The Life of Livana Garmadon

July 29th, 2023

Playing music always calmed me down.

I sat in the music room, glancing around at which instrument I should practice. The whole musical competition had been canceled due to the Oni invading Ninjago City, much to Skylar's disappointment. She really wanted to hear me play in person at a competition, but I was honestly kind of disappointed too. I wanted to show my musical side of me to my family during the show. It wasn't that big of a deal though.

I picked up the cello and then grabbed the bow. I flipped to a random page of music and then dragged the bow across the strings. It made a sad, melancholy sound and I flipped to another piece. Most of my music was either fast, in minor key, or both. I started playing "Rainy Skies", which was written by Cole's dad, and I let myself drown in the music.

It wasn't especially hard. All I had to do was close my eyes and picture the notes in my head, floating and falling just like the raindrops in the sky. I dragged the bow across the strings in one last final note and then opened my eyes. A boy with gray skin, frilly gills on the side of his neck, sky blue eyes, wild black hair, black paint markings on his cheeks, and a crown atop his head leaned against the wall, smirking at me.

"Gah!" I leapt up in my seat, not particularly because I was scared, but that someone had been watching me play the entire time. I didn't even know who this person was. "Who are you? Why are you in the monastery?"

"Really?" The boy leaned against the door even more, smirking at me still, "Lloyd didn't tell you about me? Or Nya?"

"How do you know my brother? And how do you know Nya?" I narrowed my eyes and examined the boy as he thought of a response. He was wearing golden armor shoulder pads that were carved so that it was shaped like mermaid scales. His chest was showing, exposing strong muscles. He was wearing pants weaved from the material of baskets and seaweed. I frowned at him, "Well?"

"Bentho!" Nya's voice called, "Bentho, are you here?" Nya's head popped up from the door frame, "Oh, there you are. And I see that you've met Liv too."

"I have." Bentho lifted an eyebrow, "She doesn't seem to like me very much."

"What? No way. Liv's just shy." Lloyd came into the room and sat down next to me, "Hey. Were you practicing your music, Livvy?"

"I was going to continue." I slid my gaze to my brother, "But then... Bentho... came and I stopped. You know I don't like playing in front of strangers."

"Bentho, meet Livana Garmadon, my little sister." Lloyd gestured at me and I flicked my wrist in a pathetic attempt of a wave. Bentho's smirk turned into a grin and he nodded back at me, the corner of his right mouth lifting just a little more. "Liv, meet King Benthomaar of Merlopia. He's the brother of the late king Kalmaar and he was there when Nya... um... sacrificed herself to save us."

"It was a remarkable act." Bentho nodded his head, pushing his crown up just a little bit, "It's a wonder that she's back. I hear that you and Jay just got engaged?" Bentho looked over at Nya, who nodded with a smile, and Bentho smiled, "Congratulations, Nya."

"Thanks, Bentho." Nya looked over at me, "So. Liv. Can you play something for us?"

I lifted an eyebrow, "Do I have a choice? The king is on your side."

"Liv." Lloyd nudged me in the side, "I know that you're nervous, but be nice. Bentho is really a good guy. He's here to help Nya with her powers."

"You don't need to play something if you don't want to." Bentho said gently.

"Thanks. Because I don't want to." I said before putting the cello back in its case, "Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'd like to go on a run."

"A runner and a musician." Bentho lifted an eyebrow, "Interesting combination."