The Wolf and The Dragon (Book 2)

70 - Step parents

-"the short version, please!" - Lloyd answered to Selene.

-"I had to, or I would blow my cover up!"

Flashback: one day before the Shadow attacked the monastery.

-"show yourself, Shadow Master!" - The strong female voice echoed in the dark cave.
-"Who dares to enter my domains?"
-"A messenger of your King!"
-"you are far too white to be an Oni."
-"and you see far too much for a blind creature."
-"Who are you and what do you want?"
-"I already told who I am, I need your shadow army, I have located a Montgomery descendant. I understand it was your task to eliminate him."
-"I do no longer hold the power to take my Shadows across Realms."
-"I know, probably for the same reason you now can see so well. But, that is why I am here, you create the shadows, I lead them to Ninjago, they will return to you with the descendant, I have another mission, I will even let you take all the credit for his capture."
-"you are lying, you are not who you say you are."
-"Neither are you, but you have no option, if you don't work with me I will bring your Master here, and that much is not a bluff."
-"When do you need my Shadows and for how long?"
-"I will return here in the middle of the night, you should have them ready for attack. They will return to you before dawn, and they will bring to you the prisoner. I assume you know what to do with him."
-"What guarantees do I have that you will return my Shadows?"
-"You haven't, but I can assure you I don't need you Shadows for longer than one hour, if they do not return it is because I have failed, and if that happens you can just call them back to you."
-"OK! You will have them for one hour, and after that they will disappear.Truce?"
-"OK! That is a deal!"
-"Are you going to tell me your name?"
-"Morrigan Genji, princess of the White Oni."

-&-

-"Morrigan?! - Why is this name so familiar!?" - Lloyd asked himself.
-"I don't know, I am not an Oni, all I know about them is what your father told me to be able to overthrow the Shadow Master, as you might guess."
-"So. Let me get this right, you are not my enemy, and you don't want me dead, is that right?"
-"Why would I? Saving your life is the primary reason I am forever a Shadow Master. But, I have to admit the idea of getting your father's attention was an incentive for me to accept her bargain."
-"I guess you are disappointed he wouldn't come after me."
-"A bit... Nevertheless, I got to know what's happened to him, and I had a chance to meet you."
-"And even know you hate my mother and my father, you hold no hard feelings against me?"
-"One should never be blamed for their parents' mistakes."
-"As you are not my enemy, would you consider being my ally?"
-"As long as you don't betray me like your father did. Why not?"
-"I am not my father!"
-"I know!"
-"You have my word, Selene! Now, if you don't mind, I need to go back to Ninjago, something tells me this Morrigan is after my girlfriend."
-"I am not sure you realised yet, Lloyd, but there is no way out of here, I can't send you back."
-"I know a way out. If you just let me out of this cell I can call for help."
-"It is open! You were never my prisoner."
-"Now you tell me!" - Lloyd smiled friendly at Selene, she smiled back, with a bit of sadness in her eyes, Lloyd saw it.
-"If it's worth saying, I am really sorry for what my father did to you, and I am grateful for what you did to save me."
-"You are welcome, maybe we will meet again sometime."
-"I am sure we will... By the way, I almost forgot to ask, is Shade your son?"
-"Yes, do you know him?!"
-"I do! And he is an ally, one of the best!"
-"It is good to know!!"
-"Bye Selene!"
-"Bye... Lloyd Garmadon!"

-&-

Lloyd walked for a while, all tunnels and caves looked exactly the same, and before he got lost, he seat on the floor, closed his eyes and channel his power to call for his sister.

-"Copper, I need you!"

Soon a portal opened, but to his surprise it was a man, ebony skin, very tall and strong.

-"who are you?" Lloyd asked a bit suspiciously.

-"I am your sister's father, he sent me, Akron, at your services, Lloyd Montgomery Garmadon."

-"oh... I see, and you can take me anywhere?" Lloyd asked realising he should have seen the similarities between Akron and Copper. But of curse he looks quite different of the monster Lloyd rescue from the claud kingdom.

-"Actually, I have an explicit order to take you back to the Tempo of Time, your sister wants to see you."

-"OK, let's go... this is a very odd day for me... I just spent hours getting to know my step mother and now I am taking a lift with my step father... can this get any better?" Lloyd said in a borderline sarcastic way.

-"I wish you were right about 'step father', but, that never was and never will be, your mother has always been beyond my reach."

-"well.. still you two gave me a half sister."

-"that I have dear to my heart. By the way, I never had a chance to thank you for coming to my rescue, and sorry for hurting your girlfriend."

-"it is ok, I did for Copper, and about Akita, you will have to apologise to her."

-"so, maybe I should apologise to you for any pain I caused when I took your mother away from you."

-"you don't have to, Copper gave me my mother's memories, I know you never meant to, and you did what you could to protect her."

-"why do you still talk to me as if I am your enemy?"

Lloyd stopped for a second to think about his answer, it is true, despite Akron's best intentions, Lloyd still feels as if he was about to enter a fight, ready to attack and defend himself.

He face Akron and elaborate his answer

-"I supposed it is just the realisation that you do really know your parents until you are old enough to see beyond the perfect picture you were led to believe it was true."

-"I wish I would understand what you mean, but I don't, I had no one even trying to give me a perfect picture. But as a father I would do anything to protect my child, and i know your mother is exactly the same."

-"you are right, maybe the day I became a father I would be able to understand them better. Thanks Akron, for coming to help me, and be aware I have no hard feelings against you either. Shall we go?"

-"yes!" Akron replied with a smile, he always knew Lloyd is an amazing person, just like his mother.