Turns out, the Golden Mech wasn't the only thing locked in the Temple of Light for centuries.
Upon entering the Island of Darkness, Kai, Cole, Jay, Zane, and Lloyd find a mysterious girl asleep in the Temple of Light. Things get a little complicated...
"Raised on the Dark Island? What do you mean?" Lloyd immediately rose to his feet, the gears in his head turning a mile a minute. A distant part of him noticed the remainder of his drink spilling into the dirt (what a waste of a perfectly good coconut), but he didn't really care. He gulped, trying to form coherent words. "I... I thought no one had ever found the Dark Island before," he said. "Lots of people tried! Like— like Captain Soto. And this place... it doesn't even seem like anyone could live here. So how... when..."
"Pardon me, I didn't mean to drop it on you like that," Shuna fiddled nervously with her sleeves. "I was going to explain it better... I'm sorry— let me start over." She opened her mouth, only to pause and then snap it shut again. "Actually, I'm not entirely certain where to begin. You see, I was born in Ninjago but sort of— moved here? It's... it's rather complicated, I'm afraid, and I don't know— that is— I mean— oh, First Spinjitzu Master! Is talking to people always this difficult?"
She sighed and buried her face in her hands. "Alright. Let's try this once more."
Lloyd carefully sat back down next to her. "It's alright," he said. "Sorry for freaking out. Take your time."
Shuna looked at him gratefully. "My story is... long, to say the least. And strange. Is that alright?"
"Yeah! Definitely," Lloyd gestured for her to go ahead. "The end of of the world won't be starting for another few hours, heh, and I sure wouldn't complain about being a little late to doomsday. Besides, it's nice to have someone to talk to."
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"Thank you," the girl gave him a timid smile, like she wanted to laugh but didn't think she should. "Ready?"
"Ready."
Taking a deep breath, she began.
☆*:.｡. o .｡.:*☆
Shuna sat with her back against a tree, giggling quietly and keeping her hands over her mouth. Footsteps and shouts sounded in the distance, but none came anywhere near her; she was the master of hide-and-go-seek, if she did say so herself! The best in all Ninjago. The other kids would never find her. She was a champion. A ninja. A—
"What are you doing back here?" a voice asked.
Shuna whipped around to see her father towering over her, his eyes tired but smile bright.
"Papa!" Shuna shushed, quickly yanking him into a crouch next to her. She glanced around the tree cautiously, sighing in relief when she confirmed that the seekers were nowhere in sight. "You almost got me caught."
"Ah, my apologies," her father nodded earnestly. "Hide-and-go-seek, huh?"
"Yes," Shuna peeked around the tree one more time for good measure. "I've got to be invisible! One with the shadows."
"Mission understood, madam," her father saluted. "But do shadows require nourishment? Because it's about time for dinner."
"Oh," Shuna suddenly realized how hungry she was. Whoops. "Um, yes, they do. But what about hide-and-go-seek?"
