skylor breathed in through her nose. She focused on the feeling of the sun's heat on her back and the sound of loose pebbles under the feet of lizards. She let the breath out.

"Freeze the ground."

The Zoran Champion immediately complied. A thick, poreless layer of ice raced over the ground, upending the janky wooden structures. Skylor gave their opponents no time to react, leaping over their hiding place. Nya raced behind her, spinning her trident as a ribbon of water flowed from her flask.

The snakes struggled to find their balance on the ice. A few of the larger ones were already beating the ground, doing their best to burrow underground. Skylor bared her teeth, knocking one aside.

"Skylor, behind you!"

Skylor spun with a high kick on reflex, knocking a Constrictai in the jaw. It went sprawling, clutching its face. The one behind her tried to get out, and she flung out one knife, cutting it across its face. A geyser of water came from her left, beating the snake back. Skylor jumped over its body, skidding across slick ice.

Zane yelled from her left. The Zora was ensnared in the thick tail of a large Serpentine. Though he already had ice creeping over the snake's body, he was suffocating quickly. Skylor snatched a sharp rock from the ground and threw it up in the air. With a swift kick, the stone nailed the Constrictai between the eyes. When is was thrown off by the surprise, Zane spun his Golden Shuriken and cleanly slit the snake's throat with its icy tip. He nodded to Skylor, turning back to the cold arena he'd crafted.

From the corner of her eye, she spotted a thin, distinctly human figure. They wore a Yiga mask that covered their face, and had no discernible features she could make out when they stood directly against the sun. But there was a growth on their back, clumped together in shadow. She brought her knives up, but they simply looked down at the fight before turning and leaving with little urgency.

Skylor made to go after them, not keen on letting them get to the statue, but Nya yelled again. "Comin' your way!"

Skylor spun, throwing a savage left hook, knife in hand, into the sternum of the snake coming up right behind her. Nya whooped as she ran past, balancing effortlessly on the ice. Zane commanded the ice under his sister's feet to curve and swoop, making her inhumanly quick. Nya barely seemed to notice, they were so in sync.

Skylor abandoned the Constrictai, locking onto the statue through the mayhem. She sprinted forward, feet barely touching the ground. Every snake that came for her was cleanly knocked aside, either by ice or water or her own fist.

Her eyes widened as the ice before her trembled. It snapped, shards spraying in front of her as a huge Constrictai sprung from the surface. That one must have managed to break through Zane's ice. Skylor went down, using her momentum to slide beneath the Constrictai. She came up on one knee. The snake had a weapon, a thin spear made of bone.

Skylor lunged forward before the Serpentine could, parrying the spear with both daggers. She jumped over its tail, throwing her leg into its chest. She landed in a crouch as it felt back. Loud hisses surrounded her. She glanced around at the four snakes that had converged on her.

She bared her teeth in an imitation of a smile. "Alright," she said. She was far from the terrified thirteen-year-old she'd been when she killed her father and driven these jerks out of her town. They'd see why she was called the New Dawn. "Don't be shy about it. Try and hit me."

Spoiler: they don't.

Skylor smoothly ducked under every attempted strike, using the terrain to her advantage. Even with their regained ability to burrow beneath the ground, Skylor didn't let them land a single hit. She panted, wiping her mouth once every Constrictai had slunk back. From the corner of her eye, a flash of brown scales glinted.

She brought up her armored right arm, blocking the bone sword. A Constrictai with a milky white eye and scarred lip bore down on her. Her eyes widened.

"You," she growled. The Constrictai grinned with too-sharp teeth.

"Me," he agreed mockingly. His long neck crept far too close to her face, breathing the scent of rats on her cheek. "Back so soon, Yiga princess?"

Lloyd ducked under a swing, springing back. "-And they treat me like a kid," he ranted, twisting his ankle. A spear of ice shot out from his foot. Murtessa broke it easily. "I understand Nya being a little protective, but what's with Skylor?! I'm a Champion, I should get to go on missions!"

"Chieftess is wise," Murtessa said, bringing two hands up to block her face when Lloyd threw a kick. "Should listen. Is not right to bring small people to fights."

"I'm not that short!"

Murtessa shook her head with an exasperated smile. "Not small. Uh- word is… young."

Lloyd huffed. "I'm fourteen," he grumbled, rolling under Murtessa's kick and sending a block of ice to catch it. "If I'm old enough to kill Blights, I'm old enough to go fetch a magic sword!"

Murtessa's foot easily shattered the ice, and she turned back to him. "Not so simple. Queen does not like young people in fights. Makes her mad. Bad history."

"How is that my problem?" Lloyd closed in, throwing a series of punches. Murtessa blocked them all with her thick arms, sweeping her foot under him cleanly. Lloyd caught himself on his hands, springing back a few feet.

"Not mad at Queen. Mad at self. Why?"

Lloyd pursed his lips, ignoring the question in favor of summoning another row of ice. His fingertips tingled from the cold, frost already creeping over his wrists from overflow. Murtessa didn't back up even an inch.

"Can't I be mad at multiple things at once?" Lloyd grumbled. "Like maybe, oh I don't know, the fact that my mom would rather I be dead than have new hair?!" At that, he ice he controlled grew exponentially, spraying up into Murtessa's face. The woman twisted out of the way. She didn't attempt to throw many attacks his way, letting him use up his energy with the element. But the thing was, this spar only seemed to spur him on. He didn't feel tired at all.

Murtessa gave him a strange look. "Not true."

Lloyd scowled. "Well that's how her letter sounded. What else am I supposed to think?"

Murtessa shrugged. "Don't know. Mother is yours. What else does she mean?"

He grimaced. "Look, I know she didn't mean it like that. She was just… tired. And everything was a shitshow, and I was dead— whatever!" Ice curled around his feet, and he used it to carry himself forward, using the momentum to form a Spinjitzu tornado. Murtessa jumped back, grunting as the green light skimmed her arms.

She grinned when he slowed back down, laughing to herself. "Hylian is strong! Use more!"

"My strength?"

"Anger!" Murtessa pounded her hand into her palm. "Is good! No running from problem. Fight problem!"

Lloyd lowered himself into a crouch, tensing his legs. Murtessa beckoned him forward, fists up. Lloyd shot forward, spinning into another tornado. He beat against his opponent, the tip of the tornado carving grooves into the ground. Murtessa laughed, even though she was forced back by it.

Lloyd slowed down again, switching to a left hook. Murtessa ducked under it and returned with her own punch. Lloyd leapt back, throwing up a wall of ice that she immediately burst through.

"No running, Hylian!"

"I'm not running!" Lloyd protested, sliding away on a smooth curvature of ice. "I'm being tactical! You're, like, seven feet tall!"

Murtessa panted, wiping the corner of her mouth with a knuckle. She gave him another strange look. "Are running. Should be like Earth. Solid. No losing ground."

Lloyd scowled. "I would be more like Earth if I could use the damn element."

"Are mad at self again. Why?" Lloyd looked away, fists balled up at his sides. Murtessa brought her fists down, approaching him calmly. "Was bad dream?"

"No," Lloyd shook his head. "I- if I knew how to use Earth, we could've been at Vah Naboris by now! Hell, Cole would probably be back by now!" He slumped, holding the thin sleeves of his shirt tightly. "It's my fault they're out there, fighting snakes to get magic weapons. I should at least be there. It's not fair to them."

Murtessa hummed, nodding along. "Honor. Is important to you?"

He hadn't thought of it like honor. It was more like responsibility. He was the Prince of Hyrule, and the Champion of all of Ninjago. It was his job to do stuff like this. He shrugged. "I guess."

"Is important to Chief, too. And Chief finds dishonor by letting young people fight." Murtessa thumped a fist to her chest. A salute. "Chief is very honorable. Found Murtessa, and taught to me language and art."

Lloyd craned his neck to look up at her. "Did you not know how to speak?"

"Not good language," Murtessa agreed. "Most of life, spent fighting. No words needed for fight. But listen to words now: Chief is good, and honorable. Should listen to Chief. Only wants good things for desert."

"But I have to do this stuff for Ninjago," Lloyd said. "If I can't… I'll be failing everybody." He groaned, dropping to the ground. He held his head in his hands, swallowing back the lump in his throat. "I already did once. And now I keep doing it. I- I'm too different, and I'm making everybody upset…" He looked up at Murtessa, who was watching him with a tilted head. "I… should I be different? Am I still the same person I used to be?"

"What is meaning?"

"I'm the Hero of Destiny. That means I reincarnate. And a century ago, I died, but I didn't reincarnate. At least, I don't think I did. But does it count? Am I just a new version of myself? Everyone likes who I used to be, what if they realize I'm too different and leave?"

Murtessa hummed, crouching in front of him. "Same body. New mind. Does the Hylian feel different?"

"Not really. But I know I am."

"Does matter?"

Lloyd balked, giving Murtessa an affronted look. "Wh- of course it matters!"

"Why?"

"Because they loved that version of me!" Lloyd exclaimed, throwing his hands out. "If I get too different, then- of course it matters." His shoulders drooped. He stared down into his scarred hands, numbly tracing the lightning patterns. "Memories make people who they are. Without my memories… Mom's right. I might as well be dead."

Murtessa bonked him on the head. Lloyd yelped, holding the now sore spot. "Ow?? What was that for?!"

"Hylian is being thick. Heart beats. Lungs breathe. Hylian is obvi-ous-ly alive." She had to sound out 'obviously'.

Lloyd pouted, rubbing his head. "I didn't mean literally. Just… without my memories, I'm not really a person. Without any experiences, I don't even…" he sighed. "Is it a bad thing? Everyone else acts like it is. I know Zane was cool with it, but now I feel like even he's getting upset. And Nya and Bentho were really upset."

Murtessa tapped her chin. "Change… is good thing."

"How?"

She pointed to herself. "When New Dawn came, Murtessa changed. Learned. Knew language, and art. Was taught to dance with swords, not kill. Was taught to protect. New Dawn changed Murtessa, and made happy. Without change… would be bad person still. Killer." She pressed a finger to Lloyd's forehead. "Change is good. Change is what makes alive. All people change. Is how people grow."

Lloyd turned the words over in his head. He traced the lightning scar on his palm, pressing his thumb into it. It didn't even hurt. His scars never had, not unless he dreamed they did.

"All Hylian needs is New Dawn. No experience, yes. But no memories mean Hylian is real."

He looked up, confused. "What?"

Murtessa seemed to struggle to find the right words. "Memories… make actions. Shape how act. No memories means Hylian is real. No… um… re-strict-ed. No restricted."

No restrictions.

Was that true? Did his amnesia mean that the way he was now, was the realest he'd ever been? The most true to himself? He remembered that first week or so, before meeting Mom or Benthomaar. He had done whatever he wanted, and he was happy. Like, actually happy. Not scared, or stewing in what his amnesia meant. He'd had fun. Maybe his amnesia didn't make him different, or change him. Maybe it had just freed him from the pressure of being Ninjago's Champion and Hyrule's demigod Prince. Maybe it had just made him the most genuine version of himself.

Lloyd smiled, his chest feeling looser and lighter than it had in a long time. "Thanks, Murtessa," he said, standing up. Murtessa grinned. She had a snaggle tooth.

"No running, yes?" She said brightly. "Tank problems," she brought up an arm to emphasize her point, and swung with the other fist, "and hit back harder. Understand?"

Lloyd laughed. "Yeah. I get it, I think." Murtessa clapped him on the back, nearly sending him sprawling.

"Good! Hylian is smart. Hylian will sleep good now, yes?"

"Yeah," Lloyd said. "I don't think I'll be having any more bad dreams."

Skylor glared into the sunken eyes of her father's former advisor, resisting the urge to scream. "Don't," she snarled, "call me that."

The Constrictai cackled, lunging forward. She spun her daggers, throwing them out in precise arcs. Despite his size, the snake was quick. She was so busy trying to hit him that she didn't notice the tail curling around her ankle until it was throwing her into the ground. She landed on her spine, gasping as the wind was knocked out of her. She quickly rolling out of the way just before the bone sword came down on her. It snagged the back of her shirt, ripping it open.

The Constrictai chuckled. "The evidence is clear, Yiga princess! And when our Master returns in full, he will—" The Constrictai is cut off when Nya full-body slams into him.

The Zora-Goron Champion yelled, knocking the snake to the ground in a wrestler's tackle, beating him with her trident. Skylor blinked from her spot on the ground. If Nya wasn't already a Champion, she'd seriously be considering recruiting that woman.

"Your 'Master' is a flaming pile of shit and my little brother is gonna kick his ass!" Nya yelled, slapping the Constrictai's face with the flat side of her trident. "Leave her alone, shitbag!"

Skylor flushed. Hm. She'll unpack that later.

When the snake tried to burrow back below ground, ice coated the surface. Zane stood before a literal pile of unconscious snakes, — when the fuck had he done that?! — eyes narrow. "That," he said, "was very rude."

Nya cracked a feral-looking grin and sent the Constrictai sailing off the top of the mountain. She cupped a hand over her eyes, watching him fall. "Wow, yep," she whistled, "he's dead. You good?" She turned to Skylor, eyes flicking to her bare shoulder and back again. Skylor stood, holding her shoulder.

"…yeah, I'm fine," she said eventually. "Thanks for the assist."

Zane dusted off his hands, letting the ice around them melt. "Well, if that's all, we should get the blades and run," he said. Skylor nodded once, and they parsed through the chaos they'd created to the statue. Even Skylor had to crane her head to look at it, and she was easily an entire head or so taller than the other two.

"Wow," Nya said, awed. "She's beautiful. Who is she?"

Zane tilted his head. "She looks familiar." He stooped down, brushing the dust from the base of the statue. He squinted, trying to make out the faded engraving. "Lily… Brookstone. This was Lily Brookstone."

Nya gawked. "Holy crap, Cole's mom?" She turned to Skylor. "I thought you said this statue was an 'ancient legend'! This is just Cole's mom."

Skylor blinked, confused. "But… she is," she replied helplessly, completely lost.

Zane tapped Nya. "Nya. Hundred years. It's ancient to them." Nya's mouth formed an 'o', giving Skylor the impression that they'd had this conversation before. Skylor turned back to the statue. Lily Brookstone, huh? The mother of the last Master of Earth. She must have been a strong woman, to have such a gorgeous statue constructed in her honor. Skylor had never been privvy to the story behind it. Her father's doing, no doubt. He did everything he could to erase the history of their Champions during his Yiga rule.

Skylor sighed, purging the thoughts from her mind. It was high time she brought the lost Elemental Master home, where she belonged. If not her statue, then her swords. She covered her thoughts with a smirk. "Another reason our love is forbidden," she teased with an exaggerated sigh, "the age gap." Nya flushed, covering her face.

"Oh FSM shut up-"

Skylor laughed, reaching up to take the swords. But Zane looked troubled. "Wait, Skylor. Can we carry them? If they hold the power of Earth, it would stand to reason that only a Master of Earth could hold them. Maybe we should have brought Lloyd…"

Skylor scoffed, waving Zane off with a self-assured smile. "Come on, they're not Golden Weapons. I can carry them." Hopefully.

She rubbed her hands together, stepping onto the statue's stone base. She tugged at the sword hilts, grunting as she tore them both free. The swords were heavier than they looked. She stumbled back, the weight of the blades nearly sending her to the floor. She gasped, struggling to stay upright. Nya made to help, but Skylor shook her head.

"I got it," she grunted through clenched teeth, breathing heavily from exertion. Come on, she thought, tightening her grip against the strain. I can't be this rusty. Strengh slowly flooded her veins as the earth beneath her responded, steadying her arms and legs.

She slowly stood up straight again, hefting the Blades of Deliverance in both hands. As if accepting their fate as weapons again, the stone encasing their blades crumbled away, revealing perfectly polished metal. One sword was an obsidian black with white runes, the other its perfect inverse.

Skylor grinned, turning to Zane and Nya. "See? Easy-peasy." Nya was a bright red that had nothing to do with their previous fight, while Zane gave her a very disappointed look.

"You. Are. Engaged."

"Jay would understand!"

Skylor spun both blades, wincing when it was much harder than predicted. "Let's get these back to Gerudo Town," she said, keeping her voice level to disguise the urgency behind it. "These are still insanely heavy."

Zane glanced back at the carnage in their wake. The Champions had mostly refrained from fatality — something Skylor had no issue with — but there was plenty of blood to go around. "And before they wake up," he noted. "Constrictai are hardy. They won't be out for long."

Skylor dragged the Blades of Deliverance behind her, leaving the destruction behind. Man, catharsis had never felt so good. Well, nothing measured up to plunging a knife in Chen's sternum, but this came within range.

"Then let's get out of here. I'm sure your Hylian is dying to hear all about this."

She stewed in thought on the way back, the inhumanly heavy swords tight in her grasp as they rolled back down the mountain.

Only a Master of Earth, huh? Kid must have more potential for it than they think.

The lithe figure traipsed down shadowed halls carved into the depths of the mountain. They hummed to themself, heels clacking against dusty rock. The sound of battle faded behind them, but they didn't rush their timely exit. No need.

They paused, ear flicking. The shadows in the deep crevices of rock roiled, shifting and turning. They glanced over their shoulder, eyes narrowed behind their full-face mask.

"Seems he's still alive," they said to the shadows. Malignant pink slits opened in the darkness, glaring daggers into his servant.

The Blight will kill him, the Overlord hissed to the Yiga. They hummed, shrugging.

"Sure. And when it fails-" the demon snarled, and the Yiga pressed a sincere hand to their breast, thin, sharp nails glinting against the cruel light. "-just like the last one, I'll take care of it. If that's all?"

The demon growled, his influence slowly fading from the depths of shadows. Get it done.

The Yiga scoffed as the demon dissipated. "Get it done," they mocked, turning on their heel.

Yeah. They would get it done. When the Overlord's paltry Blight failed, they would take care of the little brat. The Prince of Hyrule would be dead before he ever reached the third Divine Beast. For good, this time.

Chapter Text

Lloyd raced to the city borders, weaving between the legs of Gerudo. Two nights had gone by, and finally, he'd spotted the distant dust kicked up by the approaching Master Cycles while atop the palace roof trying to catch a chicken — don't ask.

Adara, the owner of the weapons forge, waved to him as he passed. "Hey, tell the Chieftess I've got her battle axe ready!"

Lloyd gave her a quick thumbs up. He paid no mind to the very available open gate, instead scaling the wall surrounding Gerudo Town. He cleared it easily, waving his hands as Nya, Zane, and Skylor got closer.

Nya was grinning as the group of three entered Gerudo Town. Lloyd wasted no time jumping down, creating a slide of ice as he went. "Nya!" He yelled. She bent down just in time for him to barrel into her, arms wrapped around her neck. She squeezed him.

"Hey, Lloyd. Have fun while we were gone?"

"Not at all," Lloyd said cheerfully, "when can we get going?"

"Damn, kid," she laughed, "give us a breather. Hey, we've got somethin' for you."

Skylor departed from her cycle, rolling her neck. In both hands, she held two ginormous swords. One was black, white runes carved into the base, and the other the inverse. The Chieftess huffed as she dragged them over, dropping them to the ground. They hit the ground with two loud clangs.

"Those things," Skylor panted, "are so heavy."

Lloyd's eyes lit up in excitement. "Woah, these are way cooler than Adara's axes!" He stooped down, picking both blades up. He spun them around, whistling in appreciation.

Skylor gave him a very offended, stunned look. "Dude, seriously?"

Zane nodded sympathetically. "Side effects of being a Master of Earth. Or demigod, we haven't figured it out yet."

Nya slowly pushing down one blade with her finger. "Which means he needs to be careful not to chop anybody's head off," she said meaningfully, giving Lloyd her best serious face. Lloyd smiled sheepishly, lowering both Blades of Deliverance.

"Sorry."

"Be careful with them," Zane said, "they belonged to Cole's mother. I'm sure he'll want them back when he returns. Speaking of; Chieftess, do you have a fourth cycle for Lloyd? It will be faster than a horse, and I do not want to endanger them around Vah Naboris."

Skylor nodded. "Yeah, I've got a few spares." She gave Lloyd a skeptic once-over. "Although… they're all sized for Gerudo."

Lloyd threw his hands up. "Come on!"

Nya snickered behind her hand, only laughing harder when Lloyd glared at her. "He'll ride with me," Nya said, ruffling his hair fondly. "No offense, but I don't think you could drive and hold those things at the same time."

Lloyd disagreed, but nodded anyway. Zane turned to the Chieftess. "Thank you again for your help," he said, bowing his head. "We'll take it from here."

Nya sighed, stretching her hands above her head. "One thing after another," she complained. "When we're done with Naboris, I'm crashing in a bed and not waking up for two days."

Skylor looked between them all. "I'm coming too," she said. All three Champions blinked at her, glancing at each other.

"Uh, Skylor, that's… nice of you," Nya said slowly. "But the Divine Beasts are kind of a… Champion thing. Seriously, no offense, but they're insane. I mean, Vah Ruta would've killed me if I didn't have Dr. Julien's armor…"

Lloyd nodded sagely. "Yeah, I watched Ruta slam her into a cliff." Zane's eyes bugged out as he shot a dumbfounded look at Nya.

"Almost slam me into a cliff," Nya grumbled. "But he's right. Vah Ruta almost killed us, and that was with the environmental advantage. Skylor, it's too dangerous for anybody but an Elemental Master."

Skylor raised a brow. "Masters of Water and Ice? In a desert? I'm thinking you three need all the help you can get. I'm coming, and that's final. Especially if you expect me to sit back and watch while a kid runs into battle."

Lloyd groaned. "It's not even that big of a deal…" He muttered, scuffing the ground with the toe of his boot. Zane looked concerned, exchanging glances with Nya.

"Chieftess, are you sure? Vah Naboris was the physically strongest of any Divine Beast. It will be incredibly dangerous."

Skylor tossed her ponytail over her shoulder. "I'm sure. This fight could determine whether or not my oasis gets decimated in the next year — I'm coming. Trust me, you'll want backup."

Nya sighed with shrug. "If you say so…"

Zane directed his cycle into town, nudging Lloyd along. "We need to change into our armor," he called to the other two. "Lloyd, do you have your Slate?"

Lloyd pointed to his hip where the Sheikah Slate was always stored. "Right here!" Zane nodded once.

"Then we leave as soon as we change. Chieftess, if you're coming, you'll want something heavy-duty."

Nya leaned toward Skylor. "Yeah, getting whacked by a giant tail is not fun…" Skylor's eyebrows raised slightly.

"I take it that the 'environmental advantage' wasn't very advantageous." Lloyd laughed to himself as Nya glowered.

"Not when there's a clingy goddess in your head, no."

Back inside Skylor's palace, Lloyd shoved on Dr. Julien's armor, dusting off the residual scuff marks from his last fight with a Blight. He paused in the middle of tightening a strap. Depending on how the fight went, he'd be facing down a second Blight in only a few hours. Would the Overlord be there?

He jerked the strap tighter than necessary. If the Overlord was there, he'd just kick the demon out like last time. He scooped up the Blades of Deliverance, watching them catch the sunlight through the windows. They definitely looked sharp enough to cut through boulders.

…they were pretty big, though. He groaned, preparing for a long drive holding them.

When he left the room, he caught sight of Nya and Zane. Zane had his father's armor on, silver and sapphire-blue, and a glimmering headpiece. Lloyd adjusted his own helm, tucking his hair out of the way.

"We'll have her watch Lloyd," Nya was saying quietly. "It'll be easier if we don't have to keep an eye on them both."

Zane nodded, adjusting his protective gauntlets. "Then we will be free to distract Vah Naboris."

Lloyd rolled his eyes. He didn't need a babysitter to climb a giant dragon, thanks. He caught up with his siblings. Nya looked down with a confident smile. "Ready?"

"Yeah," Lloyd tried to reciprocate the smile. He hadn't told Nya or Zane about the Overlord speaking through his Blight, and he didn't plan on it. They would get worried, and he didn't want to distract from the real goal.

Skylor met them back at the palace steps, talking quietly with Faith. The older general didn't look happy, but she gave her Chieftess a nod, ducking away when the Champions appeared. Skylor was dressed in golden armor, heavy-looking gauntlets protecting her arms and loose fabrics swishing around her hips. A helmet was held at her side, fashioned to look like horns.

She drummed her fingers on the handles of her cycle. "Vah Naboris is about two hours out," she said, somewhat pensive as she watched the commotion of her capital. "…Divine Beasts move fast, don't they?"

"Don't worry," Nya said, taking up her own cycle. Lloyd hopped up behind her, sitting sideways so the swords weren't in the way. Nya had to lean to the other side to keep the bike balanced from their weight. "We'll keep Naboris away from Gerudo Town. The Blights are dumb — second they see us, they'll lock in and follow us anywhere."

"Mm." Skylor didn't look entirely convinced, but she activated her cycle anyways. Nya sped after her, Zane on her trail. Multiple Gerudo waved as they passed by. Lloyd waved back, grinning as they yelled after him.

Nya arched a brow, glancing over her shoulder at him. "How do you know these people?"

"I fixed Mr. Granite's fence after his hog broke it, and then I had to catch the hog, and then I had to go find Julius' chickens when the hog scared them off," Lloyd listed. "Oh, and I helped Adara test out a bunch of axes."

Nya shook her head, laughing under her breath. "Do you ever sit still?"

"Nope!" Lloyd said cheerfully. He adjusted on the back of the bike, getting comfortable for the long drive. He stamped down the growing pit of anxiety in his stomach. The Overlord wouldn't be a problem. Even if he somehow prepared his Blight for their confrontation, Lloyd could kill the parasite, no problem.

He watched snowflakes swirl to life in his palm, forcing his body to cool down. With it, his heart rate slowed. He leaned back against Nya, watching the distant mountains and high dunes whiz past.

Everything would be fine.

Skylor skidded to a stop a few feet in front of them, causing the other two cycles to slow down. She dusted off the sand that had built up around her skin, turning back to them.

"Vah Naboris is close," she said quietly. Zane's tail flicked nervously, even though his face looked calm. He summoned both Golden Shuriken, slowly spinning around his wrists.

"Lloyd, you'll wait here," Zane said. Lloyd nodded, hopping off the cycle.

"Just like last time," Nya told him. "Just focus on getting inside, don't worry about us. And do not backtrack if we get in trouble, alright? Just get inside as fast as possible."

"Got it," Lloyd said. He stabbed the Blades of Deliverance into the sand, hopping onto a large boulder. They were scattered all over the place, way too large and haphazard to be natural.

"Chieftess Skylor," Zane said, "look after Lloyd, please. I don't mean to offend, but…"

She held up her hands, shrugging. "Hey, none taken. You have more experience with this sort of thing, I get it. Champion business and all. But, one question." She jabbed a thumb at the Blades of Deliverance. "We went through a lot of trouble for those things. If I'm supposed to be guarding the kid, and we're the only ones who can pick the swords up… who's supposed to protect you two from Vah Naboris?"

Nya swore under her breath, facepalming. "Dammit," she muttered. "Forgot about that."

Lloyd sat criss-cross on the boulder, chin in his hand. "Why can't I just go by myself?" He asked. "Skylor can take one sword to watch your backs, and I'll take the other so I don't get squished."

Nya bit her lip, fingers drumming on her arm as she glanced back to the empty desert. Vah Naboris was supposed to be close, but they couldn't hear a thing. "Are you sure?" She asked, tense. "Naboris is bigger than Ruta."

Lloyd waved her off. "I'm a good climber. Same thing as last time — I stay out of sight while you guys distract her, right? If she's so big, she'll have tons of blind spots."

Zane nodded. "It's a good plan," he told Nya. "We shouldn't be arrogant enough to think we can dodge all of Vah Naboris' attacks with our elements at such a disadvantage." He turned to Skylor. "Chieftess?"

She nodded, cracking her knuckles. "Sounds good to me," she said. "I won't directly engage with the Beast, just keep the rocks from squishing you." She narrowed her eyes at the desert. "Where is she…?"

Lloyd flinched as the rock under his hands jumped. Zane and Nya both tensed, Nya slinging the trident off her back and holding it offensively. Skylor grimaced. "Of course, right when I say it…" she muttered.

As if summoned, earthquakes preceded the arrival of the Divine Beast. Zane hurriedly snatched Lloyd down from the rock, holding him under his arm as the group crouched. The ground shook, sending their idle cycles falling over.

Lloyd felt the breath in his lungs drop to his stomach at the sheer size of Vah Naboris. If he thought Vah Ruta was big…

Well, Vah Naboris must be colossal.

"Holy fuck," Nya whispered, eyes round. Lloyd felt his mouth go dry.

— Bane of the Gerudo —

—Divine Beast Vah Naboris —

The long neck of the drake Guardian curved over the rim of a ginormous plateau. The Divine Beast was bronze and dusty. The thick iron rims circling her limbs were cracked, emulating the broken surface of the hardened desert plains. The Beast's feet came next, as large as entire lakes. Its eyes glowed with malevolent magenta light, narrowed and mean as it scanned its stomping grounds. A giant tail like a wrecking ball idly slammed into the side of the plateau, sending rocks the size of houses toppling from the crumbling structure.

"Oh," Skylor swallowed thickly. "I- I didn't think she was that big…"

Zane slowly breathed out through his mouth. His Shuriken spun into existence at his fingertips. "Lloyd," he glanced at the Prince with glowing blue eyes. "Get inside, no matter what. Nya, Skylor." Both women snatched up the handles of their respective weapons, standing straight. "Help distract Vah Naboris, keep the rocks from killing us," he told them both. "We don't need to hurt Vah Naboris, just distract her long enough for Lloyd to reach the entrance."

Lloyd picked up the white Blade of Deliverance. Skylor touched his shoulder briefly, sending him a reassuring look, before taking up the black counterpart. She slung her leg over her cycle, revving it. "Whenever you're ready, kid," she said. Nya and Zane both got back on their own cycles. Lloyd summoned ice to coat the skin above his heart, forcing his heart rate to calm.

"You guys go," Lloyd said. "I'll wait for an opening. Don't worry about me."

"You make that literally impossible," Nya grumbled. She revved her cycle and shot down the tall dunes, Zane and Skylor hot on her heels. Lloyd stayed low, watching the cycles grow closer and closer to Vah Naboris.

The Divine Beast quickly took notice. The draconic head slowly lowered, glaring at the approaching cycles. Vah Naboris growled, ginormous mechanical teeth like drills rotating and grinding in its mouth.

The sand beneath them shook as it fell away, giving way to giant sandstone pillars. All three were forced to swerve as the ground broke beneath them. Vah Naboris raised one gigantic, clawed foot, slamming it down. Every column immediately crumbled, sending giant boulders crumbling down. Lloyd sucked in a sharp breath, lurching forward, but Skylor easily swerved and cut through the rock tumbling toward Nya. Zane created a huge wave of ice, cascading into Vah Naboris' foot. The Beast shook it off, her attention solely on Zane.

Lloyd knew a chance when he saw it.

He sprinted to the side, running in a wide arc around Vah Naboris. The Blade of Deliverance wasn't heavy — it sung at his side, thrumming with the power of Earth. Each footstep felt imbued with that strength.

His eyes locked onto Vah Naboris' tail. He leapt over rivers of sharp rocks as they came, slicing through the boulders coming from above when they came too close. On instinct, ice began to form beneath his feet, creating a slippery surface that made him even faster.

He gasped as stone shifted beneath his feet, lifting him suddenly dozens of feet into the air. He crouched, letting the rock grow underfoot. Just a few moments before it fell again, he leapt from the pillar. He spun the sword as he sailed through the air, digging it into the cracked side of Vah Naboris' hind leg. He shut his eyes tight as the blade loudly jerked through the bronze exterior.

When it finally stopped sliding, he panted. He glanced down, watching Nya and Zane trip up Vah Naboris' front feet. They were saved from crumbling pillars only by Skylor's quick driving. The Gerudo Chieftess felled the Divine Beast's creations before they could reach their full height, preventing its attacks from ever getting the chance to land.

The Divine Beast roared, slamming one foot down violently. Zane sent a cascade of ice up in front of them, barely tanking the force of the shockwave before the ice shattered. Nya splayed her hands up, commanding a thick stream of water to wrap all the way around Vah Naboris' mouth. It tightened, shutting the Beast's snout tightly. At the same time, Zane commanded another wave of ice to trap Vah Naboris' foot in the sand.

The Beast shook its head wildly, but couldn't shake off the rope of water. Nya panted, sweat streaming down her neck, but didn't let up.

Vah Naboris broke free of the ice, rearing up. Lloyd screamed, holding on the Blade of Deliverance for dear life as the entire front half of the Divine Beast lifted into the air. Nya, Zane and Skylor scattered as both front legs came down on them. A ginormous earthquake rippled through the ground. Not even the cycles could outrun it.

Skylor swerved, driving the Blade of Deliverance into the ground. An orange shield burst to life from the blade, tanking the earthquake and protecting all three as the shockwaves broke up the ground around them.

Vah Naboris swung her giant head, creating more and more sandstone pillars from the rubble. Skylor panted, arms burning from the weight of the sword. She drove it into the ground again, creating a fresh shield against the falling boulders.

Lloyd adjusted his grip from the Blade of Deliverance to the bronze exterior. He swung it onto his back, awkward alongside his dao, and froze his hands and boots to the metal. He climbed slowly, re-freezing his hands as he went. He tried to ignore Vah Naboris' attacks on his friends, focusing only on reaching the entrance.

Back on the ground, Zane swerved around a fresh pillar. Skylor cut in behind him, deflecting a boulder. Nya drove alongside her, her trident glistening with a sphere of water at its tip. "He's on there!" Nya called. "Try hiding in the pillars, make her confused!"

The group split up, driving in three different directions through the maze of columns and rocks Vah Naboris had created. The Beast's spinning teeth ground together like a growl as it tried to track them. On its back, Lloyd scrambled over its hip joint.

Vah Naboris lowered her neck slowly, silently scanning the ground. A sound like a landslide erupted from her mouth when Zane appeared from left field with a cascade of ice in her eye. She shook her head free, rearing back up.

Faster than should've been possible for a being of her size, Vah Naboris' head dove back down, maw open wide. The three dodged, swerving around pillars to avoid the boulders that were shaken free from the force of the Beast's head hitting the ground.

Vah Naboris' mouth ground around the sand and rock, biting out a chunk of earth as it rose again. Debris fell from her mouth as the earthen chunks were ground down and swallowed. Nya glanced behind her, confused.

"Why the hell would she-?"

Zane paled. "Wait… no, the Blight wouldn't even know to-!"

Vah Naboris' head arched up, facing the sun. Thick, hot lines across her throat glowed a burning, pulsating orange. Lloyd stumbled as the rocky surface underfoot grew hotter as though he were running on an oven.

"Zane, what is it doing?!" Skylor demanded through ragged pants. She was tiring out faster than the other two, but refused to slow down.

Vah Naboris' head swung back down, maw opening wide. Burning orange streamed from her mouth, spraying out in a wide arc racing for them. Nya swore, shooting water toward the burning stream. It did nothing but cause steam to fill the air.

"Zane, what the fuck-?!" Skylor screamed. Zane grit his teeth, turning his cycle sharply.

"It is hot glass!" Zane yelled back. "Vah Naboris has heated the sand and made molten glass from it! Avoid it at all costs!"

"She's not exactly running out, Zane!" Nya yelled, yelping as thick globs sailed past her ears. Vah Naboris didn't let up, rearing up and back down as if to force them off balance as she chased their cycles with the waterfall of molten glass. Zane shot a stream of ice to arc up over Nya's back, deflecting a shot of burning glass before the ice crumbled under the weight.

Skylor cut through a giant pillar, temporarily blocking the path of the glass. "Maybe I can use the sword to-"

"Cover me!" Zane interrupted. He swerved, toeing the edge of the molten wave. Nya followed without hesitation, taking shots at Vah Naboris in hopes of slowing her down. Skylor continued cutting down columns like trees, interrupting the wave of molten glass. Vah Naboris threw her head back up, churning up a fresh batch.

Nya pressed herself against her cycle, narrowly avoiding a boulder. "Zane, running outta room, here!"

Vah Naboris lowered her head for a second time, jaw creaking open loudly. Molten glass burst forth. Zane abandoned his cycle, throwing his hands up. Golden light spilled from his Golden Shuriken as a wide, jagged wave of ice hit the glass. It froze rapidly, encasing the burning river in thick ice that raced all the way up to Vah Naboris' mouth. Zane grit his teeth and pushed harder, freezing the Beast's mouth entirely as sharp tendrils of ice arced up around the dragon Guardian's snout and face like a frozen muzzle. The golden light dimmed, leaving the Divine Beast trapped in ice.

Zane blinked, stumbling as he swayed to the side. Nya raced by on her cycle, catching him before he hit the ground. His Golden Shuriken once more fused to his wrists as Nya sped them both out of the way. Skylor gaped at the sight of the ice tying Vah Naboris to the ground.

"Oh, what the fuck?" The Chieftess muttered under her breath. Nya paused beside her, propping Zane against her side. He leaned on her heavily, eyes wide as Vah Naboris jerked, broken growls muffled behind the ice. Nya cupped a hand over her eye, watching Lloyd's green form running along the Beast's back.

"He's almost there," she breathed. Skylor narrowed her eyes as Vah Naboris jerked again, harder. She revved her cycle.

"Don't celebrate yet," she hissed. Vah Naboris' hind legs dug into the earth as her entire body jerked back. Lloyd, on her back, stumbled and fell to his knees at the violent motion.

The Beast's head swung as she broke free of the icy prison. The ice sprayed out in thick crystals the size of fjords. Nya yelped as they were forced to scatter again. Zane huffed as he leaned against her back, completely worn out. Skylor swore as she swung the Blade of Deliverance, deflecting an onslaught of ice and rock alike.

The momentum of Vah Naboris' swinging carried her gaze back as her eyes caught a glimpse of Lloyd. The Prince, toppled by the sudden, harsh movement, hung over the side of her flank by the Blade of Deliverance. Her eyes slowly narrowed as she straightened, all her focus on Lloyd. Rather, all of the Blight's focus on him.

Lloyd's blood ran cold. It recognizes me. The Overlord knows I'm here.

Skylor's eyes widened as the Divine Beast ignored them in favor of the Hylian on her back. "No," she hissed, pushing her cycle to go faster as she sped over broken rock. "No, no no no-"

Vah Naboris' ginormous tail swung into view, aimed right for Lloyd. Lloyd instinctively let go of the Blade of Deliverance, leaving it buried in the Beast's side as he fell just before the barbed tail could make him paste against the bronze. He screamed as he fell dozens of feet through the air.

"Shit, no-!" Nya screamed, commanding a stream of water to catch him. Lloyd immediately froze it, creating a janky slide. He tumbled into the sand, rough but safe. Vah Naboris creaked overhead as she bore down on him. Her tail slammed into a sandstone pillar, sending rocks tumbling down on him.

Lloyd scrambled back, but he wasn't fast enough to dodge them entirely. He leapt into a Spinjitzu tornado, deflecting smaller rocks as he scrambled for safety. Skylor swung her own sword like a javelin, piercing a large boulder before it could hit him. Nya and Zane both attempted to distract Vah Naboris before she could attack again.

Despite their best efforts, Lloyd couldn't get away from the onslaught. Each time he tried to spin out of the way, a ripple of jagged rocks forced him back under. He barely had room to breathe in between summoning short-lived shields of ice and dodging large rocks with Spinjitzu.

He stumbled when the earth directly beneath his feet shifted suddenly. Sharp rocks like stalagmites shot up from the ground, sending him sprawling. "Crap," he hissed, disoriented by the fall. A shadow eclipsed the sand he had fallen into.

Lloyd looked up to find half an earthen spire, too large to dodge, hurtling straight for him. His eyes widened, mind racing for a solution. One Blade of Deliverance was still embedded in Vah Naboris, the other thrown by Skylor a dozen feet away. He had no time to stand up and attempt Spinjitzu, no time to summon enough ice to protect himself. Ice instinctively curled up his arms at the thought, but he wasn't anywhere near skilled enough yet to create enough of it, much less make it strong enough.

Lloyd curled up, using the split-second he had before being crushed to cover his head in vain hopes of not getting completely flattened.

.

.

.

White noise buzzed in his ears alongside the sound of his own ragged breath. He slowly opened his eyes, feeling very not-crushed. Tentatively, he lifted his head, sand shaking out of his hair.

The rock hovered inches away from his nose, encased in a bright amber glow. Lloyd gaped. Was it him? No. He couldn't feel anything similar to the tug of ice, couldn't feel any connection to the rock whatsoever. But if he wasn't controlling it, then what-?

He whipped his head around at the sound of a strained gasp. Skylor had fallen halfway off her cycle and to the ground, a single, glowing hand outstretched. Her eyes glowed with the same amber color as her hand and the rock, hotter and brighter than molten lava. She gasped, full-body trembling as if staying upright was taking all her strength. Lloyd's eyes widened.

Skylor was doing it. She was controlling Earth. She held no Blade of Deliverance — the black sword had been tossed and laid several feet away from Lloyd. So that could only mean one thing: Skylor was an Elemental Master.

She gasped, half-collapsing to one forearm now. "Lloyd!" She screamed, eyes flickering. The rock over Lloyd's head trembled, gravity weighing heavily on it. "Kid, move!"

Lloyd shook himself out of his shock, scrambling to his feet. He jumped over the roiling rocks underfoot, scooping up the black Blade of Deliverance. Skylor finally collapsed to the ground as the ginormous broken pillar fell.

Now armed, Lloyd had no problem cutting down any earthen columns the Divine Beast had to throw at him. He sliced through rocks like warm butter, carving his way to the Chieftess. When he reached her, he slung her arm over his shoulder. Skylor groaned, half-conscious and completely limp.

"Crap," Lloyd hissed. He glanced between Skylor and his siblings, Vah Naboris hot on their tails. He couldn't leave Skylor, and Zane and Nya were quickly tiring out. Zane especially couldn't be holding up well, and Nya couldn't handle Vah Naboris alone.

He dragged Skylor back to her cycle, awkwardly finagling his way onto the bike and Skylor on his back. She was so much taller than him that she was more liable to just fall off, but he would take that risk. He waved the Blade of Deliverance in the air, hoping to catch his siblings' attention.

"Nya!" He screamed. The Water Champion, busy dodging a giant foot, was already headed toward him. He smiled in relief, spurring the cycle forward. It jerked, too unwieldy for him to handle, but he just spurred it on faster and hoped for the best.

Nya quickly caught up, Zane leaning against her heavily with droopy eyes. "This way!" She yelled over the noise of their cycles, taking a sharp turn around a mass of rubble. Vah Naboris growled distantly behind them, but she was too slow to truly keep up.

Lloyd slumped in relief when they were finally in the clear. Skylor moaned as she stood, wobbling on her feet. "Oh- oh no," the Chieftess groaned as she quickly collapsed again. Lloyd grimaced, moving to help her before she held up a hand. "Just- gimme a mi'ute," she muttered, looking very green in the face.

Nya helped Zane off the back of the cycle. "Stupid," she was muttering as she sat him against the stone they hid behind. "Stupid! What were you thinking?!"

Lloyd leaned in with a grin. "It was so cool," he gushed. "I couldn't see all of it but it was sick!"

Skylor groaned behind him. "Don't say sick-" she was quickly cut off by her own gagging as she pressed a hand to her mouth.

Nya whipped around to look at Skylor as she pressed a flask of water to Zane's mouth. "You!" She yelled, pointing an accusing finger at the Chieftess. "The hell was that?! You levitated rock!"

Zane jerked forward, eyes wide. "Wait, you what-?!"

"You should really pay more attention," Lloyd said, casting a light flurry of ice from his fingertips to Zane's flushed face.

Skylor grimaced. "You saw that?"

"Yeah, I saw it." Nya gave her a glare. "How did you do that? Was it the Blades?"

"Nope," Lloyd piped up. "She wasn't even holding it."

Zane's brows furrowed as he studied Skylor intently. "Then that means… you're an Elemental Master. There's no other explanation."

Nya's eyes widened. Her runes flashed in tune with roiling horns as she looked between Skylor and the agitated Divine Beast they'd left behind. "No," she gasped, lurching forward. "You can't be! There can only be one Master of an element at a time and if you have Earth then Cole-!"

"Calm down," Skylor said, slumping against stone. She pressed a hand to her head, eyes shut. "Good grief, I'm getting a migraine."

"Skylor," Zane said, his voice uncharacteristically dangerous. "Are you or are you not the Elemental Master of Earth?"

All three Champions stared at the Gerudo Chieftess expectantly, Nya especially panicked. Zane emitted a cold that couldn't be healthy in his current state, fist clenched around his water flask. Skylor took a deep breath, holding up one hand, before she leaned over and puked.

Lloyd grimaced, leaning back. Nya buried her face in her hands, rocking back and forth on her heels as her tail swished in aggravation. Zane didn't even budge. Skylor coughed, wiping her mouth.

"Sorry," she said, making a disgusted face at the mess. She swiped a pile of sand over it. "Earth is… so hard to use. It's been a while."

"Skylor!" Nya yelled, patience nearly snapped. Skylor nodded, holding up a hand in surrender.

"Chill. Your friend is fine. Fine as he reasonably could be, anyways. I'm not the Master of Earth."

"But you are an Elemental Master," Zane said, leaning back. Skylor nodded.

"Turns out you were right, snowflake." Oddly, Zane twitched at the nickname. Skylor either didn't notice or didn't care. "The Blades of Deliverance can only be wielded by a Master of Earth. Thankfully…" she waved a hand at Lloyd, who blinked, sitting up straighter as all eyes fell on him. Skylor swished her hand dramatically. "Tada…!"

"Whatever it is, I didn't do it," Lloyd said automatically.

Nya not-so-subtly placed herself in between Lloyd and Skylor, glaring at the barely-conscious Chieftess. "What the hell does my brother have to do with this?!"

Skylor puffed out a shallow breath. "I'm the Elemental Master of Amber," she deadpanned.

Zane made a strangled noise. "The fuck is that?!" All three stared at him. He blinked, apparently remembering who he was talking to, and sheepishly ducked back.

"You got a little heatstroke there, bud?" Nya asked.

"…I may be… slightly overheated at the moment."

Lloyd sent a new wave of ice over Zane's skin, much to the Zora's relief. Nya turned back to Skylor.

"Explain."

Skylor shrugged, shifting so she sat up a little straighter. "Right. I'm the Master of Amber. In short, it lets me copy-paste any power of another Elemental Master. I'm the ultimate plagiarist."

"That makes no sense!"

Lloyd tilted his head, leaning over to look around Nya, who still stood over him and Zane protectively. "I thought there were only six elements," he said. "You know, Water, Ice, Earth, Lightning, Fire, and whatever 'Green' is."

Skylor raised a brow, gesturing at Nya. "Nobody knew Water was an element until she showed up, right?"

"The Endless Sea was here first, that's a given!" Nya defended. "What even is Amber?!"

"First of all," Skylor held up a finger, "stop yelling. Seriously, I have a migraine. You know how hard it is to use Earth? I haven't even exercised this element in, like, a decade. I just levitated a boulder for a solid ten seconds. Pipe down." Nya silently seethed, arms crossed. "Second, I told you. It's absorption. I can copy any element of another Master."

Zane leaned forward, placing his head piece in his lap. "We have questions," he said. He was taking it a lot easier than Nya, who looked like she was about to have an aneurysm.

Skylor nodded, wincing at the movement. "I have answers. Probably."

Lloyd waved his hand in the air, hopping to his feet. "Ooh, wait, I got one!"

"This isn't a classroom, Lloyd," Zane said.

"Shoot, kid," Skylor pressed her face to the cool, shadowed rock, slumping in relief. "Ooh, that's good."

"How does it work? If you absorbed Earth from me, how come I didn't feel it? I've never even used Earth!"

"Doesn't matter," Skylor said. "It's in there somewhere, which means I can get to it. And, to be honest, you're the only one I've ever actually taken an element from. I don't know if you're supposed to feel it at all. Maybe it's just that 'Green' Element keeping you from noticing the drain."

Nya pursed her lips. "Ignoring that you absorbed my brother's element without telling anybody… why didn't you tell us?! An Elemental Master on that mountain with the power of Earth would've been really useful!"

"I couldn't," Skylor replied. "It's… well, imagine I absorb the Element of Water." She held up her own water flask, swishing it back and forth. "It's like filling up a bottle. I can cap the bottle and keep the water in for as long as I want and it never goes anywhere, right? Well, say I take a swig — that's me using the element-"

"We get the metaphor, Skylor," Nya said. Zane waved at her.

"No, no, this is helping."

Skylor nodded. "As I was saying. I can take a swig — again, use the element — and it drains the reserve I have. I can cap it again, keep the rest saved up as long as I want, but if I just keep drinking, I'll eventually run out. Same thing happens if I chug it, so to speak. I needed the element to get the Blades of Deliverance back home — chugging the element, essentially — so I had to conserve it."

"But why didn't you tell us?" Zane asked. "It would still have been very useful information to have."

"Being an Elemental Master never did me any good," Skylor muttered. Nya, strangely, seemed to understand exactly what she was talking about. Skylor swallowed, averting her eyes. "…besides, you guys… you guys are total badasses, okay?" She huffed, crossing her arms with an embarrassed flush. "You're total masters of your elements. I didn't want to look lame by sucking at mine."

Nya blinked, finally uncrossing her arms. She sat beside Skylor. "Sky, we already know you're cool. You're, like, one of the coolest people I've ever met."

Skylor fought back a smile. "…thanks."

Zane nodded. "Nya is right. We all respect you immensely. But I have one more question." Skylor gave him a 'go ahead' motion. "If there have been no Elemental Masters in the desert for a century, how could you have even known about your element?"

Skylor's hand twitched on her leg, but she swallowed and nodded. "My… mother had it too," she said. "Elements move slowly from parent to child, unless the parent dies, and the element will move entirely onto the new Master. Or the child dies, in which case it is fully reinstated within the original holder. At one point, both of us had the same element. I would practice on her."

Lloyd tilted his head. "How do you absorb absorption?"

"Think of it like a muscle," Skylor said. She held up one muscular arm to demonstrate. "Using Amber on my mother was like building up a muscle. But absorbing, say, Earth is like learning to throw a punch with that muscle." She dropped her arm, frowning. "But she… well, I haven't been able to exercise my element in over a decade. I'm afraid it's deteriorated. I'm… pretty much maxed out."

"Great," Nya groaned, slumping against the dusty rock. "So we're all dehydrated-"

"I'm not," Lloyd said helpfully.

Nya gave him the stink eye. "Okay, three-fourths of us are dehydrated, we're down a bike and Blade of Deliverance, and two of us are totally maxed out in the element department. What do we do?"

Zane stood up, pacing back and forth. "The Blight is smarter than I believed," he said. "It knew how to melt down the sand to create glass. It is almost as though it knew who we were… why else would it waste such an attack? It was far more deliberate than if it were simply attacking anything that moved."

Nya stared at him anxiously. "You think they can communicate with each other?"

"It is not outside the realm of possibility." Lloyd bit his lip, ducking his head. So the Overlord really was alerting his Blights… well, shit.

"It targeted Lloyd," Skylor said. "Like it knew who he was. We can't let it see him again."

Nya watched the Divine Beast stomp around, glaring at every square inch of burnt sand. "What is there to do? I'm all ears."

Lloyd hopped up onto the boulder next to Nya's head, crossing his legs. He watched Vah Naboris thoughtfully. She was huge, which made her slower than Vah Ruta for sure, but she could definitely move pretty fast when she wanted to. But that was just the thing — Vah Ruta was like a whip, capable of moving quickly and changing direction at any time, agile enough to make up for her relative lack of physical strength. But Vah Naboris, while she could get fast, couldn't change direction.

One weakness down. How to exploit it?

Find a crack.

She had a ton of blind spots. She was easily distracted. It seemed that their biggest problem was that Vah Naboris could scoop up a massive amounts of sand and turn it into a waterfall of molten glass, burning anything in her wake. (Shouldn't that be fire's thing?) But if they could stop it…

"Hey, Skylor?" Lloyd glanced over his shoulder. "Can you absorb more than one element at the same time?"

Skylor shook her head. "I can't take from more than one person at once."

"How about more than one element from one person?" Skylor's eyes widened with realization.

"…maybe. What'cha cookin' up, kid?"

He grinned, facing them. "Okay, hear me out-"

"Good lord," Nya muttered into her hand.

"What if you take Earth and Fire from me? You could burn up the sand before Vah Naboris ever reaches it and protect Zane and Nya from all the rocks with the Blade of Deliverance."

Skylor struggled to her feet, taking a swig of water. "Two problems with that," she said. "One: I'll take Lightning instead. It would be easier to fry the sand than try and get the fire hot enough. Two, I'd be leaving you completely defenseless."

"I've got Spinjitzu!"

"Nuh-uh," Skylor said. "Good plan, but you're taking the giant sword. I can't use both elements at once anyways, if I can even absorb both. It'll be easier if I don't have to constantly use Earth just to hold that damn thing."

Zane pursed his lips. "Do you think you can burn all that sand before Vah Naboris? It seems… excessive. You'll wear yourself out."

"I've got a plan for that," Skylor said. "…probably. A semi-plan, if you will."

Lloyd lit up. "Better than most of my plans!" Zane sighed with all the gravity of a man with too many reckless siblings to keep alive.

Nya closed her eyes briefly before nodding. "Alright, then it's settled. Me and Zane will take one cycle together." She looked at her Zoran brother. "Do you think you can use your element at all?"

Zane nodded, the golden bands on his wrists flashing. Lloyd watched, curious, as they seemed to leech light into his skin. "If Skylor can push past her limits, so can I. I won't be able to freeze the glass like that again, however."

"I told you, I've got a plan," Skylor said. She rolled her shoulders, popping her neck. "Alright, kiddo, you're up."

Lloyd hopped down, holding his hand up for Skylor to take. "Take as much as you need," he said. Skylor placed her palms against his. Lloyd noticed the difference between this and the brief contact she'd made before. Amber light pooled around the edges of her splayed fingertips as little arcs of lightning zapped around her nails, magma-colored cracks trailing in their wake.

Unseen by Lloyd or Skylor, whose eyes were closed in concentration, Lloyd's eyes began pulsing with green light, matching the glow from Skylor's element. Nya nudged Zane, staring at the sight.

"Do you…?" Nya whispered near-silently. Zane nodded, swallowing uncomfortably.

"Yes. I see it." It was times like this that they were reminded of how distinctly non-human Lloyd was, even for an Elemental Master.

Skylor let out a breath as she finally stepped back. Lightning zapped around her eyes as she opened them again, magma spooling over cheekbones. "Woah," she muttered, shaking her hands. "That's… intense."

"Are you okay?" Nya asked anxiously. Skylor nodded, still distracted by her sparking hands.

"I think so. This is… definitely my limit, though."

Zane nodded, pushing up Skylor's cycle. "Then we should get going."

Lloyd pulled the Blade of Deliverance out of the sand. "I'm ready whenever you guys are." He didn't feel drained by Skylor's element at all. He'd barely even felt it. Skylor nodded, still a little dazed.

Nya and Zane both climbed onto the same cycle. "Don't get squished," she told Lloyd. He gave them a thumbs up as Skylor followed behind. Their cycles slowly gained momentum as they drove, waving and yelling, into Vah Naboris' line of sight. The Divine Beast roared, enraged at their audacity, and her neck snaked down for the sand, mouth open wide.

Skylor didn't let the drake entertain the thought. She pointed two fingers straight for the big blue sky, her entire arm lighting up with crackling energy. Immediately, a huge bolt of white lightning arced down from the sky, striking inches away from Vah Naboris' nose. The Divine Beast hit hard glass instead of sand, thrown off by the harsh impact.

Lloyd grinned widely at the sight. He couldn't wait to do something like that.

Vah Naboris sufficiently distracted and pissed off, he leapt over the boulder. He sprinted on a layer of ice, swinging the Blade of Deliverance through the rare ripple of rock or earthen pillar.

One problem with pissing off a Divine Beast: their anger tended to be explosive. Vah Naboris was too erratic for Lloyd to hope to get close to climb up her exterior. At least, he couldn't from the ground, where every step formed a shock wave.

He glanced at the Blade of Deliverance. It carried the power of Earth, right? Who's to say it can't act as a conduit?

He switched direction, skating past Skylor, who was busy steering flying boulders off-course. "Hey!" He yelled, catching her attention. "Tell Nya and Zane to hold her head down!"

"What?!" Skylor yelled back. "Do you not see how big she is-?!" But Lloyd was already flying past and out of earshot. Skylor rolled her eyes, gritting her teeth against the strain of Earth. It was a heavy element, and Lightning set her nerves on fire. Taking these two elements on was like going from a strict abstinence from caffeine to hard drugs in half an hour.

She'd reached her limit a hot minute ago. She was running only on the borrowed dregs of strength shared between two elements, and her reserves were running out. A long shot was still a shot.

She shot down another hot bolt of lightning, singing the Divine Beast's tail. "Kid's got a plan," she panted as she paused beside the two Zora. "We're gonna hold her head down."

Nya stared at her, Zane slumped against her side. They each glanced at one another, doing that thing where they seemed to communicate telepathically, before they nodded in sync.

"Sounds about right."

"We'll do it."

Skylor blinked, not expecting them to agree so easily. "…alright. Get ready."

Lloyd, dozens of feet away, sucked in a shallow breath. He spun the Blade of Deliverance high over his head, hoping and praying he wasn't about to look like an idiot.

Hey, First Master? Help me out, here.

He paused, the Blade still held above his head. There was something buzzing in the back of his mind, something persistent. Something that felt a little bit like magma and mountains and green grassy fields.

A firm hand on his shoulder. A big smile. A broad frame made soft by down-turned eyes and a warm hug. It's all he can remember, but it's just enough.

Stand up to those who are cruel, and who are unjust. Stand up to those who hurt others, and stand firm.

Something inside of him slots into place like it never even left. It isn't a landslide — not yet. But it's a start.

He slams the blade into the earth. A buzzing orange glow emits from beneath the sand, his only warning before the flat surface of a sandstone pillar erupts from the ground. He stumbles, laughing breathlessly as he shoots high into the sky. The blade does most of the work, but it feels amazing nonetheless.

He turns to his siblings and Skylor. Vah Naboris lunges downward, and this time Skylor doesn't shoot her with a bolt of lightning. Zane and Nya, on either side of the Beast's head, spin together a chain woven of water and ice. They work in tandem, the water giving the ice more to work with as the ice strengthens the water. The chain arcs around Vah Naboris' head and neck, and Skylor, arms alight with magma cracks, grips the end of it.

She yells as she holds Vah Naboris down, trembling all over at the strain. Lloyd crouches, waiting until his rock rises high enough. He grabs the Sheikah Slate from his belt, tapping the Eye.

He backs up a few inches and takes a running leap. "Skylor, let her go!"

Skylor, too exhausted to think of arguing, immediately releases the long chain. Vah Naboris breaks the chain, head flinging upwards from sheer momentum. Just in time. Her throat is completely exposed. Lloyd raises the Slate as it glows brighter and brighter-

And in a flash of green light, he's gone.

"Time to go!" Nya races over the dunes to Skylor, grunting as she hauls the Chieftess up. Zane leaps off their shared cycle and commandeers Skylor's, and they're off again. Skylor groans on Nya's back, pale and shaky. They weave between crumbling rocks as Vah Naboris shakes her head, drill teeth spinning and sparking in her mouth.

They take refuge once more in the shade of a dune. Zane practically falls off his cycle, dropping his headpiece to the ground as he wipes his sweat-slicked forehead. Skylor, too weak to stand, does fall off the Master Cycle. Nya is tired too, but she commands the extra reserves of water at her hip to flow into Zane and Skylor's mouths before taking a swig herself. She slumps to the ground, breathing heavily.

"We were… not very careful with those swords," Zane mutters.

Skylor, only half-conscious, turns to face Nya. "What… now?"

Zane and Nya share a glance. He grips her hand in his, letting her lean against him. "We wait," he says simply.

"We all nearly died out there," Skylor says. "How is he supposed to…"

"Dunno," Nya mutters. She thinks about turning into an Endless Sea and thinking, I'm never coming home. She thinks about coming back anyways, changed. Zane, at her side, thinks about dying and thinking, I will never see them again. Then seeing them again anyways, changed.

"But he will."

Lloyd sat up with a soft groan, holding his head. He observed his surroundings, dumbfounded. Vah Ruta had been a cold, silent domain. Vah Naboris was… the strangest thing he'd ever seen. It was like he'd been thrown into a haunted jungle.

Cracked geodes threw the cavern into a ghoulish orange light, reflecting off of rotting plant life. Black and pink slime hung like moss on dead desert trees and cacti, eyeballs nestled in the dark blooming flowers. They watched him as he stood up, brushing the sand off of his armor.

He slowly walked forward, staring all around him. The interior Vah Naboris was busy, every inch holding something interesting. He tilted his head, crouching slightly to inspect a floating rock. There were dozens of them, tethered and hovering, buzzing with malignant energy. Pillars, broken in half and chunks carved out of them, lined the tall walls like Vah Naboris was some kind of temple. 

"Hey!" The deep voice sent thrumming reverbs into his chest, beating hard like war drums. "You can't be in here! The EarthBlight will kill you, get out of here, now!"

Lloyd looked up, a smile forming on his face. He couldn't see the holder of the voice, but he could feel him. A steady hand, two soft down-turned eyes, and stand firm. 

"Hi, Cole."

Chapter Text

"Try not to think so hard."

Sometimes, it feels like Lloyd stands on a tightrope. It's hard to imagine a world where he doesn't. There's a fine line to walk, and every day it gets thinner. Be a perfect fighter, but don't look like it. Make it on time to training and lessons every day, with not a second's break in between. Be the perfect, polite dignitary to rude nobles, but don't be a pushover in a fight. He can do a hundred backflips and never lose his balance, but it gets exhausting, walking this line.

Cole Brookstone doesn't make it any easier.

Lloyd likes Cole, he really does. The Gerudo Champion is fun, and friendly, and makes every situation a little more bearable with his easygoing nature. But sometimes he really pisses Lloyd off. He's so perfect all the time. He's an amazing fighter, and despite not being raised noble, can somehow always navigate a conversation. He's big, strong, competent, a natural leader… aka, everything Lloyd should've been. Everything he can't be. Everyone adores Cole, and he meets every expectation.

Most Hylians practically worship the ground Lloyd walks on, but he hasn't ever done anything to earn it. Not like Cole.

"You're thinking, again. Try to let your mind do its own thing, y'know?"

Lloyd's eyebrow twitches. He makes it sound so easy, but it never is!

He's focusing — or, at least, trying to — on the precipice of a canyon. It's an incredible sight, but Lloyd can't enjoy it at all because he's supposed to be 'feeling the earth' — whatever that means.

Cole sits right next to him, legs crisscrossed. The Gerudo easily dwarfs him. Lloyd is completely in the shadow he casts. He'd be intimidating if he didn't have the personality of a teddy bear. He peeks at Lloyd from the corner of his downturned eyes, an easygoing smile on his soft face.

"If you just let your mind relax a little, then you'll be more in tune with the earth. It's not like the other elements — Earth is everywhere around us. So just try to exist with it."

Lloyd purses his lips, turning his face away from Cole. "That's stupid," he mutters. "I already exist on Earth, and it's never responded to me."

"Maybe because you're being a sourpuss about it," Cole says, poking Lloyd in the cheek. He waves Cole off with a grumpy pout. Cole laughs at him, straightening again. Side by side, they look into the canyon. It really is incredible. Lloyd never would have seen anything like this in Hyrule.

"Just… try to be in the moment. Feel how solid the ground is beneath your feet. Think about this place. Try to envision it."

"It's not that easy!" Lloyd snapped, pushing away from Cole. The Gerudo watched him with that pitying expression Lloyd couldn't stand from the Champions. "I can't just- just sit here, Cole! I have to- to-"

"You have to what?"

"I don't know!" He cried, burying his face in his hands. "I have to do something! I have to- to train, to get better now, to beat the Overlord!" He has to make everybody proud of him. He has to be like Cole — he has to protect them. He can't do any of that if he's just sitting around listening to the earth!

He has to make sure he isn't a failure.

Cole wraps a gentle hand around his arm, pulling Lloyd back down to the ground. He slumps, desperately pushing back frustrated tears. He won't cry. He's the Demigod Prince of Hyrule, the Time God's Chosen, the Champion of Ninjago and Hero of Destiny. He will not. Cry.

Cole rubs his arm sympathetically, kindly not looking at him while he wipes a palm over his eyes. "I know you want to get better now," he says softly. "I know you're impatient to become… whatever you're gonna become. A legend. But something can't come from nothing, y'know? Give it time."

"I don't have time," Lloyd murmurs. He was already late to the Great Devourer. He's out of time.

"Sure you do," Cole says. "Just- just think, about right here, how much time this took."

Cole sweeps his hand over the sight. Ravines larger than the tallest treetops and castle towers, swooping burnt orange layers of rock, the ginormous mesas and oddly shaped hoodoos. Birds flew over the edges of flat-topped buttes, impossibly high. "Just think. It took hundreds of thousands of years for this place to form, by complete chance. A thousand storms, a thousand years of sun and erosion, huge rivers… and yet everything has its place. Everything is connected here, all in its own time." He nudges Lloyd with a big grin. "Pretty great, right?"

"Yeah," Lloyd murmurs as he looks down into the canyon. "Pretty great."

Will he ever be this great? He's running out of time to be.

Cole leans back on his palms, soaking up the desert sun. "You've just got to be patient, kiddo. Hyrule wasn't built in a day, y'know."

Lloyd scowls, suddenly shooting back to his feet. He can't stand how easy Cole made sitting around and doing nothing sound! Why are all his supposed prophesied guardians so obsessed with giving him useless and cryptic advice?!

"But it can be destroyed in one," he snaps. He is a demigod. The Time God's chosen vessel of power, his Sword and his Light and his Will. If he can't protect Hyrule, he's worthless. Obviously, sitting here staring at a canyon wasn't helping anything.

He turns on his heel, stomping back down the cliff. Cole lets him go this time, watching the Prince he'd sworn to protect disappear over the rocks.

"Oh, kid…" Cole sighs, shaking his head. "What are we going to do with you?"

Lloyd blinked away the fading memory. So that's a thing now, huh? The same thing happened in Vah Ruta… it seems like the voices of the Champions were enough to trigger memories. He's thankful for them, even if they're a little inconvenient. And depressing.

Cole remained silent for a beat, then, "Wait. Lloyd? I-is that seriously you, kid? It's been so long, though!"

"A hundred years, yeah," Lloyd said sheepishly. "I'm here to help, now. Sorry it took me so long… I was busy getting resurrected, and then there was this whole thing with these swords…"

"…okay, I'll ignore that last part. It's not that I'm not glad to see you, kid, but this is too dangerous! You need to leave before the EarthBlight gets wind of you!"

"I can't do that, Cole," Lloyd protested. He looked up at the ceiling like that's where Cole is, despite his voice coming from all around. It's a little strange — his voice is heavy, constantly echoing and it carries a strange sense of strength. Like a war drum. He took a deep breath, brushing it off. "I need to learn the Element of Earth."

"Kid, I get it, but you'll get yourself killed-!"

"It's not just Earth, though!" Lloyd exclaimed. "I need Vah Naboris to beat the Overlord. And it's not only that, either. I need to save you."

Lloyd is sick of trying to figure out where he is in his family. He still doesn't really know exactly who he is or what their relationship used to be like. But if Murtessa was right, then Lloyd is just as good now as he used to be, maybe even better. He wants to put that to good use. He wants to be a part of his family without all the caveats.

So he's going to be honest about this.

He stared at the floor, hooking his hand on his armor breastplate. "I need to help you, Cole. I… I might not really remember you, but you're family, right? Well, there's a ton of people down there waiting for you…! Zane and Nya miss you a lot, and the Gerudo need their Champion back!"

"…Zane? Nya? Are they really… alive?" Cole's voice is tight and hesitant, but carries a tiny flicker of hope.

Lloyd nodded. "They are! I already beat up one Blight, so don't try to tell me this is too dangerous, okay? I'm not leaving. Zane and Nya are waiting for you. They need their brother back!"

Cole laughed wetly. He sounded tired. "You don't gotta tell me twice, Lloyd. Whatever you need, I'll do my best to help out. First — you got a Slate?"

"Yeah." Lloyd unclipped his Sheikah Slate, looking around. "There's a node somewhere, right?"

"Guess you've already done this, huh?" Cole said, amused. "You're right — there are four nodes you'll need to purify using your Slate. The first one is in here."

Lloyd looked around curiously. All he could see was rotting foliage and crumbling temple-esque ruins alongside the rocky alcoves. "Where?"

"Under your feet."

Lloyd looked down, backing up. "I can't see anything," he said, crouching to the ground. He placed his palm on the rocky surface. "But… it's a test, right?" He glanced up, determined. "So you need to teach me Earth."

Cole was quiet for a beat. "…you've grown up a bit since we last saw each other, haven't you?"

Lloyd shifted a little. "I guess," he mumbled. He wouldn't be able to tell the difference, though. He remembered how much he hated elemental training before he died. Hell, he remembered how bratty he'd acted in Vah Ruta, when Zane was only trying to help. He was determined to be better this time.

"Okay. You'll need the Element of Earth to navigate all these trials, which means you need to understand it. Get close to ground and try to connect with it."

Lloyd sat on the ground, placing both palms in front of him. He closed his eyes, trying to do what he'd done in Vah Ruta with the ice. But he couldn't 'feel' anything. "What am I supposed to be feeling for, exactly?"

"Earth is in just about everything, Lloyd, and it's always moving — usually, just too slow or fast for us to notice," Cole explained patiently. "Most people can only feel the earth's movement when it does something big to get our attention. But us? We're more in sync than that. It's just like a pulse, Lloyd. Something you don't notice until you try. Try listening for a pulse."

Lloyd breathed out slowly, closing his eyes as he leaned forward a little. Cole continued speaking. His voice carried a sort of rhythm to it that centered Lloyd. "Like all moving things, it has a direction it's trying to go in. If you can feel what direction it wants to go, you can help it along. That's how you'll find the node. Spread your hands out more, to cover more surface area."

Lloyd's fingertips dutifully spread over the rock further. He tried to do what Cole said, letting his focus rest on his own heartbeat and the feeling of the rocky surface. His mind wandered to that day, training with Cole on the cliff of a canyon. Everything had its place, so surely, the earth wanted to get back to it.

I can help, he thought, brows furrowed in concentration. I can fix this.

Slowly, like his pulse had spread from his wrist to the pads of his fingertips, a dull throbbing sensation began to cover his hands. He startled briefly but quickly refocused. "Okay," he said, "What now?"

"Let it come to you. One day you'll be able to control where it goes, but for now, just help it along. The node is disturbing the earth, right? That means that the rock is uneven and angled in different directions. Just keep it on that path."

Lloyd nodded. As he felt the earth under his fingertips pulse more, he felt it beat in different wavelengths, sort of like a ripple effect. He slid his right hand diagonally, and slowly, hesitantly, a disturbed slab of rock just beneath the surface complied. Right — the earth was misplaced. It just wanted to get back to where it belonged.

Me too.

Cole laughed in disbelief somewhere above him. "Yes! Holy shit, kid, that's it! Exactly like that, just keep it moving. The more momentum you build, the easier it gets! Confidence is key, so don't doubt yourself."

Lloyd suppressed a smile at Cole's praise, trying to focus on the thrumming below the surface. The more he interacted with it, the faster the tempo got. His fingertips subconsciously drummed along as he slid his palms along the rock, shifting the stone underneath.

It's sort of like Ice, he thinks. Ice and Earth are solid, they're steady, they're constant. He feels movement in Ice like he does in the Earth. But Earth is heavier, more stubborn. It won't bend until something makes it.

He wants to be like that.

Finally, after what felt like forever and no time at all, the ground beneath him rumbled. Lloyd's eyes shot open as he jumped to his feet, stumbling back as the earth split open in uneven ravines. The round shape of a stone node, dusty and cracked from age, rose up on a short platform. Cole whooped alongside Lloyd.

"You did it! Lloyd, that was incredible!"

Lloyd blushed, moving his Sheikah Slate in front of the node's Eye. "It wasn't that cool…" he mumbled. The Slate glowed, its Eye icon spinning, and the node's Eye went from a ghoulish pink to a healthy white glow in a brief burst of light.

"One down, three to go," Cole said, his voice heavy with pride. "Oh, yeah. You should have a map of the Divine Beast now — use it to find the rest of the nodes. I can't stick around for long, but if you have issues, just call for me. And, actually, I wonder…"

Cole trailed off. The earth in front of Lloyd rumbled again as a stout mound of rock rose up from the ground. Lloyd gasped in excitement.

"Yes! New weapon new weapon new weapon-!"

The pillar of rock crumbled away, leaving the form of a ginormous hammer behind. The handle was carved from what seemed like dark marble, embedded with amber-colored geodes, and the two flat ends sloped diagonally, made of thick stone.

"That should do it," Cole said. Lloyd could practically hear the smile in his voice as he raced to pick up the hammer. It was nearly as tall as he was. "Use that to channel the element. I can hold off the EarthBlight for as long as you need, so don't sweat it!"

Lloyd held the hammer in both hands, testing the weight. Like the Blades of Deliverance, it was easier to pick up than it looked, but he could tell it carried a ton of strength. He looked up gratefully.

"Thanks, Cole. I'm gonna get you out of here, promise."

Cole was silent for a moment, long enough for Lloyd to think he'd disappeared somewhere, when he finally said, "…I'd like that."

Then he really was gone. Lloyd clipped his Slate back to his belt, readjusted his armor straps and dao scabbard, and swung the hammer at his side.

"Right," he muttered to himself. "Three to go."

And if the Overlord was in here… he'd kick that guy's ass too.

Lloyd peeked into the wide chamber curiously. As he traversed the long, vaulted halls of the Divine Beast, the scenery changed at a rapid pace. He'd gone from a haunted jungle to barren halls with cracked red floors. It reminded him of the desert in-between the Zora Domain and Sea of Sand. All the while, malignant tar trailed in his wake, eyes watching him from dark corners.

Vah Naboris was also louder than Vah Ruta. The Divine Beast of Ice had been eerily quiet, as cold as a tomb, but Vah Naboris was constantly thrumming. A deep echo seemed to follow in his wake, a pulse erupting from every footstep. It was so alive, even as a corpse.

The chamber was totally empty. A node, gleaming and pulsing with nasty pink light, sat in the middle. Lloyd narrowed his eyes. Last time it looked this easy, the floor fell out from beneath him and three Guardians tried to shoot him to death. Again.

He held up the sledgehammer close to his chest, carefully stepping through the wide archway. Beady black eyes in the corners watched him, and he shot them a glare. He still wasn't totally convinced they weren't sentient.

Halfway across the room, he seemed to cross some kind of threshold. Before he could process it, the ground began to rumble as craggily walls begin to rise from below. Lloyd yelped, jumping back as canyons erupt all around him. They grew high above his head, eclipsing his view of the chamber and node.

"Oh, what the-? Cole!" Lloyd yelled, eyeing the new canyons warily. What now?!

"What, what is it, are you hurt-?!" Cole's rumbly voice echoed around him, sounding panicked. Lloyd sighed, shaking his head.

"What's going on? Is this some sort of, like, death maze?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah, actually. Yes, it is. This is a death maze."

"Seriously?!"

"Okay, okay, listen," Cole said placatingly, though it didn't hide the small laugh in his voice. "This is a few different things rolled up into one. You're good at multitasking, right?"

"Sometimes?"

"Good enough. So, number one: direction. This isn't the type of maze where you can just hug the left wall and get out easy peasy, alright? The maze will constantly shift, so you need to maintain a good sense of direction."

Lloyd tilted his head, looking around skeptically. "That's it? I just need to know where to go?"

"Nope! See, there's another thing-"

Lloyd startled as the ground beneath his feet suddenly jerked, shaking violently. He whipped around, eyes going wide as the floor tilts beneath him. A series of loud bangs echoed around him, shaking the floor and canyon walls. "Cooooleee!" He yelled, stumbling backward.

"Balance! It's all about balance. That, and…"

"Cole!" Lloyd shrieked as a boulder rolled into view. He booked it down the path, stumbling as the floor begins tilting back and forth with increasing speed. It only hastened the rolling boulder, giving it more and more momentum.

"Yeah, that thing too! Listen, Lloyd, don't run from it! Earth is all about standing firm. If you let a rock knock you around, how will you beat the Blight?"

"Oh, yeah, makes perfect sense!" Lloyd screamed as he ducked into another passageway. He's too fast, and the floor suddenly teetered, sending him sprawling. The hammer skidded across the floor out of his grip, and he scrambled to pick it back up. "Are you crazy?! I'd get crushed if I didn't run!"

"You're a Master of Earth, Lloyd. We don't run from things."

"Maybe you don't," Lloyd grumbled, peeking back out of the new path he'd escaped into. That dumb boulder was gone, though he could still hear it banging against walls. He held onto the craggily rock for balance, subconsciously shifting his feet to widen his stance.

He hummed, looking at the wall. He doesn't need to complete this maze — he can just climb out, can't he? "Boom," he whispered, "Going two for two with these Beasts." It takes some finagling with the hammer, but he manages to get a foot off the ground before Cole pipes up again, laughing to himself.

"I wouldn't recommend that," he said with a snicker. Lloyd huffed, blowing a stray strand of hair from his eyes.

"And why not?"

Lloyd yelped as the entire maze tilted backward, and the boulder came rolling back with a vengeance. It was so big it would smear him to paste against the wall if he didn't move. He swore, quickly leaping back and booking it through the maze again. The momentum had him slamming into walls as he ran, the constant tilting of the maze sending him scrambling. It's disorienting, he realized, to a fault. The maze was actively trying to trick him, sending him careening into new directions and closing off paths behind him.

"Okay, okay, Cole! Help me out here!"

"You gonna start listening, now?" Cole asked, being a total jerk-face about it. Lloyd groaned loudly in response. His distraction had him slipping on his own feet, sliding sideways and struggling to get back to his feet with a giant boulder inches away from flattening him.

"Yes! Yes, okay, just tell me what to do!"

"First up: balance," Cole said. "Stop letting this maze tell you where to go and what to do! Find a sense of balance and stick to it. You need to lower your center of gravity — you're used to having a lesser sense of balance because you're usually so agile, but Earth requires something steadier. No matter how the maze behaves, stay on your feet."

Lloyd nodded once. As he ran, he slung the hammer out, catching the corner of a new path. He buried it into the rock, using its momentum to fling himself out of the way of the boulder. It rolled right on by.

He took a deep breath, grateful for the short reprieve. He pulled the hammer back out of the wall and tries to focus on what Cole said. He widened his stance, and as the floor tilted back, he planted the hammer into the ground, refusing to be moved or stumble.

"Great!" Cole said. Lloyd beamed at the pride in his voice. "Alright, the most important thing: don't run. I know you want to, but you need to be as immovable as the Earth is."

"What about, like, landslides?" Lloyd pointed out. "Or earthquakes? Sinkholes?"

"Ah-ah-ah!" Cole tuts. "Those are immovable, too! You ever try to stop a landslide in its tracks? Try to hold the Earth together when it wants to split apart? You'll find that it's pretty impossible, kiddo!"

"So… it doesn't matter if I move," Lloyd said slowly, "As long as I don't let something else move me?"

"Yes!" Cole whooped with a laugh. "Now you're getting it! You're running away from stuff, Lloyd, but that's not how we roll. So, what are you going to do about this trial?"

Lloyd hefts his hammer, testing its weight. "I'm gonna stop letting it push me around," he said firmly.

"Exactly!"

Lloyd continued through the maze, steady on his feet. He still stumbled once or twice, but he didn't let the maze trip him up so much anymore. Cole remained a steady presence, even when he wasn't speaking. Lloyd thinks he likes that about Cole — his constancy. Zane, Nya, and Cole: all constants.

Soon enough, the boulder came rolling back through. Lloyd readjusted his grip on the sledgehammer, sliding his legs apart and taking a low stance. It went against every instinct in his body, but he didn't leap out of the way.

He focused instead on the ground beneath his feet. It's unnatural, the way it moves back and forth, but he can use it. He urged the ground to tilt backward, using the maze's momentum against it. The shifting floor followed the path of the hammer, sliding back and rolling the boulder toward him even faster than before.

"You got this, kiddo!" Cole yelled. "Confidence is key!"

Lloyd slid his foot back, swinging the huge hammer forward. He slammed it into the boulder with a deafening CRACK, sending the huge rock sailing backward with all the force of a landslide. It went flying straight through the maze of canyons, breaking down walls like dominoes and leaving a perfect path straight to the node.

Lloyd gaped at the wreckage. He'd been kind of expecting it to take a few whacks?! Cole cheered from around him, whooping at the destruction.

"Yes! Kid, that was amazing! The Blight doesn't stand a chance!"

Lloyd can't suppress his own joy at Cole's unending well of praises. He laughed too, bouncing on his feet. "D-did you see that?" He called, dancing over the wreckage as he runs for the node. "I totally wrecked it!"

"It's official! I'm the best teacher, hands down. Holy crap, Lloyd, you're amazing!" Cole is relentless, apparently. Lloyd didn't even bother suppressing his wide grin as he pressed the Sheikah Slate to the node's Eye. It spun, glowing a bright white before dying down again. His Slate chimed cheerily.

"Two down-" Cole said.

"Two to go," Lloyd finished.

He's learning Earth faster than Ice. Zane must've been right — Ice is a good building block. The two elements are similar enough that Lloyd can apply the concepts from one to another, making the transition easier. But it might have something to do with his attitude, too.

Murtessa told him to stop running, and so did Cole. Maybe there's more merit to that than he first thought.

Earth is louder than Ice. It settles in his stomach like a warm weight, thrumming alongside his heartbeat like a war drum. He's gonna need a war drum.

Two down, two to go, and then they get their brother back.

Vah Naboris changed again. It wasn't long before the ground underneath him became grassy and soft. It's eerie, the way his surroundings are so reminiscent of Hyrule. It's like this place was mocking him. Black tar and eyeballs lurk around the edges, and he wasted no time smashing them with his hammer.

His eyes widen almost comically as he finds the third trial. It's a totally foreign sight. A sinkhole eclipsed the floor of the room, creating a steep drop-off the second the archway opens into the chamber. The tall, vaulted chamber held dozens of floating rocks, ranging from small steppingstones to miniature islands that bob in invisible winds.

"What…?" Lloyd muttered, leaning in as far as he dared, wary of the sinkhole. He flicked his hand, creating a rim of ice around his feet to anchor himself. "Where's the node?"

A glimmer from above caught his eye. He squinted, and as a bobbing island of grass and soil moved past, he found the gleaming node on a small hill high above. He glanced at the floating isles, trying to piece together a path up. Maybe with Spinjitzu…

"Okay," he muttered, rolling his shoulders. He backed up a few paces and took a running start. The second his feet left the edge of the sinkhole, he flipped into a green tornado. The momentum carried him up onto the first small isle. But just when he landed, it teetered dangerously, cracking under the weight of his armor.

Lloyd stumbled as the earth beneath his foot crumbles away. He flipped into another tornado, but the uneven ground made it too difficult to gain enough momentum to make the next leap. He just barely fell short of the next floating platform, gasping as he caught the edge with his hand.

"Lloyd?!" Cole yelled frantically. The Hylian strained to keep ahold of the earth, legs dangling over the black abyss.

"That uh," he swallowed, hissing when his fingers dragged down. "That wouldn't happen to be filled with sharp rocks, would it?"

"It definitely is! What are you doing, you're going to get hurt-!"

Lloyd grunted as he struggled to pull himself up. His legs kicked at the angular soil, catching on roots. He scrambled back to solid ground, huffing. "Stupid rock…" He muttered, glaring at the sinkhole. "Cole, what's this trial about? It's just a bunch of floating rocks!"

Cole sounds uncharacteristically pissed off when he speaks. "Ever since that Blight came through and- y'know," he makes a dramatic choking sound, "got me, this whole place has felt totally untethered. Earth is all about solidity, Lloyd, and this is the exact opposite of that. However! It's a great chance for you to learn, so get to it!"

Lloyd raised an unimpressed eyebrow. "Learn… what? Why can't I just do Spinjitzu to the node?"

"Probably because you'll trip and fall again," Cole snarked. "Trust me on this, kiddo."

"This is stupid," Lloyd muttered even as he sticks his hammer upside down and plops onto the ground. "Dumb… can't just do Spinjitzu, nooooo that'd be too easy…"

"You done pouting now?"

Lloyd crossed his arms. After a moment, he muttered, "Yeah."

"Alright!" For some reason, Lloyd automatically envisioned the Gerudo cracking his knuckles. It must have been a familiar sight. "So, the ground is all uneven and unstable, right? Wanna guess why?"

"Because it's floating?" Lloyd asked. He hoped Cole can see the look on his face, because he sounded insane right now.

"Brat," Cole muttered, "Yes, BUT it's also because everything on Earth is connected. See all these isles? Not connected. They've lost their foundation, which is why the second you start spinning tornadoes on them, you'll fall to your death."

"So… what do I do about it?" Lloyd asked, peering over the edge. He has to try very, very hard to resist the urge to rock the floating island.

"Remember how I said you'd learn to make Earth go wherever you wanted? That's what you're gonna do."

Lloyd blinked. "But- I can barely make the ground move!"

"I'll coach you through it," Cole assured him quickly. "But this is what you need to do. Give it shot, okay?"

Lloyd took a deep breath, nodding.

"Great! Close your eyes and find that pulse from earlier."

He did as told, placing both palms on the ground. His fingers threaded through blades of grass as he pushed them into the soil, trying to find the pulse from the first trial. The earth thrummed at him, pulsating next to his heartbeat.

"Found it," he murmured, making sure he didn't lose any of his concentration.

"Keep on top of it. I want you to try merging that pulse and your own entirely. Remember, everything is connected. Exist with it completely."

Lloyd complied, trying to purge his mind of any thought except his element. He filtered out Cole's voice and slowed his breathing down until it matched the slow pulse from the earth.

Everything is connected. Lloyd wondered if that was true. Was that even possible? For absolutely everything to be entwined at once? He tries to bury himself in the thought.

Everything. Absolutely everything.

Blades of grass crept up his fingertips, wrapping around his wrists. Magma cracks filled in the scars of his hands and forearms, flickering in time with his heartbeat and lungs.

Everything is connected. Everything in the world is connected to something else in the world.

Like the elements. Like the Divine Beasts. Like Sheikah tech, and the Domains, and Golden Weapons.

In a daze, he followed Cole's direction. He imagined himself sinking into the earth.

"-oyd! LLOYD!"

He gasped, eyes shooting open. To his surprise, he's half encased in soft stone and vines. Cole sounded panicked around him.

"Kid, you there?! Jeez, when I told you to connect, I didn't mean totally disappear on me!"

Lloyd shook off the soil and clay. "…sorry," he muttered, not sure what else to say. The earth was still thrumming in his pulse, and he realized he was still subconsciously breathing in tune with it. Weird.

Cole sighed shakily. "Crazy demigod kid…" he muttered under his breath. "Well… you've got that part down. Try expanding to the rest of the stones. You need to get them all under one beat, think you can do that?"

Lloyd, in lieu of answering, placed his hands back into the grooves of the soil and realigned his mind with the earth. It's easier the second time around. Cole really meant it when he said they were 'in sync', didn't he?

What's not easy is expanding to the other isles. They're completely out of tune, too fast or slow and thrumming at completely different paces. It feels like the earth is screaming.

Lloyd shrieked, tugging his hands out of the earth and severing the connection. His ears tingled from the sensory overload, twitching angrily.

Cole is quick to his aid. "I know, I know," he said, sounding guilty. "It sounds awful, right?"

"It's screaming," Lloyd whined, rubbing his ear. "I- I can't, not all at once."

"You gotta," Cole said. "I know, it's painful. I've felt that kind of pain every day in here. But you can't do it one at a time, Lloyd. Everything's connected, remember?"

He hesitated, reluctant to dive back into the screaming cacophony of Earth. "Is… that really the only way to do it?" He grimaced at the thought of having to deal with all that noise all at once.

"Yeah, sorry kiddo," Cole said sympathetically. "Try using the hammer as a conduit. It might help."

Lloyd nodded, pursing his lips. If Cole can do it every day, he can do it for a couple minutes. His ears automatically pinned themselves to his head as he places one hand back into the earth, the other wrapping around the dark handle of his hammer. Third time's the charm.

He dived back into the steady hum of earth, already familiar with this island's specific pace. He let his heartbeat and breath merge with it before slowly branching out again. He's immediately assaulted with a thousand different tempos and grits his teeth, reeling back.

"Lloyd, you've got to get them on the same page," Cole urged. "This is the part where you make it do what you want. Make them listen to you."

Lloyd's eyebrows furrowed in pain. His grip on the hammer trembled. He doesn't understand how he's supposed to make the earth listen to him! Which beat is he supposed to match all of these little pieces up to? How is he supposed to get them to click together?

"It's okay," Cole's voice is steady at his side. "I know it's overwhelming. You know what helped me? Dancing, weirdly enough. It's all about keeping control over your body as you respond to your environment. It's also about momentum — every move leads into another. Everything is connected, and that means that everything has a common source. Find that source, Lloyd. It can be anything, as long as it comes from you."

"The only dance I know is the waltz," Lloyd grit out. Wait, seriously? The waltz? He's having words with his mother about this.

"Great! Use that!" Cole sounds physically pained at the notion, but he's encouraging nonetheless. "It's… a dance. So, it has a rhythm! Look, I know I said to connect to the earth, but now you're gonna do it a little bit backwards — remove yourself from it a bit, let the element follow your lead now."

That… makes a little bit of sense. Lloyd remembers his agonizing dance classes, clumsily trying to follow his instructor's lead. They would switch roles halfway through — apparently, it was important that Lloyd knew how to both lead and follow in a dance.

Weird ballroom culture aside, Lloyd could sort of understand what Cole was getting at. He tried to distance himself from the cacophony, tuning it all out without letting himself completely lose it.

Weirdly, it's the thought of Nya that helps him. She reminded him of being underwater, the voices above muffled. Discernible, but distant and grasping. He didn't have to hear it unless he focused. He let the myriads of different tempos fall underwater.

Cool. Now they're all muffled and no longer making him want to rip his ears out. What now?

Using his own heartbeat is out of the question. It's still in tune with the platform he stands on, and he knows that if he severs that, he'll lose his focus completely.

"Can…" Lloyd chewed on his cheek. "Cole, can you talk? About, like, anything."

"Uh- sure?" Cole sounds uncertain but complies easily enough. "Hm… I guess I'm excited to see Zane and Nya. I can't wait to see Gerudo Town either, see if everyone is still alright. And oh man, cake… Hey, you know that it's supposed to come from you, not me, right-?"

Lloyd let the actual meaning of his words drift in one ear and out the other. All that actually mattered is the steady reverb of the Champion's voice. He let himself focus on it completely, tapping his fingers along with the syllables in Cole's voice.

Okay. Cool. He's got his new external rhythm down… now what?

He slowly stood up, moving the focus of the earth from his hand to his feet. Cole continued talking, though Lloyd is so zoned out he has no idea what the Gerudo is saying. He grabbed the hammer, lifting it in both hands. He tried to imagine it pulsing at the same rhythm as Cole's voice, following that constancy.

He likes how constant Cole is. If everything else has to change, at least Cole Brookstone won't.

He raised the hammer high above his head, slamming it down into the earth. A massive shockwave erupted from the head. All the background tempos of earth paused for a beat, and in perfect sync, began beating at a single calm pace.

Lloyd slumped, relieved. He fell back on the grass, inexplicably winded, as the little floating isle lowered alongside the rest of the platforms. "Dude," he panted, "that sucked."

Cole laughed at his plight. "Yup. Ready to do it again?"

Lloyd grumbled as he stood up, dragging his hammer with him. Each floating platform neatly clicked together like a giant puzzle, and the node settled in the center. He pressed his Sheikah Slate to its Eye, pausing for the routine glow of light.

"Three down," he muttered.

"One to go," Cole said. "You're doing great, Lloyd, seriously. This kind of progress… I'm really proud of you, kiddo. You've grown a lot."

Lloyd swallowed back the lump in his throat. Has he? Maybe a little. He hopes Cole is still this positive about his 'growth' when he finds out about the amnesia.

He tucked the Slate back against his hip, slinging the hammer over his shoulder. He took a deep breath. "Right." He just hopes he's grown enough to make it count.

One more to go.

Vah Naboris slowly slipped away from the painfully familiar grasses so similar to Hyrule to sloping mountainous crevasses. Lloyd had to climb half the way just to get to the fourth trial. He was starting to see how the Divine Beasts were built to be fortresses.

He found the fourth trial to be a weird sort of colosseum. A huge black torii gate framed the opening of the cavern, and immediately beyond, the ground sloped down into a wide circular pit.

Lloyd leaned over the edge, eyeing the smooth slopes surrounding the sandstone ground suspiciously. He's more than prepared for the walls to open up and start spitting lava. Seems like the sort of thing the Sheikah would cook up.

"Who even are these people," Lloyd muttered as he reluctantly makes his way down the slopes, dragging his hammer behind him. "Guardians, Shrines, Towers… I just wanna talk."

The node, like all the others, sat on a short dais in the middle of the ring. Lloyd hefted his hammer in both hands, inching forward skeptically.

"What'll it be this time?" He whispered under his breath. "Giant earthquake? Landslide? Some weird philosophy about inner peace?" It was actually kind of weird how… mental Earth had been so far. He'd done more 'believing in himself' than actually manipulating the element. He sort of missed crawling around on the ceiling in Vah Ruta.

Lloyd is more than prepared to leap back when the ground started rumbling. He jumped backward, bracing himself for whatever crazy vaguely earth-based shenanigans Vah Naboris threw at him.

The sandstone cracked, individual stones pushing upward like tectonic plates colliding. The node itself began to pulse.

Crap. Last time the actual node got involved-

The dais suddenly lifted, stone collecting around the node like a helmet as a body emerges from the ground. It's made of clay, sand, limestone, all held together by rows of metal pulsing with the familiar glow of corrupted Sheikah tech. The node's Eye became the face of the newly formed golem as it turned to face Lloyd.

It's not a Guardian, Lloyd told himself, backing away slowly. It doesn't even look like one.

But that Eye.

Cole chimed in somewhere above him. "Best for last! You love fighting stuff like this, Lloyd, piece of cake! Oh, man, I'm hungry…"

"Y-yeah," Lloyd replied shakily. His low stance suddenly has nothing to do with his element and everything to do with wanting to get as far away from this Sheikah golem as possible. "J-just need to- to-" He shrieked when the golem raised two ginormous fists and slammed them into the ground, creating a violent shockwave. He barely managed to keep his balance as he darted to the side. Everything Cole told him about their element vanished from his head in favor of running away from the Sheikah Eye.

The golem followed him with thundering footsteps, raising both arms again for the same attack. Lloyd rolled to the left when it came, springing to his feet just in time to jump before the impact came.

"Cole!" He yelled desperately. His heart was pounding a mile a minute. Every time he blinked, the electrifying pain and screaming and burning Hyrule flashed behind his eyes. "What is this trial supposed to do?!"

"Stop running!" Cole yelled back, sounding confused. "Lloyd, what are you doing? Just fight it, it's a golem! You love fighting golems!"

"Do I?!" He screamed. The golem straightened — and why is it like, twelve feet tall?! — and reared back. It lifted one ginormous leg, the shadow eclipsing Lloyd's head.

"Yes?! We did it all the time! You know how to fight these things, Lloyd, what's going on with you-?"

Lloyd spun around, swinging his hammer into the ankle of the golem as its foot came down on his head. It sent both him and the golem sprawling in opposite directions. The Sheikah amalgamation slammed into the sloped sides of the ring, clunking in a poor attempt to right itself.

Lloyd panted as he sat up, scrambling backward. He was supposed to be over this. He fought three different actual Guardians in Vah Ruta, why was he still scared of them?!

The golem shook itself off as it stood back up, Eye locking onto Lloyd. Its gears whirred as it stooped down, thick fingers digging into the earth. It scooped up a huge ball of clay, packing it together roughly. Lloyd hissed on instinct, backing away warily.

He's going to have words with the Sheikah if he ever finds one of them.

The golem threw the packed ball of earth his way. It rolled around the sloping sides of the ring, gaining momentum. Lloyd spun into a bright green Spinjitzu tornado, quickly climbing the sides of the ring.

"Lloyd!" Cole yelled, dumbfounded. "What are you doing?! Hit it, just like the second trial!"

Lloyd slipped when the golem beat the ground with its fists for a second time, shaking the entire cavern. The rolling boulder slid right past him as he tumbled back into the ring. He barely had time to brush his tangled hair out of his face when the golem reared up, its giant foot yet again eclipsing his head. His eyes went wide at the sight of that Sheikah Eye boring into him.

The hammer Cole made rumbled, and all at once Lloyd was wrapped in a dome of impenetrable stone. He yelled in frustration, beating his fist against the protective dome. "Cole! Let me out, I can take it!"

"Lloyd, what's going on with you?! I've seen you take down bigger Hinox-"

"I can take it!" He yelled again. He kicked at the dome, subconsciously snarling in from frustration. He wasn't scared of Guardians anymore. He wasn't!

"Lloyd, it almost killed you! What happened?"

I died, he thought bitterly, and came back wired to act like a baby every time I see a Guardian.

"It doesn't matter!" He snapped. He reared back his hammer, using it like a battering ram against the stone. "Cole, let me out! I'm not scared of it, I'm over it!"

Cole hesitated, silently watching Lloyd beat against the stone. The Hylian growled, blinking back sharp stinging tears. Why was he still so affected by this? He squeezed his eyes shut, desperate to bury the all too familiar fear. "It's not even a real Guardian!" He yelled, pushing against the dome futilely.

"Oh," Cole said quietly. "…that's how you got all those scars, isn't it?"

Lloyd froze. Cole sighed shakily. "Kid… I'm so sorry. I- I didn't want to believe you'd really… died."

"It's fine," Lloyd snapped. "I can go again. I'm fine." He hates how shaky his voice sounds, hates how small he feels, hates how he flinches every time the golem beats down on the dome. Hates that Cole had to strain himself making it in the first place.

"…this trial needs you to have a strong foundation," Cole finally said. "Remember everything you did with balance and triple that. Lloyd, you have to stop running. I know you hate it, but you can't be afraid to get hit. No more dodging."

"I'm not eight feet tall," Lloyd grumbled. "If I get hit, I'll get crushed."

Cole snorted. "Eight feet-? I'm, like, seven and a half max."

"How is that-?"

"Lloyd, I promise you, you can take it," Cole said. "I've seen you! You can take a punch from this thing and return it tenfold. I'll bet Zane taught you all about making plans, right? Put that to use. If the trial needs you to have a strong foundation, then how will you beat it?"

"By… breaking the golem's foundation," Lloyd said.

"Exactly! Throw it off its feet, get it off its rhythm, and you win!"

"…it's that simple?"

"Easy!" Cole assured him. "Here, listen. It sounds overwhelming, but there's a rhythm to its attacks."

He was right. The golem was following some kind of beat, attacking in constant motions. Lloyd pressed his hand to the stone dome. 1… 2… 3… now. Right on cue, the dome shuddered from the force of the golem's beating fists. Another few seconds later, it repeated.

Lloyd swallowed. He was over Guardians. He couldn't let himself be so affected by them anymore, or the Overlord would use it. "Okay," he called, wrapping his hand around the hammer. All he had to do was knock it off balance. He was the Hero of Destiny; he could do that much.

Right before the next hit, he urged the dome to melt away back into the ground. He rolled out of the way of the golem's fists, and it toppled forward from its own momentum. He took the opening, swinging the head of the hammer into the back of its shin. The golem fell to one knee, shaking the ground.

"Yes, Lloyd, you've got it!" Cole shouted. He could imagine the Gerudo pumping his fists and grinned. "Alright, hit it again! Don't give this thing an inch!"

"Yes!" Lloyd ducked under a grasping earthy hand, slamming his hammer into the soft chest surrounded by rims of Sheikah tech. The golem shook, collapsing onto its forearm.

"You've got it!" Cole yelled. Just before Lloyd aimed for the head, the golem swept out a second giant hand. Lloyd yelped, already going to fast to dodge. On instinct, he held the long handle of his weapon out in front of him like a balancing pole. The golem's hand slammed into it, sending him skidding back several feet. Dust kicked up around his feet, but he remained upright.

"You're good, Lloyd, keep going!" Cole yelled encouragement like he was his personal hype-man. "Don't be afraid to get hit! Tank everything it gives you!"

"Got it!" Lloyd sprinted forward, spinning the hammer at his side. The golem got to its feet, just in time for Lloyd to get up close and personal. He dug his feet into the ground, building ice around his ankles to stop his own movement, and used the forward momentum built in his own body and the hammer to slam the head of his weapon into the golem's thigh. It collapsed again, and Lloyd ducked out of the way before it could hit him.

He leapt over a second sweeping hand, folding himself in half smashing the hammer through its wrist. The golem's hand fell clean off, crumbling to tiny bits on the floor.

"Yes!" Lloyd pumped his fist. The golem retracted its stump of a wrist, glaring at him with that awful Sheikah Eye as it held its stump close. Lloyd stumbled for half a second at the Eye but quickly regained his composure. It's not even a real Guardian.

"You've got it, kiddo!" Cole cheered him on. "Knock 'im down!"

The golem rose to its feet for another round. Lloyd tapped his hammer against the ground, feeling the steady thrum of earth through it.

Oh, hey, there's an idea.

Lloyd sent the golem a feral grin as he lifted one hand in front of himself. "I don't even need Earth to beat you!" He bragged. "You're big, but that just means you fall hard!"

The golem, as predicted, lifted one giant foot in preparation to create a shockwave. Just as its foot came down, Lloyd sent a thin wave of ice cascading over the ground. Its foot came down, only to slip on the ice. Lloyd laughed, commanding the ice to rear up into a slope.

The golem hit the ground hard, bits and pieces breaking off its body. Lloyd grinned, all teeth. "Hey, stupid! Wanna see a magic trick?!"

He ran to the side, creating a fresh wave of ice underfoot as he went. It sloped up, sending him into the air, and he kicked back into a sharp tornado. The tail of the Spinjitzu tornado barreled into the golem's face, making its Sheikah tech creak and groan. He leapt off again, using the inertia built up from Spinjitzu to launch his hammer down at the golem. The flat head of the weapon slammed into the golem's face, breaking the node clean off.

Lloyd landed on the ground in a heap, going head over heels. He groaned as he slowly slid back down the slope of the ring, clutching his head. His ears were ringing. The golem slowly died down, crumbling away into small chunks of clay and heaps of scrap metal. The node was thankfully upright.

Lloyd could practically hear Cole gawking. "That… wasn't even Earth??"

Lloyd laughed at him as he sprung to his feet, still a little dizzy. "I beat it though, right?"

"Completely wrong," Cole grumbled. "But you did beat it. Where was that brain of yours a century ago, huh?"

Lloyd shifted uncomfortably. Cole didn't seem to pick up on his lack of memories either. He wanted to imagine it was because he was just normal, but… probably not. If there was anything people had been drilling into his head, it was how different he'd become since dying.

"Eh," he shrugged it off, hoping he didn't sound too unnatural. "Death changes a person." Cole fell silent and Lloyd laughed awkwardly. "Now- now's the part where you laugh."

"…you're still not funny, I see," Cole deadpanned. Lloyd rolled his eyes, slipping his Sheikah Slate from his hip.

"I'll have you know I'm hilarious," He grumbled, powering up the Slate. He gave the rotating Sheikah Eye a nasty look. It was starting to drive him up a wall, the way his brain switched between finding the dumb Sheikah Eye totally chill to some terror-inducing nightmare. Could he pick one, already? Preferably the former?

He knelt beside the node, waving away nasty black particles.

"If you broke that thing, I'll wring your neck," Cole threatened playfully. Lloyd waved him off.

"It's fiiiiine… probably. I did hit it pretty hard…"

He slumped in relief when the node whirred, its Eye spinning with perfect functionality when the Slate came into contact. A bright white light filled the room before dimming again, and the Slate chimed happily.

He retrieved his hammer from the ground, white knuckling the handle. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't a little scared. If he can't handle a golem that sort of resembled a Guardian, how's he supposed to deal with the Overlord?

Cole seemed to notice his hesitation. "Lloyd, kiddo, look at- uh. I mean, listen to me." Lloyd glanced up, trying to follow the direction of his steady voice. Cole laughed sheepishly, trailing off into a sigh. "I… know this isn't fair. But I have to ask you to do this anyways — you need to kill the EarthBlight. You can do this. You've beat one Blight already, and I know you're ready for this one. That golem? You obliterated it! You've got this, kid!"

Lloyd felt the tight knot in his chest loosen a little with Cole's words. He was scared of the Overlord, but he also had words for him. Mostly violent ones.

More importantly, he had a Champion to get back.

He lifted the Sheikah Slate, selecting the burnt orange icon of a drake. He pulled up the main terminal.

I'm coming for you, Cole.

"You need to understand this," Cole's voice was solemn in his ear as Lloyd approached the huge double doors leading the head of Divine Beast Vah Naboris. "The EarthBlight will do everything in its power to knock you down."

Lloyd spun the hammer at his side, gathering a steady thrum of strength. He flicked his wrist and sent the head slamming into the doors, flinging them wide open with a loud BANG!

"It's going to be relentless. It will hit hard, harder than anything else. It will stop at nothing to kill you. You cannot let it break your foundation, you hear me? It's all you've got."

The Golden Scythe of Quakes hovered over a tall pedestal at the head of the room, framed by the ginormous mirrors that made up Vah Naboris' eyes. A dark miasma of purple and black coalesced around the Golden Weapon, jerking out sharply.

"Don't let it break you down! Don't give it an inch, Lloyd Garmadon!"

A ginormous arm shot out of the dark cloud, landing on the floor with a sound like thunder. A thick, hunch-backed body followed, a second arm scraping over the pedestal. The EarthBlight pulsed with nasty, bubbling lumps of magma roiling over thick obsidian skin pockmarked with holes. Its core thrummed with magma and turning rock, pulsing like a painful heartbeat. It heaved itself on its two arms, legs more like rotting roots underneath it.

It growled lowly, fixing Lloyd with an evil glowing eye on its ugly face. Its maw opened wide, a terrifying roar echoing around the chamber as globs of magma fell at its feet. It pounded the ground with its thicker arm, its thinner arm rippling until a sharp, gleaming morningstar formed at its tip.

—Scourge of Divine Beast Vah Naboris—

—EarthBlight Overlord—

"Kill this thing!"

Lloyd circled the Blight in a wide arc, glaring at it. He spun the hammer at his side, unsheathing his dao from his back. "HEY!" He yelled at it. "Overlord! You in there, coward?!"

The EarthBlight growled, lurching forward. Lloyd narrowed his eyes. Stupid demon asshole.

He ran forward, slinging his dao straight into the EarthBlight's magma-dripping eye. It roared, slamming the morningstar into the ground. Lloyd jumped over the resulting shockwave. He skidded as he hit the ground, using his momentum to slam the hammer into the side of the Blight's head. He didn't let up, hitting it over and over and over again. Magma sprayed as its gross pus-filled pockets burst, and Lloyd jumped back briefly to avoid it.

"Lloyd! Not an inch!" Cole reminded. His voice was noticeably tense. Lloyd wouldn't give him any reason to worry anymore — he could take this thing.

He jumped forward again, using Spinjitzu to form a cyclone straight into the EarthBlight's eye. His dao went flying away, but he paid it no mind, too busy drilling into the Blight. It screamed, waving the morningstar. It nicked his boot, sending him sprawling, and he quickly scrambled away from its bulging fist.

Lloyd scooped up his dao as he ran to the side. His hammer skipped along the ground, picking up the pulsing Earth. Trip it, he thought, sending that thought through the Earth. The ground beneath the Blight rose up in uneven platforms, and Lloyd immediately threw his hammer like a javelin straight into its ugly face.

He panted, pausing. The EarthBlight… wasn't even hurt. It just unfolded, beating the earth back into submission as it turned to glare at him. Lloyd's face went slack. All that, and it wasn't even fazed?!

"Lloyd, break its foundation!" Cole called. "It's slow! Use that!"

He nodded, tightening his grip on his dao. His hammer was behind the Blight, leaving him without his elemental conduit. Well… dammit. Throwing it seemed like a good idea at the time.

The EarthBlight swung its morningstar over its head, once, twice, and slammed it into the ground with a loud roar. The ground rumbled, shaking violently, and Lloyd barely managed to roll out of the way of a giant pillar of rock rising out of the ground. Just like Vah Naboris' attacks, huge, thick platforms rose out of the ground and slammed into the ceiling. The Divine Beast's head quickly became an obstacle course.

Lloyd swore, swerving around the stone structures. He had to get his hammer back. But… shit, the Blight! He'd lost it.

"How does something that big just disappear?!" Lloyd hissed. He stumbled back as the ground he ran on rose up, slamming into the ceiling a split second later.

"Lloyd, behind you!" Lloyd ducked on instinct, just in time for the morningstar of the EarthBlight to go swinging over his head. He swung his own weapon in a wide arc over his head, cutting into the Blight's thicker arm and spraying clumps of magma everywhere. It screamed, spasming briefly, and Lloyd used the opportunity to kick out from underneath it. He leapt over a quickly rising platform, barely managing to avoid getting squished.

"Cole!" He yelled. "Where's my hammer?"

"To your left!"

Lloyd made a tight swerve, catching himself on his hand. He scooped up his hammer and backed into a wall, watching the room carefully. "Where is it?" He hissed.

"Lloyd, the floor-!"

The ground directly in front of him shattered, sharp rocks spraying everywhere as the Blight leapt out of it. Lloyd dropped to the ground right before the morningstar hit him. The weapon was buried into the wall above his head, and he quickly thrust his dao upward and into the EarthBlight's sternum — or, whatever the hell qualified for one.

He ducked beneath its bulging arm, spinning around it and slamming his hammer into its hunched back. He touched briefly on the earth. With so much of it already moving, it was surprisingly easy to ask it to move for him.

The EarthBlight actually stumbled this time as Lloyd commanded a pillar, identical to the ones it summoned, to rise up out of the ground and slam it into the ceiling. The Blight was forced into the ceiling with a sickening squishing sound, the Sheikah tech fused to its body sparking.

Cole whooped, laughing in disbelief. "Yes, kiddo, that's it! Don't let up, kick its ass!"

Lloyd forced the earth back down, and the Blight tumbled out. It was visibly scratched up, though not by much. It growled, ripping the dao out of its chest and flinging it to the side. Lloyd squeezed the hammer's handle tightly. His feet slid underneath, and the earth following, bulging around him.

"Had enough, yet?" He panted.

The EarthBlight hefted itself on its bulging arm. Magma glowed beneath its skin, and it jumped, hitting the ground in a roll, like it had turned itself into a huge boulder. His eyes widened as it came tumbling for him with inhuman speed. He jumped to the side, and it quickly followed, the ground beneath it rising up and down in shallow ravines that directed it.

Lloyd swore. He swerved around now thankfully still pillars of stone, hoping to lose it in the maze it had created.

"Lloyd, stop running!" Cole yelled from above him. "You have to stop letting it push you around, c'mon!"

"If I don't run, it's going to run over me!" Lloyd screamed back. He glanced behind him to find the EarthBlight quickly gaining on him. He grit his teeth, and the second he passed another square column, he slammed his hammer into its side. The broken rocks went flying into the Blight, knocking it off course. He lifted his hand, and icicles formed at his fingertips. He sent a barrage piercing into the Blight, popping pockets of magma.

The Blight unfolded itself, lifting back on its huge arm. Lloyd crouched lowly, ready to dodge at any second. The ground thrummed beneath his feet, making him tense.

"When it comes," Cole hissed in his mind, "Don't dodge. Just hit it. You have to stop moving so much, you're too unbalanced."

"I'll have you know I have great balance," Lloyd hissed back. "My uncle didn't make me do backflips on a tightrope for nothing!"

Wait, seriously? He did that?! When?!

The EarthBlight suddenly lurched forward, folding itself back into a ball. "Stay still!" Cole yelled, but Lloyd immediately rolled to the side. The ground arced up around the Blight as it swerved toward him.

"Lloyd, goddammit, just hit it! Stop running!"

He grit his teeth, swerving around another square column. "Shut up if you're not going to be helpful!" He yelled, frustrated.

"You little shit, I am being helpful if you would just listen-!"

Lloyd created a platform of ice beneath his feet. The Blight crashed into it, and he backflipped over its head. As he came down, his hammer crashed down onto its bulging head. The EarthBlight was sent crumpling into the ground, creating a huge crater. Lloyd landed lightly on his feet, chest heaving from exertion.

"…good job," Cole said. Lloyd huffed, wiping his forehead. The EarthBlight's bulging arm gripped the side of the crater. It heaved itself out, turning to glare at Lloyd. He glared right back, hefting his hammer in both arms.

Suddenly, all the columns of rock and stone that the Blight had summoned disappeared into the ground with a loud hum. Lloyd looked around, confused, and instinctively backed up a little.

The EarthBlight took advantage of his confusion, jumping high into the air. But instead of folding itself into a gross rolling boulder, its fists came down on him. Lloyd shrieked, flipping back just in time before the EarthBlight hit the ground. Its arms created a ripple effect, breaking up the ground. Lloyd hissed. He trailed his hammer on the ground as he ran in a wide arc around the Blight, waiting for it to make its next move. It leapt out of its newly formed crater, boring down on Lloyd with a huge fist and morningstar.

"Lloyd, don't dodge! Tank it!"

He slid back, swinging his hammer into the Blight. It blocked with the morningstar, leaving Lloyd straining to push it back. It bore down on him, its gross face inches away from his own. Lloyd grit his teeth, legs shaking as he was slowly pushed down.

"Lloyd!" Cole screamed, panicked. "Fuck, kid, use Ice! Knock it over!"

Lloyd waited a beat before purposefully collapsing his own leg. The Blight, thrown off by the sudden shift in weight, lurched down. Lloyd scampered under the morningstar, a wave of ice flowing in his wake. He intended for the Blight to fall into it and slip, but it instead cracked the ice in half. Lloyd swore, jumping back a few feet.

"You know what?" He panted. "It's my element, jackass." He swung his hammer over his head, slamming it down with a deafening CRACK! The earth glowed with a steady hum, quickly rippling out around him. The earth jerked up, cracking and folding itself into a tidal wave of stone and mortar.

He grinned to himself, slowly straightening up. "Yes! Cole, did you see… that…" he trailed off, face going slack, as the wave of earth disappeared and revealed the EarthBlight. It hadn't even budged.

"Oh, come on!" He screamed, stomping the ground in frustration. "What is it going to take?!"

"You keep dodging it!" Cole yelled very unhelpfully. "Lloyd, you have to stand your ground."

"And let it crush me?! I'm not a tank, Cole!"

"Stop being stubborn, I know what I'm talking about!"

Lloyd growled in frustration in lieu of actually answering. He sprinted forward, skating on ice. He swung his hammer into the Blight with a scream-

Only for the Blight to catch it midair.

Lloyd, going too fast from the ice, slipped and crashed to the ground at the sudden stop. The EarthBlight, still gripping the head of his hammer, slung him around and up. Its bulging fist traded the head of the hammer for his chest. Lloyd kicked out uselessly, yelling as the Blight raised him to eye level.

"LLOYD!" Cole screamed. "No, no, let go of him-!"

Vah Naboris herself kicked up a fuss, the ground thrumming and screaming in time with Lloyd's pounding heart. He yelled, pounding his fists against the Blight's bulging arm. Magma sprayed against his skin, searing it painfully.

The Blight sneered down at him, its gross eye half an inch from his face. Lloyd growled deep in his throat, kicking at its chest to no avail. The Blight rumbled. Its fist slowly began to squeeze, tightening on Lloyd's chest and lungs. He gasped, desperately pushing against its fist.

"Lloyd! Kid, use an element!"

He cried out in pain as something in his ribcage snapped. "No-" He gasped, his legs slowing down and going slack against his will. He screamed again, breaking off into a tight choke.

"LLOYD!"

He raised a shaking arm, calling out for anything. The ground beneath him rumbled, reaching back, but he couldn't touch it.

Fine.

Lloyd lunged forward with his remaining strength and bit the EarthBlight.

One: nasty as hell. Zero stars, literally the worst thing he's ever tasted.

Two: bad plan.

His jaw clamped on the Blight's face and it screamed. Its grip loosened just enough for Lloyd to breathe again, and he gasped, rearing back with rotting flesh still in his mouth. The EarthBlight roared, throwing him back a dozen feet and into the wall of Vah Naboris' head.

Lloyd hit the wall with a loud BANG, creating a small crater in the stone. The wind was knocked out of him as he slid back down, landing on his front on the floor. Cole was yelling something in his ear, but he was too dizzy to process anything.

He lifted himself on shaking forearms, spitting out strings of rotten flesh, and looked up at the Blight through messy strands of hair. His headpiece was gone somewhere, knocked off his head. Dad's crown…

No time. The EarthBlight shook off the pain Lloyd managed to inflict, growling as it slowly thumped over to Lloyd.

"Lloyd, get up," Cole urged in his ear. "C'mon, kiddo, where's that stamina? Get up, please!"

Why did he keep doing this? Why did he keep making his family watch him almost die? Lloyd tried again to stand, but his ribs screamed at him. His ankle twitched, aching, and he realized he must have landed on it wrong.

No. No. No, not yet. Not again. Not before I save them all first.

He grit his teeth, forming ice over his ankle and ribcage. He braced himself against the wall, standing on shaky legs. "Is that all you've got?!" He screamed. His dao was missing. His hammer was somewhere on the ground. He's done more with less, right?

He still had his elements. He still had Cole.

"Lloyd, listen," Cole said right on cue. "Don't. Dodge. Hold your ground and stand firm. If you're going to move, it can't be because the EarthBlight is making you. Build a solid foundation."

Ice trickled along his forearms, spinning in a cloud at his fingertips. It crackled and popped until a crude sword was in his hands, gleaming in the pink light. He gave the Blight a lopsided snarl.

It charged at him, swinging its morningstar into his blade. The sword creaked almost immediately, but Lloyd quickly filled the forming cracks with more and more ice. He pushed back, arms straining against the EarthBlight's strength.

"No," he said to himself. "I'm not losing!" The earth under his feet rippled, creating a slant against his feet and holding him in place.

"You need your hammer back, Lloyd! It's made of Earth, so grab it!"

Lloyd strained against the Blight for a few moments more, neither gaining or losing ground. He sent a pulse through the earth, urging it to move for him. It shook under him and sent him flying upward, safe out of the Blight's reach. He jumped over its head, landing in a roll and snatching up his hammer. His ice sword crumbled away as he spun back around to the Blight.

"Come on!" He screamed at it, lurching forward. "Fight me! Go ahead and try!"

Kill it.

Kill it.

Kill him.

The EarthBlight charged at him, and Lloyd heaved his hammer. His ankle throbbed the longer he stood on it, and he realized he wouldn't be capable of dodging this thing much longer if he didn't want to completely break it.

Dammit, why did Cole have to be right in the worst way possible?!

He grit his teeth and swung, knocking the incoming morningstar to the side. In the same breath he stomped his foot, ignoring the pain in his ankle, and summoned a huge block of earth out of the ground to slam into the EarthBlight's side. It was sent careening backward a few feet, and he sent a cascade of ice to make it slip.

"Exactly like that!" Cole said. "Keep it up, just like that kiddo! Not much longer, just hold your ground!"

"Right," he panted, planting his feet in the ground. The EarthBlight came back for round two, and Lloyd swung his hammer into the ground. Like a carpet being rolled, a ripple of stone burst from the ground to push the Blight back. It tanked it, but it slowed considerably.

Lloyd used the small distraction to run forward, swinging his hammer. The EarthBlight blocked the hit with its huge arm, sending the morningstar into Lloyd's side. He ducked under it, spinning his hammer and twisting the hammer into the crook of the arm attached to the morningstar. The EarthBlight's arm buckled, and Lloyd spun his hammer again, knocking the head into the Blight's face. He attempted to kick it, only for the Blight to rear back and catch his ankle in its huge hand. It flung him across the room like a screaming frisbee. He bounced on the floor, tumbling over uneven stone.

Probably for the best. He was totally prepared to bite it again.

He braced himself on the hammer, standing back up. He spun the weapon, directing huge chunks of broken stone to rise up. They pummeled into the Blight, forcing it to raise its arm blocking. He used the distraction to skate along a new stream of ice, jumping over the EarthBlight at the last second and spinning around to knock the head of his weapon into the back of its head. He pulled the same stunt a second time. The earth thrummed alongside him, pulling at his feet.

"Too fast, Lloyd! Remember, you need a foundation!"

Lloyd skidded to a stop. The ice dissipated and the stone pelting the Blight dropped. He slid his foot back, widening his stance and holding his hammer like a baseball bat.

He can't go forever, but he's prepared to fight for as long as it takes to get Cole back. Nothing is going to stop him.

The ground pulsed through his feet, slowly locking him place. He anchored himself to it, letting stone fold over his boots and hold him down in the ground.

"Try it," he growled at the Blight. "I dare you."

Kill it.

Kill it.

Kill him.

The EarthBlight roared, heaving up on its huge arm and launching into the air. It came down like a boulder, rolling for him. Lloyd locked his jaw and refused to so much as twitch.

"Tank it, Lloyd!" Cole commanded. "Don't give it an inch!"

He spun his hammer and held the handle in both hands out in front of him. The EarthBlight slammed into him, losing zero momentum whatsoever. Lloyd grunted, commanding the earth to push against the bottom of his feet. Sparks flew between his hammer's handle and the Blight as it kept drilling into him. It wasn't losing any speed.

Lloyd strained to hold his ground, and to his credit, he didn't move. But the EarthBlight kept bearing down, and slowly, the ground beneath him started giving way. A ditch formed around him as the Blight pushed him into the ground, burying him among stone and mortar.

"Lloyd!" Cole screamed. "No, no, get off of him! Get away from him!"

Lloyd's knees buckled under the weight. Sharp rocks sliced into his face, blocking his view. The EarthBlight spun with more intensity, pushing him deeper and deeper. His armor cracked under it. A shoulder guard went first, flying off, then a chunk of his breastplate. He was practically buried.

"NO! Get off of him, get away from my brother!" Cole screamed, choking on fear. "Lloyd, get out of there, please!"

He's trying so, so hard. He'd tried so hard. He'd done everything he could, hit it as hard as he could, stood his ground to the end. But he's only human, and the EarthBlight is not.

And now it's going to kill him.

Please, he thinks desperately. Please, not yet. Not before he knows that they're all safe. He swore an oath, goddammit! He has to take care of them all! And what about the Gerudo?

Oh, god, what about his father? He can't do this to his old man. Not like Mom did. Please, please, no.

But he's being pushed into the ground, and soon his body will be buried.

Who will take care of them? Who will pull stupid stunts with Jay, who will spar with Kai, who will indulge in Zane's cooking? Who will cheer Nya on? Who will protect Lloyd?

From the corner of his eye, he sees a brilliant, golden light. It comes from the center of the world and stretches in four different directions. One beam is headed straight for him. All at once, he's hit by both the morningstar and Time.

That's what he needs. Time.

But he has none left. He's dead, and there's no one left for his family.

Who will protect them? Who will take the hits they can't?

Heavy tears poured out of Lloyd's eyes at the horrible vision. Is that how you died? It won't happen again. I won't let it.

He won't let this thing win. He grit his teeth and pushed back. His feet clipped on the stone, stumbling, but he regained his balance and went again.

I will.

Rock clambered up his legs, locking them down and pulling them taut.

I will.

He blinked blood and sweat out of his eyes. The EarthBlight is the heaviest thing in the world — second only to Cole. To Nya, and Zane, and Mom and Dad and Uncle. It's lighter than all of them.

"I will," he wheezed out. The earth under him rippled, pushing him up. It roiled again, raising him higher. It's like climbing a ninety-degree angle, but he does it. Stone encased his stomach, then his chest, covering every inch of armor and then some. It climbed over his shoulders and arms until he had thicker and stronger skin than a Guardian.

I'll protect them. I'll protect everybody, and you'll never have to worry about me again.

His hand, encased in plates of stone, replaced his hammer holding back the Blight. He forced his feet forward, the earth helping him. The EarthBlight didn't slow down, still spinning like a deranged hamster wheel, but Lloyd pushed it back.

"Tank it, Lloyd!" Cole whooped, audibly crying. "Hit it back!"

"Tank problems," Murtessa had said. "And hit back harder."

He reared his hammer back, eyes blazing a bright green. "This is for killing my brother, you slimy son of a bitch!" He slammed his hammer into the EarthBlight. Instead of flying back, it shattered on impact, spraying in a hundred different directions as Sheikah tech and magma went flying everywhere. What little remained of the now skeletal EarthBlight was thrown back, skidding across the floor.

Lloyd collapsed to his knees, his stony suit of armor crumbling off of him. He wheezed, chest heaving as sweat poured from his forehead. His arms and legs spasmed from the strain, and the pain in his ribs and ankle was coming back with a vengeance.

But he did it. He beat the EarthBlight.

"S-see?" He wheezed between ragged breaths. "Have some faith in me, Cole."

The Gerudo Champion made a strangled noise, a weird mix of a laugh and cry. "Kid, you nearly gave me a damn heart attack," he said. "I'm not built for that."

Lloyd coughed as he slowly clambered the rest of the way out of his personal ditch. His eyes locked on the EarthBlight a dozen feet away and he growled.

Not finished. Not until it's dead.

That same, horrible feeling from Vah Ruta came down on the room like a weight. The EarthBlight's body spasmed as an awful miasma settled in the shadows of the chamber and the spilled magma blood of the Blight. An awful, nails-on-a-chalkboard voice growled from deep in the Blight's core.

He knows this voice. Over a dozen millennia, a galaxy's turn of fights, a star's breath of blows, he knows this voice. He has faced this voice. He has heard it gloat and cry out and scream and rage. He knows this voice. Every atom of every molecule of him knows this voice, and every single piece of his soul hates this voice.

K̴̪̼̅I̸̟̱̔Ĺ̵̞͔̣͉̹̅̓̿L̴̛̹̮̰͎͗ͅ ̶̢̳͐͂̑H̷̟̔̇I̴̮̎̎̂͋̏M̷̫̙̯̑͒͊̀.̴̢̞̄̒̇̕͝!

His eyes glowed a solid green color as he began advancing on the Blight's corpse. He limped over broken stone, his hammer dragging behind him. There is a terrible thing, tight in his soul, and it wants nothing more than to kill.

He retrieved his dao as he stalked toward the Blight. Then his crown, a few feet away. The armor piece Dr. Julien made for it is gone, probably broken, but he doesn't need it. He fixed the crown on his head, lopsided and bloody.

Finally, he stood over the EarthBlight. The Overlord was in there, growling and pissed.

Godling, he hissed like a slur. Pathetic, wretched thing. You play cheap tricks, cheating your God's paltry rules! So weak, he could not even rely on his REINCARNATION!

"Aw," Lloyd taunted, a snarl on his lips. He can barely think beyond the mantra of kill him kill him kill him pounding behind his eyes. "Is somebody pouty because I killed his cheap, paltry trick?"

He raised his hammer high above his head, stumbling on his busted ankle but remaining upright. His lip curled in disgust. "Stay mad." His hammer came down on the EarthBlight's head, smashing it to slimy paste. The weight of the Overlord's presence dissipated, leaving him panting and hunched over the Blight's corpse.

He can still feel the buzz of some murder-happy feeling in his chest, but it's slowly dying down. He chalks it up to demigod business and forgets about it.

The hilt of the hammer slowly crumbled away into dust, no longer needed now that the Blight was dead. He straightened up, leaning heavily on his uninjured foot, and turned to the Scythe of Quakes. It gleamed in the dim lighting, glinting and pulling at him.

He slowly limped his way over, pushing himself onto the dais. It was gorgeous. The Scythe glowed with otherworldly light, every inch of it perfectly shined and sharp. He grabbed the handle, pulling it from the pedestal it floated on. He held it in both hands, staring into the shining blade.

"First Master," he murmured. He could still feel the corruption deep in the blade of the Scythe and knew deep down that the Time God did not approve. His breath shook from exhaustion as he buried his consciousness in it, trying to replicate the same feeling from reviving Zane. "Please, as your Champion, help me fix this. Please bring back Champion Cole Brookstone."

Divine light spilled from the Scythe of Quakes as a bright glow overtakes the room. He let the Scythe go, watching as it rose high into the air. He stepped back, giving it space, and watched in awe as a golden silhouette formed from the Scythe. A torso, arms and legs, and finally the head. The Scythe flashed briefly before dimming again, lowering itself and its cargo to the ground. The gold seeped off the human form, leaving behind a man.

Cole Brookstone sat hunched on the ground, holding the Scythe. He slowly stood, leaning on his Golden Weapon for support. Lloyd gaped. He was huge! Cole was even taller than Skylor!

When he was stable on his feet, the Scythe warped into a single long band on his bare arm. Cole was mostly shirtless, wearing a large shoulder guard that covered half his tattooed chest. A long black sleeve covered the same arm. He wore long pants and sandals, an armored open-front skirt on his hips. He wore his messy black hair in a very short, cropped ponytail and short, messy stubble on his rounded chin. Two hook-shaped tattoos curved under his eyes, stark white against dark skin.

He rubbed his face, opening two downturned orange eyes. He yawned, stretching his arms higher above his head and twisting his back. A series of sharp pops came from his spine, and he finally locked onto Lloyd.

"Kid," he said, breaking into a big smile. He started down the steps, only to stop when Lloyd instinctively backed up. He tilted his head, confused. "Lloyd?"

Lloyd wrung his hands, averting his eyes. "I, um… I have amnesia," he blurted out, staring at the ground. Cole made a confused face.

"…what?"

"I have amnesia," Lloyd repeated. Please don't be angry. "Mom put me in a magic coma for a century and when I woke up, I had no memories. I- I'm sorry."

"But… you remember me, right?" Cole asked in a mix of denial and hope. Lloyd worried at his lip, feeling very, very small.

"Not much," He admitted. Cole's face fell, and Lloyd hurried to correct himself. "But I'm remembering some stuff! I- I remember that… you're nice. And really protective. And you… you really like cake."

Cole stared at him for a beat before he doubled over laughing. "Well, that's all you need to know!" He said. He took two long strides down the dais, settling down on one knee in front of Lloyd. He poked the scar on Lloyd's forehead, gesturing to a very similar one above his right eye. "Look. We match."

Lloyd bit back a sob, collapsing against Cole. The Gerudo caught him easily, folding him into his arms with surprising gentleness. "I got you, kiddo," he said quietly, rocking back. "Take a break, you've earned it."

Lloyd wanted to close his eyes and sleep so badly, but they still needed to meet back up with Zane and Nya. He tapped Cole's arm, though made no effort to stand on his own. New fact about Cole: he had the best hugs.

"Zane and Nya," he said. "They're waiting outside."

Cole faltered for a split second. "Right," he said. "Can't keep 'em waiting. C'mon, let's get out of here. Only been waiting to do that for a century…" He stood, bringing Lloyd with him. Lloyd slumped on his shoulder. Using Earth was exhausting.

Cole summoned the Scythe of Quakes, lifting the weapon. It glowed, quickly transporting them to Vah Naboris' crown. Cole commanded Vah Naboris to lower herself, setting Lloyd on the ground when they safely landed.

He hopped over Vah Naboris' crown, immediately greeted by his siblings. Nya scooped him into a tight hug, rocking him back and forth. He squeezed back just as tight. Zane crouched beside them, checking Lloyd's face worriedly.

"Are you hurt?" He asked quickly, brushing aside blood. Lloyd shook his head.

"Not much," he said. He backed up with a grin. "And look!" He stomped his foot into the ground, making a small rock rise into the air. "Earth!"

Nya beamed at him, same as Zane. "Lloyd!" She laughed, shaking her head in disbelief. "You're picking these up so fast!"

Zane leaned in, humming thoughtfully. "Your growth is remarkable, Lloyd," he said. "Good job."

Skylor jogged up behind them, looking surprisingly alert for somebody who could barely stand a few hours ago. She gave Lloyd a grin, ruffling his hair. "Guess you won't be needing me for Earth anymore, huh?"

Lloyd smiled back, turning back to Vah Naboris. "Well, we've got him now."

Cole's head poked up from behind Vah Naboris' crown. "Hey, am I interrupting?"

Nya screamed, sprinting forward. Zane followed, both leaping into Cole's arms. The Gerudo caught them, rocking back with a wide grin. "There's my two favorite Zora!" He hugged them tightly as Nya sobbed against his neck. Zane's shoulders shook with barely contained crying as he squeezed Cole tightly.

"You're back," Nya gasped, leaning back to get a good look at his face. "And still ridiculously tall! And- I'm so glad you're back!"

Cole set them down gently, wiping his own eyes. "It's good to see you, Nee," he said. He gestured to her horns curiously. "You uh… what happened here?"

Nya groaned, shaking her head. "Long story."

Zane gripped Cole's bicep. "Are you okay?" He asked. Cole nodded, giving his friend a thumbs up.

"I'm fine, seriously! Lloyd put me together good as new. Little hungry, though…" Nya laughed wetly, but Zane perked up.

"Actually…" he dug around in his bag, pulling out a carefully wrapped parcel. He slumped a little bit. "Oh. It got a little squished, but…" He handed it to Cole sheepishly. Cole unwrapped it, lighting up at the chocolate cake inside. "I thought you might want something sweet when you came back out," Zane said, rubbing the back of his neck.

Cole's eyes sparkled at the sight of cake. "Zane…" He shed a dramatic tear. "Oh, man, you're the best, snowflake!" He took a huge bite, slumping as he leaned back against Vah Naboris. "Oh, yeah, that hits the spot. Mm…"

Nya crossed her arms, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, okay, should we get you two a room?" Cole waved her off, humming happily as he chowed down on cake.

Skylor passed Lloyd, approaching Cole. She rolled her bike next to her, both Blades of Deliverance strapped to its sides. "Champion of the Gerudo," she addressed him. Cole looked up and his eyes bugged out comically. He quickly swallowed, jumping to attention.

"Chief! -Tess! Chieftess!" Nya snickered behind her hand as Cole hurriedly bowed before straightening back up. "It's, uh, it's an honor, Chieftess!"

Skylor suppressed her own laugh, waving Cole off. "You're fine," she said. "Call me Skylor, please. I just wanted to thank you, Champion, for keeping Vah Naboris from torching Gerudo Town for a century, and return your swords. Your bravery is commendable."

Cole gasped at the sight of his mother's swords. He took them from the bike gently, thumbing over the runes carved into the bases. He gave Skylor a grateful half-bow, strapping both blades safely on his back.

"What can I say? I'm Gerudo, through and through. Wasn't about to let that nasty thing bust up my home, was I?"

"Speaking of," Skylor said, turning toward the general direction of Gerudo Town. "I need to return soon. Champion Brookstone, would you mind?"

Cole grinned, spinning his scythe at his side. "Not at all, Chieftess. One ride to Gerudo Town, on the best Divine Beast the First Master has to offer!" Zane scoffed as they boarded Vah Naboris' head.

"I beg to differ…"

Lloyd followed Nya onto Vah Naboris' head. He paused, and Nya turned. "What's up?" She asked.

He glanced away, rubbing his arm. "Hey, Nya? When's my birthday?"

She blinked, surprised by the question. "Your birthday? Hm… September twenty-second," she replied. "Why…? Oh." She gave him a small smile, ruffling his hair. "Don't worry, it's only July. You're still fourteen." She turned back to Vah Naboris, climbing on with Zane's help.

Lloyd stared at his hand. Only fourteen, still. Why did he feel older?

He shook his head, climbing onto Vah Naboris' head. He didn't have the energy to worry about that. He sat beside Cole, exhausted.

Cole scooped Lloyd up, letting him rest his head on his shoulder. "Take a nap, kiddo," he said as Vah Naboris raised her head. The Divine Beast began making her way across the desert, headed for the horizon.

Lloyd yawned, closing his eyes and drifting off with the knowledge that everybody was safe.

They kicked their legs, watching from afar as the royal brat reunited the Gerudo Champion with his team. They could've attacked the other three while the little brat was inside Vah Naboris… but better to wait. Anyone who tried to attack a Gerudo with something to protect was a damn fool, even if said Gerudo was at their weakest.

Their lip curled at the sight of the royal pain. Little brat… oh how they wanted to rip the kid in half. The nerve.

They breathed out slowly, regaining their composure. Just in time. The shadows behind them rippled and bent, licking at the edges of the sun. Bright pink eyes, narrowed and angry, opened behind their head.

They smirked, tilting their head as they glance over their shoulder. "He's still ali-ive~" They sung smugly. "What's the phrase? Oh, yeah — toldja so~"

The Overlord snarled from the shadows. He is WEAK, the demon hissed. The Yiga hid a shameless laugh behind their hand. Provoking the demon was never a good idea, but then, when did they ever care for good ideas?

"I mean, from my point of view, he's kind of mopping the floor with you," they giggled. The Overlord's shadow rippled violently as if to lunge at them. They let out a long-suffering sigh, dropping off the large rock they sat on. Vah Naboris lifted her giant head, slowly thundering her way in the direction of Gerudo Town with a gaggle of Elemental Masters on her skull.

A mean grin, all sharp teeth, took over their face, delighted at a new idea.

"Don't worry," they told the Overlord, waving off his anger. "Like I said — I'll take care of everything. The little shit will be dead in the ground before he ever reaches Vah Medoh, as promised. In the meantime…"

They replaced the Yiga mask over their face, humming as they pulled a corrupted Sheikah communicator from their pocket. What a resourceful technology. It really did make their job so much easier.

"I've got something more entertaining in mind."

Chapter Text

Cole leaned back, breathing in the hot desert air. FSM, he'd missed this. Having a body, for one. Being around his family, for another.

Zane and Nya sat on either side of him, leaning against him. Lloyd was curled up on top of him, sleeping on his shoulder. He felt a twinge of guilt. The kid had gotten pretty banged up fighting the EarthBlight. Cole swore he would never let something like that happen to his family ever again. From now on, he was there to tank every punch.

Nya sighed, shaking sand out of her hair. It was pretty wild — tipped with blue streaks and frothy white hanging from strands over her shoulders. Not to mention chronically wet from her horns. Cole wondered again just what had been happening while he was dead, and how it ended with his sister gaining two new appendages.

"Man, I can't wait to take a bath," Nya whined dramatically. "Get a drink… take a nap…" She shot Lloyd the stink eye. "Lucky kid."

Cole lifted his arm jokingly. "Hey, I've got room for more." 

Nya pushed him aside with a snort. "I'm this close to taking you up on that," she threatened. Zane shook his head, leaning over Cole to stage-whisper in his ear.

"Bad idea," the Zora hissed, grinning at Nya's offended face. "She snores, it's a trap."

"Zane!" Nya smacked at him and Zane quickly leaned back, hiding around Cole. He just looked at them fondly. He'd missed them so much…

"So," Nya tossed her hair over her shoulder, glancing up at Cole. "What are you going to do? We were planning on leaving tomorrow, but we've got the whole rest of the day to ourselves."

Cole hummed, drumming his fingers at his sides. "Food," he decided, nodding his head. "Yep. I'm going to eat 'till I pop and then some. Food is the number one thing I missed in there."

Zane gave him a flat look. "Wow," he deadpanned. "Here I was thinking you'd want to hang out with us."

Cole raised his hands in defense, laughing sheepishly. "I've just missed food! C'mon, we can all go out to eat together! Has Lloyd tried tajin yet?"

Nya glanced at Lloyd, an odd look on her face. There was something going on between those two, he could tell, but Cole wasn't about to pry. He was still processing the whole amnesia thing. It made sense, but… still. Wasn't the kid's fault, of course, so he'd just keep it to himself. It wasn't like Lloyd wasn't getting his memories back, so no harm no foul, right?

"I don't think he's every been this tired," Nya noted. "What happened in there?"

"Blight kicked him around," Cole said. "It was hit or miss for a while there. He pulled through, obviously, but he got pretty banged up."

Zane hummed, casting a slow chill on Lloyd's visibly swollen ankle. "It's probably best to let him sleep it off," he said. "Honestly, I'm tired myself. It's been non-stop since we retrieved the Blades of Deliverance."

Cole shook his head, totally confused. "I have… so many questions," he said. "What have you guys been up to?"

"Also a long story," Nya grumbled.

"And one that will have to wait," the Chieftess said. Cole glanced up at her as she approached them from behind. Her amber eyes were locked on the horizon, narrow and pensive. Cole never thought he'd see the day a Gerudo Chief looked afraid.

He turned back around, lurching forward. Smoke, born from fire, rose in the distance, black as tar. It may have been a century, and his corrupted Divine Beast had done a number on the desert, but Cole could never forget the geography of his home domain.

The closer Vah Naboris got to his home, the more he felt his worst fear being confirmed.

Gerudo Town was under attack.

Lloyd was rudely woken up to total chaos. Cole jostled him awake, quickly passing him over to Nya and yelling something at Skylor. Lloyd rubbed his face, trying to blink the gunk out of his eyes.

"Wha-?"

"Yiga!" Nya yelled, pulling him to his feet. That woke him up. Lloyd shot up, hissing when he accidentally put too much weight on his injured ankle. He pushed up over the lip of Vah Naboris' crown. They were closing in on Gerudo Town, close enough for him to see the fires raging over the desert homes. Guards ran back and forth, shouting and confused over the tin of panicking citizens.

"What happened?!" Lloyd yelled, glancing back at Skylor. She looked ready to explode. Cole was barely convincing her not to jump on her cycle and ride straight off of Vah Naboris then and there.

"Constrictai," Skylor hissed. "Those motherfuckers-"

"We provoked them," Zane said coldly, narrowing his eyes at the carnage. "They're retaliating for taking the Blades of Deliverance."

Cole whipped his head around. "Wait, these freaks had my mom's swords?!"

"I'll kill them," Skylor growled, swinging a leg over her cycle. Cole made a strangled noise, quickly pulling her back off.

"Can you wait to kill them on solid ground-?"