Waging War | The Amber Duology #1

44 | A Not So Final Battle

Synchronized footsteps marched through the sands as the soldiers of Ninjago's Army prepared for what may be the final battle. The trucks were filled by dozens, each soldier holding a different weapon in their hand as they took off from the camps.

Sergeants commanded their troops, preparing everyone for the fight ahead. Maps were laid out on long tables, weapons were sharpened against steel, vehicles were prepared, and deep breaths were inhaled as the recruits prepared for their first fight in the battlefield.

"We're really doing this?" One asked, Hence was embroidered on her robes.

Her companion held their breath. "It's not like we have a choice. The General ordered for everyone to prepare themselves." Cobryn was on their robe.

It had been a day since the Placement Test and while some recruits were bound for the Navy, everyone was instructed to attend the briefing of Sergeant Killow in the tents.

General Garmadon had been on edge since he received the distress signal from one of the soldiers he had assigned to finish off Ms. Chen. He couldn't help the transformation of his features when he placed the pieces together.

They had failed to deliver their orders and now a huge war with the Oni was coming.

The enemies of the Army readied themselves on the shores of the Scarlet Fields, staffs in hand, their cloud of destruction engulfing them and offering protection as well as invisibility.

The Omega stood in front of the crowd of his own kind, surveying each and everyone of his soldiers. After what he had told Skylor, he prepared himself for what he knew was the final battle between the Dragons and Oni.

Lieutenant Lloyd Garmadon arrived at the battlefield with ceaseless punctuality, a new herd of dragons following behind him. Ultra roared, announcing their presence, when he landed near the trucks that had just arrived.

The boy slid off the creature's back and made his way to his father, who had insisted on joining this battle. He spoke nothing at first, having already said too much to his father the last time they were alone.

"How could you never tell me?! What gave you the right to hide that kind of information?" He'd snapped, ignoring the look on his mother's face. Lloyd demanded an answer, and he did not appreciate being kept in the dark for so long.

"You are my son! It's my job to protect you." Garmadon had called back with a slam of his palms against the wood of his desk. "It was my decision to hide that part of you and I would for a long time if you hadn't found out."

His father's breathing grew as heavy as Lloyd's heart. He couldn't tell whether it was the result of the fight against the Oni that nearly cost his own life, or because his father had so much anger built up, it was just waiting for release.

Either way, when Lloyd confronted them the second he got back to the camp, his parents weren't ready.

"Lloyd, dear. You have to understand," It was his mother that broke the silence first. "We did everything we could to stop it."

He raised a brow at her. "By controlling my life?! Forcing me to hide my emotions and trying to turn me as cold as him?" He pointed an accusing finger at his own father.

There was so much anger that piled in his stomach, it didn't help that his own heart was aching after breaking things off with the only person he let himself be comfortable around.

Hell, if they had told him sooner, he wouldn't be experiencing the heartbreak he was right now. He would have stayed away from Princess Harumi and stopped himself from ever falling in love with her.