New Allies and Foes

Prologue

"I have to leave you here Malody to keep you safe," Wu said before trying to leave. "With people, I don't know Uncle Wu it's not fair. Before you say that life isn't fair let me ask you this are you doing this to keep me safe or to make you feel better about leaving me here," Malody yelled at her uncle as he left. Malody knew that she would get kicked out when the Browns knew that Wu was long gone so when they knew that they were clear they just did. They only gave her $100 for food or anything else before shoving her out the door with no idea where to go. "Why does fate hate my family or at least me," Malody said after nearly walking for about a day and a half. One good thing about her training is that she has higher stamina than kids her age but it even that has its limits. On the other hand, she didn't have anywhere to go except for the monastery but she wouldn't be welcomed back and Malody didn't know where Misako went when she left. 

Having hoped to find shelter for the night from the cold was the main priority for Malody when she saw the sun setting. Little did she know that she was about to be taken in by two people she didn't expect in the first place when she left the monastery three days ago. Libby and Cliff had been on their way home from eating out when they spotted someone on the side of the road and they realized that it was Malody. "Mal what are you doing here when you should be with Wu and your dad," Libby said when they pulled up next to the 10-year-old girl. Malody was shocked when she saw her aunt and uncle, honorary but still her aunt and uncle, in their car next to her with concerned looks on their faces. "Dad's gone for good," was all that Malody said for Libby to realize what she meant and Cliff knowing that was Garamadon that they knew is gone. Malody told them everything that happened in the last day and a half and they were shocked that Wu had left Malody alone. "Ok kid you are coming with us because we are not leaving you here to fend for yourself," uncle Cliff said before opening the door to the car. Malody was sitting in the back of their vehicle on their way to their home and this was the first time that she had been in a car. Libby looked back to her honorary niece and saw that Malody was checking out every little thing that she could get her hands on. 

"First time in a car Mal?" Cliff asked when he saw Malody looking around. "Yes the only piece of modern technology I know how to use was an old radio but I do know what a car is," Malody said honestly before looking out the window. The three of them know that this will be a difficult time for Malody because she had just lost everything that she knew and most likely will take some time to adapt. When they had gotten to the house Malody was shocked to see how big the house was because all she knew was that the monastery that she grew up in was big but that was mainly the courtyard with two hallways. Libby noticed that Malody walked in looking around the main entrance too afraid to touch anything in the house not knowing what to do next. "I know this is going to be difficult but things are going to get better," Cliff said when he saw the 10-year-old girl in the entryway. "Thank you for taking me in when you didn't have to," Malody said looking down. "Your father and uncle would've done the same with our son Jay if he were in your shoes and if we had gotten the chance to rise him," Libby said hoping to make Malody feel better which was a little. "What happened to him?" Malody asked trying to tread lightly on the subject. "He disappeared from his nursery and we haven't been able to track him down," Cliff said.

That type of pain being the loss of a child is one that never goes away no matter how long it's been. Malody had been shown around the house and even shown where her room was which was on the ground level. Cliff had made it a point to show Malody how the technology worked due to her lack of knowledge on using it despite knowing what they are. It was something that she took seriously which was amusing to the couple because they knew was from the years of training that she has. Malody was taking the change in stride all things considered but still took things one step at a time to appreciate what she had been given. Later that week after Malody had adapted to her new surroundings she started to hear music coming from the forest that was behind the house. It was music that she knew from her childhood from when Misako used to sing it to her but it was the first time that she heard it from someone else. The lullaby itself was one that Misako learned from the culture that Malody's mother's side of the family which was something that she didn't expect her to learn. It was because Malody was not Misako's biological daughter and Garmadon explained to Misako what had happened before Malody was born. The song in question was 'A la Nanita Nana' and it was a song that was from Ninjago's southernmost region. 

Once Malody heard the lullaby she climbed out the window to follow the music into the forest which led her down a hidden dirt trail. "You found the trail that leads you to the gate of Albion young daughter of Spinjistu," said a voice from behind Malody. It caused her to turn around to see a man in the clothes of a warrior of Ninjago's past which Malody would've recognized from studying her grandfather's old scrolls. "Who are you?" Malody asked. "My name is Moriki and am the protector of the gate to Lake Ryoko-sha you have been called here to become a Child of the Night," Moriki said as he led Malody through the gate. Little did Malody know that walking through that gate will change her destiny for good.