Apparition

~10 Part 3~

"You're right, Ronin. It's not something you just get over... and it may be selfish of me to put that burden on them, but I'm doing this for them. And maybe one day they'll understand."

"Moro," I add, "Darkness isn't going to be put back in her realm without a fight if it's not what she wants. Believe me that bitch can be stubborn as hell. If I just put her back there's a severely high chance she'd somehow figure out a way to come back. What if I find a way to become part of her realm, like she did in Ninjago?"

He nods, but keeps quiet.

I bite my lip, "I don't know how to do that, but it might end up being necessary. I know Darkness and she really won't go back willingly, she'll fight tooth and nail to stay here if that's what she wants."

"She's been dormant for a while now, but that doesn't mean she won't find a way to come back. She did it once, she might be able to do it again."

"Call it a precaution, but I'm just not in the mood to have to deal with her anymore. And we keep coming back to the same point: everything has to be returned."

Another earthquake interrupts my thoughts. They're happening closer and closer together.

I take a deep breath and take my eyes off my team, "okay, there's one thing I need to do first... then I'm gonna need your help to get another portal open to the other place."

Moro nods, "I'll wait as long as I can, but your friends are gonna start wondering why I'm not leaving if you take too long."

I nod, "I know. I'll be quick."

Ronin shakes his head, "kid, I am not-"

"-you can't tell them, not until I'm through. They'll try to stop me."

"As they should!"

"Everything has to be returned." I say firmly, "you can tell them whatever you want to after I'm gone. You can walk away and be done with us entirely if you'd prefer. Just please don't tell them." I slightly shake my head, "you never really wanted to be with us so I'm not gonna hold you to anything. You helped when it helped you and you came back because you wanted to have your own revenge on these guys." I say gesturing towards Moro.

Ronin shakes his head, "that ain't all of it."

"Then what?"

He shrugs, "it's because I care."

We stare at each other, my eyes silently pleading for him to help me. At first his doesn't buy into it, but the longer he looks, the more I can see his mind switching.

He huffs defeatedly, "guess I'll have to place my bets with you one more time." He says, "I'll help."

I give his a small smile, kind of a sad one, "thanks, Ronin."

He looks away, "better hurry up, kid."

Moro follows me into a small abandoned house that has taken the least amount of damage compared to the others we've seen around the village. I pull open random drawers in a desk until I find paper and pens. I take out a sheet and quickly write something before folding it up. It's sloppy and doesn't really go into details or answer all the questions I know he'll have, but at least it's something.