TIGHTROPE | Llorumi fanfiction

Pt 5 A Headline Is Not Enough To Know The Story

«The past is a luxury we can no longer afford» – Peter Høeg, a Danish fiction writer

Just as everyone else in the Limbo, one day Harumi found herself sitting in a wooden boat heading to the clouded city.

A few days passed before she got someone to tell her what the City of Limbo is. At first, she laughed at it.

"C'mon people. A realm made out of, like, memories of the dead? Sounds like a joke to me."

She was skeptical by nature and, most importantly, extraordinarily stubborn. People she met just shook their heads compassionately. She wasn't the only one who couldn't accept the nature of that world, and there was nothing they could do about it.

She had her reasons though. Collecting her memories like a jigsaw puzzle, she couldn't find the most important piece – the picture of her death. If she doesn't remember it, then she didn't die (right?). She clearly remembered her plan and how it went in the beginning. First she tricked Lloyd, then she got the masks, resurrected Garmadon, got caught, then they took over the city, Garmadon spawned The Colossus, the ninjas attacked them and... and what?

"I can remember the fight... vaguely... I tried to take baby Wu from Lloyd, but they fled... Or was that earlier... Wait, I think Skylor took control of the Colossus... Or did she?..."

Skylor stealing powers from Garmadon was the last thing she could recall. The rest was a blur. Even though she didn't remember it clearly, she had no doubts that they lost the battle. It's not like she didn't believe in her fellow members of the SOG, it's just... She never intended to win.

Yeah, her plan was great, but deep down she knew that at some point the ninjas would stop them. And honestly... That was always a part of the plan, too.

"I knew I couldn't kill them... More powerful villains have tried. But if get to break him, the all-mighty Lloyd Garmadon... People would see how miserable these ninjas are..."

A tiny part of her believed that there is something more to this than revenge. A tiny part of her never wished to anyone experience the pain she had, the tragedy of losing your parents. A tiny part of her wished that this suffering destruction wouldn't be for nothing. He hoped that her actions would make people more aware of such accidents, that she can make a difference, make the ninjas do better or at least do something about it. A tiny part of her hoped to see... a miracle?

Yeah, like any of that is capable of bringing her parents back...

But in the end, it was all about him. Her masterplan of taking over the city, resurrecting Garmadon, her betrayal – all just to hurt him. She had to admit that this was not more than an act of vengeance to one person. If she has to be the bad guy, then so it shall be done.

Lloyd... She swore to make him pay for her parents' death ever since the day she lost them. God knows how many times she turned on the TV to watch the news just to see him on the screen. She did that on purpose, she intentionally raised hatred towards him. And every time there he was... Standing right in front of the cameras, smiling and talking about another threat he's just stopped. And never saying a word about the damage he and the ninjas caused. No words can describe how much she hated him... Always so perfect, so cool and so hero-like, he was meant to be her arch-nemesis.

She was good at keeping her true emotions down. Always, even when it comes to real feelings... Feelings that she developed against her own will. She spent years studying Lloyd's weaknesses. She studied everything that happened to him and his team, she knew his life just like she knew hers. She read about his adventures, his missions and couldn't find the thing she searched for – flaws. She didn't even notice how her fanatism turned against her. She couldn't help but admire him every time she opened another book about ninjas. He was strong, smart, supportive, cute...