Partners In Crime

Chapter 93: Ready As I'll Ever Be

"Aria," Lloyd walked out onto the balcony.

Aria stood at the railing, staring down at the troops below her. The white knights were directing the venge stone army and preparing them for battle.

"It's ready," Lloyd tells her.

"Where are the boys?" Aria asks, not turning to face him.

"They're in the room, security is armed." Lloyd replies "Nobody will get to them; nothing will go wrong."

Aria turns to him "Let's go."

It had been almost a year since Aria took over Del. The people were happy and looking forward to the future. Aria instated her guards, the white knights, almost immediately after her rein. If anybody stepped a foot out of line, or threatened the peace, they were silenced.

Lloyd and Aria sat on the railing of her balcony, staring up at the moon.

"What if it's nothing?" Lloyd questions.

"But what if it's something," Aria replies "father told me not to trust her. You don't have to come with me."

"I have to," Lloyd states "I need to know the truth. Even if it hurts a whole lot, she's my mother."

"And she's my mother," Aria agrees.

Once a few minutes passed, the two climbed back inside the room. Lloyd lit a fire before the door to the underground tunnels opened up, putting their hoods up, they headed inside. Soon enough they were outside of Del, completely undetected.

Lloyd helped Aria out of the tunnel as they heard voices in the distance. Aria took a breath as Lloyd put out his light. The two quickly and quietly made their way to the voices. Not far in front of them, in the woods, were the elemental masters along with Layla and Mistake.

"This is insane," Garmadon turns to Wu. "Brother, surely there is another way. That much power in a single instance would kill them."

"Tough love is necessary," Wu replies "desperate citizens would take the initial shock to pass through. More will die inside Ninjago if we do not stop them from crossing over. Putting a barrier up-"

"Aria is more than capable of completing the peace treaty," Garmadon says.

"You want to put a barrier up between Del and Ninjago?!"

The elemental masters along with Layla and Mistake turn around as Aria and Lloyd come out of hiding and put their hoods down.

"What the hell?!" Aria questions angrily.

"Aria dearest," Layla says shocked "What are you doing here?"

"Why are you talking to them mother?" Aria asks, "I told you I would handle it."

"I was just worried honey," Layla replies "I-"

"You could've gotten hurt," Aria glares at the elemental masters "they're the monsters that want to hurt our people. They could've hurt you."

"We're in negotiations Aria," Layla takes her hand "It's not as simple as you think."

"No!" Garmadon intervenes "Enough with this."

"Garmadon," Wu glances at him.

Garmadon steps in front of the elemental masters and faces Aria.

"Empress Aria," Garmadon says "I agree with everything you've been saying. It's not fair, that your people can't enter Ninjago without fear of being killed by those here. If we can introduce them slowly to show they're harmless, it would benefit us greatly."