Ivory's Homecoming ► Ninjago

00 ≛ prologue

A young girl turned the pages of a book sitting on her desk. She stared down at the papers intently, studiously reading every word and memorizing each detailed picture she came across.

Her large room was a bit of a mess; a result of taking too much time off cleaning and spending hours on end deciphering one of the multiple books of Ninjago's history that were in her grasp. This distinct work retained particulars on all of the citizens that live in separate cities and villages; someone of her position had the ability to do almost anything she pleased; almost.

This girl was searching for somebody; desperately searching. Another book that she had momentarily stopped reading lay open on a specific page. A picture of a tall woman holding a pair of twin sai toward her enemy was sketched. Under it read in clear font:

The last master of the mirror.

Descendants have yet to be found.

The girl mumbled a single sound from her lips as she scanned her finger through the list of names. "Na..." It was the beginning of somebody's.

And because of that one sound, the list was narrowed down tremendously. Eventually, she stopped at one name. A wicked smile crossed her face as she got to her feet; she knew who she needed to look for and where to go.

Stiix was a place very far away. She'd have to create a real convincing story as to why she'd want to travel there all of a sudden.

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Night fell over Stiix, the lively city built on water. Bright, red lanterns were lit and hanging over all of the houses. Families and friends were out and about, going to little shops, eating at tables outside of little restaurants, and even just taking strolls. It was a small town compared to others, but it made many happy.

A man with brown hair that reached the nape of his neck slid a door open to exit his room and enter his pawn shop. He grabbed a red conical hat left atop the counter and placed it on his head. He quickly fixed the mechanical eyepatch over his right eye before turning toward another room.

"You comin', kid?"

A second door opened and out walked a teenage girl with waist-length blonde hair tied in two high pigtails. Wearing a black skirt with a fitted white top, she swung the cloak in her arms around her shoulders and clipped it around her neck, lifting the hood over her head.

"Perdón," she mumbled, voice barely audible.

The man glanced down at her smaller figure, nodding his head. "It's real busy out there. You could keep your hood down, you know. No one's gonna bite."

He tied a mask around his neck, one that would lift from his chin to his nose, and kept it off. Seeing as she gave zero reaction, he went over and pulled the hood down for her. The girl blinked.

They left the pawn shop, beginning their walk through the city. His home was the largest out of them all, as their living quarters connected to the shop in the middle.

The people passing by greeted them with smiles on their faces. It appeared that everyone knew each other here.

One woman with her little daughter came up to them. "Oh, Natasha. You look so cute!"

The blonde only stared up at her, lips relaxed and eyes unblinking. She didn't say a word; though it wasn't out of disrespect.

The man lightly slapped her back, whispering, "Say thank you."

She then lowered her head and leaned forward slightly as if bowing. "... thank you."

The woman didn't seem fazed and only looked at him with a small smile. "She's still struggling?"