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Chapter Text

Preview

Thunder loudly rumbled and the rain poured down like bullets on the metal roof. The air was filled with an eerie sense of unfamiliarity mixed with a slightly rusty stench.

The terrible weather, along with faint sounds of moving gears and clacking metal, stirred Harumi awake from unconsciousness. She immediately sat up, eyes wide open as her vision adjusted focus. She was in a strange room filled with scrap metal and wires. The walls had lines all over them resembling circuits that glowed a faint purple hue.

"What... what is this place..." The incomprehensible discomfort caused her to break out into goosebumps. She scrambled to get on her feet as she tried to recollect her thoughts.

"Gizmo... Echo..." Harumi whispered, their voice trembling. She clenched their fists, the worry etched deep within her. "I just hope they’re safe..."

She walked around, scavenging for any useful item. Much to her luck, however, all she can find through the heaps of scraps are more metal parts and wires. Fortunately, she did find a thin broken-off metal pipe and used it as a cane to support her as she stood up.

The pipe however was brittle from rust and could not hold her weight. It snapped just before she could properly balance herself. A sharp pain shot through her stomach and she stumbled back. Her left foot got caught between a few scraps and she fell completely, causing her to almost sprain her ankle.

"Ugh... ouch..." groaning in pain, she slowly sat up. She waited for the pain to subside before getting back on her feet.

Harumi felt overwhelmed by the strange atmosphere of the room and gathered all of her strength to stand on her feet. She looked around for an exit and saw an archway blocked by pieces of crooked pipes and piles of smaller disposed electronics. She approached it cautiously, slightly tumbling with her steps as the piles of scraps gave her a loose foundation to step on.

"I need to get out of here." She said firmly. "I need to get back to them."

She slowly climbed on top of the junk pile, making sure she didn't step on something loose. Once she reached the top, she carefully approached the metal bars and peeked through. It was rain, wind, and thick fog- the other side didn't look any better either. She turned back and looked around the room once more and gave a heavy sigh. It was all metal and scraps, she'd likely rust as well the longer she stayed there.

She reached out and tugged at the bars and thankfully it was loose, however, she was slightly off by a distance. She needed to get closer, but it was too risky and her current position was already uncomfortable for her to compromise even more.

She thought for a moment and looked at the bars once more. Harumi took a deep, long breath and braced herself. Quickly pacing her movements, she immediately climbed closer and leaped at the bars as the pile started to collapse.

"WOAH!" The pipes detached from the archway upon impact and she fell and landed hard on the ground.

Her arm sprained but she had little time to tend to it. The rain quickly soaked her clothes and the wind blew against her. She immediately looked around for shelter but suddenly a laser blast shot at her and she barely dodged it. She stumbled back and tripped over a scrapped metal bar. Falling on her back, she groaned in pain.

She didn't have time to get up correctly when another blast was aimed at her and she hastily moved away. There stood a familiar-looking robot. Despite the rain and fog, its body expelled a very bright red mist that was very visible from the crevices of its armor.

"UNIDENTIFIED ANOMALY HAS AWOKEN FROM ITS SLUMBER, ATTEMPTING TO NEUTRALIZE."

The robot shot another blast and she quickly picked up a piece of metal near her, shielding herself against the attack. The impact sent her flying backwards and she landed roughly against a tree trunk. She fell on her knees, her whole body ached, and was badly bruised. Her head spun as she started getting dizzy.

Harumi had no strength left, it was hopeless. She sat helplessly and her vision was now blurry. It was no use fighting back, she was too worn out. They drained so much from her.

Harumi let out a sharp breath. 

At least they are safe...

Despite the pain, she smiled. Smiling at the thought the very ones she cared about did not have to suffer this way. At least, her sacrifices would be worthwhile...

Breathing heavily, she slowly accepted her fate. The faint march of the nindroids echoed in her ears, growing louder the closer they got.

Their cold, unyielding hands gripped her arms, lifting her effortlessly. She didn’t resist as they dragged her toward the shadows of the trees.

Chapter Text

Prologue

It was her last day in Kryptarium Prison. Harumi was more nervous than excited to be granted this freedom. After all, her new life would begin and she did not have a good track record to back it up. Life after prison here in Ninjago would be a nightmare considering how the majority of the population would likely recognize her either as the Jaded Princess of Ninjago who committed arson, the diabolical Quiet One who resurrected the evil Lord Garmadon, or the scheming Kabuki Mask who assisted the Overlord in his domination.

She used to not care about most people's opinions of her. That was how she confidently executed her plans and became a ruthless leader. But, again, that was what she used to be... now, the glaring and disapproving looks people gave her only fueled her guilt and shame and though she knew she deserved it, she still wanted to escape it all.

She thought about traveling, seeing the different places Ninjago had to offer, and immersing herself in different cultures. She always wanted to explore. Though it may sound cowardly that she would choose to run away, she had her reasons. May it be her fear and insecurities, the societal pressures, or the chance to recuperate and find herself, Distance would help... however, she simply forgot one key detail in her plans.

"I... don't have money..." she muttered to herself, disappointment lingering in her voice. She sighed as she sat on her bed, staring into the empty void of the large dark room.

If she ruled out the possibly judging stares and potentially insulting comments, maybe staying in Ninjago City for a while wouldn't be too bad.

Lloyd did offer her to stay with them at the Monastery since she had helped rebuild it, however, it didn't feel right for her to suddenly live with the same people she caused so many problems. How could she even entertain that idea? Besides, he had already done so much for her.

He did so much for her.

Lloyd... Lloyd visited her often. She was imprisoned for more than a year and ever since he voluntarily went to see her in solitary confinement, he became a frequent visitor. At first, she was hesitant and slightly overwhelmed by his constant appearances but eventually, she was able to slowly get used to it and even started looking forward to his next visit.

He would talk to her, keep her company, and occasionally bring gifts like a few books or puzzles to entertain her. He was really kind to her and she was grateful, truly. The last few months of her time in prison became much better because of him. But deep down, she knew the bitter truth that she, knowing her atrocities and wrongdoings, didn't deserve it all.

Lloyd did his best to help Harumi's mental state improve. She knew he cared that much to that extent. But... she loathed herself. She hated herself. And she knew Lloyd knew that. That is why he would put so much effort to help her. Maybe he was naive—dare she say—foolish, even.

Things were easier said than done and for Harumi it would be difficult. She understood the responsibilities she had to face and it was not the hard work that truly concerned her.

“Ugh…” she groaned in pain as she clenched her stomach. Her eyes slowly illuminated a faint purple hue.

This... this was the Overlord's influence... the dark power that had once brought her back to life. It was still there... lingering within her and it was her greatest worry.

She laid down on her bed, clenching her teeth as she waited for the pain to subdue. Usually, this goes on for a minute or two, fortunately, this one quickly eased within a few seconds.

Memories of the past few years resurfaced in her mind. She remembered when she served that monstrous being with immense fear. She knew well her life hung by a thread—and that thread was his power. He scared her—threatened her that her life was in his hands. So When the Overlord was defeated, she anticipated her end.

But nothing happened. She was still there, very much alive and breathing.

However, much to her dismay—before she could even sigh a deep breath of relief—a sudden sharp pain shot through her. Writhing, she thought someone struck her. But there was no blood, no wound, instead, her hands were discolored to a pitch-black hue, and her veins glowed the same bright purple color of the Overlord's crystals. It was then a voice whispered,

"I... live..."

The sinister voice sent shivers down her spine and she came to the horrifying realization—that monster will never truly be gone.

For long as there is peace and harmony, destruction and chaos will continue to remain and Harumi was the living proof of that. That was how balance worked in this world. 

She understood it, even if it felt like a cruel, unwritten law. His power was keeping her alive and she was still simply a reanimated corpse, now weaker and no longer possessing the superhuman abilities he granted her. Instead, in their place, a reoccurring, agonizing, and unpredictable pain in her body that she learned to endure

She knew she needed help, but it wasn't easy. Sometimes, during Lloyd's visits, she would feel this impulsive temptation to share this burden. But every time she would try, fear held her back.

What if he saw her as a threat again? Or worse, what if he tried to save her and ended up hurt because of it? 

These thoughts consumed her mind, forcing herself to not say a word.

She despised the Overlord’s grip on her life. He was the reason her parents were dead. She was angry, really angry—but it wasn’t the impulsive rage she felt in the past—it was solemn indignation.

Harumi clenched her hand into a fist, her nails slightly digging into her palm.

One day… one day she will be free from the Overlord’s perverse grasp. But for now, she has to keep things at bay. The nature of this residing darkness was uncertain. She could only hope that it would not use her to serve its master's cause once more.

The heavy clatter of chains grinding against a pulley filled the air and broke the silence within the large dark room. The thick glass dome that contained her was slowly lifted up. The cell entrance opened and there she saw the Commissioner, standing tall—despite his spinal issues—and waving at her like a giddy old grandfather excited to see his grandchild.

For a moment, Harumi's gloomy mood melted away, and she couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. She waved back, very much glad to see him.

With one last final look around the dome, she started walking carefully across the bridge. When she reached the end, the Commissioner greeted her. Without a second thought, Harumi lifted her hands to him, waiting for him to cuff her.

“What are you doing, kid?” the Commissioner asked with a brow raised, his voice tinged with amusement.

“Aren’t you going to cuff me?” she asked in return. "Is it not prison protocol?"

The Commissioner gave a hearty laugh, a genuine, grandfatherly sound that made her feel strangely comforted despite herself.

“I only cuff criminals,” he gave her a big smile—or at least, she presumed it was, given the elderly man had a thick mustache that hid it. Harumi had grown used to his eccentricities by now.

“And you aren’t one anymore. Well, once you finish signing the paperwork and get out of here… Well, anyway! There is… no need for that.” He shrugged playfully and Harumi couldn’t help but smile. Not a lot of officers treated her nicely during her stay here but this man did and his kindness made something warm stir in her chest.

“Thank you, Mr. Commissioner. For all that you have done for me.” Harumi bowed deeply to show her immense gratitude. She knew she didn’t deserve it, but she felt grateful nonetheless.

“I told you to just call me Gramps, ” his voice was warm and endearing. He placed his hand gently on her shoulder.

She had opposed doing so because she didn't feel like she had any right to be so familiar with him, but seeing how he had insisted on this multiple times to her, maybe it wouldn't be too bad if it meant it would make him happy.

"Alright, Gramps," she said softly, a happy warmth in her voice.

“And you’re welcome,” he gave her a light pat before letting his hand fall back to his side. “C’mon. Let’s get you out of here."

She smiled for a quick moment before it faltered as she looked down at her feet. She held her hands together– a practice Hutchins made sure she would get used to whenever meeting with an audience or dignitaries. Now it was a nervous habit to comfort herself and ground her storming emotions. Once again, her anxiety returned and the Commissioner noticed the slightly tensed expression on the girl’s face

“There is no guarantee people will not recognize you," he let out a sharp breath. "Will you be alright out there?” The elderly man asked her, the clear concern now etched on his face.

The idea of facing the outside world with her past hanging over her made her stomach churn. She wasn't so sure if there would be more people beyond the walls of this prison who would treat her decently. But it was not like she expected anyone either, this was part of the consequences she had to face for her actions.

She squeezed her hands, taking a deep breath before answering, “I… I have to be alright.”

But what if she wasn’t? What if the outside world couldn’t forgive her for what she had done?

The doubts clawed at her mind. Somewhere deep inside, she longed for someone to be there when things became unbearable. Perhaps—

She stopped herself from entertaining that thought. How could she even consider it? She knew she couldn’t rely on others forever.

“Chin up, I am positive things will go well. It will just take time,” he patted her on the back before stepping out.

She nodded, but the weight of her past loomed over her, and she couldn’t help but doubt the Commissioner’s optimism.

But before she could follow him, everything happened too fast, too sudden, too quick.

A large explosion erupted out of nowhere and the tough, engineered fortress of Kryptarium Prison instantly broke into pieces like shattered glass. Harumi didn't have enough time to process everything that just happened when a sudden powerful force pulled them upwards to the sky. The heavens were pulsating with a strong purple glow. High above, she saw jagged tears sliced through like fabric. Inside these rifts, she saw glimpses of varying otherworldly landscapes, wastelands, and edifices. At the center of it all, a bright white vortex filled with debris spiraling around it uncontrollably.

"Harumi!" she heard the Commissioner call out to her. She frantically looked around for him but he was now nowhere to be seen.

A bright powerful flash surged in all directions and the next thing she knew she found herself falling from the sky and plummeting down to the sea.

There was a great storm and she could see the waves rising like mountains, violently crashing against one another. With no time to waste, Harumi quickly straightened her body, preparing to dive. Holding her breath, she plunged into the turbulent sea.

The seawater cushioned her fall, but the waves were relentless and threatened to pull her under, making it nearly impossible for her to stay afloat. Every wave felt like a weight pulling her down, and her body screamed in protest.

Debris and jagged metal started raining down from above and dropped around her one by one. Harumi was forced to dive to avoid being struck. Underwater, she swam furiously, but the current was too strong and pushed her back. She could only hold her breath for so long before needing to come up for air.

Amidst the chaos, something caught her eye—a large piece of metal floating just beyond her reach. If she could make it, she might survive.

With the ounce of energy left within her, she swam toward the metal sheet, her heart pounding with desperate hope. But just as she stretched out her hand to grab it, a piece of rubble came crashing down, forcing her to swim away.

The debris hit the water with a huge splash, sending Harumi flying through the air before she crashed onto the metal sheet. She clung to the piece with every last bit of strength, but the ocean had other plans. A massive wave swallowed her whole, and the next thing she knew, she was underwater. She surrendered, her body too tired to fight anymore, accepting the inevitable.

Unlike the waters above, deep down it was calmer. Around her, the pieces of wreckage gradually sank. It was like everything was in slow motion. As she allowed herself to fall deeper. She thought about the people in her life, her family, her friends, her enemies...

Her...

Her dear parents, the emperor and the empress, Hutchins, the Sons of Garmadon, Garmadon himself, the little boy and his family, The Commissioner, even her little villainous volleyball team—she laughed at that thought for a brief moment until she realized she was almost out of air.

If only someone could save her... the Ninja...

...Lloyd.

She hoped he was safe... she hoped they were all safe...

The world spun out of focus and within dark depths she looked up and all she could see was a bright shining light. The storm must have subsided.

As Harumi closed her eyes, she finally embraced death.

WOOSH!

Within the water, something was moving fast towards her. It quickly swam down, immediately taking her hand the moment she was within reach. 

With powerful force, the unknown entity pulled her upward to the surface, yanking her out and pulling her towards a floating piece of wood.

Harumi took in a deep breath, coughing out water as she climbed on. She rubbed her eyes and blinked a few times to restore her vision. Once she could see clearly, she looked around to thank her savior, but as quickly as she was saved, they were gone.

Whoever or whatever was being saved her, she was eternally grateful. Because of them, she escaped from drowning, however, her body was still very much tired and weary. She needs to rest.

Eyes heavy, she found herself slowly drifting to sleep. Laying on the weathered plank, Harumi drifted away as the currents carried her to the unknown. 

Chapter Text

Chapter 1: The Island

Harumi woke to the sound of waves crashing against the shore, her face stinging as saltwater sprayed her. She flinched, squeezing her eyes shut. Her body was aching all over and her muscles were sore.

With a groan, she rolled over on her back and forced herself upright, her hands sinking into the damp sand.

Her clothes clung to her like a second skin, her hair tangled and heavy with salt. She wasn’t sure how long she’d been unconscious, but the dampness of her clothes told her she hadn’t been lying there for long.

She looked around, trying to take in the strangeness of it all. Up at the sky, large grey clouds covered the heavens. A reddish haze hung in the air and the smell of rust mixed with the familiar tang of the sea. Hills of metal scraps were scattered everywhere, turning the area into a junkyard rather than a seaside. Wherever she was, it neither looked nor felt like a safe place.

Fighting her discomfort, Harumi sat off to search the island for supplies. Hearing the thunder rumbling from a distance, she knew she had no time to waste. Another storm was quickly approaching and she had to find shelter and supplies fast.

The weather was no different from when she was at the sea. It was pouring so much that it felt like the rain could fill a lake within minutes.

Harumi stumbled into a small cave where she settled in just right before the downpour could get any worse. She was able to gather a few sticks and vines, dumping them on a large metal box which she presumed—judging by the worn-out paintwork—was the wheelless body of an empty ice cream cart that she then dragged to her shelter. Food was out of the question for now because the storm was fast approaching and she needed to take cover.

The cart was mostly intact except for the dented umbrella supports, missing axles, and broken glass display. Overall, it was a good find for her first day on this weird island. She was able to detach one of the small ice cream containers and fill it up with rainwater. 

With the sticks and vines she found, she made herself a bow drill which took her multiple frustrating attempts to start a fire with. After so many tries, she finally got one to not die out and she carefully placed the container on top to boil the water.

As she waited, her gaze drifted outside where the rain continued to pour relentlessly. Her thoughts lingered.

She was fortunate enough that she had read books on survival back when she was a princess. Hutchins took her to the Library of Domu under the guise of wanting to study Ninjago history—in truth, she spent hours reading about the Oni Masks and the resurrection ritual she used to bring back Lord Garmadon.

Her chest tightened at the thought as guilt clawed its way back up, reminding her of the horrible things she had done all those years ago... reminding her that her ambitious plot for revenge came at the cost of three people's innocent lives—the emperor's, the empress', and Hutchins'.

Harumi's life at the palace was miserable. The Emperor and Empress subjected her to a strict routine and a life that many deemed would have been a dream come true was a total nightmare for her. The Jade Palace was beautiful and it was filled with all sorts of treasures that many would covet—but to Harumi... it was merely a glorified prison she desperately wanted to escape.

She knew that Hutchins was aware of her misery. He even encouraged her to write down her feelings, but all that ever seemed to do for her was allow her to channel all her frustrations and hatred on paper. 

Harumi had never seen the royal couple as her parents, nor did she ever think they—or Hutchins—truly cared for her. In truth, she hated them because they were nothing like her real, loving parents... the very parents who would never be able to look at her again, if they were alive to see what she'd done.

Years of overdue consequences had finally caught up with her. They may have hurt her, but the way she had handled and used them... it was worse than anything they had ever done to her. Hutchins had been caught in the crossfire, and his demise became yet another weight on her shoulders.

Her head hung low as she stared at the rocks beneath her. In a way, she understood she deserved to feel this way... to be ashamed of herself and her actions…

"Ungh!" 

Again. It always comes, unexpectedly, unknowingly. 

Harumi fell to her knees, one hand supporting her, the other clutching her stomach. The intense, excruciating pain was worse than the last one she had and it made her feel like she wanted to rip her hair out.

It was always like this... this was her consequence... this was punishment…

If only the circumstances were different... if only…

"Ack!" 

She dropped to the ground, her head pounding in agony. Tears streamed down her face as she clenched her teeth.

There was no point in hoping for 'ifs'. What's done was done and for Harumi, all she could do was move forward and accept what fate had lying in store for her.

It seems like her streak of bad luck just never runs out. Now, she was running. Now, she was running—out of breath, sprinting as fast as she could.

Behind her, a strange creature loomed—its movements stiff and jerky, its joints creaking with every step. Its glowing red eyes locked onto her, making her blood run cold. 

When she woke up, the pain in her stomach was gone,  only to be replaced by the sight of this thing standing beside her.  It was tall, formed from a chaotic cluster of metal scraps bound together without any clear design. Its shape reminded her of the Overlord’s vengestone soldiers, jagged and unnatural, as though it had no purpose other than to haunt her.

Instinctively, she threw a rock at it, then scrambled to her feet, distancing herself from the creature. The rock flew and struck its chest, causing its metal pieces to disassemble and its dark face to dissolve.

But before Harumi could relax, the dark mist reappeared. Its glowing red eyes stared down at her, as though draining the life from her. The metal pieces around her, along with the cart parts, shook and started flying toward the dark cloud like it was a magnet.

Within seconds, the creature reassembled—bigger than before. The next thing Harumi knew, she was running. She barely escaped when it tried to grab her when she dashed away. She could not figure out whatever that being was, nor had she had the time to. It was chasing her and it was relentless in its pursuit.

Dashing through the piles of junk and trees, her heart hammered against her chest. 

She had to get away, she had to. She had no idea why they wanted her but the way that thing loomed above her and tailed after her terrified her. Its presence felt heavy and sinister.

She ran and ran and ran. The being pursued her through the trees and traveled above. It caught up with her and jumped down, one of its legs pointed at Harumi to strike her.

She barely managed to dodge, stumbling slightly as she kept running. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted an opening to the shore on her right. Gathering all her strength, she turned and sprinted faster towards the beach, doing her best not to remind herself this crazy metal creature was chasing her.

Quickly bolting through the trees and metal scraps, Harumi then leaped out of the opening and into the beach. She ran and ran, her eyes sparkled with hope. But it was only then when she got closer that she realized it was not a beach—it was a cliff, a high one, too.

Harumi was faced with two choices: jump to her death or be caught and possibly killed. No matter what, the outcome was grim. Her heart beat rapidly and her breath was getting quicker.

Should she fight it? Her combat skills were rusty but she that thing could regenerate—she would just wear herself out. Should she make a run for it? But she might not be able to swiftly avoid its grasp. What could she do? What should she do? What—

No, she could not afford to panic now.

Peering over the edge, she saw the seawater crashing against the rocks below. Gathering up all the courage left within her, she made her decision and faced the being. 

When the creature got close enough, Harumi jumped. It couldn’t react in time, tumbling off the cliff and crashing onto the rocks below. Its pieces scattered, falling into the water

Hanging from the ledge, Harumi held on as she clung tightly to an exposed root. She didn't waste any time and climbed back to the surface before that thing could return.

Harumi was starving and had been scouring the forest in search of food. There were plenty of plants and trees, but none bore any fruit.

After finding the empty ice cream cart, Harumi hoped she might come across something else, hopefully with food this time.

And, by dumb luck, she stumbled upon a small mini-fridge lying on its side. The exterior was dented, likely from the fall, but most of it was still intact.

Relief washed over her as she carefully opened the fridge. She found a box of glazed donuts, four and a half still inside, as well as two cans of soda and a bottle of water. Each item had a sticky note with names she didn’t recognize. Whoever they belonged to, she silently apologized before taking them.

Given the abundance of metal and the sudden appearance of that strange creature, Harumi assumed the island had somehow summoned all the metal from Ninjago. She didn’t know why, but it was clear something was at work here, and she would have to be extra cautious to avoid drawing attention.

She didn’t return to the cave, fearing that the creature might find her there again.

She wondered if there were others on the island, but given the threats lurking around, they had probably fled to safety—or worse…

She pushed the thought aside, hoping no one else had the unfortunate circumstance of being harmed.

A week. Or maybe more. It had been hard to keep track of time since Harumi washed up on the beach. The creature hadn’t returned, but the storms felt like an enemy she could never escape. No shelter lasted long; the constant rain and winds tore down whatever home she managed to build. Food was scarce, and scavenging for supplies was becoming increasingly futile.

Harumi knew she had to find a way off the island. The sea terrified her, but staying wasn’t an option either. She could either remain a castaway, scraping by in isolation or find something that would carry her away—whatever it took.

She was strolling one day when she finally stumbled upon another beach. It was still very much littered with tetanus-inducing scraps and dark red mist clouding the air. It was much like the place she’d washed up on but despite the danger and the eeriness, the sight lifted her spirits.

She was tired of the endless forest, and this beach—though far from a safe haven—felt like a breath of fresh air.

She looked around, taking in the view. As she scanned the horizon, something in the distance caught her eye. Through the fog, she made out what looked like a tower.

She walked closer to the shore and through the fog she saw what she could only make out was a tower. 

It didn’t seem far, but before she could get closer, the rain came pouring down in sheets. Harumi quickly sought shelter, ducking under a large flat rock held up by three boulders. As the storm raged on, she settled in, waiting it out.

More than an hour later, when the rain had stopped, Harumi wasted no time. She set off to gather what she could, determined to build a raft. She was getting off this island, one way or another.

For the next few days, Harumi worked tirelessly, trying to piece together a raft that wouldn’t sink. Every time she tried to rest, she’d end up scavenging for more supplies. Sleep was a luxury she couldn’t afford. But she managed to scrounge up a few cans of food to keep her going for the trip.

The weather, as always, didn’t let up, and each downpour caused more damage to her progress. Patience was her only ally now. Still, there were moments when the thought of swimming away instead crossed her mind.

After countless days and nights, after endless attempts, after surviving so many storms, Harumi had built her raft.

It was made of a few logs of wood from trees that fell during the storms. She tied them together with vines and hammered screws she found when she searched for food. She also found a shovel which she attached to a long metal pole she found from a broken mannequin. She intended to use it as a paddle to direct the raft in the water. Her food and a few bottles of water were stored in her prison jacket. 

Overall the design was very simple but took her a long time to finish due to the weather.

She was proud of her work, despite its rough craftsmanship. If she could reach the tower before another storm rolled in, the raft might just survive the trip. She had confidence in her boating skills—after all, she had steered a boat before... back when she was in Primeval’s Eye... with ...

She did not try to finish that thought. She could not afford to waste any more time.

With her supplies safely stored and ready. Harumi took one last look at the island. She looked at the swaying trees, then glanced at the pile of scraps around her. But it was then when she looked through the trees she saw what she had feared the most.

Red eyes, dark face.

It was back…

…and it had friends.

Without a second to lose, Harumi shoved the raft forward. The beings were already charging after her. She forced herself not to look back, putting all her strength into pushing the raft into the water.

It has to float. It has to.

With one last, desperate push, the raft finally hit the water. To her relief, it didn’t sink. Harumi gripped the edge, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

No time for celebration. Harumi pushed against the current, her legs straining as she tried to move the raft away from the shore. She was thankful the rain had let up; if the waves had picked up, it would have been impossible.

When the water reached her waist, she didn’t hesitate—she jumped onto the raft. It held her weight, and she quickly centered herself to keep it balanced. Grabbing the shovel, she paddled with everything she had.

She turned back and saw the beings had jumped after her. Two of them fell into the water and fell apart, one was able to take hold of the edge, causing the raft to tilt and almost flip over. Harumi, in panic, started hitting the being with the shovel, causing it to fall back.

Harumi angled the shovel toward the creature’s arm, aiming to dislodge it. But before she could strike, its other hand shot up, clamping onto the tool and yanking it from her grasp. Harumi reacted fast, catching the other end just in time. A vicious tug-of-war ensued.

"LET GO!" Harumi screamed, her voice cracking as she yanked with all her strength.

Every pull stretched her muscles to the breaking point, desperation clawing at her. 

Summoning what little strength she had left, she kicked the creature’s head with all her might. It wavered, but its grip didn’t loosen. Gritting her teeth, Harumi leaned into the shovel’s handle as she pushed the creature’s head deeper into the water.

The metal creaked under the strain, parts snapping and breaking away until its head detached and sank beneath the water. The rest of its body followed, crumbling into pieces and vanishing into the murky depths.

Harumi collapsed onto the raft, panting, her chest heaving. The sky above churned with gathering storm clouds, and she knew she couldn’t stop now. Gripping the shovel, she paddled the raft forward, eyes fixed on the tower in the distance.

Chapter Text

Chapter 2: The Lighthouse

Harumi leaned over the window, admiring the setting sun. The sky was painted with warm, relaxing colors, and the sea mirrored the artwork in the heavens. The wind was a gentle breeze, brushing her face as the cooling sensation relaxed her mind.

"You know," she murmured, "ever since I got here, it was always raining. No sun, no clear sky... just rain."

"Bee-beep."

"You're right, it is beautiful. It's been a long time since I felt like this..." Harumi managed a faint smile, her eyes lingering on the horizon, though a knot formed in her chest. 

"...peaceful." 

But the peace also made her uneasy. For weeks, the chaos of the island had been her constant companion. Storms, scavenging, surviving—there had always been something to do, something to keep her mind occupied. 

Here, in the quiet of the lighthouse, the memories began creeping in.

Her dear parents...

Her childhood...

Ninjago...

Lloyd...

She frowned and pulled away from the window. "No," she muttered, shaking her head. "Not now." Her voice was sharper than she intended, and the robot's blue lights flickered as it looked up at her.

"Sorry," she said quickly. "I'm fine. Just... distracted."

It had been a few weeks since Harumi settled down. Reaching the tower took five grueling days, each attempt delayed by storms and the struggle of reaching the tower. By the time she climbed through a window and collapsed inside, exhaustion outweighed relief.

The first thing she did after resting was explore the place and scour for supplies. The place was not as sparse, but much like the island, its floors were scattered with metal parts. By a corner was a huge light source that seemed to have been removed from its original position. Upon closer inspection, Harumi realized it was part of the tower and the place was a lighthouse.

She spotted a toolbox that had a few tools inside. Her eyes spotted a decent amount of art supplies all dumped in another corner with an old shirt and shorts hanging on the canvas stand. A lever was by the window and it activated a rotating floorboard with a table attached to it. However, it was kind of faulty and she decided not to play around with that.

Against the wall was a ladder that led up to a small loft with bedding. Beside was a duffle bag filled with more clothes. Judging by the condition of the clothing, sheets, and pillows, the place looked like it had been occupied not too long ago.

Initially, she worried about food, but luckily, the tower's previous resident had left a fishing contraption attached to a windowsill.

It was a simple extended pulley that had thin claws holding a net on all ends. The net itself had a hole she needed to repair but the machine was still functional. Once fixed, it took her a few tries to get the hang of it, and after about fifteen attempts she finally caught herself a fish.

Things were off to a great start, but what she did not expect to find was a small robot who seemed to persistently clean every little mess she made.

When she first arrived on top, she noticed a rusty metal box on the floor that looked like a vault with two rectangular buttons and a small light indicator on top. She tried pressing them but nothing happened. She also tried prying the door open but it wouldn't budge.

It was when she tripped over the toolbox the lid had sprung open and the contents spilled out. 

Immediately, the light of the metal container turned on and its door retracted, revealing a small rusty robot with a cylinder head. It had two small blue lights as eyes and a cuboid body with a large glowing red circle on its chest. There were six wheels beneath two separate stands, giving the illusion of feet.

Harumi grabbed a wrench and pointed it at the robot, her memories of those metal beings from the island flashing through her mind.

But the machine only drove wonkily towards her, a few of its screws falling out as it neared. Shaking, it extended its arms and picked up the toolbox, placing it upright and returning the fallen tools inside.

She did not pry her eyes off it for a second as it cleaned up the mess, its parts making a clunky sound at each movement. When all that was left was the wrench, it approached her and yanked the tool off her hand. 

However, when it was about to return it, one of its arms fell to the floor as a few wheels rolled off from its feet. The bot buzzed as if it was whimpering as it tried to pick up a screwdriver with its remaining arm and attempted to fix itself.

Though memories of those creatures from the island haunted her, Harumi couldn't ignore the robot's struggle. It seemed harmless, and after a moment's pause, she approached, picking up its detached wheels.

"C-can I help?" she tried to ask, her voice not full of confidence.

At first, she doubted it would respond to her, but the robot turned and offered the screwdriver with its remaining, quaking arm, seeming to have understood her.

"Oh—here, let me get that for you," she says as she takes the tool.

"Bee-beep." The robot rotated its position so its side would face her.

Harumi only had little experience tinkering with machinery back when she was running the Sons of Garmadon— no .

Harumi froze as a memory caught her off guard. For weeks, she'd kept busy to avoid reflecting on the past, convincing herself it was for the best. But deep down, she knew the truth—

—she didn't want to think.

The past was a rabbit hole she couldn't afford to fall into again.

Surviving had been the perfect distraction, but now in the stillness of the lighthouse, she had lesser things to do. Her mind was now free and those negative thoughts had once again started crawling their way back into her mind.

Harumi took a deep breath as she fixed her sitting position. The little robot buzzed softly, offering a screw. 

She smiled faintly. "Thanks. Let's get you back on your wheels, little guy."

Night had fallen, and Harumi scanned the sky as she looked out for storm clouds. The absence of rain was a relief—for now.

She had spent the past few days finally tending to her other needs. She had neglected her current physical condition for too long and it was taking a toll on her.

Harumi brushed her hand against her forehead, relieved it no longer burned with fever. The past few days had been rough and full of sneezing fits and sleepless nights. But thankfully, with the little robot's assistance, she had recovered.

"Bee-beep." The small robot approached her with a cup of boiled water in its hands.

"Oh, thank you, Tidy." Harumi smiled as the little robot whirred away. It paused at her makeshift cooking area—a sandbox of rocks and a rusted metal sheet. A fish on a metal dowel was roasting above a fire and beside was a pot full of boiled water.

She settled with the name "Tidy" since the little guy would clean up the place a lot. The robot seemed to have a single-minded mission: keeping every corner spotless. If she left tools lying around for even just a short moment, Tidy would scoop them up and return them to the toolbox immediately.

She would be lying if she said it didn't initially annoy her as its relentless cleaning would interrupt her work and break her focus. But over time, she eventually grew fond of Tidy's quirks. The little guy was really helpful and not to mention absolutely dedicated in ensuring the place was mess-free. More importantly, it was keeping her from going insane due to being alone for a long time.

She found herself talking to Tidy more than she'd care to admit, chatting and rambling to the robot as if it were an actual person. It was better than her mind drifting back to unwanted thoughts.

Tidy came around at the perfect time when Harumi had found herself starting to miss the company of people... of someone...

Harumi stared out to the sea, many questions unknowingly filled her head.

Is there something beyond the sea? Will I ever find other people? Why did I end up here? How did I end up here? Was that the end of the world? What were those things? Why am I the only one here? The Commissioner—where did he go? Is he safe? Was everyone else safe? How about the prison? The other criminals must have escaped... that would be terrible... What about the rest? Was the city affected too?

The rest of Ninjago?

The people? Where could have they gone?

The Ninja? Did they save them?

Is Lloyd safe?

"He is probably somewhere safe..." her lips turned downward in a frown, her mind clouded. 

"...I should stop thinking of him."

But she always thought of him.

He would always resurface in her mind constantly and each time she forced herself to push the thoughts of him away. She didn't do this out of hatred nor was it due to her avoiding feeling guilty either. It was something she deemed much worse... something she would be too ashamed to admit.

"No..." She murmured to herself, snapping her out of her thoughts. Harumi looked down as her hands gripped her pants tightly, pushing down the emotions that were crawling up her chest.

Tidy turned towards her, letting out a buzz as if it was inquiring to her about what was wrong.

"Sorry, buddy. I got distracted again..." She combed her fingers through her scalp as she tied up her hair.

Tidy rolled up with a plate of the roasted fish. Harumi smiled as she sank to the floor.

"Thanks." She pulled the plate closer. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Tidy went silent for a few seconds before responding with a high-pitched beep as it started driving in circles around the entrance that led down to the staircase. The bot then halted and gestured its hands at it.

Harumi chuckled. "We will go down tomorrow, okay? It's pretty late and I am heading straight to bed after I finish dinner."

The bot buzzed as it rolled away and started sweeping the floor in the far corner.

It was clear Tidy was a little faulty, but it was just likely due to its old worn-out state. Harumi could only wish she knew how to build and program robots, she could have helped Tidy long ago.

As she finished eating the last of the fish, Harumi observed the robot as it kept sweeping the dust off the wooden floor. A cool breeze drifted in through the window, carrying the faint tang of saltwater.

Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined herself here—living in an old, abandoned lighthouse, her only companion a rusty little robot. Yet, as strange as it was, it felt almost...right. The quiet, the isolation, the comforting company of Tidy—it was far from what she'd known, but it was her life now.

The lighthouse felt like a sanctuary, but deep down, Harumi couldn't shake the feeling that it wouldn't last. She caught herself staring out the window too often, scanning the endless sea as if waiting for something—or someone—to appear. Leaving wasn't a matter of if, but when.

"You're showing me this now?"

"Bee-beep."

"No—no I am not mad... I am sorry for yelling. I'm just surprised."

"Bee-beep."

"No, I just didn't understand why you didn't tell me sooner."

"Bee-beep."

"You tried? Since when?"

"Bee. Beep."

"Oh—"

Harumi was downstairs with her little friend, standing in front of a lever.

For the past few days, the small robot had been trying to go downstairs.

The first time it tried, the dated machine tumbled down with four of its wheels breaking in the process. She had to spend a few days figuring out how to upgrade its wheels just so Tidy could safely descend the stairs.

The second time it tugged at her pants and pointed at the staircase. She thought the bot asked to cover it for safety reasons, so she did by putting a big piece of plywood she found on top of the entrance. With its little hands, the poor robot tried to move aside the wood, almost ripping out its arm in the process. Harumi saw him just right in time and quickly helped him.

The most recent one, just today, Tidy had gone down the steps on its own and Harumi had been frantically searching for it. It was when she heard it beeping and buzzing she checked downstairs and saw Tidy trying to reach for a protruding stick on the wall.

As she approached it, she noticed it was some sort of lever and looked down at Tidy who was buzzing at her.

"So this was why you have been trying to go down?" She asked Tidy and the bot beeped at her as a confirming response.

"Oh, I am sorry for not understanding you." Harumi stepped closer as she reached out to the lever. Tidy once again beeped and gestured for her to pull it down.

Harumi hesitated briefly but trusted Tidy's judgment. Clasping the lever, she pulled it down and waited. Nothing happened at first.

She reached out for the lever again, but before she could push it up, a part of the wall shook and slid sideways, revealing an entrance to a hidden basement.

"Has this been here the whole time?" She stood there stunned as Tidy went on down towards the room.

"Bee-beep." The robot sounded for her to enter. Harumi followed Tidy into the small tunnel cautiously.

As Harumi stepped into the hidden basement, a musty, metallic scent filled her nostrils, mixed with the faint tang of rust. Dust coated every surface and cobwebs hung in the corners, swaying slightly as Harumi passed.

The room was cramped, dust-covered crates stacked haphazardly along the walls, their contents barely visible in the low light. In the middle was a large bookcase that had more rolls of paper and spools of wire on top. On the ground was a blueprint. Harumi crouched down beside it and read the large text written on top.

"Tai-D." She said aloud. Her eyes darted down at the name on the bottom corner. "Dr. Julien." Familiar.

She picked up the blueprint and dusted off the dirt on the illustrations. There she saw drawings of a little robot that resembled Tidy.

"Wait—your model name is actually Tai-D?" She turned to the robot who was busy picking up gears on the ground. "And this Dr. Julien must be your creator."

But before it could respond, a box beside the bookcase tipped over and its contents spilled out to the floor. Faint sounds of moving gears could be heard from behind and Harumi quickly rushed to Tai-D and picked up the robot, distancing them from the shelf.

"Who goes there?!" Her heart was beating fast as she braced herself. The box could have just been knocked over by some small animal or gravity itself but that would not explain the sound of gears and metal clunking against each other. Whatever it was, if it was one of those things , then she would have to do whatever she could to get rid of it.

Just then, Tai-D jumped out from her grasp and started picking up the gears that had fallen.

"Tai-D! Come back here, it's not safe—"

Just before she could grab the robot back, something stepped out from behind the shelves, all shaking and twitching. Her stomach dropped at the sight and she immediately picked up a gear and threw it at the figure, knocking it down to the ground with a clack as metal hit the floor.

"Ouch." A recognizable robotic voice monotonously said, startling Harumi.

Quickly taking a larger gear, she rushed to Tai-D and picked up the robot, placing it behind her as she approached the collapsed thing with the metal piece in her hand. The figure slowly stood up and stepped into the light.

A weathered humanoid robot emerged with clockwork gears on its chest and glowing yellow eyes. It was a nindroid and Harumi's eyes widened as she recognized who it was.

"Y-you're—"

"I am Echo Zane, built to protect those who cannot protect themselves."

Happy New Year!!!!

Chapter Text

Chapter 3: Echo Zane (Robots I)

"So, Tai-D's nickname is Gizmo?" Harumi asked as she stepped out of the basement tunnel, glancing at the nindroid beside her.

"Yes, we call him Gi-Gizmo," the nindroid stuttered, his voice box clearly malfunctioning.

"So I should call you Gizmo then, buddy?" She looked down towards the smaller robot with a smile.

"Bee-beep!" He nodded as he waved his arms at her.

The two robots walked alongside her, their movements mechanical and creaky. She had asked earlier if the nindroid recognized her, but he had declined. At first, she had wondered if this was the Zane she met—lost, disoriented, and without recollection of the past. However, this Zane was different. He looked similar, but something in his mannerisms told her he was a remake.

Harumi raised an eyebrow. "And... you both were created here?"

"Yes, my fa-father calls me Echo Zane." The robot replied, his joints creaking under strain.

"You call your inventor 'father'?" her voice was tinged with curiosity as she asked.

Echo Zane nodded in response, "Yes, I was m-made to be his son."

It made sense, in a way—the man must have been lonely and created Zane—both Zanes—to keep him company. It was incredible what skill and intellect could do when put into work. Harumi wondered what more interesting inventions Dr. Julien had made throughout the years. 

The creation of Echo Zane had intrigued her as his creator did not have many advanced tools within the lighthouse at his disposal. No wonder too she was familiar with the name, 'Julien'. She remembered she learned the Ninja's names. It made her wonder more about the Zane she met. A nindroid an inventor made to be his son...

She remembered their first meeting when she had roll-called the ninja. She mistakenly called him an 'android' at that time. It wasn't out of ignorance, likely just a slip of tongue. In a way, it wouldn't make sense for them to know she had knowledge about such technology since she wasn't exposed to them back when she was a princess. She needed to deceive them and avoid possible questions.

I was shameless, she thought, her stomach twisting as the guilt resurfaced.

She closed her eyes, the feeling sinking in within her. She had manipulated the Ninja. She had used them to get what she wanted. She had betrayed Lloyd, and the painful memory of it resurfaced, cutting through her like a blade.

Her stomach churned and a familiar, painful sensation was slowly starting to resurface, her hands dimming to a dark black color again. She immediately snapped out of her thoughts and distracted herself as the feeling washed down before it could accumulate into something worse.

This was why she didn't trust herself to be left alone with her thoughts. The excruciating pain in her stomach had never truly gone away. She'd convinced herself it had, but now she realized it had only been dormant, waiting for the right moment to resurface.

She took a shaky breath, trying to push the guilt away, but it was no use. It felt suffocating. She needed to focus, to pull herself out of this spiral—if only for a moment. Her gaze landed on the two robots, who were now speaking softly to each other. Echo Zane's faceplate, cracked and worn, caught her eye again.

As they reached the top, the far distance came into view. Through the window, stars glittered in the sky as the sea reflected the moonlight's ethereal glow. The floor creaked slightly, mixing with the faint sound of waves crashing against the shore as the cool breeze entered through the large openings on all sides. It carried the tangy scent of seawater, filling Harumi's nose as she slowly placed down the large metal sheet above the staircase entrance.

"Why did you bar-barricade it?" asked the rusty nindroid, sitting still beside Gizmo who stood on the table.

"For safety," Harumi replied, her hands dusting off her pants as she sat across the two.

The larger robot tilted his head in confusion before looking at his smaller friend who beeped in agreement.

"I see," a smile formed on his face as he turned back to Harumi. "Well, you don't need to worry anymore. I will be here t-to protect—"

His words abruptly paused as the metal cover on his face detached and fell on the table. Gizmo scrambled to pick up the piece, placing it back on the nindroid's head who then thanked him for the help.

Harumi observed as the two robots interacted. She looked at their rusty and old parts, taking note of the ones that creaked at every action. Echo Zane, in particular, looked quite roughed up as if he was mauled by a bear or something. The thought surfaced in her mind and she had to ask.

"Echo Zane," she called out to him. "Did something happen? Were you attacked?"

The nindroid did not reply immediately, the lights on his eyes blinked several times before he responded.

"My da-databank has been damaged and I can not exactly recall the com-complete events, but yes... something happened." He confirmed as Gizmo beeped, supporting his statement.

The words made Harumi tense. "What happened?"

Echo Zane's eyes dimmed. "We were exploring... at a desert. I was with Gizmo here..." He trailed off, his head tilting slightly before his eyes blinked out of sync. He stopped speaking, his body growing still.

"Echo? Echo Zane?" Harumi stood up and rushed to the nindroid as Gizmo jumped off the table and whirred to Echo Zane's back, lifting the metal cover and revealing the backside of his engine.

"Bee-beep." The smaller robot pointed to a switch beneath his neck, prompting Harumi to try and flick it back on. The switch was stuck, and frustration built as she struggled to free it.

"It's stuck!" she exclaimed as Gizmo immediately rolled off to the toolbox and rummaged through its contents.

Gizmo jumped on the table and took the oil can from her, allowing her to use both hands as she continued pushing up the switch through the screwdriver. Slowly, the metal piece started to move up as Harumi exerted more force. With one final push, the switch snapped back up and the engine started.

Harumi fell back as she sighed in relief. Gizmo tapped on Echo Zane's head as his eyes flickered on.

"What... what ha-happened?" The nindroid asked as he stirred awake from his recent power outage.

"You turned off." Harumi got up on her feet and walked back to her side of the table. "Gizmo here was quick on his wheels to help you."

"Bee-beep!" Tai-D beeped proudly.

Echo Zane's voice softened. "Thank you, buddy. I knew I could count on you." He gently lifted Gizmo and gave him a warm hug. The sight made Harumi smile, and for a brief moment, her heart was at ease.

She watched them, but her smile faded as she noticed just how damaged Echo Zane still was. His body looked worn out, and the exposed engine in his chest was clearly malfunctioning.

"We should get you fixed up," Harumi said, her tone serious. "Whatever happened, it really took a toll on you."

"Yes... my engine switch usually d-doesn't turn off on its own," Echo Zane explained, frowning as he sat down. "Some of my internal parts must have b-been displaced when we were attacked."

"Attack?" Harumi asked, her voice sharp with concern.

Echo Zane nodded, his eyes flickering again. "I remember being a-attacked... but I don't know what happened before or after that. The last memory I could recall was Gizmo trying to fix me before I shut down."

Harumi glanced at Gizmo who was busy tidying up the toolbox. Knowing the little robot's penchant for tidying up things, she wondered if he was capable of doing repairs too.

"Can he fix you?" She asked Echo Zane who then shook his head in response. "Gizmo, I mean."

"Gi-Gizmo can only do basic repairs." Echo Zane replied as Gizmo returned with a buzz. "Big damages like mine were u-usually done by father.

Gizmo beeped at Echo Zane and the nindroid turned to him. As the two conversed, Harumi stared down at the table, her mind deep in thought. He was functional now but his damages would likely get worse over time.

It didn't help that his parts were all rusty and old. The metal covers on his body looked brittle and already had multiple holes. Extensive repairs were needed to get him back in good condition and they needed someone experienced to do just that.

Her mind whirred as she buried her face in her hands, contemplating their next steps. They were stranded on this island with no way to communicate with the outside world. The sea stretched out endlessly before them, and the only nearby land was a dangerous island filled with hostile, seemingly immortal metal beings.

"Are you going to fix me?" Echo Zane's voice brought her back to the present.

"Me?" Harumi was taken aback by the question.

"Yes. Gizmo tells m-me you fixed him," Echo Zane explained. "You also upgraded his wheels. They l-look better!"

"I did, but..." Harumi hesitated. "Those were nothing compared to what's wrong with you. I'm not an inventor."

Echo Zane and Gizmo looked at each other as Harumi sulked in her seat, letting out a sharp breath. She could hear them talk but her mind was drowned in thoughts. Just then, Gizmo whirred to a corner and opened a hidden compartment, taking out something. He then approached her, extending his hands and offering her an old dusty notebook.

"You could learn." Echo Zane's voice didn't stutter for once as he smiled, beaming at Harumi.

Harumi stared at the notebook, her fingers trembling slightly. Could she really do this? She wasn't an inventor. But Echo Zane's words echoed in her mind: "You could learn."

She opened the notebook, flipping through its pages filled with notes, diagrams, and illustrations of machinery. Some of the pages were chaotic, others more organized, but all of it was practical and filled with potential. 

Maybe she could try. After all, who else would? It's just the three of them here in the lighthouse. Maybe she could learn something new and she can finally do something good.

"Do something good..." she muttered to herself, repeating the last thought.

If he were here, he would have encouraged her.

Harumi felt a pang of doubt. What if I mess up? she thought.

"Mistakes are just reasons to try again." Lloyd's voice resurfaced in her mind, breaking through her thoughts.

What if she didn't know what to do?

"Don't worry," Lloyd's voice continued. "Mistakes are the best teachers."

Harumi clenched her jaw. Her mind recalled her last meeting with him.

If only...

No. She assured herself she did the right thing. It was best for both of them.

She shook off her feelings. After a few more seconds of skimming through the notebook, she closed it and gently placed it on the table. She then looked at the two robots who eagerly waited for her to respond.

She could do this. She had to. For them.

"I'll try," she said, her voice firm as she looked at the two robots.

You hear that, Gizmo?" Echo Zane turned to his friend, who beeped in response, his mechanical arms giving a cheerful wave.

The robots celebrated, their enthusiasm lifting Harumi's spirits. Maybe she wasn't an inventor, but she would try. She had to.

But just as the feeling of confidence took root, a sharp pain cut through her abdomen.

"Ack!" Harumi fell back with a gasp, clutching her stomach as it throbbed in pain.

"Harumi!" Echo Zane and Gizmo rushed to her side.

"I... I'm okay," Harumi stammered, trying to assure them but her vision was already swimming.

Something else was wrong—something beyond her control.

Echo Zane could feel his sensor go off as an unidentified presence loomed over them. Gizmo seemed to have felt it too as he quickly rushed to his friend for protection.

"You are mine..." An eerie voice whispered, cold and ominous, as Harumi dropped to the floor, unconscious. 

Chapter Text

Chapter 4: Shut Down (Robots II)

The sweet scent of cherry blossoms filled the air, and the grass was lush and green, with little flowers growing everywhere. The sky was clear, and a small stream of crystal clear water flowed nearby. In the heart of it all stood a tall cherry blossom tree, its bark an ivory-white color instead of the usual brown hue.

Harumi found herself in this beautiful scenery. She was clothed in a silky white gown with subtle gold details. It was like paradise and she didn't want to leave. She felt the coolness of the grass beneath her bare feet as a refreshing breeze accompanied by little leaves blew against her hair.

"Rumi." A familiar voice called out to her.

Harumi quickly turned to see who it was and there at the distance stood two people she had longed to see for a very long time.

"Mom! Dad!" Harumi exclaimed as she ran towards them. It was her parents, her real parents.

Oh, how she had missed them.

She ran faster, eager to embrace her beloved parents—but... something felt off....

As she got closer, their faces started to contort, and the scenery around her dimmed. The stream dried up as the greenery withered to dust. She stopped in her tracks and then realized it was no longer her parents who stood before her—it was the Emperor and Empress. Her stomach flipped at the sight of them, her once gleeful expression was now one filled with horror.

"What are you doing Harumi? This is not how a princess should act!" The Emperor's voice boomed as he scolded her.

"You are running like an undignified lady! We did not raise you to act in such an unrefined manner!" The Empress gave her a scornful look.

No... not this hell...

Harumi's heart began to pound fast as she noticed she now wore her royal robes, her face was caked with the imperial make-up they forced her to wear every single day. Her head felt the weight of her crown—once to signify her royal status, now a cruel reminder of a wasted childhood.

"How could you kill us Harumi?" The Emperor looked at her with disgust and hatred.

"All we ever did was give you a better life!" The Empress shouted at her face, her eyes filled with rage.

No... they did not.

They. Did. Not.

"Don't talk like I never knew the truth, you hypocrites!" Harumi hissed at them.

As she was about to run, their hands tightly gripped her arms, keeping her in place. The Emperor caught her head and forced her to turn back to them as they morphed into the metal creatures from the island. Her gown started tearing away as an ominous voice cackled behind her.

"NO!" Harumi shouted as she quickly rose, her forehead hitting a wooden beam with a loud thud.

"OW!" She fell back as her head throbbed in pain.

"Bee-beep!" Tai-D alerted from below the loft holding up a tray with a glass of water.

"Harumi! You are a-awake!" Echo Zane called out to her as he stood up.

"Wh...ha..." She struggled to speak as the pain irritated her senses.

The two robots looked up to her from the bottom of the ladder as Harumi groaned in pain, rubbing her forehead to ease the burning sensation.

"Oh—" Echo Zane stepped back as Tai-D lowered the tray. "Perhaps you should rest more."

"So...ry..." she mumbled as she quickly laid back down.

Mounting Tai-D on his head, Echo Zane climbed the ladder. When they reached the top, the nindroid held the smaller robot with both of his hands, lowering him to Harumi as he pulled the blanket over her.

"Bee-beep."

"Good night."

The two robots simultaneously said before carefully climbing back down.

CRASH!

Harumi jolted awake at the sound, almost hitting her head with the same beam that gave her an excruciating headache. She sighed in relief as she crawled towards the edge of the loft.

"Echo? Tai-D?" She called out to them with a yawn.

"Bee-beep! Bee-beep! Bee-beep!" Tai-D was continuously beeping, clearly alarmed.

Harumi looked down and saw Echo Zane splattered all over the ground, a few of his pieces were scattered everywhere."

"Good morning, Harumi! You are n-now awake!" The nindroid casually greeted as if nothing had happened.

"Echo Zane!" Harumi quickly scrambled to get down the ladder. "What happened!?"

"Oh! I f-fell." He picked up something from beside him and raised it towards her. "Look, I found a-a friend."

"A-are you alright?" Harumi frantically asked, her expression, distraught.

"Yes! T-take him and have a look." He replied with a smile as he extended his arms towards her. "I'll be a-alright since you will repair me anyway."

"Don't be too confident about that part yet..." Harumi approached him and took what looked like another robot.

It looked like he was holding up a robot bird that was severely damaged. One of its wings was hanging by a single wire and its beak was missing the bottom half. One of its legs had no feet and its tail was dented.

"I found h-him in Father's lab!" He cheerily said as Gizmo beeped again.

"You mentioned you were attacked, right?" She asked, recalling back to their last conversation.

"Y-"

"Bee-beep."

"-es. I-"

"Bee-beep."

"-did."

"Bee-beep."

They turned to Gizmo who was now shaking as he kept on beeping. His eyes were continuously blinking on and off and the red big circle on his chest was flickering non-stop.

"Gizmo?" Harumi gave back the bird as she called out to the little robot.

"Gizmo? Buddy?" She spoke again, a bit louder this time.

"Bee-beep. Bee-beep. Bee-"

He completely turned it off.

"H-hey! Gizmo!" Harumi ran towards him and picked him up, frantically trying to find a switch or button to turn him back on.

"Oh, no." Echo Zane monotonously said as he stayed fixed in his position, unable to move. "It happened again."

"Echo Zane! How do I turn him back on?" Harumi tapped lightly on Gizmo's head.

"From what I can recall, father made him voice-commanded." Echo Zane answered as he attempted to move his legs.

"Gizmo? Gizmo?" Harumi tapped him a little harder. "He isn't responding."

"We should put him back in his box." The nindroid suggested as he now tried to lift his legs with his arms.

Harumi quickly took Gizmo to his metal box and placed him carefully inside. Once he was properly in, she pulled down the door closed.

"Now what?" She asked, turning back to Echo Zane.


"Now, we wait. He'll be back after..." He paused as he looked down at the ground for a moment to think. "Maybe in a day."

"Has this happened before?" She asked as she picked up Echo Zane's detached pieces.

"Yes, this is the second time since you went back to sleep." He said, almost successful in raising his knees, before his grip came loose and his legs fell back down the floor.

Harumi quickly rushed towards him, parts at hand.

"Oh no, you can't move your legs, can't you?" She asked him as she placed down the pieces.

"Yes, unfortunately." Echo Zane tried to move them once more, failing as neither even shook a little.

Great... I haven't even started this whole mechanic thing yet and I already have a bunch of repairs waiting for my divine intervention...

Harumi let out a sharp breath, her pent-up frustrations now slowly releasing from her grasp.

"Please, be careful next time, okay? You can't be reckless with yourself when you are this rusty and worn out." Her voice was tinged with a bit of annoyance as she started picking up the other parts and adding them to the small pile.

"I sensed from the tone of your voice that you are... unhappy..." Echo Zane frowned as he looked down at the bird in his lap. "I am sorry."

Harumi stopped to look at him, surprised by what he said.

"N-no... I..." She paused for a moment, realizing her attitude just now. Slowly, she sat down in front of him, staring down at the gear in her hand.

"I'm just... a little frustrated..." She admitted. "I just woke up and this happened with Gizmo suddenly turning off and you falling into pieces... plus that bird... I don't know what to do first... I'm really starving too—and thirsty. I don't know how long I've been out..."

"3 days," Echo Zane spoke. "You were asleep for three days."

"3 days?!" Harumi almost fell back. "I was out for that long?"

"Yes..." He answered with a single nod but did not speak further.

For a few minutes, they sat there in silence. Harumi felt a wave of guilt wash over her as she looked at Echo Zane.

"I... I'm sorry... I didn't mean to talk like that." She apologized as she finished picking up the last remaining parts. "We just met and I took it out on you..."

"It is alright, it is healthy to let out one's frustrations." Echo Zane gave her a reassuring smile.

"But still... I'm sorry." She looked down as she held her hands together.

"It is okay Harumi." He placed a hand on her shoulder, his smile unwavering. For a moment, Echo Zane's expression reminded her of the Commissioner.

Harumi felt a bit assured as she managed a faint smile before standing up.

"I suppose we should get you fixed up—"

Grumble.

"After I eat." She let out a small chuckle as she picked up the pile and placed it on the table.

"How long has it been?"

"A-about a week."

"And he still hasn't come out..."

For the past few days, Harumi had started on little repairs on Echo Zane. But most of what she had done were just simple fixes to reattach the parts on his body that had fallen off when he fell. It was fortunate that he was able to walk on his own again but Harumi knew she had to try more advanced work.

For now, Harumi was having her lunch—a grilled fish seasoned with sea salt that she had experimentally made after getting tired of eating bland fish meat for a long time. Echo Zane sat across her as she ate, keeping her company.

"Do you eat?" Harumi spoke before she popped a portion of fish in her mouth.

"Eat?" Echo Zane tilted his head as he asked. "I d-do not need to eat."

"I-I mean..." Harumi paused, realizing her question did not make sense. "What I meant to ask was if you happen to consume anything. Fuel?" For some reason, that did not sound right either.

"Oh! No, m-my engine is w-wind-powered." Echo Zane replied with a smile. "I do not need fuel."

"I see..." Harumi looked down at her plate, staring at the last uneaten portion of the fish. "Sorry... it's been a while since I—y'know—talked to people... not that I invalidate your presence or company! I-I meant someone like me, a human."

Echo Zane nodded as he understood what she had meant. "Father u-used to have a similar problem back when h-he was here. I accompanied h-him during his meals so he would be less l-lonely. That is a-also the reason why I sat with you, Harumi."

Though not needed, she still appreciated the thought. The nindroid was not as advanced or high-tech as his titanium counterpart, but he was still compassionate and kind. Outside, he may be an old rusty robot, but inside, he reminded her of a young child. The glint in his eyes glowed with this child-like innocence, something that made her recall her own childhood, a tainted past filled with burdens and pain—the complete opposite of what she saw in Echo Zane.

"Thank you..." she said to him, managing a faint smile.

As she ate the last of her meal, her mind drifted further. She found herself recalling that little boy she saved from going through the same fate she had experienced. She wasn't sure what exactly stirred within her to be suddenly selfless after dooming Ninjago with her Sons of Garmadon and Crystal King schemes, but she was sure she didn't regret helping that family—even if it cost her life. Losing her parents at such a young age broke her and she lost so many things that very fateful day.

Maybe that was why she saved them... because she knew how painful her life was. Maybe a part of her cared that no one else would suffer as much as she did. Though... it would be a little hypocritical... she did, after all, cause a lot of suffering and destruction—may it all be directly or indirectly due to her actions and decisions.

She frowned at the irony of it all, and for a moment, she was about to sulk. But as her stomach started to churn, she knew she had to shove aside her thoughts. She would have reflected more on her actions, but due to her circumstances, she had given up wondering about 'what ifs' about what had happened years ago. The effort would be fruitless and it would only make her feel worse.

It was all in the past anyway and there was no way she could turn back time and erase every single thing she did—well, at least that is what she tells herself every time.

She saw the throbbing pain as a well-deserved punishment for her misdeeds, but knowing whose power was responsible for its existence, she couldn't help but despise her current situation. She was utterly disgusted to her very core and felt extremely foolish for trusting the source of all her problems.

"Oof..." the sensation had stirred within her. She found herself being carried away by her thoughts again.

Harumi sighed as she glanced at Echo Zane who was staring at Gizmo's box, patiently waiting for his friend to come out.

"I s-sense he isn't coming out today either..." Echo Zane said to her with a frown as he stood up and headed towards the stairs, his joints creaking at every step.

"Where will you go?" she asked him as she placed down her plate on the table.

"To father's lab." He spoke without a stutter, however, Echo Zane did not say anything further before slowly taking a step down.

"Wait!" She rushed towards him. "I don't think it's a good idea for you to go down and up the stairs. Your joints might wear out even more."

Her words made him frown even more.

"I-I just don't want you to fall again..." she reasoned with him, hoping he would understand. "If you need anything I can get them for you instead."

"I am sorry Harumi, I just m-miss Gizmo..." he sadly spoke as he sat down.

"I miss him too... but he will come out like you said, right?" She placed a hand on his shoulder, doing her best to assure him.

"And when that time comes, I'll make sure he sees you all fixed and working better as new." Harumi gave him a big smile as he nodded to her.

"Thank y-you, Harumi." He returns a smile as well before standing up and heading back up. "I'll believe in Gizmo."

"Me too."