The Girl From the Never Realm (l.garmadon)

Twelve

The Blizzard Samurai were still chasing me through the hallways of the Ice Emperor's palace. I'd long since flown out of sight of the throne room, so Lloyd should be inside by now.

I just had to shake off these Samurai and get back there.

I rounded another corner, but the frozen warriors were still hot on my tail feathers. I dove again, tearing out another's eyes and leaving more shattered ice on the floor. They deserved that and far worse for keeping me and Kataru imprisoned for so long.

I spotted a window at the end of the hall I was flying through. It was partially covered by icicles, but there was a spot I could fly through freely. I tightened my wings and smashed into the glass, which broke with a loud shattering noise.

And just like that, I was out.

I was actually outside for the first time in... far too long. The sky was cloudy and snowing, but it was still the most beautiful sight I've ever seen.

Well... the second most beautiful sight.

Part of me was tempted to just fly away right then and there and enjoy my long-sought-after freedom, but then I remembered I still had a coup to help throw.

I circled above the palace a few times, looking for another way in. Did the throne room even have windows? I hoped so.

Around the third go-around, I spotted a window looking into a room that seemed even more full of ice stalagmites than usual. The window was slightly cracked open, so I silently darted in, praying to the forest spirits that this was the right room.

And indeed, it was. I flew into a large chamber, entirely covered over in ice, bare except for ice stalagmites and a long staircase leading up to an icicle-encrusted throne. The Ice Emperor's throne. I perched on a rafter, gauging my next best move.

But there was another in here besides the Ice Emperor.

A woman lay on the floor, her hand that was holding a dagger encrusted with ice. She struggled to free herself, but her efforts were futile.

The woman had short curly black hair, covered with a wolf cap. She was a Formling like myself, judging from the markings on her face. She bore a resemblance to Kataru, which must mean... this was Akita!

And in front of Akita stood the Ice Emperor himself. He was tall, with chilling blue eyes. He wore a heavy-looking silvery helmet, and his right hand was entirely frozen over, making him stuck holding his scepter.

If Lloyd was correct, getting the Emperor away from that scepter was the key to awakening him.

The stick didn't look like much, but it wasn't like there was anything else we could do besides trust Lloyd's word.

But as I watched, the Emperor raised the staff, and Akita shrunk back, covering her face with her free hand. The staff glowed an unfriendly shade of blue.

Then the doors bust open. Lloyd jumped through. Outside, I could see more defeated Blizzard Samurai. Some more must've passed by and given Lloyd some trouble.

Well. Not as much trouble as he gave them.

"It's time we finished this, Zane!" Lloyd shouted.

Akita looked confused. "Zane?"

Lloyd summoned another sphere of green energy.

"Once and for all."