Book 1: Shattered Harmony

Chapter 1: Fit

Authors Notes: I was asked by Grumpy-Zane to write this. Its kind of an authors version of fanart :D

Fanart done by Grumpy-Zane and TyelerKostlan

Official Disclaimer: I do not own Ninjago or any likeness of which.

Unready Guardian

Chapter 1

Fit

The lights and the music were always very hypnotic in between people singing. Especially at night when they're was a lot of people within the bar. People dancing, and colors. It was easy to get lost, or even better...to lose someone. With the lights flashing, and the bodies swaying back and forth. Everything seemed so dizzy. The young blonde girl twisted herself through the bodies, her dress had been ripped in many different places, she was missing her shoes all together. Her hair had been messed up, and she had tracks from her makeup from the tears she had shed. She was in trouble, real trouble. She looked back over her shoulder and gasped seeing the men pushing through the mash of people. She slid herself into a curtained sitting area. She turned and closed the curtain behind her. She backed into the table.

"Well...look at you." The voice was deep and slightly two toned. She turned to see a man swirling a Boba around. He sipped his Boba. His lazy eyes locked onto hers. She could see his skin was different completely two toned. His eyes were even weirder. "Whats a beautiful young lady like yourself crying for?" He stood up and held out his hand for her. She was transfixed on him, not to sure if she should take his hand or if she should just leave. The whole thing caused her to forget her problem completely. She let out a soft scream when the curtain was pulled open. Her hand was grabbed and she was spun around by the odd man. She sat down on the seat next to him.

"Good evening gentlemen." He plucked a toothpick from behind his ear and looked at the men wearing tailored suits. "What can I help you with?" Putting the toothpick into his mouth he looked up at them not really caring why they were there.

"It would seem you have something that belongs to us."

"Belongs? This flower doesn't belong to anyone." He looked at the girl who seemed to be staring down at the table not wanting to make eye contact with anyone.

"I can assure you she does belong to us." One with slicked back black hair said.

"Yeah well..." He stopped and seemed to have an inner battle for a moment. "Let me rephrase that. I think she wants to stay here with me. But if you go up to the front I'm sure the gentlemen behind the counter wouldnt mind giving you all a few free drinks."

"Drinks..." The man chuckled and leaned forward looking directly into the mans eyes.

"Aww come on guys, I'm trying to work this out with you." He smoothed his hair back and pulled a comb through his hair. This seemed to annoy the man who reached across the table and grabbed him by the shirt front.

"Either you give us the girl...or we'll take her by force."

"Watch the shirt. I just had it taken in. Names Zareth by the way." He turned to the girl and winked at her. She gasped and blushed deeply. She wasn't sure how to take this guy.

"Danny." She whispered back.

"Danny huh? I assume thats short for Danielle?" He took her hand pulling the toothpick from his mouth and kissed her hand.

"Do not ignore me!" The man punched Zareth across the jaw. Zareth held his jaw and glared at the man.

"Now I wasn't going to get physical. But since you threw the first punch." He threw his comb at the man, it lodged into his upper arm. Zareth pushed the table out and into the other men causing them to be pushed back and or fall backwards. Zareth reached back and smiled at the girl.

"Trust me." He told her. The look of amazement in her eyes showed him either she was mesmerized by him, or just really scared. She took his hand and ran. The lights hurt Zareths eyes when he left the quiet dark area where he had just been napping moments ago before he was woke up by a beautiful face. Zareth turned back to look at the girl, tears were still falling down her face. He felt a small internal battle on what to do with her. It wasn't that long of a battle. He slowly stopped and took her hand in his other and looked both ways down the alleyway. He could hear the men running down an alleyway.

"I'll take you somewhere safe." The voice was far more gentle as if it were someone else talking. He opened a door and allowed her to go in first before going in himself. He closed and locked the door. It was just warehouse. One of which belonged to Ronin. He had been here on several occasions. He was sure Ronin wouldn't mind as long as he didn't take anything.

Zareth climbed up onto a box and looked out the window. He watched as several men ran by the door.

"I don't know what you did...but sweetheart. They're mad." Zareth turned to look at the girl standing there in the only light in the room. Almost as if touching the shadowed part would hurt her. She ran her hands up her arm and just gently shook her head. Zareth reached out touching her arm.

"Babe...your safe now. You can talk if you want. Its not good to keep it to yourself. Why don't you tell Zareth all about it." Zareth led her over to a box and helped her sit down on it. He was able to look her over now that he could see her properly. She had skinned knees, and elbows. She had blood on her fingertips as if she had to claw herself away. One of the straps of her dress had been pulled in two. Zareth reached up and tied the pieces back together and pulled off his jacket and drapped it over her shoulders.

"I'm...I'm a daughter to a very smart man." She looked deep in thought. Almost as if she didn't know how to explain. "He's supposed to be one of the men who designed Borg towers security systems." She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "Last month he was found dead in a ditch somewhere. He was ruled an accident. Said he had been drinking and someone hit him while he was walking in the middle of the road." She ran her fingers over her cheeks. "He never drinks."

'Murdered.'

'Are we going to help her?'

'I was built to protect Dareth.'

'I take that as a yes'

The girl pulled her legs up to her chest before continuing.

"Well from what I just found out, they want me to help them through it. Like I know my fathers work. I mean we were close, but he never spoke about work very much."

"Whoa whoa...they want you to help them break into Borg Industries?" Zareth asked looking rather amazed at the thought.

"Yeah, and I don't want any part of it. What they want to do with the things on Mr. Borgs hard drives won't be good for anyone." Danny said. She ran her fingers through her hair and lay her head down on her knees hugging her legs to her.

"Wh...What could they do?" Zareth asked his tone cracked. She shook her head. To Zareth she seemed incredibly tired now that the adrenaline was starting to wear off.

"Theirs a new computer system that Borg is designing that can master control a system...but the way they want to use it is to master control a weapons system to take over any and all weapons in Ninjago city. They could hold us all hostage." She leaned against him and yawned. Zareth looked rather uncomfortable with the contact for a moment.

'She isn't trying to kill us Dareth. She's exhausted. She probably doesn't even realize she's doing it.'

Zareth leaned back against the wall and pulled Danny to him. She curled in and closed her eyes.

"Thank you...for saving me."

"Its my job." He watched her fall asleep he was stuck. He could still hear the men outside the building searching. They were stuck there...so might as well get comfortable. Perhaps in the morning he could move them. But right now it was way to risky. He crossed his arms and fell into a light sleep.