Aria sat outside in her garden reading a book while Hanabusa stood nearby silently. It's been a couple weeks since Aria learned of her father. She couldn't stay mad at her mother forever, the two had made up and haven't spoke of the subject. Layla only feared that if she wasn't careful, the darkness would corrupt her daughter, and she would lose her forever.
Layla's original reason for Aria's betrothal to Lloyd was because she knew he would one day become the green ninja. She had hoped that as long as they were together the darkness would be suppressed. That Lloyd could be the light in Aria's darkness.
As selfish as the reason seemed, the two children became best friends, as Misako and her had. Now the only matter was reuniting the two and hoping they fall in love. Even if the plan didn't work it was a royal betrothal and once, they turned 18 it would be publicly announced, it could not be broken.
"Hanabusa" Aria held her book out to him
Hanabusa took the book "Have you finished reading your highness?"
"Yeah" Aria sighs
The ground starts rumbling and they run inside.
"Mother" Aria looks at Layla "What's going on?"
The two turn to the tv.
Gayle on TV "NGTV reporter Gayle Gossip on the scene of what appears to be an earthquake rocking the city of Ninjago. But it's an earthquake like no other, as scientists have yet to pinpoint the cause. And more frightening still, the aftershocks are getting stronger."
"Oh no" Layla looked worried "It's the sign."
"What sign?" Aria asks
"The sign of the final battle drawing near and.." Layla looks at Aria "Your father's army."
Aria looked confused "His wha-"
"Your Majesty!" Clouse burst through the doors "You must escape, there are stone warriors at our doors."
"They are coming after us." Layla says, "They want you, Aria."
"Me!" Aria shouts "Why me?!"
"They sense your dark powers, you must go!" Layla grabs Aria's hand and pulls her down the hall.
Layla and Aria run to the lower levels where there were stone warriors already fighting the guards. Layla runs into a room and pushes a bookcase over revealing a hidden passage.
"It leads into the city, quickly go" Layla instructs
"What about you?" Aria asks
"This is my home Aria, this is my Empire, I won't abandon it." Layla kisses her daughter's forehead "I love you, find Wu, he will protect you."
"Wu hasn't seen me for years, and I'm older." Aria explains frantically "I can't just leave-"
"You can and you will" Layla pushes her into the passage
"Mother!" Aria turns to her
Layla pushes the bookshelf back in front of the opening trapping Aria inside. Layla turns and faces the stone warriors in front of her.
"Now I might be pushing my 2000s" Layla smirks and her eyes glow silver "But you're messing with the wrong women." A cloud of black smoke covers the area.
-
Aria opens a manhole and climbs out onto the streets of Ninjago. Cars were tipped over, buildings were cracked, there was fire, the city was a mess.
"What do I do?" Aria stands up and looks around at the warriors destroying the city
Soon they started facing her and coming closer.
"Oh no" Aria quickly ran away and they chased her.
She turned a corner and bumped into a warrior, she screamed and fell down. She looked behind her to see they were circling her.
"Oh no" Aria's eyes teared up "Mom, I failed." A warrior held his sword up and Aria covered her face "No stop!
A minute passed before Aria opened her eyes to see the warriors all standing around her seemingly frozen in time, a sword inches from her face.
"Wha-"
Suddenly the warriors went flying by a dark golden tornado, the antient art of spinjitzu to be exact. The thrown warriors were able to move again. The person stopped in front of her, and the familiar old man held out his staff against the warriors.
"Master Wu!" Aria shouts relieved
Wu knocks away the remaining warriors and turns to her.
"Aria, is that you?" Wu asks
"Yes, it's me" Aria wiped her tears
Wu helped her stand up "Are you alright?"
"Yes, thank you" Aria replies
"Where is your mother? Why are you out here alone?" Wu questions "It's not safe!"
"The palace was swamped with Stone Warriors" Aria answers "Mom stayed back to protect our home. She told me to run and find you."
"I see" Wu nods "Come with me then, we will protect you, we have to abandon the city."
"What about mom?" Aria asks
"She will be alright, trust her." Wu puts his hand on her shoulder
Aria nods, Wu quickly and safely leads Aria through the city and to the NGTV office building.
"Go up with the citizens, I must wait for my students" Wu instructs
"Yes" Aria nods and heads up the building.
Once the Bounty lands the ninja quickly get everyone to board.
"Hurry, they're coming" Lloyd says
"My research!" Misako shouts before turning to go back
Lloyd grabbed her "No, Mom. It's too dangerous to go back"
"It's too important to leave behind" she kisses him and runs off.
"They just keep coming!" Kai shouts
A warrior breaks one of the boosters.
Nya gasps "Oh, no. This is bad. We have everyone. We've gotta get out of here. Our only remaining booster won't last much longer."
"We have to wait for my mom" Lloyd says worried
Wu goes to jump off the ship, but Aria stops him.
"Princess" Wu looks at her
"You said to trust my mother, but trust me too" Aria says before jumping off the ship
The Bounty flies off.
"What are you doing?!" Wu shouts confused.
"Aria!" Cole shouts worried.
Inside, Misako grabs her research but can't climb up from the railings. Misako falls, but Aria grabs her and pulls her up in time.
"Aria?!" Misako looks shocked, just like her son the young girl was older.
"I'll explain later come on" Aria grabs her arm
They run into another room and barricade the doors. The doors start breaking.
"Aria it was dangerous to turn back for me" Misako scolds
"I know" Aria looks at her "But this is all because of my father, I had to come back for you, nobody else."
"You know about your father, I'm very sorry" Misako says sadly "We didn't mean to keep it from you."
"It's alright." Aria looks at the door
"Your mother would be proud; you're growing up to be just like her" Misako chuckles "Mischievous and full of surprises."
The door was almost broken.
"Aria remember when you were 5 and Wu was teaching you those strange movements?" Misako asks
"Yes, why bring them up now?" Aria questions
"I want you to do them... and trust yourself" Misako tells her
The warriors bust in, and they begin fighting, Aria followed Misako's instructions and did spinjitzu, she collided with some, and they cracked.
"Amazing" Misako stares at the warrior
They soon were backed into a corner; they were surrounded by too many Warriors.
"Come on" Aria said grabbing Misako's arm and pulled her off the building, they land on the Bounty.
Wu ran over and hugged the both of them.
"How did you know?" Misako asks Aria
"...I was actually yoloing it" Aria rubs the back of her neck "but it worked"
Wu looked at her disapprovingly.
"Thank you, Aria," Misako says taking Aria's hand "You risked your life to save me, and for that I am grateful."
Wu's hat falls off, and a picture flies away.
Misako gave Wu his hat back "The past is past"
"But there's always the future" Wu says taking her hand as the Bounty flies out of the city.
"Speaking of the past" Aria interrupts nervously "Misako... where's Lloyd?"
Misako smiles and looks over where all the ninjas stood "Lloyd come here!"
Lloyd was broken from his thoughts and quickly ran over "Mom are you ok?"
"Yes I'm fine dear" Misako smiles and turns him towards Aria "Lloyd, this is Princess Aria."
"Nice to meet you" Lloyd smiles "Thank you for saving my mother."
"Oh" Aria looks dissapointed "No problem."
"Lloyd" Misako pulled on his cheek
"Ow ow what?" Lloyd asks confused
"Princess Aria" Misako repeats to him
"Yes, I heard you, she's the princess." Lloyd confirms rubbing his cheek "I'm not a kid anymore mom that hurt."
Misako rolls her eyes and grabs his arm.
"Hey mom what are you-"
Lloyd stops when his mom rolled up his sleeve revealing his bracelet with half a golden heart. She held it up to the princess's neckless which was the other half.
Lloyd's eyes widened "Aria! You're that Aria!"
"Now he remembers" Misako releases his arm
"Lloydie" Aria's eyes tear up and she smiles "I've missed you."
Lloyd hugs her tightly.
"Hey... so why's Lloyd hugging the princess?" Kai asks the other ninja
"Ohhh" Cole turns to the other ninja "Our Lloyd's that Lloyd."
"Huh?" Jay looks confused
"Lloyd and my cousin are childhood friends" Cole tells them
"Ohhhhhhh" all the ninjas look at the two.
"Look at you, you've gotten tall." Aria laughs
"Yeah" Lloyd rubs the back of his head "It's been a while, but what about you, you're not-"
"It's a long story." Aria tells him "And I'm sure so is yours mister green ninja."
"Uh yeah..." Lloyd takes her hand "I'll tell you mine, if you tell me yours" he held out his pinky "promise."
Aria locks her pinky with his "promise"