The Life of Livana Garmadon

September 2nd, 2023

"Livana." Fang's voice jolted me out of my stupor and I blinked, looking over at Fang, who was looking at me with concern.

"Hm?" I let out a soft noise as I shifted and then winced when a ripple of pain tickled across my ribs.

"How's that stab wound feeling?" Fang asked me. "Guessing by that grimace on your face... not so good, huh?"

"Nope." I shook my head, "Stings like hell."

"Hey, I know that I'm not one to judge," Fang scooted a bit closer to me, "but why didn't you take the tea from Morro? I mean, I understand that he's a villain and that he's not on our side, but what if he was trying to help you? Genuine help?"

I scoffed, "You don't know Morro. He's never going to offer you genuine help, and he's never going to change. He hurt my brother, my family, and I will never forgive him for that."

"I don't know Morro, but from his body language in the last three days I've seen him, it almost seems like he doesn't want to be here. It feels like he's just staying because he has to. Maybe he's trying to help." Fang said persistently, but gently.

"He doesn't have to stay." I pointed out, "He could go back to wherever he came from."

"Maybe..." Fang bit his lip, "Hey, if I could ask, what went down between your brother and Morro? I mean, I heard the gist yesterday, but I'm sure there's much more to it." At my flinch, Fang added, "Again, only if you're comfortable answering. I don't want to make you do anything you don't want to."

"Um," I swallowed, "what happened between Morro and Lloyd was... was horrible on Morro's end. "When my father opened the Cursed Realm to banish himself and Master Chen away from Ninjago, Morro slipped out of the realm. He trapped my brother in a museum, pretending to be a guard, before he possessed my brother. He put him through a bunch of mental torture, took over his body, and used him to do terrible things to Ninjago, ultimately bringing the Cursed Realm to Stixx. We destroyed the Cursed Realm and all the ghosts, but the memories don't fade." I bit my lip, "I wasn't able to help. I was stuck at the monastery, and every single night when my brother was gone, I had nightmares that he wasn't there anymore. I had nightmares that he died."

"Oh, Livana." Fang patted my shoulder, "I'm sorry. I understand why you see Morro that way now."

"You have to at least give me some credit." Morro suddenly appeared in the room, leaning against the door, "I did give your uncle the Realm Crystal right before the Preeminent dragged me underwater herself."

"Right, and that's one good thing you've done." I growled, seeing red at the sight of the ghost. "That doesn't make up for what you did to Ninjago, to my uncle, to my brother." I glared at him, "You never even apologized."

"You think I had time to do that while I was dying?" Morro retorted.

"You're absolutely freaking ridiculous." I snapped.

Morro didn't respond, only stared at me.

Fang looked over at Morro and then said, "What do you want, Morro? It's not your usual visiting time."

"I was trying to check on you guys. Making sure that no one was dying." Morro replied, "Besides, would you rather Rattlesnake come in instead? Because I can go and get him if you want."

"That's not what I said." Fang responded.

"Well, no one's dying." I looked over at Morro, "So you can leave now."

Morro looked over at me, his eyes as hard as emeralds as he looked down at my middle and tilted his chin towards it, "How's the stab wound?"

"Perfectly fine." My arms unconsciously wrapped around my middle, and I couldn't help but wince when my fingers brushed against the still tender part of me.