Partners In Crime

Chapter 97: Roots

Thank you all for staying with me through this book. This is the last chapter before the epilogue so, try not to cry.

Atop the Crystal Island, Reika and Garmadon stood facing Aria and Lloyd. Lloyd drew out his sword as Aria stayed sitting on her throne.

"I asked your sensei a question when he faced me as well," Aria says "so I'll ask you the same green ninja. What are you hoping to achieve here?"

"I'm going to stop you," Reika replies.

"How so?" Aria questions "Are you hoping to take my head?"

"No," Reika responds with a sad look in her eyes "nobody is dying here today, not us and not you either."

"The only way you'll be able to stop me is by doing just that." Aria tells her "You see I won't stop, not now, not ever. I don't hold the same morals as you, Reika, you're both dying here and now."

Aria stood up from her throne and stood beside Lloyd. Reika took a breath as Garmadon powered up his Oni form.

"You've always wanted to defeat the green ninja Lloyd," Aria nudges him "your day has come."

"Gladly," Lloyd responds as he powers up his Oni form.

"Escape is not allowed," Aria states as her power pulses through the air "Neither of you will live through this day," she flashes in front of Reika "so die."

Reika was knocked back by Aria, Garmadon went to help but was knocked away by Lloyd as well. The two stood on either side of the island, facing their opponent.

"It didn't have to be this way son," Garmadon says as he stood up.

"I thought you didn't have a son." Lloyd responds, raising his sword.

The two began fighting as Reika dodged a beam from Aria.

"This isn't really how you wanted it to be," Reika says. "You just wanted peace for your kingdom."

"That was my past life," Aria responds.

Reika shot a beam back at Aria, the two powers colliding, neither being overwhelmed until they disappeared.

"You're still the same person," Reika says.

"They took our heads!" Aria angrily flies above her, dodging Reika's attack.

"Because they were scared!" Reika replies "They didn't know what was going on, and you never told them!"

"It wasn't for them to know!" Aria shouts as she collected energy "They should've trusted me!"

"Your mother betrayed you!" Reika dodged Aria's beam "You were hurt by someone you loved the most! Your reaction was understandable Aria! But this can't be what you want!"

Reika's energy hit Aria and she was knocked to the ground. Reika walked towards her and looked out at the city.

"Aria, this can't be what you wanted." Reika says.

Aria glances out at the city, the ex-deltorians were running around afraid. They couldn't face themselves; they couldn't hide either.

"This isn't revenge," Reika says "these are you people, who were afraid to be themselves. In their home, they were safe, but then they felt that they couldn't even be themselves there. They had a ruler who didn't tell them what was going on, there was a barrier placed around them and they thought it was because of you."

"Shut up!" Aria shouts, sending a blast through the air.

Reika flew back and hit a crystal. On the other side, Garmadon was thrown through the air hitting a crystal with enough force to knock him out of his Oni form. Lloyd panted as he slowly turned to face the two girls, Aria's eyes turned into slits as she stared down Reika.